Peregrinations 5
Final re-posting of my Facebook entries from my holiday
'Tis family week. Yesterday my brother Andrew met
me at the Port of Bristol, so I was able to spend a good afternoon with him and
his wife Izzy. My nephew Daniel Povey was also there with his fiancée.
Today I
will have lunch with my friend for 65 years Jeff, his wife Mary, and our mutual
friends Colin and Lorraine (I've known them for 50 years).
Tonight I will have
dinner with my youngest sister Ruth and her family.
Tuesday will see me take
the train to Birmingham (U.K.) to have lunch with my twin Elizabeth,
and on
Wednesday I will have dinner with my brother Steve and his family. Oh the great
joy of visiting with these friends and sibs. I am one of nine children and by
the end of this vacation I will have seen all of them. Cheerio!
Yesterday, Monday 2nd June, I had a lovely evening
with my youngest sister Ruth and her family members. We ate Chinese takeout and
enjoyed each other. "We" included Ruth, her daughter Leah and Leah's
six year old daughter Bree, Ruth's partner Dennis, and their daughter Beth. It
was a lovely time. I had previously met daughter/grand-daughter Bree when she
was but one year old. Yesterday the six year old Bree and I enjoyed being silly
and giggling together. I will do my very best to see her/then again before I
return home.
Today 3rd June I
took a speedy little train from Bristol to Birmingham. ( 80 miles in 80 minutes
- and no traffic jams!) It was a lovely ride through the pastoral counties of
Glos. and Worcs. This is mostly arable farm land, but I glimpsed a few flocks
of sheep, some cows at pasture, and a proud mother horse with her foal. At one
point I glimpsed the sturdy tower of Gloucester Cathedral. I also enjoyed wild
lupins, foxgloves and Queen Anne's Lace growing alongside the rail tracks.
Great Britain is an overcrowded island, yet there is an abundance of farm land,
fells, woodlands, and sheep strewn hills.
In Brum
(Birmingham) I took a cab from the historic New St Station to Sutton Coldfield
in order get together with my twin sister (for the first time since 2002). She
cooked a good salmon and pasta casserole which we ate together as we shared
common memories and rejoiced in the gift of our twin-ship
4 June
AND THEN THERE WERE EIGHT I came to England with
the express hope that I would be able to spend time with each of my eight
siblings. Because of the constraints of time and distance some of us have not
been able to get together since 2002 (at our mother's funeral).
Today there
was a completion of these visits with my sibs. . I took a bus to the City of Bath. My younger brother David
drove there from Warminster, Wilts. We were able to break bread together over a
lovely restaurant lunch, together with gracious and loving conversation.
'Twas back
on the 'bus to Bristol to spend evening time with another brother (Steve). We
had been together on May 22nd for a birthday celebration for Sam, one of our
nephews. But tonight was the night for the blessing of being with Steve and his
wife Angela, with their children Lee and Nicola (my nephew and niece) and with
their children Reese, Ebony, Thea, Luna and Ryan whose great Uncle I am. Oh
such fun, oh so many
memory builders.
These
family gatherings have been so precious. We nine sibs are each in excellent
health. Nevertheless I am deeply aware of the shortness and uncertainty of
human life. Our ages range from 77 to 58, thus my hope (now realised) to see
each one has been prayerfully intentional.
6 June
Thank you for coming along on my holiday. I will
have two more days in England, time enough for a second round of family
visits.
Last
evening " The Norway Cruisers" met for a "reunion dinner"
at a country pub near Bristol.
This afternoon I will be with my sister Ruth
again, and will enjoy the bright company of my six year old great niece
Bree.
This evening Martyn and Wendy will host a part for various and sundry
Poveys and "Povey Wannebees".
Tomorrow morning I will have time
with my first cousin Janet and her partner Steve.
Then tomorrow afternoon all manner
of Povey related kin will gather at the home of my sister Jean and her husband
John. Some of the crowd will include nieces and nephews of mine ( i.e. they are
first cousins to each other) who have never before met (we are a spread-out
family).
Then on
Sunday LHR-BOS-ATL-SRQ
Hurrahs and
Huzzahs abound!
8 June Morning
Nephew Nick drove me from Bristol to LHR Delta
Flight from LHR arrived in BOS one hour early. Now hanging out at Delta Sky
Club in BOS (oh the privilege [well paid for] of Business Class travel). Next
leg is BOS - ATL, then ATL - SRQ. Should be at be at home 9:00 p.m.. (US Eastern
Time) which is 2:00 a.m. British Summer time - that is 20 hours travel time in
all. BUT early on Monday morning I will get my dog Penne from her Uncle Ron
and Aunt Charlotte - then all the travel time will seem so short
Now at ATL One more flight at 6:55 US EASTERN
time, Should be in SRQ by 8:30, Home byh 9:00? Penne at crack of dawn on
Monday.
I am so
tired, but not yet wiped out
8 June 9:00 p.m. near Sarasota, FL Phew! Arrived at SRQ early. Friend Bill Byers met
me. Now at home, with a full and grateful heart and mind. Bed in 2 minutes! (My
cats greeted me with enthusiasm - no sulky felines in this house! Night Night
Comments
Post a Comment