Our last UK trip !

a weekend in . . .

It's a bridge theme-park !
They've gathered all the best bridges and put them in one place !

They have a rather excellent gallery complex.

The latest addition to their collection.

Unfortunately, it was even colder than Glasgow !

Well, there you go - just a few snaps.

We make our way back to Australia in a few weeks.

It's hard to sum up almost 5 years in the northern hemisphere, but it's been grand ! (thanks to my darling Michael and his globe-trotting career choice)
I still have practically no ear for accents and the number of foreign words i've picked up can fit on one hand, (not counting Glasgwegian of course) so I'm not sure i've been substantially changed, but perhaps i'll only realise the effect it's had on me once i'm back in Aus.

More news to come as we settle into our new home - Adelaide !

cheers for now ! Ian.

Ian : Off we went, on a whim, to the walled city of York.
( In Yorkshire oddly enough.)

* click on the photo to see the full-size version

Cliffords tower : where in 1190 the wooden keep was burned down,
the Jewish community had taken refuge there during anti-Jewish
rioting and either the Jews inside started the fire rather than die
by the hand of those outside, or the rioters set it alight.
It was rebuilt in stone.

View from Cliffords tower to Yorkminster.

The tower entrances of the wall.

Of course we had to see the inner fiddly-bits of YORKMINSTER !

... and a look-see from the roof -


... and whilst poking around, I hit upon my thesis :
That all the figures in Yorkminster were modeled upon raving homosexuals !

Exhibit A

That wig and skirt surely supports my assertions your honor !

Say no more !

Ho hum.

The ceiling mural figures are a couple of very buff examples.

Even the great one has been hittin the gym a bit.

... and the gay flag colors - central to the tapestry.

I rest my case your honor.

Emperor Constantine who ruled the Roman empire from York

This the first brand new steam locomotive to be built in the UK for a long time.

We went to the National Railway Museum - geez , they're BIG !

Escaping from the extreme cold.

Lots of examples of the wonky tudor period architecture.
( wattle and daub )

The end.