Off to a fairly early start (and my drive through Costa's for a mocha) with a meandering drive to Hay on Wye. We drove through Warwick on our way to Bourton on the Water and I realized what a great town it is. I've been there probably a dozen times, but on this trip I was looking at it through the eyes of a possible retirement location. If we could afford it, it would be an amazing location. Bourton on the Water was absolutely gorgeous - very quaint. We did a little antique shopping in Stow on the Wold then off to the hotel, Baskerville Hall. The hotel was great and the room was huge, but a little curious with a massive bathtub in the room itself! No ghosts on the stairs (our Flir camera picked up a cold spot but the carpet was damp), but beautiful Welsh ponies on the property. Gordon's pink gin and a strawberry at dinner in Brecon was great!

Quiet day but an eventful night! I hung at the hotel while Mike had a final day visiting with his mum and dad. Tuesday evening was my first Birmingham City home match (which sadly we lost). Great time meeting up with Mike's friends. 

Another day mixed with great moments and sad ones. Edwina looks to be alright. She is in hospital and we don't have all the details yet, but Roger reports she was cross with him when he went to see her, so that's back to normal at least. We had not planned to see her today as it was Val's FUNeral service. We got off to a late start, walked the grounds here at the hotel, then headed in to the crematorium. It was an odd service but one that Val had designed, so it was all very fitting. The After Life party was at Mystery's, where we stayed for a bit. Then off to the chippy, back to the hotel, and many hours spent at the hotel bar with Becky and Graeham. 

Sort of a strange Day 2. Mike was feeling a bit under the weather after his night out with the lads, but we were up and out to pick up Roger at 10:15 as expected. Edwina wasn't awake (and couldn't be wakened) during our visit, so we headed off to lunch with Paul and Judith with a quick visit from Cousin Rich. Headed back to Rogers for a cup of tea and some ancestry talk when the home called to say Edwina was being taken by ambulance to the hospital as they couldn't stabilize her blood pressure. More to come, but hope everything is alright.

Great first day, even with the snow and mostly unplowed roads. Although the hair dryer was not much to speak of. Lunch with Roger at the Saricens then time with Edwina. Drinks at the hotel and then I had a night in trying to head off a cold while Mike headed off to the pub to meet friends. 

Traveling with a nervous flyer as a bomb cyclone comes in, as you are trying to take off, can be a curious thing. He had 4 small bottles of wine in the first 30 minutes of the flight - but we arrived in the UK safe and sound.