Rob and Tom arrived late last night, having met up on the platform. It’s lovely to see them and we chat until almost one in the morning then go to bed. Despite this, I wake up early and Rich goes out to buy fresh croissants and juice for breakfast. I finish off the washing, including Rob’s spare clothes that have managed to become immersed in dandelion and burdock. We then tidy before our visitors arrive.
My niece Alex and her children, Archy and Ariella, have driven from Wetherby and caught the Park and Ride into York: Ariella’s first ride on a bus (she is three). Archy is keen to go and buy some bubble tea so we head into town. On the way, we walk past the Minster and a peregrine flies past. They nest in the Minster just as they do in Norwich cathedral.
We reach the bubble tea shop that Archy remembers from a previous trip. Only Tom, Rich and Archy have had bubble tea before and I should have spotted that Rich isn’t partaking and Tom is having chocolate. Alex takes one look and decides it’s not for her. It’s not really my cup of tea either as it turns out. We have a fairly average lunch in All Bar One (in York, All Bar One is not the after work drinking hole I remember from working in London) then we head to the park for an ice cream.
All too soon, it’s time for Alex, Ariella and Archy to catch the bus home and we wave them off before heading back to our apartment for a cup of tea. We then all head out to walk the city walls (because we haven’t done much walking today), spotting a swan and some moorhens on the way. It’s been a wonderful day seeing everyone and I almost feel regretful that we’ll be off on the HocWalk again tomorrow.
