The Last Two Days

Wednesday and Thursday (2nd and 3rd of August) were our last two days in Ripon. No photographs exist of these two days, so you will have to rely on my words only.

Wednesday was the only one of the ten full days we spent in Yorkshire that saw wall to wall rain and was no warmer than 14-16 C (57-60 F). Not being forced to stay in a tiny hotel room all day, but instead having an entire cottage at our disposition as well has being equipped with enough books, games, TV and other entertainment, we did not mind the wet day at all.

It also seemed a good day to go back to the Workhouse Museum, where we had not been since 2017 (our then visit is described here). It has since been enlarged, and the way the exhibits and rooms are presented gives you a fairly good idea of what it must have been like back in the day. It also makes you glad you live now and not then. Being poor was never fun, but it was a lot worse back then than it is now, at least in our part of the world.

Back at the cottage, we had a light lunch of cheese, toast and salad. The afternoon was spent resting, reading, playing. 

For the evening, we met up with our former landlady who retired from running Box Tree Cottages and Matchbox Cottage a few years ago. She suggested a meal at The Storehouse, a relatively new eating place in a former wine depot not far from our cottage. Their website is here if you want to take a look. We enjoyed the food, drinks and above all the company.

Thursday started sunny and was much warmer at 20-21 C (68-69 F), only bringing some rain at night. 

We paid a last brief visit to the cathedral on our way to say good-bye to Mary, my mother-in-law who will be 90 next year. 

For 2:30 pm, we were expected at a friend's garden for tea/coffee. Sheila used to work at Ripon's tourist information where we met and befriended her. She retired last year but, as is so often the case when people retire, is busier than ever with various activities, such as helping her daughter and sister with their shop, running an AirBnB and keeping her own house and garden in shape. 

Her husband is a railway enthusiast and has set up their garden with a light railway - complete with a mini "station", where we sat for our coffee/tea. He later joined us, giving us a tour not only of the garden but even opening his museum for us and showing us the many artefacts speaking of Ripon's rich industrial history. It was utterly fascinating, and I am glad we had this unique chance - it is a private museum and not generally open. You can find out more here  (that's Neill, Sheila's husband, in the photo) and here, for instance.

We were really glad that Sheila had taken time out of her busy week to welcome us at their home before we were to go back to Germany the next day.

At home, we had just started to pack when our landlady (who lives next door) suggested we join her for a glass of wine and a chat, knowing of course it was our last evening. We spent a pleasant hour or two in her beautiful and cosy kitchen, chatting and being once more so glad for the cottages having been taken over by such lovely people as Julia and Stephen.

Once back in our cottage, we finished packing and for our evening meal, prepared everything that was left in the fridge, a meal of samosas, salad and finished with lemon cheesecake.

Such last evenings always feel a bit strange, I find. While regretting that the holiday has come to an end, I also look forward to my own place, the life I have there and the people I love.