It's Wednesday 22nd. I got up and jogged for 20 minutes, felt great. B and I head off for Blackpool around 10.30am, roads are clear, it's not sunny, but at least it is dry, so far.
We arrive in a wet and windy Blackpool, but it looks amazing. For the last 2 or 3 years, parts of the front have been fenced off while they renovate and rejuvenate, they have done an amazing job and it looks really good. My favourite part, is the "comedy carpet." 850 comedians and writers are represented in the form of sketches, jokes and one liners. These roads may not be paved with gold, but they are paved with laughter. http://www.visitblackpool.com/attractions/comedy-carpet-blackpool-p651130 B and I did not read all of it as it was raining, but I dare you to not to stand, point and laugh out loud at the content. An absolute joy.
B and I wandered around looking for somewhere to eat, eventually settled on Frankie and Benny's, I'm sorry to say that our beloved Harry Ramsden's did not seem inviting at all after queueing in front of the window for 10 minutes. Seems to really have gone down hill, such a shame.
With the aid of sexy Sean, the Irish Sat Nav King, we arrive at my cousin's L&F. I haven't seen them since Christmas and feel oh so guilty, but still, it's lovely to see them and just be in their company. I always feel so relaxed with them and in their home, it's not every house that is a welcoming home.
We have a lovely catch up and my second cousin PQ and his lovely, already part of the family partner Kate, arrive and we all catch up together. It was lovely.
My cousin L is much more into researching the family history than I am. She showed me a photograph from the archives, (I have no idea how I have escaped this photograph so far.) I have never clapped eyes on it before now. It's a photo of my Nanna and Grandad, with Auntie Phoebe, (Auntie Phe, she only died about 10 years ago and so I remember her vividly,) Auntie Marie, my namesake and Lyn's Mum who died a few months before I was born, and Auntie Ella, (Eleanor who I do have fuzzy and warm memories of.) The photograph looks so... Victorian. Nanna and Grandad look so young, they, if our calculations are correct, are about 26 years old. L and I laughed our socks off, all of the children, with perhaps the exception of Lyn's Mum, Auntie Marie, (pronounced Marry, okay, there is a tale, she is Christened Mary Alice but around the age of 14, JB Roberts, master butcher and boss of my Grandad declared that my auntie looked French and that Mary Alice did not suit, from that day forth, she would be known as Marie, ((Marry.)) Anyway, Lyn and I agree that the kids look like they are a sandwich short of a picnic, still, they are family and I love them, regardless.
Day's later, I am still in awe of that photograph. It is so hard to comprehend that I am only 2 generations away from that photograph. My Mum, Dorothy, is a mere twinkling of an eye, -12 years we think. It's still a huge leap.
Anyway, back to the visit and we have a lovely time. I haven't seen them since Christmas, which I do feel bad about. L and B have a whale of a time reminiscing about being teenagers together, they are around 18 months apart and they grew up together.
We're late leaving and I can hardly keep my eyes open on the drive home. Cannot stop thinking about that photograph!
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