All Over England (and Scotland)


We're back home now, and just finished our first week back at work. Before we get too caught up in everyday life, I'll post some pictures of the last portion of our time in the UK. We traveled from the boat to Bristol, where we caught up with a lot of people in a short time (in nice weather and lovely places!). Will was glad to see one of his best friends from childhood- who won the award for best science fiction novel in the UK right after we saw him!


Then, we drove North with Maggie, stopping in Melton Mobray to see Will's cousins and their kids. It was a warm welcome and a fun group. With help from his cousins, Ben braved a bouncy castle for the first time. It was his first night on the town, as he left giggling, well past his bedtime on wobbly legs. 


Next, we spent a few days with Julian and Sally. Ben struggled a bit with asthma while we were there, but we got some excellent medical support (truly incredible from a North American perspective), and he coped OK after that. We visited the most amazing park I've ever seen (with boats for kids to steer in a pond amongst the equipment), and took a classic photo- even Clara is trying to get in on the action. Clara also bought her first pair of shoes in York, which store staff considered to be a photo-worthy event. 


Then, onwards and upwards to Edinburgh! I was so happy to see my sister after almost a year and a half. Her flat is perfect, and she and I had two very relaxing days shopping while a certain little boy spent some time with Will and Papa Pirate (Doug). There were some extensive pirate voyages on Alison's sofa- and I believe the photo below is of Pirate Fireman Benjamin on the beach. Alice and I had a really good chance to catch up- she also caught the great photo below of how tiring traveling was at times. 


From Edinburgh, we traveled down to Hexham to see my dad. His caravan was surprisingly spacious, and seems like a great retirement living situation (hmmm…). On one of our days there, he and my uncle took us to a living museum called Beamish. The trams, merry-go-round, bakery, and candy shop were all like stepping back in time. We were also able to go into a real mine. Thinking back to that experience puts our first day back in our comfortable office jobs into perspective. 



After a goodbye UK meal at Gregg's (Ribena, Millionaire's Shortbread, Sarnies… yum!), we headed off to our next adventure, on the overnight ferry to Holland.


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