Mother England

Arriving in Manchester was like being slapped in the face with a dead fish. Shocking and cold. We had left beautiful Bangers in 30 degrees and had arrived to FOUR degrees, hail and wind. My god, we were cold. Both of us had somehow forgotten that even though this was technically Spring, it was more like an Australian mid winter. We were quickly reminded and luckily our hotel whisked us away to the enveloping warmth that is Etrop Grange with their quintessentially British hotel. Each room is filled from top to toe with wallpaper, has four poster beds, deep baths and original fixtures and fittings in the bathroom so whilst I was freezing, was also charmed at the delights of our room. Yes it's bloody cold, but England is very pretty. We had our first of the millions of cups of tea that would follow and snuggled into our bed. Tomorrow we were off to visit Tony's Dad Mike and his wife Chris.
Catching a train to York, Mike picked us up and drove us the remaining 30 minutes into

his little village Harton. A collection of about 20 houses, it is rural and sleepy and very cute. Daffodils are nodding in the sunshine and Mike and Chris' converted barn is to die for. Their doggy Megan and pussycat Dylan help make us feel right at home and we are so happy to be with family, catching up on the many years it has been since we last saw each other. We take little trips out to see the beautiful Yorkshire countryside and even though I've brought what I thought would be ample cold weather clothes, have to dash into York to stock up on second hand jackets and jumpers as the weather is freezing.
Easter arrives and the local farmer has invited the villagers to an Easter egg hunt. It is a lovely community idea with everyone turning out bringing plates of food to share and excited little children. It's not at all warm and we stand out like sore thumb as everyone has on shorts and T-shirts except us. We have beanies, gloves and jackets on! It is a lovely day out and highlights how a community can work together and make a village a home.
Being in the UK makes me want to be creative-I can see how the Beatrix

Potters of our world had their imagination captured by the creatures in the hedgerows; the reality is that under our very feet are living hundreds of moles, busily borrowing their way under fields of carrots and rapeseed. There are huge bumbly-bees, sprinting squirrels and new little lambs and I am so inspired by the beauty and possibility of England. We're spoiled with delicious roast dinners, warm conservatories and our window in the bedroom allows us to snuggle down under the covers watching the twinkling stars above waking only to birdsong and chooks cackling. The little villages surrounding Harton have beautiful thatched roof cottages, babbling brooks and lush green manicured gardens. Hearing of our

adventures in the meditation centre, Chris and Mike take us to a Tibetan meditation centre hiding in the countryside. It is absolutely astounding-housed in a magnificent English stately home complete with huge marble roman columns, pressed ceilings and grand staircases, we wander the silent rooms noticing the difference between Tibetan Buddhist artworks and South East Asian Therevadan Buddhism. Their grounds are lush green and have a vegan cafe in the back manned by smiling volunteers and the field are full of bounding dogs, lakes and woodlands.
Driving around the Castle Howard estate, we happen upon a lake filled with swans. Taking a walk around the perimeter, we find ourselves being

followed by enthusiastic ducks and geese. The graceful swans come closer eager to snap up the bread scraps we've brought and along the way, we stumble across a tiny brown field mouse. Rescuing him from the middle of the path, Chris gently picked him up and carried him under a plant. Adding another leaf as protection and camouflage, I'm hopeful he'll survive in his little leafy bed. We come back again the next day to feed the swans and take more photos and my little rodent friend has gone from his leafy home. I'm sure he's off living a happy life. When we come back to visit later in the year, Mike and Chris take me to one of my favourite places in England- the mouse village of Kilburn where the local church is filled with handmade and carved furniture. On every pew, bible

stand and hand rail hides a little mouse and the challenge is to find them all in their hiding place. This time we read that there was also a lizard and dragon so with many giggles and shouts of 'Here's one!' We had a wonderful magical day together.
Moving on to visit Tony's Mum and her husband Fred, we are back sleeping in Tony's old room he had whilst growing up. Showing me where he used to play with his train set and looking for things in the cupboards where he left them, it's nice to see Tony in this new light. As his Mum is very ill, we've come to help out so Tony immediately kicks into action. Throughout the time that we end up staying here, I watch him act with the utmost level of respect, compassion, love and dignity pursuing quality care and kindness. I have married the best

man in the world and he truly is an angel.
Whilst with Janet and Fred, we get out on the weekend for long walks in the countryside. Taking us through fields of bright yellow flowering rapeseed, tiny country villages, through woodlands and around town, we have the opportunity to relax with each other and catch up on the many years it's been since we last visited. Our favourite watering hole quickly becomes 'The Half Moon' a free house filled with local Yorkshire ales and cracking cheese boards. I fall in love with Saltaire's Raspberry Blonde as well as a mind blowing chilli cheese. Fred's kindness reaches no bounds as he hunts all over Yorkshire to try and get me more cheese and ale when the pub changes it menu.

We're still rationing raspberry beer as we speak! Soaking up the occasional sunshine with ice creams by the river, we watch children in paddle boats and spot wood carvings by the river as well as more and more flowers coming into bloom from spring. There's another two pubs we adore-'Guy Fawkes Inn' in Scotton with its five star food and amazing ambiance and the Goldsborough pub with its incredible mediaeval chandelier.
On a trip into York one day, I am reacquainted with one of my great English loves. Cath Kidston. I don't normally think of myself as materialistic, but her shop makes me want to own everything. I think I've been labelled as a thief now as whenever I'm in York or Harrogate, I go in and touch every item longingly. I can't explain why it is I adore her things so much, but I think it's because she epitomises everything that I love. Sewing,knitting,crochet and a love of vintage fabrics and making things. I own three of her books and last time I was here bought up hundreds of pounds of gifts for family. I adore her products and Tony's thinking of banning me from mentioning her name again as my love is so strong. After a particularly stressful week, Tony relented and generously bought me a handbag. Spending the rest of the day patting it and watching Tony roll his eyes, I then spent a stressful night tossing and turning. Had I bought the best design? What about that blue petite floral one? There was that divine tulip one....I decided that my bag is indeed perfect (It's wet weather coated for drizzly English days) it is just that I adore each and every design and I would've been happy with any of them. Tony is reminding me to remember my Buddhist meditation teachings. I assure him I am as it's easier to meditate when you have a funky handbag to keep your timer in. I know, I know!
Three months has hit and I've begun nesting. Spending the majority of our time with Janet and Fred, I've begun settling down into routines and familiarity. I've joined the local library, am cooking yummy vegan food and pottering around the house, have found a Zumba class and a hula hooping class and take regular walks into town to check out the markets and buy fresh veggies. Having learnt how to crochet from Chris, I start to make oodles of granny squares to donate to charity. I have a little candle next to my bed which I snuggle down with and enjoy my cups of tea and are finding some great TV shows on the BBC. I'm an avid water of 'Countryfile' learning more about rural UK as well as 'River Cottage' and for fun 'Very British Problems' which highlight the many cultural faux pas I commit each time I open my mouth. The spring days are bringing out some amazing fruit and I've become addicted to the sweet and plump Spanish raspberries hitting the shelves. When the sun shines, England is glorious and we even have a little squirrel come out to play in the large tree in the backyard. I dust off my hoop and spend hours in the backyard, listening to the top songs via iTunes Radio practicing new tricks. Whilst Tony is busy organising care, I'm researching our next trips and keeping things ticking over behind the scenes.
One of the highlights of our time in the UK will most certainly be my adopted family of Rory and Joyce Stanbridge. These two incredible people are friends of both Janet and Mike, watching Tony grow up and becoming friends with him as he matured into the fabulous man that he is and now including me in their welcoming bosom also. Their kindness and friendliness knows no bounds and we spend most weekends at their place eating pizza, drinking beer and generally hanging out with them and their lovely daughter Kirsty and deepening our relationship. We adore them all and I've told them I'm adopting them which Rory responded to by making me an adoption certificate. They also let us hang out in their home when they leave to travel, giving us a quiet space to switch off a little and

utilise their beautiful bathtub. I'm coveting their bathtu; it's a haven of relaxation and serenity as is Joyce's beautifully tended garden and their home full of family photos and tangible love. Rory has helped Tony immensely with his planning and Joyce nurtures my soul by taking me for walks in the local area and shopping.
Living in a small town has given us the opportunity to get to know our neighbours. Our fences are quite low so it's easy to say hi and have a chat and quickly we are taken under their wings and treated incredibly kindly. Tony and Lyn on one side are amazing at keeping an eye on the home when we're not around , shooing off uninvited visitors and even cleaning out Janet's eves and down pipes for her. Lyn has shared numerous books with me, getting me onto the 'Bookcrossing' website that shares books around the world, taking time to chat to me and find out my favourite genres and authors. I currently have about 15 books which I meant to read but somehow ran out of time for sadly. Tony is an ever cheerful face over the fence, finding me little creatures in his garden to look at at pointing out his resident frogs. He even rescued us one day when it was raining, driving us to the train station and offering us a lift on numerous occasions. Sarah and Marc with their two children Maya and Nate are also fabulous. They've had us over for drinks and are very kind and supportive. They've also got two pussycats Mogali and Lola whom I try to tempt inside, sneaking cuddles and pats whenever I can. Mogali seems a bit sad at the moment as they've headed to France in their caravan so he's often seen trying desperately to get in the cat flap and climbing up my back with his claws out.
Going in and out of the UK, we switch between travellers and settled family members which is both comforting and unusual as we drift between responsibilities and carefree abandon. The experience is teaching us a great deal about love, compassion, our own personalities and our connection to each other. Guided by the beautiful family around us, (adopted family included) I know that our time here will be something we reflect on forever and also a time that we acknowledge was essential for all relationships involved. Whenever I am away from Tony for more than one day, my heart aches to be back with him as we never do anything apart now. Our relationship is incredibly strong and I realise that one can fall in love deeper and deeper than one ever thought was possible, even on a daily basis. Growing old with Tony will be an honour and a privilege.
We've also had some time to catch up with Tony's friend from high school-Rob and his fabulous wife Helen and their two children Ryan and Kieran. Staying with them in their lovely home in Lancashire, we were honoured to be included in their family life, watching the tenderness and devotion they show to their super children. They have a lovely home surrounded by stunning lochs and canals meaning there are plenty of walks for them to enjoy and rolling green hills and dry stone walls. We watch hand painted canal boats drifting

past and I would so love to come back one day and see another perspective via the water. They even have little gardens on their boats! It pushes our boundaries of what we imagine parenting to be and challenges us to rethink our decision not to have children. Theirs is a family of love and respect and we are all teary when it comes time to say goodbye for the last time. Skype will be used prolifically when we return to Aus!
I try to take all of my opportunities to embrace what England and Yorkshire has to offer by soaking up Morris dancers in the local square, watching Punch and Judy puppet shows and wandering through the local castle grounds and sculpture walks. As we have left the UK three times whilst we've been here, we have seen the landscape and

people's pretty gardens change through the seasons. Whilst we think it's been winter and perhaps a mild spring, the reality is that we have seen spring, summer and the beginning of autumn. We arrived when the daffodils came out, smelt the amazing blossoms flowering, noticed the poppies nodding their heads in the breeze and now are picking wild blackberries in our walks around town. I take the time to see meteorite showers and stunning sunsets, always amazed and besotted with the beautiful bumblebees, soaking up this fabulous country. There is no way I could ever live her permanently as I find I'm usually cold to the bone, but I do appreciate how the seasons change and the distinct response nature gives. Once again, I feel moved to poetry and art.
In our final week, we set about saying goodbye to the people that we love. Our days are filled with dinners out and long lunches with mind blowing food and incredible company. We are torn between our eagerness to explore and have adventures but so so sad to leave behind the people we love. We are looking forward to the day when jet travel means we can cross this globe quickly and cheaply so that we can embrace our loved ones regularly. Once again, technology can help and our memories are strong and our commitment unwavering. Goodbye Mother England.