The weather today was fantastic. Definitely not the normal English summer's day that we remember. Brilliantly fine weather, blue skies and temperatures ranging from 18 to 25+C.

We left the Day's Inn and headed on basically the same path as yesterday, on the way to Chipping Norton. The most memorable thing about getting there was the number of roundabouts in a short duration. There must have been more than 20 roundabouts in 50+ miles, which ranged between half a mile and five miles between adjacent roundabouts. It makes travel a challenge. You just get up to speed and then you have to slow down until you are around the roundabout.

Meeting my cousin, Janni, in Chipping Norton, for the first time since somewhere in the early 1960's was a very pleasant experience. She came to the UK in the late 70's on her Overseas Experience and never really left. It was great to catch up with her and Rupert and sitting out in the sun, chatting and drinking a cup of tea, was a little piece of Kiwiland in the middle of England.

It was interesting to be allowed in Rupert's workshop. He works from home and is a horologist (someone who repairs clocks). He had some very interesting ones in for repair, just like those you see on the Antique Roadshow.

We left after three hours and headed towards the East, ending up in Halstead with Sue, who we net many years ago in Taihape, but that's another story. We had quite a delay getting into Halstead and that was due the congestion on the M25 motorway and to yet another roundabout on the end of a 70 mph dual carriageway in Essex. We also met her two critters, two part Siamese cats, and were welcomed by all. All the humans went to dinner at a local flour mill that now a restaurant with an antique mall above.

If we had a bounty on roundabouts, you could collect a double here.

Roundabouts are everywhere.  Maybe they breed well here?

A small Kiwi backyard in Chipping Norton

Rupert and Janni with Henry the dog.

The M25 was pretty clogged.

Sue and Lynette in Halstead