Basingstoke and Hook

When me and my parents haven't been on the road we've been staying in Basingstoke with some good friends from my church. They are among the most welcoming and hospitable people I know. This weekend was my dad's first time meeting them and I had told my parents that I was pretty sure dad and Ian would get along really well. Within ten minutes the two men were laughing and singing a song they remembered from their youth, including a trumpet imitation.

This afternoon we took Ian and Maggie out for lunch and this evening we went to Hook to enjoy an evening with Ann and Jon, the couple I lived with for the past eight months (well, I lived with them when I wasn't travelling and I've spent a total of almost five months travelling so we actually haven't spent too much time under the same roof!). I asked Ann to do "one of her proper suppers" and she obliged my request and served us an amazing spread of food, including appetizers, starter, main course, dessert, and cheese and fruit tray.