Well, you may have noticed but I’m back. We had such a wonderful holiday that I wanted to share some of it with you.
I posted a few threads on other forums with regard to the “November Meet” and “My Last Holiday” Anyway, here I am back at work, bored and thinking of my next trip already. I saw Sheffield from a tourists eye view. The whole point of the trip was to be with family and introduce my husband to those who didn’t make the wedding 2 years ago. He was nervous thinking that they would all give him the third degree; but I assured him that they would welcome him with open arms, which they did. He had this impression that all English people are snobby and all about upbringing and education. Well, my family couldn’t care less where he’s from, what education he has or what his politics or religion are. He fit in rather well and even came up with a few slang words. Like “tea” instead of dinner, fortnights holiday for 2 weeks vacation and “T’ra” for bye. We ate fish n’ chips and went out to some good pubs. He didn’t like the beer much but did enjoy Carling Black Label and said it was better than Bud. Wow!!

Thanks to everyone that was so friendly, especially at the Forum Meet. We certainly didn’t know what to expect or how we would be accepted. I felt everyone was more interested in him than in me but that’s okay.
He talked with Cycleracer about fishing and to Carlwark about the States. I wanted a Classic Rock T-Shirt. Let me know anyone sees one with Sheffield on the front. My brother will swing by and buy one for me. He enjoyed it too and was intrigued at how the Forum works. We got talking with Nomme and I think Bro may sign up. He lives in Devon but likes to keep in touch with friends from Sheffield.

As far as day trips, we went out into Derbyshire and the Peak District. We vidioed Castleton, Hathersage, Derwent Water, Ladybower, Staneage Edge and of course my dad pointed out Carlwark, which of course he knew all about. So Carlwark, we have you on video!! We went to Chesterfield market and saw the Crooked Spire. Around Yorkshire we went into Sheffield of course, Pensitone and Kirkheaton, where my dad is from. We had a day trip to York and went in the Jorvik Viking Centre plus we saw the Minster. It was expensive in the Viking Centre and 4.50 to get in the Minster. I have never paid to get in a church before, so we did stand in the entrance and listen to the choir. A cool chill went through me. I thought it was a religious experience, but probably just a draft! Dad knew all about the Viking and Roman history of York and it made for a very interesting day. After paying 2.50 for a cup of tea we decided that York is a money making machine to catch tourists.

Bonfire night we went to the Fat Cat. We enjoyed their bonfire and fireworks display. However, the queues to get into the bar were ridiculous. People were getting trampled and squashed. We got the first round and then after that went down the street to another pub to wait for the fireworks. Being a party planner for a large hotel I could have given them some ideas:- American BBQ style. I would have an outside bartender selling cans of lager and cokes out of huge ice coolers. Hot dogs and burgers with a team of people cooking, loading and collecting cash. All I saw was huge long lines of thirsty and hungry people. But we had a good night and the fire was great.

All in all Sheffield, thanks for a great vacation…err holiday! The weather was great for the first week too.
We flew on British Midland Airways. Definitely recommended. What a great flight; clean, comfortable and friendly. Cheap too. My in-laws all want to come next year. Do you think Sheffield can manage another bunch of "Yanks"??
:)
If I think of anything else I will post it later. Hate to bore you but I thought you might be interested in my "blog"

Yeah of course were interested in your blog.........I'll not extend on it but it was nice to meet you Funkee88 you seemed a little shy so thats why i probably talked to your hubby more who seemed a good genuine bloke and was a keen fisherman like me.
Don't know what you really thought of me but i do rant on a bit which is why i'm gonna shut up now.
Nice meeting you.

Cycleracer.

£4.50 to get into York Minster:shocked: That's outrageous! Is that a compulsory charge? It's supposed to be a church for goodness sake!!

Maybe its to pay for the resteration of the entire roof that burnt down in the fire/

It was good talking to you too Cycleracer. And yes, being a fisherman you obviously had more in common with my husband than with me, so that was good. I am a bit shy at meeting new people. So thanks to everyone that came over to say hi. I was stuck to my seat. I was also waiting for my hug that Belle sent me, but I didn't get it??!!

Originally posted by Funky Dave
£4.50 to get into York Minster:shocked: That's outrageous! Is that a compulsory charge? It's supposed to be a church for goodness sake!!
Yes it was, and the Jorvik Centre was 7.50 WOW! No videos allowed so we thought to hell with that and whipped out the camera instead. York is too commercial and very touristy.

Originally posted by Funke88
Yes it was, and the Jorvik Centre was 7.50 WOW! No videos allowed so we thought to hell with that and whipped out the camera instead. York is too commercial and very touristy.

Yep it's getting worse. I love the place but was appalled on my last visit. There is a castle on the top of a hill, on my last visit I was intending on going in until I saw the expensive charge and decided against it. It was not value for money.

Thanks for the Carl Wark 'plug' Funke - it is a spectacular sight - isn't it. As I said in my email that I hope you got on your return - I would have liked to have spent more time chatting with you and your husband and brother.

Glad you all enjoyed the trip

The York ‘incident’ reminds me of the time I returned to England in 1974. I went on a pilgrimage to Stone Henge, never having been there before: it was surrounded by barbed wire, and one had to pay to get ‘in’! Remember, I left England in 1966, when public places were usually ‘free’ to the public, and here, at the spiritual centre of England, one had to pay. I also found that local churches were locked. Yup, times had changed alright. But they always do when you ‘go back’.

Anyhow, look forward to meeting you on your next visit.
:)

ps. I never did 'go in' to Stone Henge.

Originally posted by Lickszz
There is a castle on the top of a hill, on my last visit I was intending on going in until I saw the expensive charge and decided against it. It was not value for money. Blimey, i know that castle, i used to run up its banking when i was a nipper.
I can't believe they charge to go up there.
I remember being at the bottom of it in about ooh 1966 ish and i turned round and stood behind me was Ken Dodd in his Doddy suit and tickling stick.

Funny when I got back to work, everyone wanted to hear about the trip and it was amazing how many people asked firstly if we went to London and secondly if we saw Stonehenge. Seems as if that's all they know about England. Its as if they think that we all live in London. I told them that we didn't have the time to go down to London for just a day trip and as for Stonehenge, it's just a bunch of stones in the middle of frigging nowhere. I saw it when I was a kid and we actually walked around it. Then years later I saw it as an adult and was very totally unimpressed. I value its history, but I thought driving around Derbyshire was more exciting and more awesome than any trip to see some old stones. And they charge you these days to park at Stonehenge and walk up to look at them. Can't exactly call Derbyshire a tourist trap as it's free and it's a big place. They also don't charge you to look at the Carlwark!!
Hey Carlwarker, maybe you should start charging people to talk to you seeing as you are a huge tourist attraction ;)

Originally posted by The Cycleracer
....but it was nice to meet you Funkee88 you seemed a little shy so thats why i probably talked to your hubby more who seemed a good genuine bloke and was a keen fisherman like me.
Cycleracer.
Hubby says he enjoyed talking to a fellow fisherman. But remember next time you go fishing, he uses your size fish for bait!! Ha ha. Seriously though he appreciates what you do and knows that freshwater fishing is very different to salt water. A bad day of fishing is always better than a good day at work :) That's why they call it fishing and not catching!

Originally posted by Funke88
Hubby says he enjoyed talking to a fellow fisherman. But remember next time you go fishing, he uses your size fish for bait!! Ha ha. Seriously though he appreciates what you do and knows that freshwater fishing is very different to salt water. A bad day of fishing is always better than a good day at work :) That's why they call it fishing and not catching! Thats very true a bad day fishing is far better than a good day in the office.
You can't compare the two types of fishing here to there.
Your situated in one of the best fishing points in the world and i would much rather be sea fishing there than here, no contest.
any fool would.
You never know though, maybe i will come to Florida and give it a try, I know it would be a hell of an experience and your hubby is one of the luckiest guys around to have the privalge to do so on his door step.
So if you think i'm jealous then the answer is .
YES :(