United Kingdom

We left Paris early in the morning to make our way back to London. Got to Calais at 12non only to be told that our reservation for the ferry had been given to someone else and that the earliest ferry they could put us on was at 4pm. So we spent a few hours waiting around in Calais before we could get on the ferry and get back to London. Pauline waited fro us in London till we got back at 7pm and then we got a train back to her place, very tired from a long day of travelling. Saturday morning we drove to New Forest to meet with Stephens's parents and have lunch in lovely village pub. Traffic was a nightmare, took us almost 3 hours to get there. After lunch we drove to Dorset to Stephen's parents and went for a leisurely walk on the beach in the evening before getting an early night. Sunday morning the weather was not too god but we made our way to Poole and then had a lovely breakfast looking out over the sea. From there we travelled through the country all the way down to Portland Bill, stopping for lunch on the way. Made our way to Stephen's parents that evening for a great dinner. Monday morning we went into the village of Christchurch, walked around, had a pub lunch and then caught the ferry along the river to the beach near Stephen's parents. Had sundowners at a beach bar and then walked home. Tuesday we got a late start and made our way back to Pauline and Stephen's after an enormous lunch. Got home at about 4 and spent the evening chilling.

Had a lie in this morning and then set off for St Albans with Pauline and Stephen on the bus. Took a stroll through the park and then stopped at the restaurant for the first of many beers for the day.From there we walked up to the old town and the beautiful old church. Stopped off ofr another beer and some lunch at one of the oldest pubs in the UK. Spent the rest of the afternoon strolling through the town and stopping off for a beer every now and then, 7 pubs in all, not bad for an afternoon. Took the bus back to Pauline and Stephen for a late dinner and chat. Great day.

We arrived in Dubai International Airport at 03h30 SA time. The smoking room was enough to put a smoker off for life but we found this delightful Irish Pub in the airport where smoking was allowed. I opted for coffee and Jan had a brandy and coke, it felt like the right time for a drink for him. After a 7 hour flight to London we had an hour and a half haul through customs, the longest queue we have ever seen.

Arrived at Pauline and Stephen's at aout 16h30, great to be here again. Had a BBQ that night with some of their old friends was really good.

Sunday 31 July: Had a late breakfast and even later lunch then went to a few pubs alongside the canal just down the road. Really great, people sitting along the canal bank relaxing and having a few beers.