PEAR TREE LOG

pear tree log: I started this blog to keep my younger son, Jonny, in touch with life in Lincolnshire, while he spent a year working in China. That year turned into five! Now he is home and training to become a physics teacher. This is simply a patchwork quilt of some of the things I enjoy - life in rural Lincolnshire, our animals, friends, architecture, books, the gardens, and things of passing interest.



Monday 25 June 2012

He's Coming Home!

Later this week Jonny (for whom I began writing this blog) will begin travelling home!   He will visit some family and friends in London before beginning the trek up to Lincolnshire and home.

I am in a state of excitement, to put it mildly!
He left home  in the middle of August last year, to work in China.     During his time away he has had many adventures and new experiences, made lots of new friends, built up relationships.

I am looking forward to having him home and cooking a few of his favourite foods hearing about his adventures.


I know that Jonny is desperate for some really good cheese having been starved of it for almost a year.  Luckily Louth has a wonderful cheese shop and a couple of really good delicatessens.  He will dine like a king while he is home.

All too soon he will be packing his bags and going back for more adventures.
He may be a couple of pounds heavier though.  



52 comments:

  1. Dearest Elaine....I can feel your excitement! There will be so many stories to share with family...and of course, your blogging friends.

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    1. Oh Meggie, you are quite right, I am fizzing with excitement. I am also looking forward to seeing Harry's face and watching his reaction to seeing his Uncle Jonny after all this time...then there is young Francesca who has yet to meet him, although they have seen one another on Skype!

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  2. Oh so nice for you. I'll hope you have a great time.

    Hugs
    Elna

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    1. Hello Elna, Thank you, it is very exciting.

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  3. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful visit. He will SO appreciate your homecooked meals. He will be well fortified in body and soul for the next chapter of his life.

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    1. Hello Jenny, There are one or two of his old favourites which I plan to do!! The food which he seems to have most enjoyed over there has come from the street vendors near his flat. It will be interesting to see whether his tastes have changed.

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  4. Thanks for the reminder, I have it in my diary he's coming to ours on Wednesday.

    Feel free to save some food for us cheeky three, as we're thinking of heading up to Cleethorpes in a couple of weeks.

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    1. Hello Gavin, We are always delighted to see the three of you - chances are that if you let me know a day or two in advance you will better fed... Lots of love to you, Julia and Olive xxx

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  5. Enjoy your time with your lovely young man. All the world feels right when they come back home.

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    1. Hello SAS, Thank you. It will be so nice to have him back here for a while, a lot has happened while he has been away.

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  6. Cheese....check
    linen sheets....check
    tissues...check.
    Jane x

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    1. Hello Jane, The biggest problem will be persuading Bennie (tabby and white cat) to relinquish Jonny's bed, she seems to think it belongs to her.

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  7. Oh, how wonderful! Our son left home in November for a 6 month trip to Australia. He arrived home in May, so I know the excitement you speak of! Enjoy every minute with him :)

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    1. Hello Little Home in the Country, Thank you so much. I am getting pretty excited, there are so many things to hear about and things to tell him about..

      Six months in Australia - what a wonderful experience!

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  8. It makes you wonder, how DO the Chinese survive without cheese and other dairy products? It's such a pity they're lactose intolerant--can you imagine a world without ice cream? Feed your boy good!

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    1. Hello Ms Sparrow, Poor Jonny, I think he even dreams about cheese! It will be a pleasure to feed him well and I'll definitely make sure he has a decent supply of cheese while he is home. Really good ice cream is food of the gods!

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  9. Oh Elaine - how wonderful. I get excited when #3 comes home from uni and he's only in Sheffield... I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like to have home away for so long. Hope you thoroughly enjoy his stay xx

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    1. Hello Mrs Thrifty, Jonny is #3, so the other two have trained me a little.... who'm I kidding? I am so excited, I can't wait to give him a big hug! xx

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  10. No wonder you're excited, how fabulous, have a wonderful time together x

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    1. Hello Cheryl, Thank you, we'll do our best! x

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  11. You sound like the PERFECT mother! Mine used to spoil me rotten too!

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    1. Hello Cro, I do hope all my 'children' read that!

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  12. I am so pleased. Feed him well. But, boys eat everything, don't they. Ann feeds me cheese and butter in Wisconsin, and I expect you'll do no less.

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    1. Hello Joanne, He is a tall, lanky lad with hollow legs - it will take some doing, but rest assured, I will do my best!

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  13. Yaay Elaine - I'm so excited for you XD. I'm hoping my Josh is popping home for Christmas..he's been in Oz 2 years this August. Have fun pampering and mummying him :-)

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    1. Hello KittyKittyWeaselFish, How did you know? Here I am pretending it is about feeding him, but the reality is that I want to pamper and mummy him. I have been rumbled!

      What a wonderful Christmas celebration you will have!

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  14. What fantastic stories he'll be able to tell you. Brilliant to see him again and catch up on all the news both sides.

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    1. Hello Molly, He has a whole new little person to meet, Francesca is 5 months old now and Harry is almost as excited as I am to be seeing Jonny. Mind you, I think gifts may have been mentioned..

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  15. I am soooo pleased for you.... but I do hope that the blog WILL continue when he's home? x

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    1. Hello John, My output may slow while I am slaving over a hot stove, but I doubt that I will stop. I don't watch TV, I blog instead, it's much more fun.x

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    2. Excellent, we don't want you to stop! And don't forget to come up with a duckling name!

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  16. Wow - you most be SO excited. Best Wishes to all your family. Jx

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    1. Hello Jan, Thank you - I am very excited. The pantry is well stocked now, ready for action!

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  17. Such wonderful news Elaine - enjoy your time together. x

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    1. Hello Scarlet, Thank you. We'll certainly do our best, not long to go now.

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  18. How wonderful for you Elaine I bet he has loads to tell you. I hope you will be able to tell us a little about his adventures. I have a friend who went to teach in China for two years and she said it was the most incredible experience and that her kiddies (pupils) were so loving and she cried when she left them. On the other hand my nephew (lawyer) has to visit northern China for work every now and again and he hates it so I suppose it just depends.

    Thanks for your comments on my post..... Cookie baby still can't stop talking about how she looked and what she did!!!

    Have a great time together

    Amanda x

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    1. Hello Amanda, I'm sure there will be one or two adventures which he will keep to himself and I'll certainly filter the others, but there should be one or two fun bits to share.

      I think that Jonny has really enjoyed his time there, as with anywhere there will be things which have been less than fun, but the main impression is that he has explored and enjoyed the place. At 6'2" tall and with a head of silver hair (poor Jonny takes after my side of the family in that respect) he has certainly stuck out from the crowd.

      I'm not surprised that Cookie is still on a high, she looked amazing!

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  19. What great news for you all! I hope you have a wonderful time together.

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    1. Hello Knatolee, Thanks, Natalie. We are getting pretty excited now!

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  20. Not long to go, so exciting!! Have a great reunion!

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    1. Hello Gaz, Thank you! I am really excited now, he starts travelling tonight and should be home on Saturday evening.

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  21. I can only imagine your anticipation, Elaine! In spite of email and even Skype, it's still better when you can put your arms around your kids and hold them close to your heart.
    Ari and his dad arrived back in the U.S. yesterday--can't wait to see them the end of July.
    Have a wonderful reunion, dear friend XOXO

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    1. Hello Susan, He will have lots of hugs ... whether he likes it or not...and lots of cheese!

      Camp Mimi sounds such fun; Maddie and Ari are sure to have a wonderful time with all the fun you have planned for them. It seems we both have some exciting family times ahead! xxx

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  22. How wonderful to have your boy coming back! Ohh, he will be well fed. Enjoy every beautiful minute! x

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    1. Hello The View From The Table, I think he will probably enjoy sampling those cheese scones! Thank you, we'll do our best.

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  23. I can feel the excitement from here. Enjoy to the full all the time he is with you. :)

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    1. Hello Cuby Poet, Thank you. Let's hope he brings some decent weather with him!

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  24. Aaaah, so sweet. Enjoy this time, oh my you will have so much to talk about :)

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    1. Hello Cheryl, There have been quite a few changes about the place, I wonder how long it will take him to notice them!

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  25. What good news, I hope you have a great family reunion!

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    1. Thanks, Georgia, I spoke to him just after he landed, last night. He'll visit his older brother and his wife, then return home on Saturday.

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  26. How wonderful! I know you won't be able to get enough of him while he's home! I wish you a happy, special time to catch up!

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