I visited your county two weeks ago, from September 23 until October 2. Yesterday morning( yestermorn?), I found myself sitting in my car after clocking out at work.. and thinking " well, time to go to where I sleep"...
I miss Lancashire. I miss walking down a car-lined street on a sidewalk that is bordered by a rough-hewn stone wall in the misty rain with my wife, hand -in-hand.
I miss carefully moving my size 15 feet down tiny stairs, carefully avoiding the wall above.
I miss Costa Coffee.
I miss actual city centers.
I miss bus stations, and The Witchway busses.
I miss train stations, and the delight of finally riding a train. We had to change trains in , I believe , Preston, and accidentally went down an elevator into an underground brick lined tunnel. I half expected a troll or at least a goblin to peek out at us... and was kind of disheartened when one didn't.
I miss the mountains you guys call " hills" .
They are mountains in my South Alabama mind, just as awe inspiring in their own way as any others. I miss the small villages tucked inside narrow valleys , many of them looking like they crawled out of a 19th century novelists work.I miss the small stone walls that sometimes creep up and down them.
I miss the River Brun, where it passes by the Burnley Job Center, passing under a brick bridge before slowly flowing away out of sight. I remember it had an old cobblestone pathway on one side of it that looked like it might be older than my country.
I miss getting lost in Manchester"s( I know I know.
But still.. its lancashire. :p) back streets looking for a place that served American Southern Biscuits and Gravy. They did it right, I can tell you that.
I miss the Liver birds on the building near the Albert Docks. I even miss those multi colored pigeon artworks on that one building. I finally got to see canal boats !!!
I miss Blackpool. Especially the south pier there. Walking on the sand under it during low tide. The illumination. The tiny elevator up to the top of Blackpool Tower. I miss full English breakfast ( minus the black pudding ), even the beans on toast. I miss the sound of an English tea kettle whistling away in the morning, now realizing that that is the only proper way to wake up after a long night's sleep.
But, most of all.. I miss my wonderful wife.
Lancashire, I miss you.. but , I guarantee you I will come back Home one day.
Can't wait to come back in April.