Not much to report today.
Aramis and I went for a very short walk early in the morning.
A little later, Aramis and I met up one last time with Forrest and her owner before starting our journey back to Switzerland. Forrest’s owner landed a lectureship at the university yesterday, so congratulations again to you!
I had brought the camera with me, but had left the memory card back at the house… so no pictures of two very happy dogs playing and enjoying each other’s company.
We were out on the field, when I spotted Ted and his owner. We had often chatted when I was still living in York. Ted is a lovely Cockapoo and I always liked his owner very much. It was lovely to meet him and we exchanged a few words. It’s in moments like these when I realise how many people I got to know when I lived here and how wonderful it is to accidentally bump into them again.
I met a friend for lunch and then finally managed to visit the city centre. I walked down Parliament Street, had a look at the market stalls, crossed over to Coney Street, got to St. Helen’s Square, treated myself to a brownie at Betty’s, walked down Stonegate and discovered that shops selling overpriced Tweed clothing had become all the rage. I stood in front of the Minster and saw that the Great East Window has finally been restored and that after so many years, the scaffolding had gone.
I went to the National Trust shop, where I bought a woollen throw (which I don’t need, but really wanted), a scarf and a bag. I walked up Goodramgate, where many of the shops were empty once again. The old rubber stamp shop, Make Your Mark, was still there though. Some things never change, I guess.
I got to King’s Square and could not resist going into Barnitt’s, a dog-friendly homeware store. I walked down the Shambles and then got two or three items my parents had asked me to bring.
Later on I took Aramis for a walk, but he was still quite tired from his morning outing with his bestie. I had agreed to meet up with my friends for one last time at 6 at the Wellington, a tiny, but wonderful local pub. After a drink or two we returned to the house, ordered an Indian takeaway and spent a very relaxing evening, during which I also got to know Loki, our friends’ little Jack Russell x Patterdale terrier, of whom I now wish I had taken a picture.
I have now packed my things and am prepared, but not ready to say goodbye and return to Switzerland. I could not possibly have wished for a better time than I have had. My trip has been full of surprises, incredible adventures and unforgettable encounters. I have met many old friends, made new ones and have been welcomed back so very, very warmly.
My friend will accompany me to Switzerland, so the drive home will be another wonderful opportunity to spend quite a bit of time with someone who means a lot to me. We will get up at 5, I’ll walk the dog and then we will hopefully head off at around 5.30. Our ferry in Dover is booked for 2pm, which should give us plenty of time to make our way down to Kent. We will spend the night near Reims, though not in the same hotel as on the way up, as it was fully booked.
I am looking forward to a long, but hopefully untroubled journey home.
The Adventures of Aramis 