Cousins

Part of the pleasure of our trip to England and Scotland was meeting up with cousins, those I previously knew, and those I was meeting for the first time, but thanks to Facebook, had already established a relationship with.

While in Chester we had our first meet up, with second cousin Stephen Salmon, his wife, Lorna, and two children. They were driving over from High Peak, Derbyshire, which in Texas terms is "just down the road". Derbyshire is right in the middle (see Derby and Trent River) and Chester is northwest from there just below Liverpool. (there will be a geography quiz later.)

Background: Here is my mother Joyce, and her two older sisters, Gladys and Nell, in the early 1940's Gladys (center) had two children, Janet and Gay, so Stephen (plus his brother, Chris, and half brother, Matt), are all grandchildren of Gladys, through my cousin, Gay. (The South Africa contingent of our family are all children and grandchildren of Janet.) Nell, on the right, had one child, Brian, who we meet next in Liverpool.

Glenn and I met with Stephen and family for lunch in Chester at the All Bar One, and all got to know each other.

                             You can see part of the old city wall in the background here.

           

  We took a walk along the River Dee. Every city we visited had a river. It was so nice to stroll along each one.

                                                 And here's the charming old Dee Bridge.

There are also old Roman ruins here, and this helpful centurion was explaining what we were looking at. The past and present all jumbled together.

We only had one full day in Chester but I'm glad we paid it a visit. From here it was only a short 30 minute train ride to Liverpool, to meet with Brian, and his partner, Isobel. And of course, we all know what Liverpool is famous for.