Cossetted in W. Virginia in borrowed slippers and PJ’s

Haven’t been able to get online for a day or so. Will catch up with photos and stories later.

Arrived with the winter in Princeton W.Virgina at 6pm tonight to stay with dear dear friends, Gloria and John Coffey.

It was pouring with rain for  most of the 4hr journey here from Richmond VA so we couldn’t see the wonderful Appalachian mountain scenery. TT had to lend me his big outdoor jacket as I was cold and wet as the temp is about 40deg cooler that in Augusta  2 days ago. I even had to dig into my “winter suitcase” for a big wooly jumper to wrap myself in.

As we crossed in W. Virginia from Virginia, I tried to get TT to sing John Denver’s, “Take me home, country home, to the place I belong, West Virginia, mountain ?? , take me home, la la la”. Anyone know the missing lyrics? Haven’t enough battery left to Google it.

I couldn’t sing because I was slurping down my hot chilli that we had just bought at Wendys. It was very nice and warm and got rid of my “chillys” very effectively.

Am now off to bed in a pair of fleecy Christmas PJ;s belonging to Gloria. Both my pairs are in her washing machine and not nearly warm enough for the winter which has arrived on Summer’s heels, completely leaving Autumn no room at all.

TT and I are sleeping in her sewing room. She is a wonderful quilt maker so we are surrounded by her marvelous, “Works in Progress”. I’m even wearing a cozy fluffy pair of slippers of hers. She didn’t say I could borrow them, but I’m sure she won’t mind as she and John have told us to make use of anything we want in their home. Their cats, Princess and Oreo are making use of our cases, especially our mobile cool box, the soft top of which they are fighting over as a bed.

We are here until Monday. Tomorrow we are going with them to watch 42nd Street. Friday we are having  a bunch of people over from their church. Several of them came on our England holiday to Oxford a few years ago. They all feel like family. Saturday TT is doing a play at the church.

So happy to have a quieter month lined up and be with friends for the next month in WV and then dear old Nashville Tennessee.

Good night from Princeton West Virginia and Happy Birthday to Charlie our eldest grandson who is 6 today!

night y’all.

xx

Tender, tearful, Tennessee State Line sighting.

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Yesterday and today I got a bit emotional. “What’s new?” I hear my family and best friends asking. In just over three weeks, we have traveled over three thousand miles and have lived out of suitcases, computer roller bags and a mobile fridge.

Our hotel rooms have looked like this.

Hotel room = Organized chaos?

We have had a fantastic time but it has been busy and even stressful with deadlines and 13 performances so far.

Niagara Falls was a wonderful break. We packed an awful lot into a few hours and had a nine hour plus journey afterwards to get us to our next “gig”.

TT’s plan worked. After this wonderful treat I would never dream of leaving his employ or even our marriage for another “Roadie” position. It certainly made up for the hectic, slightly crazy times when I just wanted to pack up and go back to sleepy Somerset and retire.

Like the time I mislaid the Brylcream just before the show or made his tea with Redbush/Rooibosh tea , just before he went on stage with it in the teapot. I  should have used Yorkshire tea bags.

Poor “C.S. Lewis” had to pretend to enjoy this African grown tea instead of that distributed by the U.K. Yorkshire tea company!

Back to Niagara . I haven’t even told you about the boat trip, right up to, and into the spray of the falls.

It was AMAZING!!!

Those of you who have done this “Maid of The Mist” trip, know that each passenger is issued with a big blue waterproof plastic Macintosh with hood to keep you dry. Well of course it doesn’t completely,  which adds to the fun, especially if like us, you were on the top deck right at the front.

Excuse me I should say the ” Bow” or “Poop” for my nautical readers. (If there are any) Actually I think I have one. My sailing son Daniel, who knows his “poop” from his “stern”!

Anyway it was fantastic ! Have I used that adjective before? I yelled and screamed my lungs out as we got closer into the falls and got soaked with the spray.

Everyone should do this before they die. Unfortunately I dropped my new camera while I was taking pictures of the Falls and broke it. Another emotional high and low all mixed up together.

Happily TT has ordered me another one from Amazon. He is working hard to keep me on an even keel, emotionally speaking . See I am keeping with the nautical theme!

Yesterday I was feeling a bit travel weary on the 8 hr drive from Virginia to Georgia. Then I had an attack of “the warm fuzzies”. Why? We were crossing the state line into Georgia, when I realized that our beloved Tennessee is the next state to here. I even saw a sign for the I40 and Knoxville!

I nearly made TT swerve off the road as I suddenly burst into a rousing chorus of “Good Ole Rocky Top. Rocky Top Tennessee. Click here and sing with me. Yeee Hii!!! Here are the lyrics.

“Good ‘ole  Rocky Top, Rocky Top Tennessee!! You’ll always be, Home sweet Home to me!!”

So… I’m feeling very comforted to know that we are so near our Nashville home and will soon be seeing our dear dear friends from there and even our house in Mt Juliet!  Deep joy!!

We arrived in our Augusta hotel a few hours ago. We are unpacked and my lovely jubbly husband is out visiting Panera to collect our supper. Veggie soup and “Orchard Harvest Chicken salad” for me. He will have their wonderful French Onion soup and a Panini.

Bon appetit and good night all,  from The Paynes in hot hot Georgia.

P.S. May have another outside swim before I go to bed. It’s still in the 90deg F/?30+C here.

Love hugs and prayers.

From Marilyn aka Roadie Grandma and David aka TT “The Talent”! xxx