Trip to the UK 2017 - Down London streets...

Here's a few pics from local areas to Josh and Molly...and central London...

Trip to the UK 2017 - Trains and tubes....

Living in London these days means that a lot of your time is on the train, the tube, or the bus. Here's a few pics I snapped during the many trips I made...

Trip to the UK 2017 - Book-launch, Tate Britain & Amhurst Rd

Well, the primary objective for coming to the UK at this particular point in time was to attend Josh's book launch. Josh has been writing a book since he was around 15, and it's had many developments and revisions to become this one. He recently got signed by Quercus children's and young adult books, for a two book deal, and the launch was at Waterstones, Piccadilly (their flagship store!)They seem to have high hopes for him, and love the book...so we'll see. Hopefully they're right eh? Another little nice bit is that Molly did the illustrations for the book too! 

The lady standing next to Josh is from Quercus, and she gave him a glowing report....

This is Ali, his mum, after giving her speech...

...and this is me, after mine. (Got a bit teary...and set everyone else off!)

This is the book. Go out and get one eh? It's a cracking read! 

The Sunday after the Friday, Tom (Molly's lovely fella) and I met up with Gill and Monty at the Tate Britain. Shortly after, Josh turned up too... and we had a look around the favourite rooms before adjourning to the pub for lunch.

Back in Stoke Newington, this is the stairwell at Jacksons art store...one of the best in London, especially if you're into sign-writing, as Molly is. 

This is the kitchen at Josh and Molls....

...and this is Molly's little work space, where she makes all her illustrations....

Trip to the UK 2017 - Scattering Mum and Dads ashes

I had a lovely few days up in Scarborough staying with Gill. It's always luxurious staying there...with copious soft furnishings and deep pile carpeting, and fabulous food. 

I had hired a car, but on the day, I was incapable of driving it as my bones were still not knitted! 

Luckily Joe was able to drive it with me as a passenger, and he was very tolerant of my being spaced out and napping. I was amazed at how many speed cameras there are now on the M1, and pretty much everywhere. 

This is Gill's kitchen, or part of it at least...

Nick arrived on the Saturday morning and after lunch we decided that we'd get on the with the job of scattering Mum and Dad's ashes, which was primarily the purpose of us all meeting up that weekend. 

It was a perfect day for it. It couldn't have been better really!  Lovely light, not cold, not raining...calm seas. So, off we went. Joe took his violin and played some lovely tunes about letting go, and the circle of life. It was all quite emotional for us all. I hadn't been able to make either of their funerals, so this was a particular right of passage for me, and I'd written a letter to them which I burned and scattered with them. We were all surprised at how much there actually was to scatter, but it all went. May they rest in peace.