May 2019 (the sequel)

Ann and I arrived at Manchester Airport in the early hours, and my phone pinged as we were waiting for Peter and Billy to land.  It was a message from Molly who was dog/cow/sheep/fish/house-sitting, thanking us for leaving our bedroom door unlocked. The photo of the ladder accompanied it.  It was one of a number of challenges, including escapee cattle and fish fungus, that faced her in our absence and that she dealt with admirably. 
Peter and Billy arrived on time and in reasonable nick after a straightforward flight (no jinx for them).  We headed back to Ann's and to prawn cocktail crisps, Warburton's bread, Red Leicester cheese and Jelly Babies.  They both keeled over in the early evening but managed to sleep enough to get on with the next day.

We made our way to the West Midlands and arrived at mum's in good time.  A brisk spring walk around Leasowes Park and the allotment kept everyone going, and we woke refreshed the next day.  Mum's 80th Birthday (not her actual birthday, just the official one - but who's counting??) was spent at the Ewe and Lamb in Bromsgrove.  A delicious meal and celebration, followed by a trip to nearby Hanbury Hall and Gardens (National Trust).  The kids ran off some energy, the adults checked out the gardens and art display, and everyone had ice cream.  Even the weather played nicely!

Morning tea the next day was courtesy of Hilliers in Worcestershire, where we meandered around the gardens, lurked in the bird hide and shopped in the gift and farm shops.  From there we drove back into Birmingham to Kaja's place.  Mum and Nick stayed a while, and Marcus, Nikki, Jago and Freya joined us later.  There was a little rain in the afternoon, but the kids were oblivious to it in the spa pool. Some alcohol was consumed and we settled into a fun evening of Balderdash and a takeaway.  Both Melissa and Michael gave up their beds for us - thanks kids!

The next day we reached our last port of call - Ripon.  My childhood home and Peter moved there when he was 16.  We stayed with his baby sister Julie and her son/our nephew Jake and dog Bella.  We were well lubricated with old favourite beers and well-fed with Julie's lovely home cooking. We drove around a bit and re-visited some of the old haunts - some places very much stalled in time and others nearly unrecognisable.  Soon enough Billy was well over us oohing and aahing about familiar places.
We all went out for a meal, meeting Peter's youngest brother David, wife Lynda and son Josh in the Unicorn Hotel.  David's middle son Nick and wife Karine also joined us.  Down memory lane again, but very much feeling like we'd never been away.


We left Billy behind (too much nostalgia for him to bear) and took a day trip to the coast, heading to Redcar where Peter grew up, to visit his auntie Joan.  One doesn't ask a lady her age, but suffice to say that Joan is hanging in there beautifully.  She put on an amazing spread that we could barely make headway with.  It was a joy to spend time with her.  Both her grandchildren, David and Claire, are intrepid travelers and have visited us in NZ.  Before hitting Redcar, we'd skirted Whitby (great view of Dracula's Abbey) and made a stop at Robin Hood's Bay to drench ourselves further in nostalgia.  Years - rather decades - ago we trekked the Coast-to-Coast walk that ends in Robin Hood's Bay.  I could still feel the exhilaration of taking off my steaming hiking boots and soothing my blistered feet in the sea.  Then we took a route through Saltburn, lingering at the beach for a pie, and drove through Marske, checking out the homes that Peter had lived in.  

In the meantime, Peter's oldest brother John and his wife Carole had arrived from Cork for a couple of days.  Lovely to see them both and great to catch up with news from the Irish contingent of the family.  Billy had been in touch with them and their sons/his cousins a while ago and had made plans to travel back to Cork with them when Peter and I return to NZ. We headed out for a barbecue at Nick and Karine's place in Knaresborough that evening.  Other than a lack of young kids, it was very reminiscent of the days of yore when Peter's family events were big, lively parties.

    

The next day Peter's brother Michael arrived in Ripon, in anticipation of the shindig scheduled to take place that evening.  He came with wife Linda, daughter Jane and husband Steve, son Kevin and partner Jen, and daughter Sam with husband Adam and their kids Harry and Evan.  Linda has been very unwell and we weren't sure if she'd be able to travel, but delightedly she made it.  We all met up again later at the Royal Oak in Ripon and were joined by Peter's eldest sister Wendy, husband Tony, daughter

Heather and husband Pete and their kids Amelia and Oliver, plus daughter Carol with her baby Tiarnna.  Wendy and Tony had brought a very precious gift - a book of photos featuring family and places special to us.  A totally unique and wonderful gesture that we have already frequently re-visited.  His cousin Janet, husband Steve and daughter Claire also turned up.  Quite a crowd already, but Julie had invited some of his old mates too: Alister, Martin, Graham, Brian, Phil and Gillian.  No room at the Inn for us all, but the heated outside table area was perfect, even though the 3 wise men were a no-show!

The next day we took John, Carole and Billy to York where they were picking up a train to Manchester, and from there a flight to Cork.  We dropped them off at the Park n Ride and said our farewells to Billy.  He was finally beginning his bumming around Europe adventure, and it felt a bit like he was leaving home again (3rd time).  Au revoir Billy and Bon Voyage x

Back to Julie's for a final evening of reminiscing and good music, before packing our bags and heading back to Manchester ourselves.  To our massive relief, the car had survived without any damage.  The flight home was uneventful and home was...well it was home.  Home sweet home.  No plans to return to England other than on holiday, but very likely to wait less than 11 years next time!  Hoping we've spread the word to those dreaming of an Antipodean holiday that we're very much looking forward to seeing you here.

P.S. My apologies to those whose photos are absent.  I'm pretty good at getting carried away in the moment, and usually pretty useless at getting round to taking photos, so please don't take any omission personally.  And please please send me any pics that you'd like me to add.
 

.