In the original timetable for our visit to the USA, we had intended to return on the Tuesday after Memorial Day. However, when we made those plans, we hadn't known that the performing arts school which our elder grandson attends was holding an end of term concert on that very day. Obviously, it would have been extremely disappointing to miss the performance; so, I contacted Virgin Atlantic to change our flight to the following day.
Not really surprisingly, the students put on a good show and we were glad to have been there to see it. Furthermore, it was quite interesting to see Lloyd doing a pretty good impersonation of myself being 'father of the singer'.
Sadly, much of the following day was somewhat less enjoyable. For a start, it was hard to ignore an element of impending doom as our departure approached. Secondly, our younger grandson was feeling quite ill. He was, later, diagnosed with what is called strep throat in the States.
At the same time, having not expected us to be there, Lloyd had arranged to rehearse with his new ensemble. So, apart from strolling around to admire the work they had done in the garden during the visit, there wasn't an awful lot his mum and I could do.
All in all, it was something of a relief when the time came for Lloyd to drive us to Boston. By the way, there can be few airports (at Terminal E, at any rate) where it is easier to get from a car to the check-in desk and this - apart from an unfortunate encounter with the resident security jobsworth - contributed significantly towards a comfortable couple of hours as we waited to board our AIRBUS aircraft......
From take-off to touch-down, the flight was excellent and the wheelchair assistance at Heathrow was significantly better than we experienced at JFK. Adam, our younger son was there to meet us and although we felt quite well when we arrived home, it wasn't too long before jet-lag kicked in and we spent most of the day asleep - dreaming, no doubt, about an experience we'll cherish for a long time.
