Grimsby - Summer 2003

Jeanette’s Version

Grimsby is not your average tourist destination but since my Granddaughter Claire and her husband Darin live there it's a must visit place for me when I visit the UK. Grimsby is kind of a gritty little town I think. It was founded by the Danes in the 9th century AD. The old Danish word for village was 'by' and this one was probably Grim's by or Grimm's by or village. By the time of the Domesday Book (1086) Grimsby had a population of over 200. By the standards of the time it was quite a large village. The village of Grimsby grew into a port because it stands on a river called the Haven, which flowed into the Humber. So it was a natural place to build a port and for centuries was not only a fishing port but also a place where iron, timber, wheat, hemp, and flax were imported. In the later 20th century industries in Grimsby included fishing and food processing. However fishing in Grimsby has declined sharply since its heyday in the early 20th century but some new industries came to Grimsby in the late 20th century such as light engineering, chemicals and plastics. Today the population of Grimsby is 92,000.

Claire and Darin have recently bought a lovely new house and Claire has been busy decorating it while Darin and his Dad have been busy outside building a patio. Darin's Dad is a very avid gardener and is hoping to rub some of it off on Darin who, up to now has been less than enthusiastic about flowers and plants.

Jenny and I slipped off on Saturday morning and went to the Cleethorpes area that is kind of attached to Grimsby.  Cleethorpes is a traditional British seaside resort, with a beach, lots of souvenir shops, and promenade gardens full of bright flowers. We dropped into one of the Chippies and picked up some chips to munch on while sitting in the park and admiring the scenery. In the shop they asked if we wanted peas with our order and Jenny said no. I noticed that were putting a large green glob of peas on most of the orders. Jenny explained that these are "mushy peas." I thought at first they were plain green peas as we know them that were smushed up, but actually they are dried marrowfat peas which have been soaked overnight and then boiled. They are a great favorite of the north of England and are a traditional accompaniment to fish and chips.

In the afternoon Darin's parents and his brother and sister-in-law came over and we all sat outside on the new patio and stuffed ourselves and visited for the rest of the day. The next morning we all got up and headed back south again to Weston-Super-Mare. This will be our last week in England and we have decided to give London one last shot.

Emily’s Side of the Story

Got up...Met Claire...got in the shower..got ready. Sat and talked to Claire for a while...told her about back home..about Matt, about Mom and Larry and Dad. Talked for about half an hour. Went downstairs and got ready for the BBQ. Had the BBQ..really great food. I had salad, which I didn't eat except for the tomatoes, breaded chicken, cumin chicken, and peppered steak, potato and chive salad, and cole slaw...Man, I am a fat kid waiting to escape from a skinny kids body. HAH. 

Anyway, then I got a book from Claire, because I have finished all of mine. I brought or accumulated over the course of this trip 7 books...and I have finished them all. Now, if that's not a devout reader I don't know what is.

Anyway, read the book and then later, Jenny, Bob, Daz..aka Darin, Claire and I started watching Braveheart, because I have only seen one part of it, and it was when I was like 7..and I left the room when my brother and Nicky were watching it because it was gross..anyway I was like seven! lol So I wanted to watch it 10 years later considering I did walk the William Wallace Monument 2 times, hehe. That movie is soooo GOOD! I am going to buy it when I get home. I am going to start buying DVDs and I am going to steal my brothers DVD Player from his "love shack" cause he isn't using it. He has one DVD...HEAT, who would want the DVD HEAT!!!!?!?!?! I cried at the end of Braveheart...but it was an awesome movie. I understand the whole William Wallace thing now. I told Jeremy he was going to watch it with me :) I then started reading the book Claire loaned me, and cried, I was emotional, what can I say? haha.

Sunday 17th

Went with Claire, Daz, Bob, Jenny and Grams to the Millhouse...good food. had Lasagna hahahahahaha Me and Kathy and our same food! Anyway Grams paid for our dinner....and then we left Claire and Daz and started on our way back to Weston-Super-Mare. We stopped at "rest stops"..well let me tell you...the Brit rest stops are like MALLS. In Arkansas, the rest stops are like horrible, you go into this dingy bathroom and the mirrors are like half fogged, permanently, and you can't see yourself. Then you find a vending machine, maybe, and it has bars surrounding it...rest stops aren't pretty things. Well these rest stops had like clothing stores in them..coffee shops..it was awesome.


 Anyway...we got back to Weston at half past 6. It is good to be "home." I got up to our room and took all the stuff out of the piece of crap bag and started packing Luke's rucksack. I have all my clothes for the next 6 days and 5 nights of my life picked out. I am trying to get all packed for the trip to my REAL home. Helped Bob work on his computer, turns out he has a virus, so we are having to get online through my laptop, which is cool, but it costs a lot of money, probably. Then I went outside and talked to Jenny for a while. Got to know her more, as well as she got to know me. Saw Pete and Niner..heh Nina..and Bella. That dog is so cute. Had a lolly or two before I went to bed. Learned a new saying, "You Knobhead." But you say it like, "You Knob-ed" Also, "Shut your Gob." Gob being mouth hehe. Anyway then I went to bed.

Got up around 8 or 9..talked to Grams and apparently we are going to go to London tomorrow so that I can go to Madam Tussaud's Museum...then Wednesday we are going to go to Wales and then Thursday we travel down to Cornwall so that we can see "Pride and Prejudice," at the Minack(sp?) theater. Friday we are going to go to this little town called MouseHole. Awesome :) Saturday we are going to spend the day with Bob and Jenny. Sunday we travel home! YIPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEE! Can you tell that I am excited? heheh. Today is my first day of school...but I don't have to go...cause I am halfway across the world...SUCKER!!! Haha...just kidding, I hope everyone has a good first day...see you in 6 days :) I love you Jeremy..be safe when moving into the apartment. I am be praying for you.

I will write more journals...when we have visited these places :) So more to come to all you journal lovers ;)



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