The flight was lovely. The food, the drink, the space… all wonderful. We both slept for at least five hours and were ready to go when breakfast came. The plane landed 30 minutes early, and after a fairly uncrowded walk to the carousels, we managed to get all four bags— two suitcases and two golf bags. Hooray! I had to take a picture!
I thought John was leading the way to the exit so we could catch the next cab, but instead, he took me to a SIM card vending machine. For a reasonable rate, we both have UK phone numbers and are now connected. That little card was a big deal.
Then to a taxi and to get our car. We have found that renting from the airport comes with a huge premium. This time, I found an off-site car rental that guaranteed our car. What I thought we were going to get is exactly what we got. It’s a brand new Kia Sorento Hybrid with plenty of room for golf clubs and suitcases. James met us and went over all the controls with both of us. We are set!
The next stop was to find our hotel, the Basingstoke Country Hotel. This is a charming roadside villa. Lots of buildings connected to one central, sprawling sort of thing. There’s a kind of palladium structure in back that houses a long hallway, the workout center, and the pool. The whole place is bustling, but lovely.
We dropped our luggage in the room, changed clothes, and headed for the golf course. One secret that we’ve used since our first trip is to get sunshine on the first day. Going from the airplane to the golf course helps us acclimatize to the new time zone. It’s 8:30 pm now, and we’re both still awake, ready for another hour at least!
The course I chose is nearby, but not on anyone’s “must play” list. It was Weybrook Golf Club, off the A339. It’s a beautiful course, slightly hilly, with lots of interest—bunkers in just the right place, ponds, and stands of trees. There were vistas and valleys, and if we were to make England a regular stop, I think I’d play it again for a first-day course.
We stayed after for a drink, then headed back to the hotel for dinner and writing at tables in the garden. When I went to get John a Diet Coke from the bar, I had a lively exchange. The cost was under £5, so I gave the barman £5 cash, but he didn’t have the correct change and asked me if I might pay with a card. I said my credit card was back in the room— Could I take the drink to John, then come back with a card to pay for it? He smiled, but eyed the many tourists standing about. He didn’t have to tell me that I might set a precedent that would quickly get out of control. So there I was with a Coke, but with incorrect money to pay for it. Then, from the small crowd that had gathered, a very nice man with a few extra pounds and a lot of tattoos said his pocket was full of unwanted change. He put 20p on the bar. Like a row of dominoes, those coins allowed the barman to give me correct change, and move on to the line of people waiting for drinks… but not before I asked him nicely for another cube of ice, to bring the total to 5…John would be very pleased. Then I thanked Mr. Tattoo and was on my way.
John reported back later with the news that the reason there are so many women in headscarves here is that they are all Afghan refugees. John had been talking to a couple of guests in the garden who stay here all the time and know the scoop. Apparently, it’s part of the Afghan refugee relocation program. Women and children are housed here for a period of time, then moved to another location. This hotel is part of the circuit…which explains why there are guards at every door. (Even though this is not Buckingham Palace!). More surprises tomorrow!