Comfortable Shoes

The thing Brendan had been looking forward to and fretting about all summer finally came to pass this last weekend. We made plans even before we came to Manchester with all of our old friends so that we could see each other on 2-3 Aug in Northampton. We lived there for three and a half years before we moved back to the US, and it's been just a little more than a year since we left. Brendan was afraid that everyone would have grown apart and not have anything in common. I have to admit I worried that we'd run out of things to talk about in the first half hour and stare at each other uncomfortably for the rest of the day, with nothing to say.

But we needn't have worried. We fit right back in just as if we'd never left, just like a pare of comfortable shoes. Brendan said of his friend Daniel, "He may look different and sound different, but he's just the same." I think that's the sign of a true, lifelong friend, when you can pick up where you left off as if no time has passed. The friends we made in Northampton are such friends. It made me realize how special they are, and how much I want to be sure to stay in touch with them wherever we go.

Brendan and I took the train to Northampton on Thursday. Helen picked us up, we met up with Sandra and spent a lovely long lunch in Little Brington, near the Althorp estate (where Princess Diana grew up). We drove through the countryside, past beautiful fields and sheep pastures. I miss the lush green-ness of the summers here, the trees and flowers, the brambles and rabbits.

Thursday evening, we had dinner at the Pedels. Tom came home after a long day of playing cricket and played with Brendan with a reserve of energy that came out of nowhere. They played cricket in the garden until they couldn't see the ball anymore. I hated to peel them apart.

Friday, we went to Stanwick Lakes with the Pedels and Pointers. Ben, Brendan,Tom and Jess stopped long enough to eat a fabulous picnic lunch before heading back to the climbing frame to play tag. We walked a good ways and they played on an assault course, fake rock, zip line and swinging tires. The entire day was windy, but when the dark clouds moved in, we quickly headed for the cars and just made it before the rains fell.

Friday night we picked Bill up at the train station and had a great, huge Chinese dinner with the Messoms. By the time we'd finished with the large plate of appetizers, and our soups came, I was full. But I still had to try the crispy duck and the mains. Delicious! Wonderful conversation!

Saturday, we had breakfast with the Hutkos, another American family that we had met during our time in England, who are still living near London, and were in Northampton visiting friends, too! It was great to catch up and find where our other American friends had ended up.

Saturday morning was rainy and blustery. We were afraid our BBQ would be rained out. But at 1:00 on the dot, the sun came out and we headed to Sandra and Paul's for a day full of play and conversation. The kids never stopped. They swam, sat in the hot tub, and bounced on the trampoline all day. The adults didn't stop talking. Honestly, in the seven hours we were together, there was never a noticable lull in the conversation. Sandra and Paul were gracious and generous hosts. They kept us in wonderful food and drink all day long. Even though these friends came from different groups, they all came together and seemed like old friends. It was a brilliant day. I hated to see it end.

Sometimes, absense makes the heart grow fonder. But sometimes, it's as good as you remember it. I felt like we could have taken up house again in the lovely little village and had our fast friends back as if we'd never been gone. It was a special time in our lives, living in Northampton. And we came away with forever friends.

Photo Safari III - The oldest buildings in Manchester

Sunday morning has a post-party, hung-over induced quiet that no other morning of the week can provide. This past Sunday was sunny, warm and glorious. I got out an hour early before church services and walked around the city. The only people out were the street-sweepers, people rushing to Starbucks for their caffiene fix, and others dressed in their Sunday best. I walked a long way down Deansgate, which is usually so crowded with pedestrian and auto traffice that it's a little daunting, turned around and came back toward the cathedral.

These two building, along with the cathedral are in the Medieval part of Manchester. The one on the left is the Old Wellington Inn, serving drinks and food all day long. Next to it is Sinclairs Oyster House. You should see these places after work. They're packed. I haven't been brave enough to go inside either one of them, as we're not big drinkers and pubs still hold a mystique for me. I don't ever see families around them, which is the only way we'd approach them.

These are the oldest buildings in Manchester, dating to the 16th century. The survived the blitz, the IRA bombing and two moves. The 15th century Courthouse and Town Hall stood up the road, as well as the Market Cross, stocks, pillory and whipping post. They were removed in 1815.

On the other side of the cathedral is Chetham's Music School, with the oldest and first free public libary in England. It has over 100,000 books, half published before 1850. The church is offering a tour through the library for members. If there's a spot open on the 9th, I'd love to tag along, maybe take some pictures.

Row, Row, Row your Boat

Summer has finally arrived and it's hot! Not that I'm complaining. Ever since we arrived in June, the weather has been lackluster. Texas weather has nothing on England in its ability to change rapidly. It can be sunny, cloudy and rainy all within the space of minutes. Mostly, it's been overcast and cool, which really depresses me. I was starting to wonder if I'd wear my shorts at all while we were here. But school let out for summer break on the 23rd, and along with it came the sun. (They only get five weeks for summer this year!) It's been getting steadily warmer every day. Now I'm thankful that Bill requested to have an A/C unit placed in our apartment.

Brendan and I celebrated the sun's arrival with a trip to Heaton Park to get a little exercise and breathe some fresh air. That's my biggest complaint with city living. Even though smoking has been banned inside public places, people smoke like chimneys outside. Not matter how hard you try, you can't avoid walking into and breathing in clouds of second-hand smoke. Brendan attributes some of his headaches to the stuff he inhales. At least Heaton Park is more spread out and the smokers are fewer and farther between.

We rented a rowboat and rowed around the tiny lake that was hand-dug by unemployed workers back in the 1800's and hauled away in people-pulled carts. It's not a very big or deep lake, but it's tree-lined and there are lot of geese and ducks to mess with. Rowing is a great upper-body exercise. Brendan did the bulk if it, but after about 45 minutes, we were done. We walked around the park, enjoying the cool breeze, but heating up with each step. We didn't believe it was going to get hot, and wore jeans instead of shorts.

We had to stop to look at these two long-haired cows in the paddock with the burros and goats. They look like a cross between a cow and a yak. I've read about them, but never seen them. They are Highland Cows, raised in the Scottish Highlands for their hardiness and lean beef. Most of their insulation comes from their fur. They have the prettiest ginger coats and sweet faces, and now we can say we've touched on.

Also, this past weekend, we took the tram out to Altrincham, and an area know for it's beautiful homes and scenery, to attend the RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park. It's like a home and garden show without the home stuff. There were lots of display gardens and lots of stuff to buy for the garden, food and a band playing in the bandstand.

We didn't get to explore the area as much as we would have liked since we didn't have a car. But, it's good to know that there are "leafy" places not too far from Manchester that we would enjoy living. If this contract job ever turned into something more, we could live well here.

By the way, I learned a new verse for "Row, row, row your boat" when I was working with a Moms and Tots group at Grange Park Church. It's my favorite.

Row, row, row your boat,

Gently down the stream.

If you see a crocodile,

Dont forget to scream, aahhh!