Location: Lewes, England, United Kingdom

M: We had a slow morning, which feels very appropriate for a Sunday morning in the foggy English countryside. Oh, and our bed is ridiculously cozy too. Eventually we made our way downstairs and made some breakfast while Edie, the youngest, wrote Christmas cards to her friends and Pearl did some English homework. It was very nice to sit back and drink some coffee in a home again.

In the afternoon we went into Lewes with the Christie family for lunch at a Thai place with their grandma. The owners greeted Pearl by name and knew exactly what everyone wanted. I think they come here often, and we soon found out why.

Throughout the trip Savanna has consistently ordered better food than me. How does she do it? I do not know, but it is her secret superpower. I order something I want, our food comes, I try her’s and BAM it’s better than mine. Finally, I handed over the menu without looking and said “Have at ‘er.” Took me long enough! I should have done this long ago. Her superpower was at full strength today as she ordered me some kind of delicious chicken dish with pineapples and rice. Not sure how I’m supposed to go get food without her now, because apparently she knows my taste buds better than I do. Yet another way we have merged into one being!

S: It’s a gift. After lunch Pearl, the middle Christie child, took us to Glyndebourne, an opera house nearby. She showed us all around the grounds and gardens, explained all the different buildings and told us stories about her time performing in opera shows. Soon after her father, Tol, joined us to give us a tour of the inside. He had directed operas before and knew so much about all the goings on. It was incredible to get a tour of such an amazing opera house when literally no one else was around. We explored the dressing rooms, the auditorium, the rehearsal rooms and more.

We returned home to have a very girly evening, in which I braided everyone’s hair. That legitimately happened. I remember how excited I was as a child when someone would braid my hair, so it was only too cute to see little Edie squirming in anticipation. Meaghan I think enjoyed it just as much as eleven-year old Pearl and four-year old Edie (maybe more).

M: I can’t even pretend that isn’t true. It is another one of Savanna’s superpowers and I take full advantage of it.

Most of the evening was spent sitting in front of the fireplace playing cards with Pearl and Edie. Later in the night, my Aunt Sally whom I visited in Spain arrived. She is in England for Christmas and drove all the way with her two dogs, Miguel and Bossy. It was so nice to see her again,even if just for a night, before we go home. We had some dinner and sat around with cheese and chocolate before realizing the time and scurrying upstairs to do our final pack of the trip. I’m sad about leaving tomorrow, but not too upset because it just doesn’t feel real. It just feels like we’re getting ready for our next travel day.

S: I’ve spent the better part of the last two days feeling like this is a dream. Like either the whole trip was a dream or the fact that we are going home is. Dazed feels like an accurate word for my current state.

S&M