BUSINESS CLASS ONLY WAY TO TRAVEL?

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TRAVEL BLOG NO 1

ON OUR JOURNEY’S AGAIN

4TH JUNE 2008 ----- SCHEDULED 21.55PM QANTAS DEPARTURE FROM SYDNEY ------ “SORRY FAULTY ENGINE, EVERYBODY OFF”, ALL THAT = NIGHT AT HILTON (ON QANTAS, OF COURSE) AND THEN A NICE LITTLE UPGRADE TO BUSINESS CLASS ALL THE WAY TO LONDON !!!!!! YAHOOOOOOO !!!! HOW LUCKY CAN ONE GET???????

TEN ON BOARD, ------WHAT CAN ONE DO BUT PUT ON YOUR LITTLE PETER MORRISSEY PJ’S, GRAB A GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE AND DRINK A TOAST TO THE MASCOT MAINTENANCE ENGINEERS AND CURFEWS, ------ AND THAT WE DID !!!!!!! (WE ONLY DEPARTED 20 HOURS LATER THAN THE SCHEDULED TIME.)

WHATS THAT OLD SAYING -------“LIE DOWN AND THINK OF ENGLAND” SO THAT WE DID -------- ALL THE WAY TO ENGLAND.

A GREAT START TO OUR TRIP !!!!

AS ALWAYS WE WATCHED AS MANY MOVIES AS WE COULD AND SLEPT IN BETWEEN AND JUST KEPT PINCHING OURSELVES AT WHAT HAD HAPPENED. YAHOOOOO!!!!!

OUR FLIGHT INTO LONDON WAS ONLY TRANSITORY, AT THIS STAGE AS WE WERE EN ROUTE TO HOLLAND, TO SAY OUR FAREWELLS TO MY DECEASED DAD AND BRING A HUG AND HELLO TO BEP, HIS 2ND WIFE.
IT WAS A SAD COUPLE OF DAYS, MADE QUITE DIFFICULT BY THE FACT THAT BEP SPEAKS VERY LITTLE ENGLISH AND US VERY LITTLE DUTCH, BUT IT’S AMAZING HOW YOU CAN STILL COMMUNICATE IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO. WE HAD SOME QUALITY TIME WITH BEP, IN THEIR HOME AND IN THE VILLAGE WHERE MY DAD HAD LIVED FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS.
HE HAD BEEN CREMATED, SO THERE WAS NO GRAVE, AS SUCH TO VISIT, BUT THE LOCAL LITTLE CHURCH, WITH THE BELLS PEELING OUT WAS SOMETHING OF A REFUGE.
BY THE TIME WE FLEW OUT OF AMSTERDAM I HAD MANAGED TO ACHIEVE SOME SORT OF CLOSURE AND I WAS PLEASED WE HAD MADE THE JOURNEY, ALL PART OF LIFE’S TAPESTRY.
IN BETWEEN WE DID VENTURE INTO AMSTERDAM, FOR A STROLL ALONG THE CANALS, DINNER AT NIEUMARKT, A FORMER FISH MARKET IN AMONGST ONE OF THE MOST HISTORIC PARTS OF THE CITY AND THEN WE TOOK A WANDER THROUGH THE INFAMOUS RED LIGHT DISTRICT, A VOYEURS PARADISE, WHERE THERE ARE JUST LOT’S OF PEOPLE WATCHING PEOPLE ---- “ALL” IN MANY SHAPES, STATES OF DRESS AND SIZES, US INCLUDED!!

OUR NEXT PORT OF CALL WAS UP TO GLASGOW TO VISIT OUR BROTHER PAUL’S FAMILY. RICHARD AND LOUISE, 2 OF HIS GREAT CHILDREN, MET US ON ARRIVAL, WHICH WAS SO NICE, WE ALL HAD A GOOD CRY, FIRST TIME ANY ONE FROM HOME HAS SEEN THE SCOTTISH CHISHOLM’S SINCE PAUL PASSED, SO IT WAS QUITE EMOTIONAL, TO SAY THE LEAST.
ALL THE FAMILY AND THE WAINES ARRIVED OVER THAT NIGHT TO GREET US, THEY ALL MADE US FEEL SO WELCOME, JUST LIKE PAUL ALWAYS HAD.

THE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED, WERE VERY SPECIAL, AS HELEN SHARED WITH US - PAUL’S TREASURE BOX AND WE ALL SAT ROUND AND REMINISED ABOUT ALL THE FUNNY THINGS AND TIMES WE HAD ENJOYED WITH PAUL IN OUR LIVES. WE DID LOTS OF TALKING, LAUGHING, SOME EATING AND DRINKING!!!! AND IAN REPAIRED ALL THAT HELEN WOULD TELL HIM, THAT NEEDED FIXING. WE ALSO PRUNED PAUL’S ROSES AND PLANTED A RHODERDENDRON AROUND HIS GRAVE WHICH IS IN THEIR BACK GARDEN, LOUISE AND RICHARD ADDED TO THIS AFTER WE LEFT AND PLANTED SOME FLOWERS, IT WILL LOOK REALLY BEAUTIFUL NOW AND BY NEXT SPRING, IT SHOULD BE A REAL TREAT.
PAUL WILL BE REALLY “F--- ING” HAPPY ABOUT THAT !!!!!

ONE OF THE DAYS, WE TOOK A TRIP WITH LOUISE, DAVID AND BECKY TO THE MILLINEUM FALKIRK WHEEL - THE WORLDS FIRST REVOLVING CANAL BOAT LIFT (MODERN ALTERNATIVE TO 11 LOCKS) AND THE FINAL LINK TO SCOTLAND’S CANAL RESTORATION PROJECT. A SHEER FEAT OF 21ST CENTURY EXCELLENCE IN ENGINEERING, -----IAN WAS IN 7TH HEAVEN -----AND LOUISE AND DAVID COULD BOTH SEE IT SO THEY WENT OFF AND BOUGHT HIM THE BOOK OF THE HISTORY OF IT ALL, SUCH A GOOD GESTURE, HE WAS CHUFFED.
THE PROJECT ALLOWS A DIRECT WATERWAY LINK BETWEEN GLASGOW AND EDINBURGH AND ALSO A COAST TO COAST CONNECTION LINKING THE RIVERS FORTH AND CLYDE.
WE ALL TOOK THE JOURNEY IN IT, GETTING INTO THE CANAL BOAT AT ONE LEVEL AND BEING GRACEFULLY LIFTED UP 35 METRES BY THE WHEEL TO THE OTHER CANAL LEVEL AND LOCK AND THEN WE WERE TAKEN ALONG AN AQUEDUCT IN THE UPPER CANAL AND BACK, TO THEN TO BE LOWERED BACK DOWN AGAIN, BY THE WHEEL.
THE WHOLE TRIP TOOK ABOUT 30 MINS, SOUNDS COMPLEX, BUT ACTUALLY IT WAS DECEPTIVELY SIMPLE.

A GOOGLE FOR THOSE REALLY INTERESTED, WOULD BE WORTHWHILE.

IT WAS SAD LEAVING THE GLAGOW CHISHOLM FAMILY, AS THEY ARE ALL SUCH GOOD SOULS AND A JOY TO VISIT.
MOST IMPORTANTLY IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO SEE THEM ALL ENDEAVOURING TO MOVE ON WITH THEIR LIVES, PAUL WOULD BE REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

OUR NEXT STOP WAS ONE WE HAD LOOKED FORWARD TO FOR MANY MONTHS, ----- WE WERE OFF TO LONDON, TO SEE OUR MERV, MERN, GINGE, ETC, ETC, OUR BEST MAN AND GOOD MATE.
THERE HE WAS AT THE INFAMOUS TERMINAL 5, WITH THAT BEAUTIFUL BIG SMILE AND THE BIGGEST OF ALL BEAR HUGS, AS ALWAYS. (NOT AS BIG AS YOURS TIM)
NEXT CHALLENGE WAS JUST TO GET OUT OF THE TERMINAL AND THEN TO FIND THE CAR!------NO PROBLEM , THEY HAVE AN ELECTRONIC CAR TRACKER ON EACH FLOOR, YAHOO !! SUCH GOOD THINKING - WHEN ARE THEY GETTING THOSE IN ALL SHOPPING CENTRES??

FROM HEATHROW WE HEADED FOR ANNE AND PAUL’S (MERV, MERN, GINGES SISTER) ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL LITTLE COTTAGE DOWN IN FARNHAM, THEY MADE US FEEL SO WELCOME.
THAT NIGHT WE ALL WENT OUT TO DINNER AT A GLORIOUS LITTLE ENGLISH PUB IN THE SURROUNDING COUNTRYSIDE AND PETER HOWICK’S SISTER PAULINE AND HER HUBBY JIM JOINED US FOR DINNER, WITH LOTS OF THAT WONDERFUL LACONIC ENGLISH HUMOUR AT THE TABLE AND ALL OF THEM REMEMBERING OLD TIMES, WHEN IAN, JENNY AND THE FAMILY HAD LIVED IN ENGLAND, IT MADE FOR A GREAT NIGHT, WITH LOTS OF GOOD STORIES.

NEXT DAY OUR MERV, MERN, GINGE, VERY, VERY KINDLY HANDED OVER HIS VW PASSAT TO US FOR TO USE FOR THE NEXT 3 WEEKS AND WITH THE TRUSTY ENGLISH VERSION OF BARB (THE GPS) WE FOUND OUR WAY TO TOLWORTH TO PEGGY HOWICK’S, PETE’S MUM, VIA A QUICK STOP AT M&S FOR SOME SALMON SANDWICHES AND A FEW CREAM DONUTS, SOME OF PEGGY’S FAVOURITES, WELL THAT’S OUR STORY.
WE HAD A LOVELY VISIT WITH PEGGY, AND I SERVED LUNCH WHILE IAN AND HER REMINISED OVER DAYS GONE BY.

IT WAS SO BEAUT FOR ME TO SEE ALL KATHY’S ARTWORK SHOWING UP ALONG THE WAY.

FROM THERE WE WENT OVER TO PAULINE AND JIM’S HOUSE FOR A DRINK AND SNOOZE FOR SOME (OOPS - MERN) BEFORE WE HEADED ON THE ROAD TO DEVON AND MERV, MERN, GINGE’S BARN AT NYMET ROLAND.

AS WE CHATTED NON STOP ALL THE WAY TO DEVON, WE DID NEED TO STOP OFF AT A FEW LITTLE PUBS ALONG THE WAY FOR A PINT OF ALE THE ‘LAMB’ BEING ONE OF THEM.
WINDING OUR WAY THROUGH THE NARROW HEDGELINNED ROADS AND THEN PASSING THROUGH THE PICTURESQUE VILLAGES, JUST IS SOOOOOO ENGLAND, IT REALLY IS SUCH A UNIQUE PART OF THE WORLD.
WE BOTH FELT VERY AT HOME TO BE BACK THERE - LIKE PULLING ON AN OLD MUCH LOVED CARDIGAN!.

BEFORE WE STOPPED FOR A FAMOUS MERV, MERN, GINGE CURRY, WE JUST HAPPENED TO COME ACROSS A CAR VERY RECENTLY TURNED UPSIDE DOWN WE ALL JUMPED OUT THINKING WE WOULD BE RESCUING SOME POOR DRIVER BUT SOMEHOW THEY HAD GOT OUT AND WERE SEEN WALKING ALONG THE ROAD, SO THE POLICE TOLD US, WHEN THEY ARRIVED.
HOW THE HELL HE/SHE GOT OUT, BEATS ALL OF US - WE THINK MAYBE OUT THE BACK WINDOW WHICH WAS COMPLETLEY SMASHED.
EITHER WAY HE/SHE’S LUCKY TO BE ALIVE!

AFTER A VERY EVENTFUL DAY WE ARRIVED AT THE BARN ABOUT 11.30PM.
WE DID A QUICK TOUR AND THEN ALL HIT THE HAY.

NEXT DAY THE WORK FORCE WENT INTO ACTION.

OVER THOSE NEXT 4 DAYS WE ALL JUST DID WHATEVER NEEDED DOING, PLUS ATE COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF FRESH VEGES, HERBS AND A FEW CHOSEN STRAWBERRIES FROM MERV’S GARDEN, FEASTED ON DUCK A LA RHUBARB, DRANK HEAPS, LAUGHED LOTS, TOLD SOME GREAT STORIES, (SOME TRUE) AND JUST HAD A REALLY VERY SPECIAL TIME TOGETHER, ONE WE WILL ALL NEVER FORGET!

IT WAS EXTRA SPECIAL FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME TIME WITH MERN AS HE WAS IN THE MIDST OF MUCH OF HIS PREPARATION FOR HIS JOURNEY TO NIGER IN AFRICA TO VISIT ZOUERA THE YOUNG GIRL HE HAS BEEN SPONSERING THROUGH ‘WORLD VISION’ FOR THE LAST 4/5 YEARS. A YOUNG AFRICAN GIRL WHO CURRENTLY CAN ONLY SIGN HER NAME USING HER HAND PRINT!

IT IS SUCH A TRULY WONDERFUL AND SELFLESS JOURNEY, THAT GINGE HAS PLANNED.
ON THE 25TH OCT (AILS BIRTHDAY) MERN PLANS TO TRAVEL ACROSS COUNTRY TO NIGER WITH HIS AMERICAN FRIEND ‘WILL’, WHO HE MET WHILE THEY WHERE BOTH DOING VOLUNTARY WORK IN SRI LANKA, AFTER THE TSUNAMI, AND WITH SOLAR POWERED COMPUTERS, LOADED WIITH EDUCATIONAL DVDS , THEY ARE GOING TO TRIAL ADULT AND CHILDREN’S EDUCATON WITH THE PEOPLE IN ZOUERA’S VILLAGE AND HOPEFULLY SURROUNDS. A DOCMENTARY WILL BE FILMED OF THE EFFORTS AND IF SUCCESSFUL WILL BE OFFERED AS A SOLUTION FOR ALL TO USE ELSEWHERE IN SIMILAR LOCATIONS IN THE WORLD WHERE EDUCATION IS DESPARATELY REQUIRED.


OUR PRAYERS WILL BE WITH THEM BOTH FOR A SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL TRIP. THEY DO HAVE A WEB SITE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT OR FOLLOW THEM ALONG THEIR AMAZING JOURNEY WWW.QUESTZOUERA.ORG

AFTER WORK BROKE AT 2.30PM ON THE LAST DAY, MERN SUGESTED A WALK TO THE PUB FOR LUNCH, A LONG WALK UP HILL AND DOWN HILL AND WE ARRIVED AT 4.15PM CERTAINLY HUNGRY. IT WAS GREAT TO WALK THROUGH THE COUNTRY LANES WITH MERN DESCRIBING EVERY FLOWER PLANT AND TREE AS WE WENT. A PLOGHMAN’S AND PASTA SALAD AND 3 PINTS PUT US IN FORM FOR THE WALK HOME VIA A MERN DETOUR TO FOLLOW THE ‘TARKA THE OTTER TRAIL’ WHICH WENT IN A CIRCLE OF SORTS AND MADE FOR MUCH RIBBING OF THE GUIDE - HOME LATE AND MORE WORK AND THAT NIGHT DINER NOT TILL 10.30 WHEN HE LIGHT WENT.

ON THE MORNING OF THE 17TH WE RELUCTANTLY DROVE AWAY FROM MERN”S LITTLE PIECE OF PARADISE, THAT WE HAD ENOYED SO MUCH AND HEADED OVER TO FALMOUTH TO MEET ERICA AND PAT (THE FRIEND IAN SAILED ACROSS THE ATLANTIC WITH) ONCE AGAIN WE WERE MADE TO FEEL SO WELCOME IN THEIR BEAUTIFUL COASTAL ‘BOLTHOLE’. THE DAYS WERE SPENT RELIVING THE VOYAGE, DISCUSSING ‘THE WORLD’ ONCE AGAIN WITH WINE AND FOOD AND IN BETWEEN TAKING THEIR DOG MEG FOR HER DAILY WALK AND SEEING SOME OF THE FALMOUTH COAST. THEY WERE GREAT FUN AND WE HOPE ONE DAY THEY WILL VISIT SYDNEY AND WE CAN REPAY ALL THE KINDNESS AND SHARE AN UPDATE ON ‘THE WORLD’.

ON THE 19TH WE DROVE ON UP FURTHER THROUGH CORNWALL, THROUGH THE MOST PICTURESQUE SCENERY !!!! PASSING THROUGH ALL THE HISTORIC LITTLE VILLAGES, WITH THE THATCHED ROOFED COTTAGES, THE FOREVER ENGLISH SYMBOLS OF THE OLD RED TELEPHONE AND POST BOXES DOTTED ALL ALONG THE WAY AND CONSTANT FULL BLOOMING GARDENS JUST BURSTING IN HUGE HEADED AND HANGING VARITIES OF ROSES (IN EVERY COLOR IMAGINABLE), LIKE YOU NEVER SEE ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD AND TO BOOT WAS ALL THE BEAUTIFUL ARRAY OF WILD FLOWERS EDGING ALONG THE 2 MTRE HIGH, HEDGED NARROW LANES (WHAT THEY CALL ROADS)
OUR FIRST STOP WAS AT THE LOST GARDENS OF HELIGAN, (GARDENS DEVELOPED IN THE 1700’S AND REDISCOVERED AND RESTORED BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL NATURAL BEAUTY, IN 1990’S, INCLUDING A NZ GARDEN, THAT IS JUST SO REAL, YOU ACTUALLY FEEL LIKE YOU’RE ACTUALLY THERE)
FROM THERE IT WAS ON TO A GLORIOUS THE SUNFILLED COASTAL PORT OF CHARLESTOWN, WITH A SHIPYARD WITH A 3 MASTER TIMBER BOAT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN AND HERE WE SAT AND ENJOYED A TYPICAL PLOUGHMANS LUNCH AND A PINT OVERLOOKING THE BAY. WE THEN MADE A SKIRTING SWEEP THROUGH PADSTOW, A VERY POPULAR COASTAL STOP, BUT JUST A LITTLE TOO TOURISTY FOR US. FROM THERE IT WAS ON TO OUR HOPED FOR DESTINATION ---------PORT ISSAC, YES THE DIVINE LITTLE FISHING VILLAGE WHERE THE ABC SHOW ‘DOC MARTIN’ IS FILMED, SUCH A GLORIOUS SPOT, JUST THE SHOW, AFTER WE MANAGED TO FIND OURSELVES A LITTLE B&B ABOVE THE MAIN ST ART GALLERY, WE VISITED ALL THE SHOW SPOTS AND ENOYED A LOVELY EVENING AT HE LOCAL PUB, CHATTING TO ONE OF LIFE’S CHARACTERS KEN AND THEN LATER DOWN IN THE TOWN SQUARE LISTENING AND HOPPING UP THE MAIN ST WITH THE LOCAL BRASS BAND, A TRADITION WE’RE TOLD ???
ANYWAY IT WAS A GREAT INSIGHT INTO THE PORT AND IT’S PEOPLE AND LOTS OF FUN, ALL UP A REALLY MEMORABLE LITTLE STOP.

NEXT DAY EN ROUTE TO LUDLOW TO VISIT OUR DEAR MATE PHILIPPA, WE STOPPED AT THE 14TH CENTURY FISHING VILLAGE OF CLOVELLY, WITH ALL THE LITTLE WHITE COTTAGES, THE STEEP COBBLED STREETS AND THE DONKEYS WHICH ARE STILL USED TO THIS DAY TO TRANSPORT ALL THE DELIVERIES UP ALONG AND DOWNALONG THE STEEP VILLAGE.
FROM THERE A QUICK LITTLE PUB LUNCH, BEFORE WE PULLED INTO BRIMFIELD AND FOUND OUR WAY TO PHILIPPA’S, SUCH A LOVELY WARM WELCOME AS PHILIPPA POPPED HER SMILING FACE OUT THE FRONT DOOR TO GREET US.
THAT EVENING JOYCE, HER VERY GOOD FRIEND AND SISTER-IN-LAW CAME WITH CHLOE, PHILIPPA’S BEAUTIFUL OLD LAB, WHOM SHE HAD BEEN LOOKING AFTER AND WE HAD A SCRUMMY CHICKEN CACCIATORE HOME COOKED DINNER, IT WAS A LOVELY EVENING CATCHING UP AND GETTING TO KNOW JOYCE.

NEXT DAY AFTER A LEISURELY BREAKY WE WENT INTO THE HISTORIC VILLAGE OF LUDLOW, WITH IT’S CASTLE IN THE CENTRE, THE HOME OF HENRY THE 7TH, WHICH WE WALKED ALL WAY AROUND, HAD A PUB LUNCH AT THE WHEATSHEAF AND IN BETWEEN DID “THE PHIL AND JOYCE WALKING TOUR OF DOWNTOWN LUDLOW”, GREAT FUN, STOPPING OFF AT THE LOCAL CHEESE SHOP FOR SOME DEVON ‘YARG’ - GRAY SPELLED BACKWARDS AS THE GRAY’S CREATED THE CHEESE, AND TO THE “ALL FRENCH SHOP” FOR SOME FOIS GRAIS AND WINE AND THE DELI FOR A LOCAL TREAT - PARSNIP CHIPS, ALL VERY GOOD, LUDLOW IS A GREAT SPOT FOR FOODIES.
AFTER A CUP OF TEA AT JOYCE’S IT WAS BACK TO HOME FOR ANOTHER LOVELY EVENING AT PHILIPPA’S, ENOYING LOCAL CHEESES AND I THINK EITHER A NZ WHITE OR AUSSIE RED, GOOD NIGHT WAS HAD BY ALL.

THE NEXT MORN WE PACKED AGAIN THOSE BAGS OF OURS AND PILED THEM IN THE BOOT AND CROSSED THE MIDLANDS ON THE M5/M6/M42 TO DERBY, ARRIVING AT GARY, LINDA AND TOBY SMITH’S HOUSE WHO HAD KINDLY OFFERED US A BED AS OUR DEAR MATE HOLGER AND HIS PARTNER MICHELLE HAD NO ROOM IN THEIR INN.
THESE ARE IAN’S OLD SKIING MATES, OR SHOULD I SAY SKIING MATES OF OLD, OOPS!, ANYWAY, EITHER WAY, FROM THE MOMENT WE ARRIVED UNTIL WE LEFT IT WAS JUST ONE GOOD OLD STORY AFTER THE OTHER AND COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF LAUGHTER.
UNFORTUNATELY FOR US GARY’S WIFE LINDA WAS IN FRANCE VISITING FRIENDS SO WE MISSED HER, BUT SHE STILL MADE US FEEL VERY WELCOME, WITH A FRIENDLY CALL FROM FRANCE, TELLING US TO “JUST MAKE OURSELVES AT HOME, BUT THAT I COULDN’T WEAR HER JEWELLERY”, -----BIT MEAN I THOUGHT.
APPARENTLY THOSE CALLS CONTINUED, BUT JUST TO GARY, TO ENSURE THAT AT EACH STAGE HE WAS PERFORMING TO THE VERY BEST OF HOSTING DUTIES.
BY OUR STANDARDS, HE REALLY NEEDED NO PROMPTING.
LINDA’S AND GARY’S SENSE OF HUMOUR AND HOSPITALITY WAS UNSURPASSED, THEY REALLY SHOULD OPEN A B&B, WE’ED RECOMMEND IT TO EVERYONE ALL OVER THE WORLD.

WE SPENT A SUPER DAY WITH HOLGER AND MICHELLE VISITING THE LOCAL COUNTRYSIDE, MATLOCK, LITTLE MATLOCK AND BAKEWELL (FAMOUS FOR IT’S PIES) AND KEDELSTREN, ONE OF THE NATIONAL TRUST HOMES.
AND THEN WE MET GARY BACK IN DERBY FOR A DINNER AT THE LOCAL CATHEDRAL (WHERE LINDA HAD BEEN BAPTISED) WHICH HAS NOW BEEN CONVERTED INTO WOKAMANIA -AN ASIAN BUFFET RESTAURANT.
DERBY WAS A SHORT STOP, FULL OF LOTS OF LAUGHTER AND IT WAS SO GOOD TO HAVE MET MICHELLE, AFTER HEARING SO MUCH ABOUT HER, WE ALL GOT ON FAMOUSLY, LIKE WE’D KNOWN HER FOR YEARS, AND TO MEET THE LOVELY GARY BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY TO CATCH UP WITH THE COLORFUL HOLGER AND SEE HIM SO HAPPY IN LOVE.

NEXT MORNING WAS A 6AM GET AWAY ON THE M1 TO HEATHROW TO PICK UP OUR TRACE, SOOOOO EXCITING!!!!
AS ALWAYS IT WAS LOTS OF BIG LOUD SCREAMS OF LAUGHTER, SOME TEARS AND FLAMBOUYANT HUGGING, WITH SOME TOSSING BODIES IN THE AIR, GENERALLY A GOOD WELCOME!!!!!

THEN IT WAS OFF TO OUR BARN IN WEST WRATTING IN COUNTY SUFFOLK.
FIRST STOP THE LOCAL PUB TO MEET THE PUBLICAN DAN.
WE EVENTUALLY MADE OUR WAY TO ECCLECTIC, SOMEWHAT RATHER KICHELY DECORATED BARN, WHERE WE WOULD MAKE HOME BASE FOR A WHOLE WEEK, YAHOO, CORRIE COULD ACTUALLY UNPACK, PUT IN DRAWS AND PRESS THE WEDDING OUTFITS, SO DOMESTICATED, FIRST IRONING SINCE HOME!!!!
THEN IT WAS OFF INTO CAMBRIDGE TO HAVE WHAT WILL ALWAYS BE, ----A MUCH TREASURED NIGHT WITH JUST US AND JOHN AND SOPHIE, BEFORE ALL THE FAMILY ARRIVED FROM NZ. WE WERE REALLY CHUFFED ABOUT THAT NIGHT, HOW LUCKY WE WERE TO HAVE THE BRIDE AND GROOM ALL TO OURSELVES, 4 NIGHTS BEFORE THEIR WEDDING!!!! WHEN WE ARRIVED AT THEIR LIGHT, AIRY AND SUPER SPACIOUS APARTMENT SOPHIE WAS STILL OUT SHOPPING, SO OUR JOHN, WHO HAS TURNED INTO THE ULTIMATE GOOD HOST, (SUE, JOB WELL DONE!!), JUST RAZZLED UP DRINKS AND NIBBLES, THEN PIZZA’S AND SALAD AND THEN YUMMY DESERTS, SUCH A CATCH FOR OUR SOPHIE, MIND YOU SHE DID DO QUITE A BIT OF ASSISTING. BUT JOHN CERTAINLY HAD IT ALL UNDER CONTROL.
THAT NIGHT WE HAD A LOVELY BIT OF QUALITY TIME TOGETHER, JUST THE 5 OF US, CATCHING UP, LEARNING ALL ABOUT JOHN’S NEW JOB WITH EXXON, STARTING WITH A YEAR IN THE UK AND THEN RELOCATION TO HOUSTON TEXAS USA, ONLY AN HOUR OR SO FROM SANTA FE, --------YAHOOOOO’S BY TRACE, COULD BE HEARD ALL OVER CAMBRIDGE!
ALL SO EXCITING FOR THEM BOTH, AND A GREAT CREDIT TO JOHN AFTER ALL THOSE YEARS OF STUDY.
THE NEXT DAY WE TOOK A DAY OFF AND JUST CHILLED OUT WITH OUR TRACE, WE WERE ALL JUST NEEDING TO HAVE A GOOD REST, COMBINED WITH SOAKING UP THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE AND SUNSHINE, -------YES, SUNSHINE, IN FACT OUR WHOLE TIME IN THE UK THE WEATHER HAS BEEN BRILLIANT!!!!!
THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS WE SPENT CATCHING UP WITH THE BECKERS, PUNTING DOWN THE CAM RIVER AND JOHN , WHO HAD GRADUATED FROM CAMBRIDGE UNI WITH HIS DOCTORATE IN GEOLOGY, KINDLY GOT US INTO THE KINGS COLLEGE CHAPEL, WHICH WE WERE VERY LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO DO AS GRADUATION WAS ON,AND THE WHOLE OF CAMBRIDGE WAS ABUZZ WITH ALL THE FORMALITIES AND ASSOCIATED VISITORS. IT WAS QUITE A SPECTACULAR SIGHT, SEEING ALL THE GRADUATES WITH THE COLLEGE ORDERLIES AND THE PROFFESTORIAL STAFF, ALL SO FORMAL.
EVERYONE ASSOCIATED WAS DRESSED UP A TREAT, ALL VERY PROPER, GREAT SIGHT TO HAVE SEEN.
THE CHAPEL BUILT OVER 3 YEARS IN THE 1500’S, HAS A 24 METRE HIGH VAULTED CEILING,THE LARGEST VAULT OF IT’S KIND IN THE WORLD, GIVING AN AMAZING SENSE OF SPACIOUSNESS AND THEN THERE ARE THE 26 SETS OF STAINED GLASS WINDOWS, WHICH TOOK AROUND 30 YEARS TO COMPLETE AND INSTALL AND THEN THE ENGINEERING MASTERY IN ALL THE STONE MASONERY, MOST IMPRESSIVE !!!

IT WAS A BEAUT COUPLE OF DAYS, WITH A LITLE FUN SHOPPING IN BETWEEN AND SANDRA AND LES ARRIVING AND US ALL ENOYING BEING IN CAMBRIDGE TOGETHER AS THE LEAD UP TO JOHN AND SOPHIE’S BIG DAY.

SATURDAY ARRIVED, THE WEATHER WAS PERFECT, TO ORDER, AND THE PREPARATION OF GETTING ALL FROCKED UP BEGAN, BUT NOT BEFORE OUR ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE WALK AND THE FIRST RENDITION OF TRACE BELTING OUT THE HARMONY OF CHRISTCHURCH GIRLS SCHOOL SONG
JERUSALEM, JERUSALEM -------, SUCH A JOY THAT GIRL IS !!!
WELL TO SCHEDULE, OF WE WENT HEADING FOR BOXTED AND THE WEDDING OF JOHN AND SOPHIE.
WE ALL LOOKED PRETTY GOOD IN OUR FROCKS AND MORING SUITS, (MINUS A HAT.) ALL VERY EXCITED, HAPPY AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SPECIAL DAY - AND THAT IT WAS, THE CHURCH, BOXTED HALL AND THE DAY WAS ALL JUST THE PERFECT SETTING.
WE ALL WALKED UP THE HILL ACROSS A MEADOW TO THE CHURCH FROM THE GRACIOUS BOXTED HALL RESIDENCE TO BE SEATED IN A 12TH CENTURY CHURCH WITH OLD WOODEN GATED PEWS AND ELEVATED WODDEN PULPIT.
SOPHIE AND HER TEAM OF 4 BRIDESMAIDS AND 1 FLOWERGIRL ARRIVED IN A HORSE DRAWN TRAP ALL DECKED OUT IN FLOWERS; JOHN AND HIS 2 BEST MEN WERE INSIDE IN MORNING SUITS, CRAVATS AND WAIST COATS AND FAIRLY RELAXED LOOKING FOR THE OCCASION - 9 YEARS COMING.
THE MUSIC SOON STRUCK UP WITH THE BRIDAL PROCESSIONAL DELIVERED FROM A STRING QUARTET AND ENTER THE BRIDE WITH HER ENTOURAGE, ON THE ARM OR HER FATHER (WITH ONLY A FEW TEARS, PUSHING THROUGH) ALL WERE LOOKING SO BEAUTIFUL WITH THE BRIDESMAIDS IN SOFT AQUA CHIFFON.
THE SERVICE WAS TRADITIONAL WTH HYMNS - “ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL” AND “MORNING HAS BROKEN” AND FINALLY THE HAPPY COUPLE RECESSING OUT TO A MAGNIFICENT SUMMERS DAY TO THE MUSIC OF THE TRADITIONAL WEDDING MARCH, ALL JUST SO ROMANTIC!

2,567 PHOTO’S AND LOTS OF HUGS AND KISSES LATER, WE ALL FOLLOWED MR AND MRS BECKER IN THEIR HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE DOWN TO BOXTED HALL FOR THE CONTINUING FESTIVITIES.

DOWN AT THE HALL THE QUARTET CONTINUED TO PLAY WHILE WE ALL HAD PRE WEDDING BREAKY DRINKS AND HORS D’OUVRES, WHILE THE PHOTO’S WERE TAKEN. THEN THE MEAL BEGAN.
OUR TABLE WAS BY FAR THE NOISIEST AND MOST FUN, WITH SANDRA, LES, MARK AND BRON AND (SLEEP IN THE WRONG BED) PAULA, TRACE, E AND ME.
IAN HAD BEEN GIVEN THE HONOUR OF MC, SO IN BETWEEN WE HAD TO BEHAVE, BUT IT DIDN’T HELP A WHOLE LOT, BUT WE DID LAUGH ON QUEUE WHEN HE TOLD HIS WORLD CUP RUGBY JOKE.

JOHN’S SPEECH WAS ONE OF THE BEST GROOMS SPEECHES WE HAD EVER HEARD, HE HAD US ALL IN STITCHES. HIS BRIDES SPEECH WAS ALSO MOST TOUCHING(SOPH HAD ASKED HIM TO READ IT ON HER BEHALF).

AFTER DINNER THERE WAS A SHORT BREAK WHILE THE DINNING ROOM WAS CONVERTED INTO A DANCE ROOM AND OTHER GUESTS THAT SOPHIE AND OHN HAD INVITED TO JUST THE EVENING FESTIVITIES ARRIVED.

AND THEN THE BAND BEGAN,AND JOHN AND SOPHIE DID A FOXTROT TO SOME AMAZING PIECE OF MUSIC, THEY WERE ------”HOT”.------- AND THEN ALL THE ANTIPODEANS PUT ON THEIR DANCING SHOES AND WE ROCKED THE NIGHT AWAY, IT WAS FANTASTIC WE ALL HAD SO MUCH FUN, DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE OTHER GUESTS, HOPE WE DIDN’T HOG THE DANCE FLOOR TOO MUCH!!!!

THE FINALI WAS TRACES WEDDING SPECIALITY ----THE HAKA, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY WAS HELD SO LATE THAT THERE WAS ONLY A CHOSEN FEW TO VIEW, BUT SHE ASSURED ME IT WAS HER BEST YET, SEEMS THEY ARE GETTING BETTER EACH YEAR.

DAN, OUR PUBLICAN MATE PICKED US UP AT ABOUT 1AM, CORRIE WAS THE ONLY ONE AWAKE TO TALK TO HIM, SHE HAD SNORER AND SNOREE ON EITHER SIDE OF HER IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE NEW VERSION OF THE FAMOUS LONDON CAB AS WE WOUND OUR WAY THROUGH THE SUFFOLK COUNTRYSIDE AT THE END OF THE MOST WONDERFUL DAY.

NEXT MORNING, SUNDAY AT 11AM DAN REAPPEARED TO TAKE US BACK TO BOXTED HALL FOR A “GOOD FAMILY AND FRIENDS” RELAXED BBQ LUNCH, A LOVELY IDEA AND A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO REMINISE OVER THE DAY AND NIGHT BEFORE.
THERE WERE LOTS OF WONDERFUL MOMENTS TO REMEMBER, SO LOTS OF HILARITY AND YET ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY AT THE COUNTRY MANOR ---BOXTED HALL.

AFTER LUNCH WE SLOWLY MEANDERED OUR WAY HOME TO WEST WRATTING, ARRIVING THERE ABOUT 5PM AND AT ABOUT 6.30 OUR MERV ARRIVED AT THE BARN TO BUNK IN WITH US ALL FOR 2 NIGHTS, TO CATCH UP WITH TRACE AND SAY LAST FAREWELLS TO US BEFORE TAKING US ALL TO HEATHROW ON THE TUESDAY MORNING.

THIS WAS YET ANOTHER VERY SPECIAL 2 DAYS FOR US WITH BOTH MERV AND TRACE, WE AM PACKED EVERY MOMENT, WITH EVERY ONE GRABBING SLEEP WHEREEVER THEY COULD, SOME NEED IT MORE THAN OTHERS.

THAT NIGHT WE TOOK MERV DOWN TO MEET DAN, THEN WENT TO A NEARBY VILLAGE PUB FOR A BITE OF TEA AND THEN GOT HOME FOR AN INTERNATIONAL DEBATE ON AMERICAN POLITICS AND THEIR HEALTH SYSTEM, SOME OF US GOT TO BED AT 4.30AM, SOME A LITTLE EARLIER, EVERYONE HAD A SAY, AT SOME STAGE.

NEXT MORNING WE WENT ON A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY WALK THROUGH THE FIELDS OF SUFFOLK AND TRACE GAVE US HER HEARTFELT RENDITION OF JERUSALEM, NOW NOT ONLY HER SCHOOL SONG, BUT A SONG VERY CLOSE TO MERV’S HEART, TRACE HAS NOW BEEN RENAMED ARTICHOKE.

WE GOT BACK TO THE BARN JUST IN TIME FOR A QUICK SHOWER, CHANGE AND TO DO AN AMAZING TEAM EFFORT OF COLLECTING FRESH BREAD STICKS, MAKING PIMMS, THE POPULAR BECKER DRINK AND WHIPPING UP A SIMPLE LUNCH FOR THE BECKERS AND US 4 ==13 OF US ALL UP.

IT WAS A SUPER POST WEDDING LUNCH FROM US TO SAY THANKS FOR ALL THE UK HOSPITALITY AND HAVE SOME MORE QUALITY TIME ALL TOGETHER. WE SANG, LAUGHED, ATE AND DRANK AND SOME SLEPT OR NODDED OFF AND WE TOLD LOTS OF GOOD STORIES, IN THE SUNNY LITTLE COURTYARD AT THE BACK OF THE BARN, A LOVELY DAY WAS HAD BY ALL.


THAT EVENING, US 4, TOOK OURSELVES OFF TO ANOTHER LITTLE NEARBY VILLAGE FOR A FAMOUS MERN INDIAN CURRY, MERV JUST KNOWS ALL THE RIGHT THINGS TO ORDER ! IT WAS A GREAT MEAL, BUT WE WERE ALL STARTING TO GET A LITTLE QUIETER AS WE COULD FEEL OUR TIME TOGETHER, (FOR THIS TIME) COMING TO AN END, FOR TOMORROW MORN WE ALL NEEDED TO BE UP AND READY TO DEPART FOR HEATHROW BY 5.30AM
BUT THAT DIDN’T STOP US DOING A QUICK STOP INTO DAN’S PUB TO SAY FAREWELL TO ALL OUR NEWFOUND 2ND BEST SUFFOLK FRIENDS, I THINK DURING OUR STAY AT THE BARN WE HAD BECOME QUITE A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION, WE HAD MET MOST OF THE CHARACTERS,WORTH MEETING AND WE HAVE NO DOUBT THE COFFEE SET WOULD HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT US, WITH ALL OUR SINGING AND CARRY ON, IN THE STREETS AND THE FIELDS AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY AND NIGHT.
IT WAS TRACES FIRST VISIT TO ENGLAND AND SHE LIKE US, LOVED EVERYBIT OF IT.

THE NEXT MORN AT 5.30AM WE PILED ALL THE LUGGAGE INTO THE PASSAT AND ALL OF US AND OFF WE WENT DOWN THE M10.

ALL VERY QUIET, MOST THINGS THAT NEEDED SAYING HAD BEEN SAID.

THE FAREWELLS WERE WITH SOME TEARS, BUT MOST OF ALL WE WERE ALL HAPPY TO BE LEFT AND LEAVING WITH SUCH WONDERFUL MEMORIES, THAT NO ONE CAN EVER ERASE! HOW LUCKY ARE WE ALL TO HAVE GOOD FRIENDS, IT IS A BLESSING!!!!S

BYE BYE ENGLAND.

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