Friday 21st June
A long, long journey, very boring and tiring but we arrived safe and sound.
We landed a little behind schedule at 06:40 and entered a world of complete chaos.
Imagine at least five plane loads of people trying to get through Immigration and Passport Control where there were only six desks open. Very long queues and definitely not a good way to welcome overseas visitors.
When we got into the main terminal, it was only a little better, just a sea of people waiting for friends and relatives. It would have been hard to find Alex and Graham if Graham hadn't been holding a big blue 'welcome home' balloon which he had found.
Big reunion with Ben and Becky when we got back to their house.
Graham went to work, Ben to school, while Becky and Alex bought us home to North Richmond.
The house was cold of course but we soon had the heating on and the fire lit.
The garden was neat and tidy, but very dry of course, friends had been around and cleared up all the fallen leaves and twigs. There had been some very high winds while we had been away.
Well that's it. All over until next time.
Friday, September 13, 2019
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
The Holiday contiues .... but not for much longer.
Wednesday 19th June
I seem to remember that the weather was quite good but still cool.
We didn't sleep too well, just thinking about everything we had to do and get the packing done.
Although our flight doesn't leave until 20:30 we will try and leave Jane's just after lunch. We will have to return the hire car, which if the pick-up was anything to go by, it could take a while and we have been warned about roadworks and holdups on the motorway.
We managed to squeeze everything into the suitcases, packed the car and left Janes about 13:30.
We had a far easier than expected drive to Manchester Airport, no problems on the motorway. We topped up the car with fuel and the return was done with the minimum of fuss. Caught the shuttle bus to the terminal and everything had run so smoothly that we were inside the terminal by 15:30.
With so much time to waste it gave us time to shop, book in our luggage and head for the business lounge. The hardest part of the adventure was to find our check-in desk.
The aircraft was very comfortable and we finally took off just a few minutes late, heading for Abu Dhabi and the long arduous journey.
I seem to remember that the weather was quite good but still cool.
We didn't sleep too well, just thinking about everything we had to do and get the packing done.
Although our flight doesn't leave until 20:30 we will try and leave Jane's just after lunch. We will have to return the hire car, which if the pick-up was anything to go by, it could take a while and we have been warned about roadworks and holdups on the motorway.
We managed to squeeze everything into the suitcases, packed the car and left Janes about 13:30.
We had a far easier than expected drive to Manchester Airport, no problems on the motorway. We topped up the car with fuel and the return was done with the minimum of fuss. Caught the shuttle bus to the terminal and everything had run so smoothly that we were inside the terminal by 15:30.
With so much time to waste it gave us time to shop, book in our luggage and head for the business lounge. The hardest part of the adventure was to find our check-in desk.
The aircraft was very comfortable and we finally took off just a few minutes late, heading for Abu Dhabi and the long arduous journey.
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
The Holiday contiues ....
Very nearly the end of our stay in the UK.
We drove into Shrewsbury and parked on the opposite side of the city just for a change. Why do parking areas have such complicated payment systems. This particular parking area became so complicated, not just for me, that I ended up paying with a card.
Walked up through the city, window shopping mainly although I did buy a sweater that was on sale near Waterstones on The Square. Di just had to check out the cosmetics in Boots and we were served by a lady who recognized us from three years ago and we ended up with loads of freebees.
We also visited Labyrinth, the Harry Potter shop on Grope Lane.
A few doors down from Fatface there is a men's outfitters called Pockets. As I was having a look at their range of Barbour shirts, the young assistant noticed me looking at Barbours distinctive bottom shirt button and button hole, which are highlighted by using gold coloured thread. He explained to me that it was a sort of trademark of theirs, which I knew. What he didn't know though, and admitted that he had never noticed, was that the lowest button hole of the shirt is always horizontal. Sewing the bottom one this way rather than vertically is so that by feel alone you know when you have reached the last button on the shirt. This goes back to a time when gentlemen were dressed in candle light.
On the way back to Janes we called in to Battlerfield and came across this interesting weather vane.
Had a very nice dinner out with Jane and Glynn. Probably the last time we will see them as they leave very early for work.
Monday, September 09, 2019
The Holiday continues
Monday 17th June
The morning was cool and overcast.Today we said our fond farewells to Mal and Ivor as we are heading up to Shrewsbury to stay with Jane and Glynn for our last few days before heading home.
On our way to Shrewsbury we pass very close to Halesowen so obviously we called in to see Ray.
When we arrived at Pegasus Court we couldn't find him but we were told he had walked to the Doctors. It took a while to find out which doctors surgery and where it was but eventually we met Ray as he walked out of the surgery. It turned out that he had some infection as a result of the facial surgery he had undergone, his face was badly swollen, and he was supposed to go to a hospital near Dudley. We were very upset that an 90year old man was sent out of a Doctors to find his own way to a hospital quite a distance away.
We rang Jane and Louise to let them know what was happening and that we were driving Ray to the hospital. Ray was a very good navigator but concerned that we would have a long wait and that the parking was very expensive. As it turned out, I didn't think the parking fees were expensive but what I did notice was the width of the parking bays. We had commented before how narrow, in general, parking bays are in the UK and would have thought that those in hospital car parks would have been wider to allow car doors to open fully to facilitate patients getting in and out. I suppose that's too obvious, when you can cram more cars in an area and get more revenue why not!
Anyway as it happened we were lucky to get a corner wedge shaped bay and no problems getting out. When we got inside the hospital it was about 12:15 and a notice board stated that there was a 6 hour waiting delay. What could we do but grin and bare it.
Fortunately Ray had been given a letter by his Doctor which we presented at reception and within an hour we were ushered through. The Docs letter suggested that Ray should be kept in overnight and put on a antibiotic drip.
We were shown into a neat and tidy little room by a very nice young nurse, who Ray charmed immediately, and who called in a Doctor. After having swabs taken and new dressings applied to his face, the Doctor said that she thought he would be better off at home in his familiar surroundings and put him on antibiotic tablets. After picking up the prescription from the hospital pharmacy we arrived back at Pegasus Court at 15:30 which quite surprised me. You read and hear about miss treatment and long waiting times in UK hospitals but I was quite impressed by the help and courtesy given to Ray. I think the doctors letter and his age got us to the head of the queue.
After a nice cup of tea and making sure Ray was safe and sound we headed on to Shrewsbury where Jane had prepared a nice dinner. A nice relaxed evening once a phone call to Ray assured us that he was fine and feeling a little better already.
The morning was cool and overcast.Today we said our fond farewells to Mal and Ivor as we are heading up to Shrewsbury to stay with Jane and Glynn for our last few days before heading home.
On our way to Shrewsbury we pass very close to Halesowen so obviously we called in to see Ray.
When we arrived at Pegasus Court we couldn't find him but we were told he had walked to the Doctors. It took a while to find out which doctors surgery and where it was but eventually we met Ray as he walked out of the surgery. It turned out that he had some infection as a result of the facial surgery he had undergone, his face was badly swollen, and he was supposed to go to a hospital near Dudley. We were very upset that an 90year old man was sent out of a Doctors to find his own way to a hospital quite a distance away.
We rang Jane and Louise to let them know what was happening and that we were driving Ray to the hospital. Ray was a very good navigator but concerned that we would have a long wait and that the parking was very expensive. As it turned out, I didn't think the parking fees were expensive but what I did notice was the width of the parking bays. We had commented before how narrow, in general, parking bays are in the UK and would have thought that those in hospital car parks would have been wider to allow car doors to open fully to facilitate patients getting in and out. I suppose that's too obvious, when you can cram more cars in an area and get more revenue why not!
Anyway as it happened we were lucky to get a corner wedge shaped bay and no problems getting out. When we got inside the hospital it was about 12:15 and a notice board stated that there was a 6 hour waiting delay. What could we do but grin and bare it.
Fortunately Ray had been given a letter by his Doctor which we presented at reception and within an hour we were ushered through. The Docs letter suggested that Ray should be kept in overnight and put on a antibiotic drip.
We were shown into a neat and tidy little room by a very nice young nurse, who Ray charmed immediately, and who called in a Doctor. After having swabs taken and new dressings applied to his face, the Doctor said that she thought he would be better off at home in his familiar surroundings and put him on antibiotic tablets. After picking up the prescription from the hospital pharmacy we arrived back at Pegasus Court at 15:30 which quite surprised me. You read and hear about miss treatment and long waiting times in UK hospitals but I was quite impressed by the help and courtesy given to Ray. I think the doctors letter and his age got us to the head of the queue.
After a nice cup of tea and making sure Ray was safe and sound we headed on to Shrewsbury where Jane had prepared a nice dinner. A nice relaxed evening once a phone call to Ray assured us that he was fine and feeling a little better already.
Sunday, September 08, 2019
The Holiday continues ....
Sunday 16th June
A very dull and overcast day.
We had an early Skype link up with Becky and family. When I mentioned the problems I was having using the Hertz Car Rental website to pre-book a car at Sydney airport on our return, she said that she would look in to it. A later call said that she was also having a lot of problems and it would be easier if Alex and Graham met us on our return. Flight arrival time .... 06:00 !!
By 10:30 the weather had improved and we had sun but still a very cool wind.
We had a very relaxed day with Mal and Ivor, finishing off with a lovely dinner cooked by Mal. We had tried to book a table at a number of local restaurants but everywhere was booked out as we had forgotten that it was Fathers Day.
A very dull and overcast day.
We had an early Skype link up with Becky and family. When I mentioned the problems I was having using the Hertz Car Rental website to pre-book a car at Sydney airport on our return, she said that she would look in to it. A later call said that she was also having a lot of problems and it would be easier if Alex and Graham met us on our return. Flight arrival time .... 06:00 !!
By 10:30 the weather had improved and we had sun but still a very cool wind.
We had a very relaxed day with Mal and Ivor, finishing off with a lovely dinner cooked by Mal. We had tried to book a table at a number of local restaurants but everywhere was booked out as we had forgotten that it was Fathers Day.
Friday, September 06, 2019
The Holiday continues ....
Saturday 15th June
We had a very comfortable stay, and breakfast, at the Premier Inn in Malvern.
At least it wasn't raining this morning, just cold and windy.
We phoned Ray to see how he was after yesterdays surgery. He sounded well but he was obviously feeling a little uncomfortable.
We spent the morning driving around the Malvern area, admiring the fantastic views from the top of the ridge but soon moved on as it was also The Three Counties Show and heavy traffic everywhere.
Headed back to Worcester and reached Mal and Ivors in Droitwich by mid afternoon.
Mal and Ivor took us to visit their family, both boys and their families have moved into new homes in nice areas of the county and we hadnt seen them since the reunion so lots to catch up on..
We had a very comfortable stay, and breakfast, at the Premier Inn in Malvern.
At least it wasn't raining this morning, just cold and windy.
We phoned Ray to see how he was after yesterdays surgery. He sounded well but he was obviously feeling a little uncomfortable.
We spent the morning driving around the Malvern area, admiring the fantastic views from the top of the ridge but soon moved on as it was also The Three Counties Show and heavy traffic everywhere.
Headed back to Worcester and reached Mal and Ivors in Droitwich by mid afternoon.
Mal and Ivor took us to visit their family, both boys and their families have moved into new homes in nice areas of the county and we hadnt seen them since the reunion so lots to catch up on..
Wednesday, September 04, 2019
The Holiday continues ....
Friday 14th June
Heavy rain once again!! Will it ever stop.
Today we left Janes apartment in Edgebaston and headed down towards Malvern.
We hadn't been there for a number of years and thought we would give it a go as long as the roads weren't flooded.
We packed and left Edgebaston at about 10:30 and headed South. We stopped at Webbs garden centre in Wychbold for morning coffee. Again we were following our steps from a few years ago. This is a very nice centre and extremely popular. At the bottom of the site, on the banks of the River Salwarpe, which is narrow at this point, there are some lovely gardens. These gardens have a vague Hobbit theme which I wanted to see if any expansion had taken place. Di didn't fancy a walk in the rain.
A little more overgrown than on our last visit which makes it a little more mystical.
Need a bit of a clean when we have time.
Drove on to Worcester for a quick walk around in the rain just stopping in M&S for lunch before heading to our hotel in Malvern for the night. The river at Worcester was very high.
Ray had surgery today for some facial skin cancers so will check up on him tomorrow.
Heavy rain once again!! Will it ever stop.
Today we left Janes apartment in Edgebaston and headed down towards Malvern.
We hadn't been there for a number of years and thought we would give it a go as long as the roads weren't flooded.
We packed and left Edgebaston at about 10:30 and headed South. We stopped at Webbs garden centre in Wychbold for morning coffee. Again we were following our steps from a few years ago. This is a very nice centre and extremely popular. At the bottom of the site, on the banks of the River Salwarpe, which is narrow at this point, there are some lovely gardens. These gardens have a vague Hobbit theme which I wanted to see if any expansion had taken place. Di didn't fancy a walk in the rain.
It was rather wet and the river was rising fast so the walk was cut short.
Drove on to Worcester for a quick walk around in the rain just stopping in M&S for lunch before heading to our hotel in Malvern for the night. The river at Worcester was very high.
Ray had surgery today for some facial skin cancers so will check up on him tomorrow.
Tuesday, September 03, 2019
The Holiday continues ....
Thursday 13th June
More rain. Its getting rather depressing. Just wish we were getting it at home!
Drove down to Halesowen to pick up Ray as we are heading to Janes house in Shrewsbury for lunch.
Quite a number of warnings out for local road flooding in the Severn valley.
We were given a very nice lunch by Jane and spent the afternoon having a good old chat, with Di and Ray comparing their memories of the family.
Watched the Women's World Cup Soccer match between Brazil and Australia. Great game and even better when Australia won 3-2.
Driving back to the Halesowen area from Shrewsbury took a little longer than expected due to a number of roads being closed due to flooding. The Severn broke its banks in a number of places but we eventually dropped Ray off just after 20:00, and its still raining,
More rain. Its getting rather depressing. Just wish we were getting it at home!
Drove down to Halesowen to pick up Ray as we are heading to Janes house in Shrewsbury for lunch.
Quite a number of warnings out for local road flooding in the Severn valley.
We were given a very nice lunch by Jane and spent the afternoon having a good old chat, with Di and Ray comparing their memories of the family.
Watched the Women's World Cup Soccer match between Brazil and Australia. Great game and even better when Australia won 3-2.
Driving back to the Halesowen area from Shrewsbury took a little longer than expected due to a number of roads being closed due to flooding. The Severn broke its banks in a number of places but we eventually dropped Ray off just after 20:00, and its still raining,
Sunday, September 01, 2019
The Holiday continues ....
Wednesday 12th June
It rained again in the night and during breakfast it still looked damp and drizzly outside.
We tried to get in touch with Ray but he was at a coffee morning.
Decided to drive down to Worcester, its was nice to be in the old city again. A bit miserable with the rain but we battled on. We visited one of our favourite shops, Worcester Furniture on the Corn Market, who are distributors for Ercol furniture.
We had a light lunch in M&S before starting the hunt for a Harry Potter wand for Ben. We eventually tracked one down in Waterstones book store in The Shambles.
I took these photos for Ben, the guitarist in the family.
I thought it was a very interesting display in the Worcester Guitar Centre .
On the way back to Edgbaston we called in to see Ray and made arrangement to take him to Janes in Shrewsbury tomorrow for an early fathers day lunch.
It rained again in the night and during breakfast it still looked damp and drizzly outside.
We tried to get in touch with Ray but he was at a coffee morning.
Decided to drive down to Worcester, its was nice to be in the old city again. A bit miserable with the rain but we battled on. We visited one of our favourite shops, Worcester Furniture on the Corn Market, who are distributors for Ercol furniture.
We had a light lunch in M&S before starting the hunt for a Harry Potter wand for Ben. We eventually tracked one down in Waterstones book store in The Shambles.
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