Sentimentalities part 1

Recently I have been becoming a little bit sentimental. I'm not sure what's brought it on really - perhaps I'm just getting older or I am seeing some changes in people that make me really appreciate what I have and how lucky I am, or something, I'm not sure. But anyway there have been a few things that I have wanted or got recently that I have acquired for sentimental reasons.

I think there will be a series of posts about the sentimental bits that I have acquired but here's the first instalment for you today.

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to be able to take a day trip up to Yorkshire - our favourite place. I had an appointment up there mid afternoon but that gave me just enough time to pop into the best pub in the world as it opened for a drink and my lunch.

I got to see the Moors at their best with the heather out which I had never seen before. I couldn't believe how purple it was everywhere. The camera really didn't do it justice at all but it's the best that I have that I can show you.

I started off with the whole pub all to myself. Unfortunately as I made the trip on my own I was on soft drinks.

 I got my lunch - definitely the best butties in the world.

And well and truly stocked up on sweets from the shop next door before I set off back on my travels.

My appointment was in Pickering which is a small town not too far away. I got there in plenty of time and got parked up leaving me still with some time for a wander around the shops. I'm not sure what it is with this part of the world but there seems to be a good second hand book shop in almost every village and town.

I remember when I was a kid my Nan loved Rupert. She used to save me the comic strips out of the news paper every day/week until I would go in the school holidays to stay with her and we could read them together.

I know that she did have at least one of the annuals as well, I am not sure if there were more. In the little shop in Pickering I had a look through at the annuals they had. They had several different Rupert ones so I couldn't resist buying a few.

It's the one in the middle of this picture that I definitely remember Nan having and me reading with her when I was really small. I don't recognise the other two covers so I am not sure if Nan would have had these or not. I'm looking forward to having a read through these. I think it will just be a nice chill out time and it won't matter really how long I have as they are all really short stories with lots of pictures. The joys of comics! I've not really read comics much but I am looking forward to it.

While I was there I also found this series of books - His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman. I remember reading these as a young teenager and I know that the final one was the first (and if I remember correctly, the only) book that has ever made me cry at the end. I remember being in absolute floods trying to hide from my mum and dad and get through the final chapter, struggling to read it through the tears that were streaming down my face.

Again, I am looking forward to re-reading them. I guess I'll see if they still invoke the same emotional response in me at the end as they did when I was younger.

Have you ever read a book that you have been so engrossed in that you actually are brought to tears?
Do you have any memories similar to mine of your grandparents that you will treasure forever?

I want to make the most of my Nan now while she is still around and make some more of these kinds of memories with her as I guess I will have to admit at some point that she will not be around forever.
Treasure every moment that you have with your friends and relatives as you never know what time you may have. We all need to make every day count. Take care and I hope you're having a good week.