22nd August
Today, as we are starting the return journey towards Basingstoke, my thoughts naturally turned to the state of the Manor gardens and the Village Show on 6th September. We are travelling back down the East coast of England and taking the opportunity to look around a couple of University towns, as Marcus is planning his future education following his excellent AS and A level results last week.
It is always sad saying goodbye as you leave your holiday home, and as we said farewell to Spencer’s cousin, I mentioned that he might like to get the central heating in the cottage looked at before next year. He responded by asking Spencer if he had remembered to flick the on/off switch in the airing cupboard, and from the look on Spencer’s face, I guessed he had not. Never mind, we had all warmed up sufficiently, with the car heater on maximum by the time we had crossed the Forth Road Bridge on our way to our next stop at North Berwick, East of Edinburgh. Here we visited the Scottish Seabird Centre overlooking Bass Rock, (another Simon King haunt).
23rd August
It all became clear why we were staying near North Berwick, as Spencer took us to yet another aircraft museum at East Fortune. Here I had my one and only sit on a Concorde.
24th August
Stayed near Durham today. Spencer, Violet-Elizabeth and myself had a look around the City, whilst Marcus went to the University open day.
25th August
Today we are in York, for Marcus’s 17th birthday. He was thrilled with the L plates that Violet-Elizabeth had bought him. Spencer joked drily that all he needed now was the car to put them on. Joking apart, this is a bit of a problem as of course he can’t practise on the Bentley due to the extortionate insurance costs. Our birthday present to Marcus is a course of driving lessons, which he will start upon his return home. So watch out all you drivers in Old Basing!
Took Marcus out for a lovely meal in the evening. Now that his throat has recovered sufficiently from the tonsillectomy, he was able to sample a Vindaloo in the local curry house. Spencer tried to impress upon him that he shouldn’t make his decision about which university to go to, based entirely upon where the best curry can be had, but I rather think that this bit of valuable advice fell on deaf ears.