September in London

Our journey has officially begun, and we are feeling the jet lag on our layover in London. 

The flight from Denver to London went off without a hitch.  Josiah slept almost the entire way, and we arrived at Heathrow in time to reach the hotel and out to a pub for dinner before dark.

It rained most of the night, but jet lag apparently has a gastric component, so we made our way through the rain back to Paddington station for a late night snack, then sloshed home to the hotel in wet shoes and pants legs.

Autumn is beginning in England.  Today, the air is cool and wet, and the skies are mostly grey.  There is a steady wind, and ochre colored leaves are piling up on the green lawns of the city parks.  

This morning, we took the Southern line train into Sussex county, rolling past green fields separated by thick hedges and spotted with white sheep and white cows.   It bordered on cliche, it was so picturesque.  

We traveled south to visit Uncle John at the College of St Barnabas, where he has retired.  It occurred to me afterwards, that it was twenty-five years ago that Uncle John first became a part of our family.   I was 8 and and he was 62.  It was quite a pleasure to see him again and to introduce him to Amelia and Josiah.  Josi gave him several kisses before we left.

Josi continues to enjoy travel, primarily because there are always new people to see.   He likes the sights but it's the people that he seems to enjoy the most, and he manages to entertain a handful of new friends on every leg of our journey.

He is also quite entertaining to us.  We stopped in Westminster Abbey after our trip south (the extent of our sightseeing I am afraid), and Josiah was well pleased with the sound of his voice echoing off the high ceilings and ancient stone.  

Tomorrow morning, we'll make our way back to Heathrow via Paddington Station, collect our bags at the 'left luggage' storage, and be on our way to Kenya.   I suspect the flight to Nairobi will be a little more adventuresome, considering that it will not occur during Josiah's normal sleep hours.  Indeed, it might be quite painful.  

But, Lord-willing and creek-don't-rise, we'll be in Nairobi this time tomorrow night.