9:23 a.m. I guess I need to catch up a bit before we head home. Yesterday we got up at 7:45 & showered & packed most everything up. Headed to breakfast where K&A joined us -- they woke up late -- and also Emily, one of Rosellen's friends who walked to dinner with us on Friday. She also caught the bouquet when Rosellen threw it (after we left). The usual lots-of-food, tho' I passed on bacon for a change. Back upstairs to pack, said goodbye to Emily, Reg called from Reception to let us know he was ready to take us back to his house, down we went to check out, checked our suitcases @ the desk to pick up later on the way to the train...off we went, stuffed into Reg's car. His sister & brother (& spouses) were there, Jan was making coffee for everyone. We chatted for a bit, then Richard organized the 3 of them into a copy of the photo that was taken of them 65ish years ago (hanging on the mantle). Around 11:15 Marguerite arrived and then we all piled into cars to caravan to Scraptoft to visit Jean's burial site. A&K and Beast had not been there of course, and the rest of us wanted a chance to say hello & see the amazing view from the hillside & generally pay our respects.

After a bit we went back to the little pub in a nearby village where we'd gone last summer. Lovely food -- I had fishcakes & veg. Then back to Reg's for a short time, where it was decided that Marguerite would take us to the train since she needed to get some things from home anyway. Goodbyes all around -- just realized that, surprisingly, I didn't cry! -- and after piling into Marguerite's tiny car we were off to the hotel to get our bags (only one of which fit in the boot -- TINY car!) and she insisted on driving us the 2 blocks to the train station. She only parked in the short-term spots, so she came in and we said quick goodbyes and off she went. We easily navigated to the platform & boarded our train (3rd one to pass thru in 20 min.!) and got situated for the 90 min ride which was uneventful. Free wi-fi though so we checked our email, etc. Still nothing from A. Not sure what the hell happened there. Arriving @ St. Pancras was a breeze, getting to the Tube also was easy, though large bits are under construction so there was a brief fear we'd have to chase around on a couple of lines/trains rather than just one. Nope -- aside from the ENDLESS stairs with no escalators or lifts, it was fine. 5 stops, Paddington, MORE stairs, and out on the street, which turned out to be the street our hotel is on! 2 blocks later and we were checking in. Very trendy, hip & happening place. Nice desk staff. Free wi-fi and movies, etc. Once we came upstairs & unpacked we headed back out on London Road (we're actually in Westminster City) down a couple of doors to a pub where we had Sunday roast w/ Yorkshire pudding etc. Beast had gammon, I had roast beef. It was REALLY good! Music was a little too loud for me, but otherwise it was a fun place. Stopped at a liquor store on the way back & bought a bottle of wine. Then stopped in the hotel restaurant & bought cake slices for each of us to bring upstairs -- REALLY confusing to the staff. I had red velvet, Beast had chocolate. Yum. We pretty much crashed @ that point. Oh no -- wait. Beast took a quick shower & we called Sparky to check on him. He'd had to work yesterday so couldn't talk when we texted him @ (our) dinner. So.

Now I'm caught up. And it's almost time for the alarm to go off & wake Beast up. Today will be long but I think we are solid. Beast printed boarding passes last night, so we just have to get back to Paddington[,] catch the airport train and figure out where United's checkin is. So, more about that in a few hours.

8.43 p.m. EDT Just boarded the plane from Dulles to O'Hare. The flight from Heathrow to Dulles was uneventful and boring -- really long! Neither of us slept. Beast watched 2 movies; I watched 2 Hawiaii 5-0 episodes and 3 Friends episodes before I bailed on that & listened to New Age music while I watched the map. Customs was a total breeze, though when we went through security, they stopped Beast & went thru EVERYthing in his backpack. Nail clippers threw 'em off (toenail). Long hike down the concourse to the RCC which closed about the time we had to head out to our gate anyway. Dulles is basically closing down behind us -- weird. As of right now, no one is sitting next to me -- if the doors shut with that seat empty I'm moving over & Beast & I can both spread out -- well, except that we're in a bulkhead row so the arms don't move. Beast just texted Sparky to say we'll be home soon.

Neither of us wanted this trip to end, but we're both ready for the day to end soon! We're looking 3 a.m. in the face right now. That's 19 hours more or less awake for me, 17 for Beast.