DAY 5: NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Woke at 5.45 am feeling good. 
I would be going home this evening.

My last day, and I worked with the team all morning. 

During breaks I fretted about checking in online and feared the worst. We bade our farewells at lunchtime and I walked back to Atlantic Station and into the arms of Victoria Secrets. There was business to be done here, on behalf of my offspring. 

Three hundred dollars later I had the distinct feeling I had not bought much.

I went back to The Twelve and had a swim. Down in the lobby the place seemed to be over-run by family reunions. Crowds arrived and entered the elevator stabbing ineffectually at the buttons and then stomped out back to reception for a new room key.

I’d had enough and went to the airport much too early for a 21:30. It was just as well. Delta had the last word,

“No. We don’t have you booked on this flight”.

They had no reservation for me. Quelle surprise. 

I did manage to talk my way onto to the flight, bursting with large people and eventually left Atlanta for a fitful sleep.

DAY 4: DOWN BUT NOT OUT

Almost slept in, I go up at 6am.

It was a very good day in the classroom.

Back at the hotel I did another Chardonnay run and some nice salami. 

Shoved the doors open to my balcony, manoeuvred an easy chair into place and watched the traffic and recall how much the city had changed since my first visit in 1988 (for work on the Delta Airways advertising account).

I tried not to feel too guilty about consuming most of the wine before going out with J and N for an excellent curry.

Before I turned in I tried to check-in on line for the flight home. No joy.

DAY 3: RINSE AND SPIN

This evening before the team dinner I enjoyed real breakthrough; I  master how the washing machine works. Grabbing courage with both hands I put a hand-washed shirt through a rinse and spin cycle.  Gratifying to think I have saved at least forty-five dollars on laundry bills across the week.

We went to Mary Mac’s Tea Room.  This famous eatery (pictures of the good and the great adorn every wall) offers “real southern hospitality”. Eating at Mary Mac’s means you never have to prove your courage in any other way.  Much of the menu is deep fried except the meatloaf.  ‘Four-piece Fried Chicken’, Fried Gulf Shrimp, Roast Pork with cornbread dressing, pork gravy and cranberry sauce, and Grilled Liver and Onions completed our special menu. There were huge embankments of vegetables on the tables to accompany the main courses.

On leaving the restaurant we awarded ourselves a Silver Star for courage under gargantuan portion size.

Swans' Way

 . . " We saw eight swans grazing in a field 

They took off as we neared. 

They landed to the next field and again were airborne as we entered this pasture. 

Overhead they  appeared as jet-fighter escort, against a pale sky, 

Jet engines? The whoosh whoosh of their great wings" .

From Three Blokes, Three Bikes, One River. 
A new book about a Thames journey in drawings 

DAY 2: OUT AND ABOUT IN ATLANTA

It was the end of the first day of training and we had the evening to ourselves. 

I had walked to the hotel looking over a bridge to see the traffic jams snaking out along the freeway. 
I snuck off to Publix for a bottle of Chardonnay and some Potato Chips and walked both back to my room and walked the wine into my walk-in fridge and put a glass to chill in my walk-in freezer and when out to draw for a while.

A large white sedan pulled up to the kerb next to where I stood drawing.

I was conscious of discussions and fiddling about inside the car. I continued. 

After a while the passenger door opened and a man got out.

Him: ‘Hey Man are you an artist?’

Me: ‘Yes I think I am’

Him: ‘Cool Man, I’m an artist too!

Me: ‘Oh, Good

Him: ‘See ya Man

Me: See ya.