The
week started with us seeing more and more daylight, which has become
a welcome sight after the darkness of the winter. The daffodils
and crocuses
survived the snows, and they are coming out and blooming more and
more. Before long, they will be all around the walls of the city.
Tuesday I was at acupuncture, and I was told that I was improving
and doing so well, that I only need to come once a week. I'd been
doing that, what with having been in Sweden, etc., and they felt that
my progress and lack of regression was good; so that's a good thing.
They also think that I will be coming every other week very soon,
and then once a month before long at all. I am glad to report that
my back is doing SO MUCH BETTER!
I'd been getting things prepared all week for company, and on Thursday
afternoon Sally and Maggie Heard arrived on GNER
from London. Sally is the wife of Geoff Heard (son of John and Jean
Heard) whom I taught in Maracaibo, Venezuela, and Maggie is their
7-year old daughter. They now live in Prescott, Arizona, and they'd
been down south in Poole
in Dorset visiting friends
who'd lived there. Well, I was just steps from their carriage when
they arrived, and I whisked them back to my place. I'd prepared stuff
for dinner, and we set about getting them ensconced and unpacked here,
and talking and visiting all the while. We had a nice visit, and then
it was to bed for all of us.
Friday morning we headed to Selby
to see Selby Abbey.
They thoroughly enjoyed it, and then we went for a Thai meal in Escrik,
which is on the way back to York, and it was delicious. I'd arranged
a play date that afternoon with Alexander Corrie, who is also 7. We
arrived at the Corries' home, and after the two Sallys had met, exchanged
greetings, etc., we went inside and looked for Alexander. We found
him, and after just a few minutes, Maggie and he were off upstairs
to play in his room. We adults enjoyed our visit, and after a bit,
Jenny Freegard (Sally Corrie's sister) arrived with her children,
Eva and Cameron. Well, the four of them had a great time, playing
in the garden, water pistol fights, etc. Sally Corrie made sandwiches
and had a jam cake, fruit, chips, etc. for the kids, and they all
enjoyed it. Bruce came home to find all these people in the house,
and we just had a good visit while the children continue to play.
We all finally headed home about 7:30pm. We'd not been home long,
when Bruce called to see if we were free for dinner the following
evening, and we were, and also Alexander wondered if Maggie could
spend the night. Well, I don't know who was more excited about that
prospect; Maggie or her mother. We adults just did some picking that
night at food, and then we were off to the Red
Lion. Mags and Sally enjoyed the pub, and then it
was back home and to sleep.
Saturday morning we headed to the Jorvik
Viking Centre, and they both really enjoyed that
experience. In fact, there were some "Vikings" standing
outside talking with people, and Maggie visited with them prior to
entering. Afterwards, we went walking around the city, going to Newgate
Market, wandering down The
Shambles, on over to York
Minster, to the Yorkshire
Museum and Gardens, then down Coney
Street to where we could have a late lunch by the River
Ouse. It was a lovely, true spring day, and we were lucky to find
a table outside, and everyone seemed to be of the same mind: it's
so lovely, let's eat outdoors! We had a good lunch and enjoyed watching
the tour boats, the skulls come by with the rowers, the small red
boats one can hire, etc. We left there and walked up to the market
again to buy some flowers to take for the evening, and then it was
down Fossgate to the Miniature
Scene, a store any young girl (and some older ones!)
would love: a store with doll houses and all the accessories for them!
Well, while the girls were inside, I sat outside, and all of a sudden,
out came Rachel Addison from the next store! You know, I always seem
to run into someone I know when I am wandering in the City. We had
a few moments to catch up with each other, as we've not seen each
other for some time. She was on her way to meet up with Paul Cain,
and so we bid adieu until later. The girls came out with their purchases,
and we continued the walk home. We got back home about 3 or so, relaxed
and then got ourselves ready to be at the Corries by 5pm. We arrived,
and of course, the kids were upstairs and playing! We again had a
nice visit, and then we all sat down to a delicious meal Sally Corrie
had prepared. The children were well-behaved, but they shot from the
table as soon as they were excused. Sally and I returned home a bit
before 10pm, and it was back to the Red Lion
for us. Sally's first night to be childless on the trip, and only
an hour left of pub time! We got home a bit after 11, and it was to
bed for us.
Today we were back at the Corries for 9:45am, and the kids were outside
playing. We adults had a coffee, and Bruce and Sally said things had
gone well. We three sat off for Ripley
Castle and the 11am tour. They enjoyed Ripley, and Maggie thought
she might like to live there! Then we headed back towards York and
grabbed some cheeseburgers on the road. Unfortunately, the weather
was not as lovely as it had been the day before, as it was a darker,
colder day. Good thing my planning had been for mostly indoor things
today! We continued on to Castle
Howard, and they LOVED that! Maggie then decided that she would
DEFINITELY like to live there! Afterwards, we went by the Corries
for her to say goodbye to Alexander. Bruce had set up a trampoline,
and Alexander invited her to jump with him. We adults had a good visit,
and when I said how Maggie wanted to live at Castle Howard, we had
a good laugh, and Sally Corrie said, "Well, we all want to
live at Castle Howard!", which is true! We left there and
headed home. Now, we have finished dinner, and the girls are watching
telly while I write this update to you. Tomorrow they head to Edinburgh,
and I know they will enjoy that city, but as Sally Heard said, "This
truly IS a lovely spot!" How lucky am I???!!
Have a great week,
and I hope you are all doing well.
Love,
