Back in the UK. . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . but just for 24 hours!

We arrived early, even before the sun was up!

Good flight and only 7 hours with the brisk tailwind. A few hours of dozing, 

but no real deep sleep.

Cool, very cool for us coming from such intense heat. Some little

 patches of blue sky later.

Hung about an airport coffee shop - Caffé Nero java will wake anyone - before 

taking a taxi to our hotel which, thankfully, had our room ready for occupancy.

Airbus 380-800 - largest commercial plane in the world - costs a bit too,

$318 million!

We always request a room here overlooking the runway.

Huge planes arrive from some place in the world about 

every 3 minutes.

Clouds have rolled in.  

A few raindrops falling now. . . . . . after all this is England!

This way, that way. . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . which way is home?

When you have a heart full of love for two countries where you've made

your home, it's hard to leave both and wonderful to return to each.

We said "goodbye" to England yesterday, sad to leave, but happy to

watch the miles tick down from 3,900 to 100 as North Carolina came into

 view below the wing.  

A smooth flight. . . . . . . in fact a very smooth two weeks of fabulous 

times with family and friends in Bath, Devon, Cornwall and London.

The one mishap was when we landed and discovered my suitcase 

didn't!!! Apparently an electrical fault in the bag loading conveyor

system in Heathrow meant many passengers bags didn't make it.

Bob was lucky, his is here, mine is hopefully making it's way across

the pond today and will show up on the doorstep by this evening!

The garden looks fabulous - just couldn't believe how everything 

grew so huge whilst we were gone - will show you more later,

as well as stories and photos from the really enjoyable trip.

Traveling to London. . . . . . . . .

 . . . . . from the West Country was not easy the past couple of days. 

Cold, damp nights brought icy conditions and thick fog on the main motorways, 

sadly there were several multi-vehicle pileups with at least one fatality during early

 morning commuting hours.

We awoke early this morning and I rushed to take photos from the balcony before

my cousin came to drive us to the coach station to catch our Heathrow airport bus.

I'd never seen Tor Bay like this, early on a foggy morning. Remember, I didn't live

 here with bay views as a youngster - so this was totally different from my memories

 of our lovely town by the sea.

The tiny boat is the small winter ferry which plies back and forth between Torquay

 and Brixham, carrying mostly commuters on its 25 minute journey. We've watched

 it chugging back and forth several times a day whilst staying in the flat.

Today, the fog banks gave the shoreline a beautiful mystical look which was a

 new and quite different view of my hometown. . . . . . one I will always remember.

We are now in our hotel at Heathrow. 

Our window looks out onto the main runway of this gigantic world famous airport.

 We always request a room on this side as we love watching planes leaving for every

 corner of the world. Every 2 minutes a jet takes off. . . . . . it's been happening since

 our arrival at 3 PM and still continues now at 11 PM as I sign off here. 

Soon though it will shut down for the night. We will then enjoy calm hours for our

 'last sleep' here in my lovely England before flying back to the USA tomorrow.

Homeward Bound ~

~ Kinsale harbor, County Cork ~

"Farewell beautiful Ireland"

"Hello dear England" 
Our favorite pub for supper on the way 

home - The Pheasant Inn near Heathrow 

airport - a short walk from our hotel.

We flew from Ireland to England this afternoon
 and will be crossing the pond tomorrow.