Home Again
I am in recovery. I spent 25 hours getting home yesterday. Well, that's more hours than there are in a day, but truly, the day squeezed another one in.
It all began at 4 a.m. in London. The first part of the journey went rather quickly when the car to the airport finally showed up. And the first leg of the trip home -- to Dublin -- (don't ask why Dublin, I don't know) went equally smoothly. After that all bets were off.
The plane to take us to the States was still somewhere over the Atlantic, heading towards Ireland, and didn't land for another four hours. So we, of course, waited. No big deal. Dublin has a nice airport and plenty of good food. But that meant I missed my next connection on the commuter flight home.
So I spent an extra seven hours in Chicago. I got a lot of exercise there because they changed the gate three times -- in each case making the destination further in the opposite direction than it had been in the first place. All the movement was good for me, though, I'm sure. I wished I had Sophie's pedometer. I'll bet I got in my 10,000 steps! But it felt good after sitting for hours and hours.
I also got a lot of books read, and I figured out a bit of a plot (who, me?) for an upcoming book. And I watched X-Men 3 (Did the powers that run airlines know I would need a Hugh Jackman fix to get through a 25 hour day?) without the sound, but it can be appreciated in silent mode very well indeed. I also got to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and have to say I wasn't enthralled. The book captured my imagination. The film was just unsettling -- and too weird.
Today I've been attempting to unpack and get my pictures sorted. I did manage to get them in some sort of order. And so I'm going to begin as I mean to go on -- with a picture of Sir Sidney.
Sid, as you may know, is Kate Walker's cat. Whenever I visit England, I go visit Sid. And as it happens, this trip my whole itinerary was basically dictated by cats, as you will see over the next few days. But before I go into all that, I need a few more hours of zzzzzzz's.
So . . . for now, here's Sid in all his glory.
And while you enjoy him, I'm going to go get a good night's sleep.
It all began at 4 a.m. in London. The first part of the journey went rather quickly when the car to the airport finally showed up. And the first leg of the trip home -- to Dublin -- (don't ask why Dublin, I don't know) went equally smoothly. After that all bets were off.
The plane to take us to the States was still somewhere over the Atlantic, heading towards Ireland, and didn't land for another four hours. So we, of course, waited. No big deal. Dublin has a nice airport and plenty of good food. But that meant I missed my next connection on the commuter flight home.
So I spent an extra seven hours in Chicago. I got a lot of exercise there because they changed the gate three times -- in each case making the destination further in the opposite direction than it had been in the first place. All the movement was good for me, though, I'm sure. I wished I had Sophie's pedometer. I'll bet I got in my 10,000 steps! But it felt good after sitting for hours and hours.
I also got a lot of books read, and I figured out a bit of a plot (who, me?) for an upcoming book. And I watched X-Men 3 (Did the powers that run airlines know I would need a Hugh Jackman fix to get through a 25 hour day?) without the sound, but it can be appreciated in silent mode very well indeed. I also got to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and have to say I wasn't enthralled. The book captured my imagination. The film was just unsettling -- and too weird.
Today I've been attempting to unpack and get my pictures sorted. I did manage to get them in some sort of order. And so I'm going to begin as I mean to go on -- with a picture of Sir Sidney.
Sid, as you may know, is Kate Walker's cat. Whenever I visit England, I go visit Sid. And as it happens, this trip my whole itinerary was basically dictated by cats, as you will see over the next few days. But before I go into all that, I need a few more hours of zzzzzzz's.
So . . . for now, here's Sid in all his glory.
And while you enjoy him, I'm going to go get a good night's sleep.
posted by Anne McAllister at 11:08 PM
10 Comments:
Glad you are home safe and sound. Been there done that 25+ day many times.
Next time, you should if you can go via Iceland. The turnaround time was really quick for me. I do think icelandic Air fly to OHare.
It was lovely to see you btw. And hopefully there wil be good news for Sadie and Spence in the near future.
Welcome home, Anne. It was lovely to meet you - just a shame we didn't get more time to talk about history! Looking forward to hearing how the research went in Cornwall.
Michelle, Thanks for the good idea -- and the honey which was much appreciated, believe me. The only problem with Icelandic is I don't believe they have an agreement for the airline that will take me the last 200 miles -- and so I would either need to mess with Chicago (ugh) or get a separate ticket (and booking) for that. We'll see. I'll check it out.
Kate, it was terrific to meet you at last. I had a fabulous time in Cornwall, learned a lot, and can hardly wait to go back! Will pick up a copy of your local history book as soon as possible!
Anne!!! Hours spent in Dublin airport and you never called?! I could have come and entertained you...ah well, hope next time you get to leave the airport and visit Dublin properly, glad to hear you're home ok...
x Abby Green
Ack! Abby, I didn't think of it! Partly I suppose because I knew they weren't going to let me leave the airport. But yes, count on it next time. And next time I will be making Dublin a destination, not a byway on the road to elsewhere. Great to meet you in London!
So, the whole trip was controlled by cats, eh?
So I tune in to the blog to see how it all went and there you are -- catatonic! ;~)
Still it's ok to have a cat nap, as long as you don't keep us waiting for the news too long. Some of us are like a cat on a hot tin roof, waiting to cat ch up. Still, I wouldn't want you to puss yourself too hard, otherwise you might wake up all scratchy and in a catty mood, when nomally you're such a pussy cat. Hope everything at home was purrrfect...
cat ch you later...
Hi Ms Gracie!
Yes, it was a cat-directed experience from beginning to end. Just ask Sophie!
Anyway, there are more pix of Sir Sidney above in the latest post. And you really should check out one of them. It's a commentary on his personality -- and a deliberate book promo for you!
Sir Sidney is definitely a cat with taste. A comfortable pillow, a sofa and an Anne Gracie novel: doesn't get any better than that, does it? :o)
(And I'm not sure who would win in a challenge of puns: Kate Walker or Anne Gracie!)
Oh come on Ms Gracie - don't pussyfoot about the issue. You missed the point by a whisker - Anne has to paw through her photos, claw back her memories and isn't just going to stroke the need of impatient Aussies. Her whole blog would be a catastrophe if she did.
Just wait and she'll post all the mews ;- )
Kate H,
Looks like Kate W is going to give Anne G a run for her money. I ca(n')t compete!
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