Old painting of Torquay inner harbour, the Pavilion and Rock Walk
Surprise! I'm going home for Christmas.
Yes, heading back across the pond again soon.
Having booked a mid-December cruise in Europe - it departs from and
returns to England - just before Christmas, we decided that taking another
week and spending the holiday in my hometown definitely made sense.
A chance to see family and friends, and share an English Christmas, is
just too good to pass up!
Surprise! I'm going home for Christmas.
Yes, heading back across the pond again soon.
Having booked a mid-December cruise in Europe - it departs from and
returns to England - just before Christmas, we decided that taking another
week and spending the holiday in my hometown definitely made sense.
A chance to see family and friends, and share an English Christmas, is
just too good to pass up!
We've rented a different place to stay this time.
The arrow marks the building which sits atop one of Torquay's seven hills
with wonderful views across Tor Bay, the harbour, my childhood beaches,
and seafront promenade walks.
The arrow marks the building which sits atop one of Torquay's seven hills
with wonderful views across Tor Bay, the harbour, my childhood beaches,
and seafront promenade walks.
Those buildings were once beautiful old private mansions, then
small hotels, and now have been re-built or renovated into modern
condominiums and flats.
We'll miss being at the usual lovely places where we've stayed,
however they are rather a distance on foot from town and the harbour district.
Without a car the walk up and down hills to get to a grocery store, restaurants,
and town shops, is quite a haul, especially in inclement weather which may
of course happen. . . . . .it is England after all!
small hotels, and now have been re-built or renovated into modern
condominiums and flats.
We'll miss being at the usual lovely places where we've stayed,
however they are rather a distance on foot from town and the harbour district.
Without a car the walk up and down hills to get to a grocery store, restaurants,
and town shops, is quite a haul, especially in inclement weather which may
of course happen. . . . . .it is England after all!
Will share more about the cruise later. It will include some
new to me countries and is aboard a favorite ship.
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How wonderful to end this year with yet another trip, and this time, starting and ending in your original hometown! I have yet to see an English Christmas; Christmas in Yorkshire is something I really want to experience one year. But as long as my parents are still around, there is no way I'm going to spend Christmas anywhere and anyway else than with them.
ReplyDeleteLovely painting of Torquay, do you own it?
Wish I did own that lovely old painting! It's actually a post card which I re-photographed. Will soon share photos of how it looks these days from that hillside!
DeleteHello, Mary! I just caught up with your last few posts. I know you must be so excited for your next trip and Christmas in your hometown. This is a lovely picture...those homes built up on the hills and such a gorgeous harbor. Sigh. I'm looking forward to hearing all about your trip, from the ship to shores...wherever they may be. And the makings of a true English Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThe Le Creuset bread sounds heavenly. I will definitely have a look at the recipe. I used to make bread quite a bit but it was a little disappointing to spend so much time doing it, even doubling the recipe and see it gone so quickly. Now that it's just us, I think it would be very satisfying.
I have to talk to you about your lovely North Carolina shore. We will be in Savannah the first week in April where A will give another presentation such as he did in Vancouver this past April. I'd love to travel by car up the coast and then west to Asheville. I really enjoy road trips and have wanted to see the NC coast. Maybe we can meet up somewhere along the way? Plenty of time to plan but it sounds interesting!
Love and hugs to you and Bob. I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving with your neighbors and friends. I am still in a carb coma! Ha!
Jane xxx
That sound so lovely Mary, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas.
ReplyDeleteHenrietta
Oh what a perfect spot for Christmas ! I have friends who have just returned from a cruise, a very long one .. she had the Most Fabulous time :)
ReplyDeleteI am so happy for you, Mary. It will be wonderful to be in England for Christmas. You can take the girl out of England, but you can not take England out of the girl. (I am sure that your beloved has found this to be true.)
ReplyDeleteYou're so right Vee - and when I step on to English soil something happens to me both physically and emotionally, I believe it's my body knowing I'm truly in my real home again! Funny really, as of course I've been gone so long - 54 years - so have actually lived here much longer than over there!
DeleteMary -
How exciting for you Mary. And how exciting for us. Can't wait to see which countries will be included in your river trip.
ReplyDeleteNo rivers this trip Gina - we are actually sailing on the ocean. Fingers crossed it will be calm!
DeleteMore on the itinerary coming soon.
Mary-
Mary, that is exciting news. I can't even imagine. Devon is so beautiful. More great tales to tell. I can't wait.
ReplyDeleteHome for Christmas! There's nothing like it. How excited you must be to return to your hometown. It's so picturesque and I'll look forward to seeing the view from the hill nowadays.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your pre-Christmas ocean cruise, wherever it takes you!
How wonderful it all sounds! I am so happy for you and it warms my heart and makes me smile. Looking forward to the time you will share it all with us here.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful time!
ReplyDeleteJust wonderful! How special to visit some new countries, then spend time with family and friends in your hometown. Enjoy and Savor every moment.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! This will be a great trip!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that you're going on another trip - and that you get to spend time in your beloved home country, too!
ReplyDeleteI love being back in England but this last visit was har don many fonts, not jsut seeing my mother in such a physical state but also my sisters; place so crammed and dirty, actually nd While Yorkshire is lovely, Scarborough is not so here they were anyway. two years before we had xmas there and it was sooo cold as the house is barely heated. Haha. That was norfolk though. What I REALLY miss in a London xmas and wish I had family I could do that with there. My one cousin still there always leaves for the holidays to the countryside so that is a no go too. Oh well. We at least got to see soe of the lights up. It;s so much prettier than it was in the 80's when I left!
ReplyDelete