Letter from America Saturday Sept 27

Hi

Thanks everybody for your comments from yesterday. I can't spend too much time on the computer as there are others wanting to get on it too.

We had quite a nice day yesterday - hot here, in the mid 80's. I was supposed to meet Jeri and Jonathan at Perkins at 9.30, but they didn't arrive, so I went back to the motel to check if they'd tried to call me - but nothing there, and the restaurant didn't have any messages, so I just sat outside on a lamp post surround and waited, and they came about 10 - Jonathan looking like he had just been dragged out of bed. It turned out they were late because they needed gas, and then Jonathan had
forgotten his phone.

So we went into eat, and Jeri and I had the American breakfast - (I had already eaten at the motel - but only had 2 pieces of toast and some fresh fruit and coffee) so I managed to eat 2 eggs, over easy, 2 big pork sausages, a side of hashed brown potatoes, 2 pieces of toast with marmalade, and a few more cups of coffee. Jonathan had a waffle and bacon. He perked up a lot after he ate.

Then we went to Walmart, so he could get something to connect his Book computer (forgotten the name) into the car cigarette lighter. And I got my phone card. I bought a cell phone when I was in America a few months ago, but needed to top it up and it couldn't be done from England or at the airport.

Then we went to a place I suggested near where they live - the White Mill - an old water mill - in the process of being renovated - but with all the bits and pieces in tact inside - and it was all free -
nobody there to take money or tell us about it. But there were signs on most of the items, so we could learn the gist of it. I got a little bit of an idea of a story from walking around. Something about hiding out in the place. Then we went to the gift shop and I spent lots of money on fun crafty stuff for my daughters and grandkids- which no doubt benefitted the mill rebuilding process as well.

The scenery around this area is lovely - quite substantial hills, lots of trees, many flowers still in full bloom - and not many houses. We went through the town of Abingdon - where I had originally thought to have my motel - and it was full of interesting buildings and I sure wish that I had stayed there, but both Jonathan and Jeri were adament that the
motel they chose was the better by far.

Then we went to see their house and meet their animals. They have 3 cats - (I hate cats)
and a dog, ( I love dogs) who is very bouncy and wouldn't settle down. Their house is lovely, and the man they rent it from lives just a few houses away, and is happy to keep it fixed when things go wrong. He had arranged for something to be done, which necessitated them moving all the furniture
away from walls, so the place was a bit of a mess, but it was easy to see what a pretty house it is, with high ceilings and lots of windows. There is a sun porch built on behind the kitchen. The furniture is all lovely oak and the floor is wooden and very pretty. The outside looks kind of Dutch in design - very high for the size of the house. And there are pretty flowers all around the outside. Then there is a 3 car garage but full of junk - and there are two rooms - one Jonathan wants to use to brew mead, and the other is full of Jeri's stuff that she hasn't unpacked yet (they've been there a year) - taken from a storage unit since they have so much space. I didn't go upstairs but there were probably 2 bedrooms and a bathroom up there and a basement which is her son't territory. There was a half bath downstairs. They have 2 acres of field, but aren't doing anything with it. The potatoes they talked about harvesting last year belonged to the neighbours and they were doing it for their benefit - so gat a few bushels in in return. Jeri admitted that she didn't know much about cooking, and they had to throw out the potatoes, which she thought they could freeze.

Jeri had to pick up her son from school, so she brought me back here first, and I was glad to have an early night going to bed about 7.30 and sleeping soundly until 2.30 and then off and on until now, 6 a.m.

Today we are all going fossil digging - an organised thing starting at 2, which is supposed to be messy and muddy and I brought only one pair of shoes.  I will meet them at Perkins first for brunch, and then to go to the fossil bed museum before the dig. It's supposed to be hot again today
and tomorrow, with some chance of rain tomorrow night.

I tried to walk to Walmart yesterday which is across a major high way with no pedestrian crossing, but got confused so did my grocery shopping at a gas station - and my food consists of crackers, beef sticks, crisps and peanuts and a fizzy drink. Still, the peanuts are good for me, and I wasn't hungry.