Homeward Bound...

After nearly 10 months my time in the UK has come to an end. It's been an interesting experience. On Monday I fly home to Australia and the the following Monday I resume work. Lorraine will soldier on through the oncoming winter but return home in time for Xmas. I'm not sure what will happen to this blog. Lorraine may keep it going or it may change its form entirely or die altogether. I know of at least a few people who have been following our adventures and I have certainly enjoyed putting it together. It has given me something to do on those long bleak winter's day. So...if any of the swimmers are reading this I may see you on Thursday or Friday of next week!!!!!!!!!

Thelma & Gwen at the Lakes

The two travellers and I have just returned from a few days in the Lakes district, the best part of England in my humble opinion.

Harewood House

Gwen and Thelma brave the wind, rain and freezing temperatures to visit beautiful Harewood House.

It's a small world!!!!

My mother Thelma and aunt Gwen have arrived here after a cruise of the Mediterranian and bus tour of Italy. Whilst being escorted around the backstreets of Florence a young man ran up to Thelma and embraced her. It was none other than my son Luke who left here a few weeks ago for a tour of Europe. Neither knew that their itineraries overlapped! Karma...

Pucker up...

Bolton Abbey - again

Paid another visit to beautiful Bolton Abbey with Tori and Dan on a glorious (rare!) sunny day....

Malham Cove

Phew....today I walked about 12 miles around Malham Cove, which is nowhere near the coast by the way. It is a limestone outcrop in the West Yorkshire Dales, shaped into cliffs and valleys by glaciation. At times during the day I had the place completely to myself.

Mother Shipton's cave - Knaresborough

Mother Shipton's Cave and the petrifying well outside it are supposedly England's oldest tourist attraction, having had paying visitors since 1630! The water is so full of minerals that it petrifies anything left under it eg teddy bears in about 3 months! The two bulges in the wall photo are hats left under it 150 years ago! Mother Shipton was a real person who was born in the cave and spent most of her long life lving nearby. She was a celebrity in her day as she could predict the future. She prophesied not only the great plague and the great fire of London but also "iron boats floating on water" and "thoughts travelling around the world in the blinking of an eye"! Clever girl....

Knaresborough

Knaresborough is apparently one of Englands oldest towns, being mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. It is a stunningly beautiful place as the pictures show and only about 30 minutes by train from here. I spent the day there on my own (sigh) yesterday so there are no people in the shots.

More Bolton Abbey

Yesterday was such a beautiful day and the countryside was so picturesque that I got a bit carried away with the camera. Here are some of the results....

Bolton Abbey

Today the sun shone for the second day in a row so we gathered a few friends together and went for a walk on the dales around Bolton Abbey in West Yorkshire. The views and the company were excellent!!

Saltaire Festival

Today the annual Saltaire Festival was held in sunshine and clear skies! a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEb0t6vVKdpaDYnIshc5F4dDK0sgFLkK2AFWG4yVGpHdzoi09DdsTZujircj8jpwKCGFlYJv8QmaRbafy083q95imyT8G_FoL6jPQt5cWAJ3McdI0fgZcNiKB-ycr0MUEOtfYy7Ms941k/s1600-h/P9210007.JPG">

Oxford - city of ....intellectual-looking types

I had a few days to spare after waving goodbye to my son Luke and his girlfriend Amanda on their tour of Scotland last week so I headed down the M1 to Oxford to visit 2 lots of Aussie friends who are both teaching there this year. It was great to hear Aussie tones again and listen to their working and travelling tales. Here are a few photos of historic (slightly pretentious?) Oxford. Fans of Harry Potter may recognise the dining room......