Quick visit to Fritz&Karen. More gardening. Here is part of the result……

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Back at Barry’s I volunteered for hedge-trimming. He’s got a supa-dupa extendable and adjustable hedge trimmer. But even with that there are some errant fronds. Barry has a plan for me to get to those, upon my return. Involves a pickup truck and a step-ladder. Help?

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On one sunny day, met up with Doug at The Flower Pots pub. Funny how the years melt away, hanging out with old friends from my Physics student days 🙂 
We chatted. We both ate a ploughman’s lunch. I drank a nice Elderflower cordial.
All caught up.
ps: On Wednesday’s, bikers show up. Lots of nice machines 🙂

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Next event was an unofficial reunion of old soldiers at Tyrrells Ford Inn where we had an EXCELLENT time. Was it something to do with the chat? The free beer and wine? Or the excellent curry? Either way the clock chimed 1:30am and I went to bed. Hard to believe I’d started at 4pm.

Braver souls stayed up till 5:30am. 
Next day I was OK for a brunch of liver&bacon, which was excellent……

Ignore the snakebite in the background. Just a hair of the dog 😉
Luckily, I had booked an extra night, which turned out well, as it rained, and rained. So I enjoyed a lazy day indoors, on overstuffed sofas, with pots of tea.
The inn has a comfortable feel, and is in the heart of the New Forest. Nice place.

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Next day it was sunny again. Rode out, back to Barry’s.
We visited Twyford waterworks on their open day. and the Phoenix pub. 
Maybe all pubs called The Phoenix are good? Could be fun finding out 🙂

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Just before I flew home, squeezed in luncheon with Jan and Selena.
Jan had recently returned from a trek to Machu Pichu. Six days of walking uphill, with at least one glorious sunrise.
Selena was moved in with her new fella, and getting him trained.

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Smooth trip over to Canada. Barry took me to Winchester where I saw the cathedral and castle. Then caught the coach to Heathrow. Which has lots of long walkways. God Bless Air Canada and their lounge.

Had created a plan for my return, with LOTS of things to do. Almost funny how full my time is.
Major item was getting the laptop fixed. Is almost done. Not bad for 3 days. Luckily Ron was able to resolve the major problem. I have only one unexpected consequence to resolve. But that is an easy.
So the plan still holds true.

Why am I going back to England?
As I told the lads who responded to my Canada Day email 
“Am sat in the Hampshire Bowman,   on the patio, looking at the stars, having supper and a snakebite, missing England already”.
And this is the night BEFORE flying to Canada.