Between Monday 17^th June and Wednesday 26^th June, my wife and I did our version of a Round Britain Trip that entailed us going from Southend up to Glasgow along the West side of the country and returning to Southend along the East side. The idea was to combine my wife attending a work related conference in Glasgow and to visit friends and family on the way. Here are the highlights …

Monday 17/6: We first stopped our journey in Smethwick (near Birmingham) to spend time with the newly married husband of my niece, over a pleasant meal in an anglicized Punjabi restaurant. It was then onto our first night’s stay in the centre of Telford. We stayed at a Travelodge hotel, which while being classed in the budget category was well appointed, clean, roomy and pleasant, with an amazing view from our bedroom window. It was my first experience staying in a room geared up for the disabled. From here on, I was to find having a Blue Badge for use for nearby parking to be handy.

Tuesday 18/6: Telford Centre was a revelation. It has the town hall and other important places, a good shopping centre, many nice restaurants and leisure facilities, such as a bowling alley, ice rink and cinema. But what makes it amazing is how this all blends in with the countryside with fantastic serious walks (I can no longer do, sadly). But when we met up with our next friend we walked by the charming lakes to of all places an incredible zoo. After eating at one of the, spoilt for choice, eating places. I let the wife and friend do shopping while I watched football and on for a relaxing evening.

Wednesday 19/6: This was the first of two long drives, here to the disabled friendly, serving fantastic breakfasts, Premier Inn hotel we had booked to stay in, in Glasgow. But before that we stopped at nearby Motherwell and dropped in on the daughter of a friend, along with her house mates, who my wife trained with as a nurse and we spent a pleasant time with them before getting to our hotel.

Thursday 20/6: This was the first day of the conference. So far, so good. I was interested to find every one speaks Scottish and, as for Glasgow, going from hotel to conference centre was a navigation challenge (how did we cope before SatNav). Then back to hotel via a visit to Sainsburys. I spent the day, before picking up wife, watching football, reading. We visited another one of my wife’s student days friends, where we enjoyed a lovely meal and met her three growing up children, before returning to the hotel afterward.

Friday 21/6: After dropping wife at her conference, I spent the day at the hotel and the very nice pub just opposite, where I enjoyed the food and hospitality and reading my book in peace before picking picking up wife from conference centre and journeying to our next destination – beautiful Cumnock, staying at a nice, quaint hotel.  

Saturday 22/6: Spent the day with a friend from my youth (the same one who proof read my recent book) and her three cats and looking out on sheep. Good to catch up and put world to right, enjoying good food and pleasant conversation, including catching on the past and reflecting on the present. Visited Boswell’s house and the fantastic grounds of Dumfries House.

Sunday 23/6: Left this lovely hotel and lovely part of the world for a leisurely drive to Sunderland to our final en route destination – another Premier Inn, meeting up with another old friend and family. Still able to appreciate the beautiful countryside and amazing heritage but couldn’t help noticing the wind farms wherever we went and wondering whether these blots on the landscape and imposition on roads and infrastructure was worth it.

Monday 24/6: Wife spent day, mainly shopping with her friend while I read and rested at hotel. Then early evening to friend’s house and a visit to another old favourite – Herrington Country Park.

Tuesday 25/6: Day out with wife’s friend enjoying a pleasant coastal, nature walk and then onto a visit to a surprisingly nice sea front location, where we enjoyed fish and chips and ice cream.

Wednesday 26/6: Sad good byes following a splendid Premier breakfast before an uneventful journeying home and end of trip!