We were up all night finishing our third last assignment. 'Good Fren' slept at around 4am, I slept at 7am. I thought we would have enough sleep to prepare us for the trip to Lord Stevenson's.

As with most bits of life, we miscalculated.

Wolfson College started to test its alarm system at 9am.
We hardly got any sleep till 10am.

At 11am, our alarm rang.
'Good Fren' went to school to hand in the assignments, while I attempted to clear my emails in a daze. I said to 'Good Fren',"Don't worry... The adrenaline will keep us awake till after the visit."

It was a nice little train ride to the British suburbs.
A little station which looked like it belonged in a story book. The station which Elizabeth Allen probably alighted at to get to Whyteleafe School. (A check online revealed that my hunch is probably spot on.)

And there he was... Lord Dennis Stevenson... Across the railway... Standing on the other platform... Dressed in a crisp dark blue linen shirt with his sleeves casually rolled up... And a pair of brick red bermudas... On his feet were a pair of worn-out Aladdin sandals. He was looking around for us and greeted us with a warm smile and handshake.

We couldn't believe he was actually there... that we got into his car... and that he started driving...

Erm... And when we got to his place... We couldn't believe that he made tea and coffee for us.

We met his wife, his gardener, 2 dogs and little black kitty which had recently adopted them and looked very much like a small Blinky. =)))

His place is made up a huddle of restored house and barn with extensions. There were many charming little corners, family pictures, many pieces of art, eclectic mix of old and new furniture, large airy spaces with high barn ceilings where he said an ox used to roam and a sculpture garden taking shape. In a special corner of the garden, he has had a sculpture of his wife made, and he says that if and when he's left behind one day, he would place a bench in that corner and talk to her... and she wouldn't be able to talk back. =)))

I was so in awe that I didn't think it was appropriate to take picture even though his place is really photogenic.

Our chat took place out in the open at one corner of a large wooden table. The sun kept the otherwise cloudy day warm. While the conversation went on, we had a visit from one of the doggies (I think he wanted my cookie) and the black cat (I couldn't stop myself from stroking it. =)))

We think that chat is one of the most invaluable experience this MBA has brought us. It was the perfect way to spend an afternoon in the British Summer. And we hope, one day, we will be able enough to be as generous with our time and energy to another.

Thank you, Sir!