Unexpected trip to Canada.
A trip to Canada was as far from my mind as a win on The Lottery. However, an endowment policy matured and we were in a position to make the trip that Bev had so looked forward to for the past four years.
This all happened at the beginning of July. Bev straight away declared that we should book seats and make an arrangement with her sister Shirley in Orillia. Kimberley, Kelly and Aidan had all booked their own Holidays. Owen would of course come with us. We should go NOW! I argued for a later date ... some time in The Fall.
One. It would be cooler, perhaps more beautiful than any other time of year. ( Bev cannot bear the heat ).
Two. It would give us time to arrange leave of absence from School for Owen.
Three. We could arrange a holiday over three weeks. ( Its an expensive trip ... get value for money! Cheaper flights too at that time of year. )
Four. I had a trip in July fixed already, based around a Trades Union Rally at Tolpuddle.
Five. I'd been quite unwell for the past week and indeed saw myself being quite unwell for a good part of the trip. An abcess had given me an infection of a lymph gland, my face was swollen and painful, I was on strong anti-biotics.
Six. We had to be in England by the 25th to travel down to London to be with Kim at her Calling to the Bar at Lincolns Inn.
Bev organised this trip almost without consultation. With not a thought for my own plans, I found the tickets booked for July 14th, returning on the 24th. It was with real regret that I told Aidy that Tolpuddle would not be possible for me this year. He was understanding in the extreme. He reckons what we have achieved this year is contribution enough. I disagree but what can one do? Work? Domestic issues? No question about it really. Work supercedes all too often, time to be a husband and parent. Time to chill.
The flights were booked at reasonable times of the day and conveniently, from Birmingham. I won't mention the price! It is the very first time that Bev and I have ever travelled abroad together. Imagine, it's our Pearl Wedding anniversary this year, ( tomorrow in fact! ) thirty years and the farthest we have travelled is probably Scotland! So, there we were, Friday the 13th of July and at seven o clock in the evening I was packing a case and trying to feel a little excitement about the forthcoming trip. 
There was a two hour delay at Birmingham. Some medical emergency on the inbound aircraft meant that a new, full medical kit had to be rushed up from London. Remember, this is an Airline here. They decided the quickest method of transport would be by car. Car I ask you. Helicopters, private planes, motor cycle courriers, they chose to deliver it by car. 
Bev is not a very patient person, she does not turn down any opportunity to exercise the right to grumble. Not complain ... to grumble, to me and to Owen. This is not fun. To the persons within hearing distance she appears to have the grace and charm of a Fish Wife. Owen and I are mortally embarrassed and feel like gagging her, tying her up and dumping her in some dark corner of the departure lounge until we can board. We discuss this in detail and have developed a cunning plan to lure her away from the public gaze while we perform the nefarious deed. By good fortune the tannoy announces that we can board our 'plane seconds before we execute our plan.
Finally, two hours behind time we are in our seats and airborne.
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