... how nice to be in England

Loved all the chimneys.

We arrived at Heathrow two days ago and were met by our dear friends and taken out for breakfast, a perfect arrival but it almost didn't happen. We had booked a taxi for one o'clock in Sydney and thought we had plenty of time but when it hadn't arrived at one twenty we started getting a little worried because with Sydney traffic you never know how long the trip to the airport will take. So we rang and it turned out that the taxi we ordered had not found our place?!? (never heard of GPS?)  so we had to book another one for immediate departure. That one arrived and it was tiny, we almost couldn't get all our luggage in. By the way when I called and booked from the beginning I had specified that we had a lot of luggage. Anyway, after an unpleasant ride in a stinking car driven by a  chain smoker we got to the airport in time. After that it was smooth sailing except that I must have had a brief blackout because I had packed our Vegemite stash in my hand luggage so it was all seized and thrown away at the security check in. I dearly hope that the staff divide up the loot after their workday or give it to charity.

The next day we divided up our group in a boys' group and a girls' group. The boys spent all day at some car or rather transport museum called the Brooklands motor museum and racetrack and my girl friend took me to Watts Gallery and artist village in Compton, which was great.

Does it get any better than this for a young boy?

The Member's Building at Brooklands even had a Barbara Cartland Reading Room

Loseley House

We had lunch in Loseley House built in Tudor style and owned by the More-Molyneux family since the 17th century. Then on to the Fircroft Summer Exhibition, with lots of lovely jewelry, art, pottery and a wonderful garden with sculptures.

The day finished off nicely with meeting up with the boys of the family, that we have seen growing up.

The next day had a clear train theme. We went from Sheffield Park to East Grinstead on the Bluebell Railway. Guess who was very happy! And even I didn't mind too much, there is so much history connected with the railways in Britain.

There were lots of village fetes due to the Queen's birthday.

Next time I write here we will be in Sweden, so stand by dear readers!