Travelling with a five-year-old is always an adventure. He wasn't sure about boarding either airplane; at Easterwood, he wanted to go back home, and in Houston, he was afraid it would be too loud. After two successful flights, though, he was downright excited about getting on the next one. As we were watching airplanes take off, while waiting to leave for Doha, he told another family that we were going to Qatar. "There are big sand dunes there."
The fairest of the Magees, along with Matthew Hattaway, delivered us to Easterwood on Saturday. The women did an admirable job of keeping themselves together, which was a good thing, because Matthew and I were the only men around--and I'm pretty sure Matt has more experience with rowdy brothers than crying women. Although, come to think of it, he does shave his legs, so there's a certain potential for empathy. For some reason, Continental at Easterwood couldn't check our bags through to London, so we had to do the luggage shuffle in Houston. Not too big a deal, other than having to cheerfully ignore the sign on the intra-terminal train that said, "No luggage carts allowed."
Sunday we stayed at the Cranleigh, where I'd stayed before. Same good service, another nice room, same great breakfast, but with one change: the weather. It's cold in London these days, most of the heat is supplied by radiators, and most of the radiators are on timer-driven systems that only pump hot water at certain times of the day. I'm sure it saves energy, but the net result is a hotel room that's cold most of the time. For warmth, we were almost reduced to huddling around the wall-mounted electric trouser press. I guess I'm not used to someone else (other than perhaps my wife) being in charge of the temperature of my living quarters (yet another good reason to stay out of prison, eh?). We had supper and good fellowship with BJ and his family, who may be moving to Bahrain sometime soon.
My bride didn't sleep well, partly due to jet lag and partly due to the upstairs neighbors who came in at some wee hour and talked on into the wee'er hours. The creaking floors overhead roused me a bit, but I'm a pretty good sleeper--much to her chagrin. Finished reading "Skipping Christmas", so now I'll have to read it to my family. And yes, Kathy, it's hysterical--I think I'll buy a Frosty for our villa in Doha.
Posted by jon at December 8, 2003 06:16 PMGlad ya'll are all settled in. Be sure and send us a picture of Janelle in her outfit with her face all covered.
Grace and Peace to Ya'll!