Thursday September 30th
Today I got my first real outing all by myself in England. The little kiwis have been so good at teaching me English that I am now able to go out on adventures and help write the blog. I got to go on a double decker bus to Bournemouth . Mary had never been on the bus to Bournemouth. Alan had been and taken guests as well, but not Mary so today was the day. They walked down to the beach in time to look around and see the erosion that is continuous on this coast. It was great looking out the Isle of Wight and the needles with the lighthouse on the end. The whole of the south coast is gradually eroding over time and there is nothing that can be down about it.
The bus trip to Bournemouth takes just over an hour and literally goes all around the houses. It is a great trip through Highcliff, Mudeford, Christchurch and then onto Bournmouth. It was all so familiar to them as they had driven it so many times but it looks great out of a double decker bus. Mary was pleased not be driving Hemi through all the roundabouts, traffic lights and narrow bits. They arrived in Bournemouth just after 11am. The gardens were looking fantastic, and then they realised that Bournemouth is celebrating its bicentennial so everything has had a real facelift.
The balloon that takes you up in the air on a tether was actually flying as the weather was so good. Never in all their trips to Bournemouth in 2007 had it been operating due to bad weather. So they took a ride in it. The commentary was excellent and pointed out all the sights around the whole 360° viewing platform.
They had lunch together and then went their separate ways so that Mary could look in her favourite shops in Bournemouth. They met again at the bus stop to catch the 2.20 back to New Milton so that Mary could make it back to the Junior School by 3.30 in the hope she would see some of the kids and parents. The bus stops right outside the school and got there by 3.25 so she hopped out and went over to the playground. Because it was full of adults there were no questions asked and she immediately saw a parent she recognised and caught up with several of the ones she had got really friendly with. One of them had tried to find out how to make contact after the visit yesterday, but the privacy act stops anyone passing information on. She really enjoyed catching up with as many people she could and then did her usual walk home that she had done every day when they lived here.
She also popped down the road to visit another teacher she had taught with at the school who has now had to retire early through ill health. He was pleased to catch up on all the news. Tomorrow it is back to London and I get to meet this Mo fella that Hemi is always going on about. He tells me I will see some planes and lots of people in uniforms and that if I am really good they will take me to London! I can’t wait.
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