I was surprised to see this parked up on my way to pick apples. Evidently someone called Ghostbusters!

The green valley of Paris, VA from Rte 17.

Had a fabulous evening with my realtor, and hopefully soon to be neighbor and friend. We get on so well. No photos of the evening, didn’t even think about taking a photo, it was such a fun evening, But this is a McLaren sports car I passed on my way out. Likely a few thousand bucks, but who cares?

Yet more torrential rain. Apparently our region has had over 4ft of rain this summer, 20” more than normal. So technically, we didn’t get a summer, at least on very few of my weekends.

Another day of intense rain storms. I had emptied these jars at the weekend yet both are full again.

A dull and damp day, with tendrils of clouds clinging to the mountains.

I had a junk lunch today, a Pot Noodles I brought back from England. I only brought a few as there’s zero nourishment in them, but it was spanking gawgous!

House hunting. The roof looked extremely dodgy so I didn’t put in an offer for this one. But maybe I did with another...

I spotted a stick insect in a tree today and for a while I watched him watching me.

British extra mature cheddar on toast with lashings of Marmite under the melted cheese. Heaven!

While staying with Mum I was munching red grapes and picked up a conker that was in a corner of the room, thinking I’d dropped a grape. Apparently everyone in England knows that placing these in the house keeps spiders out. I just picked up a bag full on my way home from work. Here in the states, they’re called buck-eyes.

Driving home through Hunt country.

Had to give this guy 10/10 for rocking his brand new ‘pudding basin’ haircut. Haven’t seen one like this for years. He made me smile, he was really strutting it!

Poor Scott’s desk had piles of paper and post-it notes when I arrived early to work this morning. He was swamped while I was away but he did well. 

Beautiful country roads in Marshall. The last summer flowers blooming brightly under stormy skies.

Tricksie Treat is slowly settling in, and becoming more used to our household. Her expressions are now more relaxed and the fear has gone. So lovely to see.

Rosie Lee claimed an arm chair while I was away. She looks so comfy that I can’t tell her off; arm chairs are usually out of bounds to cats...

The plane’s wing tip as we soar over clouds before we dipped to Dulles airport.

An English beer truck at Beaulieu Motor Museum. We need these in America.

Pre-Raphaelite windows in St. Michael’s Church in Lyndhurst, in the New Forest.

Kimmeridge Beach, the beach is a slate bed with sandstone cliffs. 

9 September 2018

My roast Sunday lunch, local beef nearly 1/2” thick with 3 roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and the usualv3 vegetables with ladles of gravy. I so wish Americans could cook this, it’s fabulous. Mum had the roast chicken and stuffing. Of course, there was no room for dessert.

A cloudy and windy day at Mudeford Quay where Mum and I had fish and chips. I bought some cockles to take back for Mum’s friend Jay and also some to feed the seagulls.

Whatever the age, however infirm, there’s always a way to get to the pub!

A demonstration of rare heavy horses, once used in wartime, at a center near Mum’s house.

Looking down on Shaftesbury from Park Walk after our lunch of a delicious Wiltshire pasty and an Eccles cake.

4 September 2018

Mum outside the green grocers, where fruit and veg is displayed. A regular sight in Blighty but never seen in the US.

The village of Compton in Sussex, where every wall and building were built using flint from the South Downs. 

Stunning architecture of a gatehouse next to St Mary’s Church in Leigh, Kent. 

1 September 2018

Mouse and me larkin’ about for a photo at our London Tavern reunion in my hometown, Maidstone. Known this guy for many many years. Wonderful to be with good friends.