Tuesday’s Enormous Trip

On Tuesday morning it was time to say goodbye to Simon and Jo, as well as farewell David’s parents for the rest of the trip. We gave Annabel a pair of earrings which we think she really liked, and a bottle of perfume from my parents to wish her a happy birthday. We got in our little hired peugot and drove all the way from Netheravon to Herne Bay, where my Dad’s sister Helen and her husband Paul live. The trip took several hours as we were pretty much driving from one side of England to the other. Aunt Helen and Uncle Paul live in a house that is virtually on the edge of a cliff. Below them is the ocean, where the Thames estuary connects to the North Sea. Helen made us lunch in the conservatory – a room many British houses have that is all glass, like a greenhouse. We had a good catch up in lovely surroundings, you could even see the sea from the table. Paul took us out into the garden to show us what was in various directions – the Thames, the Isle of Shipley, Essex and the North Sea.


After our visit we had to hurry back inland, this time to London, to get our car back to the hire company in time before they closed. For our time in the city, the last thing we need is a car. The tube, buses or even a London cab is far more convenient. With my navigation skills and David’s reasonably calm driving – believe us, London driving is far more stressful than the worst Sydney driving – we made it to Belsize in time to return the peugot which had served us well for our use of over 500 miles and then walked to Hampstead, where we were to stay with David’s Uncle Rob and his partner Sandy. Rob was especially impressed with David’s ability to drive into London, and I must say, so was I. Thanks for getting us here in one piece honey! Sandy served us an absolutely delicious pasta dish which I must make sometime -
Sliced courgette (zucchini, but I much prefer the European term), asparagus, crème fraiche and lemon juice with a little parmesan grated on the top. Low fat, satisfying, uncomplicated, fantastic!
Thanks also to Edward for giving up the spare room for us and sleeping on the lounge… xxx