Friday April 3 – Wind in the Willows

We’ve been pretty busy since we arrived in England, but today was a time for rest. We slept late, then lazed around in Dusty and Fiona’s conservatory where the sun blazed in, and we sat relaxed and content bathing it all in. Eventually, we summoned the energy to drive into Pangbourne, another pretty English village. We had lunch in the Duck’s Ditty. Dusty tells us Pangbourne is significant because Kenneth Graham lived there when he wrote “Wind in the Willows”. The Duck’s Ditty was inspired when he watched the ducks diving in the River Pang, with their bottoms up, i.e. the duck’s ditty. We came back and lazed outside on the deck talking-to Fiona. Fiona’s parent were coming for dinner, and Dusty s busy cooking in the kitchen, so Ray and I went back into Pangbourne to pick Catherine up from the station. Dinner was another delicious meal. It was lovely meeting Fiona’s parents again as we haven’t seen them since my parents, Ray, Alana and I visited them and Dusty and Fiona and Catherine in a holiday cottage in ape Cod when the girls were both young.

After diner, Catherine introduced me to Wii. Ray had played with Grace and Eddie but I hadn’t yet been initiated. We bowled a few games; then Ray and Catherine golfed 9 holes – and the adults retired to bed.