The Lake District and Costwalds

Have we said WOW yet?!! The Lake District is a place that exceeded our expectation! We're planning to spend longer there next time - and in fact walking tours from Lyn's house-sit somewhere in the heart of lakes country is in the planning stages so secure a place now! Meryl was spoilt rotten by her sisters on her birthday as we ambled alongside lakes and quaint villages - stopping at cafes and restaurants for eats and drinks (as if we haven't eaten enough!). The next tour is also in the early planning stages... a canal boat tour of the English countryside and we've twisted Brian's arm to drive the boat (at least we've been working on persuading him!) but the boat's filling fast so you'll have to be REALLY quick for this one!! A big THANK YOU to Joy and Brian for their generous hospitality - we've turned up on their door step more times than we originally planned and they haven't yet turned us away - phew!! You two rock! The Cotswalds area was pretty darn cute as well and I think Lyn may require counselling from having to leave after just a couple of hours of meandering through gorgeous villages in that area. Lyn and Delwyn may have achieved a new hourly record for photos taken while there!... Back in London now - spent the day yesterday doing the London Eye, Tate Modern, and wandering along the Thames in beautiful sunshine (not that Delwyn was surprised about the good weather as her forecasts are always spot on!) Not looking forward to the long flight but it'll be great to see you all!

touring the motherland

We are really enjoying our whiz trip around the UK. Not only does everyone (or most) speak english, but they have food available at any time of the day, the shops are open, and we don't have to pay for the public toilets!!! We drove up to York on friday and enjoyed wandering around its historic cobbled streets, including the shambles which is a bunch of higgledy piggeldy buildings down a narrow street. We then drove half an hour into the country and stayed the night at a pub called the Old Black Bull at a wee village. It was very comfortable and we loved our first (of many as it turned out) pub dinner and cooked english breakfast! Yum!!! Saturday we wandered thru a small part of the yorkshire moors and dales and eventually dragged ourselves onto the motorway to head to Scotland. Our accommodation there was just north of Glasgow at a very homely B&B at the base of Loch Lomond. Sunday we enjoyed meandering up the lochs and mountains with Meryl stopping at a moment's notice as we exclaimed over some sight that just HAD to be snapped. The colours on the mountains and reflected in the lochs was amazing! We stopped at a place called Inverary where there is a castle which we had a look thru and enjoyed a cream tea in its basement. After buying Lyn a pair of shoes after her other ones gave up the ghost, we continued our wandering until dark! Today we are in Edinburgh and are already behind schedule to head back to the motorway and down to the lake district for the next 2 nights before heading to London via the Cotswald. The week is fast disappearing and we are loathe for our holiday to end but looking forward to seeing everyone. Might have to do this again every year if anyone wants to join us .... ?!!** Till next week xxx

Paris

a very quick bonjur from us b4 we get on a train to London . we have had a great time travelling thru italy and france; sometimes feeling quite intrepid: yesterday was 10 hours doing hi spots of paris; incl eiffel tower: wore ourselves out big time: looking fwd to uk and soon getting back to see you all in nz: xxx