Open Day at the Railway

We spent all week, and I mean 'we', cleaning the house.  PJ had invited M to stay over so me being me - house to clean top to bottom.
R took me into Training so that I could plant up the 'window boxes' and hang the basket down in the Signal Box garden.  I watered some and weeded a bit then came home - it's hot again.
Open Day was very over cast and then not long after wards it started to rain, then it poured.  I was soaked through.......... to the skin.           So I came home. 

All I managed to see was this visitor from the Talyllyn Railway.   I nearly missed him as I was expecting a full size engine.......... kinda cute though!

By the time I arrived home the sun had come out again but I left 'the boys' to it, they could explore without me ............. explore?!    hmmmm!      more like PJ showing M all about it........
We went to Ming Moon in town for our evening meal and I was very disappointed.  I think I have said before that this restaurant serves a buffet and some excellent Sushi.  Not this time.  No Sushi at all, I was a tad embarrassed as I had bigged them up a bit to M, but there you go.
We didn't go back to the Open Day next day as we had a lazy morning and then went with M to New Street Station in the middle of town.  

This station is the crossing point of England - I believe that all tracks going North and South cross at this point.  
It has soooo changed.


This is how the entrance looked as far as we were concerned.


Now we walk down Stephenson St to the entrance - the station side is lined with shiny metal so it is like walking under and alongside mirrors - different!





The final entrance will be beyond here, at the end of the street and will look like this .............





Nice isn't it?  We'll see, at the moment it looks like this.............


So when we went inside it was all light, airy and bright, shops and escalators............ we followed the signs and ended back in the Palisades shopping area, which was good cos now we knew where we were!!! 
Something familiar, so we had a cup of coffee and a piece of cake (you knew we would!!!) and looked down on the first view of the entrance and discussed the shock we had just gone through.


It is much better than this shot of the station taken in 1912.

Better I suppose than this shot taken in 1980

This is an artist impression of the finished area

and pathways to platforms.

We both agreed it had been interesting and maybe we should go somewhere by train............. just to get a better view of the inside you understand!

3rd day of Birthday in July

So we rested up and watered the garden and unpacked our case, phoned our friends to see where they were........... on the same trip but different coach and different hotel!! Their driver was not as considerate as ours and they had quite a walk in Haworth but enjoyed the trip.

In the evening N and J came round bringing PJ pressie - and I gave him pressie number three!!

These three packages are all different flavoured sausages - he really doesn't need to tell me he loves sausages!!!!

N & J's pressie is a visit to a Japanese water garden

 and included is a river cruise with a cream tea - this can be on a separate day.

So we have two more days out to look forward to!

York River Cruise

We arrived in York at lunchtime with about 3hrs to browse - lunchtime........ and we are cooking in the heat!!
The coach park was by the river so we decided to go on one of the cruises and really enjoyed ourselves.  The Captain pointed out places of interest as we cruised and it was great............


This is where we were going .................

Passed this house, built long ago by a rich man from Italy ........in Italian Style

We were being followed by a small flotilla but they passed us when it came time to turnaround



We went as far as the Bishop's Palace - rather good photos as I think the swan enjoys having his photo taken.................







This is a very modern bridge and would look out of place if it was nearer the city...............

some of the local folks have bought these flats in converted mills and some have bought boats like this one called 'Happy Days'!!!

We went for a short walk round afterwards and saw this on our travels, maybe next time we come to York we will visit, but till the time to return to the coach, we sat on the bank and watched the world go by.

We stopped for a McDs after the driver dropped us off in Brum and then straight home to bed.................. and cool down..............

Haworth visit

We visited Haworth early in the morning - left the Hotel at 08.30hrs, that's early!!!

Strange to think that we saw sights that the Bronte sisters would know...........

The driver dropped us at the top of the hill, which meant that there was only a short walk to the 'Parsonage' - too steep for me so we took a path that was suitable for wheelchairs, and ended up at the top of the main street in Haworth itself.  

It meant we would not visit the Parsonage but ........

 We had a good look round, the Church, the Pub with its notices and then started off down hill to the station.

Halfway down the hill this bench called us over to sit awhile and contemplate the view ............ we did gratefully!

Then onwards and downwards we went.......

Just imagine walking up to your house which is just off the main street .......

a view to the distant hills through one of the many archways as we came down the street..........

towards the bottom of the hill stood this Church - sounds good!






Through the park (with an ice-cream of course!) and we reach the bottom of the hill.............

Wonder if this old warehouse stood there when the Bronte's were here ........... 

maybe this train was running then.............

going along the flat road to the station the houses are built on every crook and cranny ...........






PJ was still upright ..............

local view with massive Gunnera leaves alongside.................

 we reached the station and waited for the coach driver to come and collect us so that we could travel on to York City.

This is what they are doing to most of the warehouses round about nowadays - progress!

Ouch!!

I want to take this opportunity to make people understand that when out in the garden one must be extra careful.  It is not just the forks, canes, hose pipes etc. that one must look out for but also 'hidden' dangers.

When placing a hand upon a flat surface, like a fork handle, please check first that the space has not been already taken!

Bees like resting there, even Bumble Bees!

For the second time in my life I have been stung by a Bumble Bee, and in the same place!

She was on the fork handle as I placed my hand there to get balance before I started to move the Bean runners.  

She didn't like me putting my hand on her!

Ouch!

Double Ouch!

ooooohhhhh!

We don't have 'Blue Bags' any more so the next best thing is an ice cube - aaaahhh!

Luckily no long term damage has been done - the little bee flew away.

My hand is a bit sore but usable.............. to type not move Bean runners!

2nd day of Birthday in July

PJ has his birthday this month, I used to be envious ........... mine is just before Christmas and gets forgotten in the rush to 25th.

I am no longer envious - this is only the second time I have celebrated his birthday away from home and in the heat - not good.

The arrangement was that we would go to York to see the trains at the museum there.  Six special ones, from around the world and included in this trip was a visit to Haworth (Bronte country).

In the Museum these engines were lined up in a semi circle so that lots and lots and lots and lots of photographs could be taken from lots and lots ...... of angles. 


It was very hot and crowded with adults and children and babies.  It was fairly noisy as well!!  PJ and I separated while taking photos and then met up again and decided to sit a while and try to cool down.

We then went into the actual museum part, but didn't stay there long ........... too hot!!

We crossed into the old station to look at all the Victoriana - including the Queen's coach, decked out as it would have been when she and Albert travelled the country.


It was rather cool here so we sat till almost time to leave and then wandered back.  We will probably come back in cooler times - when the 'visitors' above have gone and the children are at school.  For a free visit it is very good.  This engine greeted us as we entered the Main Hall and I can just imagine the cleaning of those pipes!!!

We travelled on to the Hotel, not five star but clean and the staff were extremely helpful.  Arranged the Happy Birthday Banner across the table and chair, even put three candles on his cake for me!!!  Of course, we all sang Happy Birthday - the whole room - I just wish I had my camera but .......... did I tell you it was very hot!!!  
Oh! and I gave him the second present ........

1st day of Birthday in July

PJ is often oblivious of what goes on in my life - as most men are methinks.
I forgot his present when in Solihull on Wednesday but, when he wanted to go back in on Thursday, I bought it on a very fast trip to Lakeland!!!  Well, actually there were three.
On Friday C came round bringing his pressie (another one!!) and a card and a badge and a balloon............. and I gave him his first pressie.  Photos were not taken as I had been baking most of the day and it was very hot both inside and outside.


But this was his pressie from me

and I had made a smashing card for him as well.  I coloured the image very subtley - he missed the connection but I will explain to him later ...............


He wanted the complete uniform of an engineer but it was very expensive so he has the scarf.

Someone gave him a hat.

He looks after 6201 engine which is red and black.

He has travelled up and down the shiny tracks.

His boots leave lovely black bits in my hallway - I clean them up and he rarely notices them.

Before we married he was wellknown at Church for his odd fluorescent socks!

And of course there is the love............ 
So there we have it  ..................
I forgot to say that C bought him a DVD of Despicable Me ............. says it all.

Two Weeks Later..........

I find it difficult to believe that we are half way through July and on the downward slope to Christmas ........ it is 29.8C out in the shade and 38C in the sun but it would appear that the Craft Channels are thinking Christmas!!!
We have been extremely busy this past fortnight and it is only now that I am able to take a break!!  
I should have gone to Training today to water the gardens but for me (and the cat!)..........

 it is too darn hot to move so I am sitting here in front - literally - of a fan and trying to catch up with emails, Blogs etc.
We have only managed to see one film since PJ acquired his spaceboot - Fast & Furious 4 - which we thoroughly enjoyed.  I was a bit dubious as it is not my type of film but there was a good storyline, amazing stunts and some good acting - and a surprise twist, several actually!!!
This meant that the next time we went into town we bought the set of DVDs, the young man that served us was gutted that he had to wait until the weekend to see it!
We haven't had chance to view them as yet, we're still trying to catch up with a couple of TV series that we follow, but by the time we come indoors - I only go out in the evenings - we are too tired to sit up any longer - they will keep until it rains again............