Before we leave on the next stage of our journey, we have summarised below the highlights of our summer in the UK (just in case you think we’ve been doing nothing!).
· A glorious sunny trip with
Ian and Janet on their boat, whizzing from the mouth of the Exe, along the coast as far as the wreck of the Napoli, then back at a leisurely pace, catching 38 mackerel on the way.
· Catching up with
Harriet and all her news, just before she had to return to work in Qatar – she was enjoying the summer rain in UK (glad someone is!); also
Chris before he set off to Bulgaria on a holiday with old school mates (where is Bulgaria, Mum?)
·
Hilary and Dave at Lower Frittiscombe Farm have, as usual, provided a home-from-home for Chris now he`s back from Uni, and
Sophie has helped dye Chris`s hair black to cover the alarming red colour he dyed it to celebrate the end of exams. Not one of his better ideas.
· Fantastic news that
Roly has landed his dream job in Melbourne, and
Jeannie is joining him just around the time we get to Oz. Brilliant timing!
· A relaxing stay near Loddiswell with
Mike P and Barbara - they had not been able to meet up with us as planned in Spain, as bad weather stopped them getting their yacht past Cadiz. Let’s hope this year’s sailing weather is better for them.
· Some fine weather as we ambled through Lodmoor country park near Weymouth with
Liz and Pete. Close views of wading Godwits, and tiny moorhen chicks.
· More birding along the Bristol Channel tidal flats with
Mike Kacher and his bouncy little rescue dog, followed by
Alison’s fantastic secret recipe lasagne.
· Another memorable dish in Edgebaston, prepared by
Will, while
Barbara L explained why they have just started an estate agency!
· Being amongst a party of jovial guests, chauffeured in 2 beribboned London buses, from the wedding of nephew
Stephen and Sarah at Nottingham Cathedral to their reception, on the hottest day of the year. A lovely few days with big sister
Jenny & husband
Richard in Mansfield.
· A fun croquet match with
Ann and Mike T at the Lansdowne croquet and tennis club in Bath, followed by walks through nearby fields and Georgian crescents.
· A trip down memory lane to Weymouth with
Sue`s Mum, on another perfect summer`s day. Reminiscing about family hols here in the late 60`s as we people watched along the esplanade – great fish & chips!
· The usual hilarity around the kitchen table at Smithson`s farm as
Brian, Alice and Belinda brought us townies up to date with sheep world (or “nibblies” as Alice calls them).
· Lots more sheep around when we met up with
Gill, Andrew, Sue & Graham at the historic Speech House Hotel, bang in the middle of the Forest of Dean. A deluge of rain didn`t put us off a forest walk the first day, where we got seriously lost, until Jill`s intuition at last brought us out on a familiar road. The weather relented the next day, so we had lovely views of the river Wye at Symonds Yat.
