Soap opera and York Holiday Diary
by Nathan and Nigel, ably assisted by David and Michael.

We arrived at the Wheatlands Hotel in York on Monday. Some of us came from Maidenhead, from the Forest of Dean, from Scotland, Corby, Milton Keynes, Bournemouth, Northumberland.

On Tuesday we went to Heartbeat Country, Goathland on the Yorkshire moors. We had a good look around some of the shops, stood by the police car, looked in Mr Scripps garage, went to use the old pho ne box. We had a lovely picnic and then went on a Steam train ride, from the station that is used both in heartbeat and in Harry Potter. We stopped in a garden centre on the way home for tea and cakes.

Wednesday, we went to James Herriots ‘all creatures great and small’ museum in Thirsk. We had a look at the tv ‘set’ where they made the programmes, and we saw what life was like for a vet like James Herriot. We had a picnic lunch in his garden. Some of us enjoyed getting into his old car. Nathan tried to pull a calf out of a cow, Nigel tried to pull a bad tooth out of a horse’s mouth. On the way back we called in at a very nice tea rooms – very elegant and a lovely tea, some of us also had Chocolate brownie fudge cake (we were on holidays!!)

On Thursday we went to the Emmerdale village, and had a pub lunch in the ‘Wool pack’. We had a look in the famous Church where the weddings have been filmed, and we re enacted a wedding. Clive led the prayers, Elizabeth told us about an Emmerdale funeral, Michael explained how the organ works, and Alistair preached a sermon. We went into the post office and bought some souvenirs. We didn’t stop for Fish and Chips from Harry Ramsdens on the way home.

Friday we went to Scarborough where we saw the place where they film ‘The Royal’. Then we went to the beach where we had a picnic, and Nathan had a paddle in the sea, Nigel wisely didn’t. There were a lot of Donkeys on the beach and some of us made friends with them. We went on a pirate boat ride round the bay, which was fun. We then went to the shops for some present buying before heading back to the hotel.

Saturday we drove to Holmfirth and where they film, ‘The last of the summer wine’. We had lunch at ‘Sid’s Café’ (Nathan checked the name by looking at his tee shirt – he bought it in Sid’s!) We had a bus tour of all the places where they do the filming. After this we went to ‘Nora Batty’s’ house where we looked at the museum dedicated to ‘Last of the Summer Wine’. We then went into the ‘wrinkled stocking’ tea shop for tea and cakes.

Some of us went home on Sunday, but others remained for the York Holiday. Those who were staying Went to the Minster (what they call the Cathedral.) The Archbishop of York led the service and the Archbishop of Canterbury preached the Sermon and there were lots of Bishops in their robes there. After the service we had a cup of tea with the Archbishop of Canterbury, (well he was there, and so were we, and we did have tea, and so did he!!) After a nice lunch in a restaurant we took an open top bus tour of York which was very interesting.

Monday we went to the railway museum and saw lots of old trains including the flying Scotsman (no - Alistair didn’t fall over!) We had our lunch surrounded by old trains and carriages. Once again we took the opportunity to look around the gift shops and buy some essentials.

We went to the castle in York on Tuesday, and had a good look around the Museum. It was very tiring and we were all glad for a sit down at lunch time. After lunch we went on a boat trip on the river ouse, which is the main river in York. In the evening some of us went for a relaxing walk down to the racecourse.