Our visit to Northern England including Durham and Marton

Tuesday 1 August 2017, Swiss National Day - Marton to Manchester

We packed up both suitcases and checked out of the Premier Inn. We drove to the bungalow and had breakfast of muesli, fruit and coffee. Then we did final sorting out of things we needed to take, including some paperwork and some small ornaments etc. There wasn't much room in our cases so we left some things for another trip.

Saying goodbye to Grandma's bungalow

Then we did lots of tidying up in the garden. I did pruning and Richard decided to do some weeding. The gardeners had been the other day to mow the lawn and so the grass looked nice. Eventually we left there at 12.45 to drive to Manchester Airport.

We drove via the A19, M1, M62 and M60 ring road. The traffic wasn't too bad and we got there in two and a quarter hours, filled up with petrol and took back the hire car. We took the shuttle bus to Terminal 1.

Then we had to wait for hours. We managed to check in our bags and go through security quite quickly, but had to wait in the departure lounge for ages. There were queues at all the cafes but we got a meal - I had sausage and mash - and we shared some red wine. Our 18.45 flight was delayed until about 22.00. There had been a thunderstorm in Zurich and all planes were delayed from taking off there.

We eventually boarded our Swiss flight and arrived in Zurich after midnight. Several other flights had also been delayed and we had another long wait for luggage. We had to take a taxi home. I slept quite well.


Monday 31 July 2017 - Eaglescliffe and North York Moors

On the North York Moors

We drove to the bungalow again for breakfast. We got raspberries from Tesco garage to go with the Jordan's muesli. Then we loaded the car with all the heavy boxes of books, unwanted picture frames and ornaments, and drove to the hospice warehouse recycling place at Eaglescliffe. The lady there helped us to unload everything. A good job done.

On the way back, we called into the Teesside Retail Park and I got a few things in M and S and Boots. Richard bought two new T-shirts! It started to rain.

Beautiful countryside all round our drive back

Then we drove to Robin Hoods Bay near Whitby, but it was too busy to park. We tried to get into a roadside space and got stuck. So we turned back, and after a pub lunch at the Hare and Hounds, we headed back across the North York Moors. I took a few photos.

After a rest we popped into Tesco for a few things for tea. We went back to the bungalow and also tidied up in the garden. Then back to the hotel to do the Guardian crossword etc. We watched the BBC2 program from Ypres in Belgium commemorating 100 years since the Battle of Passchendaele. It was very moving.

Lots of things still to pack tomorrow.


Sunday 30 July 2017 - Marton and Marske

The back garden still looked lovely

In the morning we had breakfast at the bungalow again. Laura went to lie down. David N arrived and Lesley suggested scattering Grandma's ashes in the garden which she loved. It was quite sad. In the house, Kathryn labelled with stickers all items claimed by someone. We continued packing up books and ornaments. Lesley took lots of things.  David H wasn't keen on having more stuff. We just took a few books.

Richard on the beach at Marske

By 12.30 everyone had gone. Richard took the cousins to the station. When he got back we drove to Marske, a small seaside town. The beach was empty. I got my feet wet in the sea. Then we drove to Yarm and saw the main street of shops and a few pubs, plus an old railway line.

We returned to Marton and had dinner at the Southern Cross pub. Laura sent a message from London that a doctor had prescribed antibiotics for a kidney infection.

Tomorrow we have to take several heavy boxes to the charity shop.



Saturday 29 July 2017 - Marton

The process of sorting things out 

After a night at the Premier Inn, we drove to the bungalow for breakfast of cereal, berries and coffee with Lesley and David. Robbie arrived from London by train. Then Mark and Alison, Kim, Chris, Jo and their partners arrived to see us and take away a few mementos. Meanwhile we packed several boxes of unwanted books for the hospice.

Mark and Alison stayed until the afternoon and offered to take some kitchen appliances. Then we visited Grandma's old neighbour Shirley with a memento, and her travel friend Anne arrived and looked at some old holiday photos. Diane the neighbour also came in to chat.

Laura, Robbie and Kathryn at dinner

We filled 3 boxes with heavy books and two other boxes with games and ornaments. Everyone was keen to reminisce.  In the evening the family went for dinner at the Whinstone View restaurant. I had a nice meal of soup and salmon en papillote. Laura didn't feel well.



Friday 28 July 2017 - Durham to Marton

Durham now has a champagne bar!

After a disturbed night, I woke at 7.30. Weather was fine, but has been cool. We got ready for breakfast and had muesli, berries, bacon and scrambled egg plus coffee and orange juice. Then we packed both cases. We are about to set off for Marton, via Aidan's.

Aidan's hadn't changed much

I visited my old college, St. Aidan's in Durham. We admired the view and then went inside. Nothing much had changed apart from the addition of a bar and some pool tables. The college is now mixed. I looked inside the library, JCR and dining hall and talked to a member of staff.

Them we drove off to Middlesbrough via the A19. Traffic was quite busy. We arrived at Richard's mum's bungalow in Marton and met Lesley. We started work on sorting out all the photos and cards. We also went shopping for food. Later on Laura and Kathryn arrived, also David H. Lesley made a nice bolognese.

We carried on until after 9pm and then drove back to the Premier Inn to spend the night. It was raining heavily.


Thursday 27 July 2017 - in Durham

Durham Cathedral from the River Wear

We had a late breakfast at the Radisson. I asked for a poached egg and Richard ordered pancakes. Then we set out to walk to the Oriental Museum by the river walk and past the foot of Aidan's steps. There we saw the top floor of Egyptian and Asian antiquities, and also some photos of Chinese soldiers recruited to fight with the Allies in the First World War.

It was fun to meet Penny again

We returned to the hotel for a drink and lunch in the bar.We rested a short while in our room. Then we walked to Crook Hall and met Penny for coffee and a chat. Afterwards, we walked into town and I bought a few things in Marks and Spencer. Richard didn't find anything.

We had two glasses of Champagne in the bar outdoors and then went to the Spice Lounge for a curry. Back at the hotel we watched TV and did the crossword. Tomorrow we drive to Middlesbrough.

Part of the Palace Green exhibition

Wednesday 26 July 2017 - in Durham

Gorgeous blooms at Crook Hall

Breakfast at the Radisson- not bad. It was a very wet day.We met the others at the Premier Inn and walked up to Palace Green and the Cathedral.


We saw an interesting exhibition about Durham's history from neolithic times until present. There was another exhibit about Durham Light Infantry. Richard's great grandad was in that regiment during the Boer War.

Dinner at La Tasca

Then we had coffee and split up. We visited the Cathedral which was very busy. After lunch we reconvened at Crook Hall to see the house and gardens. The weather had improved and the gardens were lovely. In the house there was also an exhibition by two modern artists.


At 7pm 15 of us met up at La Tasca for a Spanish meal. We shared tapas. This time we split the bill by individual dishes. We said goodbye to the others. We may see Penny again on Thursday.




Tuesday 25 July 2017 - on the way to Durham via Fountains Abbey

At Fountains Abbey where I once worked

I had a disturbed night. Woke again before 8 and watched BBC Breakfast. We heard that the long running battle for treatment for baby Charlie Gard was over, with all experts agreeing he had no sign of life. A very sad case. We also heard of British success in swimming.

We went out for breakfast to a creperie nearby. We shared three sweet crepes - lemon, berry, and peanut butter (that was Richard's). Then we left Harrogate for Durham via Fountains Abbey. Weather still very cool.

Enjoying dinner at Zizzi's

We arrived at Fountains Abbey, where I once had a student job. Everything had changed at the new visitors' centre. We bought tickets and entered the grounds, and walked along to the ruined abbey buildings. We were able to walk all over the ruins and take lots of photos. After seeing everything we had a coffee and flapjack in the cafe

Angela and Derek discussing the menu

We left and headed northeast to Durham and found the Radisson Hotel. We checked in for three nights.

Aidan's rowing crew 1968-ish - I am in bow

In the evening we met the other Durham crowd at Zizzis for dinner - Italian. It was fun to meet and chat to members of our former college rowing crew and their partners. We divided the bill equably and split up until tomorrow.




Monday 24 July 2017 - Harrogate

After watching the news and sport on BBC Breakfast, we went for our breakfast at the hotel. Quite good. I had granola with berries, and scrambled egg and bacon, plus orange juice and coffee. Next we are off to see the Victorian pump rooms and museum, plus the shops. The weather looks cool and wet. What happened to the English summer?

A sculpture in the gardens

We walked down to the Pump Rooms Museum. The Victorian spa and pump rooms no longer exist but we saw the remains of the spa in the museum, which also showed how the spa and baths were created. Tasting the sulphur in the water was thought to be healthy. We also enjoyed seeing the town's Georgian buildings and the numerous lawns and flower beds. We visited the post office for stamps, and I sent seven cards, and we bought a paper.We had a nice lunch in the friendly Coach and Horses pub.

Many gardens feature in Harrogate

Then back to the hotel for a rest and to do the Guardian crossword. At 17.20 we strolled to the Everyman cinema near the station. There we got a glass of Rioja and saw the film Dunkirk. It was very exciting and told of D-Day on land, sea and air.

In the evening we had a three course dinner at the Hotel du Vin. It was rather filling and later I had an upset stomach :-(


Sunday 23 July 2017 - Harewood House and Harrogate

Harewood House with the formal gardens

We got up at 9 and had breakfast at Browns, next door to the Radisson. I had granola with fruit, with orange juice and coffee. Quite nice. Then we went back to pack and check out.


We headed out of Leeds and tried to find the road to Harrogate. It was not well signposted. We went all round the university area before finding the A61 north. We decided to stop at Harewood House, just off our route. It was a great place. We saw the grounds with terraced gardens, a zoo with birds and animals, lovely flower borders and a lake. We had a snack for lunch in the cafe and explored 'below stairs' in the Victorian kitchens.

We spent hours looking at the animals and plants

We left there at about 3pm and drove on to Harrogate, a spa town. We found our hotel, The Yorkshire, and parked outside. Our room is quite nice but has no frills. We watched Octopussy on TV. Richard fell asleep.

In  the evening, when it was raining, we walked to a Brazilian restaurant, Bodega. We had salads and grilled meat served to the table, plus a cocktail and some South African Shiraz. The food was very good. After dinner we went back to our hotel and watched the final day of the Open golf from Royal Birkdale. Jordan Spieth won convincingly.

Some of many works by Henry Moore

Saturday 22 July 2017 - Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Leeds

After a very nice breakfast with Lesley and David, we made copies of some documents for the will. Then we set off to drive cross-country to Leeds. It was more complicated than expected. We crossed from Lancs into Yorks. Our first stop was at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

First we had lunch in the cafe and then explored the extensive grounds, with sheep everywhere. We enjoyed the sculptures by Henry Moore, Ai Weiwei and others.

An iron tree by Ai Weiwei

Then on to Leeds. It was very tricky finding our way in the city centre. We parked at the Merrion car park and walked to the Radisson hotel. We received a friendly welcome and had a nice room. I hope we can find the car again.

We watched the Tour de France, won by Chris Froome, and Pointless Celebrities. Then we had a drink in Decanter and a Chinese meal at Red Chilli. Both good.


Friday 21 July 2017 - Zurich to Manchester

We often wait in the Jazz Bar at the airport

We spent the morning sorting and packing into two cases - not such a good plan in the event. I also spent quite a while sending emails to the ZIWA Breast Cancer Support people about the previous day's meeting.

A delicious starter by David

After lunch we got a bus and train to the airport. Reports of the busiest day of the year for flights were not wrong. We waited in the Montreux Jazz Bar and also at the gate. Our Manchester flight was 1 hour late taking off due to thunder and turbulence. We also had a long wait in Manchester for passport control.


We eventually got our hire car and drove in the rain to Lesley and David's. They had a lovely meal waiting.