"Harrow-GATE, darling..."

After Amsterdam, we retreated to Steve & Jacquis' place for some R&R - and to watch the Olympics. We were told to expect simple accommodation but were more than a little happy to see where we were going to be put up.




Our bedroom is a newly renovated attic with en suite bathroom and robe room. I quickly tweaked the home entertainment system, added an Xbox and broadband to make it a little more like home (I miss our Melbourne apartment). The only access is via a rickety wrought iron spiral staircase, which is quaint but not conducive to sneaking. The final touch was to set up a desk for me to spread out a map of the world and to write on. The view from the window is of 200 acres of lawn and trees, set permanently aside by Act of Parliament upon which to enjoy "full and free ingress, egress and regress" (save the Stray: website). The only downside is that the beams and trusses are head height; I have had to trace them out on the floor in white tape so as not to give my "noggin a floggin" (I resolved to do this after chasing a wayward apple that escaped from my lunch bag and knocking myself clean over and out!).