This morning saw us all pack up our stuff for the transfer to Hamburg airport, our KLM aircraft and return to England. The coaches are certainly packed full of Christmas shopping of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic stuff.
Once the coaches are packed there's just one item on the agenda and that is a boat tour round the harbour. We get to hear all the history of the harbour and see the re-development of all the old warehouses into housing. There is a U-Boat museum with a real U-Boat in it - a 1970 Tango Class diesel sub from the East German Navy and we also pass the Dry Dock in the Blohm and Voss Yard where the Battleship Bismark was built on slipway 14. There is still armour plate there from the ship itself.
Loading the aircraft takes a bit longer than it did in England, and I'm sure that the take off took just that bit longer... must be all that beer! The Crew looked after us very well. We got them free tickets to the Dance and the concerts which they enjoyed. I usually travel baggage class so it makes a change to sit in first class and experience what the business exec and first class passengers get..... I think I must do it more often.. but the ticket prices are much more expensive.
Once back in England one of the girls picks me up. The car takes some carefull packing with all the "supplies" I've purchased and she tells that the Vet has been and signed the travelling documentation for the Horses and the beer order has arrived. That's on top of what I've brought back!
On getting back home the first thing I do is to walk round the yard. Every equine head appears over the top of their respective stable door as they hear and recognise my footsteps. There's lots of wickering and banging of hoves on the doors as they ask for attention as I go round stroking muzzles and talking to them. I'm not married yet, and these horses are my friends and my children.
Spent the rest of the day going through the post, messages and getting updates on what's happened on the yard. Evening with the girls watching the Christmas Horse Show from Olympia.
Snap