Travel O.seas Europe & Asia 1981

Europe and Asia. 1981

Another exciting venture is looming, I decided to take my mother-in-law Emily Baine with me to England so she can spend some time with her son Kerry and Angela. Since the death of her husband Jack, the family thought it would be a nice change to enjoy some overseas travel. This is her first time away from New Zealand and my third. A gathering of friends and relations were at the airport to bid us farewell for our long journey, our plane was another A.N.Z D.C.10, the first stop being at Honolulu which took just over seven hours, just for refuelling, then on to Los Angeles, then a couple of hours wait till we boarded the plane once again for England. The ruling with Air N.Z was the planes could travel on from L.A. but with a British Airways crew. The service proved a bit unorganised after the splendid crew of Air.N.Z. My mother-in-law, Emily, was quite stressed out after the long journey and was relieved to finally reach our destination, Heathrow, and meet with her son.
It was pleasing to see Kerry & Angela at the airport, also my friend Keith Bougher and his girl friend, only spending a brief time with him and made arrangements to stay on my return from Europe. We all caught the train to Kilburn in London where Kerry & Angela’s had their studio flat, it was difficult for Emily to climb the steep stairway to the third floor, this has been a culture shock for her away from her quiet lifestyle in the small town of Te Aroha.
Enjoying a happy family reunion plus a sample of my duty free Rum I soon discovered that sleep was overcoming my desire to continue some more drinks so it was off to bed, it had been many hours since I last slept.
Next morning I sorted out my luggage and caught the tube to Kingscross Station where I boarded the Flying Scotsman Express passing through familiar countryside bursting with signs of Spring everywhere, cities like Nottingham, Shefield, Leads and landmarks like the York Cathedral. then onto my destination, Newcastle-on-Tyne. My old friend Harry Letch was waiting for me, after an exciting reunion Harry took me to his home he shared with his sister Muriel in the coal-mining town of Birtley. The terraced house was among row upon row of identical style and colour, it would be very hard to find his place without a street and number to guide you. Muriel had prepared a lovely late luncheon, which we all toasted in a wee dram of rum.
Off to view the sights, our first destination was to Durham particularly the huge Cathedral and University on a hill dominating the city. Climbing the tower of the cathedral was quite a major event but the view of the city was amazing, people boating on the river were like tiny ants, splashes of colour everywhere which proved to be the first flowering of hundreds of roses.
The return trip took us through” the moors” country and the quaint village of Blanchland. My first evening meeting the locals was at Harry’s favourite Buffs Club, I was not very fond of their room temperature beer so I decided on the cold lager which was very palatable at .42 pence a pint. I don’t think I would attempt to keep up the pace of the locals.
Next morning, Harry and I started on a journey north to Scotland, time first to explore the local area driving through quaint country lanes and small villages, we found an interesting factory called “ De La Rue” which mints the New Zealand bank notes. Our next stop was the small town of Richmond, with its cobbled narrow streets, lovely little cottages; the high steeple of the church was the centrepiece. Travelling west we passed through many kilometres of Mooreland country, very baron, stone fences winding over the landscape had probably been there for many centuries. Next the Lake district, very picturesque country, very busy with lots of tourists and locals enjoying the clear air and beauty