I won't be back til Sunday night at 7.30 so I am charged a third day at the rate of £9 per day. I agree to this and then in my Scottish fashion I think better of the waste. £27 is more than the bag is worth.I return and take it out again. Would rather spend the money own something enjoyable with the Burkes. So it's back to the big bag when I'd deliberately downsized. At any time there are about 14 screens changing ing in a row - all updating you with departures and arrivals and clarifying which of the 12 platforms will be used as and when they know. Can you imagine the crowds? what I can see is that there is National Rail line called Connect o Heathrow- only half an hour £10, and an Express to same £20, here from Paddington. vey helpful for Tuesday when I catch the plane to Canada.
How inspired was that to get a hotel in Paddington. Thanks Andrew. will be back here on Sunday night.
Anyway the trip is fun because of the guy from Cornwall who I am sitting next to. Excellent value, as he points things out, is a rugby fan, has four kids three boys and a girl, and is a business man returning to Cornwall.We try to cheat and get my iPad on Wifi. the train does have electric plugs for charging computers. it is high speed and the trip takes a little over 3 hours.
The whole of the Burkes family is there. On the platform! How exciting.
They have it all worked out, and we are off on a tour of Plymouth, even seeing such places as the pub where Beryl Cook the artist was inspired for her painting.
It was about this moment, as I was going to take a photo of where this hallowed artist irked (and I, a great fan of Beryl Cook), did not know she haled from here, that a big bus approached on this narrow street.
It was a tour bus, a bit like the Contiki sort, complete with courier and microphone, and it was clear they were going to wreck my photo. So I hammed it up, and carefully concentrated my camera on the pub. It was such an act, and the courier was quickly onto it, just like a set up Andrew and I might stage, and staged it was and we were both really laughing, as the bus, predictably,cruised nearer right across my vision.
He grabbed his mic., oh it was like Contiki days gone by, anything for a bit of light relief for the passengers. He commented probably something like "Look here folks, this woman thinks she going to take a photo! Lets see hat we can do about that!" Probably worse. They sprang to their windows hooting, all of us sharing the joke, as my camera focus was obliterated by the side of this massive bus. Ever the actress, I endeavoured to get that photo. Little Flynn who is 9 watching on,was wetting himself with laughter .
And such a photo - this is Beryl's pub with Sarah and Ewen.
We went to the historic parts, where the naval college has always been, and where Ian trained. And where Sarah and Ian spent their youth. he stories abounded. such an old town/city.
And then home via the moors which are heralded by a Cattle Stop. These kids are country kids I have decided. What could be more rural than moors, moor ponies and Black faced Devon sheep.
Very cute little village called Horrabridge, with a tumbling river and a weir, almost the same look of houses as the Cotswalds. Most type of amenity, hairdressers, plumbers, biggish primary school,and a very attractive pub.
The kids showed me their pets and toys and skills on the tramp. I introduced Ian and Sarah to Viber and so now we are all hooked up. Viber means you have free talking and texting if you have Wifi.
Anyway I after a lovely meal, and Sarah has been working all week on an Art extension, programme for gifted kids in the regions schools,Ian suggested we go to experience Horrabridge pub.He is chopping onions as he says this as a fundraiser is organised by his local charity club called the Cavaliers.It is a sports match in aid of Help for Heroes. This chap in their village, has lost part of several limbs and they are fundraising for a wheel chair. Its a sports contest, and part of it is a BBQ, of which Ian is in charge.The place smells amazingly yummy as various condiments are added. It occurs to me,not for the first time, that the timing of my visit is not easy for them. Sarah's big art project with newspaper constructed and concrete bandaged figures of people doing various tasks is quite astonishing. Some hurdlebtonhave orgaNisedvwith another art specialist. Ian has worked out however that tonight has to be the night to experience their 'local', as we have a busy Saturday. More anon.
And we do. We walk to it through the winding streets, It has beams and character,and is very old, and the people truely friendly. Tribute is a locally made beer and I try that,lots of friendly chat and actually, lots of drink, and a really easy stroll home over the second of two bridges in the village. 
"Cute" they are but so authentic. I love it here. So glad I came, as Devon sums up all I love about things English. And here I stop.
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