Back on the Small Island

Here we are, back to what we called home for half a lifetime. Travel from the airport was amazingly smooth and easy, as well as cheap: £3 each. Surprisingly, all our luggage (around 110 kg of it) fit into the small rental car. Yes, the roads are busier here and everything is sized somewhat smaller: the width of lanes, the car parking spaces, the aisles in the supermarket. But the sun was shining even over good old England, and at 20º A. thought the climate much more agreeable.

Birmingham New Street station and Bullring shopping centre. 

The house is still standing - our tenants cleaned the place before they left, the Phlox does what it does every year - all is well. 

And my early apple tree is bearing fruit, just as it should. I hardly arrived and have already prepared the first batch of apple sauce of the season. 

The sky seems to be big over Middle England as well. The wheat was harvested, the hills are rolling; this  region also affords lovely views. 

Near Nottingham, home of the DVLA, where they exchanged our driving licences back to UK versions: The staff were friendly and helpful, and they did not even charge for the service. With wheels to call our own again, we are nearly set to depart onto our next adventure, the Continent.