A little of the waiting life …

The railway station car park at Moreton-in-Marsh was where we were to leave the little Renault Clio which had served us so well as we travelled the country catching up with friends. We had chosen this venue so we could immediately board the train to Paddington Station and from there to Heathrow.


It was that Wednesday morning however, that John heard about the situation in Bangkok and thought we would have little chance of flying out for several days and that staying in the Cotswolds would be preferable to London or Heathrow. I was feeling a little more optimistic, but a few bonus days in Moreton would be fine.


As well as scenic access to Stratford-upon-Avon, buses travel from Moreton-in-Marsh to Kemble which is just near the source of the River Thames where we started our walk in the summer of 2006. Cirencester is another destination and by train one can travel to Oxford or to Worcester, Malvern and Hereford.


So we settled in and enjoyed our time at Moreton and started to feel like a local when we began greeting people we knew in the street and the barman keeping a tab at ‘The Bell‘ where we used the internet to check for news from Thai.


On Saturday we decided to visit Oxford again and spent time at the fascinating Ashmolean Museum and saw a brilliant production of Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale”.


Sunday morning however, I awoke feeling the need of friends, the company of familiar faces, as I was starting to feel a little alone in the wait. So we packed our bags to return to the warm hospitality of B&D in Worcester, but before we left Moreton we attended St. David’s for the morning service. Greeting people we already knew at the door, we joined in the worship and afterwards were invited to lunch by a dear elderly couple, David and Sheila, who took us to an old converted barn for a delicious meal and splendid company - it was a fun lunch with much laughter and ready conversation.


Being with friends is so helpful during this uncertain time. We have also found B&D’s home to be in an excellent location where we can easily board local buses and have spent a day in Great Malvern, another in the city of Worcester and were planning on Tewkesbury today but John is off looking over ‘The King’s School’ so we may not get there.


With no news from Thai since last Thursday morning the bonus days continue and we have now decided to spend time with other friends in Cambridge - we have had offers of accommodation in Bishop’s Stortford and Peterborough as well and I think we could be set until after Christmas if need be!