9 April

Hi,

"Hope you are all having a great time at home and at work. I'm sure having a great time in America. We had an interesting start to our holiday. Guess who were the last 2 on the plane with only a few minutes to spare? Went into Duty Free and became carried away trying on perfume. We were very calm and relaxed, but boy were they panicking. Having a wonderfully exhausting time. Most days we're out at 8am and return to hotel between 9 and 11pm and then by the time you get organised for the next day it doesn't add up to much sleep. The weather has been great. Not too hot while we were rushing around LA, then 90 degrees F in Vegas, now down to about 65F in Oregan. st magic place. The new park was wonderful. Have hang glided over California, been white water rafting (got soaked), had a helicopter ride thru Antarctica, been on a space ship in a Star Wars type battle and have been to every 3 & 4D movie I could find. They're so amazing. One we wore ear phones with scary sound effects and one had real actors thrown in. Have also of course been on a few roller coaster rides, but still don't like them. Millions of people everywhere as it was Spring Break, but even though most queues were 1-2hrs waiting time we had a Fastpass and our longest queue was 5 minutes. Really great - meant we had time to go on nearly every ride so a huge bonus. Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon were both awesome. Had a wonderful clear day for our flight so could see for miles. Our pilot was one of the few trained to fly low threw it - why didn't I bring my video camera - the odd photo doesn't do it justice. The hotels at Vegas were amazing - money is no object. The shops were full of wonderful things - everything we liked was $14,000 to $40,000. Tried on a $22,000 diamond bracelet with matching $8,000 ring.  Nearly put it on the credit card. In Portland, Oregan now. Very pretty city with a huge river running thru the middle and Mt Hood covered in snow just behind it.  Beautiful blossom trees - white and pink cherries, dogwoods, tulip trees, rhodos, camellias, daffodils and tulips etc everywhere. I just love Spring time. Spent a few days at Don's cabin in the mountains, which was very relaxing after all our rushing around. Only 5 degrees C up there outside, but of course centrally heated inside with every mod con you can imagine.  Today he took us to the Coast - 2 hours away. Thursday we're off to Washington. Not looking forward to packing again. I'm sure the suitcases are shrinking and I've only bought one thing. Can you believe that! Very tempting to buy more, but have enough problems staggering along with my luggage now. And every time I go thru Security at the Airports they decide I look like a terrorist and either put my luggage thru another high powered X-ray or unpack the whole lot in front of everyone. Who said travelling was fun! Still hard to believe that I'm on my way to England. After all the stress over the last month it's a miracle I'm here at all. If it wasn't for Bev and Lyn I wouldn't be. Hope all is well. Will send 2nd enthralling installment as soon as I find out how to make more hours in the day".

Love Colleen. 2 May
Hallo from England

Yes here I am at last. Hard to believe. I'm staying in Sussex only 20 mins from Mayfield where Brent lived for 2 years and where I stayed with him for a month in 1996. One of my favourite parts of the country so it's very exciting to be back.  All those gorgeous little villages with cute houses covered in either Wisteria or Clematis and little narrow lanes and pubs. And the beautiful green countryside with cherry and chestnut trees covered in blossom and bright yellow vibernum and lilac bushes everywhere. I just love it. Spring is such a beautiful time to travel. On our 1st day went for a walk to a Bluebell wood which was just magic. But first I must thank all of you who have sent e-mails. It's so good to get news from home. It's not so easy to reply. Finding the time has been difficult and when your staying with people it's always difficult to ask to use their computer. A few of you have asked who's "we". I've travelled thru America with my girlfriend Sonia which has been really great. She ended up coming to England for 10 days too as it was cheaper to fly home from here than America. Crazy! So tomorrow she flys back to work and I will go up to London to stay with my niece for a few days. Then Bev arrives of course for 4 weeks in June and a big surprise for me (and an even bigger one for Jana when they turn up at the wedding), Lyn and Warren are coming at the end of June, so hopefully I'll be travelling around Scotland with them when Bev goes home. At this rate I won't have time to find a job. This holiday has been all go. Never get to bed before 10 or 11 at night and then some mornings it's up at 3am or 5am to catch a plane or get onto the motorway before the traffic builds up. Washington was wonderful. Trees everywhere and they all have fresh new green leaves. Very pretty with all the Cherry trees and Dogwoods and Azalias. Monuments and statues everywhere. The buildings are only about 2-4 stories high as nothing is allowed to be higher than the Capitol. Spent 4 days at the Smithsonian Museums - really fabulous. Amazingly American History Museum our favourite. Since Sept 11th security is everywhere.  Guards on the roof of the White House, bags serched at all the Museums, huge fences everywhere. My favourite town was Annapolis in Maryland and would you believe it had nothing to do with the fact that 4,000 guys are based their at the American Naval Academy. The town was full of them all dressed in full uniform and so polite. The historic buildings were gorgeous too. Drove up to New York for 2 days. Didn't like it at all. Manhatten is such a small island and it's jammed packed with skycrapers. The subways have virtually no escalators so it was up and down stairs all day.  We stayed in Harlem so it was a little scarry coming home after dark. Went to Ground Zero. They're working round the clock to clear rubble so now 70ft underground and repairing some of the skyscrapers around it. Wanted to go to a show on Broadway. Coundn't get into Mama Mia or Aida - went to Oklahoma - wonderful performance. Spent 4 days in Amsterdam. The tulips were beautiful. A hundred times a day I wish I had my video camera. Photos just don't do it justice. The park at Keukenhof was out of this world - colours were breathtaking. Floriade was a huge disappointment. Everything written in Dutch. The tulips of course were wonderful, but there wasn't much else that excited us. The fabulous weather we have taken everywhere with us only lasted 1 day in Holland. then out came the scarf, gloves and umbrella and since we've been back in England the wind has been bitterly cold. Have already bought a raincoat. Feel very English in it. That's all the news in a nutshell. Hope everyone is well.

Love Colleen.

21 May
Thanks for the news.  Really love getting your letters.  Still haven't heard from any of the others.  Obviously too busy.  Bev hasn't been to TP so doesn't tell me anything either.
Have only seen the sun for 2 days since I arrived.  The wind is bitterly cold.  Had a BBQ on Sunday.  All sat with our coats and scarves on - they seemed to think it was quite normal. Bev arrives in 18 days - can't wait - it's not much fun wandering round Museums talking to myself all day.  I've been staying near the Cotswalds for a few days. Really lovely but difficult to get to the little villages without transport.  May buy a cheap car and keep my fingers crossed that it doesn't cost a fortune.  Will hopefully be working for the next couple of weeks.
Take care

Love Colleen

4 June
Hello Thought I'd better put together Part 3 before Bev arrives on the 9th. Won't be a second to spare during that month. The more I see of London the more I love it. There are so many people everywhere and somehow it's very exciting to be part of it. Sunday it was very hot so strolled along the embankment beside the Thames, stopping every now and then to listen to the buskers and enjoy the views. Thousands of people out - a 4 day holiday weekend for the Queens 50th Jubilee so lots of Union Jacks around and St George Cross flags for the World Cup too of course. I even watched the first game. By the time I come home I'll be an expert. I stood outside Buckingham Palace to watch the concert and fireworks for 12 hours until midnight on Monday along with a million others. Great atmosphere. Was told it would take 2 hours to queue for the Tube, but luckily no problems at all. They had the Tubes running all night (that's only ever happened twice before) Yesterday I spent 6 hours in town watching the processions. Saw all the royals. Had the gold coach out for the Queen. I guess they showed you some of it on TV. Hope you saw me waving my flag. Have been to 14 Museums in London. At the moment Museums and Art Galleries are free so that really helps the budget. They're all so different and have found some wonderful ones. The Museum of London and the Imperial War Museum are 2 favouites, but some of the smaller ones with a collection owned by one person are fantastic too. Came across Somerset House with the most amazing displays of gold snuff boxes, Italian mosiac picturs and European silver. The Wallace Museum which is a private collection of wonderful 18th century French painting, furniture, clocks, Sev'res porcelain and 4 rooms of swords and guns and the largest collection of armour I've ever seen. Just love it. Have stayed a couple of times in Swindon with friends and the more I see of the countryside the more I love that too. Walking along the Thames at Letchlade with the farmer cutting his hay and the village and the church steeple in the background is a world away from London. Debbie and Chris have just about completed a lovely patio area so we had a BBQ one night and everyone sat around in coats and scarves. They seemed to think it was quite normal. Everyone keeps telling me about the wonderful weather they had in April, but May was very showery and windy. June started off hot and sunny so I'll keep my fingers crossed. Have a job organised from July 12th, as a waitress at a Hotel near Swindon. It's for the Japanese guys who work at the local Honda factory, so they have Japanese language classes every week. That could be a huge bonus. Will have to buy a car as it's impossible to get around and see things without one. Will be interesting trying to navigate and drive at the same time. Some of the roundabouts are horrendous. One of them in Swindon is a large one with 4 or 6 little ones around it and the large one you can drive left and right around it, so it's a real free for all. The highlight of my month has been the Chelsea Flower Show. Arrived at 7.45am and left at 7pm utterly exhausted, having only sat down for a few minutes during the day). It was so wonderful. The dozens and dozens of gardens, the 2 huge marquees full of flowers, the floral art tents, the colours, the perfume, even the shops were exciting. Have also been to the theatre to see Mama Mia. It was fantastic too.  Managed to get a cheap seat with a great view too. It's also been a very sad month, as one of my school friends, Robyn died from cancer. She had just spent a month touring round England seeing all her favourite places, and in her email the day before sounded very happy. Wish I could have been with my friends that day. It's still hard to believe. Really looking forward to Bev arriving on Sunday and of course the wedding on July 6th. Then a few days with Lyn and Warren. Can't wait. Hope this finds everyone well and happy.

Love Colleen.

10 Aug
Dear John Lucky you - 2 or 3 months more in the States. Don't understand Gail being happy about being home and working.   I haven't got time to work - there's too much to see and do. Just wait till I win Lotto!   Every day I rush off to some village in the Cotswalds - they're so lovely.   Went for a 5 mile walk on Sunday along a ridge in Wiltshire. A beautiful clear sunny day so could see for miles.   Why didn't I bring my video camera. Raining again today. Crazy weather!   But at least it gives me a chance to catch up on the letter writing. Don't want to stay home when it's nice and sunny.

Take care, love Colleen.

7 Sept
Dear Everyone Highlight of the month has to be the weather - summer finally arrived - HOT AND SUNNY every day. But Autumn is coming. In June when Bev was here it didn't get dark till 10.30pm and now it's pitch black at 8.30pm and when I was driving to work at 5.30am it was also light then, but the last few mornings it's been dark, quite cold and the windows are all fogged up. I'm not looking forward to winter without my internal garage. Don't think they've heard of them here and if people do have a garage it's full of junk anyway and the cars still stay outside.  Had 4 days off work to go up to Edinborough for the Tattoo. It was a wonderful night, the 2 hours went far too quickly. Even had a NZ girl singing. I'd never heard of her but she was very good.   Stayed with a friend from Tupperware days. They've been here for 2 yrs and love it so much are staying for another 2. Also had a lovely day with another friend from Hamilton who's over here for 6 weeks.  Work has a lot to answer for. It takes up far too much time, but I seem to spend what I earn each week so at least I won't come home completely broke. The Japanese are easy to look after - the only problem is they all smoke non stop. Walking into the restaurant is like walking into a fog. We have an English wedding every Saturday which is fun and the food is beautiful. Getting free meals certainly helps the budget and saves me having to worry about what to cook too.  Have been out walking around dozens of little villages and every Sunday go to a different village which has 3-6 gardens open for viewing. £3 and the money always goes to charity so really great value.  Of course they range from very small to 2 or 3 acres so a huge variety of trees and plants etc. The berry trees are spectacular at the moment. Stood under a 60 yr old Mulberry tree the other day eating Mulberries. Most English people haven't even tried them. And the Autumn raspberries and blackberries are everywhere. Have a wonderful supply in the old walled vege garden at work. Also have a large apple and pear tree orchard and they're ripe too, so Blackberry and apple pie is definitely on the menu, if I can stay home long enough to make it. Really trying to make the most of every minute while the eather is so good so really tired and run down at the moment. Will have a rest when winter arrives.  Have joined a Singles club and met some really lovely people. Have been on a few walks with them and have spent days out with different ones.  Some days when I'm too tired to do much I just drive about 15 mins to my favourite village, Lechlade and walk along the Thames and talk to everyone in their narrowboats. Someone always invites me on board for a cup of tea or glass of wine so it's a very relaxing time. Another favourite place close to work where I can relax is Buscot Park - a stately home on a huge estate with hundreds of beautiful trees and glorious gardens. The estate is surrounded by miles and miles of high stone walls. The entrance has 2 gate houses and the drive winds up thru rows of trees for about 1/2 mile to the stables past lakes and paddocks of sheep. I just love it.  Walked along the Kennet and Avon Canal one day and helped a lot of people open and shut the locks. Some are quite difficult for one person. Even had a go at steering one thru a lock.  Wasn't as easy as it looks.  Find the drivers over here really good. Have only seen about 4 stupid drivers and I'm one of them. Drive with the map on the steering wheel and have to take my glasses off to read it and put them back on to see what's coming. And always seem to be in a village too many miles away with only 1/2 an hour to get to work. The narrow lanes at the moment are full of farmers towing hay so pretty hair-raising at times. Love the round-abouts everywhere too. Much better than traffic lights. No-one goes thru a red light here either. It's great.  Hope everyone is well and happy. Miss you all.

Love Colleen

10 Oct
Hello Everyone Am finding it increasingly difficult fo find the time to write my letters home. I blame work of course, but rather think it could be all the friends I've made who I now spend a lot of time with. Have learnt to drink a lot more too. Inevitably end up at a lovely old Pub for lunch or dinner after we've been out walking or the Theatre or wherever. Malibu and pineapple juice; Apple cider; and Smirnoff Ice seem to slip down very easily. In the winter they have roaring log fires to sit around so can imagine won't want to go home. It's definitely Autumn the last two days.  Overcast after 2 months of nearly continuous sun and the leaves are scattered all over the ground. The trees in their yellow, brown and reds look so lovely. Daylight saving finishes at the end of the month so will be dark by about 5pm then.  Saw a signpost to New Zealand one day. Drove down to see what the village was like, but only a few houses. Did find 2 beautiful villages that day though. Lacock belongs to the National Trust and hasn't changed since 18th century - some houses date from 13th century even. A lot of Harry Potter was filmed in the Abbey there. Castle Combe is another 'must do' if you are ever in England. Very pretty. Found another amazing place called Cotswold Water Park. They have 132 lakes created from old gravel pits. Each used for a different activity, eg. sailing, water skiing, jet boating, swimming, fishing, nature reserve, etc, etc. Some are surrounded by 'exclusive lakeside homes', others just picnic areas. Great idea.  Highlight of the month has to be my '2 holidays'. Three days staying in a Youth Hostel right on the beach on the Gower Peninsular in Wales, with 18 from the singles group. Fantastic fun. Did a 4 hr walk one day up and down the cliffs along the coast (when I looked back couldn't believe what I'd done) from Port Eynon to Rhossili Bay (reminded me of 90 mile beach). The next day was windy so walked to another beach and went kite flying. They were so huge just about took me flying. Also had 3 great days at Lymington in the New Forest near the Isle of Wight staying with Jools and Trevor, a friend from Chorus, who was over for about 8 weeks. Managed a day on the Isle of Wight (one of my favourite places), a day wandering round the New Forest villages with all the ponies and a few donkeys and also drove across to Wimborne to see Andy and her new baby, Adam, and Maureen who was staying from NZ (it's always great to see people from home).  My niece, Jana and her husband Jon came down from London and spent a weekend with me. It seemed funny me showing them round the Cotswolds and Marlborough and Avebury, but I think I've seen more of England than most British people.  Hope to go to the Forrest of Dean in Wales and Blackpool this month. And I'm planning a few days in December in Germany or Austria to see the Christmas Markets and experience the 'real cold'.  Have fun in the sun,

Love Colleen.

15 Nov
Hello Everyone October was an interesting month weather wize. At the beginning it was still summer, then for a few short weeks we had a beautiful Autumn which disappeared during the last weekend when we had a huge storm which stripped all the tress of their leaves within hours.  Floods everywhere and 4 people killed by falling trees.  Daylight saving finished that weekend also, so overnight it became winter.  |It's now dark by 4.30pm and if it rains it's dark all day.  But we're still having our share of sunny days and we've had one huge frost when I had to start work at 6am, so very wizely slept at work that night so didn't have to go outside in the cold and scrape the ice off my windscreen.  Had 3 lovely days in the Forest of Dean with some friends I met through Folk Music. Went to a great night at a Pub with 2 women and a man singing Folk songs that he had written. Have only been on one 5 mile walk at the beginning of the month - a very hot sunny day, along beside a very pretty stream, thru a gorgeous golf course, up to a castle ruin, then down thru a wood to finish at a Pub for lunch.  Also went to another National Trust property called Upton House.  Had a fabulous night at an Owl Conservancy Park hunting for Owls (wandering around in the pitch black on Halloween with real live ghosts scaring everyone - great fun). The owls are lovely - range from very tiny to huge, all different colours and all different hoots. Even had some moreporks. Love their huge eyes and the way their heads turn right round. Had a wonderful birthday dinner with 6 friends at an Italian Restuarant just up the road.  Great food, and great company.  Special thanks to all those who sent cards. (Wonder what Brent and Lyn are trying to tell me - Brent sent face lotion to make me look younger and Lyn sent a mud pack!)  I'm in the middle of booking my Dec holiday. Prague, Neurnberg, Munich, Lake Garda and Verona. Lore, my sister-in-law has arranged for her friends and cousins to look after me so looks like I'll be having a White Christmas after all with any luck.  Not sure how I'll come back down to earth in another few months time.

Love Colleen.

7 Dec
It's been a great month. Lots of holidays!  Found a flight on the net to Trieste in Italy (never heard of it) for £8 return. Very tempted to go there for a few days for that price, but very sadly couldn't find the time.  Went up to London for 3 days to see the lights. Spent a day shopping with Jana which was really fun. Love the food halls in Selfriges, Fortnum & Mason and Harrods. The window displays in all the shops were wonderful. Couldn't get photos thou as too many people around. Hanleys had a fab window display with hundreds of little animated Steiff bears. Walked along Regent, Oxford and Bond streets, Burlington Arcade etc. Each night jumped on a double decker bus and drove along the streets. Beautiful moving light displays everywhere although mainly white. Managed to come home with not only too many heavy bags to carry on the train, underground and bus, but also a cold. Just had time to unpack one bag and repack another for a walking weekend with the Singles group in the Malvern Hills, staying at a Youth Hostel.  Saturday morning it started to rain just as we set off up the first hill. This was most unfortunate as I didn't have waterproof gear or walking boots and became very wet and cold very quickly.  Also the clouds were so low couldn't even see the wonderful views. After 2 hrs four of us turned back and dryed off round a beautiful log fire at a lovely old Pub. Food was great too so didn't mind the 3 hour wait for the other 14. Would you believe the next day was a beautiful sunny, clear day where you could see for miles, but a bitterly cold wind also. Decided with the cough I had already developed it wouldn't be a good idea to be out on the mountain tops so spent the day wandering around Malvern and the Malvern Abbey instead. Drove through to Worcester, but they had a Christmas market on and couldn't find a parking place. Ended the weekend with a great jazz concert at Cheltanham town Hall (a beautifully decorated building). Kenny Ball, George Malley, Humphrey Littleton. all about 80 yrs old, but all still brilliant.  Great backing bands too. Went to a wonderful Jazz concert a few weeks ago too with a 16 pice 'Big Band', all in their 20's.  Another weekend drove up to Chipping Norton for Jana & Jon's farewell party. took 3 hrs to get there as thought it might be my last drive thru the beautiful Cotswold villages so detoured off the beaten track a bit. found a huge barn built about 1300. Amazing! Stayed in the old 'Rectory' the night and woke to the Church bells ringing. From there drove 1 1/2 hrs down to Biddestone near Chippenham to see some Morris Dancing outside the village pub, by the village pond, with a few of the village 'upper class horsey people' standing outside with their pint and their labradors and their green wellingtons and their oilskins. Where else but England! Ended up at a Craft fair at Castle Combe and managed to have a drive around the racing circuit as well. Quite exciting!  Next day drove to a friends at Wallingford and he took me to Goring and Henley-on-Thames, but thick fog everywhere so didn't see a lot unfortunately, but went to some wonderful old Pubs for lunch and dinner. Found 2 beautiful villages at Ardington and Lockinge too.  Have I mentioned the wonderful signs in villages that 'light up' very brightly if you are driving too fast. When it's pitch black and one suddenly lights up with 'Slow Down', scares the hell out of me.  Next day drove up to London with a friend (I didn't drive) to see Andrew Lloyd Webbers latest - 'Bombay Dreams'. Left at 3pm and arrived at Victoria at 5.30pm. Enjoyed the show. Lots of dancing, 2 great drummers, beautiful waterfall, and when it rained, everyone on the stage got wet. Arrived back home at 2am.  A long drive for a show. Wouldn't want to do it too often.  The weather has been a bit of a mixed bag. Have had some wonderful sunny days, some bitterly cold 'Northerlies', 2 frosts (de-icer spray is magic) and fog and a few rainy days too. Roads flood very quickly. Sometimes it's like driving thru a ford. You're never sure how deep it is in the middle.  Have booked a very exciting holiday for December. Leaving for Prague on Monday for 4 days with one of my girlfriends, then it's onto Nuernberg, Munich and Verona. Lore has arranged for me to stay with her cousin and friends. Will be in Munich for Christmas so hope it snows, then they're taking me to their holiday home in Lake Garda, Italy. £25 to fly to Prague, then British Airways wanted £370 to fly back from Verona, but Ryan Air only £50. How do they do it? Of course there is always a problem with a cheap fare. Arrives back at Stanstead at 11.20pm. Can't wait. Tell you all about it in a months time.

Love Colleen.