Friends revisited

Earlier this year I took a tour through Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. While on that trip I met a delightful couple from Wales. John and Penny were very easy going and always had room for me to join their table or activities. At the end of the tour, we gave the perfunctory "if you are ever in the neighbourhood, give us a call". At that time, I was not planning on being anywhere near Llangollyn, Wales. However, as my travels unfolded, it became a possibility, and then a certainty.

I sent out an email to John and very quickly I had an invite for a visit. It was fantastic to catch up with them after all this time. I have covered so much ground since February, but some of my fondest memories have been from that trip through South East Asia.

We got caught up on recent events and I got to meet the famed Billy; their jack russell terrier. He is adorable. It is always interesting to see people in their home setting. Penny has an enormous garden that is in full vegetable production and John, semi-retired, was never far from his laptop, working on various projects. He used to tease me for my addiction to the Internet when we were on our tour. How the tables have turned.

In the evening we found ourselves off to an outdoor production of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" by a traveling troop. It was very well done and the setting couldn't have been any better. It was on the lawn of a historic house with a castle up the hills in the distance. William would have approved, I'm sure.

I am so glad that I have not over packed my schedule so that these last minute options can be slipped in. One of the real joys of this year of adventure is the friendships that I am developing. Thank you to all I have met.