The kids thought Jo and I were nuts, singing 'Jerusalem' while driving through the Yorkshire countryside. It isn't the first time and wont be the last, but it is always fun. I helped the four of them into a cab around 5am Monday morning and sent them on their way to the airport, promising to follow them on Wednesday just to give me some more time at work and save my days for other trips. They flew to Stansted airport, east of London and the headquarters of cheap-skate airline RyanAir. From there it's a 3 hr train ride from the airport railway station to Leeds. I made the same trip 2 days later and drove an awesome Benz C180 sport up so we'd have transport around Yorkshire.
Jo's cousin Paul and his wonderful missus Helen put us up in their home near Wakefield and we felt very much part of the furniture thanks to their great hospitality (we owe you on the flip-flop when you come our way guys). Their kids Joe and Laura were great and I know our clan had a great time knocking around with them for the week. Our first evening took us out for good traditional pub grub and a reunion that has been 20 years coming when I met up with Jo's other cousin Graham.
He toured Aus during the second summer that I was going out with Jo (I guess I was 20) and we had some great times on a long road trip through the Snowy Mountains and on to Canberra. He and I spent the evening remembering things the other had forgotten and laughing our asses off. The Rhodes side of the family are a great bunch and we're already planning on dropping on on them again if we can manage it.
Part of our trip, actually the heart of it, was to visit the places that had meaning to the Rhodes clan, specifically Stan and Barb, and show the kids a little of their family background. Norman, Stan's brother, offered to take us on a tour of some of the important sites south of Leeds, so show us the area that he and his sibblings were evacuated to during WW2. We had a great day touring the country lanes, hedgerows and amazing pubs and other landmarks. At the manor where Stan stayed for the duration we cheekily drove up the driveway and knocked on the door, amazed to find that the home is still owned by the same family and were welcomed without hesitation and encouraged to have a look around. Cam agreed that curry sauce is the best condiment for chips, I enjoyed a cod butty.
That night we said goodbye to Norman, Paul and Helen and set off for Lincoln to stay with Scott and Bill's cousin Nicola, or more correctly her parents Keith and Mary. They put on a fantastic BBQ for us and spoiled us rotten into the next day. We drove to Hough on the Hill, the little town where Scott and Bill grew up with Bev on a sprawling farm. The village was a picture postcard, the church's spire incorporates an old Saxon tower that's around 1000 years old. The house had changed quite a bit, but the new extensions followed the older buildings character really well. I finally got my mixed grill (a combination of pork, swine and pig) for lunch and almost lapsed into a food coma. The Nicola took us to a local manor, owned by fellow horse riding/hunting friends. They don't hunt the foxes anymore, instead tracking down people who volunteer to be the 'game'. We saw the hounds, about 40 of them, and the noise they made when they saw us was very cool 'woooowooowooowooo', great dogs who wanted to lick us to death through the fence. The farm attached to the manor has a very historic tower on it's grounds, originally built by the Knights Templar and it was from there that they were arrested and taken for execution when their order was finally dissolved in the 13th century, very cool stuff.
From there we took in a tour of the manor owners future home, a massive mansion being constructed a mile away. Truely huge, our home in Aus would fit in the dog kennel. I didn't take any pictures or video of that, no need to give Jo any reminders that she didn't marry a lord :-).
We returned to Wakefield in time for Paul, Graham and Joe to take me to see a rugby match between their beloved Leeds Rhinos and Wighan. I've not watched a lot of rugby but having come to love NFL I found that I could easily enjoy the game and although Leeds didn't win (my fault I'm sure) I had a great time. During the taking of the photo below a copper told me that he'd arrest me the next time I invaded the pitch... to which Paul replied cheerily 'See you next time then!' ROFL.
On our final full day I wanted to revisit an area of the shire that had made a big impression when I traveled there with my school mates Paul and Chris 24 years ago. Up through the moors to Whitby and Robin Hoods Bay. It's a great drive, although we caught the worst of the traffic and what was a 90 minute drive back turned into a 3.5hr drive there. We ended up not stopping in Whitby as it was rammed and moved on the Robin Hoods Bay where we had lunch at a pub on the top of the sea-wall that protects the lower town from the stormy North Sea. The tide was out so we could walk down the slip way and out onto the rocks. An icecream van was parked on the rocks and Jo enjoyed a cinder toffee cone (icecream with Crunchie).
On our last day we squeezed in driving to the church where Stan and Barb were married. Sadly it had been renovated in the 70's and basically ruined by removing the high ceilings and all the classic features of the church except it's steeple (which was covered in scaffolding). In timeless England some things do change.
Our next trip to Blighty will be to London, most likely in September. But I hope we get back to Leeds before we head home to Aus, maybe for Christmas...
Andy, out.
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