Ive just been back to Germany and England with work again. The two shows they send me for are a week apart - luckily for all of us I have friendly faces wanting to see me in England so I used the time to spend some much needed quality time with them.
I arrived into Manchester just in time to surprise my best mates at a party. I casually walked in as if Id never been away - infact - it felt like that in real life. Their faces were a picture and was worth all my illusveness in the 2 weeks before so as not to give the game away. We proceeded to get very merry and twat danced the night away together - which I must say was heaven. I had longed for one of those dance since I had left the last time and I certainly made up for lost time. Sadly Mr TC couldnt join me on this trip, and I did keep appologising for the lack of him being there to which everyone kept saying - "dont appologise" with a look of slight relief. Mr TC always, without fail manages to take things to another level. I dread to think what that level would have been on this night as we were managing quite fine without him.
On the monday I had open house with TC. I had put my agenda onto an events page on Facebook and hoped that people would come see me when I had scheduled I was "bumming around Bloody Lovelys" - and they did. It was fantastic. Bloody Lovely makes a mean cup of tea and kept them coming all day. We cuddled babies, gave Granny a near heart attack when we didnt tell I was back; and ate our body weight in busicuits. Brilliant.
On the Thursday Bloody Lovely and Mi Papa took the day off to take me anywhere I wanted to go - and guess where I asked for - Hartlepool.
Although I love my new country very much - it just is lacking in a bit of life that Hartlepool so definitely has.
So off we went - to the Marina first where they have spent millions doing it up and making it into a wonderful day out for all the family. I was really impressed. The 18th Century naval seaport was shining like a new pin. It cost 20 quid for me and 2 seniors and we were there a good long time.
The boat itself is the oldest warship afloat in the UK. It has been restored beautifully and made to look and feel like you were steping back in time - dummies asleep in their hammocks, dummies playing cards, plastic rats on lower deck and authentic touches everywhere.
The buildings around the Marina were made to look like back in the day. There was a dress makers, a amunition maker, draftsmans office and so much more - all filled to the brim with tools of the trade.
There was also a museum attached for the Maritime side of things and also Hartlepool town museum, which had things in which are no short of priceless.
Then onto Hartlepool town itself where every 'bit of life' box that i wanted ticking was well and truly ticked.
The people in Hartlepool are so lovely, and like all Northern towns have a piece of my heart. One of my favourite pass-times is to people watch - and Hartlepool is a hive of activity for my admireing eyes.
Firstly I cant believe how skimpy far northerners dress in extreme cold conditions. I saw so many midrifts and scantily clad ladies - some of them should just not be. Lots of very younger Mums compaired to where I grew up - or maybe Im just getting old. We had lunch in Wetherspoons - now you cant get better than that for real life. This lady above has done a great job of looking younger than her years from behind I do believe. From the front - she wasnt as sucessful.
On the way home Mi Papa took Bloody Lovely and I over the Transporter bridge. It connects Hartlepool to the south - without going all the way round the crack or straight down the A19.
You drive on and the hanging platform slowly moves accross and takes about 90 seconds to get to the other side with either 200 people, 9 cars, or 6 cars and one minibus and costs 1 pound 20 for a car. Well worth the money for 90 seconds - another box ticked.
Back to lovely Ripon for fish and chips from my very favourite Southgate Fisheries. There arnt fish and chips like these anywhere in the world - let alone Australia. Delicious. Paul - the owner is one in a million and took the challenge of catering for our Wedding - all 120 of us. He must have worked like a trooper to get piping hot fish and chips, in individual retro looking boxes to our venue. YUM YUM! I bumped into a distant cousin in the chip shop too - fancy that!
A great day had by all. I even snapped a photo of Mi Papa smiling - to which he will say "it was probably wind".
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