Safely Across the Pond
[photo] Air Transat A310 airbus that faithfully delivered Yvonne, me, and 300-odd other passengers to London Gatwick airport from Toronto Pearson. With a good supper meal and breakfast muffin thrown in, too! Departed 21:50 on time, arrived 9:45, ~7 hour flight.

Praise God that the flight went well; baggage came through fine; rental car was awaiting us as expected; I did not crash today! Think it will be fun having a standard transmission after all (I like shifting, even if it is with my left hand). Took a few times to learn how to follow Ms Garmin's [Gps] advice about exits on roundabouts but seem to have picked it up. Took "shortest distance" rather than "fastest route" option to start, so got some driving practice on back roads as desired, before graduating to the M3 (high-speed motorway) this afternoon.I had a few hours sleep on the flight; Yvonne became very bushed by the trip so has settled down for a well-deserved nap.

We stopped in at (her mother's cousin) John Tims' in Fareham, near Portsmouth; no one home, had a hospitable 'cuppa' with a neighbour lady while waiting to see if he'd return shortly; will try again this evening. Travelodge Motel in Southampton is very clean and adequate if not posh (as expected). Thanks to any who prayed for my driving the first day when tired and jet-wupped by the lengthy flight.

[photo] View from our top-floor Travelodge penthouse, with the derricks of Southampton's docks silhouetted against the sky on the horizon.

[click for Video of Southampton skyline and street]