My first couple of days in the UK

So I arrived at Hazel's last night and today is her birthday and not any old birthday, it is that special birthday which, until recent years, indicated that you had reached government retirement age although that is now no longer the case.  I cannot believe it, it only seems like yesterday when we met in Princes Street, where have all those years gone???

Hazel's house is cosy, warm and welcoming - my bed is comfy and cat-free although the radiator is at boiling point and I am used to a cold bedroom!!!!  I had forgotten just how dark it is in the mornings in the UK and even more so when it is pouring with rain.  Hazel works, she escorts delinquent school children to and from school which leaves me with two, two-hour slots to do as I please.  Storm Brendan, which wreaked havoc at Bristol airport on Monday and which I managed to avoid, has returned, making for very unpleasant conditions indeed, wild, wet and windy but in spite of that we have a lovely day and Hazel was the recipient of all sorts of gifts, cards, flowers and well wishes.

It was a day that was perfectly rounded off by supper with my cousin Frank and his wife Kim.  Actually he is my second cousin or at least I think that is how you refer to our relationship as his gran and my gran were sisters.

The evening included phone calls with Frank's mum Jan and his kids Jo and Robbie - such a fabulous family and it would appear that Kim and Hazel will be meeting up in the future to walk their cockapoo's together!!

Anyway Kim and Frank if you are reading this - fab night and fab fish pie - many many thanks.

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My lovely lazy mornings waiting for Haze to return from work and the trials and tribulations of her charges have allowed me to return to reading.  I hastily picked up a book from home entitled The Olive Tree which is set in Kathikas of all places!!  It is easy reading and a bit of a girlie book where you sort of work out the ending half way through but enjoyable and I will leave it behind for Hazel to read when I have finished.

In return Haze has put aside a book for me to read next which she enjoyed.  I used to devour about five books a holiday when I was working but since retirement I have managed about two in nine years.  I had forgotten what an escape reading can be and I fully intend to do more.

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There are massive changes in and around Yeovil, mainly in the form of new housing estates, roundabouts and traffic lights - in fact I think Yeovil can boast the most traffic lights per capita than anywhere else in the world.  One stretch of 500 meters has 105 traffic lights on it although I am not sure how come there is an odd number - I thought they hunted in pairs.  Sadly, the town centre is dead and dire and the threat of the closure of Beales Department Store which was formerly Denners and had been there for years and years will probably be the final nail in the coffin of this particular high street (the closure was confirmed whilst I was there).  If you take your life in your hands and venture down to Lower Middle Street you walk past shop upon shop which is empty save for Wilkinsons and not only are the shops empty but their doorways seem to be providing temporary accommodation for a number of down and outs - this is so very sad.