Allendale is a town way-way-way up in the north of England. A long 6 hour drive north of Cambridge – should be less but then there is always that random lane closure on the motorway. Curiously it also always seems to be in the direction in which I am traveling…some sort of Motorway Maintenance conspiracy I am sure!
Anyway, back to the gorgeous and oh so quaint village of Allendale. It has the beautiful stone walls, a strong community of people who care about each other and a disproportionate number of pubs. This is truly an international mystery actually – it seems to happen in OZ also. Tiny town – loads of places to swill beer. Curious.
Ah well…
A small team of us descended on an MBA friends family for the weekend and it was just lovely! We ate vast amounts of delicious food, I slept in a super comfy double bed, a few played golf, I launched myself onto a horse for an hour…. yep can still do it… and…did I mention we ate our selves silly?
It was a great escape from the joys of essays not quite finished, Individual projects/thesis not yet started and jobs yet to have been found.
There was also a sad element. My squash-garden party-and great-new-friend did not return with us to Cambridge. She has headed back to her home in the Netherlands to finish off the last MBA task.
I think many things are going to be tinged with sadness over the coming weeks as people disappear back to former lives with new skills, knowledge and I hope the most splendid memories of an intense year spent together.
