Before heading south we nipped back  into York for a final wander around the Wall, on another glorious autumn day. We also scored something quite unexpected. Courtesy of the need for me to find a toilet, limited parking time and a shortcut that turned into a longcut I found myself running through the wrong part of a lawned garden. There was an impressive number of squirrels here, totally unconcerned about people, and as I was glancing at them I noticed a squirrel that looked a bit different. As I glanced again I realised that not only was it a different squirrel it wasn't even a squirrel at all. It was a hedgehog! There followed a mad dash back to the car, dropping my jacket along the way (a nice lady retrieved it for me), a quick coercion of Kate because we were overdue on the parking, and we both ran back to check it out. It was still there. So cool. So damn cool.
Then on to Ilmington, in the Cotswolds, where we'd booked a B&B. Suffice to say, the B&B totally lived up to expectations - great room, including spa, great breakfasts, totally  charming. We spent two nights there and used it as a base to explore the Cotswolds.
On the way we'd dropped into Stratford-Upon-Avon for the afternoon - the weather still sunny and warm. We had a great time wandering the streets and checking out some of the old houses Shakespeare was associated with. That night we had a delicious meal at the local pub/restaurant.
The next day we devoted to visiting the small villages around the Cotswolds. It would take far too long to describe them in detail - take it as read that they were everything we could have hoped for, and still the weather was kind. The shopping list of villages we visited was: Chipping Campden , Broadway, the Slaughters (yep, they've named two towns Upper and Lower Slaughter - thus the Slaughters - gotta love the British - Lower Slaughter was just about the perfect village), Stow-on-the-Wold, Chipping Norton (which was the only one we didn't think much of) and Morton-in-Marsh. In Morton we bought some great antipasto, which we ate on returning that night.
And, so to today - our last day. But because our flight was leaving so late, we still managed to pack plenty into it. In the morning we visited three more charming villages, Bourton-on-the-Water (situated on this really charming stream, thus the name), Northleach and Burford. Then, because enough is never enough, we spent the afternoon in Oxford, which really is a freakin' awesome place. So many amazing buildings that half the time you don't even know what you're looking at.
We got one final surprise when our eldest son Tim, turned up at the airport to farewell us. One of the great, great things of this holiday is how much time we did get to spend with Tim and Michael. We really appreciated the time they gave us.
Now, here I am at Heathrow typing this last entry. We saw so much, it's hard to believe. We also learned plenty too. Like, don't worry about road signs in Ireland, just go with the flow. And no road is so narrow that you can't fit a bl00dy great tractor down it. And if you find yourself moving freely down an English road don't get worried, the truck will be there in front of you around the next corner. Oh, and always have loose change on you in England - chances are you'll need it for parking, for bus fares or to take a pee (and you'll need a good range of coins because you never know what they'll charge). That sometimes you just get surprised by things (like finding yourself near Hadrian's Wall, completed with rude roman carvings - or the unexpected appearance of hedgehogs). That a Peter and Janice (and family) were great and kind company. That beer over here really is much better than Australian beer. That everybody is nice, generous and courteous. That you can have just too many full English breakfasts (the body simply isn't designed to confront that much bacon). That people over here have heard of Tony Abbott, and it's pretty clear that they all reckon he's a knob. 
But most of all, that travel is brilliant (especially when seeing family and friends) - and coming home isn't too bad either.

The next morning Michael and I went for a walk in the woods around Grantown. Not only was this cool in its own right, but what should we see but an elusive red squirrel! And better than that it was being chased by another squirrel from tree to tree. A total display, and about as close to elusive as Tony Abbott and his crew of muppets are to having a conscience.
Then we headed down to Edinburgh, which really is a cracker if a city. I'd go so far as to say I prefer it to London. We dropped Tim off at the train station and said our sad farewells (we'd had a great family time) before finding our Edinburgh digs for the night.
Once settled Mick and I headed straight out for a walk up Holyrood Hill, to Arthur's Seat. This proved to be one of the highlights of our trip around Scotland. It's really quite damn tall, which meant we both got a good leg stretch as well as an incredible view. Had another great pub meal that night.
We spent the bulk of the next day in Edinburgh with Mick. We did a hop-on hop-off bus tour, like the one we'd done in Bath, which is a lazy and easy way to see the city and find out interesting things along the way e.g. They nearly moved the capital of Scotland to Glasgow because Edinburgh was turning into such a hole. Took the building if the wonderful New Town area to stop King George the Something from doing this. We also spent a fair big of time walking the streets if the Old Town, which was really cool.
Then to the airport to drop Mick off. Another sad occasion as we'd got to spend so much quality time with him, but you can hardly complain about having good times I guess.
We'd decided we did need to get on the road towards York and rather randomly we'd chosen a hotel in a place called Chollerford that was well reviewed on Trip Advisor. This proved to be an inspired decision. The afternoon drive was rather stunning, the pub was great and damn-me if we weren't right near Hadrian's Wall.
So close in fact that we walked to it the next day. The weather was blue-sky perfect again and we found ourselves, by ourselves, standing on this amazing piece of ancient architecture on a beautiful morning. To add a certain amount of colour to the experience there was a rather bold piece of Roman carving. It depicted a certain male appendage, in all it's excited glory. Apparently this is a symbol for good fortune and to ward off evil, but I reckon this is just a load of cock and bull put around by Roman males to see what they could get away with.
Then into the car again and off to York. Yep, another ancient city, and another cracker of an experience. Of course, it always helps to have grand weather, and this we had in spades. The city is just brilliant to wander around and the cathedral is just something else. Not sure how much the church must have done for the poor in those days but they certainly invested in outrageously grandiose architecture. It certainly rivalled Salisbury, though I'd still give St David's in Wales the edge over both of them, just for its authenticity (and more understated grandeur). Anyway, it was brilliant, we had another top pub dinner before walking home passed buildings as old as the white settlement of Australia.
Tomorrow the Cotswolds.
As long as things don't go belly up and we end up somewhere in a Turkish prison this should be our penultimate travel log. Actually, if we do end up in a Turkish prison the chances of sending any more emails are probably pretty remote. Can't imagine the broadband would be that good, and I'd most likely be more concerned about the large gentleman I was sharing he 4 x 4 cell with.