Family in transition

It is Sunday and I am sitting in bed in Ilkley. I am the only one at home. Simon, my 11 year old son is camping with a friend. Grace, my 14 year old daughter is at a birthday sleepover. Adrian, my husband, is already in Hong Kong. He phoned me from the Star Ferry, returning from Lantau Island where he has a meal of oysters in the sunshine. He said it was beautiful and clear there today. He said the views are stunning.

I am very envious. It is windy, overcast, and cold here. I continue to discard and sort. Moving seems to be about discarding and untangling. I have been trying to slowly turn things off, but nothing seems to work. This could easily turn into a rant against the inefficiencies of the utility companies, the council, the bank, the NHS etc., etc., so I will stop with this line of discussion.

I am trying really hard to do things that I know I won't be able to do once we move. Here is my list so far:
1. Go to the pub with friends--there is a school leavers mum's night out on Tuesday so that should happen.
2. Eat English cheese-- better yet have a plowman's lunch--the red Lion in Burnsall would be good for this.
3. Visit Saltaire and Salt's mill and look at the great art books
4. Drive out into the Yorkshire Dales--I did this the other night when I dropped Simon off to go camping.
5. Visit Bolton Abby and eat ice-cream by the river--maybe next week when the weather improves.
6. Go to Harrogate and particularly see my friend Julie's shop-- Rose Velvet. Not that I need or can afford any more clothes, but her shop is beautiful
7. Breath in English Lavender
8. Eat wild raspberries from the moor-- I may just manage this if the weather improves
9. Eat the Turkey figs from the garden--may not manage this one as they are still pretty green (as are the blackberries).
10. Drink Pimm's in the sunshine -- while I could have Pimm's in Sheffield upon my return, Pimm's is a summer drink and then weather in September would have to be just right. Hopefully the sun will come back
11. Go to the Lido -- one of a few remaining outdoor pools (unheated) in the country. It was featured in the observer last week.

There are other English things I could add to the list, but this list is an Ilkley/summer focussed list