Frodsham, United Kingdom

We arrived in Frodsham more than a week ago. I blotted my copybook by taking a wrong turn out of Manchester Airport., but our Nissan hire car has Sat Nav which was a big help getting back on the M56.

The first few days we were here, the weather was magnificent and it is a lovely time to be in England. It  really is a green and pleasant land - the trees are so fresh and green and the rhododendrons are magnificent. Just ambling around the country lanes is very pleasant, although there is more traffic than ever.

We drove over to Teeside and then across to Appleby-in-Westmoreland to see a friend. Next week is the Appleby Horse Fair and already the Romanys, Gypsies and Irish tinkers were gathering in every layby and the horses are tied up all along the roads. It has been going since at least 1750 and has grown to be a huge disruption to the town.

After Teeside, we visited another friend near York, but as it was the Jubilee Bank Holiday long weekend we did not venture into York itself.

Quarry Bank Mill near Manchester. This 18thC cotton mill is now a National Trust site. The volunteers manning all the machinery are so enthusiastic

Nowadays the looms only run for short demonstrations and the noise is absolutely deafening.

In Farndon, Cheshire we happened across this thatched cottage being rethatched. The Health and Safety scaffolding does not add to  the photograph!

Not sure what the Queen thought of the thatcher's work across the road.

Very cooperative black faced Yorkshire sheep (They posed beautifully!).

Peaceful scene near Boltby, North York Moors.

Typical substantial Victorian building on the  front at Saltburn-by-the-Sea,  North Yorkshire. This coast does not have the magic Gulf Stream so seaside holidays here would I imagine be bracing!

The cliffs at Saltburn-by-the-Sea.

Handknitted Jubilee decorations tied to the railings at Saltburn-by-the-Sea.

The tramway to the pier at Saltburn-by-the-Sea

Fishing boats at Staithes, North Yorkshire.

Grand gatehouse near Hurworth-on-Tees in the Darlington area.

Late afternoon sunshine in Osmotherley, North Yorkshire.

Another pastoral scene on the North York Moors.

After several tries a robin posed for us.

Our Royalist afternoon tea for the Queen's Jubilee.