I arrived in the United Kingdom on the 31st October from Seattle, a long flight—a relatively comfortable seat, a pillow and a blanket, and a pretty good chicken dinner, but still exhausting. Some hours later, in a rental car—driving on the left side of the road can be daunting. Fortunately, I wasn’t  in the driving sea! By the time we arrived at our destination it was dark, but the smell and roar of the sea was wonderful. A walk along the beach the following morning to my mother’s house was brisk and warmer than expected. I enjoyed looking for small pieces of flint stones. 

PLACES VISITED  IN SUSSEX – all exceptional

Arundel Wetland Center was a magical place with paved easy to walk trails. It is a nature reserve and educational center that allows visitors to see both native and non-native wildfowl and a wide variety of other wildlife. We also took a silent electric boat ride through the meandering waterways of native reeds—a crucial habitat, especially for overwintering waterfowl. It is one of the largest reedbeds in Sussex and designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Selsey/ Bosham was, according to a 12th century chronicler, Henry of Huntingdon, it was here that King Canute, a Viking king who ruled England from 1016 to 1035, placed his throne on the beach and commanded the waves to retreat. Local tradition believes that Cunute’s daughter, who died young, is buried in the Holy Trinity Church, Bosham. St. Wilfrid established an abbey and the first cathedral for the Kingdom of Sussex in Selsey, around 681 AD, making it an important religious centre long before Canute’s time. 

Fishbourne. In 1960 a contractor cutting a water main trench through fields north of the village came across ancient-looking rubble. Early examination suggested the presence of a substantial Roman building. In 1961 it was determined that the site was an exceptionally large, late-first-century building. By 1968 when the site was open to the public, the most spectacular discoveries were the superb mosaic floors.

LONDON

Buy a ticket, board a train,

The Elizabeth Line, outbound 

from Heathrow—to visit my good friend

fills up with foreign voices, colored luggage

on route to British places

Security message booms, “See it, Say it, Sorted.”

NOT—“mind the gap.”

I try to read–impossible

Each station stop, holds a memory

Hayes and Harrington—once only Hayes

Paddington—the home of a favorite talking bear

Bond Street—world-famous luxury shopping 

Tottenham Court Road—a football team

Farrington—a roulette wheel of connection

Liverpool Street—old markets and antique clothes

Whitechapel—once foggy cobblestone alleys

Stratford—2012 Summer Olympics

Leytonstone to Buckhurst Hill—rocketing ear-blasting noise

AND, “Mind the gap” is back

I am at journeys end, YET nothing is familiar, 

No WiFi, unable to connect

Costa cafe provides, bathroom break, latte, and danish joy

And I wait…

For my friend