Ben and Kay will be starting their big adventure in a couple of weeks, flying first to Indonesia, where they’ll take a scuba-diving course, and then on to Australia.
They’ve been busy emptying their house – selling stuff, giving stuff away, putting stuff into storage (mainly the Lindleys’ garage), and of course packing.
So we were very glad that Ben could make time for a visit to Brittany – where, naturally, he bonded with Nala …
… and got some fine drone footage of Les Bruyeres and its surroundings:
Then the three of us went to England together by camper van and ferry, in our case for a week’s visit.
We found the grandchildren as lively as ever, and the parents as sleep-deprived as ever – sadly, Rory’s sleep issues are still not resolved. However, he is NEARLY walking unsupported.
Helen and Hugh did have a small break in Cambridge while the grandparents babysat …
… and I made a short trip to Leeds by train, to see friends. Going there is always a sentimental journey for me. Some things haven’t changed since I lived there in the early 80s …
… while others have been smartened up. I remember the Corn Exchange impressive, but empty and echoey. (Note: the photo below was taken on the panorama setting – the Corn Exchange is circular!)
When I lived in Leeds, I never visited the dockland area, but it too has been much improved. ‘Holdfast’, a floating bookshop (below), was a great place to meet friends Caroline and Nick. Caroline was my first wild-swimming buddy, and is now a year-round swimmer in her local lake, as well as a dedicated litterpicking Womble.
It was good to meet up with my other Leeds friends Chris and Hilary too – no photo unfortunately, but I was happy to see them installed in their new flat, after a stressful but successful move just before Christmas.
Before taking the night ferry home, we were entertained at Tom and Jean’s house in Petersfield with a lovely dinner. Thanks, T and J!
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