Back in England

Stayed in Guisborough with Helen (Andy’s mother-in-law) who thoroughly spoilt us all – not that we were complaining!  Spent a day exploring the nearby west coast. Whitby - where Captain Cook was born.  Very picturesque and has the ruins of a beautiful Abbey and yummy fish and chips.  The abbey became the renowned backdrop for Bram Stokers Dracula making Whitby the Goth capital of Britain.  Bet you didn’t know that!  Visited several other quaint villages.  One called Staithes had an Arts Festival on, where people hosted artists in their homes.  Saltburn had a display of knitted figures depicting various Olympic sports attached to the railing of the pier done by the ‘mysterious secret knitters’.  Very clever.

Bid a sad farewell to Helen and headed south across the edge of the Yorkshire Moors stopping at Rievaulx Terrace and Castle Howard, where Brideshead Revisited was filmed.  What we loved about this place, apart from being quite spectacular, is that it is lived in by the family who have their own private apartments.  The rooms that we saw had family photos scattered about and are used either by the family for entertaining or for functions to help raise the 2 million it takes to keep Castle Howard going.  Mind you they do own five villages and huge amounts of farmland which is tenanted which also bring in income.

York: Rain again but you get that.  The UK has had the worst summer for 100 years so we have been pretty lucky with the weather so far.  Once again Nick and I have seen York at its best weather wise so not to worry.  Lots to do at York where you can dodge the rain anyway.  York Minster, Northern Europe’s largest Gothic Cathedral with its stunning stained glass windows was our first stop.  Followed by a walk around part of the wall and then a visit to ‘The Shambles’.  Jorvick – the interactive, multimedia museum that has recreated the original Viking settlement that gave York its name was next.  My personal favourite was the York castle Museum that has the last 400 years of York’s past from the civil war to the 60s.  Lots of rooms dressed as they would have been in various time periods, a Victorian Street complete with sound effects, a section on the swinging sixties and the York castle Prison.  A great day out despite the weather!

 Hay/Straw Bales

These huge cylinder shaped bales lie like statues on the golden grass everywhere in the paddocks of Europe and the UK.  Are they never to be collected and find a home in a snug warm barn?

Oxfordshire

Staying with friends (Gail and Darryl) at their motor camp near Banbury.  Having a great time catching up with Peter and Anne who are friends of dad’s and whom we stayed with last time.

Wednesday/Thursday  I visited two schools in Birmingham, both of which specialise in children with autism.  Very interesting.  Nick patiently waited in the car reading and doing puzzle books.  Also visited ‘Packwood House’ (Well we had to for Tina and Nigel) , which has been lovingly restored to its former Tudor splendour.  Beautiful garden and a famous collection of yews.  Off to London next.