One of the plus points of immigrating and becoming a citizen of the European Union is the possibility of travel within the E.U. without hassle. I recently went to visit my great friend Clare in England. Clare is English, married to an American, and lives in Chattanooga. We have known each other for at least 15 years. We have lots of fun stories to tell, but once again, that is a different blog!! Clare was visiting her wonderfully hilarious family for her mother's "Miss Bib's" 80th birthday and invited me to come over for a few days if it was possible. I made it possible.
Until Sept 27, 2010, I had not been outside of Holland except for the yearly (or twice yearly if possible) visit home. I have always wanted to visit the English country side. I have an attraction to really small, cute, nostalgic things. English villages and houses are just my cup of tea. I actually still hang a Christmas ornamant that Clare gave me as a gift one year....A little hollow tea pot with a mouse family inside having tea....the cutest thing ever!!!
So early in the morning of Sept 27, I board the train to the airport with carry-on bag in hand and begin my first trip to England. Arriving in England at 9am local time, I quickly find my friend and we head to East Grinstead with Clares brother Widdy at the wheel. OMG, the steering wheel is on the wrong side of the car!! Riding passenger was fun and not nearly as scary as trying to cross the street on foot when you are used to looking "left, right, left". You have to look "Right, Left, Right" or you will be run over!
We arrived at Clare's brother and Sister-in-laws house where Tim and Karen treated me to my first English "fry-up" breakfast, complete with black pudding and freshly picked sauteed mushrooms. Black Pudding isnt as bad as it sounds, I am happy to say I tried it, wont order it, but I did eat it! On the menu was smoked salmon, scranbled eggs with smoked fish (there was a name for it, but I have forgotten it) bacon, sausage, tomatoes, toast, and the mushrooms and black pudding. It was a wonderful welcome!!
After breakfast and a nice walk through the city to Miss Bibs house, we consumed several cups of tea before having pre-dinner cocktails of Dutch gin and tonic then a nice dinner of minced meat stuffed marrow (out of Widdy's garden) potatoes, carrots and green beans. I think we also drank 2 bottles of wine between the 5 of us at dinner! I was exhausted well before midnight and was really looking forward to the next day visiting Pooh and friends in Ashdown Forest.
A.A. Milne lived in the very beautiful village Hartfield, next to Ashdown Forest, otherwise known as the "100 Akre Wood". Christopher Robin, in case you dont know, is really the authors son, Christopher Robin Milne. What an inspiration!! The area is magical. Clare and I drove to Hartfield, went to Pooh Corner, a little gift shop, and looked around before heading out to "Pooh Bridge". Now, talk about bringing out your inner child!! There is nothing more magical than standing on that bridge with a twig in your hand ready to play a game of "Pooh Sticks" I dont care how old you are!! (That pic is of me playing on "Pooh Bridge")
So after Pooh Bridge and a lunch of fish and chips, it was back to Miss Bib's house to celebrate her 80th with her wonderful children. We made up poems about each other and they got out the musical instruments, inluding the beautiful voices, and played and sang for their mother. We had a wonderful time. It was my last night and I really hated to go to bed but was looking forward to taking a walk in the country side the next day.
My last morning was filled with having toast and tea for breakfast with Widdy and Miss Bib while waiting for Clare to be up and ready for our walk. We walked down a little lane that turned into a bridel path that went past a big farm and turned into a concrete path that simply went through the counry side between the rolling hills. Beautiful! There were blackberry bushes along the way that we couldnt help but pick some berries from and eat them..some were bitter and some were sweet, just like the day, but beautiful none the less. Wonderful walk then a nice lunch with Clare before I had to get the taxi to the airport and come back to Holland.
I was so pleased with my first visit to England and am so happy that I got to experience it with Clare and her family. No better way that I can think of!
Thank you Miss Bib, Jeremy, Tim and Karen, Anne, Widdy and Clare, for beautiful memories!!
