Going home

Woke up at eight thirty, reasonably refreshed. Misty, then overcast today. Kath called for us at nine. We checked out of the hotel and the Kath took us to their house for a farewell breakfast. She took us by car to Birmingham International to catch a train to New Street station. What with cancellations delays and several platform changes lugging cases up and down steps, in and out of lifts, it was rather a lot of Compulsory exercise! 

At Birmingam New Street we had an hour and a half to wait for a train to Wales. Plenty of time to eat the picnic lunch of turkey sandwiches prepared for us by Kath. The only train available for us was destined for Newport only. Owain's train to Bristol left twenty minutes before ours. He made sure we were briefed about our platform before we parted company with big hugs. 

The two thirty Cross Country train delivered us to Newport by ten past four. We had to wait there with a large crowd of travellers for a connecting train to Cardiff at half past. Cardiff Central was so busy that the ticket barriers were left open for the departing crowd to stream through. Clare insisted on getting a taxi to take us home from there. We were both pretty tired by the trip, and started preparing supper straight away, assorted veg and a chorizo heated up in water rather than fried. Not my choice, but I was too hungry to protest. Clare made an omelette for herself.

After supper we listened to Rosalia's debut album, which both of us found a bit bewildering. Perhaps it will make more sense when we get around to the English translation of lyrics in Spanish. Unfortunately the Sheku Kenneh Mason CD I bought for Clare was one she already has. She decided to give it to Rachel. There's something else I can buy for her that she fancies.

 The excessive stimulus of such an uncertain journey drained me of nervous energy. I went out and walked in the dark for an hour to calm myself before bed. Just the two of us at home at the end of the day in a quiet house. I miss the company of our wonderful kind and caring children I have to admit that earlier I wept bitterly this afternoon at the thought of us going our separate ways.