Green and Pleasant

There's a foreshortened perspective in England. Something to do with the light, or clear Autumn air, or just that things are closer to each other. Perhaps it's jet-lag, I don't know. Anyway it's cool and green, the smaller roads and lanes draped with that late-summer foliage that's not trying to be innocent and appealing now that the nip of Autumn hints at its demise. It's a privilege of our situation that we were warmly farewelled by family in the Southern Pacific and warmly welcomed by family in the North Atlantic, and a tribute to all that each has done the welcoming at six in the morning. Thanks guys.

I had low expectations of British Airways, based on research and past experience, but they came up trumps on the flight from New York. Apart from the business of selecting us for 'special screening' (searching all our hand luggage and ourselves, swabbing the bags for drugs) they provided good seats on a nice small plane, good food, a comprehensive entertainment system, quick flying time (6 hours) and friendly service. We took off into a deep blue and burnt umber sunset with the full moon rising on America, and landed into a dark grey dawn with the full moon just setting on England. Being Manchester it was cold (7 degrees), dark and raining. What else ?

This is where the plans run out and I start having to make things up as I go along. This is the blank sheet bit, albeit rich linen paper as it seems now, and the way it always seems to happen best. I feel a list coming on, just as I feel an urge to build a tent on every mountaintop. So far so good.