Back to Liverpool

Can you just imagine it. Three, well over 60 year olds, reuniting 50 years after they began university in Liverpool!


John, Michael and Charlie

Some onlookers suggested things would be a lot different. The city, the things they got up to and certainly their situation. Well yes and no.....
Liverpool no longer has the Beatles, but there is still a lot of nostalgia as you can well understand. The city is larger, but then so are the boys. As we visit the Halls they used to board in and the various houses they used to rent, very little has changed. As for the drinking holes, and there were a few, some look a lot smaller, one took a bit of finding as it was out in the country, but found it was and it hadn't changed a bit.

Squidly getting in on the act. Shame he has a chip on his shoulder

The best re-visit was The Philharmonic Hotel, a majestic looking pub hat the boys drank in often.

Not a thing had been disturbed since John had walked out 47 years ago with the exception of a small back bar they had drunk in, had been transformed into the 'Ladies'. The men's toilets had been described to me many, many, years ago as something quite extraordinary, The urinals were carved from red/pink marble and were more like little closets than just urinals. John cleared the way and we girls had a good look...Yep...impressive. Perhaps the saddest end to this line of investigation was their one local that had been turned into an old people's home. Appropriate??? That's not nice.

We took a ferry 'cross the Mersey and sang the song, we visited Penny Lane and that night performed an interesting rendition of 'Penny Lane' for the taxi driver, and that was on the way to dinner, not coming home!

And of course there had to be the photo shoot revisit where John had graduated outside the Philharmonic Hall. Where are those flowing robes and hat?

Obviously their situation had changed. They arrived in Liverpool as young bucks looking for fun, and returned as older gentleman with wives in tow. More experienced with such varied lives led, but still such a lot in common and still good friends. That is nice.
We had a great weekend, lucky us.
One thing was clear...they weren't out of practice.
(Sorry this is out of sequence due to tech difficulties. Should go before Wales)

Wales

After such a lot of excitement, we need a bit of respite. So off to Wales.....
A gentle drive to the first stop, Chester.

Such an historic city and so attractive. We took a spin around the streets, but alas summer has arrived. It's only 28 or 29C but it's roasting and the natives aren't coping well. To be fair, it feels a lot hotter.
Next stop Llandudno, such a touristy seaside town but surrounding hills are picturesque and the town was featured on the UK programme 'Coast'.

We left the mainland and crossed the Menai Strait to the Isle of Anglesey and our home away from home in Beaumaris. After a fairly crappy hotel in Liverpool (Michael doesn't get to book again) we booked into luxury.

Sigh of relief.
Beaumaris is quiet, peaceful and yet again hot!
We took a trip to Puffin Island in the hope of seeing such creatures. I've always wanted to see one of these little critters but with no luck. Billie saw them close up when she and Stephen went to The Shetland Isles, but me, not so lucky....until today.
 

 

There they were having a swim right by the boat. Happy girl!
We had a look at Beaumaris Castle, a print of same castle hangs in the hallway at home, so that was a bit special.

Yorkshire, Here we come...

Off to Yorkshire to visit Charlie and Marilyn and see the sights. Charlie and John used to be at school together and after catching up 2 years ago found they still had a lot in common. So let's catch up again.

Charlie, John and Marilyn

A Welsh man teaching an Aussie to BBQ

We are fortunate enough to stay with them in their 250 year old home in Scarborough. They have just added an outside sunroom which has given them a lot more room and a brand new kitchen. Nice job.
We stayed with them for 4 nights and had many laughs, met relatives, ate good food, drank some wine and got my dog fix.

Florence

Trials of Travelling

Just when you think you have it right, it's so easy to be caught short. too many hotel stays in a row led to this.......

Pretty Pictures

Just a snapshot before we leave......soooo pretty

A Night of Luxury

One night at the Borrowdale Gates Hotel......bliss. It is still in the Lake District and we treated ourselves to bed, dinner and breakfast. The back garden had upmarket sheep wandering and the chap in the next door paddock was giving a sheep dog demonstration. Country life by the lakes....

We went to the bar whereupon the girl asked what size wine I would like. I said standard, John said I should treat myself to a large one. Yes said the girl, you know you'll only have more of them if they're small. I asked John if he had been spreading untrue rumors about me, when she said oh yes, he phoned ahead!

The rooms were very nice indeed, large enough for a party and super comfy. I could have stayed a few more days easily.

 

This hotel is well known for fine dining and we just loved it. Mouth melting dinners and an appetizing breakfast, even worth getting up early for. But not too early....

 

 

The Lake District

We are to spend a week in the Lake District with John's cousin Elaine and her husband Alan. They have been here many times and are keen to show us around. It is the home land of William Wordsworth well known for his poetry....
"I wandered lonely as a cloud....." Frankly, the clouds around here have far too many friends.
We have a great cottage in the tiny village of Dockray with a view of paddocks with sheep and on occasion, 3 Highland Coos.

 

We walked a lot, in and out of the rain, and in the land of many cups of tea, I drank coffee. How contrary can one be. We also drank beer....

This is an area of high traffic with tourists, mainly walkers. They are littered along walking paths around lakes, up and down dales, on top of mountains and generally all over the roads. I think they like to keep the sheep company.
It was a busy week doing, made more interesting by Alan's challenge for John. You know John likes a challenge, more particularly, when it involves beer. Alan invited him to drink 20 pints of local beer in the week, but each one had to be a new experience, one never tasted before.
Did he succeed......silly question.

We visited Hadrian's Wall which was a defensive fortification in Roman Britain. Begun in AD 122, it ran 117.5km extending  west from  Segedunum at Wallsend to near the village of Bowness-on-Solway, which is pretty much the width of Britain, a huge undertaking, which was pretty much completed in 6 years. The wall was constructed to keep the barbarian Picts from Scotland out of Roman Britain.



The Wood fired bread oven...really!



In amazing condition



It is as straight as a di too

A lot of the wall remains intact today with markings made by Roman soldiers still visible today, if you know where to look.
It was a week of seeing a lot of new things which we enjoyed and a good few jokes thrown in for good measure.
Thanks Elaine and Alan....