Cash's Holiday

Hi, Today is Saturday 26th, we drove direct from London to Cental Lancashire (Northwest England) on Thursday….. All Whites were due to play Paraguay. Scanned the radio stations for the commentary but had to be satisfied listening to the Italian – Slovakia game with snippets of NZ’s fate. Countryside flashing past from the motorways. Roads reasonably busy as you would expect. To be back on the `correct’ side of the road again…..bliss.
Currently staying with Anne’s (our lovely new daughter-in-law) Aunt and Uncle in Preston…….”Preston – why on earth are you going there”, has been one comment from a southern Englishmen. Well I don’t know where he was comparing this area with but it must be outstanding because the countryside, villages etc that we have been shown are beautiful here – little lanes, lovely rolling farmland, fells (higher than a hill, but not classed as a mountain) stone fences, hawthorn hedges……i.e. plenty of green space. Lovely little pubs….with their `English’ colours fluttering in support of their football team.
The weather has been perfect…..but no rain for five weeks is taking effect…..a river just below Olivia and Phil’s house has slowed to the point of becoming `sick’ as Jims describes it, with the green algie seen floating on its surface. We have been introduced to `Black Pudding’, …a type of sausage (made from pigs blood, bran, oats and whatever!) ….as long as the mind doesn’t linger on the thought, it’s actually quite nice.
Lancashire was the heart of the cotton mills back in the 1800’s – early 1900’s. The tall red brick chimneys now stand idle, with the big factories converted to accommodate other multiple commercial units. I have bought a book based on that era, the author himself having been born on the floor of the carding room of one of those mills….speaks volumes of the hardships endured.
Well our plans are to go north for a few days and investigate the Lake District. Local knowledge is such an advantage when planning a trip…… Thanks Phil. (:) G