If you are reading in your head, it may be helpful to know that the name of that town is pronounced half way between "Lewis" and "Lewus" as a Torontonian might pronounce it. (I was going to put "Canadian"... but there is far too much variation for that to have gone by without a comment from someone... not to say that my job here is to write so that no one need comment... how do I so often get so far off track?)
Lewes, in East Sussex in England is the current home of my friends Julian Patrick and Sophie Thomas and their two children Asa and Helen. Many of you know, Julian and Sofie were my landlords for several years when I split a house with most of the people to whose blogs my blog links, and Julian is also my long time squash partner (although, he's only been in Canada 4 months out of each of the past three years).
In any case, as I found myself in England this past weekend, and freed from the chains of the work week, I took the train down to Lewes (remember... it doesn't sound like a reference to Karen, Dion and Adam) on Friday night.
My trip started with a leg from Cheltenham (where I'm staying) into Paddington Station in Kensington in London. I noticed at one point that the name of the station we had stopped at was "Reading"... I had taken a ride on the Reading Railroad! I did of course realize that this is not, in fact, the Reading Railroad of Monopoly fame... and moreover... it's not even pronounced the same! The brits pronounce it as a Torontonian might pronounce "Redding" (I just realized that there may be someone reading who doesn't know anyone from Toronto, so if there is imagine Peter Jennings, John Roberts (news anchor, not Chief Justice) or perhaps any national news anchor in the U.S. (incidentally, John Roberts (formerly J.D. Roberts) used to be a DJ on CHUM's MuchMusic) and if you don't know any of them, too bad)
After the Reading Railroad and a transfer from Paddington Station to Victoria station through the London Tube and a quick jaunt down to Lewes on the regional line, I was warmly met at the station by Julian and quickly lead a short ways to their house. I got a quick tour of their house and sat down to a pot of tea and some chatting. Helen had gone to bed before I came in, but Asa arrived in short order. Despite being the second youngest in the room, it made me feel a bit old to realize how grown up Asa is now. I guess that's what happens.
The next day I was eating breakfast talking to Helen when I had a feeling of deja vu. I got a flash back to when I was on the other side of the "you may not remember me, but I knew you when you were yay high" conversation. She did remember me though, as I have seen her as recently as two years ago and a bunch of times on and of over the past few years. Sofie had a university "do" down in Brighton, so I spent the morning and early afternoon with Julian and the kids on a whirlwind tour of Lewes (and it's castle, attending the kids' piano lessons, and traipsing about the English countryside with some great views of the downs (they really look more like "ups" to me). After lunch, Julian and I took our leave for the main event... our squash match! I had brought my gym clothes, and I borrowed Asa's squash racquet and we headed down to the local club. The match was cut a bit short when Julian (who doesn't stretch really) pulled a bit of a muscle in his back... I could tell that he desperately wanted to continue, but he was in quite a bit of pain.
This is becoming quite a long post, gosh! After a couple more fantastic meals (Sophie made dinner, and Helen made muffins for breakfast) Julian and I headed down to the coast for a hike along where the downs meet the ocean... the chalk cliffs. The are some pictures of both Lewes and the cliffs that I've posted here.
On my trip home, I took the reverse route, but there was one little wrinkle, the circle line (the tube route that has both Paddington and Victoria) was closed for construction (a notice of which I had observed on the way through the first time), so I walked. I wish I had had a watch because I ended up rushing a little more than I needed to... I was a bit paranoid about missing my train.
Anyway, I had a really wonderful weekend, and made it "home" without any problems.
-KDH
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3 comments:
My coworker Jan just came back from Germany where he was travelling by train, sitting in the same section as two older ladies in their sixties; sisters. The younger sister decided impulsively to leave the train to deliver a postcard, 5 minutes before it was to leave the station. She never made it back on the train. In addition, she had left most of her possessions on the train, except the *one* cell phone that she shares with her sister. As the train accelerated away, the older sister was beside herself with worry. Jan very helpfully offered his cell phone so that the elder could call the younger. What's more, he called his wife at home in Denmark so she could help look up German train schedules. They found another train that would manage to intercept them Nuremburg, giving the younger sister a small window of time in which she could run back over to the original train. The plan was successful, the sisters tearfully reunited. The younger got quite a scolding.
I'm glad you didn't miss your train. :)
That's a neat story. I think people are more likely to help older ladies than they would be to help a surly looking 30-something like myself!
Hi
To avoid London & if you are in Reading again you might like to travel train to Gatwick then pick up the London-Lewes train there.
A resident of Lewes, I visit Toronto often.
Small world!
Brett
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