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.