Is it really two years since we were last in England?…All those plans of regular jaunts across The Channel were scuppered with Covid travel regulations and it is only recently that we managed a quick 2 week trip to catch up with family and friends. So it was all aboard “Renee the Renault” our little white van, with Puss and Ratfink navigating the 575 kms route to Calais.

It has become a bit of a tradition to kick off our UK visits with Ian in Surrey, although this time at least it didn’t involve him collecting us after a long haul flight!!

Boarding Le Shuttle. As long as you ignore the fact that you’re going underwater in a long metal tube ( just the opposite I suppose of crossing the world in a flying metal tube!) then the crossing is so quick and easy with no concerns about weather effecting the schedule. In fact on both journeys our early arrival meant we could board an earlier train.

It was great to catch up again with “old” friends and family and we were even treated to some sunny Spring weather which allowed us a couple of al fresco pub lunches. Along with sun and Spring flowers we also had snow flurries and Arctic wind on one day!!

As we crossed the country from east to west we just took a little detour in Gloucestershire to gaze longingly through the gate where a certain event will be held next month.

Work going on at The Quarry complex.

One of our pub lunches was in the beautiful Cotswold village of Broadway where we met up with touring Aussies Robyn and Gary. Sooooooo good to see them and to catch up on some gossip and hear news of friends Down Under.

Broadway

There is nothing quite like an English pub (unless it’s an Irish ☘️ one😊) and we had a great lunch stop at this lovely converted mill house.

The Mill House interior

Talking of interiors, how about keeping your quad bike in the medieval hall ??? The living room of another fabulous property where we caught up with “very old” friends 😉

In between social visits (and a bit of shopping) we found time to visit Grayson Perry’s Art Club exhibition in Bristol. Now some of you may not have heard of Grayson and his wife Phillipa ( have to admit that I hadn’t before we hit this side of the world) but his Art Club tv series was a saviour for many during the long months of lockdown. A beautifully eccentric artist and potter with a heart of gold, who invited the general public to create their own art interpretation each week on a range of subjects. Episodes at times had the tears flowing as Grayson connected with a wide variety of amateur artists dealing with their life in lockdown.

This programme (along with Escape to the Chateau!) was such a part of our own lockdown experience that I joined in by making a “Memory” piece. The collaged vase now holds a stack of brushes in my own studio with memories of programmes, French lessons, art, spring flowers, and the ongoing search for our French property.

So we are now back home to a garden beginning to burst into colour and renewed energy as the days lengthen and summer approaches. A few planned projects have started and we hope to welcome friends and family to this side of The Channel in the months ahead. Just don’t come by truck, this was a 10 mile tailback leading to the Channel ports!!

Couldn’t finish up without a roundabout 😉 This striking piece in metal depicts the nearby wildfowl sanctuary at Slimbridge in Gloucestershire.