Yesterday, after a lovely game at the British Open venue, Royal Lytham and St. Anne’s, we had dinner with an American member. One thing led to another, and he very nicely insisted that we play with him tomorrow, which is today! This was an invitation that I could not refuse. Yesterday’s game was delightful but there was one hole that I muttered to myself, “Wish I could play that one again!” And by golly, I did for only £50!

We had to plan ahead for this one because an early tee time meant moving out of our very lovely Lancaster House early. We were packed up, with suitcases by the restaurant door when we sat down for breakfast. Last bite, into the car and away we went, a planned maneuver that went perfectly down to the minute. In fact, we planned so well, that we arrived 30 minutes early and had time to hit balls! 

The game went very well, but I played better yesterday. Both Johns played about the same, some here, some there, some went in and others didn’t. Afterwards, in the clubhouse dining room upstairs (overlooking the 18th green), we had a lovely lunch with lots of conversation. We segued from very high finance soccer investments (in the $100 millions) to philosophy, science, opinion vs. fact, and how connected philosophy is to mathematics. We covered a lot and decided we are in agreement about everything except how much a British soccer team might be worth. We ended friends and with no plans to meet again, might very well run in the same golfing circles back home. Cheers to a good man.

The road to our next destination took us through the rolling hills of the Lake District and lots of cow and sheep country. We didn’t stop because of the driving rain, but were happy to arrive at Carlisle, up near the Scottish Boarders, very close to Hadrians Wall —at The Horse and Farrier Inn—something out of Dickens perhaps? It does feel that we’re staying in one of those model Christmas houses that I display every December. We’ve shrunk to fit inside but are sleeping in a room right over the front door with the little sign swinging back and forth in the wind. Very poetic!