Mar 22, 2013 - Train & York

We had a pretty lucky day. Our train was supposed to leave at 10:15AM, but we got there 1/2 hour early just in case. Along comes a train going south to Oxford (We thought we were going North to York) and when I asked the conductor about it, he said we had to go to Oxford first and then go North from there. AND they were a 1/2 hour early!!! So we just made it and got our train to York in Oxford. It was about 3 1/2 hours and mostly what we saw out the window (besides cattle and sheep) was SNOW! Yes, it is winter here. When we got to York it...

Mar 13, 2013 - York

Thanks to wonderful cousin Sarah, I went out to York today. oured almost the whole town. Did you know that due to the quality of clean water in the Viking era, everyone including children. drunk beer? WHAAAAT!!! Mind blowing right?well I think there is always more to learn about world history. I was really shocked to learn about disproved theories about the viking culture that have been speculated by televsion and media. Contrary to belief that viking were a brutal unfriendly race, it turns out that they actually had compassion and...

Oct 26, 2012 - York, looking for a grand old Duke?

We had a comfortable night, when we finally did get off to sleep. There is an email from the courier company telling us everything looks ok, and it seems customs has accepted the company signing the form on our behalf. After a full breakfast we check out, and bags are taken to the car. We double check that there are no restrictions on parking at the front of the hotel, and make our way across the bridge into town. York was founded by the Romans nearly 2,000 years ago, though there is evidence of settlers since 8,000BC. The 4km of walls...

Oct 25, 2012 - Potter about on a Bunny Hunt

A cooked breakfast is included with our accommodation, we nearly miss it because we didn’t keep an eye on the time. The staff come up to our room to see if we were coming down, we had been busy repacking our bags. We leave our bags at the hostel and take a cab to the boat harbour. The taxi driver tells us that we have to take the chain ferry, which is further away from Windermere at Bowness. We are a bit sceptical, but when we are left at the ferry dock Tony goes to the local store to check. There is another boat service, but it is more...

Sep 30, 2012 - York

On the 30th of September, Saba and I went on a trip to York. I was surprised to find that York is the 2nd most popular tourist destination in England. It is a very quaint city. Hard to believe it was once competing with London as the city with the biggest population. It also held importance in parliamentary regards as we learned from our tour guide who gave us a very brief history and showed us some interesting parts of York. We walked along the wall (which was used to defend the city) and saw that a wedding was taking place at the oldest...

Sep 12, 2012 - Badgers and Buttertubs

12 Sept 2012 Headed north on the A1(M) – we knew there had been a truck smash further up and the motorway was closed. So we knew we would have to take an exit. But it took quite a while for Tom to find a way to get us to Masham which we could see was on the way to Leyburn, and our first Dale, Wensleydale. At one stage we were on a sealed road with tufts of grass growing in the centre – we had to stop for a person on a wheelchair to let us pass, and were waved back by another driver (probably also with a Tom helper!) Masham was a nice small...

Sep 11, 2012 - Fragrances for the day - Eau de Cowdung is popular here

11 Sept 2012 And a new one is getting rave reviews - Essence of Fags, Fish and Chips. Enough of the veiled complaints! We rang ond confirmed the location of the Hertz office, and said we would be a bit late ("Don't worry love, have a cup of coffee and come in when you are ready"), then caught the bus to the station about 10. We Found our car - the ugliest car I have seen for a while - A Nissan Juke! I prefer to refer to it as a joke. Boot big enough for 1 small suitcase! I went back to the office and asked if they had anything else - she...

Sep 10, 2012 - No swearing in Marks and Spencer!

10 Sept 12 Nice brekky at the Limes - very good coffee! We caught a No7 bus on Fulford Rd and rode into town. We wandered along Coney St - a main shopping location. There is a small "square" at Helens St, this is where Mansion House. We were stopped by a man selling joke books to raise money - he was a bus driver about J's age - retrenched and out of work. We knew how hard it was for him to be doing what he was doing, and bought a book. He was very apologetic, thanked us and apologised for interrupting our day #. We went into the Museum...

Sep 9, 2012 - You'd just have to kill em wouldn't yer....

9 Sept 2012 Arose early - breakfasted, abluted and packed. On the street 8:30, hailed a cab, and minutes later we were at Waverly station. Its in chaos now but should be excellent when all the renovations are finished. Coffee and relax until 10:30 train. Train on time - found our seats (backwards again!!) and stowed bags. All good until some absolute deros got on at Newcastle - one with no shirt and tattooed wings on his back. Back from a weekend away drinking and the other. And everyone on the train got all the details! First class next...

Aug 2, 2012 - Edinburgh to York

Good evening to everyone, We travelled from the north back into England and the delightful city of York. York is a walled city and one of the few walled cities where the wall is still in existence. The wall was built over a thousand years ago. The Romans founded York but they were overrun by the Saxons, who were overrun by the Vikings who were overrun by the Normans. The city is lovely with a huge cathedral, the York Minster. This was built between 1200 and 1450. It was built as a catholic church but, of course, when Henry 8th decided to...

Jul 26, 2012 - Around York

We were up and ready for breakfast about 8:30 this morning and ate in the breakfast room at the hotel. It was a very adequate breakfast with scrambled eggs, sausages, etc., though I stuck to my usual cereal. We set off for the park and ride and took the bus into York. It works out very reasonably, as the children ride free. We walked down to the Jorvik Centre and the line was quite short. We all enjoyed the experience. Fiona has little recollection of it, though she knows she was there. Christine and I were there last year and it was quite...

Jul 25, 2012 - Bo'ness to York

We woke to clear blue skies at 6:00 am today. The clearest, bluest we have seen since leaving Canada. We got the van packed and had breakfast and said our sad goodbyes to Nan. Lillias, her friend, had dropped her off shortly before we left and we were able to thank Lillias for her kindness in allowing Nan to stay at her home while we occupied Nan's. The drive south was better than expected I drove the first part and the Edinburgh traffic was lighter than I expected, considering it was rush-hour. I drove past Newcastle, and the GPS took us...