I'm going to England on Thursday. Anyone want anything?

[El Dingo]

It was kind of a bust.

Our original plan was to travel with another couple (Aln and Jen). They were neighbors and long-time friends who we'd been to the UK with previously. They were bringing their (almost) 2 year old daughter to meet her grandparents before the costly 2-year old must-have-a-plane-ticket deadline. We were to stay a week at the grandparent's place in Amble (a tiny seaside village near Newcastle) for a week then Dee Dee and I would do our own thing for a week.

Unfortunately, right before the trip Jen was informed her vacation request had not been formally approved and was now cut short a week. She went home early and we elected to stay with Alan and the baby. We did a few day-trips (Newcastle, Alnwick Gardens, Edinburgh and some Northumbrian towns) but I was really going for that second, toddler-less trip to Blackpool or Wales.

We couldn't even do our planned Speyside whisky tour since ther was no one to mind the bairn.

We did see the British Railway Museum which is incredibly cool if you like trains.

Oh well, sometimes you et the bar....

Did I mention 3 days after returning I caught the flu which laid me out for 4 days.