Stonehenge

Andy and I drove down to Gatwick to meet the kids when they arrived from Canada and we couldn't have timed it better!  Their flight was 1/2 hour early (scheduled to arrive at 8:50).  By the time we parked the car and made our way to international arrivals, they had collected their luggage and had gone through passport control.   We didn't have to wait any time to greet them. Upon reaching the international arrivals "meeting point", they came walking through the gate. What great timing!  

Rachel and Tyler rented a car, however, they could not get luggage for 3 people into the trunk, so as it turns out, it was a rather good idea to have met them at the airport.  Rachel and Christine rode with us in our car with Tyler, Lyden and Erin in the car rental, and we set off to see Stonehenge.  The history of the Stonehenge we see today is the final stage that was completed some 3,500 years ago (according to this website source: http://www.stonehenge.co.uk/history.php), excerpt follows:

"Some 82 bluestones from the Preseli mountains, in south-west Wales were transported to the site. It is thought these stones, some weighing 4 tonnes each were dragged on rollers and sledges to the headwaters on Milford Haven and then loaded onto rafts. They were carried by water along the south coast of Wales and up the rivers Avon and Frome, before being dragged overland again to near Warminster in Wiltshire. The final stage of the journey was mainly by water, down the river Wylye to Salisbury, then the Salisbury Avon to west Amesbury.

This astonishing journey covers nearly 240 miles. Once at the site, these stones were set up in the centre to form an incomplete double circle."  

Pretty amazing!

We made our way from Stonehenge back to Moreton, stopping to drop off Lyden and Erin's luggage at Little Pinners before carrying on to Coventry where Rachel, Tyler and Christine are staying with Andy's mom Teresa and stepfather Nev.  Needless to say Grandma was very happy to see us all arrive safe and sound, on her doorstep just in time for dinner!  When asked what to prepare for dinner, we told her just a simple salad.  But oh no, nothing simple like that would do!  Teresa laid out a feast:  2 different salads, scotch eggs, roasted chicken, boiled new potatoes, shrimp with cocktail sauce and for dessert:  two home baked berry fruit flans with your choice of custard, fresh double cream or ice-cream.  Even though she went way over the top,  it's a bit comforting to know that some things never change!