The Greatest country in world!

On Thursday 4th August I flew to the greatest country in the world: so Great that the word is used in the name and so important it is in the centre of nearly every world map - that's right I returned to Great Britain, land of the free and home of the brave...

I had a pleasant flight with ANA in premium ecconomy. The food was good but the movie selection pretty poor. However the highlight was watching the Japanese film "Half a Confession" (Japanese title "Han-ochi"). A respected police officer arrives at a police station and says he has murdered his wife, however he has only confessed having killed her 3 days earlier. He will not say why and the police try to cover up the story from the media. As the film progresses you learn little by little what happened, bringings a tear to the eye. One word of advice - make sure English subtitles are on!

Landed at Heathrow, headed off to work in cab to collect a pool car and then raced back down the M1 to Mum's. I was greated with a big smile, big hug, big kiss, big mug of tea and big plate of bangers and mash with gravy - good to be back!

Friday Mum, Bill (the man in mother's life) and I traveled to Gloucester in preparation for my cousins wedding. Note much to note other than the Premier Inn having a nice pub next door that did good food - rather than the usual dive they usually have in the vacinity.

Then Saturday afternoon we headed of to Cranham church all suited up. It is beautiful church to have a wedding in but unfortunately the sun gods weren't shinning down on us as it rained all day, as it had for the 2 or 3 days before!

The reception was in a marque in a neirbours field which would have been a big problem if it were not for the excellent preparation of everyone involved - gravel and matting had been put down. The glass of champagne upon getting undercover was gladly welcomed. After chatting with the extended family it was time for food. All I will say is it was probably the best wedding food I am every likely to taste, it was absolutely spot on. Onto the speeches - amusing without being vulga - and then disco time! I needed the prerequist 2 or 3 beers before I started tapping my right foot to the beat but after being forced on to the dance floor I did my (drunken) thing and sang along at the top of my voice.

Sunday morning I woke up feely rather good, I hadn't gone silly the night before despite the free beer. Just as well as at my age (28) hangover come all too easy. Over to Auntie Sylvia and Uncle Keiths and then on to a lovely pub in the middle of nowhere - litterally surrounded by fields and only accessed by 3 or 4 miles of rough country lanes. Good grub and company and then it was time for travel back to london.