Home again

This won't be a very long blog ... but just to say I'm home and in my own bed again.  Probably the worst trip I've had - diaorrhea and vomitting began 2 hours out of Heathrow and still continues.     Awful stomach cramps and wouldn't wish this on anyone!

Will write again when I feel more robust.  There was a 4.9 shudder within 4 hours of my arrival.  Didn't feel it!

Nice to be home - sunny blue skies.

PACKING PERHAPS

We (well, I, to be honest) had a lovely quiet day yesterday - Steph roasted duck for supper.  I managed to get 3 more geese and 2 more hens knitted towards Hannah's "12 days of Christmas" but still have an awful lot to do.  If I'm getting weary, I can't imagine how she'll feel after having to stuff them and bring them to 'life'... so on that basis have decided that I'll wait now until she tells me they're completed, before I knit any more.

I'd been under the misapprehension that I fly out on Friday evening and that's what I've been telling anyone who asks. I was still calling it 29th (that being the actual date) ... it was lucky that Steph overheard me telling one of her sons on Christmas day and she put us right.

So today's Tuesday and tomorrow (28th) I will drive over to Philip's for lunch and a few more farewells.

My suitcase LOOKS as though it might hold everything I need it to hold so that has to be a plus.  I'll try not to worry about how much it weighs.

So it looks as though the move is on ... I've had a lovely time - been spoilt rotten - and am not looking forward to renewing my acquaintance with tthe vacuum cleaner or cooking responsibilities.  But it will be great to see everyone again.  If only all these earthquakes could organise the two countries to be closer, it would make life much more simple.

I probably won't write here again before I leave - but I'll put a comment on as soon as I get home, so that the full circle is completed.  Hope I don't get dizzy.

SPEECHLESS ...!

This silly voice of mine is letting me down again - I had about 24 hours of 'cold' and extensive use of tissues, but today I've woken much clearer in the head but still (normal) voiceless.

I've also woken to the news of the 6th and 4th strongest earthquakes overnight, at home.  And that renders me a bit speechless too.  I expect that has nicely set everything "back" and the main topic over Christmas Dinner in Christchurch at least, will be relief that Santa still managed to get his sleigh to touch down.  I hope "my" pilot will be equally capable on 31st.

Meanwhile, I'm looking at my suitcase and its contents with some doubt.  I'm glad it's expandable (like my waistband) but you can't help wondering ... and 6 days ahead is a bit too early (in my book at least) to start trying to make it fit.

I'll be back on the 31st - ready to do my share of spadework again ... and I'd already got my head around portaloos and chemical toilets, with the news that "they" were scheduled to dig up our road and sort out the water and sewers, anyway.

Take care out there, you Cantabrians ... and happy Christmas to all.

Christmas - winter style

As one who normally doesn't leave the house in the last week before Christmas, it has come as somewhat of a shock to do the exact opposite over here!  Coming to Reading this week has always been so that I can take Steph (still not driving after shoulder surgery) wherever she needs this week.  I THINK most of the grocery shopping has been completed and now it's just a case of taking her three granddaughters for a shopping spree for mummy and daddy today ... and doing a food parcel for a friend ... and collecting the turkey ... oh and baby sitting all five grandchildren on Friday night whilst delivering the turkey to her daughter in law.

Remind me next year not to be so neurotic, trying to keep out of all the traffic at home.

Today is the shortest day - which means the exact opposite in NZ I guess.  It also means that by the time I leave in 8 days' time, it will be 4.30 pm when it gets dark, and not 4.15 pm (I'm told it improves by 2 minutes a day).

The decision has been reached that I'll spend Christmas day here - I'm hopeful that I might get across to the family in Cirencester on 28th (the day before I leave) for a few hours, but am not over keen about driving after dark on roads that I don't know and in weather that I can't be sure of.  Time will tell.

Happy last minute shopping!  May the queue that YOU join be the fastest in the store/bank.

 Oh dear, oh dear ... they've changed the way I do this so I hope I can still make it work!  Only 10 days and I'll be home - why couldn't they just have waited until the new year?

It's been a flurry of farewells really yet in so many ways, it feels as though I've only just arrived.  I do find myself wondering how I'll cope with 'running a house' again after all this five star treatment - and the eight boxes I filled and put in my loft so that I could rent 34A out, are rather playing on my mind.  At least I shall have something to DO when I get back - it sounds as though most of my NZ friends will be paying me back and going on holiday themselves!

I left Christine and Alan's on Thursday morning and drove across to Sutton Valence for another two days.  Ingrid and John have spent time at 34A so certainly know my weakness - pate on toast for breakfast - and  the unknown - pheasant casserole for supper.   Both were catered for but I can report, now I'm back to Steph's scales, that after losing that first half stone (while I was a bit poorly I suspect) my weight seems not to have risen despite all the fabulous fare.  I expect that with a little effort on my part, I can wipe out that deficit over the next 8 days.

The Christmas trees are out and there was a really white frost this morning.  We did have a short snow flurry on Thursday (in Kent) but apart from some whiteness on the hills beside the motorway yesterday, there wasn't much to show for it in the south, at least.

The car has done well - we're discussing the need for antifreeze in the radiator and then I expect it should go on the market.

We won't however, discuss the fact that my suitcase has definitely shrunk.  I shall put off the evil hour for as long as I can, but I rather suspect I'll be using a second suitcase for the overflow.

Today we're off to see Father Christmas - I think I'll ask him for a win at Lotto.  It would certainly make these farewells a lot easier.

AND SO IT CONTINUES ...

Still with Jill and Tom, after writing the last blog, we went along to the local church on Sunday for a 5pm 'Carols and Lessons' by candlelight service, followed by the lighting of the tree on the village green and then canapes in the local village hall.

Sadly this photograph didn't turn out very well.  I'd like to say it was the dim candlelight and speed at which it was taken (in case I got caught!)  but I fear I simply wasn't "up to" the challenge.  This picture is MEANT to show the Squires Box and some beautiful panelling, but misses badly.

It was a lovely service taken by a retired Irish clergyman who referred to Jesus as the bairn in the stable   - but the 12 members of the choir sang valiantly, with gusto and all the readers were under the age of 15 or 16, at a guess.  I  was particularly interested to learn that the King James Version was completed in 1611 (400 years ago) and we stood for the reading of John 1: 1-11 because it was the first scripture to be read in a service (evidently) at that Christmas.  I guess all you good Anglicans at home already know that but it was news to me.

Tom later told me that he had attended an exhibition to mark the occasion earlier in the year and he had found it very interesting - certainly a large contrast to having Mary's fiance Joseph mentioned in one reading, and the babe in strips of cloth in another.

I'm now in Sevenoaks - still in Kent - spending a last few days with Jill's sister and niece. (2nd cousins by marriage, on mum's side)  Yesterday Julia (whose wedding I attended a couple of UK visits ago) and I had a lovely day with Darcy (whose 3rd birthday was held last time I was in Kent)

... and watching a spot of Pepper Pig.  Thankfully I managed to thrash (well, scraped in) Julia in a game of Phase 10 in the evening, thus managing to even the score from the game we played when I was last in Sevenoaks.

Today I moved to the other side of the town, to Christine's where Darcy entertained us with memory games on granma's computer ... and then we three, plus Julia, went out to lunch at St Julian's (see Darcy's 3rd birthday) to meet up with Christine's friend Jenny.

Jenny is a lovely lady who is a "blue badge guide" in London and it was she who took us (2 years ago) into London to visit the London Eye and walk through Westminster Abbey.

So it seemed only right for Jenny, Christine and me to board a train and travel into the Tate Gallery where we saw an exhibition by Barry Flanagan.  Christine is particularly enamoured by his bronze castings ... particularly his hares (though he also did elephants and dogs).  Unfortunately the exhibition was of his earlier works (pre hares) but it was lovely being able to wander around such a vast building sited on the Thames embankment.

 Jenny and Christine cunningly disguised below the pillars - like me, Christine is a bit camera shy!

Ever the blue badge guide, as we left the exhibition Jenny pointed out the side of the building which is pocked with shrapnel damage from the war.  I'd never have noticed it in a million years, but it really was amazing, though not very obvious in this picture.  I take the view that I take a photo and if it comes out it's a bonus.   It was pitch black, though only 5.15 pm, so use some imagination, perhaps? 

 From there we went to Westminster Abbey - this photo was taken with our backs to the Abbey, towards the Houses of Parliament with the (blue) London Eye in the background.  Look hard enough and you'll pick out a Christmas tree in front of Parliament too - and the fact that the light is glowing above the clock, in the tower, indicates that Parliament is in session at the time.  (more Jenny info!)

We were in that vicinity because Jenny had invited Christine and me to attend the Blue Badge Guide Carol Service at St Margaret's Church, Westminster Abbey.  (move over Wills and Kate)  It too was a lovely service - I couldn't help realising the enormity of it all when, during the first carol it occurred to me that this most definitely was a "once in a lifetime" opportunity ... little old me amongst all these London guides and much pomp, singing carols with the best of them!

For the second time (the first one being in West Peckham on Sunday) Silent night's chorus was sung in german and there were 'performances' included - one from Shirley Valentine about her son's Nativity Play performance and the reading of  'Christmas Truce 1914' by Captain R J Armes.  Both relevant and thought provoking, but not something I've ever experienced in a service of that nature before.

It's been an amazing day.   I was so keen to share it, I'm sitting up in my bed at 12.45 a.m. writing it up.

This trip keeps bringing up more and more unexpected amazing moments - I have indeed been very spoilt - from the first outdoor concert I attended with Steph and Ray at the beginning of my stay (when 'my'  portaloo door flew open, revealing me to an astonished audience) to a very luxurious "ladies" in the Tate Gallery with automatic taps in the hand basins and very posh hand washing liquid.

This retirement lark has a lot going for it!

OH WHAT A LOVELY WEEKEND!

Yesterday Jill and I left Tom and Billy at home, and drove down to Brighton for the evening.   She has a flat there so we had all the mod cons required.   Again it was a cloudless, clear blue sky - cool temperatures, but inside the car it wasn't noticeable.

                            Billy assisting me with the Blog.  The pink on the right is my computer

I really love the countryside here.  I remember being 'shocked' on my return from my last visit to UK, by the space and scale of our NZ landscape as I drove down to visit a friend in Waimate.  Over here you turn a corner and suddenly you're confronted by typical, beautiful views only to turn the next corner and there's a completely different one (not quite like the splendour and grandeur of our drive south from Christchurch which somehow felt almost too large on that occasion).  It constantly reminds me that the UK is most certainly not well portrayed by the Coronation Street scenery.

 Taken on the move - undulating countryside looking towards the Chattri Memorial - an Indian sikh memorial - but not exactly shown to its full glory. It was unveiled by the Prince of Wales in 1921 and is built on the spot where 53 Sikh and Hindu bodies were taken to be cremated during WWI.   King George V offered the Brighton Pavilion as a hospital, so that they would 'feel at home' there, evidently, but obviously some didn't make it.

 Ditchling (or the beginning of) - the village where Vera Lynne lives - not that exact house, but the village, at least.   Imagine popping down to the shops and bumping into such fame!  We didn't!

 As can be seen, the car has a lovely dashboard - but again, just a place we happened upon on our journey.

Aha!!!   Now we THINK those circular nests at the top of the tree MAY be the rookery.  The old rookery has completely disappeared, but the 20 or so crows, sitting on wires nearby indicated that no matter what had happened to their homes, they were still around (a bit like the residents of Christchurch, perhaps)

It was still quite cool when we arrived in Brighton, but at least 3 degrees warmer than West Peckham, in Kent, from which we left.

From the beach front, looking across Brunswick Square, Hove, towards Jill's flat, further up the road, on the RHS.

She had booked us an Italian meal in Brighton before the concert so we left around 5pm and walked for 20 minutes into central Brighton after which we strolled around the Pavilion to watch ice skating on an outside rink and made our way to the Dome where the Britten Sinfonia performed "L'enfance du Christ" which I can now reliably advise told the story of the Holy Family's journey from Bethlehem (Herod etc etc).  It comprised a 40 odd chamber orchestra plus a 48 person choir, plus 4 lead singers.

At the time, however, I was unsure of what we were actually watching (because it was totally in French) until we bought a programme at the end of the performance, and it all became clear.  But it really was an excellent 'show' and I can understand why the people who sat next to me had travelled all the way down from Glasgow to attend.

It reminded me of similar evenings in the Christchurch Town Hall with Jan, and made me (once again) wonder what or when, such things will return to Christchurch.

A sombre note to finish on - but worthy of consideration I guess, as I move towards returning to a more 'normal' (has anyone EVER said that about me??) life back home.

I've been so spoilt over here - I guess that it really IS time to return to reality once more.

DON'T YOU JUST LOVE A WINTER CHRISTMAS?

Yesterday I moved on to Jill's in West Peckham - a tiny little village, about 45 minutes drive from Bromley.  It was sad leaving Caroline and Derek - but a 'threat' of a visit to NZ in 2013 makes it a bit less testing.

After lunch, Jill and I strolled into the village in bright sunshine -

It consists of this church, a pub and a church hall with a huge village green.  Lovely.  While we were walking, I pointed out this tree to Jill -

I've seen so many like it, and have tried on many occasions to get photos because it intrigues me.  Early on my visit, I'd been told (and probably correctly) that they were rooks' nests, but Jill tells me THESE particular 'nests' are, in fact, mistletoe.   And she could tell that, because the rooks' nests (which we're going to look for on our travels down to Brighton later today) are flatter and at the top of the trees.

If that's the height of mistletoe, no wonder I haven't had many opportunities to stand under it.  I'm considering the possibility of camping under this tree, to see if my 'luck' changes - but alas, by the time we got back to the house (about half an hour later) the clouds had covered the sky and there was a real chill in the air.  By 4.30 pm it was dark - and that idea is now definitely on the back burner.

I came across another stack of Christmas tree stands in my travels and so have added this picture to give a better idea of what they look like. I remember an old bucket with bricks, covered with Christmas paper and  countless trees on jaunty angles from my childhood - not any more, it seems!

And for those of us who never managed to get to Santa's grotto, Anna and Sebastian allowed me to take a photo of them emerging from the 'secret trees' just before getting there.

Yep - no wonder Santa needs so many beers and Christmas cakes left out for him on 24th in NZ - the heat must be unbearable for him in the antipodes.

ROCK CHOIR AND RANDOM CHAT

I texted Steph earlier this week to check on her shoulder and to see how the Rock Choir performances had gone at their local winterfests.  As a result, I can now report that if you'd like to see what it is that I've been rabbiting on about, you can GOOGLE  "Wokingham Rock Choir" and find the performances of "Ain't No Mountain High enough" and/or "Build me up, Buttercup" and you'll see, in the 2nd row, left hand side, both cousins (Gina and Steph - she's the one with the blue sling strap across her front) amongst the choir.  Admittedly the majority of the choir has been there for about a year, but "my two" were not the only ones who started in September.  Pretty amazing really.

BROMLEY

Tomorrow I move on.  I've had such a lovely relaxed time here - that is, when we haven't been exploring and eating out!  Poor old Caroline thought she only had to cope with me for four days, but it's been extended to a full week because some of my other plans got amended.  But I've had the opportunity to catch up with the 'next generation' plus a few grandchildren, that I wouldn't probably have had otherwise.

Yesterday Caroline and I got all cultural and went to a Picture Gallery in Dulwich ... managed to recognise a few painters like Gainsborough, Constable, Turner and Rubens and we even worked out (eventually) why there seemed to be an awful lot of paintings that had one really large and one smaller of exactly the same thing. The name of the exhibition "sketches" SHOULD have been a clue perhaps.

Today we went clothes shopping.  I find that all the UK sizes are at least one size smaller than they are at home - can't imagine why, nor why no-one had alerted me to the fact.  And somehow they make me LOOK so much bigger, too.  But frankly, if I wash what I've got with me much more, they'll fall apart.  Packing for three seasons is not the easiest thing to achieve ... nor is buying in larger sizes!

While we were there, I had my car valeted, inside and out, in preparation for selling it once my travels are over.  It's been a great vehicle and looks even better now it's been tidied inside.  I couldn't leave Ray with it looking the way it did - and it's certainly not the weather right now to take a vacuum cleaner outside to do the deed.  I'm thinking of getting a sign "Remove shoes before entering" for the passenger door!

So another round of farewells, a week in Kent and then I'll be back at Steph and Ray's from 17th onwards until I fly out on 29th.  (arrive Christchurch 31st).   Meanwhile, if memory (2 years ago) serves me correctly, the internet connection at Jill's is difficult so there may not be another blog for a few days.

Where has the time gone?



 

Winter wonderland ...

This photo was taken from the Princess Diana Memorial Walk in Hyde Park looking across, towards all the lights and festivities.  I agree it's not up to my usual brilliant standard but with a bit of imagination, there are lights glowing in the background.

I'm pleased we went - it WAS fairly cold, but it's amazing what a layer of thermals with several more on top can do.   Last time I came, Steph was talking about the German Christmas markets - and this proved to be pretty similar, with a Show Weekend funfair and circus added for good measure.

 If you could only see it, there's a pigeon eating its fill on the 2nd potato from the right in the top row.  I hope the stall owners didn't think they'd found a cunning storage spot for their next batch of pancakes - I don't think that was the only bird that had found that particular feeding tray!

And who'd have thought I'd be ice skating in the middle of Hyde Park three weeks before Christmas?  No?  Well, someone had to take the photos.  It was rather fun just standing watching it all though - reminiscent of so many old movies from the past - I found it fascinating.

There were some terrifying (from the ground) rides and activities that people were enjoying and the whole place had a party atmosphere which made for a most entertaining afternoon - but ever the brave hero that I am, my feet never once left the ground. The one ahead, rotates the full circle while each chair also rotates a full 360 degrees.  I must be getting old!!

And there was a mini circus - which had just finished as we passed by - mothers and children streaming out of the tent with wide smiles and candy floss.

All in all, a bracing, entertaining afternoon.  It was great sitting in a restaurant, by the Serpentine, drinking hot chocolate and watching the world go by.  It was amazing watching all the swans suddenly leave the water and march, in a line, across the grass towards their beds somewhere behind the trees - and also to note that as the swans departed, the coots (little black birds) took their spots on the edge of the water and appeared to be hunkering down for the night as well.

By 4.30 pm we had walked back to Victoria Station to catch the train 'home' ... past the high walled (and razor wired) perimeter of Buckingham Palace, Queen Boadicea in her chariot and beautifully lit Christmas trees and decorations all glowing in the dark.

It's a pity my excellent ability with the camera doesn't stretch to night photography ... it's a sight to behold. I vote for Christmas to be transferred to June in New Zealand ... any takers?

.. and a partridge in a pear tree!

Well, perhaps not quite a partridge but most definitely a parakeet - beautiful green, beautifully photographed (from indoors) and beautifully nervous.   But the proof is in the pudding -

It's getting very Christmassy here - it's amazing to be driving home at 4.45 pm to come across scenes like this - (taken, as can be seen, from the passenger seat)

That is just a private house and contains a revolving carousel, moving Santa etc etc.  The proceeds go towards the Blind Society, though quite how the money is donated I'm not too sure.

Caroline with a British Christmas tree.  

To take the trees home, they get fed (feet first) into one of these machines and they come out like -

THAT!  Damn clever these Brits.  And then, not to be outdone, they provide these clever contraptions -

(not quite so beautifully photographed) but if you could SEE it, it looks a bit like a dog's bowl with legs sticking out of the top, then the screws are fixed through it to hold the tree in place, and water in the bowl to keep the tree alive.

Some will remember that this time last year, the whole of England had come to a stop with a huge snowfall which lasted about 5 days.  At the time I wondered whether it was wise for me to stay on into December, but so far so good.  As I sit typing this, I'm looking at a beautiful sunny day with hardly a breathe of wind.  I haven't gone out in it yet, but I AM now wearing my thermals - with 4 degrees and dropping last night.

Quite apart from all of the Christmas excitement, we've been out for more meals together with the family and visited another daughter and her family for supper last night.   If I'm required to wear a Santa suit over the next few weeks, there will be no requirement for extra padding I fear.

This afternoon our plan is to 'pop into London' (now THERE'S a phrase I don't hear very often at home!) to see the winter wonderland exhibition. 

Or is it the Christmas wonderland?  You'll just have to wait to see my next blog for the answer to that.  But meanwhile, be good because Santa is watching and only gives such treats to good little boys and girls.

Ho ho ho -  I do so LOVE a winter Christmas!

BROMLEY

Talk about spoilt!  Yesterday Caroline, Derek and I took the train into Victoria Station (a hop skip and a jump from Buckingham Palace) and I re-lived my previous visit there with them when we popped in for a cuppa with Liz and Phil, but they weren't in.

Yesterday, however we went to a matinee performance of "Billy Elliott" - a matinee on a Thursday afternoon!!!  AND it was pretty full, too!  I remember seeing the lead actor performing in the series Graham Norton and Andrew Lloyd-Webber had when they were searching for "Olliver".  My word, he was good - couldn't have been any older than 14/15 and was on the stage for the majority of the 3 hour performance - dancing, singing and acting at a frenetic pace.  The supporting cast were great too, and despite it being a musical I still managed to cry in a couple of places, of course.

We emerged from the Theatre to rather heavy rain, but for the first time since I bought it 3 or 4 years ago, I had my umbrella with me and actually used it!  It was dark as we came out ... just after 5.00 pm.  So we walked back towards the station and dined at the Grosvenor.   For the second time while I've been here, I was served my appetiser on a slab of slate ... seems the posh way of doing things and looks great!

Today we went for an expedition around old family haunts.  Our Uncle Donald was priest at Headcorn in Kent, and I'd been having a long standing debate about which house in the village used to be the Vicarage.  I visited often when they lived there. So today we went to have a look and eventually checked with the Post Office, who assured us that our memories had served us correctly and it was right next door to said Post Office... now the residence of the local Councillor, no less.

We also visited a great aunt's grave, just outside the Church.  I knew where it was, because I'd attended her funeral in 1969/70, shortly after arriving in the UK that first time - and I was pleased to see that she  had a plaque now but quite when that arrived, we are not sure.

And again we ate - in a lovely pub on the Headcorn High Street.  Derek had whitebait ... and I now understand why English visitors look at me sideways when they have the New Zealand brand of that delicacy.  These ones were individually crumbed AND fried.

We'd arrived at Headcorn via Little Chart ... where our mutual great grandfather's family had run a pub called "The Swan Inn".  From family tales we both recollect that it was a grand life - not like pubs of these days - so were disappointed to find it closed (so we couldn't have our planned coffee stop) and looking a bit derelict.

And no, that's not me, slimmed down - it's Caroline.  As can be seen we are of a similar age and are told that the familial similarity is noticeable.  She IS of course, a stunner!!

And there's more eating on the agenda for tomorrow - with the extended Hunter family.  I had such good plans of returning to New Zealand a svelte shadow of my former self.  The only way that is going to happen is if Father Christmas can sort something out post haste.  I'm a believer!!
  

A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE? A DANGEROUS THING ...

Too late, it occurred to me that changing departure day from Hannah's to the Wednesday, possibly wasn't a clever decision.  I'd agreed to go around to Rachel's for a couple of hours on Tuesday night, to be with Kitty and Henry until Will got home from work.  So that meant, potentially, I would be moving out of London to travel back to Reading (to collect the car) and then across to Kent on the day when disruptions and delays were expected everywhere because of "the" strike.

It didn't!  The train was practically empty, there were plenty of taxis available at the stations and my journey back to Reading was probably the quickest I've had during this trip.

Tom, on the other hand, was sulking upon my return.  Evidently the glove box gets colder than he prefers, so when I suggested that his planned route via Central London didn't match mine, he agreed to plan an alternative route but still felt he'd like to see a little of London on his way.  And thus it was that I travelled into Chiswick, realised his cunning plan, and decided I would take matters into my own hands.

In 1972, I used to use the South Circular road quite a lot.  Tom didn't resist, so eventually what should have taken about 90 minutes in relatively light traffic extended to about 2+ hours in and out of roundabouts, traffic lights, bus routes and pedestrians - everywhere!  But we managed - hurrah!  Even whilst sulking, Tom always prevails - but just to prove who's boss, he's back in the glove box for the next few days until I need him again.  Treat them mean and keep them keen, that's my motto.

So now I'm with Caroline and Derek - a cousin on mum's side - in Bromley.  I've already unsettled their equilibrium by introducing them to Skype, so that we can chat (free of charge) when I get back to NZ.  Getting on to their wireless connection proved a challenge so difficult that their son Simon came round to our rescue at an hour when more sensible people would already have been in bed.  Now all that remains is for them to get their confidence with it.

I'm told that today we are taking a train into London for a matinee performance of "Billy Elliott".  These are the folk who took me to visit Buckingham Palace on a previous visit.  This is the life, eh?

Hannah's wool arrived about an hour before I left - so now there's no excuse for not getting started on with that project.  I feel a search for another box (to send some belongings home separately) coming on!  In a month's time, this past six months will be a memory as reality hits - but what a memory!

Still with Hannah, James and family

Blessed is he/she who expects nothing for .....  And such is the case now.  It was such a good idea to take photos - it was an even better idea to charge the camera battery before leaving the charger in my car in Reading. Pity I didn't!

It's lovely being with the family - particularly immediately after Hannah found the book "The 12 knits of Christmas" and immediately ordered 150 pounds worth of wool for me to knit a complete set for NEXT Christmas.  (You know the one ... 5 gold rings, 4 turtle doves, 3 french hens, 2 calling doves and a partridge in a pear tree - going up to 12 of the last item.  Fortunately I have NEVER sewn up such things and Hannah is particularly artistic and makes something out of nothing, with the greatest of ease.  So that's 78 items that need to be completed within the next 12 months!)

We've been terribly tempted to have a play - so the last 2 nights have seen us both up until 2.00 am knitting/sewing practise items with bits and pieces of leftover wool (9 items, thus far).  It's as well I leave here on Wednesday.

And while I was here mainly to assist with packing ... and James has been out and purchased bubble wrap and boxes ... today has been the first day that we have actually gotten round to using any of it.  We've managed to wrap all the pictures from the first floor (30 odd) and tomorrow the intention is that we'll box up some books (well - that is, after a small shopping expedition in the morning after blood tests for Hannah).

Rachel and Will have been round for a meal and I've been around to her house on a couple of occasions too.  It's lovely being with family, so close to Christmas - the children are a delight (all 5 of them) and appear to believe their Great Aunt's explanation of 'secret squirrel' who reports to Santa about any bad (or good) behaviour ... there seem to be plenty of squirrels to chose from in the gardens here.

We're still uncertain about Christmas Day, but even so I've managed to sort out and wrap all the presents for the immediate family now - which I can leave with Hannah.  I've never been so organised!

Ho ho ho - I'm off to Kent on Wednesday.  Not too keen on all these farewells.

MODREB CALLING ...

Enfys, now 2, is attending a welsh speaking nursery for 3 days a week, and flits between welsh and english at a whim.  It can get quite confusing at times!

She's a dear wee girl, very attached to her 'mumgu' (grandmother) - and accepting of her strangely accented modreb (aunt) from New Zealand.  I hope her mum (Kate) isn't reading this, she'll be pulling her hair out.  Kate was the bride at the wedding I attended in Port Meirion in July/August and is expecting a little brother for Enfys in the new(ish) year.

As ever I loved being with my Welsh cousins - we had lots of laughs, long walks (with the dogs) and ate too much food (of course)

 The canal where Shirley takes her various "homestay" dogs for a 2 hour morning walk ... I went twice, over the four days that I was there.  That bit's flat - but the fields are up quite a steep climb.

 About to let Chico and Minnie off their leads for much enthusiastic chasing and rushing around (the dogs, not us!).  The Great Dane had to have a rear leg removed (cancer) about a year ago but you'd never know it, the way he gallops around.

Kate's two dogs (Kilo and Trojan) in the kitchen with Minnie.  Minnie and Kilo (tail end to the fore) are the same breed but Kilo is about 3 or 4 years older.

On the Friday night we went to an ABBA show with a group from Sweden performing all their hits.  Of course it featured a lot of tunes from the "Mama Mia" show and two other granddaughters came with us (aged 5 and 7) and sang along, word perfect, all evening.  It was a lovely night, from start to finish - the lights in Cardiff making a show all of their own.

On Monday - Shirley and I took Enfys and Evie to "Jump" - a children's indoor playground.  Shirley did the climbing through a two storey block of slides and mazes etc and returned to tell me it was my turn!!

So trampoline it was ... having manoeuvred the minuscule entrance and fallen immediately, I was then left alone while the children decided to do something else.  And then I was cast - with Shirley and me cackling like a couple of school children, while I struggled to reclaim my dignity.

I left on Tuesday morning - a beautiful sunny day again - and returned to Steph and Ray's in Reading.  Steph's slightly less trussed up with her sling, but has another 5 weeks before it is finally removed.  So last night I managed to do a bit of ironing for her and helped cook the dinner.

And now, Wednesday, I'm back with Hannah in London.  Tomorrow we are going to brave the tubes to go to a Christmas show in Chelsea.  We WERE supposed to be packing for her move early next month, but the way sales work over here are fraught with 'dangers' - not least of which, there is no certainty that a sale will even take place right up until the day of the move.  So we're not going to tempt fate by even looking at a box, it seems.

Not a very scintillating blog today I'm afraid.  I've had three comments about lack of communication over recent days so thought I'd better quickly write up the past week before receiving any more abuse!!!

I shall (as my school reports used to say) "try to do better".

BLIND DATE

We didn't quite wear red roses in our buttonholes, but having mobile phones certainly helped - today I managed to meet up with Anne's ex neighbour in Geraldine ... what a lovely lady.

We managed to talk for an hour and a half without any breaks and could cheerfully have continued but Maureen had another appointment and I was due to leave after lunch, to have final farewells with the Kemps before travelling on to Wales.

Maureen has been back in the UK for 18 months after 20 years in NZ, mostly in Geraldine.  We talked about the difficulties of  'slotting back in' after such a long period and she told me that she had joined the local golf club and, having been quite involved in Geraldine, the local patchwork group.

Now there's a reason for all this - and here you were, just about to dismiss this blog without giving me a chance... read on!

Evidently all the UK patchwork groups have been invited to make a pendant to be used at the Olympic Games next year.  They were given a variety of designs on a website and Maureen decided to do one with a English Oak leaf and an acorn.   She is not entirely certain what they are going to be used for but it may be for the opening (or closing) ceremony - or something that will be given out with the medals.

However (the whole reason for this exciting chapter), before making her pendant, Maureen decided she would do some research and was amazed to read that the English oak is the only tree whose leaves have no stalks but are attached directly to the twig, and whose acorns have stalks on them.  All other oak trees have leaves and acorns the other way around.

Now be honest - I bet you didn't know THAT before did you??   (OK well you might have - but I certainly didn't)  And won't we all now be interested to see what those pendants are eventually used for?

Remember - you heard it here first!!!

2 Days meetings and 2 godchildren

Yesterday I got an email from Anne, mentioning that her old neighbour in Geraldine lived close to Cirencester, in Tetbury.  She'd lost touch so wondered if I could get a phone number etc.  The phone book sorted out one problem, but when I rang, she wasn't at home.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained and when I asked Philip where it was he said they'd been thinking of taking me over there for a drive (20/30 minutes away), so though I still couldn't get any response we all drove over there in the afternoon.

 It is a lovely village really full of antique shops - all very affluent looking - and equally expensive looking clothing shops.  This photo couldn't be resisted - see all those pigeons roosting on top of the grey building?  There must have been about 50 of them - all sheltering from the prevailing, bitterly cold, wind.

It is also close to Prince Charles' residence and he has a shop which sells produce from his garden and business ventures (he's not the shopkeeper you understand!) in the centre of town.  All very posh (pronounced poash) with serving staff incredibly well dressed and wearing burgundy full aprons (male and female alike).

We 'took tea' in a lovely tea shop there - but sadly, there was still no response from Anne's friend.

However, this morning I tried again - and managed to get hold of Maureen who coincidentally is coming into Cirencester tomorrow- so we've arranged to meet for coffee in town in the morning.  Her family lives here and she is taking her grandson to the Hospital tomorrow.  I hope I can find her!!!

On Sunday I got an email from the oldest of the Sydney godsons, telling me he is to be confirmed on Sunday.  I'll be sorry to miss that, but with four more following after, I guess there is time enough to join them in the future.

Then on Monday, my goddaughter Alisha (a doctor who spent 12 months in Afghanistan at a Mission Hospital) phoned to say that they were in Reading and preparing to travel up to Birmingham today (Tuesday) ... was there anywhere we could meet?   So today I've been across to Oxford (just over an hour away) and we spent a lovely 2 hours at the Oxford Services (just off the M40), catching up and meeting Noemie (Naomi in french).

Tomorrow I leave Cirencester en route (via the Kemps in Gloucester) for Wales.  This really is the beginning of saying my final farewells.   I wish the antipodes were closer.

AROUND CIRENCESTER

Today was Remembrance Sunday.  My friends Sally and Ken, of narrow boat fame (see blog 23/10) will have been flag bearers for the service in their village - a strenuous task which they have undertaken over recent years, involving very heavy flags, training with army personnel to "get it right", marching, lowering the flag to a halfway position and holding their elbows away from their bodies for the majority of the time.  They will, no doubt, be grateful it is over for another year.

Cirencester held a service around the War Memorial this morning after the 9.30 a.m. church service in the centre of town.  Philip and Rosemary attended ... I didn't.  People have been wearing poppies all week - and some vehicles even have them on their front grilles.  And of course, there is the two minutes silence which is observed at 11 am on 11/11 (last Friday, Armistice Day)

Philip and I took a stroll around (part of) the Earl of Bathurst's estate this afternoon. The 8th Earl died in October and only last week there was a remembrance service held in his honour - so now his son takes on the mantle of 9th Earl of Bathurst. The public are permitted access to the grounds (14,000 acres) and if today is anything to go by, they certainly make the most of the opportunity.  It has been in the family since 1695.

I've never seen so many dogs - or people walking, for that matter.  It was a pleasant, though invigorating, day, as can be seen by all the coats, hats and gloves!

 Philip tells me that Cirencester is "twinned" with a town in Germany and as a goodwill gesture the City Council here gave them a tree (I think) to plant.  As a result, the german town named the area "Cirencester Park".  Evidently, just to remind the local council who owned what, the Earl closed THE original Cirencester Park for a day, to jog their memories!

 A view back to the "house" with the tower of the Church of England church tower in the background.  The church is in the centre of town with the Estate right on its outskirts.

I liked the way the sun settled on the church tower - it appears I was further away from it than I thought, so that little bit of artistry is wasted!

There are a number of outdoor groups that have activities within the Estate - maintained by the Earl - as can be seen (with binoculars) this is the tennis courts ... far more impressive than it appears - perhaps the photographer isn't quite as crash hot as she tries to make out.

T

 Believe it or not. them's horses under those covers ... not freisian cows.  Just beyond are 7 polo fields provided by the Earl.  Originally he organised and allowed hunts through his grounds but when he stopped those, he provided polo fields instead.  Evidently, some time ago, the Earl was incensed to see a car driving through his grounds at a speed greater than the 20 mph he allowed, so he gave chase - tooting, flashing his lights etc., only to be stopped by Prince William's body guard who were following!!!  He plays there on quite a regular basis by all accounts but there was no sign of him today.  (It is also the grounds where Prince Charles broke his arm or dislocated his shoulder when he fell off his horse playing polo - remember?)

 A better view of the house from a different angle.

Walk out of the Estate and you have Cotswold Street - a very attractive street very close to where Philip and Rosemary live.  I don't know whether it is easily detected, but some windows (particularly dead centre on the second and third levels) have been bricked out.  It is quite a noticeable feature around the town and it seems that when the Window Tax was brought in a few centuries ago, many people closed them in so that their fees were not so great.

I've said it before, but I'll say it again - I really DO like this place.

As a postscript, it appears Hannah and James have been successful in their offer to purchase a new home - a very nice birthday present for Hannah on her 39th birthday.  Fingers crossed they will not be gazzumped again - I can't imagine why the UK has such an archaic method for purchasing a property.

House Hunting

Today we went to meet up with Hannah, who was wanting to have a second look at a possible new home near Welles.  Either it is getting late as I write this, or I really am going to have to do something about my memory (probably that!), but because Philip was driving, I can't even remember exactly where we went.  It was interesting to see exactly what real estate people do (or don't do) over here from a professional point of view.  (Not a lot it seems).  Rosemary tells me they are not know as REAL estate agents ... just estate agents, evidently.  And it is fascinating to see at first hand how 'gazzumping' works (it happened to Hannah in a previous attempt) and how uncertain things are until the 11th hour.  Not the way I'm used to at all.

The lass who met us at the house is a 'local' who turns up and shows people around - she didn't appear to know very much but happily gave out very splendid brochures all round and said very little.  I guess it worked a bit like PA's do at home - but I didn't quiz her on whether she had a licence etc so can't say.  To be honest, I didn't let on about my past life and quite enjoyed being an appendage.

Time will tell the outcome I guess - but she seemed pretty interested and with 7 bedrooms PLUS a 2 bedroom coach house, I guess she had every reason to be.

En route, we passed the village where returning (dead) soldiers from Afghanistan landed,  with the locals standing in respectful silence as the hearses passed by.  Wootton Bassett.  The location has recently been changed so that doesn't happen any more, but as a result, the village has been granted the right to use the word "Royal" before their name from now on.   It's way out in the middle of nowhere - which makes their actions seem even more poignant, somehow.

Tomorrow is Remembrance Day here - red poppies etc.  One of the radio stations this week has been interviewing mothers/wives of men who have died in service.  As I was driving to Cirencester on Monday I heard one of the interviews and it's haunted me ever since ... the mother of a 19 year old ... telling about her son who had joined the army at the age of 17 and who was due home on leave only 10 days after he was killed (blown up by a land mine) two years ago.  It was a pretty raw interview, with a very sympathetic interviewer, and it really brought home the awful sacrifices these families make.

They must be told, before they leave, to write a letter that they can leave for the family in case they don't return.  When his body was returned, there was a letter from his buddy telling the family that he and the son had made a promise to each other that if one of them was killed, the other one would tell the family where to find the letter.  As it happened, the mother said that the letter wasn't where he'd said it would be, and it took them several months to find it!  However, his brother read it out at the close of the interview and I doubt there was a single dry eye in the country at the conclusion of the letter.

On that happy note I shall close!

The days are getting shorter - it's dark just after 5.00 pm now.  It's reasonably mild - well, I'm not wearing thermals yet - and this is really the first week that it has been a bit bleak, overcast and misty.  There are Christmas lights up in the pedestrian precinct here and I went into a shop yesterday that had a secular type Christmas song playing.

Only 50 days until 2012 - by which time I shall be home and you can stop reading these ramblings!

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO ...

... Cirencester.  The planned vacuuming before I left Steph's was aborted, when instead we had a visit from Sarah (Steph's daughter in law) - a much better way to spend an hour.  I'd been sending her texts and even tried phoning a couple of times but to no avail - then realised she'd changed her mobile phone number!  So it was particularly good to catch up this morning.  (Sarah and Richard visited me in NZ several years ago and we often chat on Skype etc. so I was getting somewhat concerned that I wasn't getting any response).

I decided I'd drive to the service station to get some petrol before putting Tom in the passenger seat.  He's been sitting in my glove box - turned off - for the past week and of course Steph and I have been out about in the car most days during that time.  Suddenly, his voice boomed out of the glove box, telling me to turn right at the next roundabout.  He wasn't plugged in - if I'd left him turned on his battery would have run out days before - and I wasn't anywhere near a roundabout at the time.

Don't ask me for explanations - I'm just "telling it like it happened".  It just seems that he had decided I wasn't going anywhere without him and, as always, we arrived in Cirencester about 1 hour 10 minutes later without a hitch.

It's nice to be with Philip and Rosemary again - the day has passed very quickly and already it's past midnight as I write this.  Meanwhile I hope Tom isn't chatting up strangers as they pass him in the street.  He's clearly NOT to be trusted.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Tomorrow morning, I will be leaving Reading for about 10 days with Philip and Rosemary in Cirencester.  I have a couple of  "dates" organised while I'm there and will be catching up with my Oxford (Bicester) friends for lunch one day and Karen (Gloucester) another day.

Steph has been a great 'patient' with her arm out of action for another 7 weeks yet.  For the past couple of days she's insisted on making cups of tea and one handed folding of the washing and the like, but I've managed to do a couple of batches of ironing and will, again, vacuum through tomorrow before I leave.

I've been more use to her from the 'mobility' point of view, so we've done quite a bit of driving around to deliver prescriptions, shop, etc.  She's almost as good as Tom with her directions but she DID make comment when I drove through a red light (which was about 100 yards from the next traffic light which was green) and she DID mention the tree that I backed right up to when I took her to choir practise.  Tom would never have done that.

I almost got picked up for shop lifting when we went to do some grocery shopping yesterday.  We'd had our usual "who will pay" argument prior to going in to the supermarket, so I know it was going to be Steph - which meant that when I saw a DVD on special for the King's Speech, I propped it up where children usually sit in the trolley, out of her way... then promptly forgot all about it until the security man responded to the alert alarm buzzing and took it out again.  He wouldn't just keep the DVD but insisted that I return to the counter to make the payment ... all rather embarrassing, but at least no-one knew me there!

Tonight was the last episode of  "Downton Abbey" and I was relieved to see that it was left "in the air", so presumably there will be a third series in due course.  Strictly Come Dancing was on last night, with the half hour follow up tonight to tell us that Lulu and Brendon were voted off.  It's ok, NZ, by the time it reaches "us" even I won't remember that fact.  The final is just before Christmas, evidently.

The weather remains remarkably mild but the leaves are very autumnal now - with some beautiful scenery treats in unexpected places.  A programme on the tele the other day was explaining why some leaves turn red but others don't ... all to do with the aphids evidently.  I know that they're awfully slippery when on wet ground, too.

Julie sent me the DVD of the bus commentary in the red zone today.  Very sobering but I was cheered to hear them say that it is hoped to have the Theatre Royal up and running again in 2013.  I thought I'd heard that it had been demolished - so that was ONE nice surprise, at least.

I've been amazed by the number and duration of fireworks around the area.  There have been a number of real "boomers" amongst them and Chai and I have jumped in unison at times.  It's a miserable time of year for pets.

The days are certainly drawing in - and the build up for Christmas has begun.  How this year has flown!

READING

I won't have a word said against Tom - he's a smart cookie.  Sometimes he takes me on a slightly longer route.  I know some of my friends/relations have been "interested" to hear which way I got to them, but I take it as a compliment that he wants me to be with him that little bit longer.  Without him, I'm sure I wouldn't have the confidence to make most of the journeys - driving AND navigating at the same time are worse than driving and talking on the phone, in my book!

Anyway, I got to Steph's in time to pick up a tin of tomato soup and bread roll at Asda for lunch and have been pleasantly surprised to find how well she is coping with just "one arm" - her left one, at that.  Ray is pretty independent and capable in the kitchen ... and indeed, was chief cook and bottle washer when Steph broke her ankle last Christmas.  But he's allowing me to do my share once I pointed out that I'm only here for a week and that he'll have to do it for the next (probably) 7 weeks, so he may as well let me help.  We went out for tea last night!!!

But I HAVE been able to take Steph out to buy tops which allow her to remain decent - even with a huge wedge between her body and her arm.  And yesterday I took her to her "Rock Choir" class (see a much earlier Blog - probably in July, if you're in the dark on that one).  I sat at the back sewing up two pairs of booties while they did their 90 minute practise.  It really was excellent.  I can't believe (though I know it's true) that one man can get 60+ women singing in 5 part harmony in such a short time (first class was in September).  And they all seem to enjoy it - including the leader!

Yesterday we were out at 7 am, driving over to pick up Steph's granddaughters, to take them to school.   Mum works as a share-teacher so each week Steph does the morning run on a Wednesday ... and dad works night shift, so is available for pick up after school, usually.  The motorways are pretty hectic during peak hours (generally from 7.15 am onwards for a couple of hours) - hence the early start, to make sure we got there on time.

Now into my 3rd week of  this third head cold, Steph has persuaded me to take a course of antibiotics for a week.  I am limited in what I can "take" so always bring a supply with me when I come but even so, am loathe to take them in case I build up an immunity to them.  For the first time in ages, I have used less than a box of tissues in the past 24 hours so I'm hoping that it will work.

So life carries on.  I move on to Philip and Rosemary's next Monday (Cirencester).  Count down has really begun with "last visits" beginning in earnest the week after that.  The autumn colours are beautiful as I drive around and, as yet, I haven't had to don any thermals.  Indeed, with all the houses having central heating, there is a large possibility I shall be warmer (inside) in the winter than I have been through the so-called summer.  I spent last night with my feet outside the bedclothes.

A DAY OF FIRSTS FOR OSCAR

Today marked 2 weeks since Oscar's last batch of inoculations, so he is now officially allowed to go out walking with the "big dogs".

Karen and Hugh have been walking him in the garden, with his choker chain and new lead, in an attempt to get him used to it, for the past three days.  Eventually it was agreed that perhaps he should get used to wearing an ordinary collar first - even though the breeder had recommended a choker from day 1.

 Two against one - that's not fair!

 Say what you like, I don't LIKE it!

Preparing for a forward somersault closely followed by a backwards flip.

10 minutes later, the fuss was over - and he hasn't taken a bit of notice of his collar since.  It WAS highly entertaining at first though - but he's bright enough to know which battles are worth the effort.  Probably that would have been enough exercise him but a promise is a promise - and after lunch, Karen, Hugh, Anya, Oscar and I went for a walk in the Cotswolds.

 Anya and Hugh walking the dog - eventually he got a little bit braver and risked using his own legs in the big open spaces

 Looking towards Gloucester from the Cotswold Hills.  When you're in Gloucester and look towards the hills it's not unlike being in Christchurch, looking towards the Cashmere Hills.

Oscar's first encounter with another dog gave him such a fright that he practically climbed up Karen's legs to safety.  That outfit had to go into the washing machine on our return to the house!  However, the second dog was on a lead and a bit uncertain too.  Oscar's still not too sure about those things with four legs.

The drive home was a doddle - he slept all the way home ... and all afternoon, while the rest of us went to a National Trust house in Worcestershire, where a man referred to as "Mr Wade" had devoted his life to collecting handmade, antique items and restored them.  He actually bought a house to store them in - and lived in another, smaller, house on the same property.   There were a few interesting items, but I came away feeling that I didn't really think I'd have liked meeting Mr Wade - so it was probably fortunate that he left the house in 1956.

Hugh - our Knight in shining armour ... in one of the items visitors were allowed to handle and try on!

The grounds and views were lovely - but overall it gave the feeling of a home owned by an eccentric old man who never worked a day in his life.

Tonight the clocks go back an hour so that means NZ is presently (Sunday lunch) 12.30 pm while the UK is now 11.30 (almost midnight) pm.   I much preferred it for the short period that we were exactly 12 hours difference.

Steph's had her shoulder surgery and I go back to spend a week supporting her (and Ray) on Monday.  It will be a difficult time for her, with little or no movement allowed by that arm for 6-8 weeks.  I'll probably be home before she can start doing anything with it again.  A good way to get out of having to do the vacuuming though!!