Sun, Rain, Wind!

Hope everyone far and wide are well and happy!  This has been a strange week – boiling hot one day – pouring rain and high winds the next.  I am very disappointed that, once again, the sky was so overcast we didn’t get to see the major astronomical event of the month – no blood moon or lunar eclipse for us!

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Both the Main Man and I have Chest Infections and have had to resort to visiting the Doctor – and we are now on the meds, although he is a couple of days ahead of me.  Actually I feel like poo at the moment – but it will clear!  I blame the heat – as I do for most things!

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Update – Eyes.  I have to go to hospital in a couple of weeks (on a Sunday as it happens) for five scans!  Apparently it will take about an hour so not too worrisome – then I shall have to wait for the results to go to the Consultant, then he will have an appointment sent to me …… this will not be quick!

Update – MP.  What do you think?  That’s right – nothing at all!

Update – Rat House.  Busy, busy, busy!  Teams of workmen in there working away – windows being replaced, back door replaced, much hammering and crashing from the region of the bathroom so I guess that is all being replaced.  Part of the garden completely cleared and new fences up.  Such a relief!

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You might remember that I won a Red Letter Day Afternoon Tea.  This week the Main Man and I set off to the Marwell Hotel full of anticipation – and what a disappointment it was!

The outside of the Hotel looked interesting – based on an African Lodge to tie it in with the Zoo across the road – but inside it was very shabby.

We were a little early having allowed more time than we needed in case of heavy traffic and decided to have a drink in the bar.  Credit where it is due – the barman was delightful and couldn’t do enough for us and his service was impeccable.

We had booked for 3.00 p.m. I went to Reception at 2.55 p.m. and spoke to a charming young lady, telling her why we were there.  She asked us to take a (rather grubby) seat while she let the Restaurant know.

A young man soon appeared and took us in and it was a bit of a shock to see such an absolutely filthy, stained carpet. I don’t mean a bit grubby – I mean filthy!  However, we took our seats as it dawned on us that we were the only people there which I hoped was not a bad omen!

The young man explained that he would be ‘hovering’ about quite a bit as there was a new young lady who had only started today and he would be showing her how things were done.  This was not a problem at all – we have all had to learn!

He asked us which tea we would like, we told him and off he went, only to return to pour us a glass of water and explain that there was no booking for us and we would have to wait while the chef prepared things!  I assured him we were booked in and offered to show him the confirmation e-mail on my phone but he wandered off never to be seen again.

The young lady brought our tea pots, with two tea strainers.

Unfortunately she had forgotten the milk so we had to wait some time until she reappeared with the food to ask for this and to ask for something on which to rest the strainers, rather than just put them on the tablecloth!

The food was a disappointment.  I am not a stranger to Afternoon Tea, having had this in very many venues from the Ritz to the local cafe but I have never only had one finger sandwich for each of us for the three fillings.  It is surely normal to be asked if you would like additional sandwiches before starting on the sweet items?

The scones were far from freshly baked and the cakes (perhaps wrongly) gave the impression of being mainly shop bought rather than freshly made, and were edible but a long way from being special although the cheesecake was delicious.

I would have expected to be asked at some point if we would like fresh tea, or hot water.

What a disappointment this afternoon was.  The very name Red Letter Days should indicate that it was a special event and we were just made to feel awkward, neglected and a nuisance.  There is no way on earth this could be called ‘the ultimate in traditional indulgence’ as they do on their blurb.  Rather than feel we had been spoiled in a nice Hotel that we would want to visit again, we felt let down and unwanted in rather shabby surroundings.

I have written to the General Manager by name but have not yet had a reply – watch this space!

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That’s about it for this week – if there are missing words and other mistakes – just put it down to a coughing fit– no prizes to anyone if you notice anything.

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Have a lovely week – if you have children, enjoy every minute of their holidays!  If you live anywhere near Portsmouth, don’t forget children are free at the Historic Dockyard for the whole of the holidays – a really good way to spend a day, wet or dry.  You can always take a picnic too!

Stay safe and take care of yourselves.

The Red and The White Roses

This is really just account of last week – so I hope you enjpoy it, and, if your know the area at all, that it might ring a bell!

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Well that was a rather super week away!

My Brother (D), sister-in-law (E), Main Man and I left home at 9.30 last Friday, heading for Lancashire.  Sunday was the 90^th birthday celebration of Our Boy’s Mother- in- Law Betty, and she had kindly invited us to join them for the party.

It takes about 4 and half hours to drive there, so, allowing for a tea and wee stop, we expected to get there at about 3.30 and Our Boy had booked a meal for us at 6.30 so we could all get together!

Of course – no such luck!  The M6 was complete chaos as we lurched from Road Works to Bridge Strengthening back to Road Works!  AT 6 we were still stuck so dinner was pushed back for an hour and we eventually arrived at Bacup at just after 7!  It was a nightmare journey but we forgot about it once we were all together, chattering and laughing.

On Saturday we went off for a look around, and caught the steam train between Rawtenstall and Bury, then back again.  I love Steam Trains so we had a great time.  D got in conversation (as is his habit) with one of the staff, who pointed out the dangers of steam trains in the present climate as the dry edges to the track can easily catch fire and the staff have to leap off and beat the flames out.  However, no such excitement for us!  In the evening ten of us went out for a meal, which was actually a bit of a disappointment, but it was, as always, good fun to be together.

On the Sunday morning we went for a drive around and D promised to take us somewhere we would love to see, which he did!  Perhaps not what I was expecting – we ended up at the ground of Accrington Stanley Football Club!  I managed to contain my excitement as D got in conversation with a supporter he had found, and they discussed the fact that Accrington would be playing Portsmouth this coming season.  My joy was unconfined I can tell you!

From there we popped over to visit the Senior Granddaughter, who has just bought her first home – and it was lovely, with a long terrace garden.  It already felt like a home, although she and her boyfriend have only been there a few weeks.  How proud they were to show us around and make us a cup of tea!

After getting changed, we went over to Betty’s – on a glorious day.  Her large garden had several gazebos set up so there was plenty of shade, drink flowed and the food was excellent and plentiful!  During the afternoon, an ice cream van appeared on her drive and dispensed whatever ice cream people wanted – the children thought they were in heaven!  A neighbour caused great amusement when he came to buy an ice cream without wondering what the van was doing in Betty’s garden!

Two elderly ladies joined our table.  They were most interested in who Our Boy was – and I explained he was Betty’s son in law.  They argued that he wasn’t because they’d been at the wedding and he wasn’t the groom.  I showed them a wedding photo and they agreed that that was the groom – but Our Boy wasn’t that man!  It seemed rather a pointless argument, so just pointed out that people do change a lot in thirty years – and they then moved on to asking about someone else, saying she looked familiar.  I told them who she was, but no!  A similar argument to the last one – and in the end I went and sat with the person in question for a while!

It was a lovely afternoon, made doubly special by the way we have all been accepted as members of their extended family.

On Monday morning, we set off for the next bit of our holiday and moved into White Rose country – Hawes, in Yorkshire.  We stayed in a B & B where we had stayed about 9 years ago and nothing had changed much!

The countryside is amazingly beautiful, especially at the moment.  Sheep were everywhere, dotted about the hillsides.  We drove up across the moors to the top of the Fells and paid a visit to Tam Hill Inn – the highest pub in the UK – but, although the drive was interesting, I wouldn’t recommend the pub!  You might have seen it on the television, featured in an advertisement for Everest Double Glazing – well, it doesn’t look like that!

Hawes is a lovely little town and is where Wensleydale cheese is made – and where you can taste all the different varieties!  Interesting display of the history of the cheese too.

On Tuesday Our Boy and his lovely wife came over to meet us for lunch – another treat!  We ate in the Creamery Restaurant and had a really good meal.

Over the next couple of days we drove out to visit other towns/villages in the area, usually involving driving up steep hills and down small tracks!  On Thursday evening we went to watch someone demonstrating Sheep Dog Trials – it was brilliant!  It did involve walking up a hill from where the car was parked so the farmer gave the Main Man and me a lift in the trailer attached to his Land Rover.  Probably not approved by Health and Safety but fun!

We headed back for home on Friday, being sure the journey couldn’t be as bad!  We left at 10, thinking that the rush hour would be over, and the road seemed remarkably clear for a while – then we hit the road works and it was a repeat of the journey up!  Even once we left the M6 there was more to come with long stationary queues on the M40.  Eventually we got back at about half six – tired but delighted with such a great week!

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Sorry if this has gone on a bit!  If you have never been ‘Up North’ I would recommend these two areas – friendly people, good food, interesting buildings and glorious views.

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Have a good week, and take care of yourselves.

Five More Sleeps!

Update – the MP was at the Show yesterday but escaped before I could get to speak to him!  Otherwise no response!

Update – two eye appointments this week, so possibly an answer!

Update – rat house still the same but another neighbour had a word with the owner when he came to see what all the fuss was about.  He thinks it will cost him in  excess of £10,000 to restore to an acceptable condition!

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Morning – and yet another hot one!  Sorry but enough now – heat and I don’t do well together.  I feel my DNA must be more Northern European than Mediterranean – a day or two of wall-to-wall sunshine is lovely, but weeks of it is just too much for me.

It must be lovely for people on holiday but how sorry I feel for those who are working – especially those doing hard, hot physical work.  Being stuck in a kitchen somewhere cooking all day, or in a factory with furnaces going, or digging earth that is baked solid must be a nightmare!

Roll on some proper English weather!

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The Main Man and I were coming home from shopping.  As we turned into our road we saw a lighting company van (A) and remarked to each other that it was probably the man we had been waiting for to repair the street light.  We pulled up outside our house where there was another van from the same company parked.  We opened the boot to unload when we heard a very loud ringing, quickly answered by the occupant of  the van (B) .

(A) ‘Wondered where you are?’

(B) I’m in Lovedean right now.  Where are you?

(A) I’m in R……. Avenue

(B) Meet you there in a while – take me about twenty minutes to get to you.

Van B speedily took off, presumably to hide elsewhere!

However, the light was repaired!

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I was waiting for a bus, having been to the Bank, and decided to sit inside the Bus Station in the cool.  My old favourite, the 700, drew up and passengers got off, but instead of dispersing they were all milling around and appeared to be waiting for something.

With my infallible nose for trouble, I decided that Something Was Up and left my cool sanctuary and wandered in a casual manner towards the bus stop.

I was almost knocked flying by an Inspector running past who kicked my stick out of my hand (by accident!) as he rushed to the bus and talked to the driver.  He then went to my bus, which had just arrived, and asked the driver to come and lend a hand!  The three of them muttered a bit, then another inspector arrived so the huddle was repeated (presumably bringing him up to date).  The new arrival got on the 700 and reappeared after a minute or two.

‘Take the bus out of service and call the Police’ he snapped at the first Inspector, who did just that and my driver returned to our bus.  I generously let everyone get on until I could delay no longer and had to get on myself.  Our driver was obviously quite pleased to have been called to assist and told us all what had happened.

Apparently, an elderly man (that term probably meant anyone over 40) had bought a West Susses Day Rover, but he refused to get off in Emsworth which was the furthest he could travel on that particular ticket as he was now in Hampshire.  He refused so the driver had no option but to carry on to the Bus Station, where there would be reinforcements.  He still refused to get off and insisted he was going to Portsmouth.  All appeals had failed, and now the Police had been called to forcibly remove him!

We hung about for a minute or two as the bus was running early but no sign of the Police – who might actually have been busy with crime – but the whole event reminded me of how much I enjoy bus travel but not in the heat thanks!

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If you have ever wondered what Autism/Asperger’s is, may I recommend a novel to you.  It is called Home Rules by Jodi Picoult.  I know it is a novel but written by a woman whose research is faultless and who has more than a nodding acquaintance with this in her own family.  It is really helpful in helping understand this condition.

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Yesterday was the annual Bedhampton Show and the Senior Girl and I were running the book stall – and golly it was hot!  We did the same last year and made loads of money and spent the afternoon surrounded by people.  This year – hardly anyone about!  Everyone seemed to be at home watching Wimbledon, Tour de France, Horse Racing, Grand Prix Qualifier or Football.  Sad for the organisers but better luck next year!

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Five more sleeps until I see someone I’ve not seen since April – our Boy, his amazing wife and the rest of the family as we join in the celebrations for his lovely mother-in-law’s 90th birthday!

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Enjoy the rest of your day, and stay as cool as you can.

No Blog next weekend but catch up with you soon.

Take care x