“LAND OF OUR FATHERS” … WALES - not 🐳 🐋

 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 dog, who generously shares his walks and cuddles with them.  It’s lovely being able to enjoy them all.  I miss all my NZ  🐕 friends and it’s nice having a canine “fix” for a while.

The household also includes 3 teenage grand daughters plus oldest daughter.  It is such a loving home - all the girls are a credit to their mum and assist with the dog walking and kitchen duties without question and without being asked.  So impressive.  Today all three (who are presently crocheting poppies … 100 red and 100 purple … for a military display) picked up knitting needles for the first time in their lives and progressed considerably faster than I did, when I attempted to help with crocheting HALF a poppy - under instruction.  Then followed a game of UNO - with a pack of Skipbo due to arrive tomorrow.  Perhaps, since no-one has played it before, I may have a better chance of being best at something for a change.

For no apparent reason, the photos from my mobile haven’t transferred to my laptop.   I’ve taken plenty - so with any luck and a bit of assistance from more knowledgeable teenagers than me, my next blog will include some introductions.

Must try harder.  Sorry!





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