I enjoyed spending time with the families of my cousins (Mum's favorite nephews) and my journey through the past ended at Macclesfield Crematorium.  My Dad did not understand why people's ancestors spent time in these places, and when we moved south my visits became infrequent;  it was a long way and we knew he didn't need us there.  But now I wanted to go back.  I cannot explain why.  

 The duck pond in the Garden of Remembrance has been lost as a result of flooding.

  

 There are weeds in the Garden of Remembrance where his rhododendron used to be, but it's still a peaceful place. The stone I had forgotten existed appeared before me;  his name had been well preserved.  

My grateful thanks are owed to Dave for taking me to the crem and to everyone else who provided hospitality, lifts and company.  

On this trip I have learnt that people matter, their differences must be celebrated and though families are inexplicable at times, it is all right to leave them that way.  

On a brighter note, the tourist scene in Stockport is much improved.  I bought a Multi-Site Ticket which entitles me to enter the  Air Raid Shelters, Bramall Hall, Hat Works and Staircase House once.   On production of my new Senior Rail Pass this cost just £9.50 and gives me a reason to return as I only managed to see Staircase House today.  This is a beautifully restored townhouse situated in the Market Place.  

The house is famous for its rare Jacobean cage-newel staircase.   An audio guide explained who lived here and how they did so over the centuries.  

The timber building dates from around 1460. Very little is known of the property's early history. The first residents of whom there is a definite record were the Shallcross family who owned the House from 1605 to 1730.  They were members of the landed gentry in Derbyshire.

In its later years the House was used as a cafe and a shop.  In the 1990s it was used as storage for Gardner's Green Grocery and Fruit stall which stood in the market, immediately in front of the House itself.

Following a major fire in 1995, the second of two arson attacks on the semi-derelict building, the restoration work began. 

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staircase_House

I enjoyed a wander round the market area but the boarded up shops in Wellington Road and Merseyway depressed me.  

More goodbyes and thanks and I left for Stockport, where I was brought up from the age of 5.  (We moved there from Manchester, which must be the venue for another tour down memory lane.)  Meadowhall had not been built when I was a student in Sheffield.  

By coincidence the 24th Stockport Guides boarded the train and were very well behaved.  And what a fun train!  The nice guard had to run along from door to door and open them manually at each station.  I thought our local train down south was a relic but really!  

At Sheffield, I found the platform to be the same one as in my student days, but the pumpkin cafe was new and the train service much improved.  I caught the lush 10.41 to Liverpool Lime Street.  The landscape too had new features.  We passed a mosque, a Virgin active health club a a Tesco express mingled in with the Victorian terraces.  Then we reached the beautiful high peak which is so familiar.

I discoverd that Stockport Station has a new entrance, a Starbucks and helpful Branson employees laughing and joking.  But the good old 192 bus is still running up and down the A6 every 3 minutes!  

I haven't visited for over ten years.  How do I feel about Stockport ? Excited To see the town, cautious, intrigued.  I am sad for the losses I have experienced.  

Later I took a walk.  This is the street where I bought my Mini jumpers from a market stall as a teenager.

Today we had another circular walk, this time in the Bradfield Dale.  We started with a viewing of The Strines Inn.  This is an ancient pub dating from the 13th century and frequented by Sheffield Medics 72-77 in more recent times.  More memories of times gone by tumbled into my consciousness and I thought of absent friends. 

On our walk we admired Dale Dyke Resevoir in the Peak District.

We returned home and rewarded ourselves with delicious Pale Ale from Bradfield Brewery.

This evening we enjoyed sunset over Ingbirchworth, spot the wind turbine.

Continuing our walk on Holme Valley, we came across many Weavers' cottages.  These were common in Northern Great Britain in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.  They were a cottage industry with dwelling quarters on the lower floors and a loom-shop on the top floor.  Here the loom-shop can be recognised by the long row of windows which provided maximum light for the weaver.