The Final Post

We got safely moved into Staybridge Suites and I promptly managed to lose my room key (subsequently found it in a pocket of my jacket on my return to Britain). We had a last few days of frenzied activity getting the furniture uplifted, the house cleaned and returning keys to the landlord mixed in with saying goodbye to friends. Tom & Lily both got days out with their friends and both went to different water parks with close friends as well as trips to the cinema, meals out at Miyakos (our favourite restaurant in Montgomery) and wash out bbqs at the Goodalls (again)!!!
Finally, it was off to the airport and onwards to Washington D.C.
While Nick had to go to the British Embassy on the Monday morning, Tom, Lily & I went out for a bit of sightseeing. We saw the White House and then planned to go and visit a couple of art galleries but upon arriving at said galleries discovered they didn't open until 11am so that put paid to those plans.

We mooched about some more and then caught the metro back to the hotel for a bite to eat , shower and freshen up before heading to the airport to conclude the final leg of our USA adventure.

After an overnight flight back to the UK we got picked up by Les & Les and driven back to Butleigh with all our luggage (thankfully none of it went missing on the journey). Nick got reunited with his beloved Triumph TR5

as well as all the family.

The weather was perfect for sitting out in the garden on the Wednesday and we all had a lovely time (watching the England football game/gossipping in the garden).

My new car was delivered on the Wednesday as well and I am still getting used to the size of the car and the narrowness (is that a word?) of the British roads. Parking in carparks is a particular challenge compared to the US.

Thursday 24th June saw us drive up to Hawick to visit with Ruth & Philip for a few days, Lily was in her element surrounded by dogs and horses. Saturday was of course our anniversary and mum and dad came down for the night.

Ruth & Lily baked a (not very) surprise cake for Nick & I.

Then we went up to the top of the farm to cut the cake and have some champagne, how perfectly delightful.

Then it was back down to the house for more champagne, dinner and entertainment supplied by Tom singing and Lily playing the piano. Good fun.

After a lovely big brunch on Sunday it was back in the car for a couple of days in Lenzie. We thought we might get away with a barbecue but it started to rain while Dad was cooking so we ended up eating inside.

Nick and I popped into Glasgow on the Monday and got sorted out with new mobile phones and got some banking sorted out then it was off to Wormit on Tuesday to stay with Angela until our house was available.

On Thursday we took the children to school and left them there for the day while we got the keys back for our house and sorted out more stuff and then on Friday we got our furniture delivered along with a big pile of crap that we had put in storage! Most of it is sorted now and all there is to do is wait on all our shipping stuff to arrive and we can be surrounded by boxes again. Now I think it's time for a walk along the beach. Goodbye.