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Published: March 4th 2006
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Learning from our last weekend away (missing the train to Brussels!), we set our alarms for 4:40am so that we could leave the house at 5:20am. We needed to catch a bus from Chatham where we live, to the train station in Strood as there were engineer works on the train tracks inbetween. So we got to London on time and even had a chance to sit down and relax before we got on the Virgin Train that would take us to Runcorn Station.
It was a 3 hour train ride, but the train was quite nice and new. We had our Ipods and books to amuse us and the trip didn't seem to take long at all. I couldn't see much of the country-side on the way up North as we weren't near a good window.
When we arrived at Runcorn station I immediately spotted Uncle Arnold and Aunty Betty waiting on the platform for us. They looked just as I remembered them (although a little more frail looking with whiter hair) when they came to Australia when I was only 11 years of age. I couldn't imagine what they must of thought when they saw me as I have
Out to dinner with the family
At the Barge Chinese Restaurant/pub with the family! grown just a little 13 years later!!! They did recognise me which was good!
After hugs and hellos they drove us through Runcorn into the old main street (to pick up meat for our Sunday roast the next day!) and then to there house 108 Stenhill Court. It was just as I pictured it would be. And inside too with the old traditional english couple feel to it. We sat down to rest for half an hour and Betty cooked us a bit of a fry up and made us a cup of tea. Then Arnold suggested that he drive us into the "city" to have a look around. When he said city i kind of thought of city as in our city in Adelaide, but when we got there it was actually just a really big shopping centre/complex.
We wondered around for about an hour and popped in to say hello to Kim who works in Tescos (Betty and Arnold walk slow so I had to keep slowing down - you know how fast I walk mum!) looking at some shops, I bought some lollies (I mean sweets - I am in England now so not allowed to say
lollies) and then we head home. Luke and I were so tired from getting up at 4:40am that we went for a nap.
That night Arnold and Betty took us out to dinner at The Barge Chinese restaurant/pub to meet some of the family. Kim, Kev and there 2 daughters Abbey and Jessica were there, a very tanned (she had just come back from the Canary Islands!) and blinged up Karen and her boyfriend Chris were there and Kevs mum and dad also. We had a feast let me tell you and Luke thought it was hilarious that you could get hot ships in a Chinese restaurant. I was already warned by Kristy about it but still thought it was funny.
After dinner we said goodbye to Kim and Kev who had to get the kids home and alos Kevs parents, and then went off to the Union pub to play some Bingo and have a few drinks! We played about 5-6 rounds but didn't win, probably because Betty won twice! I came close though! It was fun and something different so we had a great time.
Sunday morning we slept in but Kim, Kev and the girls drove around
to take us to Asda's the supermarket. We got back just in time for Betty's famous Sunday roast. What a feast! Lukes eyes pretty much bulged out of his head. We had lamb with mash potatoes, roast potatoes, carrot, peas, beans, cabbage, yorkshire pudding, turnip and gravy. It was so good that we couldn't move for the rest of the afternoon, and just sat on the couch. We were so comfortable that it was easy to convince Luke to stay an extra day so we could go to Chester.
That night we went around to Kim and Kev's house for drinks. The kids loved having us over, but when they went to bed the real drinks came out. I had wine, Baileys and then Kev brought out the "fish bowl" (Simon and Kristy you should know what I am talking about) sized "Harvey Wallbanger" which was vodka, vanilla flavoured galliano (I think?) and orange juice. I must admit it was too strong for me and considering my eyes were already crossing I made Luke drink most of it. At about 1am we stumbled 1 minute down the road back to Arnold and Betty's. Luckily they live really close!
Surprisingly I
didn't have much of a hangover at all on the Monday. We got in the car and headed off to Chester for the day.
Chester was a lovely town! It was bigger than I expected and there were a lot of people. Luke and I wandered around the acient Roman walls. It took an hour and a bit and we took some nice pictures of the cathedral and the canals. It was lovely, everything was green and the buildings down the main centre are typically English. There were a lot of shops too!
Luke headed back to Chatham on the train that night but I spent an extra two nights. I mainly caught up with Kim and Kev in that time and played with the kids who were sad to see me leave on the Wednesday morning.
On the Sunday Luke and I also headed up to see Stonehenge. A friend of Luke's from work, his wife and neice and nephew, drove us there. It was a cold and rainy day, but seeing Stonehenge in real life was pretty amazing. Luke enjoyed listening to the audio player that we were given to listen to whilst we walked around the circle.
I was just amazed to look at it. It seemed smaller than what I expected and almost didn't look real.
Not much else to tell about our short holiday, and it was back to school for me on the Monday. We are definately looking forward to getting away again and are planning a trip back to Runcorn over Easter. Missing you all!
Renee and Luke
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