North

Many have told us that England is not London, and I agree.

We were to leave London mid Saturday afternoon, after a Highgate dog show and market. after loads of adorably naughty dogs, exciting phone news and one funny Punch and Judy show later we were on our way to Durham in northern England via Kings Cross.

Unfortunately we could not find platform 9 and 3/4 because of construction works or we would certainly be at Hogwarts by now. Instead I am going to update you all on our weekend in double speed.

we both loved Durham, close to Scotland, it housed a fairytale castle that is now a "lordling" university, an ancient chapel thats insides made me feel like an 11 century monk no matter how much of an unbeliever. Everyone we met was really nice and their north English accent's were cute. We stayed the night with Sarah's friends Leane and Mike in their '2 up, 2 down' home with an amazing view of the English countryside. I can understand how those in the UK believed, for so long, in magic.

At 8:30 we were up and ready for Whitby, the seaside inspiration for Bram Stokers Dracula. Mike drove us through the York moors, which were pretty and expansive but spooky. We arrived in Whitby at 10ish and said hello to a lonesome mare and foal soaking up the sun. Josh describes Whitby as cute and I don't really know how else to describe it other than Whitby looked like a town out of a children's storybook. If it had been raining, I could understand how it would be ominous in storms, but in the sunny clear sky it did look cute. Ancient monastery and mansion looking down from jagged cliffs only added to the appeal. Whitby is a major destination for Goths.

After leaving Mike and Leane in Darlington, it was a half-hour train ride to York, where exists yet another ancient Church called the Minster. It was huge and imposing, Sarah called it a Gothic building because of the the dark, sharp spires that made up much of its architecture. We went up to the top of one of the towers and saw all of York, it was beautiful, but not as magical as Whitby or Durham, probably because of all the tourist shops. The Minster scared me a little, it was magnificent and, seemed to me, designed to create religious mania. We saw the York castle and a street called 'the shambles', which is the only street left from medieval Britain. Josh was a little underwhelmed because of all the wonderful things he had heard about it, but did very much enjoyed himself. At 6:20 we had a tasty pasty and caught the 6:30 train to Kings Cross. Three hours, My Chemical Romance, Muse and Death Cab for Cutie, a tube ride, a little sausage dog and one tea later, we were both in bed exhausted.

Things I have learnt: northern England is supposed to be the rough, 'working class' side of Britain and it held some of the prettiest areas I have ever seen in my life, The people were just lovely. Pasty's are yummy and have a cool history. Ordering Baily's and milk gives you a very confused barmaid. Church is scary. Strawberry lemonade is delicious and any system that is based on class is bonkers.

Love and stuff!

Mon