Day 27

Today was about driving to the Lakes District but importantly we had arranged a meeting with Caroline’s brother Jason who she had not met before and his wife Joanne, daughter Naomi and son Jack.  Met at a pub for lunch near their home in Wigan (not far from Liverpool).

It was funny meeting my little brother for the first time ever!! This guy walked up to me and hugged me and kissed me and then said “It is Caroline?”  Conversation was easy and the girls got on well with Naomi, Jack arrived later and bombarded Wally with lots and lots of questions about football (rugby) which Wally does not follow, still they all want to come to Australia, the pressure is on, we are not allowing any more excuses!!! Granny Smith would love it. Jason has his own  printing business that is about 3 years old. Joanne works for another screen printing co (apparently in opposition and over the road from Jason), it seems to work well for them. It was great to see Jason so happy and settled after the life he has had before. It was refreshing to talk so openly about stuff.

We spent a delightful 4 hours chatting about all sorts of things, catching up on bits of family history and all sorts.

Apparently in rains often in Wigan and true to form it rained all day, not that that worried us ‘cos we were in the car. 

The drive was uneventful, motorway driving (unless in peak hours apparently) is a pleasure, well sign posted and the Brits have exemplary road manners on the motorways. 

Our destination is a little cottage in Greystoke, west of Penrith in the Lakes District.  The cottage has been updated obviously but is nonetheless the original oak beamed building dating back to 1753!  Cosy and warm in a tiny little village in absolute quiet.  Does Greystoke ring a memory bell? – Lord and Lady Greystoke were the parents of the child born in Africa and raised by the apes – you got it, Tarzan. Despite assurances from the author Edgar Rice Burroughs that it is fictitious, there are lots of similarities with family members so myth, legend, fact or fiction???

We just appear to be having adventure after adventure but it is quickly coming to an end. Going home will be hard and easy. As I said to Jason today it is weird coming back to where I was born and having a real sense of this is where my roots are. The family I have made is in Australia but my birthplace is something special to me.