To Somerset and back yesterday, for a brief but very welcome reunion. I pulled up outside the caravan at about 08:50 and the chatting started interrupted only for an afternoon nap. Left, with great reluctance, at 18:10, and arrived safely home at 21:15 to be greeted by Dolly doing the full ‘and what time of night do you call this, then?’ act.
Oh boy but it was worth the effort. We brunched in Taunton and then I was marched up to Debenham’s to buy a replacement winter coat. I’d sort of hoped to get a new pair of trousers, too, but I had to cut the shopping short when my legs started to give way. ’Home’ to the caravan for a late lunch.
Graham’s looking well, if a little worn and tired. Our planned-for video phone contacts fell short of the lousy wifi connection available to Graham, so it was the first time I’d clapped eyes on him since he started work at the beginning of the season. I’ll probably be making another trip later this month, and another one some time in September, and then a last visit to pick him up and bring him home at the end of the season. That’ll be somewhere around 28/29 September.
Dolly will be delighted beyond all pretence of aloofness.
Today, I’m feeling tired and creaky. And triumphant. The day after a long trip has always been so. When I’ve caught up on my sleep, and washed the wearies out of my system, I’m tasked to find a garden clearance service; my description of the rampant growth of the back garden, with over-grown vegetation tapping on the windows, persuaded Graham that we should get the ground cleared and ready for a grand re-modelling in the Autumn. I’m not over confident that I’ll be able to find anyone who’ll take on a clearance job this time of year, when there’s easier money to be had cutting grass, but I’ll give it my best shot.
Oh, one thing I must record. On the way home I took a break at the Cardiff East motorway services. It’s probably the most dire, ugly, and uncomfortable stop on the entire British motorway system and I cannot recommend it to anyone. Certainly I shall not be stopping there again.
That was the low point of the trip. You need a low point to bring into focus just how good it is to have a reunion, no matter how brief.
