Arriving Uk April 28

 Dean arrived at 6:30am, took a train to Paddington station and then on to Euston Station on the underground. Our train was scheduled to depart from Euston at 12:40 so he had about 4 hours to spend there, so he familiarized himself with the station and try and figure out where we would be departing from.                                                                 I arrived at Gatwick about 9:30, both our flights were on time. I cleared immigration quickly and went through the Nothing to Declare line which all together took about 30 minutes including a 20 minute walk. I only had one carry on bag which made it very convenient.  But I couldn't board my Gatwick Express until 11:26 so sent a few emails, picked up my tickets and waited until about 11. I had received some conflicting information about which platform to board from so went to Platform 2. Spoke to another person there who said get on any one, so I did.   

The Express took about 35 minutes arriving at Victoria Station. I then made my way to the Underground for Euston Station on the Victoria line.3 stops later I arrived and saw a text from Dean telling me to meet him at the top of the escalator.  After going up the third set of escalators I finally saw him with 10 minutes to spare before our train left.  They put up our platform and we were able to find our respective cars and seats. The train had about 12 cars. Noting that there was an empty sean beside Dean, I relocated to his car.

 We noticed that Dean was scheduled to depart the train two stops after me. I consulted with train staff and was advised that we could both get off at the same station so we decided to transfer at a smaller station,  Wolverhampton. We got off the train, waited 5 minutes and then got on the train following our first one. This one had two cars. A 15 minute ride took us to Shrewsbury where we walked off one train and boarded one further down the platform. Another 17 minute ride on a two car train dropped us at Gobowen.

We walked around the front of the station, waited two minutes and up drove Steve and Caroline.  Hugs all around. We drove past their old house,  Braecroft in Hengoed before carrying on another 10 minutes until arriving at their new home in Pant Glas at about 4pm.

This home started as two cottages on the Harlec Estate. The first was occupied by the saddle maker with his residence on the ground floor with the hide workshop on the second.  The second cottage was occupied by the Head Butler. In 1878 the cottages were torn down and a new property built.

Steve and Caroline bought it in 2023 and set about renovating it. They have restored 4 bedrooms (Dean and I each have a lovely large one), converted the former dining room into a modern well appointed kitchen. The former kitchen is now a back entry come mud room ( without mud) come dog room. A lovely snug/tv room and another snug on the main floor. They each have their own office on the upper floor. As I write this contractors are completing another upstairs bathroom to very high standards. 

Their family dog is called Mara, short for maraschino which is her colour. She is very friendly and well behaved.

After setting in we had a gin and tonic and some wine. Caroline cooked a wonderful chicken dinner (she is an excellent cook which I remember from 2010). We stayed up and talked at length before heading off to bed at 9:30.