A Big Manchester Holiday

This post will be in 2 parts - for Dogfest, the post will be up later this week, in the meantime, here's our action packed trip to Manchester! 

So, the plan had always been a week trip down south to make a holiday of Dogfest. As explorers, we received complimentary tickets to go and figured a trip visiting relatives was long overdue whilst at the same time having our own base to still go and do our own thing. 

We received some bad news a few months back in that hubby's uncle had had a heart attack and, due to his pre existing conditions, was in a bad way. We had already mentioned to the in-laws our plan to go and do the family circuit, so we weren't surprised when they asked if they could tag along with. Thankfully I was only just looking for places to stay, so we accommodated the extra dog and couple quite easily.

The calm before the storm!

Plans were reshuffled and a rough itinerary was put together with the in laws arriving Sunday and us all leaving Monday. We kept the travel as easy as we could and stopped first of all at Gretna Green Village (top photo). It has a better space for dogs to run about than the Gretna services, and provided a good spot to take a long lunch.

Then we shuttled down to my sisters to walk the dogs at the big park by hers. By coincidence, the Airbnb was only 7 minutes from hers (I had booked the location based on midway between Tatton Park for Dog Fest and our poorly Uncle). There was much thanking as we queued for a quick privvy break and then I got to sit back and watch my MIL get a guided tour of my sisters craft room. They were soon cackling away together and I was content knowing that the families would work well for our get togethers. 

Tuesday was planned as awonder about Blackpool before hubby and FIL went to check the lay of the land with the relatives. I was originally a bit put out at the suggestion of mooching about the tat epicentre of Northern England, but reminded myself that the weekend was solely for Missy and I, and went along in good grace.

I'm pleased I did. Whilst we didn't "do" anything, we managed a walk along the promenade, explored the birthplace of Sooty at the North pier and rode the merry-go-round there. We tried to set it up as a little spur of the moment photoshoot for the in laws with me riding a horse in front of them and hubby getting photos from the sides. The in laws are much like myself and the hubby, thousands of photos of the dogs, and none of ourselves! 

Ruby hasn't learned to pose like Missy has (well, I say pose, she really just has a very good sit and stay command) so we tried throughout the holiday to various success to get some photos of them together. 

After all of the above, we walked back via the shops before letting the dogs run on the beach to the south of the south peir which allowed dogs. Missy got to play in the arcade (the in laws decided against allowing Ruby in) and then we all had fish and chips in true Lancaster fashion. 

(As an East of Scotland girl, I will always lament the lack of "sauce", no matter what people say of it!) 

The evening was quiet as we waited for the update that would really shape the holiday: how well was our poor Uncle? Hubby and FIL were pleased to announce that, whilst he couldn't really stay on his feet, his humour was as sharp as ever and he was keen to see visitors. 

Tuesday was a doggy day off and FILs official retirement. We celebrated by running around the flumes at Sandcastle Waterpark. MIL was not interested at all in coming and seemed to enjoy a quiet day to herself whilst we exhausted ourselves rushing up and down stairs. 

The day was finished with a meal out with my sisters family. As they would all meet at Dogfest, it seemed a good idea to introduce the kids to my in laws first. As FIL and BIL bonded over a camembert, MIL heard all about the books the kids were reading and the games they liked to play. A successful day, if I do say so myself! 

Thursday was the National Waterways Museum - a suggestion I made based on our previous adventure in the Chester area. 

It was interesting to see how it differed from our last visit in the days before plague. Some areas were shut, licenses had expired on some of the engines that were used for demos, and the museum was under refurbishment. Despite that, there was new boats to climb aboard, and the cottages had been done up. Well worth the revisit. 

We finish the day all visiting Aunt and Uncle (and visited by Granny) and having a truly Northern dinner. Mince and potato pie. Lamb hot pot. Mashed potato. And liver, but I avoided that plate and tried all the rest. There was syrup pudding and apple pie for dessert and we all chatted and laughed at the squirrels on the feeder.

Both dogs were thankfully asleep. It may have been a small disaster had Missy clocked the furry beasts. As it was, she stole the sofa and cuddled up to Aunt and Uncle where I overheard a few soft "oh, just like oor Tara"s from them. I've previously seen photos of Tara, a Manchester heeler, and she sounded a wonderful dog with a temperament similar to Missy. FIL tried to damage control the comments with a "oh, but they do love her as Missy in her own right," but I know that comparing someone else's dog to your most beloved pet is a high compliment, so brushed it off as endearment.

On Friday, we managed a rare day of "winging it", something I have been unable to really do owing to covid. Firstly we visited the Blue John Cavern where everyone was very impressed at the dogs. Missy is well practiced on stairs from years of castles, so she comfortably managed the 250+ steps on the way down and then the return.

It quickly became a joke that we went all the way down to go all the way up at Peveril Castle. 

Calling it a castle is an exaggeration, it being more a single storey watch tower, but the winding path was certainly worth the stunning views. We all admired them for some time, a landscape quite different from home despite its similar beginings through glaciation. 

And I will leave the blog there for today, the last tranquil moment before the enjoyable chaos of Dogfest: