After a 12 hour crossing from Amsterdam we arrived back in England. If you ever are doing a trip around Europe, and want to get back to the UK, check the ferry crossings from Amsterdam. They’re often a lot cheaper than the chunnel crossings from France to London, and if you’re heading north once you get to UK, you save money again by not having to get from London north.
While we were on board, I was lucky enough to get up in the ships helicopter to snap this photo looking back!
Or maybe I just googled that photo, I can’t quite remember now!
It’s probably worth mentioning that this blog is being written in September, months after our return! Being self-employed meant the second my feet were back on ground, I was straight back in to work. Lucky for you over the next week or so I’m going to pick up where we left.
So where were we? … arriving in Newcastle, that’s right!
My cousin Lois picked us up from the port and took us back to their place. Lois and her partner Ajibe (the funniest little man ever) live in an old castle not far from Newcastle’s center. It’s been renovated and built on to, still in the same style as the original castle but with a modern element.
The first thing we noticed when we got to Newcastle was that we were on holiday! The last four weeks had gone so fast, often spending only one or two nights in most cities as we bounced around Europe. Now we had time to relax, and enjoy time with family.
Whenever I’m with Lois & Ajibe the first thing I do is insist we go for a drive in the Ferrari. Be rude not to right?
We went down to the Quayside for a few drinks, before heading to one of Ajibe’s bars, Soho, for lunch with the girls.
The girls then followed us back home… got to love this view through the side mirror!
Lois & Ajibe have horses at their place, so after a few days Emma & I gave it a go. Emma wasn’t to fond on her horse, or maybe her horse wasn’t to fond of her… But here she is holding the horse as it slobbered down her arm.
Lois & Ajibe showing us how it’s done!
Followed by me looking the part after a few circuits in the horse arena.
And the horse tied up at the back of the house.
And Emma playing with some dandelion’s in the field.
On the Monday we headed about an hours north to Alnwick Castle, which is probably most famous now for being the set for a bulk of the Harry Potter films. Or maybe most famous for Ajibe asking the icecream bar what was the Duke’s favourite icecream, and how he could become his riding partner… haha!
While on the lawn where the first broomstick lesson took place (Harry Potter… keep up!), I decided it was a good time to bust out my broomstick photography tricks…
On the drive home, half asleep, I noticed a building which looked familiar… Having never been to Alnwick before my brain started to question how I knew what it was as we drove past.
Then I remember a few weeks before we left I stumbled upon this great video detailing how the “Keep Calm and Carry On” posters became the hit they are today. The original poster was uncovered at a bookshop in Alnwick, the one we were driving past.
We stopped the car, and being in a rush to get back to Newcastle, quick took a photo of the original poster and bought a tea-towel copy for a memorabilia.
And here’s the video I mentioned.
Back home for a good nights rest before our trip tomorrow to Scotland, and then back to Newcastle for a few more days.