This must be the sign for the street of my mind
What a crazy turn of events. I leave for London on Monday afternoon and stay with Val’s friend Lynda in Bishop Stortford, which is just a 10 minute train ride from Stansted airport. I thought I was being very smart. Get nice and close to the airport the night before and then all I do is grab the train in the morning and head to the airport and by noon I will be in Limoges for my house sit.
This is how I felt when I thought I had lost my passport for good
Getting to Lynda’s went smoothly and Lynda and I had a lovely evening. Up at 7 am I head to the train station even earlier than I needed to. Extra time at the airport, why not. I get to the train station and ask the conductors what platform the train for Stansted is on. They tell me that the train is not running as frequently and wanted to know when my flight was. “10 am” I told them. “Well not to worry,” they said, “We’ll get you to the airport in time.”
Waiting for Godo
The next train was supposed to be 7:48 am. Up on the screen it suddenly came up cancelled! “What is happening with the train?” I asked. “Well it looks like they have cancelled this one and the 8:20 but they have put another one in at 8:05.” Messages on the t.v. are noting that lines are down at some of the stops further south. So lots of announcements, lots of trains late. Plenty of trains coming from the north, but nothing from the south. 8:05 turns to 8:10, 8:12, 8:14, 8:16. I am starting to feel panic. An 83 year old woman is needing to go to the airport too. We are both starting to worry. Finally the conductor says that the train is stuck behind another train but it should be arriving soon, however we might want to consider another way. Sure now they tell me.
Now what do I do?
So when the 8:20 comes up on the screen as cancelled, the lady and myself decide we need to take other action. She calls her son who lives just across from the station and he will drive us. So we race to his apartment building and hop in the car. It is 8:25. As we are driving to the airport I realize that my passport, which had been in my hand is not with me. I check all my stuff. Nothing. My heart sinks. As we get to the airport I break the news to them that I think I dropped my passport at the station or when we put the baggage in the car and I will have to go back. I say good bye to the lovely lady, and her son drives me back. I have missed my flight.
Moss doesn't grow on a rolling stone
At this point I am most concerned with my passport. I can just envision some immigrant finding it on the ground and finding a jackpot. Passport gone forever. I get to the train station and check everywhere. I check everywhere I went and all my bags. The guys were great trying to help me too. Nothing. So I resign myself that it is lost and I head to the airport to figure out what to do. I call Val and ask her to dig out my Canadian passport and find out what it will cost to courier up to me. I have to get to France. Val calls me back and lets me know that it will cost 200 pounds to courier to me. Wow.
Caught with limited view ...
I phone the police to report my passport being lost. As I am standing at the tourist information counter talking to the police, the lady there asks me my name. I tell her. “It’s here”, she says. I hang up. “Really?” “Yes, a lady turned it in.” Relief. I go retrieve it so very thankful that I have found it. The most important item retrieved.
Looking for the answers ....
However, missed flight needed to be rectified. No flights for Limoges until the next day and I didn’t want to pay big bucks for a hotel. But there was a flight to Bergerac that afternoon which was perfect. Now I could visit friends in Bergerac for the evening and take the train the next morning.
For every problem there is a solution .... just drink until it's blurry ... !
Well long story short, all of that worked out and I arrived in Limoges and was picked up by Tony, who I am house sitting for and the better adventure begins. I meet Caroline, his wife, and Katie, their daughter. Plus the four horses: Freddie, Marmalade, Benji and the donkey Montie; four cats: Tetley, Tipsy, Annabelle and Kitty; and their two dogs: Oscar and Archie. We had a lovely dinner with their friends and they gave me the run down on what I needed to know.
Where I am heading
So now, they have left and I am settling in to this lovely place in Grandmont, France and have even gone for a ride already. I will post more about this great area, but this is all for now!