London Calling

With many domestic items to sort, mini me made a trip back to the UK just in time for a heat wave (temperature in the 80s that is), dramatic Texas-like lightening and thunder, and a met office warning about heat health hazards.  Not too hot & dangerous for one living in Florida! And a breeze to walk 10,000 steps a day without an auto.

It is wonderful to be back in London with all the familiar sights and seeing so many friends and family. 

We even snuck (American English) in a short trip to the Hampton Court Flower show where a number of gardens certainly had a sense of humour!  Giant jelly beans!

4:45 am sunrise

Mini me then moved on to the Kent coast where facing eastwards, she could watch sunrises instead of sunsets.  There were fireworks there too (perhaps the British reaction to US 4th of July?). 

Having had a few days at the seaside it was time to visit the Quirkies ... a great day, plenty of food as always including quiche for a deprived life sized me, and a bit of crochet and quilting.   Mini me has a new whistling admirer and life-sized me had a bit of dark chocolate in the Smarties. We finished with a celebration of a Quirky work retirement.

Then off to Hamerton hamlet (ie smaller than a village, population >80) to visit sister-in-law;
she lives in the perfect picture-perfect chocolate box house - and it is amazing inside. We visited the local night-time braying donkey ... and celebrated yet another retirement!

All too soon time to return to Florida and the condo renovations - still underway.  London we WILL BE BACK!!


Look close for turtle nest with pink tape in foreground

PS.  Arrived back, after very delayed flights, to the hottest day of the year - a bit like swimming through a sauna outside -- but found another turtle nest at our door, gorgeous dragonflies and brightly coloured moths (my point and shoot camera just cannot capture them) along with repairs being made to the sea groins which slow beach erosion.  Off to the Snack Shack for breakfast - it was wonderful to arrive to a warm greeting from new friends who had popped in after their morning constitutional walk on the beach.