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So exciting to catch up with Jane Rogers for the day. We visited a lovely birthing unit at Lyndhurst with a garden overlooking the New Forest with free ranging ponies. Amazing sight. Then we went through the Southampton hospital where her office is as Midwifery consultant and met staff including the famous Sister Kay who featured in the first series of "One born every minute". There are 6000 births a year. It is a regional tertiary hospital with three male midwives and a male maternity associate. I found this fact interesting. The associate workers help with obs., catheter removal and showering which frees up Midwives who are fewer in number than at Ata Rangi. I got to meet Lorna, the After Thoughts Midwife who inspired me to start Ch.A.T. and helped me with my documentation. Then we went out for lunch at a three hundred year old Inn called the Old Forge where we enjoyed Cider and flatbreads with Duck, mediterranean roast vege and feta cheese. Yum. Then Jane took me on a tour of the old part of Wincester. When I say old, there are parts of the Roman wall that date to 12 AD but the main cathedral and ancient buildings including one of the oldest houses still lived in in England are situated inside the old wall. The Minster is huge and imposing. The weather continued to be sublime as we saw old cobbled streets, remembered King Albert who founded England in 800 AD and came upon a tribute to the Great War in the Great Hall where Camelot King Arthur and the Round Table are commemorated. I placed Great Uncle Charlie Old's name on a tag which is to be archived in the Great Hall remembering those who died in World War One. I posed with a young man in WW1 army uniform like Charlie would have worn. Photos to follow.
All in all an amazing day discovering Jane's world. She misses us all and hopes to be back for a visit soon. Jude's visit as her next kiwi guest is eagerly awaited. The trip home was somewhat subdued; A/ because I was realising we only had a very little time together with Heather and John and B/ because the traffic was horrific, being held up for one and a half hours due to some accidents on the A25. We were all glad to be home. We managed to enjoy cheering ourselves up at the end with a very convincing rendition of Carole King's song, You've got a friend.
Thanks Heather and John for the amazing Grand Tour of England. Thanks Jane for the time you gave me in the sunshine. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing you again. My shout when you come to Thames. All of you.
God bless
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Jane Rogers The pleasure was entirely mine, as it was under the NZ sunshine and with you all at Ata Rangi. Happy days! Jane x