We've discovered that we're partial to all things UK.
-- Scotland - pints, wool, bagpipes, accents, history, Scotch, gardens, tea and porridge, Andy Murray, stone walls, Digestive Cookies, hiking with highland views, abbeys
-- England (Lake District, Liverpool) - accents, Beatles and the Mersey beat, weather, history, Tom Kittens (Beatrice Potter), kissing gates, tea and scones, gardens, Andy Murray, pints, fish and chips
-- Wales - hiking with coastal views, pints, history, accents, cathedrals, flower gardens, tea and Welsh cakes, sun, Tenby
Okay, some things we're not partial to, and we are going to start a campaign to assist our English-speaking bretheren (and sisteren): indoor plumbing, namely showers and toilets that actually flush; wide roads, with more than one lane; and vegetables.
Anyway, it was a wonderful trip. We have thousands of pictures and more than a few stories. You have been warned.
As we were driving in the driveway after nearly 20 hours of straight travel, Annie came in right behind us from a long day of work. Someone has to. Annie had been home a week or so, after she had gone white-water rafting in Idaho. That sounded spectacular as well. Annie has been holding down two jobs in Lee, and now she has a third. This last one is in NYC and is a work-study job which starts in August.
We talked to Joe and told him about our stroll through his college town. What a great place to have gone to university, even if you can't go back and visit at the drop of a hat. He had a big career decision while we were gone, and decided against moving overseas. We also spoke with Margaret about their upcoming trip, coming up to Pittsfield next week.
From Dundee, we heard that Andrew and Lur had a great week up at Green Lake. Danny has decided to drop football and focus on basketball, after turning his ankle. Claire is going to have a big graduation party this weekend - are we invited, Claire?
Peter and Janet are getting ready for their trip out to Seattle and Vancouver in a couple of weeks. Peter's eagle eye also noticed the tie on the former President of Princeton in the most recent Alumni Weekly, which is included here. We'll have to get another of Mom's ties out to the new President.
The heat wave has even reached Rochester, but David has kept up his walking regime, and has the doctor's numbers to prove it. That would make it all worthwhile, except that walking is worthwhile in itself.
We've had some visitors since we've been home. Charlie and his family came up last weekend, and we all went to the Williamstown Theater Festival to see a stage version of the Marx Brothers movie, Animal Crackers. Very funny. Then Mary's friend Gerry took a week off from her work in Arlington for a New England break. When Mary went to pick up Gerry at the airport in Albany, she stopped by Colleen and Heather's birthday parties (they were born a year and a day apart), as Colleen was celebrating her 50th this year. Happy Birthday.
A movie recommendation: 20 Feet from Stardom. Great music, compelling story.
Not one week back and we've slipped back in our routines, like we were never gone. Gardening, swimming, UMass and Arrowhead, raspberries and cherries and blueberries. And mowing the lawn.
Speaking of which, we had a sad moment last Saturday, at least for John. Mary, not so much. Our 20 year old lawn mower which had been so good for so long, has cut its last blade of grass. I broke down and bought a self-propelled Toro. Which broke down after 20 minutes and had to be taken back. They just don't make 'em like......
On that sad (not so much) note, love from up here.
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