We visited Nottingham, England last weekend to say farewell to a Flower of Scotland, Rob’s Aunt. She was a special person in both of our lives, and we are so thankful to be living this close to be able to fly in for her funeral service. Auntie Rena was born in Scotland, and although she lived most of her life in Nottingham, she was a proud Scot, never losing her wonderful Scottish accent, and always reminded her children that they were Scottish.
Eurowings offers a direct flight from Stuttgart to Manchester, where we picked up a rental car. Luckily, Rob doesn’t mind driving a right-hand drive, on the left side of the road, in the rain, and through the incredibly dark Peak District National Park. This massive Park spans the middle part of the midlands between Manchester and Nottingham. We were sure that deer, rabbits, and owls were all around us, but it was so dark that we were just happy when we could see the winding road.
Funeral Services
It’s always lovely to spend time with Rob’s family, and we met even more relatives on this occasion. The church service was so touching, and all of us joined the procession to the cemetery nearby. The cousins said their Mum would be so pleased that Rob wore his proper kilt, and they included him as a pallbearer.
Following the extremely touching services, there was a fine wake at a pub with more than a few tears, but also shared memories and laughs. Auntie Rena would certainly have been happy to see so many of her family and friends together.
We are grateful that we could be present to represent the American side of the family, as we celebrated the life of, and said our final farewell to, this Flower of Scotland, a very special lady. 💙
The Midlands
We saw a bit of Nottingham – Go Reds! – and also had one day to explore Peak District National Park, in the daylight this time, before heading back to the Manchester airport.
Quaint villages are dotted throughout the Park, between moors, rivers, and high rising peaks. There is so much to see and do, and a variety of hotels, pubs, and unique shops welcome in visitors all year round.
The weather was a bit cold and wet to do much hiking, but we enjoyed a high tea at The Cavendish in front of a coal fire, with finger sandwiches, and scones with cream and strawberry jam.
Our stay and dinner at The Yorkshire Bridge Inn was also wonderful, a fine pub hotel. The Inn is close to many hiking trails, grand homes, and they welcome dogs, children, and muddy boots.
When it was time to head back to the airport, our Sat Nav took us through winding roads among the beautiful hills of the Park. The paths were busy with hikers, as the sun was peeping out, and that is all you can ask for in England in February.
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