waggy tale no.1

 Well, here we are folks.  I finally got around to it, and, fingers crossed, when I press "Publish Post" it will appear on your screen as I imagined it; or not.  




Time has flown by since we arrived.  I cannot believe we have been here two months already.  I'm going to devote this post to thank yous, to the journey here, and to some first impressions.  Of all the things we wanted to do before we left was to say goodbye.  Sue and I have enjoyed re-reading the farewell cards, and have fond memories of the visits to homes (and not a few restaurants) around Wallington, in the West Country and Wales, and our last (I should say most recent) Sunday at Holy Trinity.   

 Our journeys through the Summer took us to Honiton to see Norma and Willy, then Abergavenny to see Jill Lloyd, then Little Stoke near Bristol for Marilyn and David. Back to Wallington; then Ashreigney, to see Frank and Janet and their delightful cottage (pic opposite); a quick trip to London to see the chaps, then onto the IOW ferry to see Brian's Mum and Dad, and Brother Jon and Barbara.  Sunday at Holy Trinity, then Monday evening with the kids.  Thank you everyone for your  hospitality and for giving us a good send-off.

The journey here was pretty good overall, though minutes before we left, we couldn't find the passports, tickets or money.  Sue assured me that I had them.  I hadn't.  A moment of real panic, which mercifully was just that.  Richard was great - saw us off at the Bus stop with all our stuff, and blimey! what a lot it was: two large suitcases, suitbag, overnight bag (15kg+), two laptops, flight bag, two overcoats, and bag full of CD's.  I feared problems at check-in as even a generous interpretation of the cabin baggage allowance wouldn't justify this lot.  Anyhow, no questions asked, and through we went.  Probably helped by the fact that before us was a large Japanese family who caused mayhem at the desk.  Two quiet and retiring English weren't going to be a problem. 

We like the flat.  Its compact at 700 sq.ft with two bedrooms but the view from the lounge is great.  On Sundays the harbour is busy with sailing boats, and throughout the week it is used by everything from the big "gambling ships" to cargo ships, the ubiquitous Star Ferry, and the little sampans used by fishermen.   

So who are all those people at the head of the blog?  Some of you will know that Sue found it hard going at first.  It was her first time over here and she knew no-one.  I was at work all day and the flat is small.  She was going mad, rapidly. But St Andrew's church was our saviour: there we met a number of lovely people, among them some really nice ladies who understood her situation exactly.  "You're what's known as 'a trailing wife' dear".  She was duly taken under a wing and introduced to one club after another, and now has a circle of probably 20 or so friends and is out most days.  The picture was taken at a dinner arranged by the Corona Club one Saturday.  Those of you at Purcell Miller Tritton reading this might be interested to know that the lady sat to the right of the lady in red is a neighbour of Jamie Coath.  Small world.