We went to Carlton hill again for our (early) morning walk. Only few other tourists were stumbling around with us, so Aramis could roam around and explore.
The drive down to Pickering, where we briefly stopped to say hello to a friend, took a good 4 hours. We stopped in Alnwick with its beautiful castle, gardens and one of the biggest second hand bookshops in the world, but didn’t quite make it beyond the services and its petrol station to have a bite to eat.
I had usually approached Pickering from the south, so was not familiar the road from the north. It led me straight into Thirsk, a beautiful Yorkshire town and then on to the road crossing Sutton Bank hill, which is very dramatic and steep, but absolutely beautiful.
In Pickering I switched off my sat nav, an infallible symbol for me to have arrived. To be home. From now on I would know my way around and no longer had to rely on road signs or technology.
As we approached York, it was time for Aramis’ big surprise too. Both of us were going to meet some great friends of ours. York is not only where we had lived for years, but also where Aramis’ all-time BFF – his Best Friend Forever – and her wonderful, amazing owner live. Forrest is the one dog Aramis does not only get on with, but to whom he truly lost his heart. Different as they may be in character and type, they seem to have found their soulmates in each other.
Both Aramis and I were overjoyed by seeing our friends. We humans had managed to keep in touch over the time we had been apart, but the dogs hadn’t seen each other in almost a year. Oh the joy!
After a lovely walk and a lot of catching up both on the human and the canine side, Aramis and I said goodbye. Not, however, before we agreed to go on another walk together tomorrow.
I can hardly describe what I felt when I drove up to the house where I used to live and where my fabulous friends live now. I was welcomed so very warmly and can scarcely believe that these wonderful people were ready to put up with me and my furry pooch yet again. Linda and Mike, I cannot thank you enough for your kindness, your patience and your friendship!
Mike even cooked a fresh, delicious meal for us and we had a great dinner together, catching up and celebrating our friendship. Aramis rediscovered his undying loyalty towards (meat-eating) Englishmen when Mike started snacking on some of the dried meat I had brought as a present from Switzerland.
There was quite a strong drop of bitterness overshadowing our reunion, however. Someone, a immensely beloved family member, was missing. The Chairman, Linda and Mike’s tomcat full of personality, who had always bore our presence with unfaltering stoicism and had yet managed to remain friendly and affectionate, had passed away since we saw each other last. Even Aramis was confused and could not stop looking for him. Chairman, you are dearly missed.
The Adventures of Aramis 