8/2/2019 Time to enjoy a break in the borders

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www.harlowherald24.co.uk Thursday August 19 2010HERALD 9

Ever had haggis and chips?Well, I tasted my first everportion (with loads of salt

and vinegar), this week on theEnglish-Scottish border, where Iam staying with my partnerVanda. Although this holiday ismeant to be a short break frompolitics, when I went into theLongtown Fish and Chip Shop(near Carlisle), there werepictures of the Prime Minister onthe wall, as he had been therejust before the election (haggisand chips is delicious by the way if a little strong!).

We are staying in a farmwhere we are surrounded bysheep, cows, meadows and forest.Even though it has rained mostdays with black clouds above, wecan still see far and wide.

Being in such a place, you

cant help but think we are inthe most beautiful country in theworld. We have been to the smallLake District village Glenriddingwith mountains behind andUllswater lake in front.

Another day we drove throughthe North Pennines, one of themost special drives I have everdone. The mountains and valleysin glorious green are a wonder tobehold. When you go to suchplaces and see nature at its best,you cant but believe in God.

This is a place steeped in

history. Hadrians Wall, inNorthumberland, is not far away.It was good to visit theBirdosweld Fort, part of the wall.Hard to believe that this fort wasbuilt around 112AD for Romansoldiers. I hadnt realised that

Hadrians Wall was originallymuch higher, but shrank as itsstones were acquired by theNorman barons when they cameto England 900 years later.Nevertheless, it is amazing to seehow much of the wall has

survived until the present day.As well as being on the

Cumbrian-Northumberlandborder, we are only 20 minutesaway from Scotland. You candrive through with ease: noborder police to be seen or

passports needed.Given its tragic recent history,

I wanted to visit Lockerbie, asmall and peaceful town. It isshocking in my view, that theterrorist who perpetrated thebombing, was allowed back toLibya and now BP hascommercial agreements with theLibyan leader Colonel Qadaafi.

But back to Scotland. Thecountryside matches the Englishin beauty and it has been greatto drive up and down theScottish coast.

We came across ruins of thewonderfully named SweetheartAbbey. This monastery gets itsname as it was commissioned in1275 by the daughter of LordGalloway in his honour. Walkingthrough the ruined abbey, you

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can imagine the monks doingtheir daily rituals. It is a sereneplace one in which you canstop, stand and stare a little.

We will be back to Harlowsoon. It has to be one of the bestholidays I have had. It remindsme that our country despite thedifficulties we face is still thebest place on earth to live.

To catch up with my work seewww.roberthalfon.com and www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

E-mail your news to us atheraldnews@archant.co.uk

Rainbow Day atthe fire stationESSEX County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS)will meet the gay and lesbian community during

a special open day at Harlow Fire Station nextSaturday (August 28).

Rainbow Day will bring together firefightersfrom White Watch Harlow with West EssexPrimary Care Trust, Essex Police, HarlowCouncil and various support networks who willbe there to give help and advice to visitors.

Private consultation rooms will be availablefor visitors to access information from any ofthe 15 organisations attending the day.

Leading firefighter James Taylor said:Rainbow Day has been created to give thepeople from the lesbian, gay, bisexual andtransgender community a chance to find outmore about the fire service and partner agencies

and the work we are doing to help make themsafer. Statistics show that some members of thegay community are at greater risk from fire intheir homes and we as a fire service want tomake sure that they are getting the best andmost appropriate help and advice.

We work to make all communities in Essexsafer and as a service we have not traditionallyengaged with the LGBT community and wehope that we can change that by having specialopen days like this one.

The event takes place at the fire station onFourth Avenue between 10am and 4pm.

ROBERT

HALFON

MP

Time to enjoy

a break inthe borders

Robert Halfon atHadrians Wall

Charity Fund Raiser forSt Clare Hospice

October 8th 20107.30pm until late

AT

FAIRWAYS, PARSLOE ROAD,HARLOW, ESSEX CM19 4RT

WHAT'S GOING ON...Celebrity Guest Appearance

Live PerformancesLaura jay, Diverse Divas, verity-Rae Martin, Spot Light Disco.

Charity Auction, Charity Raffle: Amazing prizes to be won

Evening buffet.

All monies raised will be donated to St Clare HospicePlease note this is a non profit event

Contact Joe to book your tickets on

07951 097465Ticket 10 Tickets kindly printed and donated ny M&B Print solutions LTD