Another Lifetime to go

8th October 2023

Another sunny day dawned, Colin had gone to work overnight supporting the railway maintenance crews so he missed breakfast. It was too good a day to miss so once Colin awoke we set off for a garden Centre.

We traveled through country lanes that were familiar, I had spent quite a bit of time at Nicola and Colin’s house when they lived in Barrington . The Somerset levels are impressive.

Going the scenic route through the winding country lanes showed me what I miss about living in the UK. The narrow roads, the hedges, tie everything together like a giant patchwork quilt. Most of us forget how beautiful it is.

7th October 2023

The sun was shining, and an excellent time to take a walk around the town. Mattock is not a picturesque place, the houses are built with a sandstone that gives everything a yellow tone.

The streets are narrow and busy with traffic.

There was a pathway ahead, an older woman was walking her dog, she had a stick to help her balance, the dog was eager for some exercise. I could see the lady had a ball in her hand and there was an open field ahead.

She moved the ball into her right palm and swung her arm back, both me and the dog expected the ball to hurl towards the field. Then, possibly the worst throw ever, it traveled a few feet into a clump of stingers. The dog looked disappointed, “You must really hate me“ I felt the dog was thinking as he tried to find the ball.

We walked through the cemetery past two Romany graves, highly decorated, but would have more in keeping if there were piles of scrap metal around them. Onward past the church and on to the shopping area. There was a long queue outside a bakery resembling one that you get outside a Russian supermarket. The similarities were, there were very few cakes left in the display cabinets, and it wasn’t even halfway through the day.

Once we were back Nicola helped me to sort through all the clothes I had brought down.

This was the first step in clearing out stuff I no longer needed. On the one hand it was sad to separate the good clothes to donate and the rest to dispose. But it was no time for sentiment this was common sense.

This is just a pin prick of what I have to do this month, but I felt good that it has started.

6th October 2023

I’m taking it easy down with Nicola and Colin’s.

It was a sunny day and we took a short walk to Yandles for lunch. Yandles is primarily a wood merchant, art centre and café. I had been there once before and remembered that the stock of timber is impressive, and today is still the case. They had a lot of black walnut, just what I need to finish the drawer front of my desk, not sure how I could get that through customs.

I have started to read “The real Antony Fauci” by Robert Kennedy Jr, a story of how big pharma misled the people over covid.

It is a book with small writing and no pictures.

I have only got a few pages in, and my mind has been blown, I can’t imagine what the remaining 440 pages will tell me.

This is another stage in my understanding of what the truth is.

As I have said before, I became aware of things that weren’t being reported on the main stream media. I wanted to look behind the curtain and hear the other side. For so long I took what I was told for granted, and although I didn’t get vaccinated it wasn’t that I didn’t trust the science, Kelli’s doctor told me it was a poison. So I wanted to learn more.

Someone has given permission for things to be censored, not allowing debate and discussion to take place, we are entering a troubling time.

5th October 2023

Still heavily traumatised by the amount of things to do around the cottage ii needed something to calm myself down. Unfortunately that did nothing to help. Everywhere I looked I saw something to do.

Kelli helped me realise some solutions to organise all the things stacked in the small bedroom.

The other thing that would help take my mind off my current dilemma was a visit to my sister’s new home in Martock.

I started up the Shogun, and slowly joined the first Traffic jam. Bradford on Avon was always busy with vehicles jamming the narrow streets, but add in a road closure and it is pandemonium. Continuing the journey, I then noticed there was only 20% power left on my phone, and there was no USB outlet in the truck, a sharp reminder of how old it was.

So now I had to drive to a place I didn’t know, not knowing how long my phone would last.

The GPS directed me by the shortest route, through places I did not know, but it joined one that I knew very well.

I was now venturing into a route I had taken to Nicola’s old house.

The power was dropping to 10% as I hit another traffic jam where a new road was being constructed, I was getting anxious.

Then I saw the signs to Martock, now I was down to 5%.

I think the GPS was having a laugh, I’m sure it could sense my stress level, and wanted to take me over the top.

It took me through the narrow car lined streets on a complete wild goose chase eventually bringing me back the way I came. I was down to 1% but at least I was in the town so if all failed I wasn’t totally lost.

With my phone breathing it’s last I pulled into the Nicola’s drive, my quest was over.

4th October 2023

The first excursion of the trip was to see my friend in Whitney on Wye.

As I expected, there was little petrol in the beast, so that was my first stop.

The harsh reality of the cost of fuel hit me.

I pumped fifty pounds worth into the tank, that barely hit half full. “Oh” I thought, “this is going to cost a bit”

I proceeded along the M4 towards Cardiff coming off to go in the direction of Monmouth.

This was the route I had done a few times in the Jag, but not at the same speed.

I had heard that the speed limit in towns and villages had been reduced to twenty miles an hour.

When I hit the first one I realised how slow that was, I could take my foot off the gas and still exceed that speed.

Other roads that I used to open up the Jag on now had a fifty mile an hour limit, oh the trip was dragging.

Vernon Kaye was on the radio, his patronising northern tones began to get on my nerves, I had only been in the country a couple of days and already I wanted to punch him in the face.

It took me four hours to do a normal three hour drive.

I was pleased to see Martin and Liz, but not the two fully grown Newfoundlands. They were pleased to see me, forcing their massive bodies at my much smaller one.

I was spattered with dog spit before I reached the front door.

After many hours catching up and admiring his collection of antique clocks, all showing a different time, the chiming began.

It was the ultimate nightmare scenario, loud noises, all out of phase echoed around the rooms, every room had its own symphony.

Then there was silence, another hour went by, it all started again.

It was dark when I made my return drive, stopping to pump another fifty quids worth, ouch!.

Arriving back at the cottage, I bathed in the silence, planning the next adventure.

3rd October 2023

I didn’t sleep much last night, jet lag can be a drag, so I expect that there will be many more before I settle.

We dropped the grandchildren off at school then started the run back to Bradford on Avon.

It was interesting to see changes in the villages we passed, fields that were once green are now housing developments.

When we arrived at Wine Street, we walked up the winding path towards the cottage.

I stopped in my tracks at what I saw.

There were large shrubs growing out of the wall covering the front of the shed, everything was out of control. The same in the garden shrubs that had self seeded had overtaken the apple trees, it was a disaster, I wasn’t expecting this.

My plan was to work on the shed, but this had thrown a spanner into the works, and I wasn’t happy.

I admit the garden must have looked good when everything was in bloom, but now it needed some serious reshaping.

There are some small jobs to be done in the house, but Louise, my daughter in law plans to do that.

Once the extent of the extra work had sunk in, I walked to Ryan and Louise’s house for dinner and to collect the Shogun that I will use during my stay.

2nd October 2023

Finally the plane took off, it was delayed by an hour. Fortunately there was an empty seat next to me, and paying for extra legroom was great, I could stretch out my short legs in comfort.

The selection of new films was a bit dire, but I found one that I could become absorbed in.

My noise cancelling headphones are a blessing, all extraneous noise disappears including the flight attendant’s attempts to communicate with me.

We touched down at Heathrow just after 9.30am then there was slow progress to the final gate. The airport doesn’t change much, the corridors always look temporary, whereas the terminal buildings get all the glamour and huge amounts of money spent on them.

Passing through the immigration was efficient even with my virgin passport, a quick scan and photo and I was through.

The baggage claim was quick, my jumbo case was one of the first to appear, maybe it was used to stabilise the aircraft.

No problem at customs, through the arrivals lounge and outside I took my first deep breath of English air, it felt good, the fumes were what I remembered.

I called my son Damian to check where he was. I had kept him advised of my expected arrival, and he was just pulling into the short stay car park. Apparently things have changed a lot since I’ve been away. He told me you now have to pay to drop off outside the terminal, and there is no longer a pick up point unless you drive a bus or shuttle. There were also changes to the low emission zones, so you have to pay to enter that as well. So it cost him over thirty quid just to collect me, I felt bad about that. I guess the system is screwing everyone now.

We both met up on the glass bridge between the terminal and the multi storey car park.

He had brought the Rolls, mainly because it had the biggest boot, but also who wouldn’t want to get picked up in such a vehicle?

However they are not designed to negotiate multi-storey car parks, so with extreme trepidation he manoeuvred the beast out of the building and on to the motorway.

On the way we talked about the state of the world, and I discovered that he knew all about the vaccine controversy, the corruption that is going on in American and British politics and the real reason for the war in Ukraine, and instead of being at loggerheads with each other we were in total agreement with my re-educated self, this was the first time ever.

We drove down to his home where I stayed the night. It gave me a chance to meet my grandchildren George and Ethan, they had grown so much.

We picked them up from their private school.

I brought them gifts of two elastic powered projects, of course I immediately regretted getting them, as I was the one designated to build them. Typically they both wanted them at the same time, and this was a lot for my sleep deprived mind to tackle, I should have bought them flick knives.

The two wind up planes were eventually finished, but the weather was not good enough to take them outside, which didn’t go down well, I forgot how impatient young children were.

I then made the mistake of agreeing to have a kick about in the back garden, this is when you realise that old people sit in chairs watching, not participating. After half an hour I thought I was going to die, bathed in sweat I decided to let them win, but that would be too easy, the game went on, determined not to be an old git I managed to score more goals.

“Just one more ” Ethan would shout and I was praying that he would score, I even tried to kick the ball into my own net, but missed.

In the end I surrendered, promising a return match the next time I would visit, now I just wanted to sleep.

1st October 2023

Well the historic day has arrived, I fly back to the UK.

After a peaceful nights sleep and a good breakfast I was ready to pack my stuff.

I managed to cut the grass in the back and then it was time to set off for Grand Rapids.

It’s hard for Kelli to be on her own after being together every day for four years, but she is much stronger now and I think she will be okay.

The Gerald Ford airport has changed out of all recognition, it is vast, with a security section the size of Chicago. The waiting area has been moved into a small corner, which is where we sit watching the time tick down before I have to board.

I flashed my new passport and boarding card at the man at the desk, a walk though the scanner and I was on the other side.

I regretted leaving on a Sunday, I should have remembered how crowded it was, the small plane was full.

There was a young lad whose hair defied gravity. It was very long at the front that he had combed back, but after the flight, it had fallen forward. It looked like he was wearing a cap, it stayed there, not falling in his face, I don’t know what product he was using, but it worked.

I decided to get a coffee while I was waiting, and rather than waiting in the Starbucks queue I found another outlet. The assistant placed my beverage on the counter and I handed over the money. He tried to scan his badge many times to book into the system, but to no avail.

In the end he handed back my money and said my drink was free, not something I ever expect in the USA. If I had known that was going to happen I would have bought food as well.

There was a delay to the flight to London, apparently the plane had to be collected from a hanger somewhere in the airport, at least it should be clean, I hope it has the correct number of engines.

30th September 2023

Kelli had been complaining of a pain in her foot since yesterday, I looked at it, and saw a small puncture mark, but didn’t see anything inside.

A couple of days ago she broke a glass and although it was cleared up, there could have been a piece that she could have stepped on.

It became vital that we get medical help when she felt a sharp pain in the sole of her foot when she put her shoe on.

We spent an hour in the local medical centre whilst a young medical assistant probed at her foot. But it was typical, she felt no pain no matter how hard he pressed, so we left with no positive result. Whilst we were out we looked around in the place that Kelli once sold her furniture through. It is a maze of small booths with all kinds of tat, it’s amazing how much stuff you can cram in such a small space. Then we ventured downtown visiting a toy shop looking for something for my young grandsons who I haven’t seen for ages.

As the sun was shining we had lunch out for a change, another sign that Kelli has passed another milestone.

Then it was back to the house for me to cut the grass, because it won’t get done until I return, and to start to pack a few things. I had my super jumbo case because I will have to bring a lot back with me, but it will be quite empty and light for the journey out.

We had settled down for the evening when Kelli received a message to say that there was “Three dressers” on 17th street. It was dark, and not appealing to go out again, but we did.

When we got there there was only one, which had a drawer missing and made from crap material, so we left it. Most often the free stuff is rubbish, so we didn’t feel bad about leaving it. There was no way she could have done anything with it on her own.

29th September 2023

It was a busy day, there was shopping to do, and the tall dresser was being collected by the person who we got it from, Don, Kelli’s mum next door neighbour. Now that hasn’t happened before. However it wasn’t for him, he was collecting it for his in-laws that needed one.

First we went to Aldi, it was different, we were only buying food for one this time. The trolly certainly looked a bit empty, but it didn’t look good, as it appeared that I was the big eater, and I am not.

It was the same at Natures Market, a small basket with little in it. But there were two packs of bacon in it, now that wouldn’t happen a few months ago. We love bacon with our breakfast everyday.

Once back home I had to do a bit of work on the dresser because some of the drawers needed a bit tweaking.

Just after 4.00pm Don turned up with his trailer and a big smile on his face clutching a bottle of white wine.

“Get a couple of glasses” his voice boomed.

Don is a very loud guy, always smiling and alway willing to help, as Kelli’s mum can testify.

With the wine poured, the in-laws appeared.

A older couple (probably around my age) the gent inspected the piece, noting a few places where the paint looked thin. In actual fact it wasn’t, but Kelli obliged, and touched it up.

“Fussy old bastard” I thought I heard under her breath.

Finally he was happy, so he wrote a cheque and I wheeled it towards the trailer.

It was a heavy bugger, but with a huge effort managed to load it successfully. Once that was done they were off, and I had the rest of the bottle to finish off. That did restrict what work I did for the rest of the day.

I did pull out my large suitcase from the storeroom still with the tag attached to the handle. Soon it will be in the hold of a plane flying back to Blighty.