OK, another bulk update as the Wi-fi had been patchy again.

Thursday the 25^th we spent the day with Kate in Chester. We had a slowish start and the girls worked on their journals, then we all headed into the city and parked near just outside the wall. Starting at Bridgegate (I think) we walked around the walls in a clockwise direction. The girls did well and it was a nice walk. Chester is a very pretty town. We really liked the look of the racecourse which has almost no straights and is on a tiny piece of land, it is (possibly) the oldest racecourse in England, and it’s possible to see the entire track without binoculars.

We stopped about half way around for a late morning tea/early lunch snack, and then made our way the rest of the way round the circuit, ending up back where we started.  We spent the rest of the afternoon having a proper lunch and meandering through the shops. Chester has a great shopping area with lots of quite random shops in a tiered and ancient shopping arcade.  We headed home to rescue poor Leigh (Kate’s dog) who had been shut up waiting for us all day.

On Friday, we said good-bye to Kate who headed off to work while we finished packing ourselves up, then we headed to Manchester to pick up the Son and Heir from the Man U Soccer School.  It was a pretty boring motorway run into Manchester but we got there in good time and parked up outside the Imperial War museum so that we could walk along the canal and across the foot-bridge to the Salford Quays. We made Warren buy some new clothes before heading to Old Trafford to see the closing presentation for the camp.

The boys were all brought into the stadium through the player’s entrance. The announcer was the Old Trafford ground announcer (he does all the matches) and he had all the parents yelling and clapping trying to sounds like a full stadium.  The coaches then did closing speeches and congratulated all the boys.  Warren and I were really impressed by the positive and encouraging mentoring the boys received. They were very strong on doing everything ‘The Man U way’ – and kept repeating their values about giving your best, working hard, winning and losing with the same dignity etc. Of course they managed to mention that Man U have won the Championship 19 times about a million times in the afternoon as well!

The final treat for all the boys was for them to have their photo taken with the Barclays Premiership Trophy  which they had out at the far end of the stadium, so they all walked around in their coaching groups and had a lap around the pitch with a stop at the far end for a photo with the cup.

We then went out to the players exit to pick Ash up and say goodbye to his roomies.  After that it was another trip to the Megastore (Ash had been earlier), Hannah wasn’t going to miss out as she’s decided that she’s a Man U girl and is now wearing a no 14 Chicharito shirt everywhere she goes.

From Manchester we headed for Blackpool as that had been our plan…no bother getting there, but I think we were all taken aback by just how trashy the place was, not in a fun tacky way, but in a yukky sleazy way. Fortunately, the place I had booked had stuffed up our dates, so we walked along the Prom, bought some rock and had fish and chips, pickled onions and mushy peas for tea before heading out of town.

We headed north on the M6, thinking that worst case we’d head for a hotel room at the motorway services, the first place was full and so was the second….not good…it was getting on for 9pm, but fortunately the second place we stopped gave Warren the name of a B&B just off at the next junction, so we phoned and managed to get rooms. Well, Blackpool’s loss was our gain as we arrived at Foulstone Farm. Mary and Ian got us set up in 3 rooms in their 1655 farmhouse – it was a great end to the day to snuggle up behind the thick stone walls!

Lyn

We woke early as usual - 6.30 and Bridie arrived soon after in our room. The view from the bedroom windows was fabulous - rolling dales, with stone walls and grazing sheep. The weather was showery.

The house was full of character and was well presented. Our hosts were lovely people and knocked up a nice breakfast.

We hit the road and meandered via back roads for Haltwhistle- the centre of Britain and gateway to the major ruins of Hadrian’s Wall. Went via Ingleton- kids too young for caves, via Dales backroad to Hawes and sampled some Wensleydale cheese - and purchased. Then on to Cumbria and Northumberland via the Pennines, there was a lot of purple flowers on the fell tops.  A nice drive that beat the M6. Visited the best outdoor Roman fort ruin in the wall at Housestead’s - Lyn bought us a guide book and conducted a very professional tour. Clever those Romans, latrines everywhere.

It should be noted that although still summer here the outdoor temperature ranged from 11.5 to 15.5 degrees all day. There was a cool north westerly at Housetead’s that chilled.

Looking forward to heading to Scotland in the morning after a visit to a Roman ruin museum.

Warren