Stratford-Upon-Avon - Could it possibly be our last day?

I opened my eyes and reality kicked in - oh no, the day had come....it really was the last day of our holiday!   It was time to get organised and make sure we had everything we needed for our flight at 9:30pm.

James and Will were so excited, especially James - he couldn't believe the day had come.  Clearly he doesn't do enough work at school or home - Terry and I were dreading heading back to the daily grind.

We went for a stroll around Stratford-Upon-Avon, it was a pretty little town.  There were markets (woo hoo, tricked again said James) and plenty going on around the river - if only we had a full day!  We stopped by the MAD museum which had interactive exhibits of mechanical art and design with buttons, handles, light and sound effects.  We were all enthralled and didn't want to leave but we had to push on, we had a plane to catch.

We made our way to the airport via the Cotswolds and I had the last 'supper'.  From this day I just have to be good and I am looking forward to not feeling full all the time!  I have eaten my way around the UK and this has to stop!  James also found another Roly's Fudge Pantry - the same company that was in York.  Just one more piece he begged!

The irony wasn't lost when it started to rain as we made our way down the freeway to the airport.  A beautiful rainbow appeared and I couldn't help thinking the rainbow's end was over Heathrow Airport.  All of a sudden.....we hit heavy traffic.  The traffic slowed, slowed, slowed - we really didn't need any hold ups now.  We still had to take the car back to an airport hotel and check in.....surely we wouldn't miss the plane!  We travelled at a snails pace with 60 mils to go.  I was counting down the miles, 59.........58...........57.........

'Can you believe we'll be on the plane soon', said James the whole way to the airport.  To be honest no, i couldn't, and at this pace, we wouldn't!

Finally the speed increased and we returned our car on time.  We made it to the airport and James's smile went from ear to ear.

I didn't really mind what are usually torturous flights - i just looked at them as a rest!  Thinking about the holiday on the plane, the absolute best part had been spending a month together and sharing all the different experiences.   It was invaluable family time and you couldn't put a price on it - especially now as the kids as are so much older.

We flew Qantas and there is nothing like boarding a plane full of Australian accents.  After a 6 hour flight to Dubai followed by a 13 hour flight to Sydney - and James counting down the whole way - we were finally home.

Driving home in car Terry asked, 'where will we go next time?'

'Hawaii!!'  said Will and I.

'How long are you going to go for?' said James.  'I'll be staying home with Nan'

The End.

Cute as a button, Stratford-Upon-Avon

This beauty was at the markets

MAD museum

Last piece of fudge

The kids were relieved when Terry realised he had accidentally left the CD he had bought in Ireland in the hire car!  We would play it as punishment if the kids mucked up!

Nearly at the airport

Made it!

James - the happiest of all to be home!

'I might go next time.......'

The countdowns on - time for the Marlborough's to head closer to London

I woke to the reality that tonight would be our last night in the UK.  I hadn’t booked anywhere for tonight, I was going to play it by ear.  There is only one problem. TERRY AND I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE!  I think we are in denial.

I asked everyone what they wanted to do for the last day and night of our holiday.  Terry was easy, ‘whatever you’d like’.  Will suggested, ‘stay somewhere 5 star’.  James asked, ‘Is there was any chance we could go home a day early?’ He’s really missing home!  We contemplated a trip to Bath but it would be a big drive and we were having another slow start.  We eventually decided we’d visit a couple we met last year at Knight Inlet, Canada - Rita and Ivan.   I’d always said if we were ever close by we’d call in for a cuppa.

Before leaving York, James suggested we go back to the fudge shop for another piece of salted caramel – he felt bad that he’d eaten mine.  Of course I could see right through his ploy and we left with another couple of pieces! We were then on our way to Urmston which is just out of Manchester.

It was great catching up with Rita and Ivan over coffee in the sun in their gorgeous backyard.  Rita had made us a beautiful lunch complete with cupcakes for dessert and we spent a lovely afternoon swapping travel stories.  After a few hours we decided we’d head on our way – but where to?  We were welcome to stay the night but we decided we'd be best to start our drive to London.  I looked at the map and picked somewhere midway between London.   Stratford-Upon-Avon it would be!

Catching up with Rita and Ivan

Boys enjoying a backyard!

York in a day!

We all woke up late – again! One of the boys – of which I won’t name – said out of the blue, ‘I’m missing nan so much, she is the best nan in the world.’ 

It was drizzling and as we weren’t in a rush, we slowly got ready for the day.  We headed out late for a walk around York and you wouldn’t believe it, the clouds lifted and out came the sun!  First up, a stroll to the Shambles and to see the shortest street.  There were so many shops with so many things to eat we didn’t know where to start!  We watched fudge get made and James bought a piece of vanilla and I bought a piece of salted caramel – and a piece of maple & walnut that was still warm! I then saw pulled pork rolls!  Even though I wasn’t hungry I just HAD to have one – and I will pay the price when I get home.   Will then found McDonalds on the map app and I’ve never seen a kid walk so quick – we were all laughing as we tried to keep up with him. 

We wandered around the town, through a park and down to the city wall which we walked along to the National Railway Museum.  Once this would have been Will’s dream and I wasn’t sure what his reaction would be now that he’s a cool teenager.  Well, once we were inside, you couldn’t help but be impressed.  We were all interested and we marvelled at the sheer size of some of the trains.  We got to go in an English Pullman, Japanese bullet train and went into a Mallard simulator, which told the story of the speed breaking train.  Will was completely blown away by the Mallard – it had always been his favourite train.  The museum really was incredible.

That night Terry and I decided to go out for dinner – we walked into a pub and then looked at each and we were thinking the same thing – we just couldn’t do another night in a pub.  We turned around, walked straight back out and walked along until we came to a restaurant at the end of our street.  The restaurant was packed, noisy but the menu looked outstanding.  We had entrees, mains and a bottle of wine.  We were contemplating dessert when I received a text from James:

‘Mum I kinda ate your salted fudge I just had a bit then a bit more and a bit more.  Sorry L’

I had to laugh, his confession was very cute – so Terry and I ordered dessert and a sticky wine!

Terry and I reminisced about our holiday all night and both agree we’ve had an absolutely fantastic trip – we just don’t want to come home! 

Hey, I'm in York - so yorkshire puddings for breakfast!

The river at the end of our street

How long could i resist the pulled pork?

Strolling along the Shambles

Pastries for Terry

Fudge!

I resisted the pulled pork for 30 minutes - now time for a roll

Pose with your mother!

Can you see 3 Marlboroughs?

National Railway Museum

A night out in York - no pubs for us!

But I didn't say a quick flutter at the casino was out of the question!

That's ok James - I'll order dessert and a sticky wine!

Yorkshire Dales - cheese, the surprise labyrinth! - and onto York.

We set off for a day in the Yorkshire Dales before making our way to York. 

I think I’ve said over 100 times in the car - the grass is just so green!  The stone walls continued, we have never seen so many stone walls in our life.  They went right to the top of the mountains and stretched as far as the eye could see.  The roads were so narrow and cars would still fly past!

We came to a rare section without walls and found sheep and horses grazing freely across the road.  We weren’t sure what breed the horses were but we sat and watched them munching on the grass.

We stopped at a small town, Hawes, and went to the Wensleydale Creamery for a cheese tasting.  There were around 30 different varieties of cheese and I was in heaven! Cheddars, blues, fruit and chilli – I had a little piece of every sort. 

Shortly after leaving, we found ourselves on another little road and in front of us was a lady and her baby in a pram.  The road was so narrow we couldn’t pass her and she started running with the pram until she came to a clearing and could let us pass.  We got chatting to her and she lived close by - her and her husband were sheep farmers.  She was up for a chat and told us all about life as a farmer in the Yorkshire Dales.   They breed sheep and for their top ram last year they got 50,000 pounds and they get around 102 pounds a lamb.  Farms get a subsidy on the proviso they keep their walls up and tidy as it is a requirement because they farm is located in a national park.   There is all different criteria they have to meet.  She said the walls drive them mad as when there is a frost, the ice falls and takes rocks away with it.   Every single day they work from dawn to dusk.  We really enjoyed chatting to her and as we were driving away she said we were welcome to come and stay with her if we were in the area again!

Driving on, we arrived at the Forbidden Corner, originally a unique labyrinth of tunnels, chambers, follies and surprises created within a 4 acre garden.  It was privately created and opened to the public due to high demand.  James and I in particular love a maze and we were given a list of things we had to find along the way.   I couldn’t tell you how amazing it was – there were hedges, turns that lead to pathways, underground chambers, gardens, sculptures, water booby traps – excitement at every turn.  James was skipping along saying, ‘I just love this place, I just love it!’  We spent nearly two hours exploring and there was still one area we couldn’t find.   It was just so clever and I could have stayed there all day.

Onwards we drove and arrived at York early evening.  We picked up the keys to our Airbnb apartment and had a quiet night and home cooked meal.  We’d had a fantastic day exploring the Yorkshire Dales and were all tired out!