Filming in Manchester for Spanish TV, the end of our trip to the UK, Oli visits the BBC, home again to sun in Spain, another tribute to my Father, Charles Courtenay Lloyd, the mysterious poem on my mother's grave and other stories.

Sunday 4^th February, 2018.

 

Eladio and I on the flight back from Manchester on Monday evening.

Hello again everyone.

It's amazing to think that this time last week we were still in Manchester with the girls  after a wonderful week in Yorkshire with Kathy and Phil. Doesn't time fly?

Last Sunday was our last full day in the UK. The weather was grim in Manchester as is to be expected in the UK in January. In Montrondo, our beloved village in the North West of Spain, it was snowing heavily. I would have loved to be there but had to suffice with photos posted by the villagers like this one of Jénaro knee deep in snow.

Heavy snow in Montrondo this week

Sunday was the end of our 9 day stay in the UK and our precious time with the girls. It started with breakfast together at the Mercure Hotel in Piccadilly Gardens and overlooking the fascinating fountain. Oli went off to film and we agreed to meet her later and even have a walk on part in what she was filming that day.

Our plan was to visit the famous John Rylands Library which Oli had already filmed and highly recommended. It was founded by Enriqueta Rylands in memory of her husband John. In 1889 the architect Basil Champneys designed the "striking gothic building" which took 10 years to build and was opened in 1900. According to the internet, it is described as "the best example of neo-Gothic architecture in Europe and is indisputably one of the finest libraries in the world".  So with this description in mind we were keen to visit it. However, when we got there it was closed and we had to make do with seeing it from the outside. We also took this photo. If I ever go back to Manchester, no doubt it will be high on my list of things to do and see.

Eladio and Suzy outside the John Rylands library in Manchester

It was early and we weren't meeting Oli on Market Street until 12 noon. So with nothing else to do, we decided to find and walk along the famous Manchester Liverpool canal built for the transport of cotton in  the Industrial Revolution. Google Maps quickly took us to "Canal Street! I have never been a great fan of canals. I find them dirty, scary, intimidating and somewhat claustrophobic and I am always worried I will fall in as the tow paths are so narrow. However, many of the paths of the canals in England have been improved, except, we found, the one in Manchester. 

The ugly and filthy canal in Manchester

It is awful, filthy and not recommendable at all. As soon as we could, we left it and made our way to Market Street, a lively commercial hub in the centre of the city to meet Oli and her cameraman. They were filming one of her Spaniards from Madrid, a street musician called "El Primo Juan" who apparently became famous in the UK because of an ironical song he composed called "Despa- Brexit", with satirical lyrics to the tune of the famous song "Despacito" about the British in Spain after Brexit. It got a lot of media coverage such as this article in The Express. 

Oli filming in Manchester for Spanish TV

We were angling, or at least I was angling, for a walk on part in the shooting which hopefully I got. Suzy took a video of Oli filming which you can see here. I'm in it hahha, giving a coin to the Spanish street musician. It was great fun as suddenly, out of nowhere, lots of Spaniards started to appear  and Oli made everyone clap their hands and even dance flamenco, Suzy and I included. Eladio, looked on, discreetly, from a distance, never the protagonist like us. 

Oli had to carry on filming, but the three of us, Eladio, Suzy and I were free to go and have lunch. Yes, eating again. I haven't weighed myself since I have got back but am cutting down on my intake I can assure you. Suzy wanted to eat Spanish food so we happened upon a recommended restaurant called "El Gato Negro". Owned by a Yorkshire man, it is actually only really a qausi Spanish restuarant but the food was fabulous and on a great location in King's Street. We had 3 tapas each and the bill came to 111 pounds which is expensive for England. However, I didn't care as the dessert I had was to die for. It was a sort of raspberry macaroon and sorbet concoction and whoever created it must have had me in mind. This is it!

A dessert to die for at El Gato Negro recommended to us by Kathy's son Tom.

After our wonderful meal and very tired of walking the streets of Manchester, all we wanted to do was go back to our hotel and collapse on our beds which is just what we did. That is how Olivia found us when she finished filming at dusk (4.30 pm in England:-() when she was raring to go and hungry. We spent time in the room together and later went out to dinner to Brown's again although the only hungry member of our party was Olivia hahaha. It was to be our last dinner together. Here are my lovely daughters and husband at Brown's last Sunday in Manchester, a super place by the way.

My lovely daughters, Suzy left and Oli in the centre with Eladio, their father on the right at Brown's in Manchester last Sunday night. 

We didn't have far too walk back to our hotel afterwards and once again I was appalled at the amount of homeless people sleeping on the streets bang in the centre. Suzy, who lives in London, told me that this is normal for England. Is it really? I can't believe it. It really upset me and I am still thinking about it.

There were so many homeless people on the streets of Manchester, it just didn't seem normal. 

Before we went up to our rooms, we said our goodbyes to our favourite concierge, young Harry, aged 19 with a very heavy Lanchashire accent. We just loved him and are now friends on Facebook. I wasn't particularly impressed with our hotel, it was good enough and very central but I have to say the staff were wonderful. But Harry was the best. I just love people from Lancashire and Yorkshire as I told you in last week's post.

Saying goodbye to Harry, our favourite concierge and member of staff at the Mercure Piccadilly hotel in Manchester last Sunday night. 

Monday dawned and it was pouring down in Manchester. Our flight wasn't until the afternoon so we had plenty of time before leaving. Suzy was catching the train at 13 h for London and we would see her off at Piccadilly train station. Oli was up early as she would be staying on until Wednesday doing more filming. We said goodbye to her as she was rushing off to work. That morning would see her filming, believe it or not, the BBC breakfast news live which is broadcast from the BBC HQ in Salford near Manchester. Oli watches this programme live nearly every day, loves the programme and the presenters, Dan Walker and Louise Minchin. For her, filming them that day and getting to meet and talk to them on the set was, in her words, a dream come true. And here she is on the set with them and with the Spaniard she was interviewing for her programme. I would have loved to be a fly on the wall or even there, but my journalist daughter could hardly take her mother along could she? 

Oli at the BBC breakfast news set in Salford Manchester last Monday

Our morning was a lot less thrilling. We spent the time leisurely packing. Or rather I spent the time leisurely packing while Eladio read El País on my iPad and Suzy updated her website on my PC hahahaha. 

When we checked out and left the hotel to walk Suzy to the station it was bucketing it down and we got drenched. Thankfully it was nice and warm inside the station. We had 1.5h to kill and it was nice to spend the time with our daughter Suzy who we miss so much. When she finally got on the train and we saw her off we felt like our hearts had broken. I know London is not that far away but we don't get to see her often and now she is threatening to go and  live in Bali of all places on the other side of the world for us.  Here is a last photo of Suzy with me at the train station.

With Suzy at the Piccadilly train station in Manchester shortly before she had to leave for London

When we could no longer see her on the platform and the train pulled out of the station, we left with heavy hearts wondering when we would next see her again.

All we had left to do in Manchester was to walk back to the Mercure hotel, pick up our luggage and take a taxi to the airport. We had a lot of time to kill there and I must say Terminal 3 doesn't have a lot to offer in terms of shops or restaurants. The only real option for us there was fish and chips again which was even a bit too much for me. Obviously we would not have dinner that night as it left us so full hahaha. I bet you're thinking this blog is all about food. Well, I suppose it is hahahaha. Food glorious food, well I do love it don't I?

Our last and not the best fish and chips - at Manchester airport on Monday

Our flight left at 5.15 with Ryan Air, not my favourite airline I can tell you. It was full but luckily left and arrived on time. We were in Madrid by 8.45 or so but what with all the walking at the airport, passport control, hanging around waiting for luggage, I don't  think we left until past 10 pm!  The taxi drive seemed endless and we were exhausted by the time we got home. But it was a pleasure to be there; home sweet home and to see our dogs, especially little Pippa. My Father and Lucy were asleep so we wouldn't see them until the next day. I did all the unpacking and I think I finally hit the pillow at about midnight. There is nothing better than sleeping in your own bed when you have been away and I actually slept until 7 in the morning on Tuesday. Wow I needed the extra shut eye. 

The next morning I realised I had come home to sunny Spain. What a difference in climate compared to the UK. I don't think I could live in Manchester as the weather is so grim and wet. When I lived in Yorkshire as a child and teenager I just accepted the bad weather and thought that sunshine was only for the holidays. How wrong I was. 

I had lots to do on Tuesday but first things first and I had to go to the hairdresser to have a haircut and yes, dye the roots in my hair. That is the pain of growing old. I wonder if I will still be dying it when I am old or older. When I was young, women aged 60 didn't dye their hair and dressed like old women. Today's 60 year olds look a lot younger and I am determined to keep it that way. I like to look good and well groomed. It's funny as I didn't inherit that from my Bohemian aristocratic Mother who didn't give a damn about her looks. 

That morning, apart from my quick exit to the hairdresser, I was in charge of lunch and had work to do, actually for a prospective customer. Priorities being what they are in my life, when I am permitted, I joined my husband to watch the news and have a short siesta after lunch. This would be Pippa's time too as she also joined us. It's wonderful to be with her again and she hasn´t left my side since I got back. She was over the moon when we arrived and I had to calm her down before picking her up because she was so excited hahaha. This is little Pippa taking a siesta on Tuesday afternoon on her blue blanket on our bed. Love her so much ...

Pippa having a siesta with us 

She also joined us on our first walk after we got back. All three dogs were delighted of course as they hadn't been on one since we had been away. Once home, I had to rush off to pick up my car from the garage then rush back again this time to go and do the food shopping with Lucy. The cupboards were very  bare. I couldn't believe I filled 2 trollies and spent 399 euros. It looked like it was for an army, not just the 5 people, 3 dogs and 1 cat living in this house hahaha.  Hopefully it would last a week but it didn't as you will read later.

With lots of food in the cupboard and fridge, Eladio and I enjoyed a nice quiet dinner together before retiring to our room to watch the news again. We are news freaks hahahah, you will have noticed. Of note that day, the world's oldest man died in Spain aged 113. Francisco Núñez Oliveira, aka Marchena, was born and died in Bienvenida in Badajoz in South West Spain just one month after celebrating his 113th birthday. I wonder what his secret was? In fact I wonder what my Father's secret is too. Everyone wants to live a long life, my husband commented but added that no one wants to be old. How right he is. I do hope that one day scientists will find the key to growing old without all the disadvantages. 

The world's oldest man aged 113 died in Spain this week. RIP

On a lighter note, there was something else on the news which attracted my attention. It was the story of the singers and winning song for Spain's entry into this year's Eurovision Song Contest. The singers, 19 year old Amaia and 20 year old Alfred,  and the song, La Canción, were chosen by viewers on a hugely popular talent show called OT (Operación Triunfo) which doesn't usually interest me. But I just loved the couple, both contestants in the show and who have fallen in love with each other and sing beautifully together. It's quite cheesy maybe but it made my day. I have been humming it ever since. These are the love star struck singers who both play the piano very well too. Their complicity and love for each other is so evident on stage and maybe that is why they were chosen. 

Amaia and Alfred who will represent Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "La Canción" especially written for them. 

You can watch their performance here and judge for yourselves if you haven't already seen or heard it.  

After the news we fell asleep watching Episode 2 of Homeland Season 6. I do love Carrie and co but this season doesn't seem as good as the previous ones, at least so far. 

Wednesday started quietly. I even had time to make some bread. This is what the loaves looked like when they came out of the oven. The smell was amazing as was the taste.

The multi cereal bread loaves I made on Wednesday morning

While I was making the bread, the dogs were with me as usual. Norah, our beagle, was playing with Elsa our lab or rather the former was showing her love to the latter. I had to catch them on camera to share with you. I entitled the photo "pure love" on Instagram.

Norah showing Elsa her love the doggy way

I only post photos about Pippa so it's about time the other two dogs get a bit of protagonism on my blog don't you think?

I was having a quiet morning, making bread and then lunch when I was suddenly interrupted by news that I had to organise a big press conference in a regional town in Spain next week and on my birthday too, 8th February. That was a bit of a blow and a repeat of last year when I did a press conference for Genaker in Barcelona on my 60th birthday. Being the professional I am, I just sprang into action and it has been non stop organising since the moment I was asked to do the project.  There will be a lot to do but no doubt everything will be alright on the day or at least I hope so.

But the news was not going to stop me going on my walk that afternoon. Eladio was mowing the lawn in the sunshine so I set off with little Pippa, feeling guilty about leaving the others behind. As Pippa and I were returning I spied the moon shining very brightly and it looked bigger than usual. This is my photo, the best I could get.

The super moon as seen by me just after sunset on Wednesday evening on my walk

I had heard on the news that that evening a rare "super blue blood moon eclipse" would make its appearance but in Spain we just got a bigger and brighter moon. Eladio and I had dinner and rather daringly I had a glass of red wine which, as happens often, gave me a splitting headache which would linger on afterwards until the weekend. I should avoid wine and never learn my lesson.  

Wednesday was one of my favourite reader's birthday, Phil, our friend and husband to my school friend Kathy with whom we stayed in Yorkshire when we went to England. He and Kathy certainly know how to celebrate a birthday. They went off to stay in a lovely pub hotel in the Dales and will soon continue celebrating by flying off to Morocco. Enjoy my friends. My birthday shall be a lot more humble and I won't even be at home. 

I should mention that on Wednesday afternoon Oli returned from Manchester although we wouldn't see her until Friday evening. From now on she will be editing all she filmed there and I can't wait to see the finished programme where I hope our walking on part gets through the "final cut". 

Thursday was busy as was the norm this week. I had so much to do to put the press conference in place and in a city in the north of Spain I have only ever been to once. But I had to take time off to go into Madrid for a meeting with another prospective customer. Thus I got up at 6 in the morning and got the most out of the morning, even leaving lunch made for the family. I was home by 2.30 and it felt like I had been on a marathon. I tried to sleep a little after lunch but I had a headache and so much in my head that I returned to my PC. We managed another walk, this time all together and good grief it was freezing and extremely windy, so much so that I had to pick up Pippa occasionally as the wind was nearly blowing her over as she only weighs 5 kilos hahaha. 

I had Airbnb guests arriving that night, 3 French girl students who were repeat guests. They arrived late at night, well late for us, at about 9.30. Unfortunately the new boiler won't be installed until 12th February and we can only use the hot water upon demand until it is which is rather embarrassing when you have guests in the house. Fortunately they completely understood.  

On Friday I had another very productive morning. I was up at 6.15 and by 8.30 had written and sent the media coverage report on Adamo's recent press conference. As you know I am working on another one now and hope for equally good results. That morning I was able to tick more items off my to do list. I had time too to buy tickets to go to the cinema with Olivia and Eladio that evening to see a new Spanish film called "El Cuaderno de Sara" (Sara's diary). I don't remember the last time we went to the cinema but it's always nice to do so if the film is good. 

As I was working I got a surprise email from yet another ex pupil of my Father's from Bradford Grammar School where he taught French, German and Russian. So many of his ex pupils have reached out to him over the years as he left othem all a very positive mark on their lives and careers. I was so proud of him and am so proud of him. The emails he has received make me see a side of my Father I didn't know, an inspiring and dedicated teacher. This was the email he wrote. I will keep his anonymity for ethic's sake only naming him as John. A: "I was at Bradford Grammar School from 1968 to 1975. After an evening of reminiscing with friends recently, I searched for Courtenay Lloyd on the internet, found your Blog, and thus discovered with great pleasure that your father is still alive and approaching 100 years old.

At school Courtenay - or Clarence as for some reason we all called him - taught me both French and Russian, but it is especially for his enthusiasm and determination as a Russian teacher that I remember him. He spent hours coaching me outside of school-time to acquire a good accent and delivery for a Russian Speaking Competition (which I won) and many more hours ensuring that I had the necessary grounding to make further study of the language a success.

He also lent me records of Russian operas and choral music and so sparked a lifelong interest in this field. In fact I now work as an opera coach specialising in Russian repertoire as well as being a choral conductor. In recent years I have conducted concerts in Moscow and St Petersburg, appeared with Russian ensembles here in the UK, and on one occasion stood in for a soloist at the State Glinka Capella in St Petersburg to perform Rimsky Korsakov's "Song of the Varangian Guest" - first heard on one of your father's records back in about 1974.

I remember too the basic lessons in over a dozen European languages which fired my own thirst for knowledge and led to further study. As concert engagements have taken me to Hungary, Poland, Romania, Finland, Argentina and many other countries, this basic grounding proved an invaluable foundation on which to build, even after the passage of many years.  

I am lucky to have an interesting and rewarding career that has taken me to many different countries, and owe much of the success I have had to Courtenay's teaching. I should be grateful if you could pass my thanks and my very best wishes on to him".

I posted it on Facebook and he got some lovely comments. I printed it all out for him to read and I hope it made nice reading for him. I asked for a reply to John A and this is what he said: he was thrilled by his positive comments and couldn't really get over his email. He congratulated John on his achievements and his knowledge of Russian music which he thought was incredibly. He also asked me to tell him he would be 99 in May, not quite a 100! The email and comments made me feel pretty emotional most of the day. I'm so proud of my Father. Not many ex pupils reach out to a teacher that way after 40 years. He must have made a very big impression. Thanks John and thanks all the other ex pupils who have reached out over the years. He remembers you all. 

In between all this week and my work, I had to make our lunch. It was while I was making coq au vin in the kitchen with the dogs in their beds that I had to catch Pippa on camera licking and loving Elsa her surrogate mother, while Norah slept peacefully in the bed beside them. In fact I filmed the sequence and uploaded it on You Tube and you can see it here. It's so cute isn't it? Again I entitled the post "love pure love". 

Pippa licking and loving Elsa - so cute

The morning was hectic but the afternoon, with my work out of the way or at least the ball now in the court of my customer, I was able to relax a bit. Oli was home just as we were about to set off on our walk. But she curtailed it as she has come down with a light flu and wanted time with her Mother. Very soon it was time to leave for the cinema. The film was very good but also very violent with some awfully gory scenes which left me feeling terrible. It was about a woman, played by Belén Rueda, looking for her missing NGO doctor sister in the The Congo where coltan is mined. I didn't like the end but I did like going to the cinema with my family and of course having dinner out afterwards. We chose Ginos, a quasi Italian restaurant where we all ate heartily as we were starving. 

All in all, Friday was a long, productive and emotional day with a great ending, dinner with my family. Only Suzy was missing.

Saturday was a day at home with the family. The evening before I had received an email from a friend and ex Russian pupil of my parents, Andy D, who learned Russian from them at the famous UEA (University of East Anglia) Norwich Russian summer courses which began in the 70's. I used to go every year with my parents and my Aunty Masha and met many interesting people there, students of Russian from all over the world who attended the courses as they were the best option outside Russia where it was difficult to go. Well I had turned to Andy last week to unravel the mystery of the poem on my Mother's grave that I had visited in Yorkshire. and asked him to translate it into English which he very kindly did.  I thought it was by my Grandfather but he thought it was by the Russian poet Alexander Blok. When I got home from Manchester I asked my Father and he said he thought it was by my Grandfather too but was a bit confused as it was a long time ago. So I turned to the one person who could clarify this and who was at the funeral; a lecturer and former colleague of my Mother's at Leeds University. Richard D had helped my mother publish the second and last volume of her father's poetry although she did not live to see the last one published. He confirmed the poem was by her Father and that the mysterious date on the tomb (27.101942) was the date he had written it. Mystery solved. But I still wondered why that particular poem of all her father's poetry was the one chosen to  be engraved on her tombstone. Here Andy suggested it was her father's voice, lost to her forever in 1942 when she left Bulgaria during WW2 never to see him again, calling out to her over the decades. 

The poem on my Mother's grave is by her Father

That makes sense as you will see. My Grandfather who was an artistocrat  (HSH Prince Andrei Lieven) turned priest after the sufferings of the Bolshevik revolution, wrote, according to my mother, his poetry in secret, worried it was not religious and would be frowned upon by the church. She in turn, the black sheep of 6 siblings, craved for his love and attention and one day she came upon his poems, read them, loved them and learned them off by heart. Then one day she walked into her father's study and recited one to him. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. From then on, he shared them all with her and thus their love, mutual appreciation and complicity bloomed and grew, just what my mother craved. However as a young woman, in her very early 20's she had to escape Nazi Bulgaria which would soon be occupied by the Russians. Her parents of course stayed behind. She said goodbye to her Father before leaving on their doorstop and was never to see him again. When she learned of his death while in exile in England after the war she walked the streets of London in complete distress and decided to take her final vows to become a nun. Her older sister, Olga, a fanatical Russian Orthodox believer who became a Mother Superior had groomed her to be one. Thankfully she was able to break her vows a few years later when she met my Father in Cambridge, although she had to ask for Olga's permission! Thus we have to understand the importance of her Father's poetry which she promised to herself she would get published in Russia before she died. She did and now I understand  why her Father's poem about calling out to her is on her grave.  It is because because she always missed him. I'm so glad the mystery of the poem on my Mother's grave has been unraveled. Thank you Richard and thank you Andy. 

It has indeed been an emotional week. 

On Saturday morning I woke up with a bit of a headache but soon cheered up when I saw a new Airbnb booking from a French family of 4 for 2 weeks in August. That's August's income settled then I thought. Later in the day they extended it to another week so the house will be occupied for most of August. But not to mind, no doubt we shall be in Montrondo and of course Santa Pola.

It was a family day. Oli was with us, with her cold, poor thing. The dogs had been left to their own devices in our absence, no walks, no treats and of course no bath. So on Saturday they had all three. Eladio bathed both Elsa and Norah in the morning in our bath tub and I bathed Pippa.  Elsa and Norah put up with the bath and I think they secretly like it although Elsa's face says something different as you can see in the photo below hahaha.

Eladio bathing Elsa

Eladio bathing Norah our beagle

Oli was with us but on the phone to Suzy via a whatsapp video so it nearly felt as if she was with us too hahaha.

Oli on the phone with Suzy and holding our adored little Pippa

I had to think what to make for lunch that morning and decided on home made pizza including the base. But I needed to buy a few provisions thus Oli, well wrapped up, came with me to Mercadona, to the chemist and to an organic health shop, the kind Suzy loves but I'm not that keen on hahaha. 

We came home late and I made the pizza base in a jiffy, even leaving the dough to prove for an hour in the boiler room. Both Oli and Lucy helped me put the toppings on and this is what my 2 pizzas looked like before we devoured most of them hahahah.

Homemade pizza for lunch on Saturday

After a rather heavy lunch, we all retired to our bedrooms. Eladio and I watched the news and then we both fell asleep watching a James Bond film, Casino Royale. It gave me nightmares as during my siesta I dreamed I had lost my phone charger, my glasses and even my leggings and that a man had to lend me his boxer shorts which were too tight. Then James Bond drove me to a place with a house full of Russian mafia. I woke up in a dreadful state and it was nearly 6pm. Feeling groggy I had a cup of tea to restore me and we went for our walk with the dogs. 

Eladio and I had a small dinner together in the kitchen with the dogs at our feet as always and went to bed early. Having slept a siesta from 4 to 6 pm,  we were able to watch a whole episode of Homeland without falling asleep. I have to say it is now getting more interesting. 

Today, Sunday, will be another family day but of course I shall tell you all about it in next week's post. Next week will be a challenge for me with the press conference coming up. Wish me luck.

Cheers my friends and readers until next Sunday!

Masha

A week in January in West Yorkshire, learning new English words and expressions and a weekend with the girls in Manchester and other stories

Manchester, Sunday 28th January 2018

The 4 of us in Manchester - on Friday afternoon just after Suzy had arrived from London.

Hi again from England folks.

Well it's been a pretty cold and wet week here. Of course it is January so it was to be expected and we didn't come for the weather although we would have preferred a few more rays of sunshine and more than just the odd dry spell.

I left off last Sunday the morning after we had arrived in Keighley. While our guests Kathy and Phil and my husband were fast asleep, I got up very early and made my first cup of coffee in this house. It was strange not to have the dogs around me and I kept feeling guilty about poor little Pippa who would be wondering where I was.

After a lovely breakfast together, we got wrapped up as warmly as possible. Eladio wore his "puffer jacket",  the former being a new word for me in the UK, we set off. I was to learn more new English words and expressions this week to add to my depleting English vocabulary which of course stopped growing in the early 80's when I went to live in Spain and as modern life progressed here I didn't keep up with many new words which were added to the English language.  Every time my friends used an expression or word which was new to me, I wrote it down on a piece of paper to remember later.  Some of them were quite exclusive to Yorkshire and I knew them but hadn't heard them for years. The latter were music to my ears and always made me laugh. Actually just being with Kath and Phil is a laugh a minute. 

But back to our first morning. It was snowing as we left which was funny as I had told Kathy I would love to see some snow while we were here and she had promised to arrange it. She certainly did hahahaha. 

Kath and Phil's Yorkshire stone Victorian house

And here we are on the doorstep of their lovely Victorian terrace house just as we set off.

All wrapped to go out for a walk on Sunday morning

Our friends took us for  walk up to a country lane beyond their house along fields with sheep and what would have been good views of Keighley and its surroundings if the weather had been better. I had to be very careful not to slip. Here are Phil and Eladio walking in the snow very well wrapped up. In fact Eladio wore his thick puffer jacket under his duffel coat. It was not a bad idea to wear two coats in that weather. He also wore a wooly hat under his hood. 

Phil and Eladio walking in the snow

At the top of the hill we reached Phil's boyhood house, a beautiful large Yorkshire stone semi detached called Holllins Cottage but it was  much larger than a cottage. His elderly mother had recently sold it to move in with her daughter and I'm sure that was an emotional loss for both of them. It's funny how we get so attached to our houses. I was always attached to ours in Heaton Grove in Bradford which was my childhood home. However, I am not attached to the house we live in now, however nice and big it is, as we have only lived there for 12 years. 

Eladio and Phil outside his childhood home, Hollins Cottage in Keighley

We carried on walking and came to a flood in the road so had to turn back. The intention was then to walk to Cliff Castle and park, perhaps Keighley's most famous landmark which has been recently restored but the weather took a turn for the worse so there was no other option than to walk home.

We came home to a cup of tea or coffee, depending on one's preference and sat in their lovely lounge with a log fire, chatting and generally catching up on each other's lives. There was lots to share. 

We were to have a true British Sunday roast but it was planned for the evening, so for lunch we had a tuna salad. In England, vs Spain, the main meal of the day is dinner and lunch is generally a smaller affair. It being nearly 3 pm our time, Eladio and I were hungry. The men then had a siesta and Kathy and I sat in the lounge laughing and talking endlessly. We never run out of things to talk about which is what I love so much about my friend. I have to say we felt so at home in their house and  very welcomed. 

It was after the siesta that Phil, the chief chef here and he is a good one, started doing the pork roast on a slow oven. It would take 3 hours. Meanwhile Kathy and I drank chilled white wine and I helped myself to all the nuts and raisins offered to us. Thus I would not be very hungry when the meal was ready but I couldn't resist them. 

When the 4 of us are together we mix Spanish and English and talk both languages and continually ask each other how to say a certain word or expression in either English or in Spanish. Phil, as I told you last week, was a teacher of Spanish, the language he learned when he lived in Colombia many years ago. I don't know why but we got onto the Spanish word "cojones" which means "balls". Kathy, who understands quite a lot of Spanish, was being given an impromptu lesson in Spanish. So we explained to her how never to mix it up with similar words such as "cajones" (cupboard drawers) or "cojines" cushions which had us falling off our seats in laughter. She, in turn taught me a few new expressions and words in English which were new to my vocabulary. She described a certain situation as it having gone "tits up", an expression I understand but have never used. Then we tried to think of an equivalent in English and could only think of "pear shaped", both of which were damned difficult to translate into Spanish or explain to Eladio. Other new words and terms I learned this week were things like: "he got the short straw", "tree surgeon" and "white coat syndrome". There would be more such as "scratters" (the lowest of the low in the UK in urban language), "everything in the garden is rosy" or "not the full shilling", possibly my favourite.

In all our laughter and chatter, Phil burned the roast potatoes and had to do them all over again. Thus we ended up eating so late. However, the wait was well worth it. This was our delicious English pork roast we had that night.

True British roast dinner - pork roast which we had last Sunday night

None of us could eat another morsel so skipped on the promised Eton Mess dessert unfortunately. We were all so full it would have been far too heavy. But don't worry we would have it another day.

Once again we chatted until late, about travel which was a much lighter topic than the one about the problems with our ageing and elderly parents with all their ailments and problems of looking after them. It would be a much commented topic throughout our stay as of course it is on all of our minds all the time.

We finally made it to bed at nearly 1 in the morning which is extremely late for me. We had had a wonderful day.

Monday dawned and it was raining outside again although rain was not forecast. The plan for that day was to visit Malham, a beautiful village in the Yorkshire Dales but first we had to go shopping. We went to our friends' local supermarket which is Sainsburys, one I particularly like. Here I stocked up on underwear, toiletries, fruit, bread for Eladio and a few other things until it was time for checkout. I had no idea what the process is as I don't live here. Sometimes I think I'm English, yes, but that I'm on another planet as I don't know how many day to day things work as they have changed drastically since when I lived her more than 40 years ago. Thankfully we didn't have to face the self service check out which is so abundant now in the UK as there I get completely stuck. And here we are Kathy and I at the till. I also have to say that the choice of products and range of products at Sainsburys is so large it is actually a little overwhelming for me, used to Spain's much humbler Mercadona hahaha.

Shopping at Sainsbury. Love it. 

I bought lots of things but later realised that I should have looked at the footwear section to get some suitable boots as my Geox trainers would be totally inadequate for the our wet and slightly muddy walks in The Dales. 

I think Monday was the least rainy day of this week so really it was the best day for walking in The Dales. Our friends took us to Malham which we love and which bring back many memories from when I was a child and teenager  living in Yorkshire.

In Malham on Monday morning

I also remember it a lot from my girl guide days. I know Malham and have visited the famous Malham Cove, Malham Tarn and Gordale Scar many times but had never been to its other famous landmark, Janet's Foss. Foss come from old Norse meaning a waterfall and Janet comes from a tale about fairies. Well it was quite  magical place I must say.

At Janet's Foss

Of course it would have been better to visit Malham in finer weather.  The paths were very wet and I got my feet wet but there was not much I could do. The photo below is of Eladio and I on that wet but lovely path to Janet's Foss.

With Eladio on our wet walk in Malham on Monday to Janets Foss

January is certainly not the best month to come to Yorkshire but even so I loved it. We walked down back into Malham via sheep littered fields, many of them in lamb and made our way to a famous pub there called The Buck. 

The dog friendly pub in Malham

Here we entered what was a very dog friendly location, nothing like we have in Spain where you can't take your pet anywhere. Everywhere were signs welcoming dogs. At the front of the pub it said "Muddy boots and dogs welcome".  I particularly liked this sign which is typical British humour haha but with a lot of truth in it. 

The sign at The Buck in Malham 

By the fireplace there was a bowl of water for dogs and even a treats' tin. I also spied two baskets, one with towels for dirty dogs and one with towels for clean ones. 

Towels for dogs at the pub in Malham

We had lunch at The Buck and we all chose fish and chips. Eladio and I were craving for them and were not disappointed as those served at this pub were of excellent quality.

Fish and chips at The Buck in Malham

Choosing the dessert which we didn't need at all as we were already full, was difficult as I liked nearly everything on the menu. In the end I went for what must be one of my favourite British puddings, "sticky toffee pudding" which I can never resist hahaha.

Sticky toffee pudding, what a treat. At the Buck in Malham

After lunch we went for another walk as luckily it had stopped raining. The paths were still muddy though with lots of puddles. We were well equipped except for our footwear. We decided to walk to the famous limestone Malham Cove which is really a giant rock with caves inside and a river running from inside into the Malham Beck which eventually pours into the Aire River, one of the  main Yorkshire rivers.  Both were overflowing, something we are not used to in Spain where we are undergoing a drought at the moment. 

Off we went out of the village to Malham Cove passing fields on our way with stiles (gates) warning that it was lambing season and that dogs should be kept on their leashes. I love the way the Brits look after their countryside. Spain could learn a lesson or two here.

The stile with the lambing season warning on the path to Malham Cove

Love the signage not to disturb the lambing season in the Yorkshire Dale national park

Malham Cove did not disappoint. This huge limestone rock formation  is a major landmark in the Yorkshire Dales.

Malham Cove

I would have loved to climb the 220 steps up the side of the rock to the top but it was far too slippery. Thus we shall have to come back one day to do so in  dry weather.

It was nearly 5 pm and dark when we walked back to the village and time to go home. On our way, our friends stopped at a lovely farm house shop called Keelhams which has the most exquisite display of local Yorkshire produce as well as other gourmet food, drink and kitchen ware. I loved the place. It is near Skipton and no doubt I shall be going there again one day. I do hope so.

We came home to rest and have a cup of tea and chatted in our friends' warm and inviting lounge until it was time for dinner. Phil served us a superb salad with cold pork and beef which was followed by a sort of Eton Mess, another of my favourite British desserts. We went to bed past midnight which is very late for me but I was on holiday so who cares.

Tuesday came and it wasn't raining when I got up and afterwards would remain more or less dry. I was up late, at 7.45 UK time which is amazing for me. Maybe it was due to the cider I had drunk the evening before or simply the Yorkshire air. 

That morning our friends took us to visit Cliff Castle which had been recently restored. I had only once visited it and that was when I was a child aged about 7. It was on the day of Winston Churchill's funeral I clearly remembered. I was bored by it and having come into some money, possibly half a crown, for my birthday, my brother and I decided to go on a little trip but didn't tell our parents. We took the bus on our own and went to Keighley to see Cliff Castle. The only thing I remember clearly was the toy section of the museum which I loved and was keen to see again this week. We got into huge trouble by the way when we eventually returned home. So 53 years later I found myself standing in the grounds of the castle and remembering the day I visited it with my brother George. It is an impressive building as are the grounds and inside there is much to see; the reception and ball rooms and many items from the original owners, as well as costumes, tools from the time and a lot of WW2 memorabilia such as rationing cards and gas masks. 

Cliff Castle, the main landmark in Keighley

It was built  in around 1870 by mill owner Christopher Netherwood. It was the wool trade in the Industrial Revolution in Yorkshire and Lanchashire that made many men rich. Later it was sold to a local businessman, Henry Butterfield a Victorian mill owner and millionaire. He made it even grander. In the middle of the 20th century I think it was bought by the local authorities and became a museum and park.  

I was particularly interested to see the antique toy section which I remembered from my escapade when I was only 7. It was still there and just as  how I remembered it.

The toy section of the Cliff Castle museum

Later we walked in the extensive grounds admiring the glass conservatories, statues and lake. Of course we had to have photos taken by the lake. They came out a bit dark owing to the poor light from a very cloudy day.

Kathy and Phil at Cliff Castle by the small lake

Eladio and I by the small lake at Cliff Castle

We left the park, extremely impressed by what we had seen I should add, and walked into town. It was funny to see a huge mosque opposite the castle grounds. There are many mosques in Keighley which is because of the large Asian population. I wonder what Mr. Butterfield would have thought about that hahaha.

Kathy took us to a discount store called TK.Max or something like that. Here I got some kitchen ware which I look forward to using when I go home.

We all made a quick lunch and then Kathy I left to go shopping and pick up her youngest grandchild, 3 year old Freddy, from his nursery school. Phil stayed behind cleaning and Eladio rested. At Sainsbury's I got more great underwear and we bought enticing cold cuts for  dinner later that week. Freddy's play school was in Skipton and there was quite a lot of school traffic getting there and coming back. I loved his little play school where the children were sitting in a circle eating a snack and listening to their monitors or teachers. Little Freddy was surprised to see me as he had expected Kathy, his grandmother and "grand dad" to pick him up. He kept asking where "grand dad" was.  Once home, Phil got out his treasured miniature car collection which he had had when he was a boy and which his grandchildren adore. Kathy and I had fun playing with him and the cars as you can see in the photo below.

Playing with Freddy. Notice how his Grandmother plays with him while enjoying her gin and tonic hahaha.

Freddy adores Phil's  miniature car collection and we played with him, creating a game on the table which he loved. We played the colour game, putting cars of the same colour together and I chuckled as he said "wed" instead of "red" when we lined up the red cars hahahaha. It was a great game which the 3 of us enjoyed.

I fell in love with this little boy. You may know that babies do not interest me at all but I love toddlers when they can  walk and talk. Freddy was a laugh a minute too with his "Man United" football shirt on. Apparently he won't wear anything else but football kit haha. I loved the way he talked, making typical mistakes for a child his age. So instead of saying "I fell", he would say "I falled". He was very well behaved by the way, something to appreciate in this day and age when children are pampered and over protected.   His mother picked him just before we sat down to dinner and I was rewarded with a huge hug and cuddle when he left. 

We had another great dinner that night, courtesy of our in house chef Phil; gammon with jacket potatoes and runner beans. That evening Oli's latest programme on Spaniards living in Montpelier in France was broadcast but we couldn't watch it from the UK and would have to wait until we got home. I'm looking forward to seeing it. 

Wednesday morning was dark and wet. It was the day we had planned to visit York, that most majestic of British cities famous for its cathedral called a Minster, its Roman Walls, railway museum, Castle Museum and the "Shambles", supposedly the narrowest street in England. 

York Minster, as magnificent as ever

My first visit to York was as a very small child on a school trip there which I always remember because my parents gave me a whole pound note to spend. No doubt I spent it all on sweets hahaha. This ancient Roman walled city is also the seat of the northern capital of the Church of England and is one of the most beautiful and most popular towns for tourists in the country. I had been back many times and with Eladio but it was perhaps 15 years or so ago since we had last visited it and I never tire of beautiful York. 

We set off a bit late after a lovely breakfast together and believe it or not it wasn't raining and didn't do so all day. However it was bitterly cold when we reached York. In fact we were so cold Kathy and I rushed into the first clothes shop we saw to buy a jumper each to go over the ones we were wearing and a scarf and hat. It was H&M and it was one of those times when I go there that I like nearly everything I see. Kathy did too. In fact we liked and bought the same jumpers haha. One of them was orange as you can see in the photos and we looked like sisters!!!  It was rather a hilarious moment and we had other people laughing in the store. 

At H&M buying jumpers in York

They were in the sales and only cost about 10 pounds each so I bought 2 jumpers. Kathy got 3 hahaha. From H&M we walked into the centre and were soon in The Shambles, the most famous street in York. It dates back to medieval times and was even mentioned in The Doomsday Book. It got its name from all the butcher shops which used to be there. They were bloody and a mess owing to it being the place where animals were slaughtered in ancient times and thus the word "shambles" crept into the English language to describe a mess, chaos and disorder.  That I learned from our guide and friend Phil. Here we had to have a photo to remember our visit to this street where the ancient timber buildings nearly touch each other in some places.

Eladio and I at The Shambles in York on Wednesday this week

Kathy and Phil at The Shambles too

There are no butchers shops left there but there is a small market called The Shambles Market. Here we bought dressed crab, a delicacy I can only find in England and absolutely adore. We bought it from a fishmonger who told us it came from "sunny Whitby". We would have it later that night for dinner.

The fishmonger who sold us the dressed crab at The Shambles Market

To go with our crab we needed bread and came across the most amazing little bakery in The Shambles. It had an Italian name which was rather ridiculous for York but I must say the bread was superb. Here is Eladio standing outside with the bag of bread we bought. 

Buying bread in York

They had a large display to choose from and we were told the bread was baked on the premises. I was particularly attracted to the mini Hovis loaves I knew from my childhood and which we used to buy from Chubs on Oak Lane in Bradford. They were called "penny loaves" then but they are now sold for 60 pence each!

After a quick glance and photo taking  of the Minster, we wandered into another famous street in York, "Stonegate". We were on our way to Betty's, the well known  Yorkshire tea rooms, and came across a Betty's there which we didn't know existed. We learned there are 2 tea rooms in York and this was the smaller one. The advantage of going into the smaller one was that there was no queue, at least when we went in.

The Betty's we had lunch at in York

We were quickly ushered to our table by an open fire by beautifully uniformed waitresses. I knew what I wanted as soon as I sat down; their famous afternoon tea which is probably the most popular item on the menu. Eladio went for a safe option, their amazing fish and chips. Here we are sitting around the table about to devour our delicious lunch. Eladio said I was eating breakfast haha.

Lunch at Betty's in York, the highlight of our day

It was the highlight of the day and one of the highlights of our trip to Yorkshire. A trip to Yorkshire in my mind always has to include Betty's. I just love the place. 

When we finished and walked outside, it was sunny and not so cold. But it was nearly 4 o'clock and it would be getting dark soon. It gets dark here at this time of year at 4.30 when it gets dark in Madrid two hours later. Our friends took us up the Roman walls for a walk around the city but we couldn't complete the walk as we wanted to leave before it was too dark. One day we must go back and walk all around the walls. 

Walking along the walls of York

We left at around 4.15 and very soon it was pitch black and I couldn't appreciate the beautiful ride back but certainly knew the towns we went through. We were home by about 6 pm. At about that time Olivia, our youngest daughter, the TV reporter, had just landed in Manchester and later we talked to her when she had checked into her room at the hotel the programme had booked for her there, The Manchester Piccadilly Mercure. We had also booked rooms there but, me, being me, reserved a superior room. I was glad I had when she told us her room was very small. 

Later we sat by the open fire in our friends' cozy lounge. They drank beer and wine and I had some lovely Rekorderlig cider which I adore and can't find in Spain. We weren't hungry but soon it was time for dinner. I helped Phil make our delicious meal of  king prawns with thousand island sauce, a salad and of course the dressed crab, all accompanied by the delicious bread we had bought in York. 

We went to bed early that night as the next morning we would get up really early as we had a full programme and wanted to make the most of the day, as the daylight hours are so short here. The plan was to visit my Mother's grave at Charlestown cemetery on Baildon Road and then drive to Ripley, one of the most beautiful villages in England, have lunch there at The Boar's Head and afterwards visit Fountains Abbey which, although I had lived in Yorkshire as a child and teenager, had never visited.

I was up at 5 believe it or not while the others slept until 7 in the morning.  We left quite early and  by 9.30 or so were at Charlestown cemetery. It took a while to find my Mother's grave. While I was looking for it with the help of Eladio, I got some very good news via an unexpected email. It felt like a little  miracle coming from my Mother. It's a coincidence I know as I don't really believe in miracles. However, thinking about it, whenever I have had some trouble something good has always happened as though I have a lucky star. Who knows if it's not my Mother looking after me from above? I like to think it is.  I finally found it and it is this. I touched it and reached out to my Mother, shed a tear or two and once again realised how much I miss her. She was so special. All of you who knew her would agree I know.

My Mother's grave at Charlestown  cemetery

On her headstone there is a verse of poetry and a date. It's in Russian of course and I thought it may be one my grandfather's poems. I asked a friend and ex pupil of both my parents, Andy M who studied Russian to translate the poem for me.  He told me it was by Alexsander Blok, a Russian poet and  translated it for me. 

This is the verse in Russian and below Andy's translation into English.

Когда коса мой срежет колос,

Свистя в безжалостной руке,

Услышишь ли мой жалкий голос

Зовущий где-то вдалеке?

Быть может, лишь тогда узнаешь,

Что сердце пело в тишине

О радостях цветущих рая,

О недоступной вышине

When the scythe cuts down my wheat,

Whistling in a ruthless hand,

Will you hear my sorry voice

Ringing somewhere in the distance?

Perhaps only then will you realise

That my heart was singing in the silence

Of the flowering joys of heaven,

Of the heights that can’t be reached.

(Date: 27.10.1942)

But it's still a mystery why the poem is there. It must have meant something special to her and I have to ask my Father. I hope he is able to clarify the mystery. 

From the cemetery we set off on our way to Ripley. However we had plenty of time on our hands and decided to stop for a short visit to Otley (yet another town in Yorkshire ending in "ley" which I think means a field or meadow). Otley is a "posh" market town in West Yorkshire and was always on my bus route. You see, my parents never had a car and my knowledge of the area is only from the bus routes or the occasional trip out with friends. Otley was definitely on my bus route and I remember it well.  It's a beautiful town, very unspoiled and I especially liked the main square which I think is called market square.

In Otley

From Otley we drove on towards Ripley which was never on my bus route either so I never went there or to Ripon or Fountains' Abbey when I lived in Yorkshire from the age of 7 to 18. So this was going to be a first. Ripley was named number 17 out of the 20 best villages in Britain in 2017. It is really a satellite village of Harrogate, a few miles away.

Here we visited the magnificent castle and grounds, Ripley Castle, home of the Ingleby family for 700 years. It is a Grade 1 listed 14th century house and the seat of the Ingleby baronets for centuries.
 

Ripley Castle a stately home in North Yorkshire

We were bowled over by the magnificent grounds and the views of the lake and gardens, not to mention the hot house where the Ingleby family once grew peaches and other exotic fruit which was probably very unusual for that part of the world so long ago. 

In the grounds of Ripley Castle

After exploring the castle and grounds, we made our way to the Boar's Head pub where we had booked a table for lunch at 12 o'clock noon. We had decided to have an early lunch so as to make the best of the sunlight hours in the afternoon. It is a beautiful old coaching inn and part of the Ripley Castle estate and supposedly one of the Great Inns of Britain. I loved it and could have moved in hahahaha. One day we shall go back and stay there as it also offers accommodation. The pub restaurant is considered the best in the area and I could totally agree with that.

The Boar's Head in Ripley

After a magnificent lunch, followed in my case and Phil's by perhaps my favourite dessert, sticky toffee pudding, we left the pub and continued our itinerary of the day. Our destination was to be the world famous Fountains's Abbey which I had never ever been to and had always wanted to visit. I have been to Bolton Abbey countless times but never here. 

Fountains' Abbey

Fountains Abbey is one of the largest and best preserved ruined Cistercian monasteries in England. It was founded in 1132 and became one of the wealthiest monasteries in England until its destruction during the "dissolution" period under Henry VIII in 1539. The Dissolution of the monasteries came about after the conflict between this famous King and the RC church which eventually led to the seizure of the Church properties of the state. Over 800 were destroyed. This came about after his famous divorce to Catherine of Aragon so that he could marry Anne Boleyn. He also needed to reduce the power of the Church as well as find money to fund his wars against France and Scotland.  So the place is steeped in history. 

It was raining as we walked around the Abbey and bitterly cold but we were well wrapped up and later the rain ceased and we were able to enjoy the views on our walk through the grounds which were created as gardens in the 18th century to please the eye and pleasantly surprise any visitors and they certainly did that day. They were amazing and I can only imagine just how beautiful the whole area is in the summer. We must come back again soon. 

The grounds surrounding Fountains Abbey

It was a long walk around the Abbey, 5 miles in fact which was a good thing as we had eaten so much at lunch. God knows how many calories were in my sticky toffee pudding hahahaha. 

We left just as it was getting dark at around 4.30 and drove back along winding roads to Keighley, only stopping on the way in Ripon where we got a quick glance of its famous Cathedral, at Morrisons for a few provisions. We all agreed that when we next come back to Yorkshire that the four of us would stay 2 nights at The Boar's Inn and explore the area more. We had had the most fabulous day and are very grateful to our hosts and guides, Phil and Kathy for their warm hospitality.

It was warm hospitality indeed, something I realise now is innate in the Yorkshire people and which makes them so different from those from the South of England. They talk of the North South divide in the UK, the north being poorer than the south and more depressed. Well they maybe less rich, but the people from Yorkshire, at least, I find are the kindest and loveliest people in England. No wonder Yorkshire is called "God's own country". Yorkshire people also seem to have a great sense of humour, something I appreciate greatly and they have lots of expressions and words only people from here would understand. Although I lived here in my formative years and understand the dialect well, I have learned lots of expressions I didn't know this week. My favourite came from the owner of a shop in Otley which sells "collectable items". As we opened the door and came in she said "shut wood in hole", meaning, "shut the door". It took a while to click. We said we were just coming in to have a look to which she wittily replied: "you might wanta buy someit too" or something similar. I just love Yorkshire people they are so special. 

Once home we all rested and I collapsed on our hosts' beautiful Laura Ashley red velvet sofa in their lounge. In my right had was a glass of my favourite Swedish cider, the last I would drink under their roof. It was to be our last dinner with Phil and Kathy too and it was an enjoyable one. 

Just before dinner, I rang Oli who was in Manchester. It was funny to think that the four of us, Suzy, Oli, Eladio and I, were all in England; Oli in Manchester, Suzy in London and ourselves in Keighley.  Soon we would be all together which was the whole purpose of the trip. She told me she had filmed a Spaniard living in Manchester at the Midland Hotel that day, famous apparently for it being where Mr. Rolls met Mr. Royce. 

Oli filming in Manchester on Thursday

After the meal I was shattered and I just had to retire to bed as I had been up since 5 in the morning. So off I went and my eyes were closed shortly after getting into bed, tired but happy after a wonderful day, only tinged with sadness after the visit to my Mother's grave, bless her.

Friday dawned and I was up at 5.30 which is actually 6.30 Spanish time, so more or less in line with the time I get up in the morning in Spain. I had slept 7 hours and was feeling great. We were leaving that day and our friends and hosts would drive us to Keighley station to catch a train to Leeds and from there another train to Manchester where we would spend the weekend with the girls. We had had an amazing week with our wonderful hosts and friends. We feel so at home at their lovely Victorian house. Their hospitality was best to none and hopefully we can return their kindness when they come to see us this summer in Spain when we shall take them to our beloved village Montrondo.

Our friends house in Keighly, it's the one on the far right of this row of 4 houses

 At the station which was just how I remembered it, we had time to kill. Our train to Leeds wasn't leaving until 12.05 and we had half an hour to kill. We spent it with our friends having a coffee in the very nice bar there. Here we said our goodbyes and took photos which you can see below.

At Keighley station café saying goodbye

At Keighley station saying goodbye

Soon we had to make our way to the platform to get on the train which arrived punctually and would only take 25 minutes or so to reach Leeds. Here are Eladio and I with our luggage about to embark on the second stage of our journey in England.

On the platform at Keighley train station

I knew every single town we passed on our way, all so familiar from my childhood: Bingley, Shipley and of course Saltaire, the famous Salts Mill and village. It  was built by Sir Titus Salt to accommodate all the workers at his wool mill and a product of the Industrial Revolution. He built a whole village for all his workers. When we used to live in Yorkshire, our house was about a mile or so from Saltaire and we never used to think twice about it or that it was anything special. Now it's a world heritage sight and one of the most important landmarks in the area. 

Leeds was the station from where many of my journeys began to trips abroad when I was young and it was funny to be back. I love train stations as for me they are always symbolic of the start of many adventures. Well we had a bit of an adventure there when we arrived as we had just 8 minutes to find the platform for the Manchester train, the Trans Pennine Express coming from Hull. The station is huge and rather bewildering but we made it, just I should add. It took just under an hour to reach Manchester Piccadilly station which I think is not the one we would arrive at when my Father used to accompany me to see our dentist there, Mr. Carr. It was here that my Father gave me one of the best lessons in life. I used to find Manchester very ugly which is not so anymore as there have been many improvements since I was last there. I used to tell my Father how ugly the streets and terrace houses were. He told me that wherever there was something ugly that I should always look and find something beautiful. He was right and it has been one of my mottoes in life.  

We walked the short distance to our hotel in Piccadilly Gardens using the sat nav on my phone which I'm sure would have impressed my Father had he seen me. The Mercure Manchester Piccadilly, not my choice but where Oli was staying, is a modern and yes ugly building at Piccadilly Gardens by The Arndale Centre and bang in the middle of the town. My expectations of the hotel were low but it's fine, not luxurious but good quality and our room is very large. We were starving when we got there so had lunch in the restaurant with great views over the square. Eladio had chicken tika massala, apparently Britain's most popular dish today. It would have been banger and chips when I used to come to Manchester with my Father hahaha or something similar. After a lovely meal served by two very friendly waitresses, one from Ghana and one from Portugal, we went up to our room to unpack and settle in. Just as we had finished, Oli, who had stopped work for the day - she could only film before sunset which is at 4.30 here - came knocking on our door. It was super to see and hug her. Her room which she would share with Suzy was just 3 doors away which was good news as we would be in and out of each other's rooms all weekend.

Soon we were outside again in the busy and sunny square and made our way on foot to the train station. We were going to complete our group when Suzy arrived from London. I couldn't wait for the 4 of us to be together. Her train was arriving from Euston at 4.30. We didn't have to wait long. Here are Oli and her Father happily waiting at the station.

Oli and Eladio at Piccadilly train station waiting for Suzy

I don't know how but we missed her coming from the platform as there were so many people there but she soon found us. The photo illustrating this week's blog is of the 4 of us just after Suzy arrived. We were so happy to be together and it was to be a memorable weekend. 

Before heading back to our hotel we went in search of fruit and milk to have in our rooms. Well I needed the milk to make coffee as I need one the moment I wake up and there was a coffee making facility in the room but no milk. The 4 of us walked happily together through Piccadilly Gardens and around the Arndale centre and were amazed at so much life, people and music all around us. Manchester is a very lively city and the atmosphere was great. It was sunny but not quite as cold as in Yorkshire, although Suzy said it was colder than London. But we were well wrapped up and didn't care. We were soon back at the hotel and Suzy was able to settle in. The girls were hungry and it was my job to find a nice restaurant nearby which served fish and chips that Oli wanted and vegan or vegetarian food that Suzy wanted. That was not easy. The ones we did find and which had been recommended were fully booked. So I went downstairs to see the Concierge and get his help.  Harry was young and sweet and very helpful. I kept remarking to the girls just how friendly, open and helpful people from this part of the country are and it's true and we experienced it all weekend. Harry told me he had been on his first ever date the night before:-) He was a darling and found the perfect place for us, Browns, quite a famous chain of brasseries dotted all over the UK. I had been to one of them in London many years ago and liked it. What I didn't know though that the one in Manchester would be spectacular because it is housed in what was a branch of the old Parr's Bank later bought by Westminster Bank. The red sandstone building was built in 1901 and must have been one of the most opulent banking halls in the country. It was truly beautiful and a lovely place to build to house a restaurant.

Browns in Manchester housed in the old Parr's Bank

It was around the corner from our hotel and easy to find. We all loved the place and told our friendly Geordi waitress from Newcastle whose accent I confused with a Scottish one. She told us the history of the building. When we said we loved the place she said we would love the food even more. Well it was just amazing. Eladio had toad in the hole, a typical dish of the area and Oli and I had fish and chips. Here are the 4 of us enjoying our first meal together in the city.

A great meal at Browns on Friday night

We ate really early and by 8 were out on the street and decided to explore the city and walk to work off some of the calories hahaha. Oli, who had to acquire a lot of knowledge about Manchester for the programme she was doing, led us to St. Anne's Square where she told us the that after the Manchester Arena bombings people gathered there to mourn together, covering it with flowers. From there we walked towards what must be one of the most luxurious streets with shops like Harvey Nichols. It was here Oli told us that the IRA terrorist bomb exploded in Corporation street and destroyed all around it which had to be built up again. Unbelievably the two famous medieval "Shambles" pubs survived the bomb but later were moved piece by piece to the other end of the street in order to rebuild the area around the Arndale Centre. The Wellington and Sinclair's Oyster bar, from the Tudor period, to judge by the black and white paneling, are two of the most famous city landmarks. 

The old Shambles pubs in Manchester

On our walk that night around the city I couldn't help but notice how many homeless people there were begging and living on the streets. I had read earlier that day that there are more than 8000 in the UK and the figure is growing. Oli and I stopped to give a coin to a young man and we got talking. I asked him why he was on the street and if he didn't have any family to go to and why he wasn't at least in a hostel. His reply broke my heart. To start off with he said there were not enough places at the hostels and it was freezing. He then told me how he worked in a family business that had gone bust and that his mother was struggling. He also told me there were flats for homeless people like him and that he was on the list adding there were none available at the moment as they were all reserved for the Syrian refugees who had not arrived yet. How can a country or town hall not look after its own people first? All we could do was wish him luck. What a terrible story as he was not a drunk, just an ordinary man who had fallen on bad luck and had no one to turn to and nowhere to live apart from the streets. We would see many like him on the streets of Manchester during our stay. This is England in 2018 and I found the situation just inexplicable. 

There are many homeless people begging and sleeping on the streets like this man in Manchester

Once back at the hotel, Suzy and I went down to see Harry the concierge to ask what time breakfast was. It was just outside that we were approached by Brian who asked Suzy for a cigarette. He then told us his story which was equally as sad as the beggar we had just spoken to. Brian was an ex convict and had spent 28 of his 48 years in prison for stealing from cash machines. He seemed a very nice and normal chap. His worst problem and he had many was that he is unemployable because of his prison record. He told us he had 3 children who were in foster homes and that he was fighting for custody but that without a job the case would most probably go against him. He had to rush off to catch a bus but we hugged and said goodbye and wished him all the luck in the world. Wow, that was some conversation in the street I can tell you. The 2 stories I heard that night from a beggar and an ex convict made me feel so privileged and lucky.  

After time together in our room chatting and generally enjoying being together it was time for "beddy bies" which was what we used to call bed time when I was a child. I went to sleep feeling blessed in life and I am. I could not ask for more. 

On Saturday we all had breakfast together. Oli had to leave at 9.30 to go off filming and we wouldn't see her until she had finished in the afternoon. Our plan was to visit the Museum of Science and Industry where we would learn about the history of the Industrial Revolution. It was a 20 minute walk in the rain but well worth the effort as the museum is splendid. 

The Manchester Museum of Science and Industry

Here we saw the first computer invented in Manchester as nearly everything we saw there. We loved the replica of one of the cotton mills and the explanation of how cotton was made in the 19th century and how child slaves were employed to clean the noisy machines often getting hurt in the process. 

Replica of a cotton mill at the museum

The first computer also invented in Manchester was on display and it was huge and 10.000 times slower than those today. It was called "Baby" hahaha.

The world's first computer invented in 1948 in Manchester

We also visited the Power Hall with all sorts of historic engines which were used in the Industrial Revolution.  

But what interested me most was seeing and hearing about the first commercial railway, the Liverpool and Manchester Railway which was inaugurated in September 1830, the locomotive, the Rocket, now on display at the Science Museum in London,  having been built by the famous Robert Stephenson. 

The Rocket locomotive

The Liverpool and Manchester Railway was the first public transport system on land which did not use animal traction power. We also visited the world's first railway station, Manchester Liverpool Road which was in use until the 70's.

The world's first railway station is in Manchester

Olivia had filmed the station and told me that on the inaugural day of the railway line, the Mayor of Liverpool, William Huskisson, had died by accident on that first journey while accompanying the Prime Minister, Lord Wellington. It was not a nice beginning but the railway went on to be incredibly successful and helped the Industrial Revolution really take off as transport became so much faster  than with using horse driven barges on the canal network. 

We were enamoured with the visit but after so much knowledge gathering, we got hungry and went in search of somewhere to eat. I had been told that nearby Spinningfields, in the financial centre was full of good places to eat. Suzy took us to The Alchemist where they had great food but it was very loud. 

Eladio with Suzy at The Alchemist on Saturday in Spinninfields

From The Alchemist we went to an M and S Food Hall actually to buy  some mini nylon carrier bags Dolores had asked me to get but also to buy more fruit and I also purchased  lovely birthday cards for the upcoming family birthdays in April and May. The choice is so much better in England for them than it is in Spain.

From Spinningfields we walked back to our hotel slowly exploring more of the city. We went past the famous Johan Rylands library, one of the finest in the world which we will be visiting today.  We also stumbled across China Town and also came across the Town Hall on Albert Square. 

Suzy in China Town

The Town Hall  is a Victorian Neo Gothic building and in my mind is similar to the one in Bradford. 

The Town Hall in Manchester

We were tired when we got back to the hotel  and rested a bit. Soon Oli was with us and while Eladio and Suzy slept, I joined her to go to the shops. We  walked across the Piccadilly Gardens Square with its fascinating fountains. On our way back we couldn't believe our eyes when we saw small children running in and out of the water and getting drenched. 

Kids getting wet in the fountains at Piccadilly Gardens

Dinner last night was at Tom's Chop House, recommended by Kathy's son. It's an 1870 pub and a cast iron frame building and one of Manchester's jewels. Here we are outside after our dinner at the exit on St. Anne's Square.

Outside the 1870 pub last night

In need of a walk to work off our dinner, we ambled back along streets which were now quite familiar. I was amazed at how scantily some women were dressed in sleeveless dresses, no tights or coats especially because for us it was so cold. There were many homeless people on the streets but also many playing music such as this old gentleman playing this year's most popular song "despacito". We had to watch as he was great.

Great street music

In fact Suzy filmed him and you can see the clip here. We took another video last night too of Suzy and I having fun at the fountains in Piccadilly Gardens which you can watch on this link. It was great fun and a great night out together.  

After some relaxing time together in our room the girls left to go to sleep and we went to bed almost immediately. Just as I was falling asleep we got a call from Zena our weekend carer to say there was a flood in the kitchen. We had to call our neighbour, Julio, who came to the rescue. Thank goodness he was able to stop the tap in the sink which had burst without having to switch off all the water in the house. I was worried for our Airbnb guests. Thanks Julio, you are a great neighbour.

And today is Sunday, our last full day here in England with the girls as we are returning tomorrow. It has been a great trip but soon to end.

Wishing you all a great Sunday and good week ahead, I shall leave off now as I have to get ready quickly to have breakfast with my family. 

Cheers till next week,

Masha