Hurricane Irma

I had hardly settled in from my trip to the UK before we were ousted by Hurricane Irma.  It was such a large storm and, having evacuated twice before, I knew it was better to leave earlier rather than later.  Early on I touched bases with Rhonda, whom I evacuated with last year, but she already had the week off and was heading to Franklin, NC to check on her dad.  She suggested Tippy, a mutual friend, and I touch bases.  As it turned out, Tippy had planned to evacuate to her cabin in the NC mountains, in none other than Franklin!!  So, I was fortunate enough to be invited along.  Her cabin turned out to be the perfect retreat.  It is a one bedroom cabin with two sleeper sofas.  It has everything one could possibly want or need, with no clutter to distract.  It was delightful.

A major part of the evacuation is the drive out and back, both of which take much longer than usual.  People from Florida were already evacuating so the interstates were clogged.  It took 10-11 hours each way.  Before leaving, I stopped by the vet's office to pick up something to calm Rosie so she wouldn't pant all the way there.  It worked like a charm going out, but not as well coming back, so I stopped and gave her 1/4 of the medication and that settled her for the remainder of the drive.  Once I got Mama Mia's situation right, she slept most of the way up and back!  When we were almost half-way up, Tippy got a call saying the storm had veered west, so we stopped to figure out what to do.  Being indecisive, we went to a car dealership that we were parked near and asked if we could come in and watch the weather channel!!  They were very gracious and let us sit for a minute and figure out what to do.....and we probably gave them something to talk about for the rest of the day!

I need to thank Martin W for the app (Waze) that got me home quickly (relatively speaking).  As I neared Columbia, which is always congested, it took me on and off I-26 several times, then directing me through Orangeburg.  I never got on I-95 at all and kept moving the whole time.  I kept wondering whether or not I would make better time on 95, but once I talked to Rhonda, I was glad I trusted the app.  She left an hour before us and got home at 1AM.  I got home at 9PM!!  

The day after we arrived in Franklin, we had brunch with Robyn and Mary Elizabeth, friends and neighbors of Tippy.  Robyn is a superb cook and we had creamy scrambled eggs with green onion, garlic, etc. and cheesy grits made with brie - out of this world!  We then invited Mary, Robyn, Rhonda and Mike (her dad) to join us for dinner at the local Thai restaurant.  More delicious food and great conversation. We also shared banana pancakes and cinnamon pancakes with Robyn and Mary during our stay.  What a way to start each day!


They also invited us all over for dinner one night, along with two other neighbors.  It is a very tight-knit community and I felt honored to be so welcomed.  They had ham for the carnivores, but Robyn made the best pinto beans and farro (which I'd never eaten before, but will henceforth!).  She shared her recipe and I'm going to be experimenting. You can see the spread, complete with homemade biscuits!  

As the weather was getting a bit worse, Tippy and I went back over to Robyn and Mary's the following morning to help them move furniture off their deck, before coming back and doing the same at Tippy's place.  It has to be said that they have one of the best mountain views I've seen.  It's a panoramic view and each day, or even time of day, is different from the last.....just beautiful, as you can see.

The storm itself was minimal, or as Tippy described it, "a leaf event", blowing down lots of leaves and small branches.  Through the night there were gusts of wind and rain, and I did hear branches knock against the house, but all in all, very minimal.  Poor little Rosie, didn't poop for two days because of the rain and wet leaves.  To even get her away from the door, we would carry her to the end of the drive, hoping she would decide to pee pee, poo poo on her sprint home!  It didn't happen and you can imagine her relief when she again saw dry grass!!  She was a good girl, though, not pooping in the house.

The day after the storm, we went over to Robyn and Mary's again, to put out their furniture.  We had to walk the last part of the way as they had about 4 small trees fall across the road, blocking their driveway.  We took photos and alerted them of the situation and, before we left, their neighbors came to the rescue.  It was at that point that we decided to head home, quickly packing up and securing the house.  The plan was to go to Tippy's sister in Spartanburg, at which point I would decide whether or not to stay over or carry on home.  Once I got the pets situated, I really didn't want to put them or me through it the next day, so I just dragged on home.  You really do put yourself in that "this has to get done" mode and carry on.  I was exhausted and my eyes were bleary because it's been a long time since I've driven hours at night.  But, the next morning, it was nice to be home.  There was no damage to the house and when I plugged in everything, all worked except my internet.  I called Hargray ASAP and they were out to replace the box at 1PM the same day......no delay whatsoever!  

I'm saving the best photo for last!
Here is Tippy with her refurbished sign - "If you ain't invited, you ain't invited"!  After meeting friends and neighbors, I felt honored to be invited and so warmly welcomed.  Considering the circumstances, it was a restful, relaxing and fun way to spend an evacuation. Tippy was so laid-back and very gracious to me and to the fur-babies, which I very much appreciated.  They all turned a threatening event into wonderful time spent with new friends.  My deepest thanks to everyone!

More photos!

My Time in England

Well, it has to be said that I had a fantastic vacation....on every level!  The wedding was a magical weekend and it was so good to see long-time friends again.  Every day was non-stop from morning til night and somehow I kept the pace, due to a mixture of adrenaline, fun and sheer delight!!  It was the first time since the beginning of the year that I've felt that light and carefree.  I'd almost forgotten how it felt!  So, I highly recommend getting away to everyone!!

Eileen met me at St Pancras station and we took the train to Loughborough in the Midlands. That was not without calamity!  After signing up for a program that would allow me to use my cell phone in the UK, it wouldn't work!  We were to meet at the steps from the tube to the station, but it was a very small area, so I ventured into the trendy Mall that was attached.  I kept on the lookout for Eileen, but no luck (I didn't know that she also didn't have cell service on the train down!). This is when you really miss those red phone boxes!! Finally, I stopped at a service desk and asked if they could make a call for me.  They called Eileen and no answer!!  Then I asked if I could text her, which they kindly allowed me to do.  I told her I could be in front of John Lewis in the Mall.....so, I just parked myself there. Finally, Eileen got cell service again to find that she had missed a call and received a text.  At that point, she stopped at the same service desk to ask where John Lewis was located!!  Somewhere in the midst of all that, we had passed each other at least once!!  We sat and had coffee and a good laugh!!

We took an afternoon train to Loughborough and it began to rain.  It rained the rest of the afternoon and into the night (and I kept threatening to sleep in the conservatory as the rain sounded so good!).  By mid-morning the next day, the sun peaked through and the weather was pretty much clear for the rest of my visit!!  Our first morning was spent at the Peter La Merchant Trust boat site, where Eileen volunteers.  The Trust takes handicapped and elder people of day long boat trips, which must be a real treat for them.  I can see why Eileen enjoys it.  We were there in time to go on-board and see the boat and volunteers.  Shortly, a group arrived and we got to see them board and leave port.  The boat had to turn around in the canal and I could have sworn that the boat was longer than the canal was wide - but they did it!!  From there we went to Eileen's quilting group, a jovial group of talented ladies. Not all were quilting, some were doing stitchery or working on Christmas ornaments, etc.  Last year they made 99+1 quilts for Project Linus, which uses the small quilts for children in crisis situations.  Their quilts were exceptional and something anyone would treasure.  

The following day Eileen was kind enough to drive down to Manchester for a visit with Allan's sister Jean, Douglas, and their extended family.  We had a scrumptious lunch, and it was so sunny and warm that we sat outside for a portion of the afternoon.  The last time I saw them, they had one grandchild.....now they have four, three boys and one girl!!  I said Audrey would either be spoiled or tough (or both), but as they all mature, I'm sure she will be well looked after.  I missed seeing Howard, but it was great to see Victoria, Abi, Paul and to meet Paul's parents.  Our time was short, but I'm so glad we were able to get together and catch up a bit.

The next day it was time to head for Bradford-on-Avon, where we were staying for the wedding.  Bradford is a lovely town, especially the stone buildings.  We soon discovered that, as lovely as it is, there was no long term parking!!  We asked everyone we met and most suggested parking in a residential area, though I could imagine someone becoming suspicious of a strange car parked outside their house.  Though a little dubious, we were considering that option, when the Bobby suggested we go to the nearby taxi stand and schedule all of our pickups.  While there, we asked the lady behind the counter about long term parking and she asked if we'd be moving the car a lot.  We told her our plan was to park it and use their taxis.....so, she told us to bring our car there.  When we did, she pulled her car out of the parking space and motioned us in!!  What a nice thing to do!!  We left it there all weekend without worry, but every time we got into a taxi, the driver asked if we were the ladies whose car was at the station!!  
There were two other funny instances in Bradford. 

• As we were checking into our hotel, we told the owner that everyone, even the police, recommended their pies.  He said, "If you've only been in town a short time and already encountered the police, maybe I should be suspicious"!  
• It may have been the same night when we were meeting Ann and Martin for dinner.  It was difficult for the taxi to pick us up at the hotel, so they asked us to meet them at the corner. There was a light mist so, fully dressed for dinner, we stood in the doorway of a shop that was closed.  A man, his wife and their dog passed by.  The man stopped and said, "You two must have a story!"  We all laughed and assured him he didn't have enough time!!  

All of that made our time in Bradford special.

Ann and Martin invited us to join the family for dinner (on the night before the wedding) at the George Inn at Norton St Philip. The George is the oldest continuous pub in England, "serving beer for 700 years"!!  The ambiance was great and everyone in good spirits.  Emily and Eileen had a good chat and Katie and I talked politics a bit......she's a girl after my own heart!  It was a great preface to the following day!

On Saturday, the day of the wedding, we had a leisurely morning and time to prepare for the wedding at 2:30.  The afternoon was sunny and clear, as was the whole weekend (as you'll see in my photos).  Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of photos of the wedding itself, but I'm hoping to get a copy of a video that Stephen put together, which I will post later.  St Thomas a Becket Church was beautiful and intimate.  The floral arrangements, as well as Katie's bouquet and head-dress, were beautiful, as was her dress.  Adrian looked handsome and stylist, as were all of their friends.  The priest was very humorous and expected it to be a joyous celebration, which it was!  It could not have gone more perfectly!  From there we went by a double-decker bus to Wick Farm for the reception - another beautiful location and setting, passing a castle along the way!  It was nice enough to mingle outside for a while before going in for speeches and dinner.  The bride's maids, Emily and Francesca, spoke first, followed by Martin, who straight away quoted from Genesis!!  There was a nervous stirring from all assembled!!  Luckily, he took a clever turn and everyone laughed!  His speech was great and he did get a little choked up at the end......he did have us going there for a while, though!  It was a lovely evening and we oldies even managed to stay up past our bedtimes!

Sunday was another perfect day!  Margaret and Phil, Adrian's parents, had invited everyone to their house for brunch.  It was an afternoon of nice weather, good conversation, delicious good and total relaxation.  The garden was absolutely beautiful and there was a white cat that vacillated between sleeping among the flowers and granting his presence to cat worshipers in the crowd.  Phil took us to see the panoramic view of Bath, which was serene and peaceful, with a little viewing deck perfect for a glass of wine and a good book!! Heavenly!  Later in the afternoon, we went to Gillingham, where Ann and Martin have settled.  They have a lovely home and Martin has a well established BBQ routine, and major BBQ skills that he's honed over the years.  I was very impressed.

The following day on her way home, Eileen dropped me off at Dave and Jenny Cameron's.  It was great to have some time to just sit and chat.  The first night we looked at photos and told stories, remembering things I hadn't thought about in a long time......lots of fun.  Tuesday Jenny and I spent most of the day seeing the National Memorial Arboretum, which is massive.  There are over 300 memorials commemorating all branches of the armed services, as well as all support groups.  I was pleased to see that women seem to be well represented, as were animals.  We were in the Far East Prisoners of War building and I was reading about a family that was sent to Changi Prison in Singapore.  It was about six children of a mixed race family.  Five of the children had their mother's coloring, but the sixth was white like the father, which gave away the family.  The father was in the men's part of the prison, while mother and children where in another part......until the boys turned 10, at which point they were put in with the men.  As I was reading, a lady walked up and told me that she knew the girl in the story.  They had been best friends in Singapore and she, too, had gone to Changi Prison.  A small group gathered around her and she told us about her time in the prison, being moved to another prison, and eventually coming to England at the age of 14 with nothing except the clothes on her back.  Her story was amazing and I'm so glad she was able to share it with us.  It was a relaxing, informative day, nice enough to even have lunch outside.  That evening we had pies that I'd bought from Bradford!!  Everyone in town kept telling us that the place we were staying had the best pies around and, since we didn't have a chance to try them, we took some to go!  It worked out perfectly because Stacey joined us for dinner!  I'm so glad she stopped by and I had a chance to catch up with her as a young woman.  The last time I saw them was at Disney World when they were still children.  Steffi was away, touring Asia with several friends.....since February!!  She just returned a few days ago and I'd love to hear her stories! It was a great visit and I really enjoyed it.  Dave sent me away with the following cartoon, for those who want to know how the rest of the world sees what's going on here!!

The next day Ann and Martin picked me up and we all had a scrumptious lunch with the Camerons before heading back to Gillingham.  We had lots of time to catch up and natter.  One high point of my time there was an afternoon at Stourhead, part of the National Trust.  It is a large estate with absolutely beautiful grounds.  Christine and John Snell joined us and it was a delightful afternoon, followed by drinks at the local pub (The Buffalo) and a delicious Indian meal.....all within walking distance of the Wingrove's house.  The second high point was as time in Sherborne - a very picturesque town which includes the Abbey of St Mary the Virgin.  This is a perfect example of how magical the trip was......while in Sherborne, we stopped for lunch.  The minute we walked into the restaurant, it started to pour rain.....it HAILED, but by the time we finished lunch the sun was trying to peak out again!!!  I also enjoyed getting to know Stephen as a nice young man rather than the chubby cheeked child I'd know long ago.  He is a delight.  The whole time was enjoyable. 

On Saturday we drove to Clifton/Bristol to meet up with Lyn and Jacqui.  We arrived a little late due to construction/detoured traffic/etc., but we had a late lunch and then walked around our area, including a park and the expansion bridge.  We stopped for a drink at a hotel with a large, outside sitting area, which was packed due to the nice weather.  We got back to our hotel in time to get changed for dinner!!  We had a nice meal at the Cote, followed by pub time at The Mall.  That was when the stories and laughs came out!!  It was so nice to see them both and have a chance to just sit and catch up.  It was also great to see Lyn looking so well after his health issues several years back AND to find that he's enjoying retirement!  We all got together for breakfast the next morning before going out separate ways.  It seemed too short and I was very appreciative of the time together.  Before leaving Bristol, we stopped to visit Emily and Olli. It was nice to see them in their own setting and to hear their plans for the future.  

The next morning it would all come to an end. Somehow we all got showered, packed and Martin barbecued again!  Ann and Martin would also be flying out about the same time as me to Holland to celebrate Martin's retirement with the office there. Later in the week they would be celebrating Martin's retirement with the London office......so I'm not sure how they maintained the pace through it all, but they did.  From my perspective, I can only say "a good time was had by all" - at least I hope so.  It was a magical trip for me from beginning to end and I thank all who took the time and made the effort to get together.  I hope you will let me return the hospitality!