So where was I ?

So where was I ?

That’s right we were in John’s caravan in Conway, its Wednesday (possibly) and we have to get back South so that Jo can pick up her ferry back to France and I have a car to pick up at Heathrow. Jo has managed to move her sailing time (nice technical term) back a few hours so we don’t need to be on the road until 10 am. Not that we were planning to cook breakfast, had enough of them for a few days but we do have time for coffee and biscuits outside on the patio, (it’s a very nice caravan).

I spot what I think is a Robin bobbing around but dismiss the thought as it is late June and they should all be somewhere else like Spain or Portugal. This however turns out to be a personal choice of the individual robin and not a lemming like requirement as there is definitely one hopping around our little patch. Normally these little birds with a bright red breast are not overly friendly and will stay at a safe distance. I did once have one follow me around the garden one spring as I was turning over the soil. It would wait until I mover on a little then hop around the newly turned sods looking for enticing items for breakfast. This one however looks like it is waiting to be handed breakfast so we oblige with some crumbs which seem acceptable to it.

It even hung around whilst I fiddled putting a big lens on the camera so I could take a few shots. It is not often you get the chance to take close-ups of these so I make the most of it. It likes the biscuits and invites a friend along for a while. We do have to be going so reluctant as I was it was time to jam everything back into the little car and move on.

Driving in England in the sunshine is a great experience and our Sat Nav has chosen a particularly scenic route of us to start with. Back along the coast towards Chester then South via Wrexham, Oswestry, Shrewsbury and Telford before joining the Motorway just North of Birmingham. We take the toll road which is a recent innovation, well Dec 2003 (I’ve been away a while) although it was first discussed in 1980 so 23 years from idea to opening. I actually was partially closed for repairs only 5 weeks after it opened which should be some kind of record even for England. It is 5 pounds well spent and we speed along with little or no other cars around. Not sure it is filling its expectations if nobody is using it Mmm.

So on an South towards Heathrow we go stopping for coffee somewhere. Interestingly when you buy coffee these days you have lots of choices, none of which it understand, how do you know that you like double skinny latte with caramel or whatever code they are using. I still like coffee with some milk please which normally get a sneer as a response. This particular establishment seems badly planned and the payment area is also the pickup area as these peculiar concoctions are brewed, distilled, swilled, mixed and blended which all takes time. (Two people taking money and one fermenting is not the right ratio methinks however they know best). This means there is a throng of people hanging around some waiting for drinks and some waiting to order and neither knowing which is which. Being English people are politely asking each other, “are you queuing” “are you waiting” “is this the queue” “have you ordered” whilst the 2 Barista’s are shouting loudly “who’s next” and “can I serve someone” which only added to the chaos. This of course is only exacerbated when the person gets to the head of the throng after 10 minutes and then has no idea what they want and stare aimlessly into space (probably trying to invent a new combination, if you want to try it then here are the options you have http://www.quicksilverweb.net/sbucks/sbcharts.htm). I’m sure I heard someone ask for a double espresso “decaf” now I ask you why can’t we have these people taken out to the car park and flogged. Decaffeinated espresso, next it will be a double gin and tonic with no alcohol please. So you see asking for just a coffee with milk avoids all of this hanging around. Please take note when next you are in your local coffee house. (bit of a rant there sorry)

Ever onward we go and navigate the ring road of the airport with some ease if I say so myself. (I used to spend a lot of time going back and forth out of this place) The car hire is inside one of the hotels on the perimeter which avoids the airport surcharge normally. For some reason I get what they call a “free upgrade” which is interesting as I seemed to get exactly the car I ordered. Never mind next is to point Jo in the direction of Portsmouth and her ferry. “Try and keep the sun on you right hand side” I shout as she drives off (it’s a man thing)