Trip Day 5 - Christchurch

Friday June 26

The others heard thunder in the night. I heard nothing. But it had cooled some in the night and the temperature was much more pleasant. Actually, we could say at the end of the day that it had been perfect!

Kate and Dave have a lady friend who owns one of those beach huts. She had offered for them to use it while she was gone away for the weekend. 

They are a very British thing and usually in a family for several generations. One can cost (if it is even available to buy) more than 100,000 Pounds. It does make your beach enjoyment even better. 

Kate and David had their swim suits and ventured into the ocean for the first time this season. Kate could not believe how warm the water already was. It is usually too early to go into the sea in June.

I had to tease them though that they reminded me of "blue-footed boobies". Footware is necessary because there are more pebbles than sand here.

Just a few steps further was a food place. Kate and I went to order a pizza for David and James and sandwiches for us. We expected that they would call us over to get it but they even brought it to "hut # 89". 

After lunch Kate suggested to take James and me on a walk to Highcliff Castle. We took her up on it and it was splendid. It wasn't very far but the trail through the forrest seem to change a few times. 

It was so peaceful.

And the trees looked so majestic. How old could they be?

And then there it was.

The castle is now a place for tours and weddings etc. A wedding seemed to be going on but a cafe was there for us to get an ice cream for James and ice coffees for Kate and me. 

Kate had paid for 4 hours of parking and we were back at the car at the last minute. Back at the house David started soon to cook a paella for us. Their son also came and of course we had a game of Five Crowns. It was fun and just perfect in the shade.

It was very, very delicious. I have to try cooking one when back home.

Rhubarb cream with a harvest from the garden. Yum yum!

And there might have been some FIFA to watch afterwards. The time went so fast. This had been another wonderful day. And the temperature finally perfect to enjoy. We were very happy and very grateful.

Night night!

Day 4 - Windsor and Christchurch

Thursday June 25

Today is Jane’s birthday. Happy birthday to Jane and also happy birthday to Stephen, the youngest brother who has a birthday on the same day.

The news here were full about the weather, a record breaking day. Of course we were going to make the best of it.

After  breakfast Jane was out in her garden. See her little pond? There is a story about what we brought for it.

It must have been 2007 when James and I were in Vietnam that we bought 2 little ceramic ducks to swim on her lilly pond. I tried them out at home. Yes, they swim as they were supposed to. But every time we came to England or Jane came to visit us we forgot to give them to her. They were still wrapped in the original vietnamese newspaper. Finally, this year, I remembered and staged all the things to take in one certain spot.

The net over the water is supposed to prevent the heron which vivited her to help himself to the fishes. 

Around 11 am Kate and David arrived. They too enjoyed looking at Jane's garden.

A special fuchsia of theirs had died and Jane shared from hers. David was digging a part of one of hers up.

We had made yesterday reservations for 1 pm for lunch at a restaurant. We didn't want Jane to have to cook on her birthday. But it was still a bit early so we all had a bit of Ginger Wine to celebrate. A very British thing.

Dave drove us to The Royal Windsor Restaurant. He parked across the road from it and there was the castle. I always love that view.

In England in a pub most of the time you order your drinks and food at the bar. And quite often you pay right away too. Well, ok, so we can't change our mind whether or not we want to have dessert, ha-ha.

David and I did take the drinks to our table. The food was brought a little later when it was ready.

Everything was plated very nicely. I was disappointed a bit though because there was absolutely no taste in my lamb shank or gravy.

Back at the house I had to take a quick photo of Jane's fuchsias. 

Early afternoon Kate and David were ready for the drive back to their home and they were taking James and me with them. We had already laid our stuff out and was packed in no time. We left the suitcases at Jane's. 

We were expected at 6:30 pm at Kate and David's daughter Jo and husband Simon. Their daughters could not be there but son Edward was. It was very nice to see them too.

Tuffy, the dog, was ok with me for a while.

Of course it was a very lively chat. So much to talk about when you meet only every few years. But then it was time to leave, a little bit of FIFA watching and time to get ready for bed. Yes, it had been a hot hot hot day. It takes a long time until the bedrooms get cool even with windows open. But we were happy. We are grateful that we can visit with family. 

It took a while until the room was finally cool enough and we fell asleep.

Trip Day 3 / Windsor

Wednesday June 24

Last night when James and I went into the guest room to sleep we first took all the cover bedding off the beds except the flat sheet. It is past 10 o’clock and dark outside but Jane still has front and back door open and all windows. England has a heat wave but of course nobody has air conditioning. 

Strangely enough like that we both had a really good night’s sleep. 

We were a bit disappointed that we could not do what we had invisioned. It was just too hot to stroll around town. Schools were letting out. Some business let their people stay home or work from home. There is hardly any air conditioning anywhere. Jane has things to do for the church. Guess what James and I are doing. It was a very good game.

We are invited to spend two nights with Kate and David so Jane said we should by the bus tickets for the way back to Windsor. We would have liked to take the train but she discouraged that. In extreme heat like this, railroad tracks are known to buckle.

Jane was ready to fix the lunch but we suggested to go to a pub. How often do we have a chance to do that? So we invite her. We go to The Vansittard Arms around the corner. First we thought we sit ourside in the shady garden part but then we find it is cooler inside the pub.

Bangers and Mash! What's not to like?

Just love Jane's garden.

When we come back from lunch and walk into our room ... guess what we found? We were not even gone for 2 hours and a spider was building something on my suitcase. Juck! I quickly closed the sipper and Jane took car of it. Barehanded, uh I could not do that.

 Of course we watched some FIFA soccer games. And the news told us about the incredible hottest heat wave ever. 

Nevertheless, all is good and we are enjoying every minute.