Friday 14 January 2011

Wet home coming.

After a month of beautiful sunshine and 23 – 30 0C  temperatures Dot finally returned to the UK yesterday to a mild but wet 120C   home coming. We had it all planned out that she would catch the National Express coach from Heathrow to Cambridge where I would meet her and we would catch the X9 bus back to March. Had the plane landed on time this would have been fine but she told me that they had to circle London 3 times before landing and then waiting for some time on the Tarmac for a berth. This did not bode well for our plans and at the time I was on a bus to Cambridge so unable to do much about working on alternative plans.

As the time drew closure for the coach departure I was on the edge of my seat awaiting a text to say that she was on the coach. A text message finally arrived with about a minute to spare to say she was on the bus. Hooray! Having got over this challenge I settled down to a few hours of wandering around Cambridge in the rain.Yuk!

Another challenge was about to unfold when Dot rang to say they were running late. I had worked out that we had 25 minutes between the coach arriving in Cambridge and the last X9 bus for the day leaving. There was a 5 minute walk between the 2 bus stops cutting it back to a 20 minute window. The coach finally arrived with 10 minutes to spare which meant no hanging around. A brisk walk to the other bus stop only to find no bus. Had we missed it or what? It transpired that this bus was also late and when it arrived the driver was going to have a coffee first and foremost, timetable or no timetable.

By this time both of us were shattered and starting to feel the strain but at least we got home OK even though it was 20.30hrs. I had left a beef casserole in the Crock Pot (slow cooker) which was ready but Dot didn’t feel like eating so I had the lot. Needless to say there is a lot to be sorted out over the next few days so we are going to be busy.

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Welcome back Dot, take a breath, speak to you both soon.

Lesley NB Caxton said...

I echo Jill and Graham's comment - welcome 'home'...
Lesley

Derek and Dot said...

Thanks Jill, Graham, Lesley and Joe, Dot is still shattered today but should be back to her normal self shortly.

Les Biggs said...

Glad you had a safe arrival back in the UK.
Derek stop scoffing all the food as you can`t burn off the calories now your not boating.

Derek and Dot said...

Hi Les
Yes greedy I must admit, won't do that again I promise.

Jenny and Robin said...

Pleased you arrived home safe and sound, Dot. That long journey wouldn't have been much fun at all. It was great to spend a bit of time with you while you were here.

Derek and Dot said...

Hi Jenny and Robin
Great to spend time with old friends, thanks for all your help,countdown to September coming up, see you again soon