.jpg "Britta Huegel")
Dear You,
friendship is about trust. And Anne trusted me blindly when she came from Darmstadt to London, waiting for me at the feet of St. Paul's, not knowing what would happen, or which destination was waiting for us.
I arrived in time - though in Berlin it seemed that circumstances had plotted against me:
first the alarm-clock of my cellphone didn't work (and husband lectured in Hildesheim). Luckily I had packed everything the evening before, and as I am an early riser, I got wary in the early morning and looked at the clock in the kitchen. Crumbs! Crumbs of time left, to be precise - only half an hour instead of a leisurely one...
So my eyeliner wasn't quite as perfect as usually, but RyanAir was gracious (yes - it can be!) and took me nevertheless - when I finally arrived. Which was at the last moment: having fetched the right underground and changed into the right overground (which needs about fifty minutes to go to the airport) - I relaxed. Looked dreamily out of the window. Suddenly I wondered: 'Hermannstraße' was announced. 'Hermannstraße???' I hurried out of the overground - got a train back: I had forgotten to change at Südstern!
There the next train to the airport was announced (and innerly I apologised to husband, who had advised me to arrive 90 minutes before the flight-departure at the airport - I had laughed a bit condescendingly at this proposal - but followed, and boy: was I happy that for once I had listened to the voice of reason!)
Imagine my horror when suddenly the plate announced: "The next overground to the Airport is cancelled".
WHAT? WHAT?
I hurried to the information desk. Yes, there was an alternative: a real train, coming in ten minutes.
Well: "All's well that ends well" as your dear William S. remarked so wisely.
From the moment I sat in the airplane (10 Euro more to be RyanAir's special guest - hahaha - meaning: you get in first, and have a seat with a little more room for long legs) everything was OK.
And there she was, in London: my friend Anne. My friend since the time we studied together in Mainz. Who had now written her thesis on a German poet and had earned a doctor's degree.
Such a joy!
I wanted to give her something special for that.
Only when we sat in a restaurant and I gave Anne a pair of long golden earrings with a (fake) emerald, she guessed our destination:
Highclere Castle, belonging to the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon - to most of us better known as "Downton Abbey".
.jpg "Britta Huegel")
Enough for today (Now I will dip into your blogs, so I will write the sequel later).
Hello Dear Brigitta! Wonderful post and photos. I have not watched Downton Abbey but Norma has and immediately recognized your picture of Highclere Castle. It looks enormous. Surely, there cannot be many buildings like it or there would be no rocks left in England. You look lovely and excited to be touring. Have fun, and tell me all about it!
ReplyDeleteDear Geo.,
Deletethank you! When I read your comment, I was happy to be in Blogland again (if I stop posting for a few weeks, I get shy - thinking: oh, who will be interested in that?) My friend is the fan of Downton Abbey. Of course I have seen it too, and like it, but am not addicted.
As to the castles: look at the proud comments of Rosemary and Jackie. ;-)
Dear Britta - this post gave me a nervous tummy, it sounded like my travel nightmares the night before I fly - but what a happy outcome.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't understand why a pair of long gold earrings with a fake emerald would tell your friend that you were off to Downton Abbey until I clicked onto the photo.
What a joyous, thoughtful, kind friend you are - one in a million!
(A message for Geo above) there are buildings similar to Highclere all over England, you could visit one per week for all of your life and never see them all.
Dear Rosemary,
Deleteyes - it was a travel nightmare for me too (normally I am an organised person and like to be very punctual). And I was really agitated, because I knew my friend would be in London, not knowing where to go to, because I had secretly booked the rooms as a present for her. But then I thought: well, in case of need, I have my cellphone...
So you found out that the earrings were copies of some pair worn in the tv series. (She wore them all the time, very becoming).
But first I have to thank you: you gave me the idea with one of your lovely posts!
Oh dear Britta …. I just HATE being late and having to rush …. it's such a horrible feeling.
ReplyDelete…. and, what a brilliant present to give to your friend as a little hint that you were going to Highclere. We do have the most beautiful stately homes here in the UK. XXXX
Dear Jackie,
DeleteI hate being late too - my family is always amused that I hurry to a station very much in time :-)
Yes, the English castles and manors are absolutely beautiful!
Special friends are the most special. Nothing more to say.
ReplyDeleteDear Joanne,
ReplyDeletewe are often supposed to be sisters (look a bit alike). And being on the same wavelength, laughing at the same things, being energetic - all that aids, as the many years do that we are friends.
Now, this is definitely a suspense-filled beginning of a must-read story! Tell on, please!!
ReplyDeleteDear Sue,
Deletethe beginning was very exciting - but though the pace did not change that much, the content does :-)
I do not like to be late either. But what an adventure you had. It is wonderful that you took the time top record it so you can look at it another time for a good chuckle.
ReplyDeleteDear Emma,
Deleteyes - in hindsight all these things got something funny, I could not complain about being bored... But I learned a lesson: I will use two ways to get awake, cellphone and old-fashioned alarmclock - if it counts.
Oh Britta, what a beginning to your adventure with your friend! what a wonderful way to celebrate her academic accomplishment and your special friendship! So anxious to hear more about your adventures in friendship...English style! Smiles...Susan
ReplyDeleteDear Susan,
Deleteyes, it was a bit much for a start :-) But I am so glad about the journey: it is as if we collected some dream-days to remember.
What an adventure to make it there in one piece! I shall be happy to read about the next step in your (fake) emerald-clad pilgrimage to Downton!
ReplyDeleteDear Suze, remember: it is Frankfurt Book Fair very soon - together we'll be there in time :-) , and if we miss a train, we'll take the next one!
DeleteWhat a treasure you and your friend have in each other. It's wonderful that you were able to meet and celebrate her doctorate in such a meaningful way. So what if the adventure got off to a stressful start? Once you got together, I'll bet everything else was perfect.
ReplyDelete