Day 1
Awoke on the 26th December to our first glimpse of blue sky since arriving in England. Colleen burned some toast for breakfast setting off the fire alarm and waking up everyone in the house. After packing up we stepped outside and walked to the Underground and caught the train making a connection to the Piccadilly line where we caught another train to Heathrow.
By the time we emerged from underground the sky was cloudy again. We picked up another rental car at Heathrow; a Mini Cooper that was shiny black and was an AUTOMATIC which made driving easier for Colleen.
After some confusion about how to exit the garage we were soon on the motorway and on our way to Calverton to meet up with and stay with Erika, Sara, Ollie and Erika’s Grandpa and her Uncle Dave, Aunt Zoey and Cousins Eve, 13 and Isla, 11!
When we arrived they had lunch waiting for us and after we introduced ourselves to Dave and Zoey and Isla and Eve and then we all sat around a big table and ate. It was very nice.
The house was once a stone barn but is now a beautiful home with large windows, a courtyard and acres of sheep fields surrounding it.
We took a walk through the fields after eating and saw a beautiful full moon rise out fo the mist over the village which is about 1000 years old and there is a Roman house in the upper village which is about 2000 years old.
Back at the house we settled in for pudding and card games and watched Ambiana and Erika’s Christmas song video as well as a slide show of their travels around Europe and Greece. It was all very cozy. Then around 10pm we retired to the tent that was set up in the field for us. It was very big and blowing in the wind and very comfy with pillows and and cushions lining the floor and we slept snug as the rain fell and the wind blew about outside.
Day 2
We awoke refreshed if not a bit wet from all the rain and came in and sat down with everyone for breakfast before getting in the car and driving an hour to the Cotswold’s town of Chipping Norton for a noon lunch at the Old Mill. This is a Lourie Christmas tradition they have been doing for years and we are excited to be included this year
We then walked a few blocks through the drizzle to the theater for the Pantomime which was not the Christmas Revels or Mummer Play I had expected but a very well staged colorful South American version of Cinderella with song and dance, men playing the roles of women and candy throwing.
After the Pantomime we said goodbye to David, Zoey, Eve and Isla who were heading back to London. It was so very nice to finally meet them and add them to our Lourie friends. Back at the house we had a late dinner and sleptin the house as the 45mph winds had blown our tent over and filled it with water. It was nice to be inside on such a blustery night.
Day 3
After another sit down breakfast we packed up and said goodbye the Louires as we are heading to Portsmouth for the next remainder of our trip.
Grandpa dug out a can of custard from the pantry and presented it to me as I LOVE this English custard that we do not have back in the States. It was a really nice three days with the Louries. We have known Sara, Ollie and Erika for over a decade and have heard so much about their home here in England and it was wonderful to finally get a chance to be here.
