Update on my cousin - and it's good news :)

Following on from this thread
www.gransnet.com/forums/chat/1258142-WWYD-Am-I-over-reacting-Not-heard-from-relative-for-a-while

I've had an interesting day!

Husband and I set off for London this morning in really thick fog. I was a bit apprehensive, but fortunately it cleared just as we got the to outskirts of London and it has been a glorious day.

There is limited parking at Kew Gardens, apparently, so we drove to Gunnersbury underground station, and found some free street parking and got the train one stop to Kew Gardens. £10.40 for two adult returns to travel one stop!!!

Then it was a short walk to Kew Gardens, and £40 entry for two adults.

We made the mistake of having a refreshment break in one of the many cafes- good grief, the prices were (IMO) extortionate. One tea, one cappuccino, one blueberry muffin and one tiny individual lemon drizzle cake - £12.90!! (I didn't buy one, but I was shocked to see that a single can of Pepsi was £3.50)

We had a lovely wander around Kew Gardens and then made our way back to the station to return to the car and drive to my cousin's house. As we were waiting on the platform - into my inbox popped an email from my cousin!!

As always, only commenting on one or two of the newsy bits I'd written in my email to him and updating me on his health problems. Then saying it would probably be May before he could come and visit me and the family

No mention of the letter I'd sent saying we were going to be at Kew Gardens and would like to pop by and see him - which he MUST have received. No invitation issued to us to visit.

I emailed straight back, giving him my phone number, saying we were literally just leaving Kew and would pop by unless he let me know it wasn't convenient. (I'd picked up a small tube of biscuits at Kew to take - another £6)

But then I thought with the health update (he's collapsed a few times, had a few hospital visits and is back at hospital in April to see if he needs a pacemaker) and him possibly not receiving my letter saying we'd be popping by on the offchance, it would be unfair of us to just tip up out of the blue. So I emailed him again saying, no forget that. We'll head home, and we can make a proper date to meet up.

So nearly £70 spent to find out something I'd have found out anyway if I'd stayed at home lol. We were toying with going tomorrow, so could have saved ourselves a packet ha ha

But we have had a lovely day out and at least I now know my cousin is at least ok, if not fighting fit.

(I still don't know if he's still moving out of London!)