Early Friday Morning

After eight years in the US in Shawnee Oklahoma, during which time I have made many good friends, volunteered as a hospital chaplain, participated in activities at Emmanuel Church - my  responsibility being to provide the dessert for the Wednesday meal - I am now back in the Motherland among my dear family and grandchildren, happy and ready for this last chapter of my life.

Son, Tim, came out to help with the major job of packing and moving, and we arrived back at Heathrow yesterday morning, after a very comfortable overnight flight due to Tim and Marie's generosity in booking me into Business Class where the seats fully recline into a bed complete with duvet and pillows, and a little glass of champagne on take off, and a posher dinner and breakfast than I would have had in Economy.

A little heartache was saying goodbye to my cat Bubbles, who regular readers of my blog will have got to know.   She is 17, which is old in cat years.   I was going to have her put down but changed my mind, which was a big mistake I now regret.   We were very close companions and my last memory of her was lying on my spare bed not understanding why her life as she knew it was just crashing down around her.   Mark, my landlord, said the person coming into the house was prepared to have her, so I wrote out a long page all about her, the main thing being that "meow" means "get up and follow me, and I will show you what I want" - usually opening a front door, or filling a bowl.

Marie's parents - a very dear couple - were at the house to welcome me.   I spent a good part of the day unravelling an enormous hank of yarn with the help of her mother.   Manufacturers of wool in the US make their yarn look very deceptive; it appears all ready to use but once one starts pulling it out it is a total hot mess inside.

I was taken to see the apartment where I will be living as from the 11th June.  It is lovely, really beautiful, and in a very nice area.   A far cry from the neighbourhood I've come from.

When Marie's parents were ready to go home I went with them all and was shown round their apartment, which is also very nice.  In the foyer I asked if we were taking the elevator and Tim's response was "no Mother, we're getting the lift".   I'll need to try and correct all this Americanese. 

So this has been my first day home.