Friday October 5 & Saturday 6 (Eastbourne & Thames Ditton)

Friday
I was up bright and early today and the weather was, of course, glorious although a wee bit cool.


I had breakfast, finished packing and then checked out of my room but waited in the hotel as my train was not until 1 pm. I managed a cip of coffee in that time and relaxed on one of the outside tables.

My taxi was on time and the driver took my bags inside for me. I then spoke to one of the employees about the luggage assistance. The service was wonderful, luggage was put on board and the train supervisor came down to check wth me. 

When they changed over down the line the new supervisor came to check on me and told me he would come down and help me off at my change of station.  

This he did but it did not seem there was anyone there to meet me, however, they were at the wrong end of the train, lol!

On the journey, there was the last view of the South Downs to enjoy this time around, farewell Eastbourne I had a wonderful time here! It was great passing through some of the stations I knew so well when I lived in the UK. 

We stopped at Lewes, where my first three years teaching took place, I knew it very well. In my second year, I remember so well one Friday when the snow arrived about lunchtime. 

All the girls were sent home, I left my car at school and caught the last train out of Lewes to Eastbourne, the 30 minute journey took over two hours, lol! When I arrived in Eastbourne, there were no buses running so I walked home, it must have been well over five miles, lol, but I made it eventually! The snow was very heavy by this time.

Then we stopped at Plumpton Station, there is basically only a racecourse there, lol, and when I was much younger, Dad took Mum and I there a couple of times!

At Clapham Junction, they put me on an earlier train to Surbiton, the station I was being met at, but no worries. When I arrived at Surbiton there was no-one there to meet me but fortunately a nice guy, that was not actually leaving the train there, put my luggage on the station for me, again the person meeting me was at the other end of the train, lol!

As I was early, I had a coffee at a coffee place right beside the station entrance. eventually I saw Wendy (1st cousin) and Eliza (2nd cousin, 9 years old) walking towards me. It was so good to see them and then we walked off to find the car. Nigel was home when we arrived as was Luke, BIlly had gone into town to go bowling!

It was so good to catch up woth the whole family and finally meet Rocky, their furry feline friend!

Saturday
No peace for me as it was up fairy early to go and watch Luke play rugby, Nigel drove us to the venue. It was a very cool day, if not cold, lol! The opposition were a bit late turning up but the game started more or less on time. There was also a mile relay on with the track round the rugby fields so that kept us entertained while we eaited.

The opposition looked bigger than Luke's school team, U-14 B, but Luke's team seemed better organised. Luke was on the wing and did not get many opportunities but he did make a couple of important tackles. About half way through the half it started to rain quite heavily! Eventaully Luke's team scored and unconverted try through some good play and later scored a second, conveerted, try. 

That was the half time score and we had to leave as the soccer team that Nigel coaches was not far from warm up time. As it turned out there as no addition to the rugby score, hardly surprising with a wet ball to contend with! Billy played soccer and they won their game! 

We went to the movies in the afternoon as it was still very wet. We saw The house with a Clock in its Walls with Jack Black and Cate Blanchet, it was OK and there were some funny lines especially for Cate. Poor Eliza though could not handle some of the darkness and had to go out.but she recovered quickly!

It was not raining quite so hard as we walked back to the car and then it was back home for a chicken stir fry tea.