Sam in the Magpie Cafe
A heroic breakfast in our pleasant appartments, then after birthdaycard and present opening for Sam (plus a couple of late ones for Jade) whose birthday it was, and phoning Pat whose birthday it also is much showering (the water is all connected so washing a few plates or pulling a toilet chain resulted in ghastly yelpings from whoever was showering). Then we surged out into what was a surprisingly gorgeous day. Big heavy rainclouds that somehow missed us apart from the lightest sprinkle at first. There is a big beach below the West Cliff and we headed down to this after looking across at the ruined Abby. Wrong side of the Pennines, but like a Lowry picture nevertheless, due in part to the large number of dogs about. What was different was the utterly gorgeous light there. This really is a picturesque place.
After this we all wandered onto the pier, where Lorraine and I walked to the end, over quite widely spaced boards with the sea below at one point that had Lorraine slightly unnerved, then to the end to watch people catching mackerel. Lots of anglers there, and I couldn't help but be reminded of myself as a young lad fishing endlessly in St Peter Port harbour (when it was half the size it is today).
From here back inland a little, where Lorraine, Beth and Sam ate cockles and whelks and so on, before we boarded a small boat (which had its own slogan: 'making family fun affordable'). This, once it was full, set off for its brief 20 minute slip out to sea, barely leaving harbour before it turned back again, a different view of Whitby though, but I privately thought it was money for old rope. We did enjoy the carved pirate figure on board though.
From here, we crossed the bridge to the other side of town, where we mooched about in the little lanes, then found a table in a busy pub for beer and sandwiches, and a couple of platefuls of the ubiquitous chips.
This before we all climbed the 199 steps up to the ruined Abby. (Ruined I believe by Henry VIII) A rather lovely place, apparently built on the site of a saxon settlement. When we arrived a performance based (very loosely judging by the raucous applause and laughter) on the Dracula story was taking place.
Ice creams outside, then we returned home to find Beth and John who had melted away earlier. I took a ten minute nap and changed before we surged off to the Magpie Cafe, where our landlady, a southerner called Noomi, had booked a table for us. Hideous snaking queues outside, but John surged ahead and beckoned us in. Here, reputedly, (confirmed by text by Jo, who Lorraine was texting) were the best fish and chips in Whitby (which is saying something as there seemed to be dozens of places to by fish and chips there, and they were all busy). The chippies there smell lardy instead of oily as they are cooked in the traditional Yorkshire way. Anyway, Lorraine and I ate fried haddock and chips, and I have to say the batter (non greasy, tasty and expertly seasoned, and delicious fish contributed to what must be the best plate of fish and chips I have had the pleasure of munching through. Fantastic. Meanwhile Sam and Beth opted for small mountains of local fish and seafood. Jade and John on the fried fish too.
The suave Sam pleasingly mortified by suddenly surrounded by staff, one armed with a cupcake and a candle, and the whole room of the restaurant lustily singing him a happy birthday.Very nice staff at the Magpie.
Groaning after loads of food (cheesecake afters for me) we sat out in the beer garden of The Little Angel, near where we were staying before repairing home.
Below some people snaps: Sam and Jade, Beth and the wooden pirate, me and Lorraine, Sam cringing as the restaurant sang to him, Jade by the sea, Lorraine, Sam and Beth, John and Beth.
After this we all wandered onto the pier, where Lorraine and I walked to the end, over quite widely spaced boards with the sea below at one point that had Lorraine slightly unnerved, then to the end to watch people catching mackerel. Lots of anglers there, and I couldn't help but be reminded of myself as a young lad fishing endlessly in St Peter Port harbour (when it was half the size it is today).
From here back inland a little, where Lorraine, Beth and Sam ate cockles and whelks and so on, before we boarded a small boat (which had its own slogan: 'making family fun affordable'). This, once it was full, set off for its brief 20 minute slip out to sea, barely leaving harbour before it turned back again, a different view of Whitby though, but I privately thought it was money for old rope. We did enjoy the carved pirate figure on board though.
From here, we crossed the bridge to the other side of town, where we mooched about in the little lanes, then found a table in a busy pub for beer and sandwiches, and a couple of platefuls of the ubiquitous chips.
This before we all climbed the 199 steps up to the ruined Abby. (Ruined I believe by Henry VIII) A rather lovely place, apparently built on the site of a saxon settlement. When we arrived a performance based (very loosely judging by the raucous applause and laughter) on the Dracula story was taking place.
Ice creams outside, then we returned home to find Beth and John who had melted away earlier. I took a ten minute nap and changed before we surged off to the Magpie Cafe, where our landlady, a southerner called Noomi, had booked a table for us. Hideous snaking queues outside, but John surged ahead and beckoned us in. Here, reputedly, (confirmed by text by Jo, who Lorraine was texting) were the best fish and chips in Whitby (which is saying something as there seemed to be dozens of places to by fish and chips there, and they were all busy). The chippies there smell lardy instead of oily as they are cooked in the traditional Yorkshire way. Anyway, Lorraine and I ate fried haddock and chips, and I have to say the batter (non greasy, tasty and expertly seasoned, and delicious fish contributed to what must be the best plate of fish and chips I have had the pleasure of munching through. Fantastic. Meanwhile Sam and Beth opted for small mountains of local fish and seafood. Jade and John on the fried fish too.
The suave Sam pleasingly mortified by suddenly surrounded by staff, one armed with a cupcake and a candle, and the whole room of the restaurant lustily singing him a happy birthday.Very nice staff at the Magpie.
Groaning after loads of food (cheesecake afters for me) we sat out in the beer garden of The Little Angel, near where we were staying before repairing home.
Below some people snaps: Sam and Jade, Beth and the wooden pirate, me and Lorraine, Sam cringing as the restaurant sang to him, Jade by the sea, Lorraine, Sam and Beth, John and Beth.
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