Firstly, only fair full disclosure is maintained. Sure the blame spills mainly my way but as you need to appreciate, the travellers (and hosts) also have a finger in the pie as well. The ease in which days roll into each other has the effect that you really have not a great care as to what the actual day is, just holiday is generally good enough.

Debra and I have been corresponding and planning out the early stages of our last stages, I in turn read out the emails and keep the others involved and informed of said plans . We do indeed have a hectic social program with many wanting a piece of the Aussie action. On arrival we are to attend the Full Moon beer festival then change into our pageant outfits of red, white and blue for an evening of singing at the local church recital - yes after a beer festival. We have both the beer boots ready and specially purchased appropriate colours for the singing. The following day we are off to the polo, girls have been to Paris so appropriate clothing and accessories also under control.

Now shall we wind the clock back a few hours, when we arrived home last night at around 11.30 pm I checked my emails, one from Deb. In part is says ......

Are you OK, where are you, you have missed the beer festival and we are about to leave for the next function, Martin and Jane are here and looking forward in seeing you all. Mnnn, seems a little sticky situation, all my fault? The others on reflection all agree that someone should have picked up on the email trail that Deb and Kim's tomorrow and our tomorrow were different tomorrow's . That now places some stress time wise on our polo jaunt. We have been specially invited by a member (Andrew and Liz who are friends of D & K) of the Guards Polo Club which is located in the grounds of Windsor Great Park on land donated by The Queen and is their Patron.

Our problem is that we are to be picked up at 11.00 am from D & K's but today our Eurostar train does not leave Paris until 11.45 am ! You do the sums. We do a little research with some options then contact D & K to (firstly) reassure them we have not been kidnapped plus to also eat a little humble pie. So much for all the new getups that are in the packs. They sort of understand, now with the revised plan of us going by train once in the mother country to the nearest train station of the polo venue and then by taxi, best arrival time for the former 11.00 am kick off that we can do ( all going to perfect plan) with all our ducks in a row will be 2.45 pm.

Zip we can do further so do not sweat it, just accept the complete stuff up and move on . We are timed to the minute so that is code for the fact that nothing will run in our favour! We have to wait for the person to check that we have not pinched a tea spoon and receive our bond back, than race to the train station, oh dear the line looks long and we have yet to print tickets, getting through is a nightmare and we all thought the day was already done and dusted before we leave France. On the train 3 minutes before it is to leave with a carriage a third empty, lots in the line behind us. The train departs 17 minutes late which we are told by our fellow travellers is most unusual so this ensures we will already be pushing it up hill to meet our forward travel plans and we have not left the Paris train station as yet.

Arrive into St Pancreas, tube with two changes to a rural line where we miss that train by 10 seconds or less. Text D & K to let them know that we have very little hope of any substantive appearance but are told there is a play off between third and fourth so if there by 3.30 pm we can catch some of it but basically the day is stuffed. The girls get changed on the train as we now also have to go by bus as the train lines near our destination are under repair. Why is something so simple made so hard? Answer - because they can and do not give a continental about our appointment at the polo. When we finally arrived the fine gentleman took one look at us all dragging our luggage and told us very politely that there was nothing to see here. He was shocked to see us later galavanting around with the, how shall we put it - more refined and so thought better cut of people, the place has a lingering smell. The smell of money. Lis and Andrew are fine people and although we in a way let them down they were very polite and friendly. We are explained as much as possible in such a short time and take in the atmosphere, catch a glimpse of Miranda Kerr out front of the main entrance to the clubhouse as well.

The girls looked the part and although a very short appearance we can sort of say we went to the polo at one of England's most prestigious clubs. Travel back to our new home base at D & K's, delivery done - who said it could not be done, M-L to the front door of Peterley Manor. Late dinner and fine conversation around the table then hit sack around midnight. Big travel day along with high adventure, again.