After a week in Newcastle already, we decided to head to Edinburgh for a few days.
On Friday we went shopping for the day, which included buying up a storm at Ikea. We ended up leaving a stash of loot behind in England, which is currently in a container somewhere on a ship en route for New Zealand. Also purchased my first (of many) onesies on the trip!
After a day shopping, Em and I went for a run through the reserve next door.
And then a chilled afternoon in the garden, including skyping Julia.
The following night we decided to go out for a night of wining and dining. We even pulled our first “we just got engaged” line and got free champagne with dinner. Started off at Soho for Strawberry Mojitos, then went to this yummy mexican place for dinner, and then into town for a night of drinking.
Here we are all ready to go out. Ajibe & Lois on the end, Em & I, and my other cousin Alan & his partner Sami on the right side.
Cocktails!
Somehow while we were out we managed to smash the glass top of a table. Well not even smash it, it sort of just exploded when I accidentally ran my glass along the edge of the table.
The following day we caught up with Mum, who was also over in England for a holiday at the same time. Was a strange feeling seeing mum just walk in the door in Newcastle, after last seeing her in Wellington six weeks earlier.
We went out for a Sunday dinner with all my Newcastle family, was lovely catching up with everyone!
While we were out on the Sunday, Mum & Olivia (mums cousin) showed us around the parts of Newcastle that we hadn’t seen yet.
We stopped in at a church where my Granddad’s brother’s name is inscribed in a monument for soldiers who died during the war.
Next up was a tiny little hamlet called Greenhaugh. A hamlet with one road, a pub, and a few houses. The definition of quaint. My Granddad was born & raised here, but I’m sure even without this relation it would still be one of my favourite places on the planet.
Here’s Em & Mum outside the Holly Bush Inn, and the amazing fire inside!
Not only is Greenhaugh amazing, but the drive there through typical English countryside is lovely. There’s a bit of the road shaded by overgrown trees, which was still so vivid in my memory from previous trips here.
Monday morning we leave for Nottingham with Mum & Olivia!