England – Page 4 – Stories for you

Wee surprises

Williamson Park, Lancaster, but could have been home: The wee chapel and garden nearer the train station is open to the public; the cottages lining it are private homes:

California drawl; you can’t miss it, especially when attached to a tall man kitted out to look like the tramper-fisherman. At Carlisle train station he started talking to two men about how you can walk down the train lines and it’s perfectly safe as long as every few miles you rest your boot on aContinue reading “There’s ugly, but more good.”

York

York; if you believed the tour guides all that’s ever happened in York involved blood, deceit and family break-ups! And yet they have lovely places like the Judi Dench riverside walk. Then there’s the city walls with the archers slits… how they ever saw anyone attacking beats me, as there were huge blind spots. TheContinue reading “York”

On Exhibition

A tall man, mid-thirties, muzzled hair, barefooted but in check shirt and baggy shorts, entered the Square with purpose. He darted in and out of the crowds, perhaps trying to throw off the stocky dark-haired woman who was haranguing him from behind. When she grabbed his sleeve, almost tearing it off him, he gave up,Continue reading “On Exhibition”

Young men on the loose

York rail to the yha hostel involved one icecream, two glasses of water, and asking a younger much sleeker version of Ricky Gervais for directions. YHA York should have been a great stay. Half hour walk along the river to city centre, and everything on site. They forgot to mention a school party of 100Continue reading “Young men on the loose”

Holy cow!

I met her voice before seeing the flowing pink cottage wallpaper of her dress. She boomed ‘hello’ to the poor lad who was to be her seat mate. He wriggled into the corner, giving her as much space as he could, but train seats are not designed for super-sized rumps. Fortunately she decided to moveContinue reading “Holy cow!”

Welcome to England!

First night in England brought new sounds; fox, storybook owl, moorhen, and so many more. A grey squirrel, much smaller than imagined, with it’s oversized silver tailbrush bouncing along behind. Under the canopy, mounds of tree waste cover the tunnels of a badger set. Early morning mist revealed deer playing on the pond landing. MyContinue reading “Welcome to England!”

Secure?

Of course I needed a lock for my suitcase. A supermarket combination lock came cheap and easy. All done. But then came the advice. More experienced travelers said I needed RFID envelopes for my passport and cards. Apparently there’s monsters out in the big wide world who have the ability to skim your cards andContinue reading “Secure?”