DAY 278

Saturday 14 April 2012

Flying over the white cliffs of Dover

Nicole got up at 7AM with Astrid, she to take the metro to her parents, and Astrid to go to school. With a few breakfast items crammed into her mouth and pockets, Nicole said goodbye (she had finished chewing by then) to Hourik and Astrid, and hoped to see them again. She texted at 7:30AM on the cell, “I’m on the metro.” Charles and Dian picked her up at the bus stop after checking out of the camp. With fresh croissants and hot coffee aboard we headed for the ferry in Calais. When we found out the price was better in Dunkerque we drove there then waited a couple of hours for our crossing on the DFDS Line. The hour crossing was uneventful but we got a little bit of excitement when the border/customs official began interrogating Charles. It became clear that our best tack would be tact since this official obviously believed in the letter of the law – meaning why were we travelling into her country and how were we paying for it – did we intend to STAY there?

Anyway, Charles got some good material for his next column and we entered England unscathed. Driving on the left side of the road took a little getting used to but Charles did very well and we were at Nigel and Mary’s house in Surrey by 7PM (note the hour time change).

What's wrong with this picture? We're on the wrong side of the road!

It was great to see our old friends plus their dogs Poppy and Sandy and we caught up over a delicious fish and chips meal brought in by Mary from their award winning take out place. Once again we were ensconced in the bedrooms on the second floor with the view we remembered from a few years back of pastureland with grazing cows. Ah the joys of farm livin’.

And treacle tart to top it off!