Terrafirma Travels

N had all day mtg in the Spine Building next door to hotel, on the subject of a new organisation to provide a professional 'home' for all HCPs working in the field of bone health. N was one of two invited patient advocates in a room of clinicians, nurses, pharmacists, physios and relevant organisations including ROS. A most stimulating day. L worked on a pamphlet she and Stephen want to publish, then took a bus into the city centre and visited an art gallery. At 5pm we drove, v slowly through the Liverpool traffic, up towards Preston. Stopped at a random restaurant near Bamber Bridge which turned out to be lovely. N could not finish his pasta; was it the large soup starter, or leftover adrenaline from the day?! Got to Claremont Hotel in Ashton-upon-Ribble (it's Preston really) in time to watch Serena Williams not quite make her comeback at 44 after 4 years off - what was she thinking? This was after we retuned the TV. The WiFi is also a struggle as we're in the furthest...

N had an online strategy call with ROS, then we left at 11 for much motorway. V sticky through Birmingham as usual. Arrived Novotel Paddington in Liverpool at 1530, chucked bags in room, drove to Sefton Park where L spent her first year or so.  We viewed 17 Ivanhoe Rd and the walked in the Park where no doubt little L was pushed in her pram. Had a cuppa and just got into the wonderful Palm House before it closed.  Tried to drive across Liverpool to a cinema to see the NT Liaison Dangereux but the traffic started as terrible and became gridlocked. L bailed out, good decision, back to hotel where we ate in and watched Djokavic scrape a first round win at Wimbledon.

We're starting one of our complicated tours, 5 different locations, and beds, in 12 days across England ... in the car! Complicated packing. Today is Bristol, the usual 2.5 hrs with no problems on a Sunday morning. We dropped into Breese's by the River for half an hour, admired the ferry that takes an hour to come up from the harbour, while Sam got used to the idea of us intruding into his space. Joe is perfectly accepting these days, so Sam will get there.  After lunch, that we brought by emptying our fridge, we went with Joe to the Sensory room at Imperial Sports which was great fun. Back at the house we admired both boys and sometimes an adult on the new trampoline. Good bouncing! Went to Arno's Manor while Sam had bath & bed, then pizza & salad in the house & much catchup. The Manor was a bit hot with no a/c, but we managed with just the duvet cover.