Friday 7th September, Still suffering from jetlag - it is 4.15 am and I am wide awake!
We have a great flight over, we got our chosen seats on Qantas to LA so arrived refreshed and a very smooth exit out of LAX airport to be met by Lois and Bill. We went to their place for a quick freshen up and then out to a very nice lunch. They dropped us off at the airport a couple of hours before departure again very smooth, went straight up to departures without any queue to be greeted with an upgrade on BA to Business Class which I have to say having full flat seats was such a treat and ensured a very comfortable trip.
Anne and Nick were waiting for us and as always with our house exchangers it was a very comfortable meeting - just like meeting old friends. Helen and Stuart arrived shortly after as they were taking a couple of suitcases to their house for us to pick up the next day (Hoptons very nice, comfortable car was too small to take our four bags).
It was so good to see Helen and Stuart after such an awful year. Helen looked much better than I expected and is also 'better in herself' than I expected. She is a strong lady and to have come through what she has is nothing less than a miracle, I am sure helped by Stuart's care and attention.
Our home for the next three months, is lovely and I am sure we will be very happy here. We have been out for a morning walk each day and the surrounding district is very nice.
The next day we dropped the Hoptons off at the airport for their journey to NZ and went over for lunch and dinner with Stuart and Helen. It was just as well they are such good friends as both Laurie and I had a sleep between lunch and dinner!
The following day our guests/friends from Green Valley, Arizona arrived. The poor things had a 2.5 hour transit through Arrivals as several flights arrived in at the same time. (I have to say here how tired and decrepid LHR is looking - New Zealand airport runs rings around it).
We brought them home via a scenic route - longer than expected as we got lost! Still they thought it was lovely...
Yesterday we went shopping to stock the larder then went and had a great pub lunch at Pishill - followed by a wander through Henley-Upon-Thames and home in time for me to cook dinner as Helen and Stuart were joining us. Had a great dinner and the Sorensons and Lanes seemed to enjoy each other's company. The Lanes are off to Marakkech today so I wanted them to meet the Sorensons before they left - we have arranged a pub lunch for the day after their return/the day the Sorensons go on the tour to Scotland. The end of the day the men went to bed and Georgene and I played on the computer! Lovely to have a computer buddy as she enjoys it as much as I do, we just have to make sure the 'men' get their fair share of our time!
Weather here is very summery, I have brought too many winter clothes! Laurie has been invited to a very formal dinner at the 'City and Guilds of London Clothworkers' Company An 1876 City Livery Company (Non British will have to check on the internet to see what a 'Livery Company' is) so has borrowed from Stuart a very smart Scottish formal dress outfit which includes tartan trews - he looks very handsome in it!
Until next time
We have a great flight over, we got our chosen seats on Qantas to LA so arrived refreshed and a very smooth exit out of LAX airport to be met by Lois and Bill. We went to their place for a quick freshen up and then out to a very nice lunch. They dropped us off at the airport a couple of hours before departure again very smooth, went straight up to departures without any queue to be greeted with an upgrade on BA to Business Class which I have to say having full flat seats was such a treat and ensured a very comfortable trip.
Anne and Nick were waiting for us and as always with our house exchangers it was a very comfortable meeting - just like meeting old friends. Helen and Stuart arrived shortly after as they were taking a couple of suitcases to their house for us to pick up the next day (Hoptons very nice, comfortable car was too small to take our four bags).
It was so good to see Helen and Stuart after such an awful year. Helen looked much better than I expected and is also 'better in herself' than I expected. She is a strong lady and to have come through what she has is nothing less than a miracle, I am sure helped by Stuart's care and attention.
Our home for the next three months, is lovely and I am sure we will be very happy here. We have been out for a morning walk each day and the surrounding district is very nice.
The next day we dropped the Hoptons off at the airport for their journey to NZ and went over for lunch and dinner with Stuart and Helen. It was just as well they are such good friends as both Laurie and I had a sleep between lunch and dinner!
The following day our guests/friends from Green Valley, Arizona arrived. The poor things had a 2.5 hour transit through Arrivals as several flights arrived in at the same time. (I have to say here how tired and decrepid LHR is looking - New Zealand airport runs rings around it).
We brought them home via a scenic route - longer than expected as we got lost! Still they thought it was lovely...
Yesterday we went shopping to stock the larder then went and had a great pub lunch at Pishill - followed by a wander through Henley-Upon-Thames and home in time for me to cook dinner as Helen and Stuart were joining us. Had a great dinner and the Sorensons and Lanes seemed to enjoy each other's company. The Lanes are off to Marakkech today so I wanted them to meet the Sorensons before they left - we have arranged a pub lunch for the day after their return/the day the Sorensons go on the tour to Scotland. The end of the day the men went to bed and Georgene and I played on the computer! Lovely to have a computer buddy as she enjoys it as much as I do, we just have to make sure the 'men' get their fair share of our time!
Weather here is very summery, I have brought too many winter clothes! Laurie has been invited to a very formal dinner at the 'City and Guilds of London Clothworkers' Company An 1876 City Livery Company (Non British will have to check on the internet to see what a 'Livery Company' is) so has borrowed from Stuart a very smart Scottish formal dress outfit which includes tartan trews - he looks very handsome in it!
Until next time
posted by Cathy | 8:12 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home