Now in the 'Olde Country'

On Thursday we did what was called a half day tour of Hong Kong Island. We were picked up from an hotel (not our own) at 8.15am and got back at about 2.30pm. We then had to then get a taxi back to our own hotel and just had time for a shower and to finish packing before we were required to vacate the room at 4.00 pm. We then had to sit about until our airport transver which was at 8.30pm. Then we did all the check in things and had to sit about until our flight which was at 12.35am. The flight to Heathrow was ok but long (13 hours) We both got a little sleep so we didn't feel too bad when we got to Heathrow. The 'plane pulled into our gate for disembarking and then we were advised that the air bridge for unloading passengers was US. We sat there waiting for them to find a suitable stairway to unload us from somewhere else at the airport and get it over so we could disembark. That only took about 1 hour!! The usual immigration queues followed. Having landed just before 6.30 we finally got our hire car at about 9.00am. The GPS I bought prooved its worth. I had no idea which way to go so I just trusted the little lady hidden in it. I only took one wrong turn (my fault, not the GPS) and she sorted me out quickly and led me straight to Ingrid and Rick's house. I must say I wasn't sad to get off the road!
After meeting Ingrid (cousin Rick (Richard) is away on tour) and the mandatory cuppa we went into town (Henley on Thames) where we picked up a few thing from the supermarket and I organized a UK mobile (NO. 0750 3710373) and enquired about prepaid wireless internet. Ricks mother (my Aunt Betty) was brought round for the vening meal and we had a great chat. She is quite a card, a bit of an old tyrant really, but we got on well. By the time we had eaten and I had a couple of rums my eyes were hanging out. When we 'hit the sack' I worked it out, it was 47 hours since we had been in bed! I don't remember my head hitting the pillow. We slept pretty well and early on Saturday morning I got up and went for a walk. Back for some breakfast and then I went and got set up for the internet. As I type this I am still having trouble with e-mail and as tomorrow is Bank Holiday Monday it will probably be Tuesday before I can get that sorted out. It had been arranged for my other Aunt (Marie) to come over by bus. As I was walking into town to sort out the internet I passed this little woman and after we had passed I thought, "I wonder if that is Aunt Betty" and looked back. As I looked back she did also and as I said "Aunt Betty?' she said, "David?" It must be genetic, we both recognized one another. Later we were all together for lunch and had a great chat. Betty had a photo album with her and she has left it with me to get copies of some of them. She had to catch her bus home at 3pm so after that Ingrid took us for a drive around the area. We saw the windmill from the movie "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" and the villiage church used for the TV series The Vicar of Dibley. We also stopped of at a traditional old English Pub and I 'had a pint'. On the way home Ingrid took us to the ruins of an old church which has not been used for over 350 years. The whole parish was killed in the great plague in the 1660's. That was an incredible experience. I had not used the hire car all day but had put the keys in the pocket of my track suit in the morning. Later that evening I discovered that the keys were not in the pocket. It appeared that they had 'escaped' some time during the day. A thorough search of everything and every where failed to find them. I rang Hertz to report that the keys were lost to learn that they did not have any spare ones for the car and would have to buy them from Ford which they couldn't do until Tuesday because of the public holiday. It appeared that we were grounded for a few days. During all of this I have taken quite a few photos. I have taken the camera out of its case and left the case at home. This morning I went to move the case and it rattled. INSIDE IT WERE THE CAR KEYS! It's called answered prayer!
We went to the local church this morning for the 10.30 service and arrived at about 10.25 to find out that the service was at 9.30 so we got to sing the final hymn! This afternoon we will probably go the the "Dibley" church for Evensong. I will be dissapointed if Dawn French is not there to take the service!
Lunch is about to appear on the table so I had better close this for now. More later. Love to all.