Gathering of the Clans

 It was a gorgeous day. The sun was shining, one or two white fluffy clouds punctuated the sky and we had a day-out planned.

We got going early and popped along to Bognor Regis station. It was a good job that the Gorse Fox had allowed extra time. The car park used yet another parking app for payment. This needed to be downloaded and the he needed to register. Every question in the registration was asked twice to verify the answer. Finally, everything was ready and we paid for the car park. In the confusion, however, the Gorse Fox did end up leaving his man-bag in the car,

We met up with some neighbours on the platform. They were off for a celebratory meal at Marco Pierre White's. We went and found a set and settled down for the journey to Victoria. The train ran to time and we dropped down to the tube. The platform was packed and so was the first train to arrive. We let it go. The next train was only 90 seconds behind and was quiet enough that we got a seat for the few stops to Kings Cross. 

Alighting from the train we followed the signs and wandered underground to St Pancras. The ST Pancras terminus has undergone a vast regeneration over the past decade as it became home to the Eurostar. The concourse is fabulous and lined with really nice shops and restaurants.

It took us a few minutes to find our meeting place. It was right in the corner of the upper concourse. The Betjeman Arms turned out to be a good pub with some excellent restaurant facilities. As we arrived we were greeted by "the cousins". This was a planned gathering of the clan Empson and Law (who are all first cousins to each other), and the Gorse Fox and Silver Vixen were invited (even though he is a second cousin). We had cousins from Derbyshire, Wiltshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Kent, Switzerland, and Australia. It was a good turn out. Even though the Silver Vixen had never met any of them before she was absorbed into the bosom of the family and made to feel immensely welcome.

We enjoyed an excellent meal washed down with copious amounts of beer and wine and though we had met at noon, it was about 4 hours later that we actually parted ways. A similar event is already in plan for next year.

We went back onto the concourse and had a leisurely stroll around before dropping back into the tube for the trip home. Like last week, the Gorse Fox and Silver Vixen arrived on Victoria Station and stepped onto our train home just as the doors closed. We couldn't have timed it better.

It was a wonderful day.