Ropley to Kew

Tuesday 10 September
Up in time to say our farewells to Mary, Rachael and Rosie. We pottered around at home washing sheets and packing. Around midday we left Chalk Cottage with Graham, first to collect my lost umbrella then on to the Long Barn to look at their lavender farm and shop.
 

Chalk Cottage

 

A great little structure over raised garden beds that can be either mesh to keep out pests or plastic as a mini glasshouse.

 

 

As their cafe only sold cakes we drove into Alresford and had a lovely lunch at a little cafe in an arcade - Courtyard Tea Rooms.

On to the railway station at Winchester where we were in time for the fast train to Clapham Junction and thence to Richmond. A taxi meant we arrived at Mary and John's just after 3pm.

As Mary had cancelled her evening class we three ladies had a few hours to chat before dinner catching up on news and another lot of reminiscences. It is fabulous to be back in their home that holds so many memories of music and guitar lessons 35 years ago.

Dinner was followed by a soire led by Mary and John with Elaine and I singing along and harmonising when we could or just listening when we couldn't.



 

 

In no time it was 10:30pm - way past our bed time! Quick but thorough lessons on locking up and alarm systems ensued before we all collapsed into bed.

Wednesday 11 September

After a bit of a wakeful night I woke very early and eventually got up after I heard Mary up before 6am.

Once Mary and John had left for work Elaine and I had breakfast. We successfully activated the house alarm then walked down Kew Road (my old stamping ground).

We had plenty of time so stopped off at Gloucester Court where we used to live, The Queens School where Ellen started school, then we had morning tea at Newen's Maids of Honour Tea Rooms.

 

 

On then to Kew Pier where we met Pam as arranged, bought our boat tickets then wandered along the tow path until it was time to board our Thames River Boat to travel up river.

We went through two locks (Richmond and Teddington), made a few stops to collect passengers and passed various sights on the way to Hampton Court Palace, our destination. The tide and the river flow were against us all the way so it was quite a slow journey. It was also quite windy on the top of the boat and we all got quite cold.

 

At Hampton Court Palace we headed straight for a nice warm cup of coffee before deciding to see the Henry VIII Apartments.

 

This was only one of the many sections of the palace but we did get a glimpse into the gardens and the beautiful heavy horses pulling the visitors 'train'. Unfortunately we only had an hour or so at the palace before the last boat of the afternoon left the wharf so there was not enough to see any more. We would all have liked to see the Henry VIII kitchens.

 

 

 

The trip hack on the boat was much quicker. The tide was in so we only had to use one lock. 

 

 

When back at the pier we said farewell to Pam and decided to walk back to Mary's. As we did so it started raining but we diverted to Kew Village to buy some wine for dinner, eventually arriving home rather wet.

 

After a convivial dinner we three ladies did more singing and collapsed into bed after 10:30pm again.