Paying Calls

Of course I was wide awake @ 4 am despite the sip of wine and the big walk around Belgravia . Went to Church at St Pauls for 8 am Communion along with about 20 other people ...we sat in that enormous building in the choir stalls to be near enough to see the vicar. I haven't heard the old fashioned english version of communion with the thou's and thy's since I was a kid. Sitting in the absolutely huge and very ornate church it was really the anthesis of the message but I felt virtuous and emerged into the sunshine to savour the day which was BEAUTIFUL.

Caught the overground to Ashford and met up with Cath and Kevin and kids. Cath is a friend from Maroondah Hospital who has returned to her native England with her Australian husband and Australian kids Matthew 6 and Caitlin 8 and has now bought a house and had a British baby. Michael is 7 months and gorgeous. We had lots of cups of tea, caught up on psych hospital gossip and went out for lunch at the Barley Mow in Englefield Green.

I then dropped in on Dick Cowles who is living in Teddington with his son Lee, daughter in law Fiona and 3 (naked) little boys, Freddy, Jake and Barney. Dick was quick on the pour and we sat in the back garden enjoying a drop. Dicks got a house in Hamble one row back form the water , is joining the Royal Southern Yacht Club and now just has to get his containers ad move in. THEN... the boat. He is a bit non plussed by the cost of a marina berth there but I think it will suit his Australian Crew fine .

I then caught up with Ginny Atkins, friend of Ali, whos got a real job working for a mental health foundation doing art projects in Southwark. Gin is loving it here really enjoying the multicultural house shes in..shes the only one whose native language is english and looking forward to a big trip shes planned for next month .

Still on Aussie time so up at the crack and did a circumnavigation of the Serpentine in Hyde Park. They have there own version of the Icebergers. Despite the lake being inhabited by flocks of pooing waterbirds and green slimy grass there is a fenced off area for swimming and this guy was doing laps! Gross!

Off to pick up bike.