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You are currently browsing the archives for the England category.
Rented a 3rd floor apt. in the center of town, kinnda cool. San Gimigiano is suppose to make a great white wine which we are about to go out and taste. We also are gonna go Cache hunting (did one in England) I know you think it’s crazy, but I think It’s fun.
‘About time for KC to bring her brood across the pond.
I MISS you and wish you were here.
In Hertford, Hereford,and Hampshire, Hurricanes hardly happen (ok, name that musical)!
After driving over Hill and Dale (and some of this area is called “the Dales” known for country wandering) we came upon the city of Harrigate. It is a good size, victorian, home to an Air Force Base as well as a large radar installation (Huge Golf Balls detecting anything and everything in the entire W. Hemisphere).
We were hoping to meet up with a JAG officer just assigned to the area and pass on a hug from his RB mother, but we didn’t connect. Beautiful flower beds, shops and a deeeelightful lunch at ” The Slug and Lettuce” restaurant (I didn’t have a salad, I had cottage pie and a strawberry cider).
Whalley Abbey and Bolton Abbey were so amazing and were ruins from eons ago with different outcomes.
The first is an outline of rock walls and crumbling arches that defines a very sophisticated community of friars near the river Whalley.
The second was a decayed structure which was half in ruins and half restored and has been in continual use for 850 years as a vibrant church community.
They were both in awesome surroundings and a real testament to faith through the ages.
But this is the Abby that means the most to me :)
Just kidding, it is not Westminster Abbey that I feel most fond for, but my diva of a grandaughter (andy the editor’s words):
The most pleasant of English country towns you will ever find! The Kallas’ and the Morales’ dropped in on friends, Gail and Karl, and cousins Carol and Chris…friends and family!
Picture rolling lush green hills, dotted with fluffy sheep and frolicking lambs, stack stone fences and corner pubs, steak and kidney pie, and puddings, pints and pubs. “oh to be in England, now that spring is here (name that author).”
Daffodils line every lane and drizzle freshens each morning. Tho’ we still bundle up as it’s in the 40′s and 50′s, inside it is cozy and the aromas of Karls cooking warms the soul.
Hoping to help Gail during her (English) Mothers’ Day rush,we found we were of most help staying out of her way in the teeny flower shop. Steve was a “runner” for some deliveries but we depended on Karl to show us more of his neck of the woods.
We have a few more touristy things to do, but tomorrow we pack up and head to the airport here to head to Manchester, England via Dusseldorf, Germany.
What I enjoyed was the art, the history, the snow, the overnight train, the friends, the metro stations, and the cleanliness.
What I won’t miss is is being cold, the incomprehensible language with 33 letters in their alphabet, the smokey public areas, the food, traffic with no pedestrian rights, the pushing, the lack of smiles, the omnipresent police/military.
So here we go…on to the next chapter!
If you can’t make it to Europe, the next best thing is a class in the Little Italy part of downtown San Diego. Steve and I enjoy a two hour mental trip via “the Wines and Foods of Italy by Region”: each week a different area and 4-6 wines to sample, cheeses, polenta, pizza, and dulce. The class enjoys videos of each region and shares their own Italian stories.
It was one year ago today that we left for Manchester on our way to Volvo and Montalcino. This week’s trip will be to the Open Air Market in Little Italy on Saturday to replenish oils, spices, and memories. Bene, molto bene.
We are packing up and weighing our luggage for our flights tomorrow to Sweeden via Dublin . We hear there is quite a steep penalty for any overage and we have two legs to pay. This will be a lot like KC and J to Korea . So we ask that you shoot up a prayer as you go to bed and as we are getting up for EARLY flights…that our luggage arrives with us, doesn’t cost us a fortune, and that we have travel mercies as the big Volvo adventure begins!
We have had such a marvelous time here…it’s become safe haven for us, but it is time for the BIG ADVENTURE 
Designing Woman
Gail Usher
• Shop Owner
• Newly Elected Chamber of Trade President (by a landslide)
• New Rotarian
• Hollies Fan
• Good Friend
• Devoted Daughter, Sister, Mother, Confidant, Girlfriend.
Gail is THE designing force behind all that is good and creative in Barnoldswick!
And right now she is one tired puppy, having survived yet another Mothers’ Day in England. Heading up a staff of 8, she served the community and handled 450 orders on Saturday and nearly 100 on Sunday (all while being hostess to two foreigners from across the pond).
Cousins
Carol and Chris Howarth live in Barnoldswick, they have one son Warren, who is married to Michelle and they are parents to Owen! ( are you with me so far?) Carol and my Dad are cousins: my Dad’s mother (Marion Mc Nabb Fear) is half sister to Carol’s dad, Sam(Nice). That makes us related! They are also the ones who introduced us to Gail (her favorite florist) when we were here 6 years ago. . . and the rest is history.
We have fallen in LOVE with Owen; rosy cheeks, blue eyes, spikey hair…and he even comes with the cutes accent. And his favorite sport is golf. Owen turns 4 in May.
Owen
