And 2 little titbits ...

Just down the road from John and Ingrid's are two fishing areas - both old bomb craters!  People pay to go and fish there but because it's not exactly fresh water, anything caught then needs to be allowed to swim around in clean water for three days, before eating it.  Most simply go there for the enjoyment and put the fish back.

John tells me I should also have mentioned that at the RAF Memorial we visited today - Sir Keith Parke's statue also stands proud.  Another statue of him was erected in Trafalgar Square for a while and is now in an RAF museum elsewhere.  He was an Air Vice Marshall commanding during the Battle of Britain ... a New Zealander ... who was, evidently, a brilliant tacticion and well respected in Britain.  101 New Zealand pilots served - 14 died - in the Battle of Britain.

 Oh the things I know!!  A photographer AND a historian ... is there no end to my talents??

There'll be bluebirds over ...

Today we made our way over to Dover - and whilst Vera Lynn may have promised bluebirds, the closest we got were magpies - it just doesn't have the same ring, somehow.

I think I've already mentioned that John and my dads were together in 55 Squadron Desert Airforce (he tells me) in WWII.  Three years ago today, his dad died so it was particularly poignant that we took his mum with us and visited the Battle of Britain memorial at Capel le Ferne near Folkstone.   It's a relatively new memorial (within the last 10 years).  There was a wall naming the 2,800 plus pilots who had flown out to Dunkirk ... many of whom, of course, never returned.  John's showing the Bristol Blenheim long nosed variant plane that our dads' squadron operated.

Not to be outdone, Peggy and I joined John in front of one of the two replica planes - that's just about the distance I accept having my photo taken with no wide angle lens required.

In the centre, there's a sculpture of a pilot, looking out across the English Channel towards Dunkirk.  The second picture is MEANT to show you what it all depicts ... the pilot is sitting in the centre of a propeller - in the foreground is one of the propeller blades.

 All the UK based squadrons had a dog as a mascot - and this sculpture represents them all.  We all know I'm a sucker for a nice dog so it goes without saying, this has to be included.

From there we drove to White Cliffs Park above Dover.  There was quite a sea mist around so I won't bore you with the excellent photos I took of the channel ferries arriving into the port, through a very narrow gap.  They didn't come out!

 But I will bore you with my sensational photoshoot of Vera's topic without a seagull or magpie in sight ...

and I will finally provide a photograph, taken from the car window, with which I totally excelled all expectations.  John (as you may have noticed in the first photograph) sports a rather splendid camera, and is devastated by my expertise!   He cruelly pointed out that the castle I was taking a photograph on the brow of the hill is to the right of the picture, and what you are seeing is, in fact a medieval church and you can't even see the roman lighthouse beside it.  (I've known this man far too long!!)

But the reason I wanted to include it, is because it sets the scene for a little history lesson (from one who achieved 25% in school certificate history!).  It interested me at least.  Evidently there are 'Medieval Tunnels' beneath the castle and the whole place was used to house underground barracks for over 2000 soldiers.  At the beginning of WWII those tunnels were recommissions, extended and housed a bomb-proof centre for the defence of Dover and the coast.  And from there, Vice Admiral Ramsay directed 'Operation Dynamo' - the evacuation of British and Allied troops from Dunkirk in May and June.

It's been a lovely day - clear blue skies, great company and a lovely meal at a restaurant right beside the Bristol Channel.  Who could ask for more?

Would you look at that!?!

Somehow I have just come across 5 messages/comments from Marriene and 1 from Mark.  How clever is that? The last one was sent on 21 August!!!

Sorry guys. I wonder what other little gems I've missed from sheer ignorance.  If anyone else sent me a message and I haven't answered it, put it down to a poor operator at this end.  A couple of you sent comments early in the piece and they automatically came up as an email attachment.

Broke a tooth today - eating something soft.  Surely that's an end to all this attention seeking unhealthiness now?

Tomorrow we're off to somewhere that could well warrant some more spectacular photography on my part - now that's got to be something for you to look forward to!

Still in Kent ...

I shan't mention that this is my THIRD attempt to set this out - and I shan't mention how many other times I've tried to do the same thing without success.  But it seems I've worked it out - and I know that Marriene will be very proud!

The back garden at Sutton Valence - at the end there is an orchard and a stile out into a meadow leading to a wood where I've strolled with Rosie a couple of times.  She has poor sore legs, so we don't go too far.  (not to mention the nagging thought in the back of my mind that adders may be lurking - don't ask me why I've become paranoid about such things this time ... they've always been around.)

 John, Ingrid and Rosie.  Their daughter Emma was in NZ for a year and they came over to visit.  We have a similar photograph (less Rosie) taken on my decking ... not quite so splendid, but equally sunny.  John (a retired doctor) has decided I need to sit out there and try to start looking a little less pasty!!!

 Ingrid and I went in to Ashford today to "Tent City" - not its real name but understandably dubbed.  It's a retail outlet shopping centre and we spent about 4 hours there.  Personally I'd like to see some of these in Christchurch - I'd be less concerned about a passing earthquake.

 From the carpark - the whole complex goes full circle so it's a case of parking the car and then walking, under cover all the way around and ending back at the same place.  Rather clever really.

 The "ceiling" in the food hall - the shops had permanent ceilings, but this gives the general idea, quite well.

Scampi and chips for lunch ... I always have at least one feed of scampi while I'm over here - nice and fattening!

We're being threatened with 28 degrees on Friday - it has certainly been milder over this side of the country than it was in the west.  But the days are closing in.  It's 6.40 p.m. as I type this and it's already losing the light.  Dusk in fact.  I see New Zealand has gone into daylight saving - the same will apply here at the end of the month.

There are squirrels, rabbits, foxes and a huge assortment of birds here.  It's a lovely part of the country and once again, I'm being spoiled rotten and dreaming of elastic waistbands.

SUTTON VALANCE

Where would I be without Tom?  We had a well navigated trip to Kent today - about two and a half hours' drive.  It was quite an "exciting" trip this time - snarl ups just before Heathrow, because there had been an accident on the other side of the motorway and somehow it affected us... and while driving at about 20mph, there was a sudden siren coming up behind, so everyone pulled over as much as possible and a Bomb Disposal Vehicle flew past, with every light it could muster flashing and bleeping.  A bit unnerving quite so close to Heathrow but there was no word on the radio or television tonight, so I guess I'll never know what that was about.  And then about half an hour later there was an ambulance parked on the side of the motorway (not exactly a good spot) with all its lights flashing but no other sign of life.  Generally I have nothing to report, so that was quite unusual - Tom doesn't discuss such things though, so I was left to ponder it alone.

It's been a lovely sunny day today - and when I arrived we had freshly made scones and home made jam in the garden.  There were also a couple of presents awaiting me - one of which was number 4 in my family of concrete ducks.  (Ingrid was with me when I bought the smaller two when I was here last; then she brought me the larger mother duck when they came over; and now I've got another duckling).  Strangely, on the 2nd to last day they were with me at 34A, a LIVE duck landed on my decking and waddled into my lounge (possibly because of a trail of bread?!) - and it came back the next day .. and 3 more days after they left - but never again.  So ducks are quite relevant to us.

Yet again, the house has Wi-fi.  I've been amazed how many of the houses I have visited have had it ... yet when I was here last time, none did (or was that simply because my old laptop didn't have it, so I just didn't know?)  I have my dongle, of course - which costs 15 pounds a month ... but I've hardly used it.  I don't like to let it run out, because without a wi-fi connection, I'd be stuck.  I really am very pleased with my 'new' netbook computer - it's been a real bonus.

I'm here until 2nd October (when I go to Budapest) - that is, as long as no satellite detritus lands on the house overnight and I'm never seen again.  Such a waste of airline tickets!

Bicester

Tom and I arrived here early afternoon on Monday.  Nick and Di came to New Zealand about 5 years ago and stayed with me prior to going to friends in Australia for the cricket and Christmas.  They live in a small village - pub, butcher and newsagent/Post Office - quite close to Oxford.  They have a TV (unlike big brother) so I've managed to see a  little bit of the rugby, but not any of the "top" games.

On the way here, I was intrigued to see a bird hovering over the motorway - it remained in the same place all the time and flapped its wings occasionally to assist it to remain 'stationary'.  It looked quite bizarre and I even wondered at one point whether it was somehow a fake bird - placed there to act as a decoy.  But Nick tells me it would have been a sparrow hawk - got out a book on such things, and read out that they are particularly found  near motorways where they hover watching for mice and other animals scurrying around at the side of the road.   Yuk.  Another reason to be grateful for a reliable car on the Motorways (the mice, not the bird!)

It is beautiful scenery in this area - yesterday we went for a drive to Charbury, about half an hour from Bicester.  Di's mum's house is up for sale and we went across to check on a few things - over little, narrow bridges that revealed about 20 longboats moored on the side of the river; through and past lovely little villages with tractors ploughing and rural scenes, quite unlike our own, on all sides.  We were on a mission, so I didn't take any photos, but it really was calendar picture scenery ... it's amazing what lies hidden off the motorways.

Bicester (how did you pronounce that?  It rhymes with mister) has a large outlet shopping centre for designer clothes (no I didn't even look) and evidently busloads of japanese tourists arrive daily and leave with bags and bags of (presumably) spoils.  Having purchased a couple of designer items in NZ before I left, I have come to the conclusion that once you're out of your own country, no-one knows the difference, anyway!   Those who know me well will be amazed by this little revelation - I defy anyone to identify either of them!!!!  There is no prize, so don't lose any sleep over it.

Nick (retired since I was here 2 years ago) and Di are keen cricket supporters - indeed Nick has tended the local pitch for the past 25 years, voluntarily and generally single handedly. Last night he attended a function in London - a group called the 'Lord Taverners' who turn out to be supporters of Lords - as opposed to the MCC which also has a large membership but evidently only if your name was put forward by a member, practically from birth.  It was to honour Bowlers evidently - and even Richard Hadlee was included in the numbers.

I move on from here to Sutton Valance (in Kent) on Friday ... staying with Emma's family.  Her father's father was in the desert with my dad in WWII and we have kept in touch with the family ever since.  When I was here in 1969-72 the four siblings were still at home and I spent quite a lot of time with the family as a whole.  They are another couple who have stayed with me in NZ and of course Emma lived in Christchurch for a year.

The days are drawing in - about 3 weeks ago I was bemoaning the fact that the nights were drawing in at around 8.15pm ... last night it was 7.30 p.m.  With any luck, that means the days are getting longer in NZ and spring has begun springing.  I'm about to pack a box of summer clothes (not QUITE sure why I brought them except for the spell in France) and send them home.  So that should leave me some room to buy some furlined knickers and longsleeved vests.  It is a fallacy that being fat keeps one warm - in my case it merely means there's more to feel the cold.

The second series of Downton Abbey has just started here and last night I saw Midsommer Murders with John Nettles no longer in it.  Instead his "cousin" is Inspector Barnaby - I didn't think it was as good.  And at the end of the month, a new series of 'Strictly Come Dancing' begins ... the trick now will be to convince all my family that they simply can't miss it, without looking as though it matters either way to me.  It helps, if they have a TV of course.

Some Cirencester photos

 Ceri and a toothy woman with fat fingers - the night before leaving Wales

 Cirencester Street - the double yellow lines mean 'no parking' - wonder where the residents park their cars?

 Look at that clear blue sky!

 Painswick - a popular place to get married

 Some of the home grown produce - that should make a few saucepans full of soup.

 The whole place was left until only a few years ago but is now tended by 4 gardeners, an apprentice gardener and a team of volunteers

 The hills in the background are the Cotswolds - beautiful countryside

Couldn't resist this rather gnarly lot!

CIRENCESTER

I really like Cirencester and the surrounding areas.  We went for our drive to the dump and then took a scenic trip across and around the Cotswolds, ending up at a very nice Trout Farm where we had scones and tea.  Very English!  Since then we've been for several drives and explorations - on Rosemary's birthday (15th) going to visit Painswick ... the grounds of which are open to the public between February and October. Again ending with a cuppa and cake. I'll attempt to put a few photos up to give an idea of the area in the hopes that you might be as impressed as I am.

It's an easy stroll into the town itself where there are some really 'different' shops, very narrow streets (built in the days of horse and coach of course) and lovely eateries.  There are none of the normal stores like Marks and Spencers (apart from a food branch) but there's a market on the main street selling vegetables etc on a Thursday and it could well be on other days - with an Arts Market in a lovely old market place on various days of the week as well.

Today I drove the 20 minutes across to Gloucester to Karen and Hugh's housewarming/blessing.  It was good to see them so settled (after being in their new house for about 10 days) and see that they already have some good friends and colleagues around them.  

The sad bit of the afternoon was learning that dear old Tess died last Thursday.  How awful would I have felt if I'd had her (as originally planned) and left her to come over here.  She was very happy with Karen's folks in Cust and had settled in well - and it must have been a difficult time for them, losing their last link with the family, too.  It's always sad losing a pet - I feel rather sad because she was such a big part of old Wag's early life and somehow, she never seemed to have forgotten me even after all those years.

I wonder if I can still add photos ...

Tom and I have done it yet again!

I'm writing this from Cirencester - the internet link isn't as strong as it was in Reading, but even so, I'm hopeful this will go through.  

The tail end of Hurricane Katrina was an interesting experience on the motorway with the car suddenly being buffeted off track from time to time ... but I've experienced worse on the road to Rakaia/Ashburton, so it didn't phase us too greatly.

It was really good to see Karen and Hugh's new home - absolutely "them" and even though it's not yet a week since their arrival, they're well settled in and making friends with the neighbours.  We had a lovely lunch together - Karen and me - with homemade fish pate.  I went to say Kipper, but it wasn't that ... I've been invited to attend their house warming on Saturday, and hope that will be a possibility - depending on what other plans are, or are not, being hatched in Cirencester.

Then a 24 minute drive here and a pleasant catch up with Philip and Rosemary over dinner.  Tomorrow a scenic drive to the rubbish dump is on the agenda - evidently not as odd as it sounds! - followed by something to eat at one of their favourite haunts.  At this rate none of my clothes will ever fit me again.

Karen gave me a box today - for packing summer clothes and sending bits and pieces back home in.  The box I sent things to myself in UK in, broke and lost a few contents, so I hope that this one will prove sturdier. There's no rush to do that, but it will be good to get some of my clutter out of the car, so that I can start again.

Meanwhile it's hey, ho Silver - to the dump, to the dump, to the dump, dump, dump!  (an oldie but a goodie)

On the move again

I seem to have picked up another virus somehow, so the first two days back in Reading with Steph and Ray I spent rather a lot of time sleeping.  However, I'm feeling much better now (just in time to move on tomorrow to Philip and Rosemary's) ... I am so blessed to have family here who take me as I am and just let me do my own thing.   I certainly haven't been much of a house guest!

I'm also going to be able to catch up with Karen and Hugh Kemp and their family - they are only about a half hour drive away from Cirencester.  They are the folk who were so good to me after the earthquake - providing me (and half the neighbourhood) with well water, a chemical loo and all manner of goodies.  Some may recall that I went up to Palmerston North to help them sell their house, before they came over here in the new year.

So I've charged Tom's batteries (I say that in the purest sense) and we'll be on our way.  Just prior to leaving Wales I realised my front tyre was a bit flat - so cousin Ceri took the car down to the Tyre Centre to get it looked at.  Evidently the chrome(?) around the wheel (trim?) had corroded and as a result I had a slow puncture - well, I didn't, but the Mondeo did.   Whereas at home they'd just stick in an inner tube, that's not the way its done over here ... instead they removed the tyre and then glued it back in place.  Perhaps I haven't quite given the full correct facts, but it was along those lines, anyway.  I drove very carefully on the way from Wales to Reading, but now with Ray's assurances that this is the normal way they fix such problems, I feel a bit more confident again.  I don't think I'll be taking any risks though!

It's been lovely to skype with Marriene on Saturday and have a mobile phone call with Karen G today.  It makes home feel not quite so far away.  And here, at least, I've been able to see some of the World Cup games - and hold my normal text 'discussions' with Susan and John ... oh if only the All Blacks had us there, we could sort it all out in no time.  I don't fancy my chances in Cirencester - but you never know.

The nights are really beginning to draw in now - and we've had heavy rainfall and strong winds on and off for the past few days - with more to come I understand.  Any day now I shall pack up my summer clothes and send them back to NZ to await my return in December.

Go the All Blacks - and Wales!

Out of the mouth of babes and ...

Evie (aged 4) - one of  the flowergirls last week, sidled up to me today and whispered "You're looking  more gorgeous every day".  Since she has been slow to respond to me over the past couple of weeks, I was delighted by this milestone.    "Just kidding" she hooted and ran off to carry on with what she'd been doing.

Anniversary time

I hear that those blooming earthquakes have cranked up a gear again - I wish there was some magic potion I could send your way, particularly because I know that this weekend there will be a lot of hype and discussion focussed on you all with the pending anniversary of the day all our lives were changed irreversibly.

You're all very much in my thoughts this weekend - it's just not fair.  But looking on the bright side - I guess the spring bulbs are bursting into life and the gardens are beginning to look a bit brighter ... just so long as the third snowfall decides not to come.  I remember one year I had to cancel a birthday party for dad (27 August) because it was the weekend we had that heavy fall and everyone lost their guttering/spouting in the middle of the night.  So I guess its not entirely unprecedented.

Am still in Wales - until next Wednesday.  The swimming pool still has no magnetic pull - though I often sit down there, watching everyone else.  The water is often warmer than the climate!  I'm then back to Steph and Ray's in Reading for about 5 days ... their son Russell is marketing his home privately at the moment, and we are going to have a bit of a chat about strategies etc.  Then on the following Monday (12th) I move on to Philip and Rosemary for a week in Cirencester.

At the beginning of October, I'm off to Budapest for 5 days with Lynne - for whom I look after a rental, back at home.  Not somewhere that I would ever have craved to go ... but now that I am, I'm told it is beautiful and well worth a visit ... I will give my opinion in due course, no doubt.

Travelled by train (on my Pensioner's Pass) to Newport today, to visit Jean - my flatmate from the early 1970's when I was in London on my first OE.  We spent 5 hours together and reminisced and caught up without getting a chance to take breath it seemed.  Where on earth have those last 40 years gone??

Keep safe my friends -

Nos da.