Begin 2 week holiday in Blighty, part one of which requires meticulous planning. Catch afternoon flight to Stansted in a replacement aircraft, the smaller size of which forces Easyjet to offer lucrative bribe to passengers to take evening flight instead. Reluctantly decide dinner with friends is worth more than 500 euros. Play dodge the traffic warden in Stansted drop-off zone and eventually elude him long enough to effect successful rendezvous with J&C. The four of us travel to deepest Berkshire and spend lovely evening chez les Den-Es, worth all of half a grand and more. Eat & drink too much.
Day 2, Sat 16 Aug
Olympics and late breakfast, followed by expedition to the new home of football on the part of les deux Gooners, shopping expedition into Reading on the part of les trois filles, with the Den-E-boy left at home with the Den-E-baby. Both expeditions successful, despite a stationary traffic queue on the Westway flyover and a temporary splitting of forces en route to Norf London. Another pleasant evening at a traditional English restaurant, sampling local curry. Eat too much.
Day 3, Sun 17 Aug
Chauffeured back to Cambridge by J&C, and spend a lazy sunday afternoon in sunshine which prompts the decision to have a semi-BBQ - food cooked outside, eaten inside due to temperature dropping in parallel with sun. Eat & drink too much.
Day 4, Mon 18 Aug
Spend morning banking tax rebates and shopping for support material in Cambridge. Eventually track down car hire shop and pick up transport for the remaining holiday. Brave the M25 and Dartford crossing at rush hour and arrive for another pleasant evening chez le petit frère et sa novia. Eat too much.
Day 5, Tue 19 Aug
Bromley to Ascot, via Windsor. Rise late, after li'l bro has gone to work, and meander our way westwards. Stop off for lunch and an amiable amble round the Valley Gardens in Windsor Great Park.
Continue on to meet the rugger bugger and la Strat in Ascot. Another traditional English meal out, chinese this time, also in the company of N&C. Eat and drink too much. Spot the pattern?Day 6, Wed 20 Aug
Phase 1 of holiday completed, more or less successfully. Head north to Cheshire. Brief stop-off in Gawsworth to visit les nièces et neveux, all in good form, thence to chez la belle-mère for an evening of recuperation. Eat & drink sensibly in anticipation of beginning of phase 2 the following morning...
