Dear FOG ( Friends of Gloria ),

It is a truth universally acknowledged that you will never find out whether you have a magic carpet if you never ever sit on the carpet! So many people sit on chairs, and there’s no initiative in that.

But of course so few people have individual carpets these days, and obviously fitted carpets are a fixture.

Gordon has been doing some loft-clearing recently, and, excitingly, he brought down the piece of red carpet which would have been under the bath, so I tried sitting on that,

and would you believe that I gently floated up and soon was seeing myself in the mirror!

It’s not that I said anything, no magic words or anything like that. Simply the power of mind over matter, one supposes.

I could hardly believe it. Terribly exciting, but possibly safer to go outside to do it next time.

The question a girl asks is:
What do you wear when you go out flying on a carpet?

There have been various suggestions, some more practical than others, but the very first person immediately said ‘Goggles’, added to which is a flying helmet and pilot’s jacket for an open cockpit, (or the nearest available).

Out in the garden, ready to apply the mind over matter again.

Lift Off! It really works!

And off we go

Then, hardly up out of the garden before we find the Police Helicopter slowly coming past, apparently making a local search.
I wonder if they could believe their eyes

For a first outing I decided to go along to my usual church at Broxbourne.

The reason was that, together with supporters, a lady was pushing a decorated wheelbarrow to raise money for her cancer-help charity, and my friends the Mortons, Rosemary and John, had the church open, ready to provide a break on their journey for the walkers.

Here they come

Nice of them to let me join in. Most people need to be accredited before they can handle a collecting box.

It was particularly enjoyable to be able to chat once more with my good friend, John.
He even gave me a flower this time!

For a detour on the way home......

It seemed a good idea to go and take a look at the M25 snaking its way across the Hertfordshire countryside.

That straight line of trees directly across the scene marks the East Coast Main Line from King’s Cross to the right towards Edinburgh to the left.

Traffic flowing steadily at the moment.

Then I came back in home past our neighbour, dear old Haileybury College.

Being on the top of the local hill, that chapel dome is visible for miles.

Interesting, isn’t it, to notice how these high class learning establishments present their public image not with an image boosting their educational prowess but with the appearance of their associated Chapel!

You may recollect that King’s College at Cambridge have had the same idea.

And so safely back home, if a somewhat unorthodox landing

Carpet Transportation, at the present state of the art, is admittedly a bit exposed to the elements, but think of the parking advantages!

No hassle, no expense, no traffic wardens. Just step off, roll it up, under the arm and pop it in a corner when you get indoors.

Try it, and see how you get on.

With love to all my friends, from Gloria.