TALE FIVE

	                        RETURN TO WINTER IN ENGLAND

     The arrival-time in Calais was scheduled exactly 24 hours after we looked at our
watches in Villa Anita. That caused two Welshmen, - bless their musical hearts,- to burst into
Gene Pitney's song about Tulsa (re-arranged), - namely "(only) 24 hours from Calais!" We
were all in good spirits having all had good times in Northern Italy (each in our own
individual way).

     Having journeyed all the way by land from the Dolomites to Calais, it became obvious
that there was snow everywhere. Nowhere had escaped. This gave the whole scenery a much
better 'holiday feeling'. The snow was, at all times, very placid and devoid of aggravating
winds or storms. So it was time to cross the Channel (or La Manche) with a very pleasant
Ferry ride. (This will be my last cross-channel journey by boat before indulging in 'Le Shuttle'
for the next trips). 

     I got no food from the ship, using, instead, some goodies that I'd bought elsewhere.
However, I did meet up with June and her mother - the ladies whose pleasant company I had
experienced in the restaurant a few days earlier in Predazzo in the Italian Dolomites. We
joked about having another meal there soon. We also vowed to keep an eye on the waitress
and her 'dodgy-arithmetic'.

     On arrival at Dover there was still snow - and it increased in depth as we proceeded
Northwards. However, between Bracknell & Reading the snow disappeared. A coach change
was called for at Bristol -  and the driver (by a friendly arrangement) drove me home rather
than to Worcester (a mutually beneficial move!). I was back in Malvern at 8.45pm on Friday
26th January '96.

     Although back home in snow-less Malvern, we did return to the snowy conditions
before long - as an accompanying photo shows.


 I'll be just a little while in 'the old country' before travelling South again for a short trip to 
Europe - but not so far south this time!!