Greatest Hits

Richard Branson is an idiot

We have just boarded our return flight which is code share delta and virgin Atlantic. The first class seat arrangements are completely ridiculous and some kind of angled thing where we can’t even be next to each other but can make friends with four or five strangers 🙄

Some nice person already saw our confusion and switched with us but it hardly improves the situation- especially for playing pass and play scrabble.

And where your feet go there is another seat belt - for visitors I guess? 🤷‍♀️🤯

Since I can’t post yet due to no internet, let me add more. With the seat in the “upright” position, my feet don’t even touch the ground.

And there is an infant in the first class cabin, maybe six months old. I get it. I’m a grandma now and have flown with Adam. I would NEVER be making the noise and fuss this woman is making playing with her grandson. At least I assume it’s mom, baby and grandma.

There is not enough wine aboard to make this all go away. Thank goodness for noise canceling headphones at least.

A shoe reunion at the Langley

Okay, funny story. When we came in from The Maldives, Chris was wearing her comfy little Bzees shoes. We left some luggage at The Langley and wore or took only what we needed for four days with Lynn and Gavin. When we got back for our second stay at The Langley and did some luggage reshuffling, Chris could not find her shoes. She realized she must have left them in the closet when leaving. She was too embarrassed to contact the desk in the evening, but when we went down for breakfast we decided to inquire just in case. Well, the staff said housekeeping would not be in until after we departed early for our flight, but she would do her best to find them. It was a happy reunion when she knocked on our door with them. And we must indeed learn the lingo: these are “trainers” and not “shoes.” 😂 much like Lynn is learning the distinction between “handbag” and “purse.” 

Ready to return.

All the leaves are brown 

and the sky is grey.

I’d be safe and warm 

if I was in LA.

Although we woke up to frost on the ground, our last morning at The Langley quickly brightened up. It’s actually a gorgeous hotel and very quiet and we would stay here again for sure.

The lobby and staircase.

Our suite and a view from one window. We like the main building better than the brewhouse where our room was on our first stay coming in. Forgot to take more room photos when we arrived but suffice it to say it’s quite lovely.

The village of Ripple

For a very small village, Ripple has a quite large church. It is famous because it has a full set of misericord, prayer seats. Gavin and Lynn gave us a little history lesson and test. When we were in the chapel at Windsor Castle, they told us to remember this word. Then we learned why when we got to see their church.

A visit to Ripple would not have been complete without a pop into the pub. One night we had a pint or two and felt like real locals.

And a small village is not complete without the best people living in it. Lynn and Gavin fit right in and the village has welcomed them with open arms and lots of support. We could not be happier for them! And how cool is it to live in a house with no number, just the name Jasmine Cottage!

Nine out ten - not too bad

When I got my pedicure at Kudadoo, the aesthetician said the sea water is hard on the polish. I wasn’t too concerned: when I do it myself at home before a tropical trip it lasts quite well. I guess she’s seen this outcome before 😂

This must mean it’s time to go home 😉

Last day in England today with Lynn and Gavin before they take us back to the Langley and we will stay overnight then board our return flight Saturday morning. 

Dinner at Lumière and lunch at Sotto Sotto in Bath

You CAN have the duck. One of our favorite lines from a classic movie, L.A. Story, is by Sir Patrick Stewart as the maître d’ at a posh Los Angeles restaurant when he “interviews” prospective diners and based on their answers advises them in his fabulous accent “you can’t have the duck.”

Well, Lumiere was quite posh but so so lovely and welcoming and homey all at once. It was a six course chef’s tasting meal with wine pairings and we all really enjoyed the duck course. They were so gracious about Chris being gluten free and she raved about the bread and they were kind enough to share the recipe without her even having to ask.

The photo with the smoke is from the palette cleansing course and our host was wise to tell us to pop the entire jelly ball in our mouths at once! No one ended up with a lime burst on their clothes and, wow, did we get a refreshed feeling. It was such a fun evening, and Chris even tried a muscle which the monkfish course was served over. 

Gavin suggested we go explore the town of Bath, and since we would be hitting it right at lunch time, Mike did some recon and got us a reservation at Sotto Sotto. It’s Italian and it’s down in the cave of one of the original baths. It kept us out of the winds and rain for a while, what Gavin tells us is just known as “March.” 😂

We then toured a museum at One Crescent, which also kept us out of the weather, and that was a fun little dip back in time. Most was “do not touch” but once down in the kitchen galley there were aprons you were allowed to touch. Chris had fun pretending to be Daisy from Downton Abbey.

Birds of Slimbridge WWT

Eurasian Oystercatcher

Pied Avocet

Common Goldeneye

Common Shelduck

Common Crane

Barnacle Goose

Black Swan

Common Eider

Smew

Tufted Duck

Eurasian Wigeon

Common Chaffinch

Eurasian Curlew

Dunnock

Ruddy-headed Goose

Redhead

Black-headed Gull

Herring Gull

Spent a great day at this place. It has something for everyone. Many great hides and adorable areas for children. We had a light lunch in the cafe there afterwards because we have a big dinner out tonight. The weather was super cooperative as well - fun outing

We hired the best guides!

We are getting the royal treatment for our first visit to England. We went to Windsor Castle and Gavin suggested we get the audio tour. We felt that might put us to sleep and why bother since we had him along. Well, he did a fantastic job keeping us entertained and interested and even got accused by one of the docents who asked him “Are you guiding?”  You must be sanctioned as an official guide as most museums require so they were correct to check I guess. We all found it terribly funny and assured the docent we indeed were just his in laws and I’m sure they could tell by how much fun we were having that it was all legit.

I like this video of the guards because I catch our “guide” trying to get in on the action in the background.

Another fun thing that happened was the guards were getting an inspection from the captain. It reminds Chris a lot of when Mike asks her how well he shaved his face.

And of course we have had a stop for fish and chips!

Windsor Castle and movies

Your Mother Was a Hamster and Your Father Smells of Elderberries

  R

Hail to Dorothy! The Wicked Witch is dead!