Five days four countries

If you don't live in the country of your birth, and where all your family live, you tend to miss out on important events, such as weddings and other landmark occasions. In 2022, I missed the first of my sister's daughters' weddings due to Covid restrictions; in 2024, another of her daughters got married, but we also missed that for other reasons. So when the date for last of the three girls' weddings was announced as Friday 2 October, 2026, I knew I had to go, as did Jodie, my own daughter 1.

In our planning, several months in advance, we decided we would drive over, originally intending to stay the night near the venue and to take our time driving back. A lovely break, we decided. No rush, of course!

That all changed when Jodie was offered an opportunity to exhibit her art at a special event in the Netherlands on Saturday, the 3rd. The leisurely aspect of the journey suddenly vanished and we had a deadline to meet. We had to be back home by 2 o'clock on Saturday afternoon to give Jodie time to be ready for her slot at the exhibition. There was also the issue of collecting her dog, Lucy who was spending the night with daughter 2. Mo was going to be leaving for France the next day, so postponing the collection was not an option.

The drive to the wedding went very smoothly. We left home at 2.30 in the morning so as to arrive at Calais in time to check in and board the 6.15 Shuttle train. The trip from Folkestone to the West Country also went well and we took a route I well remember from my youth, the A303 from Basingstoke on, which goes right past Stonehenge. 

Well, that was such a thrill. I haven't seen our most famous pile of old rocks since I was in my early twenties and there they were. I can hardly believe I managed to snatch a photo through the car window and not have any people in the frame.

The rest of the journey was also glorious, the English countryside at its lovely best in the sunshine, and all the more beautiful the further west we went.

We reached the wedding venue an hour before time, which gave us the chance to change into our fancy finery. I almost blew it by tumbling down a step in the cottage where we were changing as I fumbled to find a light switch, but luckily no harm was done and I was rescued by one of my nieces and her friends;  sometimes, being a senior auntie has its benefits! 😉

The wedding itself was delightful. The service was conducted outside and was both informal and perfect, even when my niece admitted she'd lost her vow and had to adlib. It was just so her and she was so happy as she skipped down the aisle; her joy was infectious.

After the service, we had the chance to catch up with my family at the reception. Being with my eldest brother, his wife and their son and daughter was wonderful as I haven't seen them in years, and, of course, spending time with my sister and hers is always special. I don't see my family all too often so I value the occasions I can be with them immensely.

Jodie and I left as the party was still in full swing at around 9.30 that night, hoping to have an easy drive to Newbury where we'd booked a motorway services hotel room for the night. But this was when life became a tad more interesting than we'd bargained for. 

Heading into Bristol, we'd planned to take the M5 and then the M4 motorways heading east. The first glitch was when, without warning, the M5 eastern on-ramp was closed, so we had to go west to the next junction before we could go east again. Then, a section of the M4 was closed and we were sent on a magical mystery adventure through country lanes before we could get back onto the motorway again. By this time, poor Jodie (who did all the driving) was mentally clenching her teeth (or maybe physically too), especially as we knew we had to be at the hotel before midnight. Luckily, we made it and all was well as we eventually fell into bed.

We were back on the road again at 6.30 the next morning and had an easy drive through to Folkestone. But then life went pear-shaped again. Remember that art exhibition and the deadline? Well, all the tunnel trains were delayed and we were an hour late leaving. The trouble was there was virtually no information about what had caused the delays and how long they would be. What made it worse was that I was desperate to go to the loo but dithering as to whether I should make a run for it and risk missing the starting gun. In the end, I did do the dash (the alternative would not have been pleasant) and it was fine, but the result of the delay was that we were only back home in the Netherlands again after 3pm. 

I'd already offered to go and fetch Jodie's pooch, so I left her to prepare for her show, gathered up Zoe and jumped in my car to drive north for a rendez-vous to meet Mo with Lucy dog. Meeting accomplished, it all worked out and I was back home again early evening. However, on Tuesday morning, we were off again as Koos and I left home to drive down to France for a spell at the Crumbly Cottage Mk2.

Now, having covered four countries in such a short time, I am in recovery position, i.e. taking it easy, wondering what I should be doing and meandering around vaguely with a feather duster to remove all the cobwebs that have accumulated since August – while I figure out what's important and what can wait. The weather has changed from sunny and chilly to grey and cold, but that's alright as we have a delivery of firewood tomorrow. We can finally start accepting we are nearly halfway through October, and summer is really over; maybe it's time for the woollies to come out at last.

As for the canal we were hoping would be open for faring by now, it is almost completely empty. Not water shortages – no, they have drained it for repairs. Why waterways staff couldn't have done those in the summer months when the canals were closed for lack of rain, I don't know. I suppose they were on holiday then. This is France, after all. But still, the scenery is beautiful, isn't it? 

Have a wonderful weekend allemaal and I'll fill you in on the latest from the Haute-Marne soon. And for anyone who's wondering, we are a very long way from any riots and unrest.