With grateful thanks for Anthony donating his bed & room to the weary travellers and to Clare for her generosity, time and organising we reluctantly say our goodbyes to London as we set off on the next phase of our adventure.
A short walk to Waterloo station and onto the tube for Finchley Central to collect our hire car. In short order we are on the road speeding toward Wellingborough, Afrika & Sue and a long overdue RV.
The M1 is kind to us and we make good time (probably helped by me thinking the speedo was in km not miles) no wonder the friendly policemen & other motorists keep waving at us as we tootled along at 100.
Stopping only for a quick coffee, we reach the castle drawbridge of Sir Ian 'The Hartshorn' and Lady Susan in no time at all (map reading skills a sharp as ever!) and with no sign of the pretty blue flashing lights in the rear vision mirror. With Sir Ian, (aka Af) plying us with cups of tea and fresh home baking we settle in to catch up on the year or two that have elapsed since Af and I had served together in 1RGJ, and the exploits of Denise and me on our big adventure.
After Af's wife Sue arrives home, more tea and Af's superbly presented (& packaged) home baking; we are escorted to our hotel and plans are made for dinner right next to our hotel.
What an awesome evening of laughter and recounted memories. Whilst Af may now being wearing contact lens to remove his blurry vision, the same sort of correction is not at hand for his memory. I'm sure at least two thirds of the misdemeanours carried out by members of the battalion are being attributed to me ( I have absolutely no recollection of at any time dancing naked with Sues brother!)
Lovely meal, awesome company and much laughter; draws the day to a close we plan to meet the following morning for a guided tour of William Shakespeare's old stomping ground; which is a stones throw away.