Who in their right mind would arrive in New York, Friday night of a long weekend! What an experience. We hopped onto a shuttle bus which was full of anxious people looking at their watches and panicking about catching their plane. The driver was a TOTAL maniac who avoided every traffic jam and major road and got us to the airport in 45 minutes. I think we all lost half a kilo in panic!
We stayed the night at the Airport hotel as we had an early start. Pasta coated in cheap sauce was the highlight of the menu.
First stop Paddington via the Heathrow Express. London hotel under renovation so we had no booking.... Fabulous dinner at Italian Restaurant before they organised a cab to another hotel. The room was SO small Roger could stand and touch both walls with his hands....Complained... refunded money and booked us into a super deluxe room on return.
After a cold breakfast that was supposed to be hot we went for a walk around Hyde Park. Princess Di's Memorial was switched on just as we arrived... V unusual a swirl of water that runs down the hill to the great joy of seagulls and children.
And so the first of many train journeys... 4 hours- A chance finally to learn my music. Is the concert really on Sunday!
One of the great things about Home Exchange is meeting the families of our exchangees. We were lucky that Menna picked us up from the station and showed us around Hafen Wen which was to be our home for the next 5 weeks. By coincidence she was leaving for Boston & New York and so we were able to exchange tips!
And so to Hafen Wen. A lovely two storey house, topped by Kay's studio. All of the southern windows look over towards Ilfracombe. Sun shining, blue sea and white yachts.
Kay is a talented oil painter and David an Ace Golfer.... Roger in seventh heaven.
One of my favourite paintings.
No time to catch our breath.... Roger had booked tickets to the Gower Music Festival. We had booked last minute and so could only get tickets to a little church of St Hilary to hear Emma Hanna on flute and Daniel King Smith on piano. I hadn't heard of any of them or the music they were playing... I was tired and didn't want to go... but off we went. The music was superb!
At the interval I turned to comment on the music and nearly fell over. There was Sir Karl Jenkins! He was there because Emma was the winner of the Karl Jenkins Music Award!
Emma played the piece Karl Jenkins had composed for her and it was simply stunning. Haven't found a youtube of it yet but Click here for youtube of some of Emma playing.
What a night ... pure inspiration.... got to get practising that music!
One day to explore before we set off for London and Barcelona!
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