Safe (and Happy) Home!!

Matt was right on time collecting us from the airport. Ourselves and our impedimenta all safely returned.

After double-checking the suitcases, one minor disater was noted - there were no shoes bought this time, and no Fabric!!! Must be some sort of record. Mind you, this might have been helped by the fact that our favorite fabric shop in Harrogate was closed for Christmas and there did not seem to be the same range of exciting footware.
... in fact, I have to admit that it was CERTAINLY helped by "Fine Fabrics" being closed. But I do have a photo of something  particularly delicious in the window of that shop and will be in touch with Sandra about that in the near future!!!

However - we didn't seem to collect any antiquarian books this time either. What is wrong with us??

Last Day... fly home tonight.

It's all so strange this travelling thing. No wonder body clocks go awry... I hardly know what day it is myself. But the first day of the New Year, it is. Everyone in this place is wishing everyone else a Happy New Year.

We woke early, and when it became apparent we wouldn't sleep again we pottered up to the Club Lounge to do some blogging. Had orange juice... and just went on from there really.
Having breakfast up here on the 38th floor is special. Fabulous views. And the sunrise!!!
I'm not normally an early morning person, but moving time zones changes things for a bit. The sunrise was SPECTACULAR!! Rosalie - I know why you love them.

Had a short walk out of our hotel - a bit too warm for us. No sign of Penny, but I guess she is celebratng the New Year with her family somewhere else in this city.

Transferred safely to the airport in the evening and on to the plane (eventually). Waiting in the hotel, without our room (although we did have a 2pm check out given to us the transfer was a 6pm pickup) was a bit tedious.

Once on the plane all was well.  Just because we know how interested Andrew is in our nourishment details (notice I did not mention the dreaded "f" word Andrew) I thought I should take a picture of our main course - chicken breasts stuffed with savoury rice - Yum.

Slept well and arrived in Melbourne next morning with Matt waiting to take us home. Lovely.
.

Going With the Flow - In Kuala Lumpur

We had exit row seats, and so had "oodles" of leg room. Slept well on the plane. Trip was over thirteen hours but by sleeping through most of it the time went quickly.

Had no trouble transferring to our hotel in KL.

This is a whole adventure we weren't expecting, and hadn't planned on... until a few weeks before we left we realised the travel agent had not changed our return flights as asked. (Despite all the documentation.) So this stay is a "gift" (at someone else's expense) - and a pretty good one at that! The room they provided (below) was "adequate" I guess.

The Sheraton Hotel is in the middle of the city, is five star, and we're on the club level. After exploring the place, checking out the eating options, the gym and the pool, we lazed in our room. At some point we realised we probably should have something to eat.

New Years Eve - which would account for it, but a DJ was on the mezzanine floor and music was pounding (!!) through the whole place. Everything looked fantastic... decorations... an enormous sack of balloons waiting to be freed... people everywhere... party hats of the sparkly bright colour variety at every eating place...
...just didn't suit us. So we retired to our room on the 37th floor and ordered up some food.
What a way to see in the New Year of 2012!!!

Our room service arrived after 11:30pm. A table set with crisp linen, silver and white crockery. There we were, in the window, looking out at all the bright lights of Kuala Lumpur and sipping from our cups, as...
...the fireworks exploded all around us!!! The main show off to our left, and countless other smaller shows in a miriad of locations. It was truly incredible!!!

We went to sleep later, aware that life can be (and is) uncertain, but how thankful we can be for every good thing God sends our way.

To all our friends, I want to tell you right here and now how much we both appreciate your friendship. xxxxxxxxxxx etc.

To Heathrow - and Heading Home

Breakfast in the Bay Tree was lovely. Tony, the Marmalade in particular was to die for. You would have loved it. The breakfast room (right) looked out on a garden created (originally) in the 1600's. Great start to the day.

And so... after another walk in Burford, we headed off. But not before deciding to take a Burford Bear (on our bed here in the  picture) from The Bay Tree home with us! This was for Arthur. you understand....!!!

We pottered off to Stow-on-the-Wold... then Chipping Norton.... out of the Cotswolds and passing familiar places like Blenheim Palace, Woodstock and Bladen... then through Bourne End, around Cookham, passed "Clivedon", and on to Windsor.

The day was overcast and came on to drizzle, but we spent a pleasant afternoon here. The weather did discourage us from heading over the footbridge into Eton, though, and we had decided against even thinking about "The House on the Bridge". But there's always plenty to enjoy at Windsor - even in the drizzle.

Decided not to call in on Jan's friend, Betty - sometimes one has to make tough choices!! (Not sure she was at the castle this afternoon anyway!)

We were amazed at how many people there were in the Royal Station area. Last time it'd seemed fairly sparse. Now it was positively jumping with bodies. Despite that, we managed to get a spot at a pattisserie and indulge in a "little something" and rest the feet after all our perambulating.

Next stop - Heathrow.
Arthur is a hero! Drove through the rain and the dark with the sure instinct of a homing pigeon. Or at least, someone who's done this many times before.

Once inside it was easy and quick. The lounge a haven of tranquility! Nothing to tempt me to spend money, despite all the delicious duty free shopping! Sad, really!!
...except some little thing for Wilma ....and some little thing for Andrew.

And then - on to the plane and headed for Kuala Lumpur.

Somewhere in all this a day goes missing. (Well, you know what I mean...) And so we just go with the flow.

Goodbye Yorkshire - Thursday

And so, we've had our last night in Abbey Cottage for a while!
It's a fantastic location and a great cottage (...overlooking the little matter of the shower - the Brits don't always do showers very well!!) ...and we have lots of family memories from this place that are very dear to us.

With the car packed we headed south, and in the direction of the Cotswolds.

We LOVE the Cotswolds! One of our favourite villages (and to pick a favourite is seriously difficult) is Burford.

The long and wide High Street slopes down to the River Windrush, and is flanked on both sides by beautifully preserved medieval buildings of honey-coloured Cotswold stone.

Off the high street is Sheep Street... and a delighful Inn there has long appealed to me. With Wisteria at the front door, and a history of over 500 years (!) ...called The Bay Tree. Yes! - they had a spare room, AND yes!! - we stayed there!!!

The Bay Tree Hotel (right)  .....  Loved it.

Checked in to our room called "Leafield" and thought we\d died and gone to heaven!!! Rooms are named after places in the area... others include Windrush and Wytchwood. The reception rooms date from Queen Elizabeth the First, and are oak beamed and flagstoned.

We walked in the town, and church bells rang out just as we were strolling along the river path. Amazing sound. A wedding exited the old church. This made it all just come alive.

Breakfast Friday morning was a joy - old oak tables on the flagstones, beamed ceiling, white linen and attentive service. We sat in a large window overlooking a garden, birds popping about. Amazing to see the huge apple tree was covered in blossoms! Such a mild winter here.

All the English things - including delicious marmalade, Tony! This was in the flagstoned and beamed area.

All good things eventually have to come to an end... and so we headed into the next part of the day.

Yorkshire Day 8 - Wednesday

After a leisurely breakfast, planned so as to let the sun appear, we headed out into the Abbey park.

The sunlight did all sorts of magic things to the ruins and although it was only about 10 degrees, the walking was really pleasant.

This is such familiar territory for us and so welcome.

Taking the loop walk from the Abbey and along the river Skell we headed towards the water gardens (about 1km away). Toddled along as only old folk can and found that by the time we got to the gardens there was only enough energy for the retunn journey. The Water gardens themselves will have too wait.

This walk includes the abbey ruins themselves (right), the redirected river Skell engineered by the monks nearly 1000 years ago (the abbey was mostly built before 1200 though stared around 1090) and, nearer the west gate and our cottage a stately mansion (below) built using some of the stone from the abbey around 1600 after Henry VIII had dissolved abbeys such as the Fountains one.

Back at the cottage we loaded what we needed in to the car and headed for Harlow Carr and Betty's for a little sustainance. Must keep the stremgth up you know (and use those gift vouchers so thoughtfully provided by T & C). Thanks once more team!! If we return overladed (personally, you understand) we will know who is to blame.

Back to the cottage mid-afternoon and Jilllienne got her head down cooking for our visitors. Jan and Dave had been asked round together with some relatives of theirs we had met at Dave's birthday last year - Colin and Judy. The cottage had some decorations adjusted/created and the food was all ready when they arrived (fine arrangement actually). Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves despite heavy rain and wind outside - great for us, we didn't have to drive home in it!!!

Yorkshire day 7 - Tuesday 27th December

Headed off to York today for an explore (love the place!) and a little shopping.

Guess what Matt?? The Monk Bar train shop was open!!!! Dad had a GREAT time - as expected!

After a little time here also checked out the National Trust shop (picked up a new cottage brochure) and also Hobbs - potentially dangerous but this time round quite safe. Just the occasional handbag.

In general, as we found on the continent, clothing is very unadventurous this year. Possibly it is as a result of the depressed economy. Shops seem to be playing safe with ordinary colours (brown, black and grey) and very ordinary designs. Only the very expensive places seem to have more adventurous items. (All in all, a great time for a Jillienne to save money.)

Final outcome - not too much damage to the funds eventuated. We had a great time trotting around renewing our acquaintace with the Minster, Stonegate, The Shambles, Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate (the shortest street), High Petergate, The York Antique Centre - and of course Betty's. Lunch was great as expected. Arthur thought he should have a change from the steak pie but decided against this in the end. Once more - delightful!!! (We even shared a Brown Bread Icecream Sundae.)

We obviously arrived at a good time, and very quickly got a table by the window looking out into St. Helen's Square. Then the queue grew - till it was out the building and curling around the windows past us. It was rather amazing  to have people peering in at such close range. One lady looking in at us and our lunch even pressed her nose against the glass!! Hilarious!

Spent the evening tucked up in Abbey Cottage.

Monday on the Yorkshire Moors

The weather forecast seemed suitable so we headed towards the Moors today.

Drove from Ripon accross the Vale of York, passed the turnoff to Kilburn (the Mouseman village) and up Sutton Bank onto the edge of the Yorkshire Moors. It was very windy on the edge of the bank and so we kept moving to one of our favorite spots - Helmsley - a little village with some interesting castle ruins in the township and the Rieveaux Abbey ruins (huge) just outside the town.

 One of our favorite eating spots (The Tudor Rose) was closed so we chose our second best for a quick cuppa after a walk round the town. It is a delightful place with a small stream running through the middle of the town centre. There is a very pretty church and lytchgate in the town. The rather terrific antiquarian book shop was also closed - probably just as well, it is very tempting. We did not see any sign of the cat which befriended Andrew and Matt one year when we visited. Might have been inside keeping warm (the cat I mean).

From there we continued along the road to the coast as far as Pickering. Here Arthur wanted to visit the castle ruins. We have been to Pickering a number of times - it is the starting point for the North York Moors Railway - but never stopped for the castle. It was closed as far as getting inside was concerned but we walked round the outside - quite enough in this cold.

From here we headed back towards Abbey Cottage calling past Rieveaux in the process. Altogether not a long day out but very enjoyable revisiting places that have such a lot of memories for us. Hope it won't be our last visit.

Yorkshire Day 5 - Sunday

Christmas day! And unlike the last 2 years, no snow in sight.
In fact, very mild weather is keeping the temperatures up between 10 - 14C!!!! Our mantle at Abbey was suitablly provided with my favourite travelling Christmas decorations. Arthur has not missed a Christmas overseas with these so far.

With the sunshine peeking it's way over the hill behind the abbey, we headed around to the deerpark and enjoyed a lovely walk - the Seven Bridges walk. And in case you're wondering, it's called that because there are... no! there are five bridges. (Don't ask...)
We weren't the only ones out on Christmas Day morning. We exchanged Christmas greetings with about 150 people and their dogs. Who says the English aren't friendly?!

Later in mid afternoon we headed over to Birstwith. To "Monksway" in Nidd Lane to be exact. A warm welcome from Jan and Dave Jobling and daughter Mary awaited us. What a special thing it is - friends on the other side of the world... fun and laughter... shared stories... and fabulous food.

The Christmas Day food - Wow!! Dave and Jan, you outdid yourselves, and that's saying something. The turkey, the vegetables (glad you didn't have to dig  the parsnips out of the garden with a pickaxe again this year, Dave!!), everything - even the bread sauce... the pudding... the cheese and nuts... Wonderful!! You will notice from the photo the speed, the result of many years of sucessfull medical practice, with which Dave demolishes the turkey to all of our mutual satisfaction.

...and of course - Charades in the lounge by the fire afterwards. I know I'm not all that good at this - but I ask you... what would YOU do for "Mama Mia"?!!

We unashamedly ate too much, talked too much, laughed too much. Can one laugh too much?
And rolled home to Abbey Cottage too late. What fun!

Yorkshire day 4 - Saturday

If you read Friday's entry you would know that our hire car had died and we were stranded in our cottage unable to reach Betty's and with a whole "slab" of Betty's vouchers to use. Now read on ....

A nice (but talkative) chap from the AA finally appeared at our door at 11.30am this morning to take us to Manchester to collect a replacement car - just the way we wanted to spend our holidays - going to Manchester in a tow truck!! However, we needed a new vehicle so after checking that we were going to actually be able to collect a replacement car, off we went. It was rather exciting for a time getting our "wreck" on to the tray. The road outside the cottage is not much wider than a truck and every time he got in to position, some bothersome Local would drive up and want to get past, in desperate hurry to finish their Christmas shopping.

Eventually, all was loaded and we were off to Manchester. While Andrew might think this a perfect location it is not one of our holiday favorites. The truck was slow and part way along our driver needed his required rest period. So what with a stop at one of the worst services on the entire route and the slowness of the truck it was not till after 5pm that we got back to Yorkshire and by then, relieved that we had a working car again but feeling that we had wasted two days in the process, there was only one alternative - Betty's for dinner. We were in time, just, they were closing their doors in 15 minutes but we could order whatever we wanted. We did!

What a couple of days......
... and people back home probably thought we were having a great time.

Yorkshire Day 3 - Friday

Wensleydale today. One of our special places. We always look forward to revisiting some of the places made very interesting by the adventures about a country vet, by author IanWright (alias James Herriott), so off to explore today.  At the head of the dale lay our eventual destination - the Wensleydale creamery - source of a number of fine cheeses and the Wensleydale Pantry - excellent home cooking!!

While there was a little drizzle at times the drive was great with the countryside so very attractive. Typical rock walls all around and stone barns in almost every field. Lots of sheep to talk to also - they all have their own voices and huge eyelashes.

We chose a few roads that were new to us and thoroughly enjoyed being out in the Dales. Even on the higher country with no buildings or people in sight, it is a special place.

Villages dot the dales and each one has its own character. The local shops, such as Rustic Rabbit at Grassington (right), are always full of interest but in terms of architecture and content. Hawes itself has a real appeal for us being the location of the creamery and the Wensleydale Pantry.

Towards the end of the day we headed to Harlow Carr near Harrogate and location of our favorite Betty's. Unfortunately they were closing early and so we needed to head into the town itself if we were going to have dinner.

But it was not to be... in the carpark, and after a day of driving in very remote locations, the hire car lost all forward gears!! After reversing into a safe position - it lost its reverse one as well !!!!! To add interent to the situation, this was the only day we had left our mobile phone at the cottage. While Arthur made the car safe, I begged the Betty's staff for use of their phone and rang the emergency help line. Everyone was very understanding and we were assured that someone would rescue us within the next 2 hours - better than nothing.

As it turned out, help arrived in a little less than an hour. In the form of a fairly little and very friendly Yorkshireman. He managed to coax the car to be of some use ...and so with a large tow truck following to pick up any pieces, we made our way back slowly to the cottage and a warm fire. Then followed a series of interesting phone calls.
The first assistant had been a local guy called by the AA. But then there began a shuffle between the local guy, the AA and Hertz. Our car could not be driven, Hertz were all closed up until after Christmas except at Manchester Airport (2 hours away) and the AA did not want to help if there was no replacement vehicle. Eventually we located a replacement car at Manchester, the AA told us they would collect us and our car and take us there - "be picking you up in the next 15 minutes or so". This all began at around 5.30pm. By 11pm, and after several further promises of "be there in 15 minutes" we were still in our cottage and the Hertz place had closed.

See the Saturday Blog for the next exciting part of this saga.