Headed Home

After a great trip, we left this morning from Durham at 4:00 AM.
There weren't even any cat burglars out at that time so we had an easy ride through to Newcastle airport where we parked up in the rental lot and headed for the terminal. Once again the wind was coming from Sibera, Anne had to tie her hat on with her scarf. It was gale force and freezing cold.

We want to thank all of our friends and family for showing us a wonderful time.
The pictures are not arranged in any particular order.






Frank Allison and his sister Jen along with her daughter Katie drove up from Lancashire to spend time with us.





Diane and Jose who put on a party for us and invited a bunch of people over to their house.





Susan Irwin who travelled up from Leicester to see us, I don't seem to have any more pictures of Susan, anyway she is the one who is not Anne on this picture.

As Eric Clapton said, 'ang on 'ang on, I do have a picture with Susan, here she is on my right. That's my right not your right as you look at the picture.








Eileen and Neil with their two girls Stephanie and Diane, we met up twice with them and then stopped by the house.




We met up with Marjorie a couple of times at her house and in Durham.




The Ross family, here you see Ronnie with his son Steven, Teresa was out with Eileen and Anne and so we went off on a Men's day out to York.
Hmmm! I wonder who had that Budweiser?





Here's Teresa, Eileen and Anne taking a trip down memory lane. The picture was taken in Barnes Park, Sunderland.



Anne met up for lunch with her friends, Lynne, foreground left, Liz opposite Anne and Iris foreground right.
They have known each other for a very long time, but I am not allowed to say how long!





Hmmm, I know that face, this was at the house of Janet and Michael, I think that might be Michael who has "assumed the position"


We also met up with Mike and Mary in the new room addition to their house and a wonderful job it was too.
Mike had done home made fish and chips and they were excellent.




Here I am at Janet and Michael's house with my cousin Elizabeth and of course, she who must be obeyed.



This is Michael with his daughter Rhiannon.

Janet and Michael had put on a family get together party for us on Saturday.
Steven, Janet's brother had made his special meatballs as he knows I really like them.
Steven, thank you for that, I loved them.




Now who would not want this guy as their grandad?

Olivia is a very lucky little girl. (Even though Jim is not really her grandad, it's a role which he does very well)









We met out friends John and Olivia (I know you don't meet someone called Olivia everyday and then you meet two within a couple of days)






And last but not least, Richard and Jan.



Yeah, I know, that's a lot of people in a short time.


Keep watching the blog, there may be one more report from the UK.

If you did not get a mention or see your picture, I apologize, however, some people don't want their picture on the blog.
Maybe they are afraid that someone may recognize them from a picture in the post office. (USA joke)



Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Beamish

Today we decided on a trip to Beamish museum.

As you can see the weather was a bit on the cool side this morning.







Fortunately Hertz provide you with an ice scraper when you rent the car.
I am sure that it is an extra buried in the bill somewhere.

We drove over to Beamish and found that the museum is partially closed on winter weekdays, but to be fair they only charge half price.









I spent a lot of time looking at the old mechanical stuff.




















Such as this old Ruston Bucyrus steam navigator.

As we progressed around the museum, we visited the station.







Anne found a suitcase about the right size for her!








Leon, this is where the ice cream van was parked during our last visit.






Moving further on we saw the pub and had to check it out.
Of course Anne had to have a couple of pickled eggs.
NOT!



















This was the board outside of one of the miners cottages, in the days before alarm clocks, you wrote the time you needed to get up for your shift on the board. A man employed by the colliery came around and tapped on the window, if you had two story house he used a pole to tap on the upstairs bedroom window.
His official title was "The Knocker Up" some job!







We took the tram back from the town to the museum entrance, this one is an old Blackpool tram.








Then it was back to Durham for a late lunch and a look around.

























A beautiful city, with some spectacular views.

Norm
Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

A Grand Day Out!

For those of you unfamiliar with the title, "A Grand Day Out" is the name of a Wallace & Gromit movie.

We met up in Sunderland this morning and drove through to Durham.
The group joined the train at 10:30 AM and were whisked off in relative comfort to York.






We arrived in York a short 50 minutes later.




Of course we saw one of the most iconic steam locomotives in the world.

This is the famous Mallard, designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, this was the fastest steam locomotive EVER period.
There will never be a steam locomotive to supercede this achievement.

Following a very careful look around the museum including a detailed picture shoot of the underside of the Rocket, we headed out for lunch.

It was decided (by me) to go to the Tempus Bar in the Royal York Hotel.
Who cares what the other guys thought?








It was kind of like Apres Ski, sitting on the balcony of a ski lodge, beautiful blue sky, warm and lots of beer.

Then it was back to the train for the ride up to Durham.




Leaving York.






Brown Baggin' it on the train.




Now you see what was in the brown bag.

All the best from the York crew, Norm, Ronnie and Steven.


Take care, more soon.

Ciao Bela.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

First Night In Durham

No time to catch your breath in this trip.
We checked in, spread our stuff around the room making it look like a bomb site.
We had dinner in the hotel accompanied by the most mournful dirge like music you have ever heard. I thought that there must be a funeral directors convention in the hotel.

After dinner I was waiting in the bar (where else would I wait) to meet up with Eileen (Anne's sister) and her family. As I looked out of the lobby through the giant revolving glass door, I saw a cab arrive and from it emerged the longest legs you have ever seen, followed by some more and some more, then cab after cab arrived all with the same cargo!









I thought this was a cruel trick and I must have died and gone to heaven, Budweiser and tall leggy girls!!!!!


Where was I, Oh yes, waiting for Eileen and family.

When we talked to some of the guys who were attending this function we found that it was cricket club event.






Of course I had to get in on the action!!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Arrived

We have arrived in Durham, a quick trip over from Amsterdam.
The flight was delayed by about forty minutes due to technical problems!
So, they brought out another plane.
It was a bit bumpy on the way over and even worse as we came in to land.
As we left the airport to go to the rental car the wind picked up and the ice cold rain started.
As we were walking toward the car we passed a guy going the other way just as the wind blew his glasses off.
We got to the car like drowned rats, as we tried to open the tail hatch to put in the luggage, we found that the car was parked under a sign and there was not enough clearance to open the lid. So we had to drive forward a bit then get back out and put in the suitcases.

Once we got to the hotel and checked in, we got to the room and found that there was a care package for us.

The Cairns and Docherty families had left it!

One component of the package is pictured below.







Hey, Leon check out the ALC rating!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

AMS

Arrived in Amsterdam after a fast flight.
Then of course thee was the25 munute taxiing from the runway to the gate.



Check that speed.



Cheaper in Amsterdam than LAX!

More soon from the UK.


Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Leavin on a jet plane

Parked the truck at Wallypark.





We took the Wallyshuttle to the terminal and after the usual search and rescue experience we got inside.
We to Wolfgang Pucks as they sell Bud.
Yeah they sell it for the low low price $9.00!
Now we are on the plane and ready to go.








At least we have a little room and in seat entertainment.


More soon from the UK.



Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Service Rd,Los Angeles,United States

Seal Beach

I decided to take a quick trip to Seal Beach to check out the surf conditions.

It was pretty wild, there were lots of guys in the ocean, no stand up surfers, I think that there was too much of a shore break. It was all guys with fins riding Boogie boards.

It was really rough but great fun to watch from a safe distance.

Check this short video.

Apologies to Jimmy Buffet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tvq9_ou9Bfk&feature=youtu.be

This was just before the rain started again, around 10:30 Sunday morning.

Look where I got a parking spot, of course I wasn't going to the Grill otherwise I would have had to park five miles away.

I stuck my head in the door to say good morning to Adrian and Manny.

Adrian told me the the power had just come back on in time for them to open.

Just a few days to go before the UK trip and we are getting ready.

Bob has his bag packed for a vacation with Brent and Jake.

We are fortunate to have found another company to look after Missy and the house.

Watch for the next posting from LAX.

Surprise Visit

We arrived Friday after a bit of a stressful trip.
I left a carry on bag in the terminal.
It had my iPod my camera and my earbuds in it.
Luckily I talked to a police officer and he found where it had been handed in. The officer went back through security and brought it back to the gate.
The flight was uneventful and very fast.
The car rental center was packed, fortuunately I had prepaid so we were out of there pretty quickly.
We met up with Barb and Leon, then we all went over to the Scarberry's house.
Of course we got a warm welcome from the dogs.










- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Travel Season

We are within a week of the 2014 travel season.

Friday next week we head for Arizona to visit with Barb and Leon.

We will also meet up with the Scarberry family.

Anne and I are looking forward to the get together.

We have found a new company to look after the dogs and the house.
It's a great comfort to know that someone who loves the dogs as much as we do will be staying with them.

When the guy came round to set up the stay, we were trying to figure out how to decide if he was a fit for us, no need to worry, the dogs took to him in a heart beat.

Even Missy gave him some love, now that's a first. I must admit that she likes men more than she likes women, but even so she is more likely to ignore you than give you any attention.

As most of you know, Missy does not like to have her picture taken.
I managed to sneak this one without her knowing.

Ciao Bella
Norm