Post 27 To Hampton Court

Up reasonably early this morning to say goodbye to Mark who had an early golf match. I had been a bit concerned about being picked up by the car I had booked to take me to London. There is no vehicle access to Pene and Mark's house. However, I received a phone number for the driver by 7am. Pene was able to ring him and tell him where to meet us and we walked down the hill, with Pene making sure we got my bags down OK.

I was sad to say goodbye - but we have had such a nice time it only feels like au revoir.

My driver chose the A303 rather than the M roads. The scenery was not very varied, but there was scenery. It was either wooded areas or rolling plains.

I learned a bit about my driver - born in Romania, lived in South Africa and the Philippines, came to England because one of his children developed a health condition that was exacerbated by the heat and humidity of the Philippines. Doctors recommended a cool climate by the sea and a friend suggested his home town in England. Their son had totally recovered, speaks 5 languages and is doing really well at school. They visit the Philippines regularly and he intends to move back there when his children are established post-school. It is much easier to make ends meet in the Philippines, but he is sure his son would have died had they stayed.

This is the world in which we now live - but our policies do not seem to have caught up with that.

He gave me little snippets of information about the journey - but respected my space and privacy.

One of the reasons he chooses this route is because it passes close to Stonehenge. As he predicted, I could tell when we were getting close because the traffic banked up and slowed. No one can pass Stonehenge without being drawn to look at it.

It appears near the horizon from quite a distance

It then seems to emerge from the landscape.

and there it is. I haven't seen it since 1984 but it is still moving.





Somehow the ring of tourists only adds to the impact

along, of course, with the sheep.




After that, the journey was uneventful.





The receptionist at the Mitre asked if I was here for the needlework - thought she recognised me from previous visits.

My room is comfortable and warm. There is space to sit and stitch (light permitting) and there will also be space to completely empty and repack my suitcase ready for the home journey.


The view isn't spectacular - but I can see the river, which is what counts.


I managed a little cluster of buds on my Herdwick piece during the late afternoon.

There was a function in the downstairs   bar/dining area, so dinner was in the upstairs restaurant, where the Christmas lights have been left up. Apparently they look very pretty from the bridge.

I was a little late to watch the water life but I'm sure there will be plenty in the morning.





My RSN class is tomorrow - so I shalln't have a late night.