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The plane was almost 2 hours late. An hour in Denver, a half an hour on the tarmac in London, and another half an hour standing in the plane waiting for the doors to be opened.

I was greeted by my smiling and lovely friends Gill and Charles. which is always the best, nothing beats being greeted at the airport when you arrive, even if there isn't a sign there for you.


It was a gorgeous day which I didn't expect being England and all. We went straight off to the wedding venue, the Orleans House, a gorgeous, 18th century home/gallery where the ceremony will be, right on the river Thames.

We had a quick wreckee of the room where the ceremony will be. A lovely detailed little room in gold, white and light blue, full of ornate relief and lots of cherubs.
We planned a few of the shots hoping and praying for good weather and then had a bite to eat in the refurbished stables before heading off to catch the train.

http://www.richmond.gov.uk/home/leisure_and_culture/arts/orleans_house_gallery.htm

I know it would be difficult to travel on the train with my luggage. Overwhelming really. I had to change trains in Waterloo to get on the train for Templecombe. I was on the end train where one of the conductors worked. I asked him if there were porters at the station, knowing that there really wouldn't be. He did tell me that there were trolleys though. He was wonderful and when the train stopped he helped me off with my 2 huge and heavy duffle bags and tracked me down a trolley. I have to admit I did play the part a bit of the dumb tourist.

Ian, I finally came to find out his name, watched my bags as I found out the train times, and then loaned me his company phone so I could call the Lindsells and let them know when I would arrive. He was on a 2 hour break and decided to sit and chat with me. It was really quite nice and comforting. I told him about our situation and of course he felt staying in England was the best.

He did say something that is staying with me and haunting me a little. He told me of a man he worked with who had some kind of cancer or illness. It took him months of leave to sort it out and just when he was getting back on his feet his teenage son also came down with some form of cancer. He said when one thing happens another always follows. I am hoping in our case that our other things is what is happening in Zimbabwe. Horrible to stay but I don't know what we would do if were hit with something else.

It makes me wonder about the decision to come home. Although everything here costs an arm and a leg, the weather sucks, the people are... well... English. The socialist system does seem to work when you have a devastating illness. When living here of course I never thought that; as we watched 40% of Patrick's wages go to people living on the dole, teenagers and adults hanging out in the pub drinking beer and eating fast food never thinking about the possibility of a job. Now.. I think a bit differently esp. after spending time on the children's cancer ward on my last visit. The idea that you have to spend your life savings, or work doubly hard to save the life of your child or even your self somehow doesn't seem to make a lot of sense.

Yesterday as we were leaving the hospital and the nurse was piling on all the meds, syringes, and rubber gloves, I couldn't help but think will my stomach turn every-time that happens when we go to the hospital in the states and I have to think how much is that going to cost me. There is so much about this situation that you can't put a value on. How much would it be worth not to have to think about money for the treatment of Rafiki?

There are community nurses who come to the house, social workers who also visit and help you find solutions to your problems. Will that be available to us in the States for no cost? I don't know but for now it is a huge comfort knowing it is here if and when we need it.

Ian got me settled on the train and we said goodbye. He was an older man with a kind face and I felt he represented another good omen in our journey. I got my window and seat and immediately feel asleep. I woke up 20 minutes later with a new passenger at my side, immediately feel back asleep again and woke up another 20-minutes later. This went on for the next hour and half each time waking up to someone new. I was bit nervous about my things but I felt I had to trust that nothing would happen as I couldn't keep my eyes open. About a half an hour away from my stop I realized I had to stay awake or I would miss my stop and end up God knows where.

When I arrived my heart dropped as I saw the only way to get across the tracks to be picked up was up and over a bridge. I just stood there in bewilderment and out of no where a woman came to my aid and asked me if I needed help. I accepted of course but Edward, Patrick's brother and his daughter Kate soon arrived and helped me haul my kit to the other side.

The train station was only about 15 minutes from the house but when I arrived Liz ( sister-in-law) was rushing to the car and told me the boys were on the way to the hospital. My heart sunk. I rushed inside and Patrick was headed for the door pushing my feverish little monkey out in his stroller. All I wanted to do was hug the little guy and hold him, but he turned his head from me and wouldn't even look at me.

I don't think I even gave Patrick a hug.

We loaded up the car and I jumped in as we rushed off to the local hospital in Dorchester.
http://www.dch.org.uk/index.html

We went straight to the children's ward and immediately got a room. We were seen by the nurses and doctors who were all pleased to see the Mum had finally arrived.

The good thing was they didn't' seem to be to worried but Rafiki's fever had been increasing. They wanted to do a chest x-ray and a few tests that night. It was late and the room was small, room for only one bed. I knew Liz probably didn't want to stay long esp. since it was a half an hour ride home and it was already 11pm. Patrick and I decided the best thing for me to do was go home and get some rest especially since he had it under control. I felt terribly guilty about it which I am sure is going to be a theme throughout this journey but I really couldn't' have done much

We made it home and I didn't get out of bed until 12:30pm the next day.