27 May, 2026. Update from the U.K.

We flew back with Thai Airways. The flight was long, 13 hours. A day flight, which I dislike as they always seem longer. Arriving at 7pm, our taxi driver, Jeff, was there to meet us. Heathrow was relatively quiet at that time in the evening and traffic on the M25/M23 quite light, so we were at our lodge soon after 9pm.

It took us a few days to get our sleep patterns in any sort of order. What was a serious shock was the temperature. We had heard that the U.K. had been having warm spring weather. It changed completely when we returned and we nearly froze in bed on the first night. For a week or so we had to put the central heating on and find another duvet.

Having been in hot, muggy South East Asia for a month, with a limited baggage allowance, we only had summer clothes and I had not anticipated such cold weather in the U.K. in mid May. Fortunately we had some warmer, but totally unfashionable, clothes left in the wardrobe here, so we coped.

Flight back from Bangkok to the London Heathrow

Sorting Vehicles and the lodge

We have spent the last two weeks sorting out the vehicles and the lodge and catching up with friends and family. Poki was still covered by an MOT (WOF to Kiwis) and I had renewed the insurance and tax, so she was ready to go. The mini’s MOT had expired, though. One of the tyres was pretty worn so we replaced that, just in case, and she passed. She has a leaking steering pump, though, which will require attention at some point.

Poki’s MOT is due on 9th June. She has a couple of issues we need to attend to first. She is booked into a garage to have the work done on 4th June. The rear cross member needs to be replaced. Quite a big job and some other adjustments relating to the emissions are required.

The lodge needed its usual spring clean to remove the spiders, their webs, dead insects and dust – where does dust come from when the place is locked and empty! More seriously, the decking around two sides is rotting and needs replacing and the lodge exterior needs painting. We are getting quotes for these. An expense we could do without, but over 16 years very little has been spent on the place.

Dust and spider free.

We have been quite social with coffee mornings with my sisters, lunch with friends and drinks and dinner with lodge neighbours.

Catching up with Friends and Family

Enjoying a pub lunch with Pam and Alex.

In the last week the weather has completely changed. We have had temperatures up to 34 degrees, the hottest May on record. It’s just like being back in South East Asia, without the humidity.

My son James and family are coming over from California in 2 weeks time. They are staying in Somerset at first with daughter in law, Sarah’s parents, Bill and Penny. James and the grandchildren, Jasper, Anna and Siena are coming to stay with us from 17th to 19th June, while Sarah is working in London. This means we will be later starting a trip to Eastern Europe than we intended.

Europe Travel Plans

Our original plan was to visit the Caucasus countries of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. However, we then thought diesel prices and maybe even availability may be an issue. Also Azerbaijan and Armenia border Iran and so the situation there could be unsafe.

Now the plan is to cross to Dunkirk on 21st June. We’ll then drive through Belgium and Germany to Poland. There we’ll visit the city of Wroclaw, before briefly crossing into Slovakia and Hungary and into Romania. Here we will spend more time and drive a famous mountain route called the Transfagarasan. We also want to cross into Moldova and visit the capital, Chisinau.

Depending on time, the plan is to carry on south through Bulgaria, across Turkey and hopefully, reach Georgia and Armenia.

Tomorrow we’re having dinner with my sister, Caroline at her daughter, Natalie’s cafe. We’ve tried to get a reservation there twice before unsuccessfully. It’s very popular and gets fully booked. Afterwards we’re having a new experience. Singing sea shanties in the nearby Greyhound pub! Let’s see how that goes as neither of us can sing!!

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