Day 1 - Reunion

St Jude & my WiFi/Network incompetence led to just an hour or two's sleep. Up early to find out if southern England now somewhere in the North Sea. Got the impression the Sky News reporters on the south coast were somewhat disappointed, using much less "smashing, lashing and bashing" in their commentaries. Milford on Sea at 8:00am looked like a duck pond on a July morning.

Off to the local international airport to meet the flight from Dublin carrying my precious load of daughter Kate with her three vitamins: husband Barry, daughter Charlotte and son Elliot. Had to fight back lots of very big lumps in the throat and damp eyes as I waited. What an experience as I had them in my arms.

Back home a sort of lunch/snack before Angie and Kate went back to the airport to collect son J (thats what he's known as) who was coming from Stanstead after an adventurous car drive from Worthing (2 hours longer than usual). Flight delayed an hour which the girls used to pop in to Memmingen.

All reunited back home we walked around and enjoyed the last of a wonderful sunny warm day (20°C). Elliot fed the chickens - he's a professional, having his own at home, together´with cats, dogs and sheep. Kate has always been an animal lover, even starting a snail farm when still in nappies! Barry is just as animal friendly.

Dinner rounded off a first day. By the time we went to bed, I had stopped looking around to see who the children were talking to when they said "Grandpa".