Home again

We're home again. And it's great. There's many good things to say about the holiday. above all it is wonderful to report that the Fox coped far better than he anticipated. The journey was tiring, but it didn't alter the fact the next day he felt up to pushing me around Cologne so we could see a bit of the city. We didn't go off the ship every day but we did have a few exploratory strolls, with some steep-ish hills & ramps, not to mention cobbles. But for all this, although he felt at times he was dragging his leg a bit he feels none the worse for the exercise. When we arrived home, he walked round the corner for some milk for teas & found the discomfort from being cooped up in the plane & taxi was eased by the gentle stroll. Things definitely seem on the mend healthwise for him. Three cheers.

On the whole it was a good holiday. I don't think I've laughed so much in my life, being reduced to tears or incomprehensibility on several occasions. The sun shone every day, quite warmly at times. It was wonderfully relaxing watching the land gently passing as we sailed along the river.

The food was the greatest disappointment. I don't think they're used to trying to cook English. They clearly had heard of the British reputation for blandness, which may have been true immediately post-war but I don't think really is the case these days. On top of which I think they were trying to cook healthily - after all we were half a shipload of ill people - with the result flavour seemed to be a strange idea. We celebrated our return with lunch of tinned sardines on toast, stunned by the idea of fish we could taste!

There were other niggles, but on the whole we return feeling we've had a good holiday, a wonderful change of scene, met some lovely people we hope to keep in contact with, well rested & ready to pick up our lives again. Nonetheless we're glad to be home. Maybe that is the joy of a good holiday.

More will probably follow, maybe even some pictures. But that can wait for another day..This blog is mainly to say we're safely home.