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!