2 months, 2 kids, 2 continents (technically)

[Pushka]

I can’t remember who it was but I’m sure there was another trip report here a while back talking about squirrels in the UK. The red ones are the natives, the grey ones the invaders. Unfortunately the greys brought with them a disease called squirrel pox, which is fatal to red squirrels and has all but wiped them out: Help us protect the Red Squirrels at Formby

There’s only a few spots in the country left where red squirrel populations survive. One of those is just down the road from us in Formby.

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Thought the kids would enjoy it but not only did the traditional British summer weather turn rather soggy, there was not a squirrel in sight.

Lovely walk through the pine woods though, if a little damp.


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That’s it for us in the North West. Next stop Newcastle.

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[MattA]

Our friends live about 25 miles out of Newcastle in the middle of the rolling countryside.




Took the kids to visit the neighbours…

 

[ellen10]

Really enjoying your trip report. Looks like some nice weather around the Newcastle area.

 

[Happy Dude]

There will be more Potter-related elements to this TR later. Heading to Kings Cross on Monday, and the studio tour next week.

Looking forward to reading/sharing this with the kids.

 

[MattA]

Sunday. We tasked our friends with locating a suitable country pub for a roast lunch. They did well.

Ended up in the Golden Lion in a little town called Allendale. Choice of meats plus all the trimmings. Went for Pork + crackling. Delicious.



After lunch went for a little wander and stumbled on the Museum of Classic Sci-Fi. One man’s labour of love in the basement of a Georgian townhouse, stuffed with props, costumes etc, many of them from classic 70s/80s Dr Who. An utterly incongruous thing to find in the middle of this tiny old town, but fascinating.

HOME | Museumofclassicsf

 

[MattA]

After visiting we watched a Netflix show called “Amazing Interiors” that profiles the opening of the museum (ep 3): Watch Amazing Interiors | Netflix Official Site

The owner’s father in law, Chris, who appears in the show, was manning the museum and gave us an intro/overview when we arrived.

 

[parsonstrish]

Thank you for your TR but especially information re sci-fi museum. I find it uplifting when people accomplish their dreams. I appreciate the f-n-l’s support even though it’s not his thing but his commitment to be of suppor.

 

[MattA]

Thank you for your TR but especially information re sci-fi museum. I find it uplifting when people accomplish their dreams. I appreciate the f-n-l’s support even though it’s not his thing but his commitment to be of suppor.

On the Netflix show he comes across as pretty sceptical about the whole thing, but in person he was positively gushing about the museum. Clearly very proud of what they have built.

 

[MattA]

After a lovely weekend with our friends we are on the move again. Back to Newcastle station to catch the LNER service down to London. We’re in first again. This time the service includes sandwiches as well as snacks, hot drinks, and booze.



First drinks service comes round just before noon. I’m sure it’s five pm somewhere in the world, right?



The (presumably London-based) crew are nowhere near as cheery as the Northerners on the Trans Pennine Express service that brought us across from Liverpool. Service is perhaps best described as perfunctory. But it’s quiet, the seats are relatively comfy, and 3yo manages a sleep (she’s down there somewhere).

 

[levelnine]

we’re very lucky to be able to access it at pretty much the cost of Y or less through playing the points game.

Terrific trip report. By the points game, do you mean specific strategies (eg credit card churning) or simply the steady accretion of points through organic spend? It takes quite a few points to be able to redeem 4x J tickets to Europe!

 

[MattA]

Terrific trip report. By the points game, do you mean specific strategies (eg credit card churning) or simply the steady accretion of points through organic spend? It takes quite a few points to be able to redeem 4x J tickets to Europe!

Oh just in general using points to travel in premium cabins. And yes, 928k points were required for the return flights for this trip, mostly via credit card spend and bonuses. It’ll be well over a million now with the recent “enhancements” to KF.

 

[levelnine]

mostly via credit card spend and bonuses.

It's quite difficult to earn 1mil SQ points in Australia with credit card bonuses. Well done!

 

[MattA]

As I mentioned earlier, we have a Harry Potter fan in the family. So we couldn’t leave Kings Cross without getting a photo at “Platform 9 3/4”.



Waited in a small queue to get 8yo’s photo.



There’s a couple of staff from the Harry Potter shop next door on hand to provide a scarf, wand, and direction.

8yo loved it.

Lizzie was also there to welcome us to London…

 

[MattA]

London has very much turned on the weather for us (I’ve heard the word “heatwave” from several people already, which means mid 20s all week; it may hit 30 on Friday).

A beautiful evening and we dashed over to Greenwich to meet up with an old friend for dinner at this lovely old pub by the river.



There’s a row of tables outside on the banks of the Thames with this view to enjoy with our fish and chips.

 

[Pushka]

We hit London again on Wednesday. It’s freezing up here in Scotland so can’t wait for heat.

 

[TheRealTMA]

We hit London again on Wednesday. It’s freezing up here in Scotland so can’t wait for heat.

31C on Friday. Sheesh. You don’t want heat in London, it’s not built for it. Don’t use Tube in that weather. The Londoners will all be in the parks in bra and underwear with knotted handkerchiefs on their heads.

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[Pushka]

31C on Friday. Sheesh. You don’t want heat in London, it’s not built for it. Don’t use Tube in that weather. The Londoners will all be in the parks in bra and underwear with knitted handkerchiefs on their heads.

It’s the humidity and lack of air conditioning that are the crunchers there. We will be at the airport hotel Thursday night.

 

[drron]

31C on Friday. Sheesh. You don’t want heat in London, it’s not built for it. Don’t use Tube in that weather. The Londoners will all be in the parks in bra and underwear with knotted handkerchiefs on their heads.

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At 31C they would be collapsing. I remember a lovely April Day in Kensington Gardens. full sunshine and a temp of 8C.They were all lying on the grass with their shirts off.

 

[kookaburra75]

At 31C they would be collapsing. I remember a lovely April Day in Kensington Gardens. full sunshine and a temp of 8C.They were all lying on the grass with their shirts off.

Anything over 25 deg brings the UK to its knees, it's just not set up for it. As everything is designed to keep the heat in, you can't even open a window to get a breeze. It's best just to find a good pub and keep hydrated

 

[MattA]

We’re staying with a friend in Clapham. So, in need of a gentle activity after what had turned into a bit of a late night last night, we headed to nearby Battersea to check out the renovation of Battersea Power Station. I remember from our time living here the many, many failed proposals to restore and regenerate the site and I’m kind of amazed that one of them actually got off the ground. The apartments open in September and there’s still a bit of building work going on around, but the site looks nearly finished. Considering this place was falling apart 10 years ago, they’ve done a great job of the renovation.



We headed for Prospect Place, a brand new playground that we had to ourselves.



Grabbed lunch at one of the restaurants and then the kids went to play on the deckchairs that line the grassy area by the river.



23 degrees, according to my weather app, and yes for the benefit of everyone commenting on London’s absolute inability to cope with weather, I can report multiple sightings of blokes with their tops off sunbathing.