En route home.

Last two days in one blog – mainly because I didn’t have time to sit down and blog till I got to the airport!

Market Day at the ButterCross

The final morning with Steve & Gill was lovely – the day promised to be a scorcher, but the morning was still cool, and we had breakfast in the garden before I got my bags repacked.  We walked in to the station – it’s just up from the ButterCross, and the Thursday market was on, so Gill and Steve were able to do a fresh-produce shop. They’re heading up to Manchester Friday morning to have a weekend of grandparent duty, and to allow Ben and Irena to get away for a couple of days. Izzie goes to doggie daycare for the weekend; I think she has a hard time with little Nico, who’s a grabber!

We were in good time for the train, and enjoyed a last visit together in the quiet before it arrived.

Gill

Steve

Nottingham change was easy, but when I got to Birmingham, I found that my train to Reading had been cancelled. Luckily, there was another half an hour later, but when it arrived we discovered there was some sort of problem with it, and they needed to bring in a substitute. With the passengers for the 1.33 AND the 2.03, it was a little crowded. The advantages of being an older female – a very nice young railways guy got my bag on the train in the first class area and said “you might as well sit there if nobody’s claimed a seat”. I was most grateful – there were a lot of people who had to stand for the whole journey in the in-between bits with no air-con. 

Goring-on-Thames choir

We arrived in Reading 45 minutes late – luckily I’d been able to warn Fran – and there she was waiting for me. She’s one of those people that just doesn’t change – and one of those friends with whom the friendship just clicks back into place. We had a lovely couple of hours catching up, and then headed out to choir practice. She has directed the Goring choir for close on 30 years, and they don’t stop at the end of the season – they are in the middle of prep for a weekend singing services at Exeter Cathedral in August. It was nice to sit and observe, to do a little accompanying, but not to have to take any responsibility!  We went to the pub with a group of the singers, afterwards – such nice people!

Well done!

Friday morning was an early start, and Fran dropped me off at Reading station at 6am.  Smooth journey – glitches apart, I’ve quite enjoyed this rail travel holiday, though in all too many towns, the views are blocked – so we went though Oxford yesterday, and Guilford this morning, and I got barely a glimpse of colleges and the Cathedral. I’ve loved the variety of countryside, though the speed at which we travel really precludes good photos. And going through small towns with names like Dorking Deepdene...

Now writing from Gatwick airport, which is not a beautiful experience, but has to be dealt with.  I think it’s going to be a full flight, unlike the one on which I came. I asked about an upgrade, but nothing was available, and sadly, I’m not on an aisle – I resent having to pay for a specific seat, but obviously everyone else just did it...  Dig out the melatonin and try and sleep it off....  It's an 11:40am flight and I arrive 1:25pm – jetlag going east to west is always hardest for me!  Oh, well – I’ll be in my own bed soon enough, and I hope that McCormick is ready to forgive his cage stay and allow some cuddles!

I've missed you!