This morning sadly we said "Goodbye" to Aunty Kath, Clifford and Brenda Boundy and Muriel, Aunty Kath's daughter, who sadly lost her husband suddenly when Coralie and Ted visited this time two years ago. Muriel brought Aunty Kath over and we chatted in the lounge for a while before we embraced what had to be! Peter and I were both very quiet in the car for quite some distance after we left. We have had such a lovely stay with Cliff and Brenda. Thank you so much for your hospitality. It has been second to none! Cliff and Pete have had their male times, Bren and I some gal times and there has been plenty of laughs between the four of us.

I can't believe we let that SatNav gal turn us off too early again and take us cross country to Ben and Vera's. We were getting close to Paignton when she told us to turn right! I guess the bonus was that we saw the hedge cutter working! But boy! I think the last little bit of lane was worse than going to Merton on our first day!  

We had arranged to call on Ben and Vera Bright again and Vera had insisted we come for lunch. We knew Vera would have prepared a spread and it was a delicious Sunday roast. Roast lamb, golden baked potatoes, carrots and those delicious English beans. Followed by Black Forest Gateau. No wonder Pete closed his eyes for a bit after lunch, whilst I was quizzing Ben on the family history once again. I had prepared a little album of family and farm photos to give to them and when Vera hugged it to her chest and said how precious it would be, I knew adding the extra photos that I had printed in Tavistock, was more than worth the effort. I had decided on more photos and which ones should be included in the mini album, when we stayed the night in Falmouth, and they were the ones I had hoped to have had printed in Wadebridge. I will post Barbara the extras for hers and Nick's album.

More hugs and kisses with Ben and Vera hoping that there will be another time that we do see them. Vera says she knows Ben will be taking the album to show his farming mates. He just loves to hear news of the farm and remembers everything we tell him. They visited Geraldton and stayed with us on the farm in 1995.

Off then to Southampton which ended up being over a three hour drive. We were so glad we had decided to break our trip there and check out the Southampton Docks, where the Batten family had come to, when they came by ship in 1955. Not that the area is going to look anything like it did in 1955! Today there were many sections of the motorway, that was heavy with traffic congestion, and it was slow going. Our next stop will be near Eastbourne where Aunty Gwen is now living. We will be staying with Peter's cousin and Aunty Gwen's daughter Sue, and her husband Dave. We have only met Sue once and not met Dave before.

Tonight we are staying at the Premier Inn and the waiter told us most of their patronage is people who are about to leave on a cruise. He asked if we were off on a cruise! We dined in the Restaurant and Peter has had a 'Fathers Day' away from his children once again. A text message from Jason and family that came through at 4.30am, a phone call from Fiona at 7.00am and an email from Tammy and Kim later in the day. All made his day! Kim and Jasmine have been to Dubbo for the National Dorper Sale, so it was good to get the news that our Dorper Team had all sold well. And the news of the new purchase!