GRUMPY SISTERS' INK

The house we are in is quite grand. Today Sarah and her family were due to go to an extended family event in Rye. We were part of the hustle and bustle of getting ready, and we too, were planning our attack. We decided to take advantage of Kirsty's offer of a lend of her car. We duly scooted off and were soon motoring up the hill, avoiding an absolute hoard of Sunday cyclists toiling up the incline. We had instructions form Mr Google and his maps so apart from the odd gear change graunch, and probably going slower than most driver familiar with the road, we arrived at our destination of Ripley. Cricket was going on a the green as we made our way across the common and through the woods. A vast earthworks greeted out view at one stage and we wondered what it could be,,and whether some short sifted developers were going to put houses there in a glorious part of the countryside. Later we learnt that is was re construction of the golf course. Sorry if you aren't a golf player, but all that for hitting a small white ball with a stick! Needless to say there were some stunning houses, but our walk included houses of a different kind as we found our way onto the towpath of the Weybridge Navigations. For this is the travel way of the house boats, aka long boats or narrow boats. We watched as families worked the lock gates and the majestic and colourful boats glided under bridges. Some were tied up on the river bank and the houseboaters were lunching on the side of the canal. The canal towpath is popular with families and cyclists .... The going is understandably flat! All very peaceful. We then cut across country to end up at a suitable lunching spot. The directions for the walk were coming from a download on the iPad. The map on the document bore no relationship to the map with it, so we ignored the pictorial information and stuck with the words. For the most part we did OK only missing one turning and working on the assumption that 'all roads lead to Rome', or in this case Ripley. There was an impressive ruin of an Augustinian abbey, and a Norman church to admire as well as a converted mill, and impressive gardens. Then the journey back in the car...the battery in the ipad was waning, so M took the conventional map and worked out our route. Not quite the one that we came on, and we had a u turn to do at one stage, and a short double back, but we made it back to the house, the car and us unscathed. Cups of tea of course, showers and sitting out in the garden followed. We were just about to make ourselves a supper, when the others arrived back, lively and full of stories of the day. We went with Kristy and James to look at the house they are renovating. A very cute two storeyed house in Reigate, with a lovely garden. They are working hard to get the rooms re plastered and painted now and it is going to be a great first home. Another latish night but lots if things to talk about. For those of you who don't know these fine folk, I met Sarah when I worked at at Thames television many moons ago, and we have kept in contact over the years, sharing baby photos as they came along. Later Kristy came over to be a tutor at a school in the Wairarapa in NZ and she stayed with us for a wee while. Then Sarah and John came to visit, we made a couple of trips to UK and we have always been made to feel very welcome. Their son Huw is getting married in a couple of weeks. The chicken's not so sure of us though. (Photos coming later when I find the card reader!!!!!!)