Across the pond: a surprise and a celebration

Four days in Maryland with old friends, family-style meals, a spectacular garden, and a party to remember.

We crossed the Atlantic to surprise an old friend at his retirement party - and came home with some wonderful new memories.

This past week we swapped the gentle hills of the Chilterns for the wooded lanes of Maryland, spending four fun-packed days with our oldest American friends, Mike and Jill. It was a trip full of celebration, reconnection, and a sens…