After our epic ride through outer London, we were pretty knackered and spent Tuesday just munging around a bit "Jet lagged". We chatted with Sue, who was working from home, and managing her renovations at the same time, and felt plenty guilty watching the builders work while we slothed in bed. That night I went out with Sue on a girls night, while Will and Brad and Rod (Brads best mate) just chilled at their local. Let's just say, that another days rest was required after our first night out.
Lazy bums, slothing in our comfy bed
Carried this top for all this time and finally get to wear it. Lucky it is super light.
They tried to kill me....no really, I was trying out the Japanese head pillow, for lunch time napping at your desk.
Wednesday started very slowly, with Sue having another work from home day, due to Brad waking up with a bung eye. What the hell did those boys get up to? Will did not rise until lunch time, after some Vegemite on toast, (oh my god, how good was it to have that again? We have missed it.) and a coffee. I went off to attend to some much needed personal grooming, and a walk around the shops, and left the ill and busy to it. We had a quiet, late night (very normal here, as the sun doesn't set till around 10:30pm).
Both the workers were up and gone early, leaving us lazing around again, watching the workers. I choofed off early to complete the transformation from feral to civilised, and had a hair cut, then Will and I went for a walk and visited with Brad's mum and dad. After that, we decided to get the kids out and have an explore along the tow path. You wouldn't believe it, but Betty had a flat back tire! There was no obvious reason, so we pumped it up (and it is still up), and followed the tow path for about 3kms. We found a spot, where you can catch a ferry (very small one) across to the other side of the Thames to a pub, by ringing a big bell very loudly. It was going to cost us £16, so we turned around and rode back. We carried on past Sue's to The Weir (a pub), had one not very cold drink, then turned towards home. We stopped at The Anglers for another drink, and decided to have dinner as well. It was a gorgeous English day, just above 20C, and sunny.
Unloaded and free, feels weird, but great to cruise along the tow path in Walton.
This is a rare gorgeous summer day in England.
Kids just chillin outside the Anglers while we have dinner.
Selfie to show we can look respectable again.
Friday was another lazy day, just chilling out watching the workers and reading, although we did go for a walk to check out the local cinema, and pick up our washing from Jean and Burts' (Brad's parents) where we had left it yesterday. We decided to go see Mad Max, at 5:30pm, so continued just reading and bludging until then. The movie was disappointing, but the cinema was great. Small, nice lounge chairs, food and drinks, including wine, beer and cocktails. After that we came home and heated up some chilli a friend of Sue's had made us. We had to use the little camping stove of ours, as there is still no power to the flash new appliances in the new kitchen. It was a nice evening for it, overcast but warm. Yet another late night.
The oldest church in Surrey, right on the door step.
Exploring the high street. So many people and cars. I can't remember which way to look so waiting for the signal.
Thanks for the chilli Clare, and thank goodness we have the camp stove to heat it up.
Lucky it was such a nice evening to be outside.
Saturday, the big day! We are joining Sue and Brad and the gang, to go up to Birmingham to celebrate Rod's 60th birthday. It is an Elvis theme, so we have had to get outfits, and travel by coach (a 2 hour journey). Sue and I ducked out to get breakfast and a little bit more grooming, before getting our stuff together and getting on the coach. There were 16 of us, Champagne, beer, nibblies, and much loud chatter. We arrived at the Holiday Inn at 5:30pm, and had to be suited up and back on the bus by 6pm.
Getting nails painted and feet attended to. A nice treat.
Elvis is in the building......goatee Elvis.
What a crazy night. A coach load of very strange looking Elvises arrived at some little local club (like a veterans type club), and invaded the bar. Lots of good music, dancing and a real live (semi-professional) Elvis impersonator. It was a great night, and we escaped at a good time, getting a taxi back to the hotel before midnight. Another late night.....ugh! I miss my bike riding.
Will with the birthday boy Rod. They were cool.
A coach load of very strange Elvises.
My big sister Sue and the Elvis Straya Animals.
England's fifth best Elvis impersonator.
Poor Elvis, he must be rolling in his grave watching us mess with his image.
Bert and Jean, Brad's mum and dad. Total groovers.
Rod/Elvis busting out some tunes. He was great, might have a new career!
So today, we were all up, some worse than others, in good time to have breakfast and shuffle back onto the coach to go home. Another two hour ride, all be it a damn sight more quiet, with many of us nodding off intermittently, and we are home again. And the builders, God bless them, have taken a day off, so it is nice and peaceful.
Tomorrow, we are picking up a Transit van we've hired, and we plan to take the bikes over to Summerset, where we bought them, to have some upgrades and a service. While they're there, we'll go exploring along the Jurassic coast, and camp old style, in the van. Really looking forward to seeing more of the country side. A mini adventure...woo hoo!
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