I flew to the UK for the first time this year on April 10th, a Thursday. The plan was to visit my children Amy (41) in London and Tom (38) in Hastings (East Sussex) and their children over a long weekend.
I too
k a Ryanair flight from Malaga into London Stansted, then got the fast bus connection into Stratford Shopping Centre (East London).
It all went very smoothly. I got through border control in double-quick time, courtesy of my e-passport, bought my National bus ticket and went to the stop to catch the A9 into London.
It was so early not much was open in Stratford, but I ended up in a delightful Bulgarian cafe and sampled two excellent beers from that country with my breakfast fry-up!
[Photo courtesy of Ryanair]
The "Big Smoke"
Amy lives a short walk from there in a new flat she has bought. I hadn't seen it yet, other than in photos, so I was looking forward to that.
Views of the Olympic Park with the Athletics Stadium (now West Ham United's home ground)
and the Helter Skelter by day and by night [Photos: PW]
On the night of my arrival Amy was due to have orchestra practice (she is first oboist). The plan was that I would attend that, then we'd go for dinner together. However, that all changed when Amy had to go on a class camp with her younger son and stay overnight.
So I was all on my own for the first night. No problem - I enjoy my own company.
Amy is chief executive of Tutors United, an educational charity which provides catch-up classes for kids who have fallen behind.
On Friday evening we picked up her two boys, my grandchildren, from school. Amy and the boys' father Carlo are divorced but share custody of their two children.
Amy [Tutors United]
Off to the seaside
On Saturday we all hopped on a train to Hastings to stay with my son Tom, wife Susannah and their two children.
Tom and Su are both professional actors and musicians, although Tom is "resting" at the moment and Su is a stay-at-home mum.
Tom in "a Clockwork Orange" [West End Theatres]
Birthday Party
On Saturday we celebrated the 2nd birthday of Tom and Su's youngest. The weather was hot and sunny so we were able to go ahead with the planned BBQ.
Nearly all the extended family were there and it was a great afternoon. It was fun to catch up with Su's mum, Claire, and dad, Nick, my ex-wife, Jeryl, and my brother, Simon, and his wife, Marilyn.
I also had a really long chat with Jeryl's brother, Tony, and his wife, Diane, who I hadn't seen for years.
I got to know better Su's (half-)brother, Pav, from Belarus; his dad, a recent refugee from that conflicted country, Su's sister, Tara, and her Danish husband. I also met Nick's partner who is from Ukraine. It all felt very cosmopolitan.
Three mums: Amy, Diane and Jeryl [PW]
Fathers' Day
Sunday was Fathers' Day in the UK so I was treated to brunch in Victoria Park, Hastings, a splendid oasis in the town with a couple of restaurants, a miniature railway, tennis courts, a playground and exquisite gardens.
Two dads on Fathers' Day [Photo: S Austin] Big yellow train ride [Photo: Anon]
Despite the heat, we did the lot!
Time to go home
On Monday 14th I spent the morning in and around the emblematic George Street. Had a couple of tasty pints and bought a few souvenirs before I took the train from Rye, next door to Hastings, to London Gatwick for my Wizzair flight back to Malaga.
The Albion in Hastings - my favourite pub Mollie from Wellington (NZ) - service with a smile
[Photos by Paul Whitelock]
But, shock horror, I missed the flight!
I haven't done that for decades.
So I had to book a new flight with another airline, Vueling, so I was very late getting into Malaga and quite a bit poorer!
Epilogue
Despite the catastrophe of my flight home to Spain and the chaos that is Malaga airport at night*, I can look back fondly on a delightful few days with family in England.
*Rogues Gallery - the name and shame blog - Chaos at Malaga airport
© Diary of a Nobody
Links:
Claire Hamill Band - Live - Living Proof - 13th March 2025 - YouTube
Meet Amy: Our New CEO - Tutors United
SUSANNAH AUSTIN - NIGHTWALKING - Vídeo Dailymotion
West End Live 2016 Sunny Afternoon - YouTube
Pictures:
Amy Gibbs, Paul Whitelock, Ryanair, Susannah Austin, Tom Whitelock, Tutors United, West End Theatres
Tags:
"A Clockwork Orange", Amy, Claire, Claire Hamill, Diane, Hastings, Jeryl, Nick, "Nightwalking", Paul Whitelock, "Rogues Gallery", Ryanair, Stratford, Su, "Sunny Afternoon", Susannah Austin, Tom, Tom Whitelock, Tony, Tutors United, Victoria Park, West End Theatres, YouTube