COLD DARK ROOM

[Gillian M]

Send some to me!
Here in Western Washington it has been very dry.

Hi! It couldn't possibly be as dry as it is here.

 

[JoesMum]

This is a long one, but stick with it.

My day started with the alarm going off at 07:30.

One hundred miles up the A26 motorway, heading for Calais, JoesDad suddenly says “Is the passport folder in the glove box?”

It wasn’t.

He’d left the folder on the roof of the car.

I rang the hotel, but they couldn’t find it in their car park - the receptionist was outside looking whilst talking to me on the phone.

Then a text from JoesDad’s Dad saying Reims Police had the folder and 2 passports. They’d rung the emergency contact number in the passports.

We headed back to Reims Police Station.

Yes only 2 passports out of 4 and they had clearly been run over several times. The police said they were picked up on the A344 (a major road) near J25 and we might spot the others. Thankfully I speak passable French because the police were lovely, but didn’t speak much English.

So, hazard flashers on, we retraced our route and there they were! Unfortunately 1 was in the central reservation (mine); the other we were able to pick up.

So next call was to the UK Foreign Office helpline who said that the UK Border Agency would probably let us through, but I might have to go to Paris tomorrow to get emergency documents.

So, we headed back to Eurotunnel Calais. Lunch was a quarter of a dried sausage, quarter of a nectarine and either a brioche bun or a pain au chocolat. Arrived late for our crossing. Got through French passport control with 3 bent passports and my driving licence and then ... UK Border Agency

The Border Force lady was brilliant. She gave me a form and we had to park in the “parking spaces of shame” (my words not hers) next to a British car with a baby that had no passport... it’s still there I think.

We filled in the form, were advised the damaged passports should be replaced and, obviously, mine too.

And now we’re on board a Eurotunnel train with our car, only just over 2 hours late so far. I am actually somewhere under the English Channel with an internet connection!

Thank goodness we live in Kent and don’t have a long journey the other side. Although the children must catch trains to their homes.

 

[Gillian M]

I'm actually not much of a wine drinker. [emoji28]

Good evening. I'm not either.

 

[Momof4]

This is a long one, but stick with it.

My day started with the alarm going off at 07:30.

One hundred miles up the A26 motorway, heading for Calais, JoesDad suddenly says “Is the passport folder in the glove box?”

It wasn’t.

He’d left the folder on the roof of the car.

I rang the hotel, but they couldn’t find it in their car park - the receptionist was outside looking whilst talking to me on the phone.

Then a text from JoesDad’s Dad saying Reims Police had the folder and 2 passports. They’d rung the emergency contact number in the passports.

We headed back to Reims Police Station.

Yes only 2 passports out of 4 and they had clearly been run over several times. The police said they were picked up on the A344 (a major road) near J25 and we might spot the others. Thankfully I speak passable French because the police were lovely, but didn’t speak much English.

So, hazard flashers on, we retraced our route and there they were! Unfortunately 1 was in the central reservation (mine); the other we were able to pick up.

So next call was to the UK Foreign Office helpline who said that the UK Border Agency would probably let us through, but I might have to go to Paris tomorrow to get emergency documents.

So, we headed back to Eurotunnel Calais. Lunch was a quarter of a dried sausage, quarter of a nectarine and either a brioche bun or a pain au chocolat. Arrived late for our crossing. Got through French passport control with 3 bent passports and my driving licence and then ... UK Border Agency

The Border Force lady was brilliant. She gave me a form and we had to park in the “parking spaces of shame” (my words not hers) next to a British car with a baby that had no passport... it’s still there I think.

We filled in the form, were advised the damaged passports should be replaced and, obviously, mine too.

And now we’re on board a Eurotunnel train with our car, only just over 2 hours late so far. I am actually somewhere under the English Channel with an internet connection!

Thank goodness we live in Kent and don’t have a long journey the other side. Although the children must catch trains to their homes.

Oh my goodness!! What a pain!!! Glad you got 2 back!!!

 

[Momof4]

@EllieMay

Look, I have roots!! Also a green bud!!

 

[Yvonne G]

@EllieMay

Look, I have roots!! Also a green bud!!
View attachment 250299

Looks like you have them upside down.

 

[Gillian M]

This is a long one, but stick with it.

My day started with the alarm going off at 07:30.

One hundred miles up the A26 motorway, heading for Calais, JoesDad suddenly says “Is the passport folder in the glove box?”

It wasn’t.

He’d left the folder on the roof of the car.

I rang the hotel, but they couldn’t find it in their car park - the receptionist was outside looking whilst talking to me on the phone.

Then a text from JoesDad’s Dad saying Reims Police had the folder and 2 passports. They’d rung the emergency contact number in the passports.

We headed back to Reims Police Station.

Yes only 2 passports out of 4 and they had clearly been run over several times. The police said they were picked up on the A344 (a major road) near J25 and we might spot the others. Thankfully I speak passable French because the police were lovely, but didn’t speak much English.

So, hazard flashers on, we retraced our route and there they were! Unfortunately 1 was in the central reservation (mine); the other we were able to pick up.

So next call was to the UK Foreign Office helpline who said that the UK Border Agency would probably let us through, but I might have to go to Paris tomorrow to get emergency documents.

So, we headed back to Eurotunnel Calais. Lunch was a quarter of a dried sausage, quarter of a nectarine and either a brioche bun or a pain au chocolat. Arrived late for our crossing. Got through French passport control with 3 bent passports and my driving licence and then ... UK Border Agency

The Border Force lady was brilliant. She gave me a form and we had to park in the “parking spaces of shame” (my words not hers) next to a British car with a baby that had no passport... it’s still there I think.

We filled in the form, were advised the damaged passports should be replaced and, obviously, mine too.

And now we’re on board a Eurotunnel train with our car, only just over 2 hours late so far. I am actually somewhere under the English Channel with an internet connection!

Thank goodness we live in Kent and don’t have a long journey the other side. Although the children must catch trains to their homes.

Happy Anniversary!

 

[JoesMum]

Looks like you have them upside down.

I agree!

 

[Kristoff]

School ? Have they a piano there ?

I’ll ask if they’ll let her use it.

 

[Kristoff]

Rain is ok, sometimes actually nice - as long as the wind isnt strong. Higher winds = more choppy water and waves and white caps.

We never did get rained on, in fact by the end of our paddle, we has blue skies and sun.

View attachment 250279

Lovely blues

 

[Kristoff]

Has to be an online APP for piano practise or the local church?

Online might not be very useful for training little fingers. I’ll need to survey local churches. The closest to us is Roskilde Cathedral of national importance, so that’s off the list. [emoji85]

 

[Kristoff]

How about a used keyboard on a stand?

I might seriously have to look into that. Somebody is giving away an old mini piano not too far from us, but the guy says it weighs about 200 kg (440 pounds). I can’t realistically haul that into our rented space and then get rid of it in 8-10 months’ time.

 

[Maro2Bear]

This is a long one, but stick with it.

My day started with the alarm going off at 07:30.

One hundred miles up the A26 motorway, heading for Calais, JoesDad suddenly says “Is the passport folder in the glove box?”

It wasn’t.

He’d left the folder on the roof of the car.

I rang the hotel, but they couldn’t find it in their car park - the receptionist was outside looking whilst talking to me on the phone.

Then a text from JoesDad’s Dad saying Reims Police had the folder and 2 passports. They’d rung the emergency contact number in the passports.

We headed back to Reims Police Station.

Yes only 2 passports out of 4 and they had clearly been run over several times. The police said they were picked up on the A344 (a major road) near J25 and we might spot the others. Thankfully I speak passable French because the police were lovely, but didn’t speak much English.

So, hazard flashers on, we retraced our route and there they were! Unfortunately 1 was in the central reservation (mine); the other we were able to pick up.

So next call was to the UK Foreign Office helpline who said that the UK Border Agency would probably let us through, but I might have to go to Paris tomorrow to get emergency documents.

So, we headed back to Eurotunnel Calais. Lunch was a quarter of a dried sausage, quarter of a nectarine and either a brioche bun or a pain au chocolat. Arrived late for our crossing. Got through French passport control with 3 bent passports and my driving licence and then ... UK Border Agency

The Border Force lady was brilliant. She gave me a form and we had to park in the “parking spaces of shame” (my words not hers) next to a British car with a baby that had no passport... it’s still there I think.

We filled in the form, were advised the damaged passports should be replaced and, obviously, mine too.

And now we’re on board a Eurotunnel train with our car, only just over 2 hours late so far. I am actually somewhere under the English Channel with an internet connection!

Thank goodness we live in Kent and don’t have a long journey the other side. Although the children must catch trains to their homes.

Wow.... what a story. Can’t believe any were found!

 

[Kristoff]

Happy Sunday!!

We have been so busy around here!!
Lots of home improvement projects going on at once because my husband doesn’t procrastinate.

Just finished up painting the new fireplace walls.
Then he started cleaning the garage so he could install metal shelving that we disassembled and put back up!
Cleared out office to paint this morning and add baseboards.
Adding baseboards to daughter’s new room.
Designed a walk in closet which took hours!! Just ordered the cupboards and rods yesterday so waiting 4 weeks. We are installing it ourselves.

We took our older girls out to dinner for their 29th birthday.

Oh, we had scare yesterday! I woke my son up at 10:30 to help us in the garage and the first thing he helped me move I noticed his face was white as a ghost and so were his lips. Then he started shaking and stared in space. He thought he was looking at me but his eyes weren’t. My husband grabbed him and I called 911.
He is fine now and his vitals were ok and his blood sugar was good.

We don’t know what happened but I’m taking him to his Dr this week for blood work.
We were so scared!
The first thing I asked him was if he took drugs. He doesn’t do them but he is a teen so it was my first thought and wanted to let the EMT know so they knew how to treat him.

I aged like 10yrs yesterday!!

Oh my. That’s really scary, about your boy. Hope it was a one-off incident and his blood work is 100%.
Well done to Dadof4! Impressive amount of work!

 

[Kristoff]

An electric keyboard is better than nothing. Will the school let her use a piano at playtime?

I’ll ask. That would be the perfect solution.

 

[Kristoff]

This is a long one, but stick with it.

My day started with the alarm going off at 07:30.

One hundred miles up the A26 motorway, heading for Calais, JoesDad suddenly says “Is the passport folder in the glove box?”

It wasn’t.

He’d left the folder on the roof of the car.

I rang the hotel, but they couldn’t find it in their car park - the receptionist was outside looking whilst talking to me on the phone.

Then a text from JoesDad’s Dad saying Reims Police had the folder and 2 passports. They’d rung the emergency contact number in the passports.

We headed back to Reims Police Station.

Yes only 2 passports out of 4 and they had clearly been run over several times. The police said they were picked up on the A344 (a major road) near J25 and we might spot the others. Thankfully I speak passable French because the police were lovely, but didn’t speak much English.

So, hazard flashers on, we retraced our route and there they were! Unfortunately 1 was in the central reservation (mine); the other we were able to pick up.

So next call was to the UK Foreign Office helpline who said that the UK Border Agency would probably let us through, but I might have to go to Paris tomorrow to get emergency documents.

So, we headed back to Eurotunnel Calais. Lunch was a quarter of a dried sausage, quarter of a nectarine and either a brioche bun or a pain au chocolat. Arrived late for our crossing. Got through French passport control with 3 bent passports and my driving licence and then ... UK Border Agency

The Border Force lady was brilliant. She gave me a form and we had to park in the “parking spaces of shame” (my words not hers) next to a British car with a baby that had no passport... it’s still there I think.

We filled in the form, were advised the damaged passports should be replaced and, obviously, mine too.

And now we’re on board a Eurotunnel train with our car, only just over 2 hours late so far. I am actually somewhere under the English Channel with an internet connection!

Thank goodness we live in Kent and don’t have a long journey the other side. Although the children must catch trains to their homes.

Goodness, how stressful. So glad you got out of it with as little trouble as possible. This is worse than leaving my handbag in a New York Über. A big hug to all of you. [emoji173]️

 

[Kristoff]

@EllieMay

Look, I have roots!! Also a green bud!!
View attachment 250299

Way to go!!! [emoji122][emoji122][emoji122][emoji122][emoji122][emoji122][emoji122]

 

[Kristoff]

Looks like you have them upside down.

OK, the other way to go... [emoji23] But still: [emoji122][emoji122][emoji122][emoji122][emoji122][emoji122][emoji122][emoji122][emoji122][emoji122][emoji122]

 

[Moozillion]

This is a long one, but stick with it.

My day started with the alarm going off at 07:30.

One hundred miles up the A26 motorway, heading for Calais, JoesDad suddenly says “Is the passport folder in the glove box?”

It wasn’t.

He’d left the folder on the roof of the car.

I rang the hotel, but they couldn’t find it in their car park - the receptionist was outside looking whilst talking to me on the phone.

Then a text from JoesDad’s Dad saying Reims Police had the folder and 2 passports. They’d rung the emergency contact number in the passports.

We headed back to Reims Police Station.

Yes only 2 passports out of 4 and they had clearly been run over several times. The police said they were picked up on the A344 (a major road) near J25 and we might spot the others. Thankfully I speak passable French because the police were lovely, but didn’t speak much English.

So, hazard flashers on, we retraced our route and there they were! Unfortunately 1 was in the central reservation (mine); the other we were able to pick up.

So next call was to the UK Foreign Office helpline who said that the UK Border Agency would probably let us through, but I might have to go to Paris tomorrow to get emergency documents.

So, we headed back to Eurotunnel Calais. Lunch was a quarter of a dried sausage, quarter of a nectarine and either a brioche bun or a pain au chocolat. Arrived late for our crossing. Got through French passport control with 3 bent passports and my driving licence and then ... UK Border Agency

The Border Force lady was brilliant. She gave me a form and we had to park in the “parking spaces of shame” (my words not hers) next to a British car with a baby that had no passport... it’s still there I think.

We filled in the form, were advised the damaged passports should be replaced and, obviously, mine too.

And now we’re on board a Eurotunnel train with our car, only just over 2 hours late so far. I am actually somewhere under the English Channel with an internet connection!

Thank goodness we live in Kent and don’t have a long journey the other side. Although the children must catch trains to their homes.

Oh, MY!!!!
That is so scary- thank goodness things got sorted out- mostly, anyway.

 

[JoesMum]

We are home. Three hours later than intended, but we are home! Took both kids to the train station and son is back home too. Daughter should also be home in about half an hour.

We started with a mug of tea, but are now recovering with a meal pulled from the freezer and some freshly imported red wine.

It has been a loooooong day!