Friday, 3 July 2009

U.K. Trip Report - Part 2

Day 3
After the stress of the crowded city and mindful of the fact that the U.K. transport system doesn't work well on Sundays, we decided to stay out of town. After a leisurely start to the day, we went on a walk through the countryside near Stephen's place from Caterham to Merstham.


In the countryside on part of the North Downs Way.


While in the U.K. I was surprised by how good the food had become, I only had one bad meal - a traditional Sunday roast from a pub on our route; over-cooked roast beef, burnt Yorkshire Pudding, and carrots covered with some kind of rancid vegetable oil.


The offending food.

Day 4
On Day 4 I went by train up to Malvern to see my brother Patrick and his family. Patrick met me at the station and after lunch we went to collect Lois from her school.


Lois in her school uniform.

Patrick gave me a quick guided tour of the town and then we met Daniel, who had had a hard day's work at school.


Daniel in his school uniform.

Daniel introduced me to "The Shed," the family's second car, a Proton Aeroback (a hatchback version of the Proton Saga).


The chauffeur is ready.


Patrick and Jane in the kitchen.


In the garden, and not a dandelion in sight!


Day 5
After delivering Daniel, Lois and Jane to their respective workplaces (or in Daniel's case the bus stop from whence he went to his workplace) Patrick and I went for a walk across the Malvern Hills.


Jane's workplace, a slightly grander residence than Elk's Street.


Patrick on the Malvern Hills.


In the afternoon Patrick was setting off for Las Vegas, Nevada, USA so we took the train to London together. (Yes, you did read that right, he really was on the way to the self-styled 'Entertainment Capital of the World'.)

Stephen met us in Victoria railway station and we went for food in a local restaurant. No fine dining this time, we ate in Pizza Express.

The three of us together was a bit of a historic event; the first time since the year 2000 that we were all in the same place at the same time. And probably the first time since the 1980s that we were together without any of our sisters.


Peter, Patrick, Stephen
(photo courtesy of a passing Spanish tourist - gracias!)

32, 40 and 45 - but which number refers to which person?


2 comments:

ByeGum said...

I can see many things in that photo. Some tasty pints of beer, some lovely flowers, a tempting 4 for the price of 3 offer, even a horrifying glimpse into the future...

I'm struggling to find anyone who might be 31 though.

Roushi said...

Thanks for the comment.

I've fixed the error - I easily get confused once I've run out of fingers and toes.