Good Afternoon from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England.

Here I am, better late than never. We are onto our third pet-sit in England and the adventures never end. I promised that I would write as I travelled around Great Britain. Where have we been so far?

Our first stop was the Isle of Wight, off the southern shores of England, just a ferry ride away. We landed in London, took a train to the south and then a twenty-minute ferry ride to the town of Ryde. That pet owner picked us up at the ferry dock and drove a few minutes up the vertical hill to their beautiful traditional English home. We were welcomed with an English tea and a chin wag in the living room. We met Charlie the friendly cat who loved to cuddle and reign freely as the King of the House. Afterward, shown to our room, up 29 steps to a room with a view of the water. We had a tasty dinner with Charlie's owners full of chin-wagging and wine and soon slept after being up all night on the flight to England. We quickly learned the ropes with Charlie before the owners left the next morning.

During our stay in Ryde, we soaked up the historical atmosphere of shops, a castle pub, and a vibrant market street. We ate a Sunday Roast dinner at Ryde Castle with all of the English coziness that such a place offers. One day we went off on an adventure to see the world-famous Needles Landmark, an iconic sight, one that is a unique part of Britain. There are three lighter-coloured stacks rising from the water that according to the website are considered to be "some of the most photographed groups of rocks in the world". Perhaps the Wedded Rocks in Mie Prefecture, Japan have some competition. We ate at the teahouse in the old lookout post as we gazed out at the fantastic coastline view.

The next stop was to see Reebus, a Burmese cat at The Old Cottage on the outskirts of Bath. I felt like I was living in The Lord of The Rings story. Most buildings in Canada are lucky to reach 100 years old, so I was delighted to see stone homes and villages much older. The Old Cottage was comfy and homey. Reebus or Reebs for short, kept bringing us gifts of voles or mice. He would bring home one, each night, plunk it under the dining room table, and proceed to eat it. He would save the heart for us to throw out. Though well-intentioned as that is what cats do; it was disgusting. Except for his gift-giving, we got along just fine.

It was my second visit to this city of traditional heritage and site of the old Roman baths, not to mention, the UNESCO World Heritage title. The buildings are famous for their honey-coloured Georgian architecture. One day, we took a self-guided tour of the Roman Baths. Immersing myself in the tour, I could imagine going to the baths had I lived in the Roman days. It was a sensory experience that took me back 2000 years ago. What a day at the spa; we did all but bathe in the hot springs. Those are found at a different location. Though I have yet to experience the actual hot springs in England, the Japanese onsens have won over my heart. There is nothing better than to soak in the hot water as you are looking out at the mountains or the seaside. We did drink water from the hot springs which is purported to have loads of health benefits. Only one cupful though so I wonder what rewards we reaped.

Our third pet-sit is in Huddersfield, a three-hour journey north. We are in West Yorkshire surrounded by sheep grazing in the fields all around. Here we have Duke, a grand German Shorthaired Pointer, who loves to sniff out food and cuddle on the couch. He is a rescue dog who has had an auspicious pre-pandemic life. As a result, he is undergoing brain training tricks to keep him focused. His Pointer breed is known for athleticism and intelligence, and Duke had both of these traits. Duke's home is a renovated horse stable with beautiful barn beams throughout. The atmosphere is a mix of modern design along with the beauty of the original building; the result is impressive.

We tended to stay home for the most part except for walks and runs throughout the historical villages and the countryside. One outing was to a tower built for Queen Victoria's jubilee called, The Jubilee Tower, later changed to the Victoria Tower on Castle Hill near Huddersfield. It opened in 1899, two years later to honour her 60-year reign in 1897. The tower jubilation was short-lived as in the same year, Mr. Edgar North fell to his death from the turret. It is said that he died from an accident that was brought about by drinking five "three penny specials" at the local hotel. Each special consisted of two beers and three whiskies, and he had three specials! That's enough alcohol to prompt anyone to fall to their death.

The English landscape filled with authentic structures throughout offers much historical significance. Coming from Canada where history is much newer, I am in awe of what I see. Everywhere I look, I see incredible scenes. Three pet-sits have finished with two more to go and half of our time elapsed, the adventure continues. Moving onto the south of England now. Will report next from Dartmouth.

Take care,

Rosemary 🌹

Chapter 21