MG Rally.Today I joined Helen and Mick on one of their MG club sortes around the Surrey countryside. Starting Point Wray Lane car Park above Redhill and destination, The Plough Leigh. Another beautiful day and with one MG and one Mercedes SLK, both driven with roof down to enjoy the fresh chilly air. I joined Helen in the SLK. (The heating much better than in the MG).

This weekend I decided to go drive around and visit a couple more country towns and villages, I set off from the hotel and drove off under the flight path of Heathrow Airport. As I was driving I saw a number of cars at the side of the road and went to see what was going on.
Each car had people in and a few had got out and were in the fields alngside with tripods.
These were serious plane spotters. Each had their camera's and were taking photos of planes as they came in to land. I decided to join the spotters for a few minutes and added some 'Plane Spotter Photos' to my collection. After my few minutes at the side of the Airport runway I set off again on my way. I turned off the M40 and ended up following signs to Beaconsfield.
Had my hair cut at a small hirdressers called 'Gangsters' friendly and quick and the lady who cut my hair did a great job..

I wandered around the the Farmers Market outside of the Church. A stop off to warm up with a cup of tea and sandwiches and lemon cake, and then a wander around to take photos.........











After strolling around the town and eating, it was time to go walking, so I headed off to find some countryside. Eventually I found a sign post that showed tables and leisure. I turned off the country roads into a narrow lane until I came to a small car park. I could see through the bushes as sun glimmered off water but was still no closer to working out where I actually was. As soon as I exited the car park on foot I spotted a sign pointing to the expanse of water. Passing some converted Barns, and a rail track. I walked across the railway track after the train that had pulled up very slowly. Once it reached the gate where I was to cross, it then sped up and pulled away. Beyond the railway tracks was the River Thames the colour of the water deep blue as the sky was also. The expanse of grassland Meadows running along the river was "Spade Oak" . The winter sun low in the sky reflected on the waves on the river that were driven by the wind.

Over the weekend, I saw family Saturday and rested in on Sunday then drove around the countryside .
The weather was cool and fresh and the country villages peaceful and the countryside refreshing.


I visited the village of Chenies walked around the countryside there and then headed out and had a great pub lunch at the 'Land of Liberty Peace and Plenty' . I'd recommend their Giant yorkshire Pudding full of flavourful vegetables in a rich gravy and the pub servers real ale. I had beer Shandy as I was driving, but I'm willing to go back there and try the guest beers..







After my visit there, I headed on to th Village of Denham, walked around the Village and Church Yard.

At the end of the day as the sun set I returned to the hotel Im staying at to warm up and go to sleep to fend of pending jet lag.

Arrived in the UK yesterday for over a months stay here. The reason for being here is work , the opportunity it provides me is to see family and many of the wonderful places and countryside I miss from being in the US. I Flew in from Chicago where I spent a good few hours sitting on the runway looking at snow building up on the wings of the plane. I watched the film Pride and Prejuduce and when it was finishing I looked out the window we were still sitting on the runway. How I longed to be tucked up in a comfortable bed. This was my coach class flight back . I miss the pampering and the beds in the BA business class. I took over the three rows and lay out sleeping best I could during the flight once we eventually took off.
On arrival in Heathrow I managed to find the hotel without getting lost and now trying to make it feel like home from home. I think Im going to miss the hotel I used to stay in but trying the Sheraton out. http://www.heathrow-direct.com/sheratonHeathrow.cfm Why do the rooms always look better in the photos, than when you are in the room. Anyway I got the mini bar emptied out (without drinking it) and now it is full of my more healthy and cost effective food I purchased from Sainsburys. I went to visit family, good to see everyone, Helen Mick Nana Ruth (now 96 years old) and Ray and Mum.
Today still undecided what to do . Sunny out and thinking about taking a drive around the countryside.Take a walk , pub lunch and take some photos.

Now its 2006- and what will this year bring ?
Yes a time another time to reflect on the year past and yet also to look ahead. What will we all being doing this time next year......

The lead up to the end of 2005 for me.



I made a visit to my favorite city, Chiacgo .
There was plenty of snow and nice and cold.
Living in Houston one needs to travel to experience the seasons.




Houston had its cool moments and again there was talk of snow, when something unusual happens once it is always the expectation that is will happen again. It opens that air of possibility in peoples minds, yet last years snow on Christmas eve the first for 50 years was likely a once every 50 years event. Yes and we missed it last year and when so cold at one point it soon warmed up again this year. Oh well.

We spent Christmas at home this year, webcamming family and friends in England.
Last years trip to the Bahamas convinced everyone that we should stay home this year. It was a good decision, but not a relaxing one, what with cooking dinner laying table, clearing up , setting up computers and wirless connections building the table tennis table and all done whilst full of food and alchohol proved very exhausting.








We invited friends round for Boxing day (The day after Christmas), and again on New Years eve where we set off numerous fireworks and ate and drank plenty.
Jon performed once again at 8.30pm New Years eve, at 'Wired' and a number of us took time out to go and watch his band, ' One Bird Powerline'. http://obpband.com
Fireworks this year were almost professional grade, and some smaller ones for the kids to set off. Expenditure was great and the benefits of investing in some mega fireworks paid off with some amazing displays and a few close calls when some big ones exploded close to the ground.