Are we in Manchester (UK) yet??

Sarah and I said good-bye to Near Sawrey yesterday morning with photographs in the garden with the]Kirbys, hugs, and handshakes. We took the ferry across Lake Windermere and boarded the train to Manchester.
A quiet train ride South ( get those maps out!) through Kendal, Oxenhlome, past a bit of the Irish Sea, and on to Manchester where my cousin, Steve, greeted us. He gave us a quick walking tour (in the first real rain shower that we have had in England, and of course we didn't have a bit of our rain gear along) of Manchester. We saw the Manchester Cathdral and The Royal Exchange Theatre. We also saw the ground zero site of the the 1996 IRA bombing. No one was killed in that attack, but property damage was massive. After the rubble was cleared away, a red, English Post Box was the only thing still standing, which we saw (I don't know if that was the same postal box, but we used our imaginations!)
Steve and Jean treated us to an amazing 3 hour dinner last night at a restuarant called Franc's, with Sticky Toffee Pudding that rivaled that at Tower Bank Arms! We spent the night in their lovely home. I was amazed to discover that Jean and Steve actually get their milk deliverd to the doorstep in glass bottles. I was going to take a picture of the milkman, but I slept through his 4:30 a.m. delivery! Oh well!
Back on the train this morning continuing South to London. We will stay at the Garden Court Hotel one more night (It's Mary Poppins night!) This is especially exciting for me, as Mary Poppins was my all time favorite movie when I was growing up. I used to lay in bed at night and sing the entire score--honestly. Don't worry--I will not sing out loud tonight! After the pastoral quiet of the Lake District, London seems very busy and bustling. I am heading to the National Gallery at Trafalgar Square now, as it is my favorite museum in London and I haven't been there yet!
Cheerio, see you soon!
Your aff friend,
Kathy Hawkins