Friends and Family

Ste Guadalupe

'You're back!' - friends seem pleased to see us. 'How did it go, how are you?'

That's a difficult one to answer.

We're pleased to be home, no doubt about it. There's nothing as good as your own bed, having the cats back home (they are truly grumpy about their own 'holiday'), being in your own home and knowing where everything is, a log fire, open spaces... I could continue.

We are pleased to be away from the heat of England. No, don't get me wrong, there wasn't a freak heatwave over there last weekend, quite the opposite, but we are used to the chill of our own home and the sharp French winter we're experiencing, and find everywhere in the UK from homes to shops to public transport, theatres, restaurants, even the Royal Festival Hall where we stopped for a five minute 'culture break' on Saturday evening, just very warm and slightly oppressive at times. Should you keep the coat on or off? Would you need a scarf, gloves or a tee-shirt and shorts?

However.

There's always a 'however', we had a wonderful time with family and friends. Lots of lovely cuddles with our grandsons, seeing the 'Sisters, and the Cousins and the Aunts' (no we didn't go to a G&S production), the mothers, the in-laws, the brother, the father. We can't deny that there's a pang of guilt, much sadness and a few tears when we say our goodbyes at the end of a visit. And, of course, with a 'split' family, Midlands and South, we didn't manage to see two of our daughters and granddaughter this time round.

We met up with friends that we haven't seen for two years, including some from overseas who happened to be in the UK at the same time as us. We didn't get the chance to have a long chat with all of them but it was good to see them 'in the flesh' and all looking so well.

We celebrated a 'virtual' New Years' Eve with the friends who were here in October for a 'virtual' Christmas, and sang the 'New Year' in with a verse of Auld Lang Syne.

We spent Saturday in London walking the traffic-free Regents Street and side roads, paying a visit to one of our favourite shops dedicated to musical theatre, The Dress Circle. We had a very nice lunch in Charing Cross Road at a new (to us) restaurant Med Kitchen, and later, after a visit to the fantastic show La Cage Aux Folles. The show was just amazing, even though we were sitting in the cheap seats on the 'mantlepiece' as one of the actors called it. It's one I've wanted to see for years so I was very glad we managed to fit it in.

On Sunday my (exhausted) sister entertained as many family and some friends, as she could fit into her house to lunch. We had a lovely time catching up with siblings and cousins and even recreated a few photos of ourselves as children, although the clothes and hair were not quite the same - my brother having been photographed in 1963 in a pair of short tartan trews!!! - Such a shame we couldn't find a pair to fit him again.

We are both grateful to everyone who made our trip home such a success, to friends for putting themselves out and finding time to meet up with us however briefly, to family for coming to see us on Sunday and especially to my sister Anne, my Mum and daughter #3, Lizzie for feeding, driving and entertaining us so well.

I know you're all exhausted, so we promise not to do it too often. Unfortunately!

Don't forget all. We're open for bookings for 2009!

PS - If you are wondering where the photos are. They are in my camera. Which is in my sister's house. Ooops!