Monday woke early, helped myself to breakfast, was given a house key, and went off to explore a nearby woods.
The flat grey sky reminded me of all the things I'd heard about England's weather, and the forest was dark. After a short meander decided would rather look at the nearby houses and neighbourhoods than stay there, so took the nearest exit and thoroughly enjoyed the very "Englishness" of the area. Heaps of lovely gardens with large, fabulous brick homes and tons of window boxes and flowers splashed about. I knew what that flat grey sky was good for!
Randoms: a few Grit Salt containers sitting on the sidewalk, disbursed through the neighbourhood. Had a particularly satisfying moment when I came across a 'Wentworth Close' - sigh.
Post box in High Wycombe
A Katy took me into town to get a new SIM card and the mall was deciding to have an alarm check. How anyone could stay there for longer than a few moments was beyond me. When we got to the phone shop there was a further alarm from their shop! We had to stand outside suffering for a few minutes until it turned off and we could walk inside. Phone up and running in the UK - woohoo!
Little bit of walking downtown, Hobgoblin pub, then to a
grocery store where we met this fabulous gentleman manning the deli and cheeses. Quintessentially English, so I had to ask for a photo and he graciously complied :) Don't you just love the apron?
Spent the afternoon sitting in the very un-English sun in the back garden finishing Twilight (mm, must get the 2nd one now). That night Cia came by so got to chat with her a bit.
Tues dawned very bright and sunny and we went off to Henley-on-Thames - a very pretty town, and walked along the Thames after eating a picnic lunch on a parkbench trying not to be distracted by the pretty ducks. Very, very nice. I love all the green, and the gorgeous old houses, and the pretty shop fronts, and I love the big fields along the walk, and the ice cream spot (yum!), and chatting with U Jock and A Katy (who have condescended to my still calling them uncle and aunt), and taking pictures, and walking slow and enjoying the weather. I love that there was a boat called "Practically Perfect" - so Mary Poppins! 
Downtown Henley-on-Thames
On the way back we drove on the smaller backroads and stopped to see where the Vicar of Dibley church was located! - what fun! U Jock and A Katy even are friends with the current, real, rector of the church. Further driving and we saw the windmill from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on a far-off hill - splendid.
Back at home went for a bit of a walk later, to the woods again, and after dinner the house was mine with U Jock and A Katy off to cell group, and Malcolm to hang with friends (returning with some excellent road rash) - so it was a night of relaxing for me. Now it's Wed and I think A Katy is dropping me off in High Wycombe for a look around, and to try and find a bookstore... this is definitely turning out to be the break I needed from exams before heading off to Scotland. God knew all along
