Abroad Susan Mary 2025

 I’ve been trying to organise a bit more time with Philip and Rosemary - and also their youngest daughter (my “youngest” niece) - in Cirencester.   I think most schools start their new year around now, after their long, summer break - so Gabriel, (a teacher) also returns to the workforce - but I’ll still get a chance to have a brief “catch up” at some stage, with her as well.   Now that I am a seasoned train and underground traveller, Julia has once again helped me to book and collect tickets to travel (train to London, underground across to Paddington and train, again, to. where Philip will collect me at Kemble.)  Just until Thursday, when I will return to Sevenoaks to complete packing my bags.  Julia has kindly offered to take me to Heathrow on Friday and then it’s up and away ✈️ to Singapore. My ex workmate and good friend Julie is meeting me there from Christchurch - about 1 hour after I am due to land - for 6 days.  It’s likely to be 32 degrees, eviden...

Shirley and Ceri took me to the train station in Cardiff on Tuesday -  and I returned to Sevenoaks with slightly more confidence than my inbound journey.   As I left, Shirley handed me a carrier bag with a parcel - and I am now the proud owner of the Emma Bridgewater “schnauzer” mug from her collection. Evidently there was also a card with it but that seems to have disappeared somewhere en route.  Disappointing … because Shirley always writes a report on a card, when she returns a dog to its owner after a stay with her (6 at last count while I was there) and I’d have liked to see what she had to say about me.  It was a lovely week of chaos, laughter and knitting and I already miss them all. Julia was at the station to meet me and I was re-acquainted with my larger suitcase in their spare bedroom. Both children were preparing to start the new school year at boarding school… and have since moved in.  Darcy (16) excelled (and I MEAN excelled) in the GCSE exams this...

who’s who! My dad, Clive, was the son of Emlyn Thomas Gaynor and Ronnie were his cousins Ronnie had Ceri Ceri married Shirley in 1972 Daughters Lenka, Abby and Kate + son, Owen duly arrived All have children but the children involved here are Lenka’s -  Mia (20) Evie (17) Izzy (14) - now knitters extraordinaire Looking over the back fence to the Coach House where youngest daughter, Kate, and her family live                                                          (L to R) Ceri, Abby, Shirley, Kate                                                                        Kate’s 2 tortoises                       ...

 Look out the wool industry!  Talk about ducks to water … these girls are amazing. They started, some time before I arrived on the scene, by crocheting 100 red poppies for an exhibit that “aunty Abby” is organising for later in the year … never having crocheted before - and self-taught from Google.  And have already made 60 of the required additional 100 purple poppies for the same display.   Grandmother Shirley had assured them that when I arrived I would “quick smart”complete that required number.   What Shirley had forgotten (or didn’t know) - I don’t/can’t/won’t crochet!!  And so I also looked up Google, and trial knitted one for them … which I since reduced in size and have promised 10, by the time I leave. And so began the change of crafts.  All three girls decided they would like to learn to knit … Shirley practically bought out the local charity shop(s) supplies of wool and “in, round, through and off” began. From 10 stitches, a few were added ...

 Where do I begin? I was pretty anxious about my train trip from Sevenoaks to Cardiff (2 changes -  beginning with overland travel/underground train/ and eventually overland again directly into Cardiff.  But I made it safely, thanks to Julia’s brilliance organising my tickets and her expert instruction on where to find the underground etc. All that anxiety about what turned out to be a pretty easy transfer (though also more expensive than flying to Wellington, return!!) And there stood Shirley - waving her hands enthusiastically in the air and engulfing me in a huge hug.  I really am so fortunate with all of my relations in the UK and in every case, when I arrive, it is as if I’ve never been away.  Ceri was waiting by the car and we haven’t really stopped talking ever since - give or take 2 sets of hearing aids of questionable assistance. … and even better, they presently have 5 visiting dogs staying with them while their owners are away plus a much loved family...

                   Henry, Luke, Lauren, (Luke’s partner) Kitty - Henry and Kitty in teenager mode                                       Luke, Lauren, Kitty, Henry, Georgia and her partner Anton On Sunday, Will came to pick me up at Sevenoaks and took me into Stratford, to meet up with his family.  I can’t begin to say how much I enjoyed the day.  The following photos are hopefully sufficient to show what a relaxed, happy day we shared.  The last time I saw them was 11 years ago - and they all now tower above me as can be seen above - even sitting!! Luke and Georgia are Kitty and Henry’s half siblings and I was delighted and impressed to see how well they all related together.  Georgia particularly, impressed me, by caring and watching out for each and every one of us, all day … and I overheard her arranging to be with Kitty ...

 The day dawned a bit drizzly and a little cooler, but now that my arms have seen the light of day I managed to continue, cardiganless, all day.    We’ve had a lovely day, full of laughs  and the occasional misty eyes.   Caroline (who you’ve already met … of uncuz fame) drove over for morning tea on the patio.  It was a lovely time of catch up and the time sped past, far too fast.   Caroline and Christine Christine, Alan and I then went on to a lovely pub/restaurant at Penshurst for a leisurely lunch, ostensibly to check it out as a suitable venue to celebrate Christine’s birthday with 8 others, later in the month.  Sadly the decision NOT to return had to be made on the basis that there were no loos on the dining room level and all that was on offer was down a very steep staircase of 20 steps.   A pity, because the food there was delicious.  So much for trying to stay a bit lighter!   And then it was off to feed Julia’s cat, in the ...

 Sarah got us back to Ray’s  safely, where Richard was visiting his dad.  Dexter 🐕 (who ignored me all the way down to E. Compton and rested his head on my arm all the way home) was pleased to see his dad - and Maggie 🐕 who, whilst pleased to see him, made it quite clear that it was too late to start playing rough.   Ray had a nasty bout of asthma which slowed him down - but not enough to cut down the size of the 2 walks that he and Maggie do together, daily.  There was talk of perhaps driving down towards Southampton to meet up with Steph’s (and my) ex flatmate Denise, who is  in the UK at the moment, too.  The arrangements were being made between them, but didn’t eventuate- so instead I caught up with Mandy and her friend Vicki for a shopping spree in Reading … Mandy - 2, Vicki - bits and pieces - me, nothing.  I have since bought myself a “carry on” suitcase for the  flight home … I won’t be wearing my big thick jersey home and it takes...

If you’re wondering why this visit takes up 2 separate pages, I am as well.  Somehow I had very cleverly centred the last post and then couldn’t change it back to this more normal layout.  Eventually, this appeared to be the only solution.   The property is quite extensive - with large, open spaces.  Over the short time I was there this time, I saw 2 (possibly 3) deer, 3 or 4 rabbits and a couple of squirrels wandering past.  There was also a well fed cat, clearly aware that the dog was on holiday.  Between Centre Parcs and East Compton, I’ve seen more “wild” animals in the past 2 weeks than I’ve seen in a long time, and it’s been quite “exciting”.  Somehow I hadn’t expected that in built up areas, in the UK of all places. So Wednesday arrived, with a departure time of 8.00 pm, and consequently an early start to allow for a visit to The Newt.  It employs 500 staff - between the grounds, eating places, ice-cream parlour, gift shop etc. etc.  P...

 Sarah’s parents live in Wells … about 15 minutes, by car, from Hannah and James’ home in E. Compton. Her dad has been Town Crier there, since retiring some years ago.  So I’m sure it wasn’t a coincidence that she decided to “visit mum and dad for 2 days - would you like a lift?”  As it happened, her mum was unexpectedly taken into hospital for a couple of days that same day and so the timing couldn’t have been better. It’s school holiday time in UK and so Sarah is on holiday - as are Hannah’s children, and part of that holiday period involves a fortnight at their house in Jersey .   Usually Philip and Rosemary go down to look after their dog and grounds, but this year he went to Jersey with the family.  And so I managed to squeeze in another couple of days with Philip and Rosemary … and we hit the ground, running.  They needed to go into Wells to collect a framed picture so we had a perfect excuse to have lunch there and to view the sites. Where have I ...

Ray, Maggie and I went for what Ray calls “a short” walk on Saturday - but I don’t -and I haven’t been for another one since.  THEY go for two - daily.  But on Saturday’s walk, we stumbled across a mini fair with, probably, 20 stalls from Rotary to the local Baptist church who had forgotten their banner.                                And an area displaying exotic birds including this kookaburra                  And owl + several more, but my phone decided to go on strike so no more photos We also went grocery shopping at Marks and Spensers - so many people and so much to chose from … but no clothing and therefore not a single “bum enhancer” in sight, although the confectionary aisle could have achieved the same effect, I guess.  Later, Sarah and Richard joined us for dinner at a pub/restaurant situated between the two houses and we did our best to...