The green, green grass of Away

Well, Richard does call it 'Home' sometimes, when he is feeling nostalgic about pubs or pork pies or really old buildings, but it isn't.  We are definitely Kiwis now and although being here is wonderful and amazing and very beautiful, it's very evident there are an awful lot of people in this country!
That having been said, we have spent this week managing to avoid a high percentage of them, firstly by travelling on the canal with Sandra and Barry and then, by visiting Barbara in rural Yorkshire

We left for 'the boat' last Sunday and drove through some very lovely scenery and quite a few counties to get to 'aReandaRe', which is what Sandra and Barry's narrowboat is (hilariously, we think!) named. We had a great couple of days catching up with them, walking, talking, drinking, eating some yummy food, getting caught in a hailstorm together, and all too soon it was time to leave.  My lack of practical skills made itself obvious in a big way on the boat and Richard and I had a taste of what it might be like should we decide to emulate Sandra and Barry.  Not on your life!  Rich would have to do EVERYTHING - my issues around heights, balance, small spaces, walking over running water etc would mean I could just about manage the cooking, and even then, Richard would have to get out on the front of the boat (leaving it to steer itself, I suppose!) to turn the gas on.  So, lovely to see them, great that we were able to test out an idea that had been floating in Richard's head for a while, and good to know that we can now move on with no lingering 'what ifs'.

The boat was gorgeous, had everything you would need and Sandra and Barry have made it a real home.  They are loving it and it's everything they hoped it would be.

Barbara's next and an action-packed two days in Yorkshire.  York Minster, narrow laneways, some beautiful gardens and a great walk around the old walls of the city followed by a drive into the Dales and some of the most stunning scenery we have ever seen.  We walked a little bit of the Dales Way, had a nice lunch out and then it was all over - time with Barbara passed way too quickly.

 rdc

 

On to Norfolk next - a quick two days with Mike and Suzi, whom we hadn't seen for 11 years, and their 3 little girls. Then they were off - leaving us in charge of their house and The Hound of the Baskervilles who, to be fair, is not yet trained, but is mad. The house is on the edge of a Broad (a bit like a river, a bit like a lake) and we have already taken the Hound out wandering a few times - it's a very picturesque area, the house is big and sunny and we will be more than happy here for a fortnight.