Grateful to Jerry....

Well, to paraphrase (as I am wont to do, because I’m not clever enough to do it myself) a “Dead” song…

Lately it occurs to me what a long, strange week it's been

One week ago today we were contemplating completing the following trip to Cornwall England (blue lines)

Yellow dots indicate where we would be staying overnight(s) doing kind of a circle from Heathrow

With our usual HSMC traveling companions led by the intrepid Dr. Henry Miller, Director of Research at the City, and managed by the able team from Cole Travel.  This would have kind of complete our “circuit” of places associated with the Calvert’s and clan, who had the charter for establishing St. Mary’s City as the capital of Maryland.  As you can see, it covers the very southwestern end of England, and where the Ark and the Dove departed for the new world.

As usual Henry put together an aggressive tour, with important stops along the way, including the (purported) “King Arthur’s” castle.   We also would have passed by Port Isaac, which is the home of “Doc Martin’s” castle.  A few of us would have had a chance to see the site.

I’m sure you can’t read this without aid, but here’s the itinerary and you get the idea of the completeness

Generally the Cole’s provide a dinner the first (of at least two) nights at each hotel, but there were some nights “on our own” (the little chicken scratches on the side) and of course the Feeder did days of research finding restaurants, and came up with “Grillado” in Salisbury; “@Angelas” in Exeter; and “Hunkydory” in Falmouth. 

As usual MFO (the paragon of efficiency) made her lists of what outfit to wear for what day

And then carefully packed her bag a full week in advance.

The feeder would probably have thrown some stuff in a case today.. 

So, a week ago today (September 18^th) we were kind of prepared for our journey (some more than others).

Then life intervened (strange trip it’s been department).  That evening, MFO complained that her Gall Bladder, her rogue organ that has been acting up over the past few months, spoke up and said “hey! what about me?”

And while it flared, it usually quieted down in a few hours for a month or so , but it kept shouting all night to the point where we went to the Emergency Department of the Hospital early Monday morning (like 5:15).  I won’t go over the timeline, but by shortly after (no) lunch, the combined medical opinion was that the offending thing should be excised from MFO, which happened Tuesday 

So, with all this, we reluctantly had to inform our travelers that “the Feeder and MFO” would not be accompanying them this time.  The upside to all of this is that it happened “here” instead of “there”..

We wish we could join them, but maybe next time.  Health and body rules all..  take care of it.

And just to put a little food content in here, I was thrilled to see the following in our local supermarket.  I am so thrilled – “Creations?” of a lousy humble jack o’lantern?  Why not celebrate Zucchini?

Anyway duds will come out of suitcases, and believe me we were going to be elegantly

DFD

Bon Voyage, and Bon Appetit...