GETTING READY

Wow! Frantic doesn't cover it. Trying to get ready to depart on our world trip in about 7 weeks time. We sorted out our route and flights last May, what could go wrong? Chose our path RTW carefully for a serene trip, crusing around the horn, railway journeys and small guided group on public transport around Japan. One of our stops is Hong Kong, advertised as a law abiding, peaceful place. Well, I've just ordered the riot gear and gas masks. Just as well 'cos Santiago in Chile, we're also visiting, is a hotbed of revolution against the government with riots, barricades and fires. Apart from that then, what more could go wrong? Well the travel agent, the oldest after Thomas Cook went broke in December. Luckily for us Cox & Kings was rescued with no problems for us, fingers crossed! Trying to book seat reservations with all the different airlines is fun. Some bookings are code shares with BA and confirming details like passport info is really difficult. Researching the detail is fun. I feel I need the internet when in Japan, what with funny alphabet & lingo. Rely on free public WiFi in the most advanced techno country in the world - no chance. OK, going on shinkansen (bullet train), book over the internet? No chance. Ah well, good job we've got a guide for the first part. I don't know how we are going to cope with the low tech stuff - paper walls, sleeping on the floor with wooden pillows. Let's see.

HATS OFF TO..

Linda, for putting up with me dragging her up & down spiral staircases, mountains, mines & quarries. Saw Royal Welch Fusiliers with their brown flashes, & Black Watch with their feathers, both unique I think. Scotland weather was dreadful, don't go to Wales, get speeding tickets there you know. So tour of Britain done, where next? A Dutch guy I met in the pub suggested take ferry to Hook of Holland drive down the coast of Holland, Belgium & France, take in the sights & ferry back Dieppe to Newhaven. What do you think?

LINCOLN

The further south we go the better the weather. Climbed the steep, steep hill up to the castle. It's so steep, it's called the steep. Saw Magna Carta which has some interesting stories around it. It all got started when K John lost the barons their land in France, but insisted on taxing them on it! So they got together & thrashed it out. The Archbishop took it away & put it on paper for the king to seal. It was written in a shorthand ancient Latin, which he couldn't read. So he took it to someone to read it to him & discovered he had been stitched up. War broke out & the barons bought in the French to put the French King's son on the throne. It didn't resolve itself until K John died(murdered) & his 9 year son Henry took over. Went to Brown's Pie shop which was smashing, if heavy duty.

197, 198,,,

199 steps up to the Abbey at the top. Whitby is a nice town of cobbled streets, tourist shops, jet & expensive car parks. Never saw Dracula. The YHA garden at the top was very nice. Good journey down to Lincoln, although satnav lady took us down some interesting roads. Had to go through spittal in street.

BEAMISH...

is a living museum with bits set in 1820's, 1900's, 1940's & 1870's. We travelled on trains, trams, charabancs & busses. We went down coal mines & saw the steam engine mine winding gear running.  Steam rollers, horse drawn carriages & farm animals. The staff were great, we really enjoyed chatting to them. Weather good at last, but windy.

SCOTLAND

What have we learned about Scotland....well the people are great...the food was good, we had some real nice meals...if you can't see Ben Nevis, it's raining..if it's not raining, it will be soon. You don't need sun dials, nor solar panels, nor binoculars.... there are no such things as red squirrells. Cragside was fantastic, could spend more time there.

CRAGSIDE

Left Scotland, at last the prospect of warmth & dryness. Left Perth in the rain and visited Cragside on the way down to Beamish. Weather much better, first time warm for a week. Cragside is William Armstrong's home. WA started from nothing to found a business based on hydraulics in cranes, then weapons and warships. He joined with Whitworth, who standardised engineering threads and measurement to form one of Britain's most successful businesses. His home is amazing - built 1870's it has central heating, hot cold running water, hydro-electric lighting, hydraulic lift, Turkish bath, sauna, electric spit roasts. The gardens are magnificent, there is a 6 mile scenic drive through lakes, moorland & forests. Simply stunning. The Prince of Wales visited & WA built a wonderful room with the most magnificent marble inglenook fireplace, & 2 ensuite bedrooms for them to use, incredible.