NOTE: We are home, but still catching up on the blog. This morning I was awake before the alarm so decided I might as well be up getting organised for our journey home as lying in bed wide awake. It wasn’t ridiculously early, only about half an hour before the alarm was set for. Fortunately, with our flight not until early this afternoon we didn’t have to rush to be at the airport too early. We were able to have a leisurely breakfast and clean our teeth before packing our toothbrushes and closing our suitcases for the last time on this holiday. Bernie lugged our cases down to the car and we gathered together our last few carry-on items before saying our farewells to Kath and Albert. Once again they have been most hospitable hosts looking ... read more

Today we thought we might go to visit an English Heritage or National Trust property because, you know, we haven’t seen enough of those yet, ha, ha. But … it’s a bit difficult to find any relatively nearby properties because we have visited them all on earlier trips to the North. We finally decided that perhaps we could visit Lyme Park which is operated by the National Trust. Even though we have visited it before, it was way back in the 90s, probably on our first ever trip to the UK, and we couldn’t really recall if we had been into the house? However, the weather was looking pretty glum. We checked the website and found that the house and garden are open today and tomorrow. Bernie checked the weather forecast and we decided that it ... read more

This morning we packed our bags again to head back to Stalybridge. But, of course, we had sussed out another National Trust property that we could visit on the way! We headed down the A19 heading for Middlesbrough. As we drove south along the A19 we could see hills in the distance. I am 99 percent certain that the distinctive half-cone shaped one was Roseberry Topping that is near Great Ayton and was a popular childhood haunt of a young James Cook. If there had been anywhere suitable to stop, I would have had Bernie take a panorama of its Matterhorn-like profile! All too often there are fantastic views here, but nowhere to stop for a photograph. When we left South Shields this morning, we were bemused at some of Syri’s pronunciation. We noticed it yesterday ... read more

Today we tried to break a record for the most English Heritage/National Trust properties visited in one day! After we settled up for breakfast – same breakfast, third different price in three days (at least the price was going down not up!) – we packed up all of our gear and programmed the SatNav for Edlingham Castle which is administered by English Heritage. Edlingham Castle was built in about 1300 by Sir William Felton at a time when Northumberland was relatively peaceful. The best-preserved part of the castle that remains today is the solar tower that was added in 1340-50 by William’s son. With the advent of Anglo-Scottish hostilities William (junior) also strengthened the defences with a gate tower and stone curtain wall. After passing to the Hastings and Swinburne families the castle was abandoned in ... read more

What is it with English pillows … and showers? Actually, the pillow thing is not just English, it’s European. Everywhere that we have stayed while we have been away the pillows look lofty but, as soon as you put your head on them, they squish down to nothing. Haven’t they heard of memory foam in Europe?! So, after yet another night on a flat pillow I was looking forward to a decent shower this morning. Um, no, that was not to be. In addition to the smallest room award The Plough earns the distinction of offering the absolute WORST SHOWER OF THE HOLIDAY!! Honestly, we could have got wetter being spat on by a butterfly. And, of course, I needed to wash my hair today. Should have done it yesterday! Breakfast is not included in the ... read more