Four Days That Felt Like Ten

~ beetleypete

Back on my blog after four days away, a break to attend a family wedding in Kent and catch up with one of my oldest friends. So much coming and going during the month of September, this last trip was so tiring it felt as if we had been away for ten days, not four. Fortunately, there were no mishaps, everything went as planned, and Ollie was lovingly cared for during the two days he was left with my friend.

Some things I have taken away from the trip are worth noting.

‘Early Start’ weddings are unbelievably tiring when you are over 70. Having to be at a wedding venue before 12:30 for a 1pm outdoor service is all very well, but when the wedding party doesn’t end until midnight, it feels like an incredibly long day. For me, it felt as if I had been at the wedding for two days, not one. I had to give up and leave twenty minutes before midnight, otherwise I would have been too tired to make the short drive back to our bed and breakfast accommodation.

After living in a quiet part of rural Norfolk for eleven years, going back to driving on multi-lane motorways at high speeds for three hours comes as a shock. How soon you forget just how much traffic is on the roads the closer you get to London. And the crazy driving that comes with the frustration of the queues and merging roads feels like a new experience after all that time away. It amazed me how many risks people are prepared to take to change lanes at high speed just to get one car in front of where they were previously.

It was good to take Ollie with us, even though he was left at our friend’s house for two nights while we were at the wedding. He is far more settled when he is in the car with us, than when he is left back in Beetley.

The ‘fallout’ from multiple journeys over a four day period of living out of bags and a suitcase is long-lasting. Arriving home late yesterday afternoon, we were both exhausted, and had to go to bed much earlier than usual. Luckily, we have no plans for the next few weeks, as it is likely we would have had to cancel them just to get over the month of September with all its rushing around.

Eating out for half of a month is not healthy. We now have to get back into a routine of smaller meals, and healthier options. It is also very expensive, compared to our normal shopping and cooking expenditure.

If we have any family celebrations in the years to come, I just hope they liaise with each other, and stagger the dates. 🙂

I am unable to catch up on all the posts I missed, but will reply to comments and view new posts from today’s date.

68 thoughts on “Four Days That Felt Like Ten”

  1. Our comforts, when we’re over 70, are truly tested when we take trips and are away. I can’t remember the last time I stayed up till midnight. It was nothing decades ago, just like it is nothing for the bride and groom. Of course you’re exhausted, and thank goodness you can rest. I’m so glad the weddings were wonderful, and you got to catch up with your good friend. And, Ollie did just fine, too! All in all, you have had wonderful events and memory makers. Best to you, Pete.

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    1. I am now the oldest male member of my extended family, so felt the need to attend both weddings. I confess I had no idea just how tiring it would be to go to both in the same week. Luckily, I am able to rest, and I have done very little this week.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  2. We were at a wedding years ago and my husband said, once the disco started, ‘Can’t we leave now, someone’s’ leaving’ that was the ninety nine year old great granny. When it was our son’s wedding I said beforehand ‘Remember we have to stay at least until after the bride and groom have left!’

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  3. I went away for a few days, with my mother, and although the idea was to have a bit of a rest, it proved challenging, tiring and stressful. We’re back and trying to catch up on a few things, but, like you, I will try and take it easy. (I remember going to a wedding a few years back, in an out of the way place, with plenty of elderly people attending, and the party kept going until the early hours. As they had provided a coach, we were literally locked in there, but managed to get an extra trip a bit early, as there were people who were flying early the next morning and would have missed their flight otherwise. Not much thought into the type of people attending, I must say, considering it all felt quite expensive).

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    1. Attending two weddings within one week was very expensive, Olga. Including gifts, hotels, meals out, drinks bought at the venues, and petrol for the car, it probably came to enough to go for a week all-inclusive in Greece! 🙂
      (And I still feel tired now! 🙂 )
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  4. It’s always good to be home! I miss the familiar surroundings, a place where I belong, and not living out of a suitcase! Good to hear there were no mishaps during your travels or unexpected problems aside from the crazy traffic. I’m still fighting the jet lag from our trip, by 6:30 I want to go to bed but I’m wide awake at 3:00am. The nine hour time difference is torture! I am loving the cooler weather and welcoming in the Fall. Hugs, C

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    1. Public transport is not so good in Norfolk, and our nearest railway station is 20 miles away, in Norwich. If one of us didn’t drive, it would have been a real mission to get to that wedding, Janet. (And even to our local supermarket to get the weekly shop. 🙂 )
      Best wishes, Pete.

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    1. It was the second family wedding in just 7 days, Elizabeth. Both were well over 100 miles away, necessitating hotel accommodation, dog-sitters, and a lot of driving. We are both exhausted. 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  12. After I had been living upstate for about 6 months I was persuaded to take a train down to NY to see a friend. An hour’s drive to the station, 3 and a half on the train then a taxi to Brooklyn. It was overwhelming! I stayed 2 nights. I was so happy to get back to my little place in the country. No way I could drive in traffic anymore.

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  13. Pete, after four weekends in a row of travel for social engagements, I look forward to a quiet week – well except its our anniversary so things are lined up to celebrate! Oh well, October promises to be a bit more relaxed…

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  19. I do not travel at all anymore if I can avoid it– I know what you mean about how exhausting it is…on the other hand, you are fortunate to still have living relatives who actually care about seeing you from time to time… I have none at all…and I do not miss them…I am not a social person…but I am glad to hear that it all worked out well for you…it is comfortable to resume our normal routines after all the socializing however… so there is a plus in that for you. And Ollie will be absolutely thrilled to be reunited with you once again. I have heard it said that when a dog owner leaves his dog for any length of time, the dog begins to feel like the owner is never going to return again…so I am sure dear Ollie will be absolutely thrilled to see you again. Have a wonderful day and thanks for sharing your adventures.

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    1. Ollie was very happy to see us after two nights away, John.
      The reason I made the effort last week was because my relatives wanted us there to celebrate the wedding. So it had to be done, because it was an honour to be invited.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  24. Pete, big family occasions are such a joy yet can be emotionally draining! My brother had a big birthday party earlier this year which started at two in the afternoon and it was two in the morning before we got to bed! My mind was buzzing with all the conversations and my heart astir with emotions! As most of the family and many friends live far away we often go on motorways, but the M25 is still the least favourite! Enjoy being back home in the quiet of Norfolk – the weather looks glorious so far!

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    1. Thanks, Annika. Norfolk feels suitably quiet after being so close to London. We have 18C and hazy sunshine today, so I will take that over some of the torrential rain we experienced in Kent last Thursday and Friday.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  25. I think it’s good to drive on multi-lane motorways once in a while. I drove back from the Isle of Wight whilst Sam was in India recently, and door to door took me 7 hours. Yeah it’s hard to do and tiring, but I’m glad I was still able to do it.

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      1. It’s always busy going through the tunnel, but not as bad going over the bridge. Sam drives like he’s on a slalom course, but I tend to hog the left hand lane and stay there. I’ve been stuck in a 10 mile queue before with a granddaughter desperate for the loo. What joy.

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