Despite having arranged it all well in advance, she "discovered" online (after some curious - in both senses - Googling of name plus images) another ex-University friend with whom she'd lost touch for simply ages and ages. The image she found, as you can see, was in itself somewhat cryptic and frustrating, but other information encouraged her to take the risk of an email. And Bingo! it really was the friend in question.
Many more emails, texts and phone calls later, we added a diversion to the UK Capital to our itinerary, which meant an extra train journey.
But I like trains: much more relaxing than planes. I even made a new friend on the way, albeit briefly. Click on this (and any other images) to see bigger - or right-click to open full size in a new tab. I know, I know: some of you already know that.We finally arrived at the great Clapham Junction, of legendary fame, where the two friends made an enthusiastic reunion. They got a passing stranger to photograph this historic moment with them both standing in front of the Tube map.
I got left off, apart for the very top of my head and ears! I was more than a little hurt about this, but Alice apologised profusely, so I insisted she had to compensate for it later.
We could now use our sensibly pre-ordered, pretty Visitor's Oyster Card, and I got the fun of riding in a big red London bus for the first time. I was sorry, though, we didn't meet the famous Man on the Clapham Omnibus.
We started in the Trinity Arms' lovely outdoor garden and went inside as it got cooler. And still they kept on talking.They did have an awful lot of years to catch up on. At least it was a comfy place to be.
What did they do over breakfast the next morning? Yes, you've got it. Talked: Life, The Universe and Everything stuff by now.
Eventually it was back on the train, towards Hastings this time. That's for part three.
