June - Part 2 (Christening and Filey)

Christening

On Sunday we had two things to do. The first was to attend the Christening of Lawrence and Jan’s baby Jennifer. It was nice occasion. 

While there I spoke to the other Woolley called John and he asked me to do the photographs for his wedding on 5^th September.

The second thing was to pack ready to set off on our second holiday; this time to Filey.

The Journal once again takes up the story:

Week Commencing Monday 22^nd June

With the promise of the next few days being different to the Welsh ones we set off slightly later than previously.

I set the SATNav to ‘Coastways’ café, Howden in the expectation that we would arrive there at 10.30 am. Most of the motorway was dry and Irene pulled into the parking bay at precisely the predicted time. It was a good place where we had tea and Eccles cake (Irene) and hot chocolate with lemon Bakewell tart (me). The café was very clean and well organised with lots of ‘No’ signs. ‘NO COACHES or HGCs; NO using the toilets unless you are a patron; NO cycling helmets on the tables (There was a place to store these.) There were numerous other ‘polite’ signs. 

I contrasted it with another that I had researched. It should have been a nice place by a fishing pond. It had a hygiene rating of 1 and comments like:

Food Standards Agency
Food Hygiene and Safety		Poor
Structural Compliance		Poor
Confidence in Management		Little

Please note the rating comment: ‘MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS NECESSARY’

This report was seven months ago. I would like to know whether it is still open with ‘major improvements’, open as reported or closed.

Leaving Howden behind we were now on ‘normal’ roads. Spots of rain came as we approached our destination. There was confusion at the reception of the ‘Blue Dolphin’ [I did not receive my confirmation until we returned home. It was dated 22^nd June]. It then dawned on the staff that our friends had arrived before us. We were given a map and sent on our way. As we were leaving the phone rang and I said to Mary that we would see them in 30 seconds. It took 15 minutes to find the caravan.

We off-loaded the cars and then the rain came and so did the wind which went on the rest of the day. The caravan is on the hill top and sways in the wind. Apparently we had been upgraded so that the beds were made. P and M had rented a spare key and given us the en suite double bedroom. They were using the two twin rooms.

We decided to lunch in the caravan as the weather really was poor.

The next stage of unpacking revealed that I had no pants. So off we went to find some at Filey Tescos. They did not have the right size so my decision was to make the 20 mile round trip to Bridlington. Although we could see the store we had to make several attempts to get into the car park. Eventually, we had success.

Back in the caravan we felt cold. Mary rang the office for assistance and we waited. At around 5.45 we decided that food could not wait. Just before leaving I made a discovery – I found the boiler and turned it on. A we were leaving staff arrived and I had to apologise for my stupidity.

We all agreed that the food at the ‘Plough’ was very nice and well-priced. In the evening we pottered around; doing a jigsaw and watch TV before bed.

This morning there is still wind. Without Wi-Fi I can’t see what the rest of the weather is doing.

Our next journey was 50 mile round trip to Whitby. I drove the four of us, going through the edge of Scarborough and then negotiating the narrow streets of the town before finding a car park. P and M said that the town had changed since they last came. I said that a lot can happen in 100 years. (This became one of the two catch phrases that we used on this holiday.) We walked into the town, passing the statue of Captain Cook and the ‘Whale Bone Arch’ before finding a café for our morning refreshments.

Then we walked across the swing bridge into the old town which is amaze of narrow streets and alleys. It is a pity that it had been spoiled with all the paraphernalia of tourism. This is quite sad that the very thing which brought tourists in the first place is buried under garish signs and displays of wares.

Next we walked up 199 steps to St Mary’s Church and the abbey ruins. The church is a strange place. It should be Anglican but it felt more like a Baptist or a Methodist church. All the ground floor seating was in boxed pews and had the appearance of cattle pens. The minister had a raised platform to be able so his congregation. We walked up but did not enter the abbey and then walked the 199 steps down. The Grand Old Duke of York would have been pleased with the 10,000 men marching up and down.

At the bottom we looked for the ‘best’ fish and chip shop in town (according to P and M). This turned out to be the same café as the one where we had coffee. This was mainly because they were doing fish and chips, mushy peas, tea and bread and butter as a deal. Paul had the temerity to ask if he could have jam on his bread. The waitress kindly obliged.

Having found the car we went back in the direction of home but made a stop in Robin Hood’s Bay. Like Whitby, this was larger than the place that I had in my mind but it did have a relatively unspoiled ‘Old Town’. This consisted of a steep, windy road down to the bay. Once more there were numerous steps and alleys off it. Despite the tourist trade it still had a special charm.

The weather seriously improved during the day and at 10.00 pm it was still very much broad daylight as we decided on going to bed.

The weather on Wednesday, as forecast, was very much improved. Mary drove us off to Bempton Cliffs. Mary drove because she had a RSPB card which did give us free car parking. However, this would have given us free entry 100 years ago. Nowadays non-members must pay £3.50 each to go through the visitors centre to the cliffs.

A camera hijacker would have made a fortune out of stealing the equipment which was visible in this one spot.

We walked to the look outs on the right of the centre. The cliffs are the highest in England and are covered in all kinds of sea birds. Gannets are particular feature and puffins swam in the sea below. There were many young birds and chicks still on their nests.

At lunch we went back to the centre but all the tables were crowded. We improvised around a cool box using picnic chairs and a bench.

After lunch we walked the opposite direction and we really could smell the gannets.

Back in the caravan the rest of the afternoon was spent showing Paul how to down load pictures on to the laptop. I think I have persuaded him to sell the i-mac and replace it with a windows laptop.

For the evening meal we went to the Plough. The meat in the pie was so good last time that I had the ‘Theakston’ beer one again.

Having completed Paul’s download it was my turn and I was struggling to complete it by 10.30 pm. Perhaps I shall finish it this morning.

I have to say that Paul has got many more good pictures than me, but he has a superior telephoto lens.

[Here the journal ends and the blog takes up]

Thursday was our last day together and we left to make a visit to Scarborough. This time little had changed in the 100 years since P and M last visited and we easily parked, for free, at the top of the town outside the building which was used in TV show ‘The Royal’. It was a pleasant walk down to the sea. P and M posed for a holiday pic. Irene got her paddle in the sea.

Then we made the steep walk back up. First we passed a church which looked worse for wear. 

Opposite was a small tea shop. As I sat looking around there was sense that this was a special place. It was owned by a Christian and we had a good conversation. It was appropriately called 'Solid Rock Cafe'.

We visited every charity shop up the hill. Then, thinking that we would soon be back at the car, we purchased bread and milk from Morrison’s. However we made two mistakes. First we went well out of our way and second it was further and harder than we thought to get back. However just as we were running out of steam there was a hotel selling pub grub. It was quite nice but I thought the Tetley ale was a bit warm.

There was downloading to do and packing before going to bed.

Earlier in the holiday Paul showed me a picture of an A4 on the Pickering to Whitby line. While we were in Scarborough Paul and I called into a railway model shop. The owner told us the ‘Nigel Gresely was running on the line. So, today, I decide to go home via Pickering.

We parked, had refreshments at a quaint tea shop and made our way to the station, arriving just as a train left. We did a little exploring and then asked what the special event was. It turned out to be diesel engines and the steam ones were located at Whitby. We watched the next engine arrive, change ends and leave before we ourselves left.

We skirted York, which we saw little of. Through York we came to a service area with a MacDonald’s and Scotts Fish and Chip Restaurant. It was to the latter we went. The ambience was great (they played 50s and 60s music), the food was good, the service and the value excellent.

Then we ran into trouble. The A1 was a crawler lane and the M1 no better. But at 5.30 pm we arrived home none the worse for wear.