Departure from Oz

Wednesday 8 May

Wow. Up at 6 a.m. after going to bed around 1 - 2 a.m. Mad dash to pack after arriving back from dad's funeral.

It's always good to be on the tarmac side of the departure gates. Fortunately no dramas despite getting away later than planned from Albury to drive to Melbourne.

Anyway here we are now at Changi Airport in Singapore at half past midnight Oz-time. Watched Quartet on the plane to here. What a wonderful movie. Made me laugh; made me cry. Billy Connolly has a star turn in this.

So about to board next plane to London ...

.....................................

Thursday 9 May

Arrived at Heathrow in London on time (if a bit early) at 5.45 a.m. I was able to finally catch up on the last 4 weeks of all my weekend newspapers on the flights over.

A ridiculously straightforward disembarkation (is that a word????) - we got luggage straight away (bonus: it arrived) and walked through the most relaxed customs (it basically didn't exist) - the complete opposite of arriving in Australian ports. 

We walked straight to the Central Bus Station and by 6.40 a.m. we were on a bus bound for Oxford - My Friend (yes, he is here again) kept nodding off enroute.

We have caught up with Kathryn - briefly. She is in lock-down: swotting for exams. We'll see her for early dinner tonight, if we can last that long!

Let me tell you, it is bloody FREEZING here! We both dived into our luggage on arrival to find thermals. 

I had packed in such a rush and grabbed a light black jacket as I ran out the door in Albury. How lucky am I that I did! So, I am now wearing two Icebreaker woollen tops plus jacket and scarf. When the sun is out, it is lovely but the wind is chilly and the sun keeps disappearing behind the clouds!

Currently we are sitting in a cafe in the historic Covered Market (opened 1774) surrounded by student types I think (there are a lot of brainy conversations going on); and lots of pommy (=plummy) accents.

The buildings and parks are lovely - especially when the sun is out; very green at the moment and lots of bluebells, tulips and trees blossoming in pinks and whites.

On the way back to our B&B to meet Kathryn for dinner, we popped into one of the University colleges (St John's, founded in 1555): a beautiful grassy quadrangle surrounded by magnificent sandstone buildings. Even in the rain, it was very picturesque.

We had a hot shower to thaw out; frankly, we could have gone straight to bed, but it was great to see Kathryn. 

In the lounge of our B&B we had some nice cheeses with pears and biscuits I'd bought from the Covered Market; and after, we then popped down the road for dinner (although I don't think My Friend remembers much of this as he slept through the greater part of it ...)