Day 37: Our thoughts on an extraordinary journey

The flight home was fairly rough but otherwise comfy in lay flat business class. Mind you, getting a drink of water in the middle of the night proved somewhat challenging. What was hilarious was the distance that we had to hike in order to get to the terminal gate. Glad we set out a little earlier than the final call. But home we were and the ground under us in Sydney was such a relief,  as we were both very tired. Baggage collected, taxi found and home to our little house, and our little Bella who had been so well looked after by Sharon while we were away. 

What a wonderful experience. Thank you to our new family in Bearsden - your welcome Alan and Linda was touching. 

From Chris: thank you to my travel buddies Liz, Martina and Enid - I enjoyed your company and especially your assistance in figuring out which narrow country lane to take (ask about Batcombe, I dare you). You made many suggestions that made the holiday more enjoyable and manageable. And thank you Carina - you contributed to the success of the party and were a great travel companion into York.

To my beautiful wife Liz - this holiday was 3 years in the making, and had to change when our daughter Sarah found her perfect match Greg, and again when we took the wedding on the road for the afterparty in Glasgow. You were there for me to bounce ideas off, and kept sane and practical - thank you, thank you, thank you. 

There is often many a slip between plan and execution, and this holiday was no exception.

I was overly ambitious of what we could achieve, but as I said often during the trip: the route plan was a suggestion, not in concrete. Some items were locked in, like visiting Libberton and Trim for Liz, visiting Alderton, travelling to Land's End, visiting Turville the village used in the Vicar of Dibley series, and stopping at the coaching inns featured on our wedding drink coasters at Blanchland, Hurley and Norton St Philip. And of course we had theatre bookings in Stratford upon Avon, London's West End, and The Globe, and going out to Warner Bros. Studios for the Making of Harry Potter Tour. Then there were the things we moved around like Glastonbury and Wells and enjoyed very much. Other things there just was not time for, especially when we were not well, like The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Eden Project, Blenheim Palace, and Brighton. The map above reflects what we did and can be compared to what you see on page 1 of this blog.

While we were driving around Ireland, Enid and Martina enjoyed Tokyo on their way home.

Then it was time to go home for Liz and I, and who wouldn't have a stopover in ... Hong Kong? It was stressful, but the the Novotel hotels near the airport and in town in Kowloon were great, and don't forget to ask for an upgrade.

Now at home and recovered, I don't think we could have asked for a better holiday.

And what would Liz say about the holiday:
We the whole thing was splendiferous! It was fabulous to have a reason to celebrate and the Scottish Wedding gave us so much additional opportunity that we would not have had, had we just been going on holiday. So what are the the things I will treasure

• Memories of special time with Sarah and Greg. The couple of days we spent touring up to St Andrews, sharing the time with Linda and Alan and Sarah and Greg was special beyond words. I will treasure it forever
• The Scottish wedding. What a lovely night in a spectacular location. It was very special to meet all of greg's extended family and friends and to see the obvious love that they have for him and to hear how happy they are that he is happy. And go the Aussies: You're the Voice was the highlight on the dance floor!
• The welcome from Linda and Alan. Not even the Scottish rain could dampen the spirits of the family and friends that Linda and Alan had gathered at the family barbecue. Sharing stories, laughing and eating amazing food. We were embraced as family and that is also a treasured memory.
• Having travel buddies. It was delightful to travel with Martina and Enid and Carina for the short while she was with us. Sharing the driving, laughing hysterically about the next weird village name, getting lost, choosing the right lane and simply enjoying ourselves. It was so special sharing the Richard III experience with Enid in Leicester Cathedral. Just wish we had got there earlier in the day.
• Doing the coaching inn crawl. who could have imagined that a wedding present from all those years earlier could have provided so much entertainment... and while the three of them were all beautiful, the Lord Crewe arms is an absolute gem and if you are ever in Northern England on your way to York or so, pop in on a Sunday and have the most amazing Sunday roast imaginable. And while it wasn't actually a coaching inn, the Gardener's Arms at Alderton was a very special find too. 
• Being able to trace my family's history just a little. It was overwhelming to stand in the grounds of the Libberton Church of Scotland, knowing that that was where, in 1711 my great great great great grandfather was baptised, where he was married and probably where he died and was buried. Just wow... and  what a spectacularly beautiful piece of countryside: what made his descendant leave for Australia? What kind of life did they have. The same feelings were raised in Tipperary at the Rock of Cashel and again in County Meath. Like a race memory!
• Some stunning accomodation. While there was nothing much in our accomodation that was a disaster, (except in Ireland, see things I would rather never experience again), the joy of staying at Limehouse Basin in London was sublime. It was such an oasis in the middle of such a busy city, and it was such a luxury penthouse...wowow!!!
• Cream Tea: call it Devonshire or call it Cornish, I don't care... and while I am still a cream on top kind of gal, when you have the amazing clotted cream in Devon that is more like butter, I understanding why it needs to go on the bottom
• Evensong! Best way to see and experience every cathedral possible. So many amazing experiences.
• Almost everything about Ireland. So glad that we went, and while Galway was a traffic night mare and the Cliffs of Moher were misted and miserable and we were soaking wet, our day on the ring of Kerry was superb, one of the best things that I have ever seen. Stunning. 
• So many new and exciting things to see every day. Sooooooo blessed.

And the things that I will not miss

• Country Lanes.
• Narrow streets
• Summer holiday events that make tiny little towns overrun by tourists
• Being Google napped. Seriously, since when is going via fords, into dead ends with road works  or single lane roller coaster country roads ever ok. 
• Local drivers on country lanes who think they are Fangio
• Trying to find localities that are not on a map... such as Bruton!
• Being sick and having to deal with vagaries of heath overseas. Being sick sux!
• Sherman tanks provided by car rentals that think an upgrade to a vehicle that is massively uncomfortable and so massive it is impossible to park is OK
• Paying to pee!
• Stairs, especially at Bank Underground station
• Irish accomodation people who give away your accomodation when you arrive late and who think that a 2nd floor attic room is an upgrade when you ordered a downstairs room with ensuite.
• The inflexibility of the Cathay crew in. not allowing the Premium economy cabin to use the Business Class bathrooms when ours malfunctioned before the flight started!
• The stress of going to HongKong in the middle of riots. It really was a very scary time.