The Cheshire Charmers...day one...
I got through Manchester airport gates within minutes of landing... Not even a passport check! So, I was through half hour before expected, this meant my cousin wasn't there, neither were the huge welcome signs I had imagined.
So I'm leaning against a post, eyes peeled, so much anticipation for meeting this cousin I'd heard so much about from my dad's side of my family. This woman in front turns to her side to ask security something, and I let out a screech of 'Marianne!?' 'Sarah!!?' Our eyes like saucers, our arms wrapped around each other & we frolicked off into the sunset. Ok, maybe it was just to the Carpark. Nevertheless, this blog is all a fairytale....
I guess it hard to explain, but if you have been a bit older than a child & met some relatives for the first time it can be a rush of all emotions, will I be what they expect? Will they be what I expect? Are they really as cool as what I'm lead to believe?? Well, I guess for a bit of all of these reasons I had allotted only 48 hours to stay with this 'new crew'. As soon as I met Marianne I knew I wouldn't want to leave. It's kinda like 'boy meets girl'.
All the way home (45mins) we were just excited ramblers... As we're driving through the countryside lanes Marianne informs me 'there's no buses,there's no taxis, there's not even any street lights. So even if you wanted to, you can't escape us! Have you heard of the Texas chainsaw massacre??' I wasn't even a bit afraid.
We arrive at their property, it is the sweetest thing you have ever seen. This picturesque green plot of 3 acres & a converted 600 year old barn. I had my head out the car window 'baaaaah'ing at all the lambs in the driveway. They loved it. Or I did.
Walking into the family home & there's these 2 big tall lads, Marianne & Andrews sons...Harvey (19yo cougar hunter & Redmond (25yo royalty looking like)... And then Princess Jess so excited, typical girl with this huge smile & long red locks. Red & Jess are getting married just to reinstate this fairytale....
Red was straight onto the champagne, and it was thoroughly enjoyed out in the 'old bar' which is the cutest little shack out in the garden. Andrew was soon home, he's one of those bloody good blokes that every girl wants. He still has the hots bad for Marianne after 25 years, he's only human. She's really hot.
We all enjoyed a family dinner together & I really felt like I was meant to be there. It was grand!
That night we all chilled, everyone else went to bed & Marianne & I stayed up for a fair while sharing family stories... I didn't know this but my grandmother Gwendoline was actually born in Cork, Ireland & she opened a women's foundation there that is still running. I was so upset to have not known this before I went to Cork just a few days earlier...
Our family history is very historically rich & I am so blessed that Marianne has given me some war relics from my grandfather. I will treasure these forever...