Down Memory Lane in Oxted

Monday, October 26 - Oxted Surrey

Harriet drove me to Oxted where we’d met and went to School.  My parents, Lindsay and I lived in Oxted for a year in 1965/6 and again in 9172/3 when Harriet and I met in Lower Fourth.  Gorgeous, sunny autumn day - beautiful!!

St. Michael’s is now broken up into 21 luxury flats.  Saw the exterior and drove around Oxted.  

 Had tea and coffee at Robertson’s on Station Road West in Old Oxted, which was lovely. I wanted to go into some of the shops but Harriet wasn’t interested so off we drove back to New Malden for lunch - hadn't even spent 4 hours in Oxted!

 She kept winging about the cars having their lights on during the day!  And asking me “WHY do they have their lights on?  It’s daylight!!  I hate the drivers behind me with them on”  I explained – whilst being constantly interrupted and dismissed while she went onto another topic – that in North America, running lights are on during the day for safety.  She thought that was nonsense and that they should be off.  No openness to progressive ideas.  Oh well, part of my journey is about discovering others' perspectives!  :)

Went in to see Peter Avenue – 16 Peter Avenue, Holmbury where Lindsay and I lived with Mummy and Daddy in 1972-3.  Beautiful autumn day so nice to see.  Drove up Limpsfield High Street too and around the lanes - so glad that today was such a gorgeous autumn day.Oxted is a pretty, lovely town with  beautiful, lovely homes.  If I could, I’d love to live there.  Maybe …….

Came back to New Malden and I went for a walk to Waitrose to pick up soy milk, apples, almond butter and contribute to tea biscuits etc.   When I got back from that, Nicholas told me there’d been a dreadful accident in Tofino!  Where a whale watching boat capsized and 5 people were killed and a 6^th missing.  All British tourists.  Jamie’s Whaling Station!  I thought of Tofino and the people there and I started to tear up.  It was even covered on the British News.  What a horrid tragedy.

Then I went for another walk because I really need the fresh air.  They keep the house HOT and I had to buy a light cotton Tshirt as I was so hot all the time – only £7 so that’s good. One of the things I've really appreciated is that I am SO grateful to my parents for the way that they raised Lindsay and me - with manners.  They made sure to feed us a variety of food and insisted on fresh veggies - not always a hit when I was a child, but I'm so glad today that they did insist!!  We had fresh, balanced meals of meat, fish, veg - but we rarely had "pudding" or dessert.  Never thought I'd be grateful for that but I really AM!

Interestingly, I notice that I’M the one with the accent!!   And I’m self conscious about it!  And I want people to know I’m Canadian and not American.  When the cell phone clerk asked about what I thought of our new Prime Minister, I was chuffed! 

Had a late dinner and then watched “Doc Martin” which we get in Vancouver.  I’d never seen it before and it was entertaining.

Visit in New Malden

October 25 Sunday – I was up early because of jet lag.  It's the UK's "fall back" one hour so only a 7 hr time difference.  But I was MUCH more tired today.  Going out in the fresh air for walks really helps my jet lag but Harriet doesn't like walks much because of her asthma, so I went by myself.  

In the afternoon, I joined Harriet at her singing rehearsal for an evensong church service in Stoke d’Abernon.  Beautiful drive along a river into Cobham and Stoke d'Abernon.  It was an evensong service in C of E church and it was really lovely - one of the choir members, Emma, was being "committed" to the choir as a new member so I had the priviledge of witnessing that.  While the choir rehearsed before the service, I took photographs outside in the setting sun - beautiful light.  Church is built of flint and is likely from 1600s!!    I wanted to take photos of the church in the late light but my friend wanted me to go to the garden store. I need to be more assertive!  So when she was rehearsing, I did go and take exterior shots and got some moody images.

When we returned to New Malden, Harriet's husband, Nicholas was off to his rehearsal with his choir and Harriet and I spent the evening on the computer researching the history of our former school, St. Michael's, which has now been turned into 21 luxury flats!!  

Flight from YVR to LHR - I SURVIVED the flight - no ditching in the ocean!!

October 23 - flight from YVR to LHR

Lindsay drove me to the airport.  I was terrified and had taken some meds to calm me down - I'll be honest in this blog about things like that!  As I got ready for security, Lindsay took my face and said “I am SO proud of you” and we hugged “I Love you”

I went through security without any problems - unloading my laptop, phone, rucksack and jacket into the plastic bins for x-ray.  Cleared without problems and then went through all the shops on that side to pass the time. Got 2 litres of water as planes are very dehydrating.  Then I couldn't avoid the inevitable any longer and off I headed to the gate!

I went to the Gate D64 for AC854 to LHR and waited about an hour.  

Boarded the plane and the flight was over ½ empty.  I was so nervous – terrified.  Had a couple more good meds!!  I had the whole row to myself – wonderful.  The couple behind me across the aisle had a toddler – 15 months – who cried and I chatted with them saying it must be so hard for them.  They were so relieved that I was friendly and compassionate and we had a nice chat and connection.  Their daughter was beautiful and so entrancing.  She finally fell asleep.  It’s so hard to travel with a child and I thought it would be so refreshing for them, and for me, to be warm and friendly and share in their distress and worry that they’d be disturbing others. 

Got ready for take off - "flight attendants take your seats" and the flight is hurtling down the runway and as I’ve seen on TV show, Mayday.   I can imagine them say “V1 – Rotate” which means they’re reached take off speed, can’t abort for any reason now and rotate is to pull the nose of the aircraft into the air and up we went  - without incident.  I heard the landing gear close into place as I was seated over the wing and landing gear there.  

After dinner, which was uninspiring but I ate it (chick peas in curry, rice, fruit salad - the tea was surprisingly good),  I lay out across the seats and managed to sleep awhile.  There was a screen in the seat back where I could watch movies or TV or the progress of the flight.  I walked around sometimes, went back to sleep.  I awoke about 2 hrs out of London and it was light outside.  We circled awhile over LHR and landed – bumpy landing too.  The flight was 1 hr ahead of schedule because of a good tailwind.  The screen showed us coming into LHR.

Walked a long way through Terminal 2 "The Queen's Terminal" through to Customs – LOOOOOONG line.  Thenk it took at least 1 hr to get to the desk!  We'd all had to fill out a Landing Card – various questions – Name, nationality, how long are you staying, where are you staying for contact details etc.   

 I went to the Customs Gent and he looked at my card – “purpose of your visit”  “Pleasure”  “Four ½ months – that’s a long time – what are you planning to do here?”  “I’m visiting friends, taking photographs, exploring the country.  I need a break from the past 3 years which have been difficult”.  When’s your return flight?  “March 8” “You have it booked”  “Yes”.  He eyed me and closed my passport and said “Well, welcome and have a good 4 ½ months”.  I felt like he wasn't exactly convinced but that’s what I’m doing and I had no guilt on my face as I was honest and they’re trained to read people.  So off I went to get my luggage.  Grabbed that and out to arrivals where I met Harriet’s husband, Nicholas and her daughter Emily who’d kindly come to pick me up.   

England greeted me with light drizzle - seemed appropriate!!   Nicolas is an interesting fellow and we drove to New Malden along the Thames and through Kingston by Hampton Court and the park.  It was very English and picturesque and I just LOVED it.    Arrived at their home in New Malden and it was lovely to see Harriet and daughter, Abigail when we arrived at their house.  Had lunch and then went for a walk with their golden Labrador, Fudge, who's  lovely.   Very nice evening, chatting and catching up over 25 yrs since the last time I saw Harriet.    I’m sleeping in the living room on a cot and air mattress – very comfy actually.  


(Sorry for the change in font - I'll have to work that out later!)

 

Tomorrow, Friday, October 23, 2015, I leave on my 4.5 month UK adventure.  As a VERY nervous flyer, I'm anxious about that but I have medication!! 

This journey is a tribute to my golden fluffy paws, Lauer.  

When I first got Lauer as a 7 week old puppy, I had no confidence in myself at all.  I didn't even think I could have a dog and was convinced I'd mess it up badly.   Lauer was a challenge as a puppy - as all puppies are - and I survived, as did she! 

And Lauer forced me to go out for walks and connected me with people again.  I'd hidden away for several years and was afraid to go out but Lauer's needs called to me and I listened and started to walk the trails in the Endowment Lands, as I call them (Pacific Spirit Park in Vancouver).  I met other people with dogs and developed relationships with these people - we knew each other through our dogs, we'd walk together, talk about our dogs and other topics and I've been lucky enough to develop friendships with several of the people I've walked with and met over the years.

Lauer saved my life in so many ways.  She gave me confidence and courage to go and follow my dreams - she was my dream 16 yrs ago and I was a really good mum to her and I know that.  She taught me to persevere, to push forward one step at a time.  She showed me how to enjoy life - roll in the dead salmon and smell to high heaven!!  Run, run, run on the beach with joy, bliss and happiness.  Chase balls.  Eat whatever you want before someone says "NO!"  Lauer taught me to trust my intuition, to trust my energy and where it leads me. 

Lauer believed in me 100% and I feel her golden heart encouraging me on this journey.  So, as I am about to embark on this once in a life time experience:  to Lauer!!  This journey is my tribute to you and the remarkable, everlasting bond we share across time and space.