PassPorter pals at the world’s loveliest castle COMPLETED
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**chezp** · 05-16-2005, 02:11 AM

PassPorter pals at the world’s loveliest castle

Part one: there are some advantages to a damaged ankle!

Date: Sunday 15 May
Location: Leeds Castle, near Maidstone, Kent
Adventurers: Me, Cheryl and DH Mark, Annabel (Annabel) and her DH Andy, Isabel (Disneynutinlondon), her DH Paul and sons Joshua and Ethan.
Event: Trying to get all the PassPorters on this side of the Atlantic together for the first time…

Introduction:

Well, it had been a long time in the making, but I was determined that we would round up some of the British PassPorters, since there are now quite a few of us

and get everyone together for a meet sooner or later, especially as so many of us literally only live about an hour from each other. It ended up being later, as it took us much of spring to settle on a date that most of us could meet, when various people weren’t in Disney

and eventually we settled on the weekend of 14 and 15 May.

But what were we going to do? I automatically suggested London, as I knew there were at least three people who lived in London and I figured it would be an easy place for everyone else to get to, as all the train lines run into London for starters. However, Isabel soon came up with an even better idea – and one which was (literally!) right up our street – how about Leeds Castle, she posted.

It sounds great to me, especially as it’s only about seven miles down the road from where we live!

So we had the date, we had the place, we set a time of 10.30 and then it was just a question of seeing who would be joining us. I would certainly be there and Isabel, Annabel, Karen (BritDisFan) and Mark (Markb) also signed up for the meet.

Fast forward to the day itself…

For us, the day started at 7.05, as that’s when we woke up. I was quickly out of bed to catch up on the boards and see if everyone would still be coming – no cancellations…

… yet!

So it was time for a bath, to put our house back together a bit after the woodworm treatment the day before

and to prepare our picnic lunch. By the time that was done, it was almost time to go.

I did a load of washing and went outside to put it on the line and it was at that moment I knew that the forecast for today was spot on – that it would be hot and sunny.

No need for anything else but a T-shirt and definitely a day to put my contact lenses in, so I could wear my sunglasses. Those things done and my ankle strapped up and painkillers taken

and we were ready to go – just as well, as it was already 10.10 by then and we were all due to be meeting in just 20 minutes time.

Just as well it’s not far to go then!

We bought a newspaper and then headed off and were there by about 10.25. We stopped to ask the guy who was directing the cars into the car park if we could park a bit closer, as I was on crutches due to an ankle injury and he immediately directed us to the disabled parking bays right by the ticket booth!

I was really impressed by that.

As soon as we got to the entrance and the crowd of French tourists moved out of my way

I saw three people that I immediately recognised – Annabel, Andy and the cheeky grin of Josh. I figured the adults with him must be Isabel and her husband, Paul. Of course, a photo of them on the boards beforehand would’ve helped us to identify them!

We quickly discovered that everyone else had been early – so much so they’d been waiting outside for the gates to open at 10.00 and were the two cars were in fact one behind the other.

Of course, I just knew when we set out that we’d be the last ones there – somehow it always works out that the people who live nearest to somewhere are the last to arrive.

I went to get our tickets and was delighted when the guy serving me said he’d try and get me in as cheaply as possible. I asked for one adult and one student ticket and he asked if I’d be offended if he put me down as disabled, meaning he could sell us two disabled ones, because I was obviously limping and had a crutch. We were only planning to see the gardens and not the castle itself 1) because we’d seen it so many times, 2) because I knew there were steps in there and they’re not good for my ankle and 3) because it would give me an opportunity to sit down and rest my ankle. So I got us two disabled tickets for the grounds only – just £6.50 each, instead of the usual price of £9.00. Not bad!

Next: where’s my husband gone?!