Week 10

This week was a short and busy one at work as it was a long weekend in UK.  It was also a long weekend in Italy, so my cousin Madeleine (Maddy) and her cousin Emiliano (Emi) used the opportunity to come to Warrington to visit me.  It was great to see them again - its been 2 years since they were in Australia.  They haven't changed one bit.  They wanted to know how everyone back home was and said to say hello to you all. 

I finished work early on Thursday to pick them up from the aiport - didn't quite get there on time and then I couldn't find them even though they were waiting exactly where I told them to - sorry guys!!!

We headed directly to the Lakes District and  stayed the night at a great bed and breakfast at  Bowness on Windermere.  After checking into the B&B we went for a drive.  We got the car ferry to the other side of the lake - Emi almost got run over on the ferry as we naively got out of the car.....much to the Ferry Man's disgust!!! 

We had the most uneblievable weather and it is wonderful to see how green the area is - almost flourcesent.  There were sheep and baby lambs everywhere and beautiful lake views around every corner.  We went for a walk in the hills and following Maddy's lead we ended up at the top of hill with no way down other than to cross what appeared to be a dried up swamp!! 

We found a cute local pub to eat in and much to Emi and Maddy's dismay I ate the things they had been oohing and aahig over all day - yes Spring Lamb!!!  We caught the ferry back to our B&B - just us and the mean Ferry Man!!!

We woke up to a wonderful breakfast cooked by our welcoming host and then headed out only to find out I had a flat tyre.  The service station to adjoined a car yard so had display cars all around the air pump.  I was advised to park on the footpath to put air in my tyre and wouldn't you beleive my luck....a parking inspector came out of nowhere saying that he would have to fine me for parking on a pedestrian way.  He eventually said he would let me off but he wasn't very nice about it - "his concern is the pedestrians and nothing else!!!!". 

After this drama, we drove towards the Ferry to get to our next location.  There were road works occuring on the road to the ferry and the workmen made me drive on the footpath!!!!!  I was waiting for the candid camera to come out!!! 

We decided to do the Go Ape activity - the swinging in the trees I was supposed to do as part of a work event many weeks ago.  We were all a little scared in the beginning but by the end we were experts.  The last Tarzan swing was a bit daunting - it ended in a mesh rope at rapid speed.  It was alot of fun.  Emi ended up with a leg injury and my stomach muscles were in agony for the next two days.

Following our strenuous efforts, we thought we deserved tea and scones.  We drove to the lakeside village of Ambelside where we found a great balcony cafe who were serving scones.  This was the first time Emi had tried scones and I have never seen anyone make such a mess of a scone in my life.  

Before we knew it, it was 6pm and we decided to head home.  By the time we got home and relaxed for awhile it was 10:30pm and we were struggling to find somewhere to eat dinner.  The only place we could find still serving food near my house was a Thai restaurant - poor Emi didn't doesn't like Thai food, so not a good food day for him.  We checked out Bar 101 in Stockton Heath and then ventured into Warrington to check out the nightlife there - bit scary I have to say!!!! We had a relatively early night as we were all really tired from our little holiday.

Next day, it was time to show Maddy and Emi Manchester.  We caught the train into the city and visited:-

• Canal Street - the gay area;
• the Art Gallery - where among other things we watched a ghost story where I scared the pants off Maddy - very funny!!!;
• the Northern Quarter - Bohemian side of Manchester where Emi decided to get a haircut and where Maddy took photos of some alleyway (the owner of the shop thought she was from the council). 
• had lunch in Piccaddilly Gardens watching life go by and soaking up the sun;
• Printworks - the indoor entertainment complex;
• Urbis - the contemporary art space. 

We ended  the day with a drink in Canal Street.  Maddy and I home to a quiet meal while Emi decided to stay on. 

Maddy and I headed back into Manchester for a night out on the town.  We were advised to go to a certain venue to see a really good DJ but everyone entering was about 18 so we decided to go to the more mature area - Deansgate Locks -where we fouund a couple of good bars and had a bit of a dance.  Emi met up with us at the end of the night and we spent the next hour searching for our car!!!!  Even Jane, the GPS, couldn't help us find the car - Jane has been playing up a bit and we think she is a bit jealous that I have company!!!! (PS. Even Maddy and Emi were talking to Jane by the end of the weekend).

Sunday we had a sleep in and our luck with the weather finally ended.   I took Maddy and Emi to the cute English village of Lymm before heading into  Liverpool.   We decided to go to the Tate Lliverpool at Albert Dock which I think Maddy really liked - Emi and I obviously aren't that artistic. 

We were all starving by this point and decided to go for a pub meal which was a really bad decision.  The pubs were either out of food because of the long weekend or were absolutely full of rowdy footy fans as there was a big match on.  After walking for about 1 hour we finally found an italian cafe to eat in.  I told Maddy and Emi not to expect too much and I was right.  Maddy was very funny to watch - girls she is like me when I haven't eaten :)

Following dinner, Maddy went to the evening mass at Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathederal and Emi and I went to Matthew Street to see the Cavern Club where the Beatles started out.  On the way back to meet Maddy, Emi and I crossed a busking spot.....so in true Nat form, I dared him to give it a go.  After a little convincing, he sang a song in Italian at the top of his voice and someone even pretended to put money in his hat.  Watch out for Emi, he could be the next big thing out of Liverpool.

We were all really tired so decided to head home and catch up over a Aussie Milo at home and then to bed as we needed to be up at 4am to get them to the airport.

Was wonderful to catch up with Emi and Maddy and I can't wait until I see them again in Rome in June.

Hope everyone is well

Ciao