Bruce, Lyn and I left Scarborough this morning. They were heading for London and I was going to Preston, where I was to meet Karen and Andy and Karen’s Mum Sue who lives at Chorley in Lancashire.
The train passed a large fire in the heathlands that has been burning for several days. Apparently it was started deliberately. When we arrived at Sue’s place the sound of fire engines was constantly in the background. After all the quiet of the country, civilisation is rather jarring. The traffic in and out of Preston was like peak hour and it was Sunday afternoon! The world is such a busy, bustling place so that the countryside is more and more appealing.
Sue is a watercolour painter so I was very interested to see her work. She is very accomplished and seeing her work made me keen to get back to painting again too. I spoke with Jonathan and Ziggy this morning and started to feel the first pangs of homesickness. Not long now before I return.
We ate a lovely home cooked meal in the garden and then Karen’s sister Fiona and her husband John came for tea and another delicious meal of salads( with avocado!) was eaten. Such a lovely change from Pub food! The weather is still warm and so eating outside was also enjoyable, barely a fly to swat. Karen had made a scrumptious Rhubarb fool for dessert. All was devoured without a squeak. It was so nice to have something different, not a huge serving, and so deliciously fresh and light. Civilisation has its perks too! Fiona works in FE, Further Education, and has responsibility for a huge number of courses. It was very interesting discussing the English system of vocational training and seeing how different it was from the Australian system in which I worked.
The weather is a treat which I didn’t expect in England and everyone is so enjoying the sunshine but the gardens are very dry and they don’t seem to open windows as soon as there is a cool breeze. The hotel at Scarborough was stuffy, yet there was a fresh sea breeze blowing outside. The staff were saying how hot it was but all they needed to do was open a window!
fleetfootkath 
Glad to know that the balmy weather is continuing. I hope you can open your window at night to catch that breeze!
I walked to Carlton today for lunch with Mardi and Barb and we almost ‘did a Mary Poppins’ as the wind was so strong! It’s certainly cold but the walk was exhilarating and the lunch a lovely pitstop before the walk home via the city. Small potatoes compared to your efforts but lovely all the same.
Nine xx
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