ROUND TRIP!

I know I do not need to make an excuse for not writing my own posts, but I feel it necessary to give an explanation.  I also feel it necessary to make an apology to some whom I did not contact, as I was a little remiss.  Here again, I have an excuse, and feeble as it may possibly appear, it was enormous to me!  "To what is she referring?", very few (may) ask.  My trip back to England. 

After the woes of last year, which I shall not go into, (I intend only to refer to them where absolutely necessary,) the trip home was the final 'memory dumper'.  For the first time, my husband had asked me to return early, and when I did, I found him in a very bad way!  Suffice it to say, all the bad memories have been laid to rest, as we have had almost a year of, 'remember last year when....'.  Although we have not yet got to Thanksgiving and Christmas, to repeat the phrase, the big event was would I be able to 'go home' and leave him for two weeks.  The answer was, categorically, "Yes!"  

I had discussed it with Steph, just before she left here, and then with Samantha, as she was going away in September, and it seemed the earliest I could go was mid October.  However, as it was Samantha's birthday, (and another 'remember last year when....',) I decided to wait until the kids were on 'half term' holidays.  That way, I would have more time with them and be able to help Steph during the day, whilst she was working.  

My plan is usually to catch up with as many people as possible, but my apprehension levels grew higher, the nearer it was time for me to leave.  I decided to just concentrate on getting through the two weeks, and spending time with the boys. I was sure people would understand my reasoning.  

The trip was wonderful, and I spent a lot of time with the boys.  My flights were all on time (although my outward flight to London was delayed after we got on the plane, due to 'technical' difficulties, but that turned out to be in my favour with the car drop off time!  The main thing was that Dana called me every day, mostly twice or three times, and I got to see him when Samantha 'face-timed'.  He was fed lunch by Grant, as I had stocked the work freezer with home cooked meals, and managed to hold his head above water workwise.  It was not only a relief, but smashed all the bad memories from last year.

My first 'job' was to pick the boys up from school.  Steph asked if I would mind (as if!) going to Jamie's Harvest Festival Assembly.  Before I went to the school, I visited the small supermarket attached to the petrol station, to pick up some bread, some real English bread, and doughnuts.  Wearing my usual garb, as it was a little on the cool side, I walked into the shop, Stetson on head, boots on feet, and was stared at by a customer.  By the time I reached the till, another man was standing by the one staring.  I heard one say, "Thinks she is a cowgirl", and the other giggled. I felt like I had arrived at the school before arriving!  It is not worth making a comment.  I am in a 'foreign' land wearing my homebase garb!  Who would think such a thing would happen!  I hadn't thought of the consequences should I have 'made a big deal' of it, but I let them have their moment.  I received the same stares at the school gate, until someone came up and said "You're Richard's mum".  Half statement, half question, it mattered not, as suddenly, I was no longer the old lady trying to be something she was (supposedly) not!

As usual, my bags going over contained lots of goodies for the boys, and coming home contained goodies for the people back here!  One of Steph's friend's arrived one evening, greeted me with a warm hug and asked, "When did you get here.  What snacks did you bring?"  Steph's brother commented that every time I come, he puts on 'pounds'. I told him that he was under no obligation to eat all or any of the goodies.  He agreed, and then took a bite of the strangest looking snack I had bought, and grimaced at the taste.  Two minutes later, he was going back for a second, and then a third.  "It's addictive!" he complained!

The day trip to London with the boys was great fun!  We visited the

Tower of London, as they had both learned about William the Conqueror, and then to Pudding Lane, where the Great Fire of London had started, again, a topic they had learned about.  We visited a small shop and bought some chewing gum.  At a penny under two pounds, I stood and waited for my changed.  The shop keeper sighed heavily, reopened the till and gave me a five pence piece.  My oldest grandson asked why I had insisted on getting my penny.  After all, it was only one penny.  I asked him what would happen if the shopkeeper had taken a hundred people's pennies.  His eyes widened. He then said that he had given me five pence so why didn't I give him four back.  The thought had crossed my mind, but I explained it was the shopkeeper's choice, and those four pennies were probably gained by people not asking for their penny.  His mind was calculating how much could be made over a number of years.  I did not mention Richard Pryor's character in the Superman movie, but he would certainly think twice now about looking after the pennies!  His younger brother looked at me quite sternly, and asked, "Can I have the chewing gum now?"

As we watched mind-numbing reality shows, and laughed throughout, Steph's brother commented that I would be going home with fewer brain cells!  I told him that when 'one' has such a high IQ, it is good to watch something so banal, as it keeps 'one's' feet grounded!  He said with an answer like that, he no longer worried about my brain cells!

Samantha picked me up from the airport, at her request.  One of my bags had split, and she had brought another to transfer the contents.  Unfortunately, the contents of the split bag were very heavy, and the replacement did not have wheels.  She had parked up the truck in the car park, and we had to manoeuvre all the bags, carry on and backpack included, which was not easy.  After my experience last year of having to haul my cases into the car myself, without help, it was quite amusing to say the least!  "Which way?" I asked, as we headed to the covered parking.  "That way" said my daughter, pointing ahead.  "Straight up?" I said.  "No, that way!" she said, without me seeing where to go.  "Where are you headed to, ladies?" asked the driver of the golf cart style people carrier.  "That way!" pointed my daughter.  "That way!" I said, not realising we had to get the lift to the next floor.  The lady driver howled with laughter as she watched us trying to get all the bags into the elevator!  It was a kind laugh.  

My step-daughter had a conference in Central London and was arriving on the Saturday after my departure.  She asked if I could delay my homeward flight so we could spend some time together, and I could be her tour guide for a couple of days, before her meetings began.  Although I would have loved to have done so, there were too many reasons to say no, rather than yes, but it was nice to be asked!  It so happens that her flight was delayed and she missed her connection, so she came into London later than expected.  

Thankfully, it was a bank holiday weekend.  Veteran's Day was on a Monday, and the weather was beautiful.  However, the temperatures dropped dramatically during the week, and I knew my swimming days were numbered, albeit being able to get into the pool in the middle of November is a bonus!

My step-daughter and I had been messaging throughout the week.  I had told her a few places to visit, and Rick and Steph had given her some restaurant suggestions.  I explained about 'our' Remembrance Sunday, where we honour the dead, and veterans, and not only did she catch the end of the parade, but saw the King drive past!  I told her that I would go into tour guide mode as London is my passion, and she simply said, "Please!"  

Despite not seeing everyone I wanted to see, and keeping a moderately low profile, my trip did what it was intended to do. I needed to 'leave town' and have a complete break.  It may sound a bit selfish, as everyone works so hard, but the cycle needed to be broken!  

Getting back into the swing of things was not hard.  I did suffer minutely from jet lag, but when getting straight back 'into it', there is little time to feel tired.  There was so much to do.  Thanksgiving needed to be thought about, and although my pantry was not empty, I still had a list.

The water had cooled tremendously.  The sun was now going down a lot earlier.  I had bought a book on my return home, 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks'.  I had seen the film on the plane, and wanted to see if the book was much different.  It was virtually the same other than more detail about the 'players'.  The 'true' story was so compelling that I found it hard to put it down.  I worked my way around the pool to keep in the sun.  This time of year, it goes from one end to the other, and then back again.  I moved from chair to chair until it started to disappear behind one of the buildings.  The last few pages were read with the light of my phone, illuminating the page!  Having finished 'A Tale of Two Cities' the weekend before I left (another page turner - I know, who would have thought it of Dickens!) it was interesting to find another book with such compelling content! 

We are now heading fast into the 'seasons' with Thanksgiving coming up this week, and then December and all it brings.  My adventures will no doubt continue in ............ another story!