Monday 27th August 2012…an old school best friend and yet another woman in my life!!

It was another good sleep and watched young Tom devour 3 Weetabix for breakfast!!!

Janet had kindly loaned me her car for this week so here she is a fine young lady called…Cod Head!!!!

Now before you think what a terrible name I learned yesterday that people who live in Hull are referred to by others as Cod heads…due to the fishing industry that is huge here and although Janet and Malc live in a small village called Cottingham…I just liked the sound of Cod head…so here she is!!

So I took off for the day!!

A…….is where I left from

B…Doncaster my first stop

C…Margaret and Ian’s house

D…where we stopped for high tea!!!

So my first stop was the town where I was born Doncaster!!!

It is also the town where my parent’s retired to and it is also the place where they were laid to rest…

Not very clear but this is their head stone…

From here I went to their last home…

and from there to where my Dad used to play as a boy…

and finally about another 25 miles to Margaret and Ian’s home…..we have been friends for over 50 years and have got into so many situations growing up of course Ian was the one who led me astray!!!!

When I arrived their lovely daughter Laura was over visiting so we spent time catching up and Ian, yes Ian cooked a great meal!!!!

After lunch we took off into the beautiful hills and dales of Derbyshire!!!

This area of the world is just so lovely!!!

We stopped at this very quaint old hotel for afternoon high tea and scones with jam and cream!!!!

This is an in joke but I think you will all appreciate the quality of this WALL!!!!!!

Margaret and Ian are the parents of Luke Wileman, you may have seen his column’s and photos on my blog before…Luke has had a remarkable career in broadcasting and is now the soccer presenter for the famous sports station TSN in Canada!!

Laura who also holds a fantastic position for someone so young she is the head editor for a major English tabloid and she lives in a small town that is is close to where my Brother lives and she was going home this afternoon so I offered to drive her to save Ian a trip, so I had Laura for company on the way home.

Thanks for a great day and also for the treat of high tea….remarkable how we see each other once every two years but just get right back into it…safe travels next week to Canada to see your Grandson!!!

Arrived home safe at about 7pm and spent the time watching our favorite TV show   Deal or no Deal!!!

Tomorrow I am going on a two day road trip ..where to you may ask???   Well check in tomorrow to find out….one hint it includes water!!!!

Sunday 26th August 2012..a day of rest!!

Happy to report that I am feeling much better almost 100% and today was a really easy day.

I went with Janet and Malc this morning to the Salvation Army church meeting which I enjoyed.  I was born and raised in the Salvation Army and spent most of my youth connected with the Army and I am grateful for the upbringing and the values instilled in me which I still hope remain today.

Back at home for 1pm and waited the arrival of Tom as he was spending the night with Janet and Malc.

He is an 8 year old bundle of energy and joy and it wasn’t long before he was beating me at soccer!!!

Tom is wearing the outfit I brought for him from Mexico!!

Do not know how she does it but Janet at 3pm produced a meal fit for any 5 star restaurant!!!  Thank you!!

Andy came over recovered from his jump the evening before and we all sat around and watched a live soccer game.

At 6pm I decided I needed some exercise so I went on my usual 6km walk round the village and then this evening just a quiet time with Tom and then some TV and now bed!!!

Another great day!!

Saturday 25th August 2012…………The Bridge and the Bungee!!

After a good sleep, always good to go away but always nice to come, Malc and I took a drive to one the main tourist attractions of Hull!!

Bridge statistics

The bridge's surface takes the form of a dual carriageway with a lower-level foot and cycle path on both sides, although traffic is often restricted to one lane both ways. There is a permanent 50 mph (80 km/h) speed limit on the full length of the bridge.

Each tower consists of a pair of hollow vertical concrete columns, each 155.5 m (510 ft) tall and tapering from 6 m (20 ft) square at the base to 4.5 × 4.75 m (14.8 × 15.6 ft) at the top. The bridge is designed to tolerate constant motion and bends more than 3 m (10 ft) in winds of 80 mph (129 km/h). The towers, although both vertical, are 34 mm (1.3 inches) farther apart at the top than the bottom due to the curvature of the earth.^[8] The total length of the suspension cable is 71,000 km (44,000 miles). The north tower is on the bank, and has foundations down to 8 m (26 ft). The south tower is in the water, and descends to 36 m (118 ft) as a consequence of the shifting sandbanks that make up the estuary.

The bridge held the record for the world's longest single-span suspension bridge for 16 years from its opening in July 1981, until the opening of the Great Belt Bridge in June 1997, and was relegated to third place with the opening of the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge in April 1998. It is now the sixth longest single-span suspension bridge after two longer span bridges opened in China (the Xihoumen Bridge and the Runyang Bridge) and one in South Korea (the Yi Sun-sin bridge). It remains the longest single-span suspension bridge in the world that one can cross on foot or by bicycle.^[9] The bridge twice forms part of the route of the Humber Bridge half marathon.^[10]

The above was taken from Wikipedia.

We parked in the lower car park and walked the length of the bridge to the other side.

Looking down!!

Malc checking out the view!!

We walked back on the other side and spotted this wedding in the distance!!

We were gone nearly 4 hours and the bridge was quite amazing to see and to try to imagine the technology and equipment use!!!

Came home and relaxed before going to a local pub where Andy was going to Bungee jump to raise money for a local cancer patient!!

About 40 people had signed up and here is Andy on his way up.

and here is Andy on his way down!!!

Way to go Andy and in case you are wondering I never ever even gave it a second thought if I wanted to do this!!!!! NO WAY!!!!

At home Janet had cooked another in her line of great meals and we watched some television and then Janet even after a long day shopping still had the energy to make me my famous and so delicious Wingies!!!!

Yashi Kochi!!

Friday 24th August 2012…back home again!!

We left Scotland this morning at 8.45 am amid grey skies and drizzle but the drive back was so stunning..

I have been lucky and enjoyed  sitting in the front seat wonderful views and interesting to watch Les, the driver, maneuver the big bus!!

Our first stop was an interesting little town..

This is Stirling Castle in the distance.

The lunch time stop was at the famous Gretna Green

I saw this is a gift shop and should have bought for Malc……enough said!!!

This is what the Pearson’s do when they think no one is watching..

and when they are watching…

The road home was a good one and we arrived back at 7pm….Andy was there to meet us and bring us home.

What a great 5 days we have had I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute and glad to say I am feeling much better tonight.

So now I am down to my final week…..stay tuned!!!

Thursday 23rd August 2012…….a hike to remember!!

Janet, Sam and Malc  got on the bus at 9.15am for their day trip and I left at the same time to walk down to the village and await a local bus.  I asked our bus driver about what I intended to do and he told me which bus to catch.

So around 10am the bus dropped my here the start of my hike.

This shows the path I was to take.

Looks great and the view the other way!!

It was warm and a bit cloudy but no rain!!

The scenery was stunning.

This is like a post card!!!!

You have to like a country that has waterfalls!!!!

I think the photo of the day!!!

Just call me the horse smooth talker!!!!!!

It was 2.30am when I got back to the village and I reckon I walked around 9 miles and as it started to rain I thought it was a wonderful opportunity to try out the local Fish and Chip shop!!

A splendid idea…sausage and chips!!!!

Back at the room had a wonderful long hot bath and a little snooze…..my cold has now turned into a cough but it did not slaw me down.

The three bus passengers just arrived and told me about their great visit to Stirling castle and also to Marks and Spencer's to get Malc more pants, he bought three pairs yesterday!!!

So we will go for supper in a while and then check out the local entertainment again.

Last night the gentleman was very talented and his back up band were quite good too!!!

We leave at 8.45am tomorrow for the journey home…..what a great 5 days it has been seeing a new beautiful country, being with family…perfect!!

Yashi Kochi!!!