Day 4

Saturday May 28

About our accommodations : Ruby Lucy Hotel is located in a very convenient place for us.  It has been great to just walk about.  The manager and staff are very friendly and helpful. A pleasure. The decor is cute. Our room looks modern, especially the glass box shower/bathroom  (I should have taken a photo). The only complaint: not a single drawer or even shelves in the room.  Got to live out of the suitcase. The best thing: this coffee/tea station across from the elevator along the hallway with instant boiling hot water and recyclable cups which you can hold without burning your hands. We used the same the whole time before throwing them away when we left. Super!

When we were basically done packing we wondered about breakfast. Yes, on weekends they seem to have a breakfast buffet. Not cheap but very nice.

And off we go to Waterloo Station around the corner.

We bought tickets at a ticket office not from a machine. Electronicly we could see which train we should take. We had to wait a little until it showed which platform to go to.

Every where around us were young people dressed up. With us waited a group of young men in roman togas, gold olive head bands etc.

Opposite in the train this couple was a meermaid and a deep sea diver. They told us that they were all going to a special rugby game in Twickenham. There were a several stops and the train ended up crammed full especially just at the doors. 

The train ended were we wanted to go: Windsor & Eton Riverside Station, perfectly on time at 12:13 pm. Public transport is so easy here.

It was easy to pull the suitcases to Jane's house but as expected she wasn't there yet. We couldn't make the door lock key box work so we left a note saying: in one of the two pubs. 

Anybody in the family would know what that means. We decided to take the suit cases with us as it wasn't far and just around the corner. 

Vansittart Arms has improved their garden setting very much since we were here last. James has gone inside to get us a beer. 

We had just sat down when two young men arrived. One took a photo of the other at the tree next to us with Union Jack buntings and I asked whether they would like a photo of both of them. Well, that started a long chat. They pulled chairs to our table and we laughed a lot. Another friend of theirs arrived. They insisted of buying another drink for us and we all had fun. 

Time went fast until Jane arrived and sat down with us. More friends of theirs arrived and they gathered at another table. When we left we said good-bye and well-wishes and took a group photo. The young man on the right they called Ari had a birthday today and said he was starting chapter 43. 

Ben next to him (39) said life was about meeting people like us. He was worried about the world at the moment. He could be pulled into millitary service if worst comes to worst.

Jane had to make a stop so gave us the key. Arrived!

Jane told us about her walk in Wales with all the steep ups and downs. Like magic she produced lunch and dinner. Most important: she knows how much we like rhubarb which she had just plucked in her garden while we watched. 

Rhubarb compote with hot custard. We have arrived in England! Thank you, Jane! You know me.