Good News and Sad News

Closed flood gates at Westminster Underground

On 23^rd June Jeremy and I caught the train to London to attend an evening Reception on the terrace of the Houses of Parliament, to celebrate 175 years since the foundation of Hild/Bede College, Durham University. It was probably the wettest day of the year and many trains to London were cancelled. Ours terminated at Shenfield in Essex. Serious flooding on the line put out signals and we had a stop-start journey to Liverpool Street on a different train. We were worried about the tube but we made it to Westminster Underground Station. The Lord provided a large umbrella, which we put to good use, once the rain water stopped pouring down the exit steps like a waterfall. Arriving at the Houses of Parliament, we passed through airport like security and had 10 minutes to wolf down coffee and cake before the cafe closed. 

Overlooked by Big Ben

Kathy and Jeremy in the Palace of Westminster

On the way to the Terrace, we were enthralled by the building and its long history as we wandered in the corridors of power catching glimpses of the chambers for the Lords and the Commons. Massive tapestries adorned the walls and larger than life paintings covered the ceilings celebrating the union of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Kathy and Jeremy on the Terrace

We enjoyed the evening chatting to old friends from our Durham days, sipping wine and nibbling canapés. The journey home was worse than the outward trip with many underground and over ground trains cancelled. After a two hour wait at Shenfield, a train arrived after midnight and took us slowly to Ipswich stopping at every station along the way. We arrived home by taxi at 2.30am. My feet were killing me being unused to wearing high heels for so long.

Walking the Aros Path, Tobermory, Mull

Rainbow over Ledaig, Mull

A few days later we were off to Mull again for about 10 days. This time it rained almost every day. We assembled single beds, worked on the garden and had days out walking. My abused feet objected strongly and large blisters formed on the soles of them.

One new bed in place

On our return, we stopped the night at my friend Pat’s house in Lancashire. Here we received the sad news that our sailing friend, Liz Harcombe, had died and the funeral was to be held in the Lake District later that week.

The cottage in Mull

We had one night at home, booked two nights at different Travelodges and set off north again. On the day of the funeral we woke to absolute chaos on the M6 in Staffordshire. A whole section of the motorway was closed and the surrounding main roads were gridlocked. Jeremy navigated a way through country lanes, partly by map and partly by guesswork until we could join the M6 further north. We made it to the funeral, which celebrated Liz’s life including the time she’s spent with husband, Graham, aboard their ocean going yacht, Ellida. (Sal Darago and Ellida were buddy boats for 3 months on the Sail Indonesia Rally in July/August 2011 and feature in earlier posts on this blog.)

Kathy, Graham, our guide, Juli, Liz and Jeremy

Jeremy, Graham and Liz

Graham, Kathy and Liz in Bali rice fields

Jeremy, Kathy, Liz and Graham with a Komodo dragon

On the way home we popped in to see Aunty Joyce in her new nursing home unit in Brigg. It was good to see her surrounded by her own furniture, enjoying excellent care and chatting about her friends and family.