waiting our turn
at Heathrow
We didn't have any difficulties returning to Canada, aside from a 45 min delay at Heathrow just as they were to start boarding. While we were stuck at the gate, I very graciously answered a couple of survey questions asked about my experience at Heathrow. Specifically, about the Retail Therapy Gateroom. No, really. That was what it was called, I peeked at her notepad. (Everyone is kept in one large sitting room surrounded by shops until a gate is assigned for your plane. Once your gate is announced, you proceed directly to it and board.) Did I perchance wander about and do any purchasing? Why yes, I did wander about the Retail Therapy Gateroom although I didn't refer to it as such at the time; it was more like a captive shopping crowd holding pen. But I didn't buy anything... ha! That'll show 'em.
We arrived home to the welcoming arms of the grand/parents. And really large cars! And wide spacious roadways! And our own beds (not to mention our own bathroom)... ahhhhhh...
But a week later I had a lovely note from the Newcastle constabulary regarding the minivan's velocity. Specifically, I received a speeding ticket for being clocked at 35mph in a 30mph zone near Newcastle upon Tyne. I haven't actually paid any fine yet, but the rental agency has collected their 31GBP processing fee. Apparently - and I'm hoping I'm right about this - the letter I received was just requesting my particulars... I'll find out at a later date what the charge will be, if any. Aside from this, I still miss driving in Britain. I put about 2487 miles on the minivan (minus the 100 or so that Joe drove) so I think I'm fairly well-qualified to comment, or at least form an opinion. There really wasn't the same sense of urgency to 'get ahead' all the time. I initially thought I was just choosing to see it this way because I was on vacation. So I started paying closer attention. And I really think that there is a different mindset towards driving in Britain. May be due to the price of cars/petrol there, making owning and operating a car much more valued, or the roundabouts calming affect on traffic flow, or the fact that the speed limit is so strictly enforced (cough, cough). Or - and this is my favourite - there are more manual 'stick shift' cars. So one cannot simply slam one's foot onto the gas pedal once the light turns green and your car takes off. One must drive a car. I guess it helps to have very narrow roads, so narrow that you must slow down and scootch over so you can survive to continue... in any case, I loved driving there. Not so much here.
And so the trip has come to its successful conclusion. It all happened so fast, and yet we packed so much into those five weeks, making it seem somehow longer.
I think Neal overheard me say that it took me about three years to plan it all, because he recently asked where we're going in 2012.
We'll see...
thanks for reading,
Yvonne and Joe
Neal and Maeve
