The party met at Llandough hospital at 9am with a couple of pick ups at Sarn services and Magor services. Mainline Travel, with Wayne as our driver, were our coach operators for the trip. Wayne certainly had his work cut out around the windy lanes getting to Uri’s house but kept a smile on his face throughout the whole day. The party were kept entertained by videos during the drive there and back.

Prior to the visit to Uri’s house the group stopped for lunch at the Traveller’s Rest in Caversham at midday. The manager was waiting for us in the car park and both he and his staff made sure that all members of the party were fed and watered in an hour and a quarter. Colouring pens and paper had been put out to keep the younger children amused. We were all made to feel very welcome and the meals were thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.

We arrived at Uri’s house at 1.30pm after the local pub very kindly allowed us to park in their car park. Uri had arranged for us to be met and we were escorted along the towpath to his house where he met us in his back garden. Most of us went not really knowing what to expect but Uri greeted us all with a very personal welcome. He decided we could all fit into the pyramid that is located in his garden and organised for all the chairs to be transported from the garden into the pyramid. The children sat on sofas, set out in a square, with Uri whilst the parents and staff sat on chairs around the edge.

To begin with Uri showed us his ability to bend spoons for which certainly the older members of the party knew him for. The children were mesmorised, particularly when they felt the spoons and there was no heat at all. He also had them looking for the missing piece of a spoon that had snapped in two whilst in the hand of one of the children. The two remaining pieces would not fit together. Uri involved the children in actually taking part in the spoon bending and later on getting a broken watch to go. The watch was held in a child’s hand and the rest of us had to shout out what Uri instructed us to say. When the child’s hand opened up the watch had started going and kept perfect time all the way back home. Uri also made time leap on a watch whilst in a child’s hand. Having gone into their hands reading 2.05 it came out reading 11.15 and kept this new time all the way home. Even Uri was amazed at how much time had jumped because he normally only expected an hour difference. He explained that he always had better results with children as they were not as sceptical as adults.

The piece de resistance during our time in the pyramid was watching a radish seed sprout and grow in the palm of Uri’s hand. One of the children had opened a packet of seeds and distributed some to everyone including Uri. We could actually see the sprout getting longer as Uri took it round to show everyone. The children and their parents were all entranced and it was amazing to see the children’s total attention held throughout our time in the pyramid. On our journey home many parents commented that they had never seen their child so captivated over anything. Uri had demonstrated what could be achieved with positive thought.

Uri had arranged a very special surprise for us. His friend, Julian, flew over the garden and did a breathtaking display of aero-acrobatics; loop the loops, stall turns etc. It was a beautiful day which in itself was amazing as the weather right up to that day had been awful. Uri commented on this. Whilst we were awaiting the display Uri asked one of the children to draw something on a piece of paper whilst his back was turned. The paper was then turned over and the children had to try and get across to Uri what had been drawn using only their mind. Uri then drew a heart with exactly the same dimensions as the one that had just been drawn. We were all astounded.

Just when we thought our visit was nearly over Uri and Hannah (Uri’s wife) invited us into their home. He explained about the origins of all the various artefacts in his garden on the way through, including fossilised trees and stepping stones from the Great Wall of China. There is also an obelisk with his handprints in the garden.

We went into the entrance hall into the large sitting room and Uri asked us all to say who we were. He asked everyone to name anyone famous and then went on to tell us of when he had met them. The only person’s name that was mentioned who he had not actually met was a skateboarder but even then he knew a link with them. His house was full of gifts from the famous people who have come to him. He explained that he gives them a crystal and that they use this for positive thought when they need to focus themselves. He brought out a basket of crystals and distributed one for everyone, telling the children that they should carry it with them especially if they had exams and needed some extra help.

Julian, the pilot then arrived, he had driven straight from the aerodrome to meet us and answer questions. He confirmed that he carried his crystal when he flew. The children tried on his flying helmet whilst the parents talked to him about his display. We also met Uri and Hannah’s daughter Natalie.

Our visit finished about 3.40pm and Uri gave each of us a kiss goodbye. The chatter along the towpath was mainly about people not knowing how they could tell the rest of their family and friends what they had seen. Some parents said they had gone along not expecting anything but had been totally entranced and thoroughly enjoyed their day. The children all had a brilliant time and behaved impeccably both at Uri’s house and during the coach trip. Even the one little boy who was a whirling dervish added to the enjoyment of the day, although I think his parents went home a little more tired than the rest of us.

Uri and Hannah’s welcome was so personal and greatly appreciated by everyone.