Oh To Be In England….

Arriving in Blighty was a bit of a shock to the system! The customs and immigration process at Heathrow was stress free, our transport was well organised so everything was tickety boo. But then there was the weather. Exactly one month before midsummer’s day and it was cold. Very cold. Poor Nokky! Luckily, though, she had brought a few extra layers

but these really weren’t enough to shield her from 11c and a biting northerly wind. So, armed with some winter woolies I had stored for such a situation, we set out to explore the countryside around our rented accommodation.

Although, I don’t think I will ever love Milton Keynes where we are staying, I have to say that, in addition to the plentiful shops, bars and restaurants, there are some lovely country walks very close to the city centre

and it’s only a 30 minute non stop train journey to London. So, after lovely ‘catch ups’ with Robyn and Oliver, it was off to the capital for a bit of sightseeing and a social with friends.

Living on the other side of the world, I was only vaguely aware of the 4 day holiday celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Thus we were totally unprepared for the sights and sounds plus the sheer volume of flag waving crowds that awaited us, all clearly enjoying not only the days events but also – finally- the warmer weather. Having booked a hotel for the night near Charing Cross, we were right in the thick of it

although we were unsure if the celebrations and parades had already finished or were yet to start. We did,however, get a good view of the fly past of the Red Arrows

whilst at the same time Nokky was able to see some of the iconic sights of the nation’s capital.

In typical UK style, the warmer weather didn’t last so it was back to emergency clothing for Nokky when we went to see Sam, Robbo and my Grandson, Max a few days later!

Flaming June, indeed!

Although Nokky enjoys some western food, her real love is for the epicurean delights of not merely Thai food but more specifically, the local food of the Isan province of her birth. Tracking down the ingredients of such local specialities plus the relevant equipment here in the UK is a bit of a challenge but thanks in part to the internet, we have been quite successful.

So, contentment reigns!

Closely connected with the great love of cooking her local dishes is the joy of foraging in the hedgerows and river banks for edible greenery. This adds a totally new dimension to our country walks

as, apart from everything else, we must never forget the carrier bag!

From the quiet of the Buckinghamshire countryside back to the hustle and bustle of London for more sightseeing on a beautiful early summer’s day

and a chance to meet up with friends who I have known for more than 50 years. Scary thought or what?

I just wish I had either worn darker clothes or learnt how to photoshop my figure into a more elegant shape!

Less than 2 weeks to go on the first leg of our trip. We’ve done a lot already but still so much to do and see! What fun!

R.