Silsden

Silsden

My last full day was a Sunday and I went for a walk with Frances and the dogs in the afternoon. We went to the 'Culvert' where our mother had her first part-time job after having a family. We talked about that.

We climbed up the steps to reach the canal and then met David Chad. I knew him immediately although we had not met for 52 years! He is the same as he was at 15 but with a few wrinkles! We agreed to meet for an evening when I next returned to Silsden.

Fran and I then walked along the canal bank along the valley bottom and I took more photos. The place looks nice as you walk along but why could David spend his life here, and that goes for Frances, while I felt like a prisoner and escaped as soon as possible?

I don't have an answer. Perhaps Dr. Freud does! But it made me think as we slowly walked along with the dogs on my last day in Silsden in 2010.

Next day Geoff drove us all to Liverpool airport. I got out and said my goodbyes. The drove off to spend the rest of the day with Barry and Pam. Just like my arrival exactly three weeks before!


What adventures I had had but I was pleased to board the plane and fly back to my flat and life in Berlin.

Thanks to all of you for making it a memorable visit .... and yes,  I could eat some fish 'n chips now and a pork pie for my breakfast tomorrow!

Ilkley

Ilkley

On the final Saturday of my stay I took the car back in the morning and then went to my bank. I had arranged an appointment and it was important for Geoff to be there.

There had been a lot of huffing and puffing about changing my account and this was the third appointment.

After lots of being nice and offered 'real' coffee, I discovered I could not do what I wanted. Why can't they say that at once instead of three appointments over three week?

We returned to Silsden where I organised an im promptu visit to Ilkley with Fran, Barbara and Rachel.

Off we set in Barbara's car and arrived at the family grave. We cleaned it up a but and put flowers there and talked about the people buried there - just as everyone would do in such a situation.

Later we went for tea and cakes in a cafe behind The grove. We couldn't get into Betty's Teashop because of the long queue. No matter, next time!

We had a really nice time together and I am glad that we found time to go to Ilkley.

Bolton Family

Bolton Family

After saying my goodbyes to Pauline and Lew, I returned to my hotel where I spent a restless night = too many rooms/beds in such a short time! Next day I enjoyed a full English breakfast cooked by the lady of the house. Excellent! She can work as my cook anytime!

Packed the car and headed north. Some problems escaping Cambridge road system then a nice easy ride on the A1 until I reached the junction near Cas where I turned left and drove towards Bradford. From there it was easy and so eventually arrived in Silsden.

I called Nicholas and Julie Bolton to see if they were at home. They were and happy to see me. It was the last evening with my trusty Corsa so I drove over and we had a short but pleasant evening.

I caught up on all the news and talked to Grandma Dianne. She has since e-mailed me some really nice musical photo books of her family and grandchildren in a pleasure park with the kids having fun on the swings etc.

I noticed how Nicholas and Julie's children are getting bigger and of course this means - older! I took some photos and they are nice because the family is very photogenic!

Stimmt es, Nicholas?  Na, klar John! He also speaks German - as do Jefferson and Leanne!

Cambridge

Cambridge

I had a lazy breakfast with Neil and called Barbara before packing my bag and leaving Ringmer with many happy memories.

I drove around London and even got through the Dartford Tunnel and found the exit to Cambridge. All as I had remembered it. I approached Cambridge and decided to visit Newmarket first. I have happy memories of this small town with its interesting main street, traditional shops and horse racing tradition.

I bought a few things then drove off to Cambridge. I finally found my guest house and discovered that the free wlan to the internet actually worked so caught up on a few messages. I called Pauline and Lew.

Lew answered and was surprised to hear my voice. Pauline was on her way home from work. Although they have retired both work in the local Asda. I don't think it is just for the money but for having something to do. Pauline was covering for people on holiday and on sick leave.

I told him where I was and that I would like to meet them. I asked him to call me back when Pauline was at  home and tell me where and when to meet. It happened as I requested. I drove to a bar/restaurant at the end of the road where they live. I arrived first and so was able to great them. Long time no see!

We ordered a meal and then settled down to talk. The first thing I told them was to explain an issue that had been between us for a number of years. It resulted from an e-mail from Pauline to the effect that they had sound some silver and crystal objects of mine in the attic and given them to away.

We talked about this and the bad communication. We agreed that communication in future would only be per post of per telephone. We cleared up the matter and enjoyed the rest of the evening.

 We talked about their recent cruises to the Caribbean, to celebrate their retirement and the recent one through the Mediterranean. It was interesting that Lew did most of the talking. A sure sign of learning something from his degree!

Sussex University

Sussex University

I drove down the coast road after leaving College Street with lots of thoughts. I stopped at a cafe for tea and a cake. How English!

I drove on and turned into a road to take me 'over the tops', as I remembered. It did, but somewhere towards Lewes I took a wrong turning and ended up near the entrance to Sussex University. Oh dear!

Without thinking, I turned the wheel and entered the university road. I drove very slowly for it seemed both familiar and distant. It was the summer break so there were mostly workmen building and repairing things.

 I drove to the back of the uni and found Park Village where I spent my first year and got to know Trish, Dave, Krishna, Mary,Sally, Ian, Mike,Neil, Usma and many more. I parked the car and set off to explore.

I took lots of photos for I was not sure which house I had lived in, then I found it. No. 28 Park Village - my home for a year and very different from my house and lifestyle in Leicester. Next, I walked around the campus taking photos.

I found the student shop, library, different halls of residence and even the new ones built at the back, the sports centre, student union building, but I couldn't remember my building! Must be crazy! I turned right at the library and found a view I remembered. It led up steps to the Arts buildings.

I walked up the steps. Came past the big lecture halls I remembered and then into another building. I asked someone to take a photo of me. She smiled and did so. I walked on and found Arts C. I then remembered that I had spent the most important academic three years of my life here. How could I have forgotten?

I entered and looked around the corridor. The same picture was on the wall then a voice asked if she could help me. It was a lecturer. I said I was an old student and just looking around. She said she was new and did not know Prof. Bruce Graham or Dr Pramit Chaudhary - but she had heard of them.

They were the Professor and Dean of Studies when I was there. Both now sadly dead and it seems their reputations are slowly dying - even with the next generation of lecturers! All my lecturers but one have now retired and left the area.

Even the school of studies has been closed. It was The School of African and Asian Studies (AFRAS) in my day but now it is 'Global Studies'.  I continued my exploration and landed back at the Park Village car park where I had left my trusty Corsa.

 I drove away feeling both sad and pleased that I had made an unplanned visit to my old uni. I think it was important for me to catch up with time and not have my years at Sussex festering in a time lock. My experiences are for ever in that time but I was happy to see what had happened to the material world where many of my lessons were learnt.

I slowly drove back to Ringmer for a pleasant last evening with Neil and Barbara.

College Street

College Street

I decided to spend my extra day with Neil and Barbara by exploring bits if Brighton I had not seen for a good 25 years. I drove into Brighton and past the school, on the right,  where I studied for my teaching qualification as a means to escape from England and get into Germany. On the left was the school where I taught Germans before going there. Lots of memories flooding back.

I hit the seafront and turned left. Drove on and then left again and first right. I hadn't forgotten the directions. Eventually I arrived at College Street in the district of Kemp Town where I used to live. The house is No. 16 and it didn't look very different from my days there.

When I first went to Sussex University I lived Park Village in one of the Halls of Residence. In my final year I lived in the home of Mick Johnson = 16 College Street.

What an interesting time that was for me. Mick had since sold the house and retired to London. Memories of life then came flooding back as I walked down the road and stopped outside the house.






I remembered how I needed money to finance my life style and my two old cars. Plus parties and life with Sally and Trish.. and ...and!  I worked as a packer and driver at a local baker's to finance it all.

I had to find a way of gutting the material to write the essays  I had to do and this technique later helped me.

 I remembered Mick telling me it was time to end the job as I got into the finals - which I did.


Memories! I remember thinking --- What if I had.... and, If only I had done/not done......Too late. It is all 25 years behind me now.


Even so it was important to return to the area and think again about an informative and important part of my life.

Pity that Mick had sold the house for it would have been interesting to have knocked on the door and been invited in for tea and a chat!

Ringmer

Ringmer

I left Hook on the road I had used to arrive four days earlier. I ended up in Ringmer north of Lewes to spend a few days with Neil and Barbara. The last time we met was years ago when they arrived in Berlin and I took them to Potsdam.

The 'boys' are all now big and only the youngest still lives at home. He was helping Neil to put down a wooden floor in the hobby/music room when I arrived. Barbara had told them I was coming so sons 1 and 2 duly arrived in time for evening dinner. Barbara had lost none of her cooking talents. I helped by providing a few glasses of wine!

After dinner, Neil and eldest son Harry checked my baby Asus netbook and advised me to load Linux Ubuntu as the OS. I agreed and have since found it much better than the Linux used by Asus. I'm sill learning but it was a good move.

We had a nice day out taking in Eastbourne where we looked at the coast, and parts of the inner town. In the evening we relaxed over a meal and bottle and I took a few more photos - I had Trish in mind as we did this!

I discovered that Family Bridge were not in London, as I thought when I left Berlin. Birgit and Ian were also not there and Sarah and Reena were having a break in Brighton so I cancelled my planned visit to London.









 Instead we met Sarah and Reena in Lewes and had a really nice chat and catching up with news and I decided to stay another day at Ringmer.

On the extra day I went to Sussex University and will tell you about it in my next post.

Salisbury

Salisbury

I ended the day in Salisbury. Well worth a visit if you are in the area. It is famous for its 11th century cathedral and closter. Lately also for the house opposite the main entrance to the cathedral where ex-Prime Minister Edward Heath lived. It is now a museum but he certainly knew where to buy a nice property!

When I arrived in a car part near the centre of town, I went in search of a parking ticket machine. As I set 'orf' I heard a very 'plummy' English voice saying. "Young man, wait five minutes and you will not need to buy a ticket."

I turned to see a 'classic' English lady of advanced years wearing a floral summer dress of the type you only see at Gin and Tonic parties complete with expensive gold and diamond jewelry. We get talking and I found her both informative and entertaining. Ah....they don't make old English ladies like that any more!

I found the cathedral area and wandered around it taking photos. I was too late to enter the room to see an original copy of the Magna Carta which is there so I enjoyed the inner architecture of the old cloisters.

I later went into the nearby centre and saw some interesting old buildings and ended the event in a tea shop. Not to the standard of Betty's in Ilkley which surprised me. I enjoyed slowly walking through the old centre as shops closed and picking up a feeling of how life is like in a famous old cathedral town like Salisbury.

Danebury Ring

Danebury Ring

Next day I set off alone in my trusty Corsa to explore more of the area and its history portrayed in museums and galleries. I headed west. My first stop was Andover where I visited the local museum.

It is excellent and full of details about the area and human settlement over the last 10,000 years. I picked up lots of tips where to go to. I also explored the town centre for there was a market.

I drove to a few places before landing at Danebury Ring. I travelled on the local road through interesting landscapes of rolling downs. I went through the villages of Over Wallop, Middle Wallop and Nether Wallop.

 I reflected on the names and that of other nearby towns and villages. They have all retained their old German names! Over Wallop must have been Über Wallop, Middle Wallop was Mittel Wallop and Nether Wallop was Neder Wallop. Amazing!

Danebury Ring is a must to see if you are in the area. It is believed to have been constructed about 500BC as a fortified village at the top of a hill. You can still see the inner and outer mounds and ditches and where the houses would have been in the middle. There was only one entrance and exit, for ease of defence.

 I walked around the inner mound and thought about how life must have been like so many years ago. I'm glad I wasn't around then!  I left for other places ending the day in Salisbury.

Winchester

Winchester

On my first day with the family, we left for Winchester in Leanne's 'Mutti-Mobil' because it was already set up for transporting the kids.

 We stopped on the outskirts of the city at a Park 'n Ride and took the bus into town. I liked the inner area as soon as we arrived.

It seems to be a town that reinvented itself in the late Victorian period. You can see this in the architecture in the centre and the statue of King Alfred, both in terms of when it was erected and the Pre-Raphaelite school of art founded in 1848. This influenced many painters, poets, critics, interior designers and architects. The statue is a classic (later) example of this movement.

Jefferson and Leanne pushed the pram and guided Evie and me around the town where I took these, and other, photographs. We stopped at a very busy shop/restaurant which was famous for  Cornish Pasty. I ate a traditional one and it was tasty.

We later went into the West Gate to see the history of the town then to a nearby building where you can see what is claimed to be the Round Table of King Arthur.

Na ja! It looked very Pre-Raphaelite to me and certainly not to be 1600 or more years old! I think it is part of the re-invention of the town that took place just over a hundred years ago.

Even so, a very enjoyable day and one that sparked my interest to see more of the area - which I did.

Hook

Hook

I had a very pleasant drive to Hook. The weather got better as I left Brighton, the sun shone and I really enjoyed the drive over local roads and was surprised at how hilly the area was and so green.

There were lots of large houses and I was overtaken  by two Bentley cars en route. I also noticed there were a lot of the new Jaguar cars on the road, but there were clear signs of poverty as well, even in the 'rich' south.

I finally found the house and met their daughter Evie (3) and son Henry (1) for the first time. I had finally reached my destination! There house was really comfortable and decorated to my 'geschmach'! I could live there and I like the area. I had a nice room with a double-bed and my own bathroom. Very nice - I think I  shall go there again!

At first Evie was rather shy, which is natural, then she slowly began to share stories and show me toys and ask her mother questions such as, "Where does Uncle John live?". "He lives in Germany." "Where is that?" You get the picture!

 It was a delight for a crusty oldie like me to be again in the company of very small children. It really was a burst of fresh air.

Jefferson emerged from his office to join us for afternoon tea. He has just set up his own business but is finishing a contract that takes him to Frankfurt-am-Main each week.

My visit coincided with a long weekend he had so we could do things together.  These started with a trip to Winchester where I had a 'real' Cornish Pasty! And learnt more about King Alfred and his Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex.

Drove South

Drove South

I hired a little Vauxhall Corsa, packed my bag and headed south. Two stops and seven hours later I arrived in Brighton.

Mike and Sylvia were waiting for me. They have a big house in semi-circle of Georgian houses two minutes from where I used to live. My old flat looked empty and in need of repair.

They took me to a local restaurant then back at their house where we chatted over a glass of wine. They were leaving for their house in the north of France the day after I was to leave so my visit was well planned. They had another visitor and both daughters were at home so I drifted off in the 'small' bedroom.
Every morning we had to move the car a few feet and add a new parking sticker. Such are the parking rules now - not so when I lived there.

Sylvia and I set off to explore the centre of Brighton as Michael resumed his academic work. We were near the Lanes when it poured down. Fortunately I had packed small umbrellas and my cycling jacket. I know Brighton weather in late summer!


We sought refuge in a cafe. I bought lots of cards and later posted them. We went to the seafront but decided not to stay long.

We headed towards the Pavilion and finally returned by bus where I tested my new Bus Pass. It worked in Brighton - I didn't have to pay anything!

It was great to see them again, catch up on news and reminisce about old times. After a couple of days I left for Hook to visit Jefferson and Leanne.

Castleford

Alan & Lynne in Castleford


On the first Friday of my visit I organised a hire car, then 'Fish'n Chipped' again, bought books in Skipton and had a nice evening with Alex and Warren.


Next day I headed off to Castleford for a long weekend with Alan and Lynne. But this time I had another kind of adventure.




For the first time I travelled with my Metro Card = a travel pass for those over 65 = free on buses and very cheap on trains. I got the train to Cas over Leeds and only had to pay 50 Pence. Amazing! I didn't have to pay anything when I travelled on buses when not using the car.

Alan and Lynne were waiting at Cas railway station. We made jokes about the old 'bone-shaker' of a train that connected to Leeds before arriving at their house. So full of memories.



It seems I have lived almost all my life connected to this house and family - and not only me. Jan is celebrating his 27th birthday today and this family and house has a very special place in his heart too.

Ah...my 'old' room...and just as I had left it a year ago. This is the room where I took the photo that heads this blog. Look at the top of your screen when you 'log on'. It is my room and my bed in Villa Cas!  I even played around with new photos of Gone to Berlin, as you can see, but so far have stayed with the original.


This time we had a relatively quiet time together. The highlight was a day trip to Knaresborough, where I took lots of photos. Another was to a very 'swish' restaurant at an old priory that is now an up-market hotel and restaurant.



Here I have added a photo of Alan on the telephone at his business desk in the entrance to the house ..... quick note to the sons in Australia and New Zealand ..... he had tidied it up for you just before I took the shot :-))


And there is a lovely shot of 'Mudda' waving a spoon in the air in the kitchen just as she was about to deliver another tasty 'Just Knocked This Together' snack! Doesn't it make you mouth water, Daniel, Peter and Paul?



On my last day we saw Lynne's mum which I really enjoyed. She is getting old like the rest of us but she is such a lovable character as well and doesn't look or act her age.



















I had an interesting train journey back for the electric lines had fallen onto the tracks between Leeds and Shipley. A clear case of not investing in infrastructure, as I told a manager ... and he smiled as he agreed with my comment!