Back in Eleuthera from travels in the UK….

So here I am , happy to be back home in Eleuthera after my travels in the UK.

I have always needed to take a little time away on my own to recharge my batteries and nurture my spirit so I try, once a year, to take a trip to the UK to catch up with my girlfriends, sisters and other family. I have never done this in February before but armed with my big fake fur coat, gloves and lots of warm sweaters off I went.

Me with granddaughter Alba and an anatomically correct boy doll !!
Me with granddaughter Alba and an anatomically correct boy doll !!

The flight from Nassau to London is overnight – the plane takes off at about 10pm so I always go for a nice meal beforehand – this time it was to Mahogany House at Lyford Cay. There is no way I can wait until 11pm to eat dinner on the plane so this treat beforehand means I can take half a sleeping pill when I get on the plane and then try and catch a few hours sleep. The flight is about 9 hours – a long time when you are twitching and fidgeting in those less than luxurious seats !!!

The first day I feel a bit of a zombie but after a good night’s sleep – aided by a Melatonin pill – followed by a massage and I am good to go. First stop was visiting Cassius and Jessie- Bob’s youngest son- and their 3 gorgeous children – a brisk walk in the very chilly park and watching them them risk life and limb playing on all the amazing things that there are in adventure playgrounds these days……

Scary adventure park antics with Vivi and Indi
Scary adventure park antics with Vivi and Indi

I did plenty of shopping in London and then lots of essential things like having a make-up lesson and getting my eyebrows threaded – don’t ask if you don’t know !

Love this shop window display in Notting Hill
Love this shop window display in Notting Hill

You may have read my blog last week about the great day my friend Jane and I had at the Raymond Blanc Cookery School – after that I drove on up to Northamptonshire to visit both of my sisters and have a good catch up with them.

I stayed in a tiny one bedroomed cottage in the village of Farthingstone – and I was so grateful that the owner was very kind and kept the heating turned up high – deliciously warm and cosy. Temperatures were between 30 – 40 degrees F – VERY cold to me after not experiencing a proper winter for 10 years ….

It was reassuring to see snowdrops out in flower – always promising that Spring is not that far away.

Snowdrops showing how hardy they are in the winter cold
Snowdrops showing how hardy they are in the winter cold

I had some lovely time catching up with my friend Joy Agius – she made all my curtains and blinds when I did interior design back in the UK – and had made me some lovely curtains for our new extension.  Plus she repaired a favorite cardigan which had been eaten by a mouse ! – why does it always have to be your most treasured garments that get attacked – I don’t understand it ….

Me with my sister Jane and good friend Joy Agius
Me with my sister Jane and good friend Joy Agius

The luxury of having time and the opportunity to be with old friends and catch up, laugh about the past and talk about plans for the future – face to face – is very precious to me, living as we do so far away from where they are. Skype is a great invention, but nothing beats being in each others actual company. Living on island as we do, means that you learn to treasure the times you can share together, and if it involves eating together – so much the better.

Me with my sister Anne
Me with my sister Anne

While I was away I managed to eat a great curry with friends Jane and David in Oxford. Chinese takeaway with my sister Jane and nephew Sam. Fabulous traditional English pub grub – chicken and leek pie pie with my other sister Anne and her husband Bob. A couple of meals of fish and chips – heaven !! French onion soup at the Brasserie in Chelsea after a mooch around The Conran Shop – one of THE most beautiful design and furniture shops and a couple of great meals in Carluccio’s – a great Italian chain of restaurants – with Bob’s daughter Sami and her husband Billy.

French Onion Soup on cold day - heaven !
French Onion Soup on cold day – heaven !

Oh and a trip to the cinema to see 50 Shades of Grey !!!!!!

Yes - I remember traffic jams !
Yes – I remember traffic jams !

Flying back from Heathrow airport on a sunny day was a great way to finish this trip – the English countryside looked glorious and the icing on the cake was managing to get on a delayed flight to North Eleuthera through Pineapple Air so that I didn’t have to spend the night in Nassau. Back in my own bed – there really is no place like home….

Leaving London Heathrow on a beautiful sunny day
Leaving London Heathrow on a beautiful sunny day

 

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Kathy Colman

Writer, Interior Designer, Foodie, and Wife to Bob. Living in Eleuthera, Bahamas

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