BUGGY DOWN

Every enterprise has to have difficulties, problems, setbacks, and before every new event one can wonder when these will happen. I wasn't left wondering for very long when preparing for the visit of Juris and his mum Helena; before I had really started packing in earnest and before I had collected the wheelchair I trapped a nerve in my back. Since then everything has been very painful. Oh and I hit the same pothole on the roundabout for M42 J9 that possibly wrecked my shock absorber 2 months ago and will have caused more damage; that matter is now with HAIL.

Putting those negatives behind me on day one it MIGHT be that we can look forward to a more straightforward passage from here on. Fingers crossed.

The collection at Luton Airport was almost painless apart from having to pay £8.20 in the Mid Term car park. We were quickly winging our way into the bosom of Buckinghamshire for the National Trust gardens at Stowe. Attempting to confront the wheelchair issue at Stowe we were offered the loan of an electric buggy to navigate the vast grounds. This was a 4-seater and we ALL got to drive it, though not necessarily with the approval of the NT.

Anyway we made good use of it, discovering temples, rotundas and features in every corner, and in amongst all this the boys of Stowe School playing Tennis, Golf, Cricket and Badminton. Eventually when we got to the top of the biggest hill and at the furthest point from the NT my phone rang; "where is our buggy?" Managed to find our way back and still with a little electricity left in it!

Onwards to the Days Inn on M40 J8A for the evening and our first night. The room is okay, the sleep quite good even with pain in back, and the Thunderstorm magnificent. Now we must make our own breakfast as we don't want to pay £9.99 for a few sausages egg and tomato.

Click here for FLICKR photo Album