London and Wilmslow
London was great - time to catch up with Phil, Liz, Peter, and Heather (friends from Kuala Lumpur) in Surrey. We walked through the woods (Epsom Common) over the back fence (well almost), which was a great chance to spend some time in the outdoors. We did see a dear walking across the path ahead of us as we were making our way back to the house. We spent the rest of the evening catching up on news of what's happened in KL since they left (about 1 year ago) - not much. And talking about the process of settling back into life in your original/home country.
The next morning we started early. Well we tried to. We managed to depart the hotel around 10am, hoping for a 3 1/2 to 4 hour trip to Manchester. The roads were good through the M25 and M40 (after we finally remembered that you need to use the M40 to get to the M6). Stopped at the Oxford Services, which seem to have improved in the last 3.5 years. Other people have confirmed that generally the quality of the motorway services has improved somewhat. Things were going ok, and we took the new Toll road that skirts Birmingham. However... once we joined the M6 north of Birmingham, things degenerated into a stop-start run through to Manchester. Some things have not changed.
Anyway, we made it to Manchester in one piece and without incurring any points on the license or fines. The hotel we're staying in is next to the airport - a new place called Bewleys. It's a new hotel, fairly basic but good, clean, and has a great breakfast! The sausages are nicely spiced, and cooked properly. And they are not chicken sausages!
Last night we met up with the old gang from the office in Wilmslow. We met up at the Slug & Lettuce, then had dinner at one of the local Chinese places. It was great to see everyone again after so long - four years!
Some of today was spent revisiting places we used to hang out. Lunch was poached salmon (for me) and a prawn rosemarie sandwich (for Sonia) at the Selfridges Deli in the Trafford Centre. That used to be a staple Sunday lunch activity. Dinner was Indian/Nepalese at a local place in Northendon with another group of friends. Again, great to see what people have been up to, and a chance to reconnect. It does remind me how bad I am with writing emails to keep up to date with people!
Earlier tonight we decided that we should probably get organised booking accomodation and cars for the Europe stops of the world tour - Prague, Milan/Lake Como, and Paris. Some is now complete, but it does show that we'd better get this done fast. We arrive in Milan at the same time the Fashion Week commences, however we'll probably end up driving north into the lakes area.
Time for bed, I think. Tommorrow is lunch with old work colleagues, then dinner at a favourite restaurant.
The next morning we started early. Well we tried to. We managed to depart the hotel around 10am, hoping for a 3 1/2 to 4 hour trip to Manchester. The roads were good through the M25 and M40 (after we finally remembered that you need to use the M40 to get to the M6). Stopped at the Oxford Services, which seem to have improved in the last 3.5 years. Other people have confirmed that generally the quality of the motorway services has improved somewhat. Things were going ok, and we took the new Toll road that skirts Birmingham. However... once we joined the M6 north of Birmingham, things degenerated into a stop-start run through to Manchester. Some things have not changed.
Anyway, we made it to Manchester in one piece and without incurring any points on the license or fines. The hotel we're staying in is next to the airport - a new place called Bewleys. It's a new hotel, fairly basic but good, clean, and has a great breakfast! The sausages are nicely spiced, and cooked properly. And they are not chicken sausages!
Last night we met up with the old gang from the office in Wilmslow. We met up at the Slug & Lettuce, then had dinner at one of the local Chinese places. It was great to see everyone again after so long - four years!
Some of today was spent revisiting places we used to hang out. Lunch was poached salmon (for me) and a prawn rosemarie sandwich (for Sonia) at the Selfridges Deli in the Trafford Centre. That used to be a staple Sunday lunch activity. Dinner was Indian/Nepalese at a local place in Northendon with another group of friends. Again, great to see what people have been up to, and a chance to reconnect. It does remind me how bad I am with writing emails to keep up to date with people!
Earlier tonight we decided that we should probably get organised booking accomodation and cars for the Europe stops of the world tour - Prague, Milan/Lake Como, and Paris. Some is now complete, but it does show that we'd better get this done fast. We arrive in Milan at the same time the Fashion Week commences, however we'll probably end up driving north into the lakes area.
Time for bed, I think. Tommorrow is lunch with old work colleagues, then dinner at a favourite restaurant.
posted by Andrew at 6:19 AM
2 Comments:
Andrew,
Did you see a Dear or a Deer? Because if you saw a Dear...you shouldn't have been looking!
E.T.
Oops - it was a "deer", not a "Dear"!
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