Tulip Cheeks

A little bit of Yorkshire to warm the heart

Mr TC and I ventured back to Yorkshire together for our first 'proper' holiday. I tentatively use the words 'proper' and 'holiday' as a holiday it was not. Id say more of a mission - and I think our friends and relatives would agree.

Ive never been in the situation of visiting a first home of 28 years as a visitor before. As Mr TC and I went to school together we both have lovely families and all our lovely friends living in a 40 mile radius - and all very good company. The mission began when Mr TC and I sat down to work on a TIME TABLE so we could fit everyone in. IMPOSSIBLE I hear you say. CORRECT!

We did a fair to middling job, although there were definitely others we would have loved to have seen and those we would have liked to have seen even more.

These photographs were taken on our first morning. I woke up at 6.30 to find beautiful sunshine. Off I set across the fields and along the river banks.

It was truly a wonderful feeling, and possibly the only time in the whole trip where I felt envious of living here. I felt free, safe and confident in where I was going for the first time in 14 months. I knew nothing was gonna bite and kill me, that the sun was bright, but it wasnt going to burn me. It just felt brilliant. I even self combusted into tears of joy at one point. (luckily no one was around at that small hour).

 

Through the woods....

 

And then back along the river.

I just thought this was the best headstone Id ever seen (back left). So simple, to the point, no fuss. There arnt any rules really for a headstone - just the obvious.

Bloody Lovelys coming in 3 days!

and Mi Papa!

So little to do...so much time - STRIKE THAT and reverse it as Willy Wonka once famously said.

I want the house shining like a new pin. The car, me, Mr TC, Melbourne. Im opting for my favourite and signature orange nail varnish - I may even don a sailor suit to go to the airport. I cant bloody wait! After nearly 9 months of no hugs, no kisses, no linking arms down the street - weve gotta lot of catching up to do. 

When Bloody lovely has her sisters over to stay she practically re-decorates the whole house. I'l be happy if Mr TC re-decorates the red wine he chucked up the cream wall when he tripped walking up the stairs-2 weeks ago. Can you tell Im a little mad with Mr TC's lack of effort recently - getting a few of the old digs in wherever possible! 

Im so bloody (and I want to put the f word in but I wont) excited about my parents coming I could scream!

 

PUFFING BILLY!

 

At long last I finally got to go on Puffing Billy - right through the heart of the Dandenong ranges. I took the above picture on my i-phone so I could send it to Mi Pa-pa and make him proud! 

I absolutely loved the ride. We got our own carriage on the way there and kids of all ages were sitting with their legs dangling out the window - I say kids of all ages - TC in-laws included!

It was lovely scenery, and at one point it just looked like my beloved North Yorkshire....

 

Can almost imagine the intro for Emmerdale. 

Der ner ner neeeeer, ner ner ner ner neeer, ner ner neeeeer. - Man I love that show. Weve just had Jack Sugdens funeral here - v.sad. It was a BIG dream of mine to be a set designer for Emmerdale and I actually went to Yorkshire TV for work experience there for a short time (before I was offered a full time job a Tigerprint and realised I had a mortgage to pay). I was in my element. I helped order Chris Tates head stone, his coffin, made notices for the church notice board - I just loved it. I really love looking at characters and imagining what their surroundings look like. Even now I look at the backgrounds of programs more than the action as I just adore admiring the decisions people have made.

This looks very french. Which reminds me of the time I was walking out of the Emmerdale studios and heard a little voice saying "doest she look love-alie" for me to turn round to see Loraine Chase admiring my outfit. "you look love-alie you do" she went on to say. "Vew-wey fwench".  I had black and white stripes on and then forgot where i'd parked, in my tiz of thanking her.

 

We got off at lakeside -about an hours ride from Belgrave. We walked down to the cafe to 

discover it was shutting, so we just hopped back onto the next 

available Puffing Billy and came back. 

Check out how they cant turn him around and must 

just wack his pistons into reverse!

 

Looking after number 1....

We found this cute badge in Mr TCs mementos - I just love it! it was obviously made back in the day where people were starting to look elsewhere for cheaper goods, and someone (quite politically in-correct!) decided to promote British goods to keep our hard earned cash in Britain. 

How soon we forgot - what with DVD players from the far east for £15, manufacturing of most of our goods abroad - why have we just given our money away for material gain? 

All very deep, and apologise. I sometime rant on the wrong lines so please forgive me if what I understand to be correct  - isnt! (this is my get out clause!)

Here there are huge signs saying 'Buy Australian and give your child a job'. The other day Mr TC and I were buying a mattress. We decided on one and told the man shop assistant and he just went "oh no' and we were like - What? Whats wrong with it? Is it not a good one? and he just went "well its made in China and not Australia".

I think there is alot to be said for this pride in home grown things. If Britain had of thought more about their own fantastic manufacturers instead of going with the cheapest all the time we might not be in such a mess.