Impey

Rodney, good evening or is it morning over there?

About the London Freedom Pass, you have to be resident in one of the London Boroughs to get one, at the moment you have to be 60 to apply, and you can travel all over England free but not Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland (where you have to pay).

When I was down in Southsea recently, hopping on and off the local buses (perhaps hop is not the right word as at the moment I walk with a stick (osteo-arthritis), which conveniently folds up while I am doing my business in the shops etc), I noticed that the local free bus pass issued to Southsea/Portsmouth residents had a "red Rose" motif on the front, similar to that on mine, which means that if you got one down there, you could also travel all over England free.

How are you getting to Portsmouth from Gatwick? Did you know there are direct trains to Portsmouth and Southsea from Gatwick? When I met a friend recently at LGW, we got on the train (if I remember right it was every hour). Just had a thought, perhaps someone is meeting you.

Just renewed my library books online (very handy if you don't feel like traipsing round there in the morning).

Easterndawn, saw in your post what you said about Xmas Day. I always used to spend that day with my Mum, and even though she has been gone 19 years, it still feels very strange without her. It is very spooky (if that is the right word) in London Xmas Day as there are no buses, tubes or trains, and the only people about in the afternoon and evening are the poor vulnerable people who have nowhere else to go and who sit/lie in the doorways homeless. This is the other not so nice side of the capital I am sorry to say. There is an organisation called Crisis at Xmas which does provide a few locations where homeless folks can go, get a Xmas dinner, company, perhaps see a doctor etc, but a lot of people don't want to leave the doorway they have found for myself, in case others jump in. Sorry if this all sounds depressing, hope that I have not put anybody off (just telling it how it is).

Hope everybody else on here is OK and hope all your dreams and plans come true in the not too distant future.

Impey

dontheturner

Hello Denise -Have to comment on that Blow dry, Etc., you had back there- VERY very expensive! I go for Hands and feet manicure, (searches for my hair)- and a haircut, -she does my shoulders, and back too, and it costs a staggering £2. all in. Hope everyone on here, gets their ultimate aim, satisfactorily. love Don

dontheturner

As an aside, Maybe this is different for US and Canadian Spouses, but my Thai Wife, when she gets her UK Settlement Visa, will not be able to travel through Europe, without she applies for, and gets, a ''Shenzen Visa'' from France/Spain Italy or Germany - does the same apply for all? Don

Impey

Don hello,

See you and your wife are going back to Shropshire (they used to call it Salop sometimes - perhaps it was an abbreviation?). I have been to Church Stretton, they used to call it "little Switzerland", we walked up the Burway Road, past the big hotel (don't know if it is still there), and up on the Long Mynd. What lovely memories I have, think I must revisit some of my old haunts before I get too old and past it. Also remember the Cardingmill Valley.

Impey

cheers

Thank you and just think of me when your in front of the fire. In my teens and before I left for the States I use to come home from work and maybe I was cold and wet and it was a great reward to sit in front of the fire and listen to my Mantovani & Orchester records.

cheers

Hey Rodney,

Did you buy your new laptop that you want to take home?

Cheers

dontheturner

Hello Impey - all you mention, is still there, but I think one of the shops in the town, is empty - not too bad really. There is a narrow track road from the valley, up the side, and on over the top, to Ratlinghope. - avery isolated place. But I digress, Changed the car, for an almost new Austin Allegro Vanden Plas 1759 Twin Cerb, Car, and took it for a spin, up there, anywhere, half way up, and the clutch was slipping so badly, had to reverse all the way back down on the brakes! - but drove it back to Shifnal, where the Garage was. A very hairy drive! my wife ( number 2) was terrified.
Impey, if you look on Google Earth, and go into street view, you can take that memory of yours! Going back sometime? PM if you wish. dontheturner

trottytrue

This is a really nice website with information on Chester. Always makes me homesick. http://www.chester360.co.uk/index.htm

trottytrue

Forgot to put this one as well lots of history and facts

http://www.chesterwalls.info/

Easterndawn

As for myself ,45 years before Ifinally got home, hadn't even been for a visit in all those years,

PAT M

Thank you all for the welcome and good wishes, not long now for Rodney, and I hope all goes smoothly for Don and Tim in February, good luck to you all. We retired to Italy in 2008 as our three sons were scattered around Italy, Belgium and Australia. We figured that we would always be able to exchange visits, but the reality feels very isolating and we don't see enough of our three grandchildren, our youngest son returning to London from Oz really clinched the decision, our sons are happy that we have decided to move back. We used to have day trips to Calais from Dover and meet up with our eldest son, dil and kids for lunch and shopping in Cite' Europe, they would drive up from Belgium and it was a great. We are all meeting up at Christmas in London for a few days. I hope this time next year we'll be home. That's it really, as lovely as it is here, it just isn't home.
I have been reading this delightful thread for a couple of months now. Glad to make your acquaintance at last.

charleygirl

Hi everyone, sorry not able to read the pages and pages since my last visit........
just 6 days left now, loved every minute of it, some very tough times ahead for me thats for sure.
My family ( and for those who dont know my story) 3 teenagers, twins 18 and a 19 year old and UK husband seem to have survived with out me...... I want to return to the UK to live my mind is made up, but well it will be alone or not at all.
I have a wonderful supportive family here though and that will help.

Denise 2, did see your posts, happy to know all is well, and I was in town today and the Christmas lights were being put up and a huge tree and Christmas music was playing.....
Rodney, so close now.......
Welcome to new faces!

Beedubya

I can SO relate to you Charleygirl even though my "kids" are a lot older than yours........take care and even though you don't really know me, know I am thinking of you and how you are feeling right now.

I am thinking July next year unless circumstances change before then.....

trottytrue

ED....Are you in for some sleepless nights........ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDGFrp3lp7Ew

Charleygirl...Hope you manage to catch that plane. I never got your email. Very cold and windy at the moment and raining.

I shall have to do and update on the length of time you folks have been in your adopted countries.

Rodney... when will be the last time you will be on here before you leave

Beedubya...Good for you having a date to go home, now its time to get those fingers working and make all those beedy things so you can add to your bank balance

sallysimmons

If you wind up in the Lake District, keep the kettle on for me. I'll be there eventually