It appears our ‘holiday’ destination choice after careful consideration...
- Thailand – rainy season (on the side we were looking at going)
- Malaysia – Ramadan (strictest in the part we were looking at going)
- Seychelles – shark attack
- New York – hurricane (well close enough)
- London - summer
...turned out to be the best bet and we will just forget the fact that the English summer time got up to its usual tricks and that it probably rained more than in Thailand even although it was their rainy season.
But nevertheless it was a successful and very busy ‘holiday’. Although I’m still not sure we can call it that.
Considering we had yet to go back to London to sort things out (originally supposed to go back after 3 months and the 9 month mark was fast approaching (which has since come and gone) - it was quite good that Amity Grove’s lease was up for renewal, as it meant we ourselves needed to make some decisions, regardless of the fact that the ‘much anticipated news and outcomes’ had yet to be announced and made final.
So a trip to London was booked and some DIY appointments were made. And what a week (and a day) long holiday it was. It’s quite crazy at how ridiculously fast the time just flew bye! Mark was a super star in getting the (long) list of DIY bits and bobs done in each of the houses and I helped where I could, even if it meant just staying out the way at times and packing up the last bits and pieces that we floating around the house.
My latest assignment was due the day we were scheduled to leave...oh but of course...so it meant me pulling basically an all-nighter to get it finished in time. Finally I headed for bed just after 2am, so you can imagine I was not best pleased when the alarm went off at 4am again...time to get up! By 5am (yes, Mark is right I really can faff around a lot, considering I was all packed the night before), it was 35 degrees and we were on our way to the airport. Dropping off our rental car, we made it in good time for check in, got some magazines and boarded our indirect flight (via Doha, Qatar) to London. A little exhausted, since for some reason I couldn’t sleep on the plane...we arrived at Heathrow. And typically just because we hadn’t pre-booked a taxi, went managed to zoom through passport control (forgetting I have the handy pink book now, which really helps), customs and our luggage was some of the first off. Waiting around for the taxi, we found a very clever vending machine, selling sim cards, so we were set up with talk time and all by the time our taxi arrived. Brilliant!
First stop, Grand Drive. Molly Mouse was there... I would like to say to greet us, but I will take just lying there on the couch instead. Shame man! How we have missed that little thing! And she really is a little thing. I think I am always surprised at just how small a cat she is every time we away from her for awhile.
Our first evening took the form of dinner at the Blake’s, and although she was sleeping, I got to meet little Michaela for the first time, who is too cute for words. She was a lot smaller than I had imagined, which I was very glad to see, helping me think that I haven’t missed out too much on seeing the first few stages of her life. The Christie’s and Vix also joined for what was a lovely dinner and catch up (and I have to say, felt a little weird at not having Shona there with us).
Our car, which was as dead as a door nail after sitting for so long without being driven, so was taken in to the garage for a battery recharge and mini-service. Unfortunately it wasn’t quite ready in time for our arrival, which meant a train trip out to Henley-upon-Thames to see some friends. Ah, the memories...trains....we started off with the train trip we had done so many times before...a train into Waterloo, where we changed to the Underground for a tube to Paddington Station. Splitting up, Mark did a quick shop for some groceries, whilst I headed off in search of the ticket office for further train tickets, we then both met up again to get some lunch for our train ride. The trains to Henley left only once per hour and the next one was nearly due. So we found ourselves running like the wind through Paddington Station to what was of course, had to be the furthest platform in the station. I couldn’t help but feel a little like Harry Potter looking for the non-existent platform 9 ¾ (well to the human eye at least), since the platform was being renovated and under scaffolding, making the platform number less visible to those in a rush. With less than 30 seconds to spare, we made it, luggage, groceries and all - huffing and puffing onto the train and in no time at all the doors were closed and we were on our way.
The rain pelted down en route, which thankfully must have tired it out, as by the time we got to Henley, it had stopped and managed to clear quite nicely for the braai we were having later.
We had a great time catching up with Mel and Bruce in their absolutely beautiful home, playing trains with Isabelle and meeting little Hugo for the first time (and who by the end of our visit, I was just wanting to steal and take home with us – he is too cute!).
We were joined a bit later by the Ang and Denham and little Harper, who has grown so much since the last time we saw her and who is now quite steady on her two little feet, running around getting this book and that book - living up to her ‘author’s’ name with her love of books!
The fire was started and it didn’t take long before everyone assumed their positions around the braai. Following their noses Hollie and Stan arrived, with little Gabriel, who too has grown so much and who rounded up the number of children to 4, all of which have to have the bluest eyes you have ever seen, in one space at the same time.
As always Chef Bruce didn’t disappoint, the food and wine was in abundance and we had what was to be our second delicious meal of the holiday (and many more eat fests to come). Ang’s delicious cheesecake dessert managed finish off the meal nicely and we all went to bed on very happy and full stomachs.
By the time I got up and joined those already up (aka those with kids - well at least one parent of each child anyway, and Mark), the morning was already underway. Mark had already fed Hugo and was very proud that he had managed to get most of the food in his mouth as opposed to all over his face on his first attempt. A little later I managed to get Hugo to sleep (meanwhile I had just gotten up myself (so excuse my horrid morning hair) and he was already onto his first morning nap – a great accomplishment for me. Chef Bruce was at it again, and soon enough breakfast was plated up and served.
Soon enough it was time to leave, and the Smit’s kindly gave us a lift back into London, I was sat next to Gabriel, who was as good as gold and then to top it off fell asleep about 30 minutes into the journey. I myself joined him in catching some zzzz’s for the last 30 min or so.
Sunday, after meeting with the Amity Grove tenants for a quick catch up, made a couple of trips to B&Q just for old times’ sake (and some DIY bits and bobs), it was soon time for the pub lunch we had arranged and we headed to the Leather Bottle for drinks and nibbles. It was great catching up with some other friends and to see the familiar faces again. The sun even decided to play hide and seek, so we even managed to move outside later in the afternoon.
Monday, consisted of a fair amount of DIY and I’ll spare you with the details. Then later that afternoon we headed to Jax’s place for an impromptu braai. As it was bank holiday weekend, a few people had gone away, so it was time to meet up with some other friends we hadn’t seen as yet.
Tuesday it was time to head for Bristol to see the family. Once we arrived we had a quick catch up over a spot of lunch with Aunty Angela and Sue, before heading out to fetch Grandma en route to visit Granddad who was in the hospital, in time for visiting’s hours. Considering, Granddad looked quite well and sprightly, chatting away to Mark with many a story to tell. Afterwards Mark and I headed back to Grandma’s house for some tea and cakes and some quality time with Grandma. Later we went to visit Granddad again (as our visit to Bristol was only for one night in the end) and we picked up Grandma again on the way back to Aunty Angela’s house for dinner that evening, a delicious meal – Thai this time. Before we knew it the day and night had passed, so much so without even a photograph, as we had unfortunately left the camera in London (somehow). So after a spot of breakfast, we were off again, this time heading back to London.
Just as we arrived in Wimbledon, on our way to buy some boxes to pack up the last bits and pieces in Grand Drive, the car decided to overheat! Which meant Mark staying with the car until someone from a garage could come out and look at it. Thankfully we were only in Wimbledon (and not on the side of the motorway somewhere), so I jumped on the bus back to Raynes Park to start getting things together for the last pack up. It was also D-Day for Molly and a long overdue vet appointment – she was not a happy camper...howling away whilst I walked her to the vet (thankfully only 5 or so houses down the road from our house). It was confirmed, she would indeed need some more dental work done, which was booked in for early the next morning and since she had lost some more weight, another thyroid blood test was booked in as well.
That evening it was time to meet up with my friends again, who had been away for the long weekend too) and we settled on Nando’s as somewhere cheap and cheerful. Michaela was an angel and slept thought it all.
The next day consisted of a mixture of loading up our storage container which was delivered (definitely the way to go when it comes to storage – they bring the storage unit to you, you load it and when you done they come and collect it again. Meaning you don’t have to go anywhere and you don’t have to hire a van! Awesome!) So all our stuff...including our wedding presents that I am still waiting with baited breath to open almost 2 years later...that had been stored in our garage for the last 9 months, was moved out , and into storage waiting for the day that we are settled somewhere so that we can open them and use them!! In amongst all this Mark managed to get some other bits of DIY done too. Molly being at the vet was not there to see the unsettling site again. Ang and Michaela came to visit for some tea and cakes (which Ang very kindly brought herself) and Michaela was finally awake to meet her Aunty Lu...she’s such a charmer! :)
Later it was time to fetch Molly and it was confirmed yet again that she is still the most expensive cat in the world! Almost £600 later she was home and chomping at the bit to get outside and away from her restrictive cat box...but which of course, since she had just been under anaesthetic, she was not allowed to do. We too then had to leave her (in the capable hands of Cookie and Dale), as we were heading out to meet up with some more mates who we had yet to see and some of those who we had and were keen to join us again for one last time before our holiday drew to a close. This time we headed to The Wandle in Earlsfield.
Our last day was upon us already...only a few more hours left of our whirlwind holiday were left. The car was sold and Mark finished off the last bits and pieces of DIY at he could and thankfully he had managed to make a huge dent in the list of things to do. Unfortunately a few things were left not done, but we were very happy with what managed to achieve and even more so that we had actually come back to London to get it done.
Thanks to everyone who came out to see us, to Jan and Daine for letting us stay in your house, to Cookie and Dale for putting up with the DIY going on in Grand Drive, giving Molly her meds and of course for letting us stay there too, Aunty Angela and Uncle Phil for having us and to Luke for taking Moll’s to the vet for her post op check! Much appreciation to you all! To those we didn’t get to see...we’ll keep you posted on our next trip date!! And wishing Ang, Denham and Harper all the best for their move to Germany.
No comments:
Post a Comment