But first, here’s a photo of Philip and I – so you know that we are on holidays together! We’re in the grounds of Chatswood House – Keith took the photo.

Yesterday morning, after a leisurely breakfast we walked with Debbie and Keith to their local Anglican church while the church bells were ringing by “proper” bellringers in the bell tower.

I thought it was a wonderful way to call us to worship God together. I loved it.

I enjoyed the church service too – a great blend of informality and liturgical worship with good music and teaching.

This photo below is behind the church where there’s some interesting gravestone poems. Debbie showed us a great one of the Duffield blacksmith.

We didn’t stay long after church because Keith had a cricket match to umpire, and we needed an early lunch before we were on our way. This is the bridge over the River Derwent when we walked to church.

Debbie drove us into Derby where we caught a big comfortable coach bus that drove us for 4+1/2 hours through Leicester and Loughbridge and then down to London. I admire the way the coach drivers negotiate the small, narrow roads and tight turns in the villages and towns! Most of the drive was down the multi-laned highway between green fields and high green trees.

We had a two-hour layover at the Victoria bus station in a posh part of London (I think) – Belgravia. This is the only photo of London I took as we crossed the Thames near Battersea Park.

My idea of a holiday in England is to avoid London. Which says far more about me than about London. We ate our picnic dinner in the bus station while we people-watched – hundreds of different nationalities and languages.

Then onto another coach and a one-hour drive south-west to Guildford where we stayed overnight with Gill and Peter. Gill is Philip’s fourth-or-maybe-fifth cousin and a most hospitable couple.

After a short night and early start to the day, Peter drove Philip and I to the local bus station for a 1+1/2 hour bus ride to Heathrow. We were momentarily startled when Scandanavian Airlines told us that they couldn’t initially allocate a seat because the plane was overbooked. It’s the way they run airlines these days apparently. But she assured us that we’d get on the plane eventually. And we did! An interesting sidelight was that everything on the plane ride cost money except tea or coffee – neither of which we drink. Water cost money and so did the wi-fi. So we read our books.

Landing in Oslo we went straight onto a train which Philip estimated travelled about 160kmh – it was very smooth and quiet. Straight away we knew we were in a different country. Even apart from the Norwegian language which sounds to me very lilting and sing-songy. The trees are mainly firs and birches – thin trees and many of them. Long tunnels through mountains. Lots of the houses are made of timber and often coloured a blood-red. I’m making it up that they’re painted red so the houses can be found when there’s severe snow-storms.

Google makes travelling these days so easy. Philip gets concerned about the details of a trip – especially in another language. (Most people can speak English and Norwegian.) I’m sure we’ll figure it out eventually. Just about any problem is figureoutable! Especially with easily available internet. I don’t think it’s quite as adventurous though. There are parts of me that miss that, but not worth causing Philip unnecessary stress.

And now we’ve arrived in Drammen, Norway – a town of about 100,000 people south-west of Oslo. We walked to our hotel from the station when we got here. Never been to Norway before – how exciting – and we’re here to see Philip’s “Auntie Mollie”.

Auntie Mollie’s son, Peter called in before dinner to check with us that everything was all right and start making plans tomorrow to see Auntie Mollie and do some tourist things.

Breakfast and dinner are included in our hotel fare. Plus “frit” – not sure how it’s spelled – but it’s like afternoon tea. We got here in time for “frit” – so Philip enjoyed that!

I’m feeling quite weary. I’m not sure why, but travelling, whether by plane, coach, or train, I find wearisome. Maybe it’s the constant noise and vibrations. It’s going to be an early night tonight! But exciting to be in Norway. We’ve had sunshine and a heavy downpour of rain with thunder. The sun is still high in the sky, everything feels and smells fresh after the rain …. and I’m ready for bed! Goodnight!