Here are the two missing photos from the last entry. First, Carol and Rachel in the garden with Baby and the jealous cat:Then Mother and Baby:So, wo ist meine Freundin?
Ah, where’s your little friend, yes ….. First things first – lets write about you. We got on the road in good time on Friday morning, 23rd, and made good progress to Hitchin, only to discover within minutes that the replacement skylight they had for us was the WRONG ONE! Much too big. Nothing for it but to ask them to check and strengthen the temporary repair and hope to get home with that. We did some shopping and went on to Welwyn.

So, wo ist die Sally?

I’m coming to that! It rained quite a lot overnight Friday- Saturday, and was still drizzling a bit when we got up early and hooked up the vehicles. Carol put her anorak on and was stung on the neck by a wasp lurking inside the hood! This is bad news – she’s allergic to wasp stings! I treated her with anthisan, solpadeine and piriteze, so that by the time we got to where we were going, near Lincoln, she was more or less blotto! Still, the nice lady made us a coffee and the rain had stopped. There was a new motorhome for Sally to travel with and, believe it or not, a dog called Harry! A very friendly dog who wanted us to play ball with him. The ball was a squeaky ball, and the lady explained that the dog was blind!

But to serious business; husband being away a male friend had been drafted in to check the car out. He and the lady took Sally for a run. We played ball with Harry – not you!

I don’t play ball.

No, you don’t, do you? Man, lady and Car returned. Lady always wanted a red car! Deal done. Money handed over in brown envelope. Stephen, Carol and Harry, the Motorhome, left. Sally stayed with the Lady and Harry, the blind dog.

So, die Sally ist nicht mehr bei uns?

You catch on quick, Harry! No, she’s not with us anymore.

That’s a bit sad!

It’s a lot sad, but there we are.

We stopped for lunch in a layby, and drove off without securing the thermos ….. it rolled and smashed!

It was a long day. Bad weather, the wasp, the flask, and much more driving than I had realised. Not to mention the other matter. We were very grateful for a nice meal and a bed in Potters Bar.

Next day was a short run round the M25 to Surbiton, where family gathered for ‘apéro’ at Porton Court and then for dinner at Café Rouge:A good time – and a good meal – was had by all, then there was more drinking, photos and music back at Porton Court.

A DAY ON THE RIVER : With his birthday coming up later in the week, Philip and Christine had decided to invite us and other friends, Fiona, Max and Dominic for a day out on the Thames, followed by dinner (our invitation) at Harts, the riverside pub. With excellent weather throughout, this day was a delight, and choosing just a few photos is very difficult. I shall share many others on SkyDrive, unless someone suggests a better hosting site.

Taken by one of the lock keepers, this photo shows the whole party:

I have to confess that previously I didn’t know there were locks on this section of the Thames, but we went through three, both up and down. Sometimes we were first in:

At other times there was congestion:

We picnicked regally with contributions from everyone, and a (more than) ample supply of wines and cider!Throughout the day, our mascot, Max’s (nameless) parrot, drew amused / admiring glances from other boats and folk on the banks:As we got near Surbiton on the return leg, a birthday cake was produced from somewhere, and Philip did the biz with the knife while we sang Hippo Birdie for him. (Actually, after the wine and cider, I’m not sure what we sang!)

At Harts, the boatyard with the pub, some of us disembarked and others went back to the point of hire to return the boat and transfer all the stuff to the cars. Once reassembled the party enjoyed a meal overlooking the river:
 

And although Fiona, Max and Judi left us after that, the rest repaired to Porton Court for some more chat and music – maybe a nightcap, too. What a great day! Thank you.

Next morning, there was a mist over the river:

and even a hint of fog, but it soon cleared and we made good progress to Dover. Another smooth crossing, and so to visit Daniel (French colleague and friend, not Carol’s son) at Ymare, near Rouen. We enjoyed a meal of salade de tomates – homegrown by Daniel’s Mother, who was there with him, nursing a broken wrist – and roast chicken. We showed photos of grandchildren and Sunejo and retired to Harry for the night, parked on Daniel’s drive.

The rest of the journey home was uneventful. We know the route now and the weather was fine, getting steadily hotter as we came south. We spent the second night parked in the same space at Porte de Corrèze as on the way north almost a month ago. We ate paupiette de saumon (stuffed salmon fillets) provided by Carrefour supermarket and fresh blackberries picked from the hedgrow beside Harry!

As in England, late summer is not the most attractive of seasons; autumn has yet to enliven the tired green of the trees,

and harvested fields are dull brown where once they were golden; maize fields are brown-topped, and heavy-headed sunflowers droop in the heat, as if waiting for the chop which can’t be long in coming now.

We stopped at a motorhome dealer’s in Pamiers and ordered a replacement skylight for Harry, and shopped in Mirepoix. And so to Sunejo, nicely cared for by Nick & Carolyn for almost a whole month, and with hedge trimmed and grass cut by Ian, whom we had employed to attend to such things.

1,145 kms (716miles) from Surbiton and a round trip of 4,191kms (2,619miles). Plus additional miles in Sally. We’re sorry to have parted from our cheeky little friend, but plans are in hand for a replacement – a sort of big sister, but more of that next time. Thanks again for hospitality and friendship; we’ve had a great month. And thanks for reading all about it – if you have!