Went into Derby, did some email at the Starbucks. Went to tea at Leicester Forest East. My favourite services.
day 59 - back to east midlands
Took Jen and Jeffre back to the airport. Unfortunately it was also the Moto GP at Castle Donnington so we were stuck in the slowest traffic jam ever. Eventually they had to give up and walk.
Anne and Arthur went back to London. I stayed up North.
day 57 - two j's
Picked Jen and Jeffre up at East Midlands airport and headed for the cottage. Arthur soon had them occupied.
day 56 - buses, bones and badges
Arthur's recovered sufficiently to engage us in water pistol battle.
And to drive around the London Transport Museum.
Then we went to see an exhibition about badges at the British Museum. The smallest exhibition room you've ever seen, basically a cupboard, but you get what the Design Museum would stretch over two floors. Worth going to see. Especially as it's free. Reminded me of the splendid Project Button. Then we had a random wander around looking for bones. Very succesful.
day 55 - more hanging
Looking through the pictures of my trip I was reminded how much I liked the internet cafes I went to...
This is a place called Cafe Connect in New Quay.
This is the sign for a place in Oban. I like the way Internet Cafes are a kind of local craft operation. There aren't big internet cafe chains. I guess there aren't a lot of economies of scale involved. It's become a new village trade - blacksmith, grocer, internet cafe owner.
Arthur seems to be feeling a little better. Went to the park with Anne for ages. I spent time getting the APG website ready to go up, so we can announce it at the Adam Morgan meeting tomorrow.
day 53 - edinburgh to london
Edinburgh - Newbiggin-by-the-Sea - Whitley Bay - Scarborough - Cleethorpes - London
Well, I was enjoying the driving and the seaside, but I was starting to get fed-up with the hotels.Then Anne called to say that Arthur fell off a climbing frame at nursery and got a small fracture in his arm, causing his inaugural trip to casualty. He's fine, but a bit gloomy. So I decided to head home. I might try and continue next week.
Great last day though, three absolutely fantastic cafes. And tons of these (which have no good generic name that I know of, they're not really 'rides', what should I be calling them?)
This is the Riviera in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea. A complete time-warp gem. Full of paraphenalia and atmosphere. Photos here.
This is the Rendezvous in Whitley Bay. Huge, gorgeous place with brilliant views. A marvelous refuge in the winter.
Then there's the Harbour Bar, this brilliant ice-creamery in Scarborough.
day 52 - fort william to edinburgh
Fort William - Inverness - John O' Groats - Aviemore - Edinburgh
You don't get skies like this in W1.
John O'Groats is a miserable place, not worth the trip, except for the sake of the trip. This was the only interesting building I could find for miles around.
This is apparently a fantastic sweet shop. Sadly closed when I was there.
They are clearly continuing to practise some form of alchemy in Edinburgh. With some success.
day 51 - portmeirion to fort william
Portmeirion - Morecambe - Largs - Fort William
Morecambe is a place of many great cafes and signs. Photos to follow. I was depressed to see the state of the Midland Hotel. We stayed there once in the 80s during a period of revival, it was shabby then, but at least it was a going concern. Looks very bleak now.
Nardini's is a massive and splendid place in Largs (or The Largs).
Stayed at the Grand Hotel in Fort William, not the warmest welcome, but a place nicely untouched by updates.