After such a lovely day on Saturday we were feeling a touch sad that our time in Holland was finishing BUT we were gearing to our next adventure once we hit London. We were packed & ready Sunday morning as the owner of the houseboat Jacqueline was picking us up, to take us to the train station. It turned out that Jacueline was part of a band that perforned on Sunday's at one of the Museums just near the station.

We boarded the first of the 4 trains to get us into London. Each transfer went smoothly & with a small break inbetween each stop. Brussels was the one stop that had the least security men around - interesting. Then as we passed through the station at Calais, France it was like a prison ... barb wire everywhere with army patrol men with guns ready ... When we got into St Pancreas Station in the UK, we were fortunate that the Piccadilly Line that we needed to use was working. Off to Hatton Cross where Tony's Aunt Val was picking us up, as we are staying with her. Val's home is the perfect base as she is in Staines, close to the Airport & Trains. It is also easy to drive out from there to the places we plan on visiting in the U.K.

Quick view from the train just before Calais Station.

Val's dear little home - Her parents left this to her as she has never married & so she has lived here for 70 years & at 81 yrs still drives & has an active life.

Monday was our planning & organising day ... towards the end of the day, Tony & I walked to the end of Val's street where there is a lovely 'Common'. It is privately owned but open for the public to walk on. The stile is provided to get into the field ...

This Cow was so relaxed as were the others in the field & were used to people walking close to them.

Once through the field - we walked past this lovely chapel with a grave yard that was for Staines. One might think it is morbid but the gardens around it were beautiful & immediately beside this area was the gardening commons - where residents have their gardening plots.