Letter from America - September 25

Hi

I'm sitting in the breakfast area at my Comfort Inn motel, with free computer use - so I guess I will try to keep a sort of log of my trip.

I flew out of Manchester about 11 a.m. yesterday on Delta Airlines - a direct flight to Atlanta - 9 hours, but since we started an hour late, waiting for a connecting flight from Amsterdam, I missed the connection I had hoped for - so had another 5 hours to wander Atlanta's airport. The flight itself was good - almost up to the standard of transatlantic flights of a few years ago - free booze - lots of meals and drinks, a big TV/movie screen with loads of choice, and a fairly comfortable seat. The plane was full, but as it was a 2/3/2 system, nobody felt too hemmed in.  The flight from there to Bristol Virginia where my son lives, took 40 minutes, and it was a smaller plane but again fully booked. In fact it was overbooked by one person, so the lady said she would offer $500 to anyone who would give up their seat - no takers - $600, still none - $800 and a very pleased man collected his winnings and probably went home to repeat the procedure the next day. The flight cost about $100, so there is no doubt he made a wise decision.

I was met at the airport at 9.45 p.m. (having been up over 24 hours) by my son and his partner, who I had never met before - in fact I had only just recently found out that they were anything more than sharing a rented house. But she was a real delight - very fond of him, and very confident and ini control without being bossy. He looked good - sharp haircut, trim beard which suits him,.and clothes which I recognised from my visit 4 years ago - but they were clean. He looked happy.  When they drove me to my motel (about 15 miles from where they live) I found a huge bouquet of mixed autumn flowers as a welcome present from them.

The motel is fine, free computer use, the bed comortable, the shower with good pressure, and the breakfast perfectly adequate with loads of choice. I'm meeting the others at 9.30 for a second breakfast and to make a plan for the rest of the week. The weather is fine and it was 75 when we flew in last night, but it feels cooler this morning (6.30)

To be continued

Jean