Too soon

 It was all over too soon. We started to pack before breakfast and The Gorse Fox even took a couple of loads to the car. At the appointed hour we met with J&T in the restaurant for breakfast. Outside, it was bright and sunny, but clouds seemed to be gathering inland.

With breakfast tucked away we finished the packing and loaded the car, Then the four of us took one last walk along the seafront to the end of the promenade and then back to the hotel. We did our goodbyes and J&T headed home via Dart’s Farm, and we headed up to Odcombe (near Montacute). It was a cross-county journey and was beset with diversions. The last of these meant that, in order to get back to the village, we had to traverse some of narrowest lanes and tracks we’ve ever been down. Fortunately the only two vehicles that were coming the other way, met us just as we passed field entrances, giving us room to slide past each other. In Odcombe, it took a few minutes to find the Mason’s Arms, but we got there eventually.

At the pub, we were meeting up with Badger and Mrs Tiggywinkle. The particular pub was chosen because it was (sort of) on our way home, and it was Mrs Tiggywinkle’s family pub. Her family used to come from Odcombe and her mother lived next door but one to the pub. They have family reunions there. It was quaint old pub that has been well cared for and nicely extended out the back.

It was lovely to see the two of them again. We must have known them since the 1980s when they too worked at Starfleet. We have kept in touch ever since. They never seem to change (nor age). As with all good friends, we seemed to pick up the conversations where we left off last time. We chatted about family, our houses (and the management committees for the developments), cars, and family trees (Mrs Tiggywinkle is an avid researcher, like the Gorse Fox).  

We had a lovely lunch but, all too soon, it was time to go our own ways. They headed back to Wellington, and we headed up to the A303 and back home via Salisbury. We finally got in just after 17:00.

The car was unloaded, suitcases unpacked, everything tidied away, and we sank into our armchairs for quiet evening and an early night. It had been a very lovely few days and the Gorse Fox had been thoroughly spoilt for his Birthday.