While America celebrated the Fourth of July, Nic and I were working on wrapping up our trip to England. I may have mentioned this, but the amount of fun we were having is a lot of fun to maintain. It is actually hard work. Monday we laid low and quietly recovered. This gave Nic some time to hang with his nephews, Andrew and James, Rob and his mum. Janet, Nic's mum gave us a surprise visit for a cup of tea, which we all enjoyed. I went on a run in my woods. Yes, they are my woods now. Finally we ordered take-away curry.
I don't typically like curry, or Indian food at all, actually. Nic learned on this trip that I am a fussy eater. SHOCK! I can't believe this has missed his observation for over four years of dating. I AM A FUSSY EATER. I have never, ever denied this or tried to pretend otherwise.
Anyway, curry has always just hit me wrong. Nic assured me that once I had English curry, Americans are just not very good at curry, I would revise my opinion. I promised him that I would have curry while on this trip so I could determine if I do, in fact, like curry. It turns out Nic is mostly right. I like English curry more. However, this does not a curry lover me make. I feel very 'meh' about it. I am committing to trying to cook some curries over the coming months to see if I can find recipes I like and grow my taste for this genre of food. I feel this is a major concession and compromise on my part.
You may have heard that air travel in the UK is a hot mess. Nic and I heard that too. I began to circle around my anxiety. Pictures like this on the news did not really help.
I love to travel, but airports do heighten my anxiety a tiny bit. There are a lot of moving parts, lots of rules and I have missed more than one plane in life. I do sometimes struggle with over-packing which is also a total nightmare. Ask Nic. It is his new favorite thing.
With my anxiety churning (to be fair I am having a wedding in less than two weeks and some of that planning feels pressing), Tuesday was spent largely in packing and running to three different grocery stores so Nic could fetch all of the tea one might need for the next year. I am not joking. We bought enough tea for an entire year. We also bought some Marmite, some golden syrup and some biscuits. You know, the essentials for an Englishman.
We splurged on a Victoria Sandwich because I had not yet had a traditional Victoria Sandwich. I remain somewhat confused around the Victoria Sandwich and the nuances therein, but we will save that mystery for our next visit. The visit where I unpack the Victoria Sandwich. I already like the sound of that trip...
I spent my time while Nic shopped for tea thinking about and noticing things about everyday life in England that I really like. I love family parking spaces. Somehow I had gotten it in my head that English society does not really value the family. This is completely untrue. In many ways England is more family supportive than the States. When we visited Dominic and Lindsay I really saw the way family leave works in England. Lindsay is able to stay home with her baby for an entire year without losing her job. The freedom to do this blows me away. It is clear the impact this has on their family. Lots and lots of English people have lots of kids. This surprised me a lot. I apologize for the crazy generalizations I have held about England. I am a reformed woman now.
I am also very appreciative of the very clear boundaries the English establish in their stores. Just in case one was confused about the definition of shoplifting, here is a nice sign clarifying. I found these to be hilarious.
Rob, Nic and I went on a lovely walk with Henry Tuesday afternoon. We moseyed about, watched the lock fill and release, and appreciated Bedford. It was nice for Nic and Rob to have some brother time.
For dinner, or tea as the English call it, Nic and Rob made a meat pie. There had been talk around this endeavor since we had arrived, so the guys went all in and made homemade meat pie, the way Big Granny used to make it. I had delicious butternut squash (thanks, Rob!). Nic's mum even joined us. While they were cooking, I took the opportunity to run once more in my woods.
Before bed Nic, Rob, Andrew and James and I went to the pub for one last pint for Nic. James had tended bar for a few months and he not only bought us drinks, but he ordered a Rhubarb Gin and Tonic for me. He was right, it was quite nice.
James and I shared a mutual appreciation for his pink boots, so he let me snap a picture of them. I had been asking since our first week there. Nic and I campaigned hard for visits from the boys and Rob, hoping for wedding attendance. I think it's stretch, but hopefully we see them all soon.
Look at that fancy drink!
Wednesday dawned bright and early with a too-heavy-suitcase, a missing wallet, and a very early call at the airport. International flights were advised to be four hours early due to the aforementioned problems at Heathrow. We did make it without too much drama. The airport was busy, but fine. We even had time for a cup of coffee and a quick bite before we hopped on our plane to head home. We were joined on this trip with an unforgettable toddler who reminded me why I am soo glad my kids are adults! Seven hours of screaming was about six hours and forty-five minutes more than I like.
It was a brilliant trip. I am forever glad we took this trip. I was pretty shattered over the delay in the wedding, but I can finally see the silver lining. I am glad we had this trip before we got married. I think Nic and I are closer, stronger, and more deeply connected. Spending time with his best friends and family deepened my understanding of Nic and helped me to peer into the corners of his life that I had heard of, but did not really understand or have context for. I am eternally grateful to Rob for his generosity, and all of Nic's friends for their warm welcome and opening their homes to us.
I look forward to our next time together. May global pandemics end, health and world stability endure to enable us to be in England again soon.
And now for home and hugs and seeing my kids. Oh, and a wedding.
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