We left Crawley early on Thursday morning and headed north to Harrogate. Our route took us through the Dart tunnel – an interesting concept, where you drive through the tunnel and then have 24 hours to register online and pay the £2.50. Needless to say, with all the fun and late nights…I completely forgot. So it only got paid 60 hours later en route to Wales. Hope that no fines are issued.

We arrived in Harrogate mid afternoon, to a gorgeous apartment in York Place, overlooking the stray. Quick unpack and washing load done before we headed into to town to meet Kay and Scott McDonald. Parking in the UK is horrifically expensive and impossible to find. Most places start at £1.50 per hour… but in some areas can be £2 per hour…that is R38 per hour!!! So we just Uber’d the short distance…an absolute bargain at £3 each way.

Tea with the McDonalds was a laugh a minute and a lot of remember thats. They send love to all their South African friends. I taught Kay the appropriate way of using ‘Haai my f$k Marelize’ to use on Jen when necessary.

On Friday morning it was back into town for morning sightseeing. As we got out of the Uber…a free walking tour came past and we joined in. What a brilliant chance…the youngster Harry …leading the tour was so passionate and knowledgeable and so entertaining. Within 15 minutes he knew the names of every member of his group. We walked through the town, saw the Pump rooms and Bath House, The Royal Hall and the Valley Gardens and various hotels and points of interest. Highly recommended.

From there it was back to Betty’s Tea Room for lunch with the Queripels. Again much catching up and in particular a fond remembrance of Dad. It was so heartwarming foe us to hear how highly my Dad was thought of. We chatted about all the lives interconnected, the Mabbetts, the Hunters and Elliots, the Simms, the Lyons, the Cocchius’, the Crockers, the Barnards and so many others. As Di says – there is a specialness to long histories.

After lunch we headed to their beautiful home and then Di took us to the incredible Fountains Abbey. The abbey was founded in 1132 by 13 Benedictine monks from St Mary’s in York. Today these are the largest monastic ruins in history. They are set in the most beautiful gardens.

We went back to the di and John’s beautiful home and garden. For a lovely late afternoon G nT ( for me a lemonade and ginger), a feast of mackerel pate, salmon, fruit and cheeses, eaten while John played the organ in the background. So memorable…the warmth of old friends. I spotted a Winston Churchill cream jug and was admiring it, when Di said to me its yours. I was so overwhelmed at this generosity, had a little weep.

I mentioned casually that I love aqueducts and viaducts, and was informed that there are two sights close by. No problem to the Queripels….our 2 mile trip home, went via the Harrogate viaduct and the viaduct in Knaresborough. The lighting was incredible…I think I took over 450 pics on that day.

Thank you John and Di for such a memorable day and igniting a flame to return to Harrogate.

In the gardens at Fountains Abbey…old ducks watching the ducks