Leeds
I disappeared completely from the world of the internet for a whole four days. Crazy no? I'm sure you can hardly believe it. However, I had a very good excuse for so doing, for I was in the far distant lands of the north, in the Danelaw some might say, in the frozen wastelands which make up the city of Leeds. Okay so it wasn't THAT frozen. Well. Today was a bit chilly, and the wind was crazy cold, but it wasn't frozen as such. Either was, it was utterly lovely. Adam lives in a nice suburbany bit of Leeds, so there is lots of green and there aren't too many cars, and he has a wood out the back of his house through which we walked on a day more clement.
Anyway, we did many things. On Friday, the day I arrived, we took the bus from the station to Adam's house, whereupon we collapsed in a minor form of exhaustion for a short while, before heading out to Roundhay Park via a place which sold the most enormous sandwiches I have ever seen. We had a meatball sandwich between us, and it was plenty. The park itself is highly beautiful, we sat on a hill and watched the world, and we went to visit the lake and a castle folly and we walked and walked and walked. And then we went to a tropical animal centre place, which was small but very nice. If ridiculously warm in places. We saw snakes and terapins, mice and tarantulas, iguanas and parrots and many other pretty things. And then we went home via the woods, and Adam's mum cooked us a very nice dinner, and then we went to a pub in town to meet with some of Adam's friends, all of whom were very lovely and we drank lots and watched England get slaughtered at rugby and it was great.
Saturday held the delights of York and Fi who resides there. We saw the minster, which is exceptionally beautiful, if sympathetic to Nazis if the floor patterns are anything to go by, as well as the ruins of St. Mary's, which some foolish young teenage girls climbed up and jumped off with abandon and cans of beer. After sitting in the park awhile we wandered down the Shambles and to the market, where Fi bought some fish, and then we made our way to her house, where much chatting and laughter and general civility was had, and then a bottle of wine was produced, in prelude to, as Adam and I were astonished to find, an exceptionally delectable three course meal, with sparkling wine as accompaniment. I am greatly of gratitude and happiness, and we wandered home absolutely full and even more satisfied with the general joy of life.
On Sunday Adam was kind enough to take me along to Temple Newsam, a divine Tudor-Jacobean mansion house, where I oohed and aahed appropriately at each of the thirty rooms which are on view to the public. It was really a most magnificent place, and I swooned frequently at the general magnificence and wonder. Then we went to the cafe and had a little snack and some pear juice/tea and then had a wander around the extremely beautiful grounds, which are open free to the public. Though don't tell, because it would be sad if they got over run. The walled gardens were glorious, if rather fading from their summer heights, and the 'natural' landscaping of Capability Brown (best first name ever!) was beautiful. On return to town we went to another cafe, where I had beautifully rich hot chocolate, and then we went to a lovely Chinese restaurant for dinner, where we ordered food far in excess of what we could eat, all of which was scrum. Then homewards, and since it was not too late, we cracked open a bottle of wine (booze happened quite a lot for such a short space of time...), listened to lots of music and then watched some Scrubs. (Elliot. J.D. This time? Just don't do it. Really. BAD PLAN).
And then was today, and I packed my bag and we wandered into town for the last time. This time on the itinerary were the Royal Armouries, which tell you and show you lots of weaponry and armour (surprisingly enough) from throughout the ages and in various parts of the world. It was all very interesting, and we got a nice display of swordsmanship from a couple of chaps who used the word 'now' far too frequently. And then we went to another cafe for hot chocolate and refuge from the cold, and then we had an early dinner, and then I had to come home.
A lot happened in a veeery short space of time, and it all went far, far too quickly. Faster than any other part of my holiday. But I had a marvellously lovely time, and I thank Adam for it, despite the fact that I know he doesn't read this. Now I am somewhat sad, and should probably go to bed, because in the morning there is work. Photos shall go on Facebook at some point. Love to all xxxx
Anyway, we did many things. On Friday, the day I arrived, we took the bus from the station to Adam's house, whereupon we collapsed in a minor form of exhaustion for a short while, before heading out to Roundhay Park via a place which sold the most enormous sandwiches I have ever seen. We had a meatball sandwich between us, and it was plenty. The park itself is highly beautiful, we sat on a hill and watched the world, and we went to visit the lake and a castle folly and we walked and walked and walked. And then we went to a tropical animal centre place, which was small but very nice. If ridiculously warm in places. We saw snakes and terapins, mice and tarantulas, iguanas and parrots and many other pretty things. And then we went home via the woods, and Adam's mum cooked us a very nice dinner, and then we went to a pub in town to meet with some of Adam's friends, all of whom were very lovely and we drank lots and watched England get slaughtered at rugby and it was great.
Saturday held the delights of York and Fi who resides there. We saw the minster, which is exceptionally beautiful, if sympathetic to Nazis if the floor patterns are anything to go by, as well as the ruins of St. Mary's, which some foolish young teenage girls climbed up and jumped off with abandon and cans of beer. After sitting in the park awhile we wandered down the Shambles and to the market, where Fi bought some fish, and then we made our way to her house, where much chatting and laughter and general civility was had, and then a bottle of wine was produced, in prelude to, as Adam and I were astonished to find, an exceptionally delectable three course meal, with sparkling wine as accompaniment. I am greatly of gratitude and happiness, and we wandered home absolutely full and even more satisfied with the general joy of life.
On Sunday Adam was kind enough to take me along to Temple Newsam, a divine Tudor-Jacobean mansion house, where I oohed and aahed appropriately at each of the thirty rooms which are on view to the public. It was really a most magnificent place, and I swooned frequently at the general magnificence and wonder. Then we went to the cafe and had a little snack and some pear juice/tea and then had a wander around the extremely beautiful grounds, which are open free to the public. Though don't tell, because it would be sad if they got over run. The walled gardens were glorious, if rather fading from their summer heights, and the 'natural' landscaping of Capability Brown (best first name ever!) was beautiful. On return to town we went to another cafe, where I had beautifully rich hot chocolate, and then we went to a lovely Chinese restaurant for dinner, where we ordered food far in excess of what we could eat, all of which was scrum. Then homewards, and since it was not too late, we cracked open a bottle of wine (booze happened quite a lot for such a short space of time...), listened to lots of music and then watched some Scrubs. (Elliot. J.D. This time? Just don't do it. Really. BAD PLAN).
And then was today, and I packed my bag and we wandered into town for the last time. This time on the itinerary were the Royal Armouries, which tell you and show you lots of weaponry and armour (surprisingly enough) from throughout the ages and in various parts of the world. It was all very interesting, and we got a nice display of swordsmanship from a couple of chaps who used the word 'now' far too frequently. And then we went to another cafe for hot chocolate and refuge from the cold, and then we had an early dinner, and then I had to come home.
A lot happened in a veeery short space of time, and it all went far, far too quickly. Faster than any other part of my holiday. But I had a marvellously lovely time, and I thank Adam for it, despite the fact that I know he doesn't read this. Now I am somewhat sad, and should probably go to bed, because in the morning there is work. Photos shall go on Facebook at some point. Love to all xxxx
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