My stories of my UK stay

[happy daze john in oz]

Nice to be back i forgot to mention before Susan and Dave left to go back to Aussie we went to the Hampton Court flower show and i must say it was well worth the money to get in I have been to a number of flower shows but this one would have to be the best one yet .I have always wanted to go to the Chelsea flower show but never made it .Getting back to Hampton Court (I have been there a couple of times )It was a lovely sunny day unfortunely i have lost the photos i took but i was really taken in by the exhibitions of of the things we saw we must have spent over four hours and then i think we missed some of the things they had .Now back to Twickenham i decided to go to Richmond for the day catching the bus it took only a short time i ambled down to the river having been there a couple of times before i saw there had been a few changes .It again was a lovely day so i went into a pub i think the name was The White Horse had pint then took of again intending to go on a cruise up the river but missed the boat and it was a coupleof hours for the next there were others but not the one i wanted so back to the pub were i had lunch and a pint .As the time was going on i went and got on the boat for the cruise to Teddington Locks and return and i really enjoyed the pleasant trip .So back home after a very nice day

Hi Lou, pity ypou never made it to the Chelsea flower show, you could have gone as an exhibit and done well. LOL

[John Gill]

Nice to be back i forgot to mention before Susan and Dave left to go back to Aussie we went to the Hampton Court flower show and i must say it was well worth the money to get in I have been to a number of flower shows but this one would have to be the best one yet .I have always wanted to go to the Chelsea flower show but never made it .Getting back to Hampton Court (I have been there a couple of times )It was a lovely sunny day unfortunely i have lost the photos i took but i was really taken in by the exhibitions of of the things we saw we must have spent over four hours and then i think we missed some of the things they had .Now back to Twickenham i decided to go to Richmond for the day catching the bus it took only a short time i ambled down to the river having been there a couple of times before i saw there had been a few changes .It again was a lovely day so i went into a pub i think the name was The White Horse had pint then took of again intending to go on a cruise up the river but missed the boat and it was a coupleof hours for the next there were others but not the one i wanted so back to the pub were i had lunch and a pint .As the time was going on i went and got on the boat for the cruise to Teddington Locks and return and i really enjoyed the pleasant trip .So back home after a very nice day

Hmm- typical sailor Lou- miss the ship then straight back in the ale house. Old habits die hard!!

[j.sabourn]

Hampton Court.. Just out of interest Lou, after the war I had an Aunt and Uncle and a cousin who worked at Hampton Court. The Uncle was a gardener there and my older cousin was a MOD policewoman, they are all dead now of course. My cousin was the first female police sergeant and then the first woman Inspector at Hampton Court and she had a tied house in Bushy Park. Sadly enough I just received word yesterday that her daughter had died also, in Portugal (where she lived) she was only 57. So the whole of that part of the family is now kaput. My younger brother is always telling me that I am the Godfather of the family as being the oldest left of that generation. I sometimes think that the sort of harum scarum lives we led when younger did not see us off earlier than the younger ones now being taken. There must be someone up there looking after some of us. I know you enjoyed your stay over there and must have brought back many memories, all the best. John Sabourn

[Lou Barron]

On the 21st July my son in laws decided to have a family reunion in Ducklington where Brian lived ( my wife and i had been there a few times When Brians mother was alive she passed away a few months ago ).So Brian ,Tina ,Eva ,Scarlet and i took off at about 9am it was about two hours to get there .I was to meet some very nice people .I always loved coming here it is a lovely English Village some of the people i was talking to was very interested in my life at sea life and in NZthere were wine and beer and plenty to eat .As i have said my wife and i had been there before and we did a lot of touring around the country side even to Blenhiem Palace also the Cotswolds.Getting back to the BBQ as the time got on we decided to have game of cricket on the village green i got bowled out on the first bowli got i thinkit must have been to much of thr wine who won i would not have clue.It vwas time to leave So my daughter said she would drive as she had not been drinking .So after saying goodbye we took off arriving home at about 10pm so it was straight to bed and slept very well

[Lou Barron]

Now with only a few day left of my stay in the UK i thought i would like to visit a few ex MN guys who is on this site .Tony and Keith come to mined i thought about Bristol then i posted a post on this site andand my good friend Jim Brady suggested why not Southampton so i thought that is a good place to meet some of these people not to far away .Now this was to be another of the highlights of my stay so iwent ahead and booked my train and hotel for the 24th

[Lou Barron]

Having sent to George about my arrival and where iwas staying The Premier hotel in town i recieved a message they would see me at the hotel at about 6pm .So on the 24th July i caught train from Fulwell station to change trains at Clapham Juction to get the train to Southamton never ever been to lovely city .Thev train journey did not take long .In the seat nextto me was a young female and we got talking she told me her name i think it was jeannie or some name like that then she gave me a phone number she told me she was on her way for a new job i got a little bit superstitious thinking well you now what anyhow i arrived atthe station so then looking for a taxi there was a bit of a wait anyhow i got one (had to pay this one )i arrivedat the hotel this was to be a most enjoyable of short stay with two of best guys i was to meet .They sure looked after me

[Lou Barron]

Overseas Holiday 321.jpg

These are the two guys who showed me the sights of Southampton and the lovely country side and i think a part of it was the New Forest i really enjoyed their company

[Doc Vernon]

What a nice pic of the two great guys in Southampton.
Yes indeed Colin and George were two guys that I took to immediately,of course not forgetting Alf,whom I found to be such a gentleman a well.
George of course doing all the driving around,the small car packed with all us guys,with Alf,s wheelchair in the boot as well,we were like sardines but would not have had it any other way,it made for good camaraderie,and excellent chatter and good laughs.
Once again to all that I met when there last year,many thanks.
Cheers

Now that pic will be added to my growing library of guys that although I never sailed with,will indeed be in my thoughts forever.How I would have loved to sail with the likes of you all.
There are many others as well and I know there is no need to name them all,all I can sat is we all keep in contact per email,and all some over the phone.
Keep well all of you,I will be trying my best to make it next year again.
God willing.
Cheers

[John Gill]

as i keep reminding lou- never get in a cab without your badgers.

[Lou Barron]

Well after arriving at the hotel and i must say that i had a lovely room maybe not a good as the one in Liverpool butstill very nice i decided to have a short wander round so of i went and i even went into a pub and had a pint then walked back to the hotel to wait for George and Colin they arrived at 6pm so we went into the bar and sat down with our pjnts and had a good talk .George said that he and Colin would pick me up in the morning about 9.30 i think that was the time andvthey would show me Southampton and the country side around it so after a spell they went on their way i was very pleased that i came to Southampton as i have said i had never been here before and having to of the best guys to show me around i was looking forward to it so roll on tomorrow .