Gatwick to Gumboots

On the 28^th September at 8am carrying packed bags we pray will come under the baggage allowance weight we left Mission and headed west.  Vancouver International Airport was not only our place of departure, but now also my place of work.  So much easier to travel home knowing a job awaits on return.

So airborne, shattered before a single metre of altitude gained, we settled in our charter seats marvelling at the sardine science that is charter aviation.  Perhaps a little harsh as the newer Air Transat Airbus 330 is really quite comfortable.  I stuck the headphones on and watched The Avengers, Men in Black 3 and The Big Miracle and then a little bit of the three stooges, great entertainment interspersed with two meals, a gin and tonic, glass of shiraz and bottled water.  8 hours 6 minutes with a tailwind and we dipped out of the clouds into Gatwick.  It’s almost been 3 years since my last trip home and I confess to wondering whether things had changed significantly; particularly given the passing of so much time.  No surprises initially; a five mile walk from disembarkation to baggage at Gatwick and grubby floors.  The first impression that greets any tourist flying in is not the best and certainly not a precursor to the real and wonderful United Kingdom.  Outside of that I found myself confronting roads and countryside that warmed me instantly; a green and pleasant land, my home.  British Columbia has spectacular backdrops but the patchwork quilt that is the UK countryside is unique, special and wrap around warm.

We quickly completed our rental vehicle paperwork and left the airport making sure that the driver sat on the right and drove on the left.  South Mimms provided much needed coffee and almost a full English breakfast; sausages were just not good enough I’m afraid, a poor start to the game.  Proper sausage situation since rectified.

We were very tired and jet-lagged and just itching to drop bags and ourselves into rest and comfort.  Didn’t know it at the time but another 17 hours would pass before the sack finally presented.  But what probably matters most is that the content of those 17 hours were just magic; not to be missed. 

We continued north grateful that the accident warning signs on the M23 gave us a choice of heading round the M25.  No change there and gridlock for those poor souls with no other options.

We arrived in Northampton and hit TESCO a supermarket with alcohol on the shelves, Chavvies in the aisles and products not found in Canada on the shelves.  You have no idea how much missed things like proper sausages and pork pies, Branston with chunks and Marmalade.  It might say Cadbury’s on the wrapper but in Canada it tastes nothing like the jolly old English Cadbury’s Chocolate made with cream.  Branding has local deflection built into the ingredients to suit local pallets apparently.

 

Left a message for Samantha and headed to Marcus and the Wharf in Bugbrooke.  ‘Chef in cooking action, in his kitchen, on his birthday’.  Big Hugs and a special reunion and plenty of other friends in this old haunt.  Paul and Tracey the owners and Jim in the kitchen.  We anticipated a need for tomato ketchup which we forgot to buy and Tracey gave us an industrial sized bottle to use and loaned us a condiment set for our week at Perkins Lodge Farm in Long Buckby.

We arrived at the farm and the Coach House. 

 

A beautiful old farm building, well laid out and in the thick of the Northamptonshire countryside. 

We were supposed to sleep for a couple of hours but failed dismally and at 6.30 Samantha, Alexa, Reece, Emma and Marcus all arrived and we had a fantastic evening together exchanging gifts and catching up. 

Alexa is just amazing and such a loving child.  We opened our French doors and listened to the sheep and cows on the farm and enjoyed the views. 

Alexa played with Reece and Marcus in the play area opposite our lodgings.  Reece’s girlfriend Emma is delightful and after two years of knowing she was part of Reece’s life we finally met her.  Family together at last and so much more to come. 

 

Kim faded at 10pm and I finally dropped at midnight after chatting at length with Samantha.  Three years of chatting to catch up on to be precise. 

I slept like a log happy in heart and mind.