60th Wedding Anniversary

Well, what an amazing family I have. Just been up to Scotland to celebrate “Hector and Rosina's” Diamond Wedding Anniversary. There we were, the six children together for first time in 22 years (Winnie's wedding) and for 34 years (in Scotland).

And what a ball we had. Family photos from Tony, family quizzes from Hector and Winnie, troubadour Tam unplugged and live, Victoria and Emily “doing anything for you”, “This is your life” from Jimmy. A fab team effort with the trilogy of the youngest wee Walkers “Daisy, Tom & Oliver” doing a stop over on their way to their gym-jams.

Wow - what gorgeous neices I have (Bliss on the left and Jess on the right).

Hector and Rosina were quite overwhelmed with the whole thing in fact so was everyone else, especially when 95 year old Aunt Sarah turned up (thanks John). Cake, banners, flowers and balloons (providing the usual helium fueled hysterics - and that was just the children) were ably tracked by Marilyn.

It was all too short but possibly for that a highly enjoyable evening with many hugs tears in the corner of most eyes.

COGS Ride to Stonehenge

Nineteen riders turned up on a clear morning for a 3.00am departure from the Salisbury Leisure Centre. Amazingly some people still turn up without lights – what can you say, “it’s dark”, “you are an adult” “you are a responsible person”? Each to their own I guess and of course they take their own responsibility!

All those back lights in the distance as your travel up the Woodford valley, no traffic, just peace and quiet.

Beyond the valley you join the track to hear the owls hooting in the copse and the skylarks singing in the background.

And then the scene before you is a dark mass in the distance, the stones silouted by the many camera flashes bouncing in many directions and noise cancelled out by the traffic.

20-30 thousand people throng the stones, a heaving mass of society. From family groups to couples, everyone loving one another and sharing joints, alcohol, food, music, bedrolls and camera phones.

The beat in the stones is captivating as the bodies surge back and forth to the beat with the swaying spaced out conductor, orally leading or making love to his sax, dictating the rhythm and intensity.

And for the first time they actually had recycling – English Heritage see the light! Which is more than can be said for us as the sun was well hidden behind the cloud – ah well maybe next year.

It must be June and National Bike Week

National Bike Week (www.salisbury.gov.uk) is upon us and it got off to great start with the opening of the Golden Way (9th June). As much as we were disappointed that Jon Snow was not able to turn we still had 60 cyclists and the Deputy Porfolio Holder for Transportation and her four children. Cheesy video interviews can be seen on (www.visionnews.co.uk)

The following week we had the Bike Awareness Day (Saturday 16th June) in Salisbury Market Square followed by the Deputy Mayor “Iris Evans'” Cavalcade – unfortunately, due to a back injury Iris is unable to cycle but she sent us off with speech worthy of Robert The Bruce - the cars did not stand a chance (never mind that we were just stuck in traffic jams as we circumnavigated the inner city.

Sunday 17th June found Gill leading off 13 cyclists to the Quaker Open Garden - beautiful spot down by the river near Alderbury. Of course we had to stop off at the Three Crown in Whaddon for quick snack and a few pints of ale.

Cycle rides, fly fishing and canal boats

Out on a cycle ride in late April we took the opportunity to check the Sustrans Route 24 signage last week. Peter had been out the following week re-signing the route. It has to be said that he and Jeff Scholefield really did deserve their award for the signing of the routes through Salisbury.
Another weekend we spent camping in Winterslow when going to the Barn dance in the village to support Uganda project. Following day we were fly fishing (here's Gill casting but not catching!) for the first time courtesy of John and Sally.
Recently spent two weeks on Solong the canal boat. Picking the boat up at Blisworth Tunnel boats we headed North up through Braunston to Nottingham. Stopped here to let Peter and Joan escape back home. Met up with nephew Tom and fed him an almighty steak. Picked up Chris and headed towards Leicester and Loughborough. Rained more than we would have liked but I still managed to end up with the back of my ears burnt. A great few weeks away and met up with some real characters on the cut (canal). Tales of the cut included the elderly lady on Gracie who for the first time has just bought a twin tub. and the old gents, one the son of Chocolate Charlie (he ran milk to the Cadbury's factory in his boat) who has decided that he is unable to cope on the boat and is considering buying a house on land.

Snakes and Pussies

It was solong

Whilst working amongst our compost containers I lifted a plastic lid that had been lying on the ground for some time. Underneath was the most beautiful slow worm. This interesting creature, which fortunately does not bite, had then climbed into another lid in which I was able to photo. Shortly before, Gill had lifted the lid on one of the compost containers, and was busily being stared at by a cute little mouse - how interesting and lively our gardens can be.

What a nice pussy

Being invited round to Karen's for dinner on Saturday night was a great opportunity to view her new kittens - four new British Short Hair - very cute! Gill and I were most impressed and spent ages going - oooooohhhhhhh!!!! Meanwhile viewing the kittens resulted in Karen's pasta overcooking - mind meal was lovely!

Show of Hands at the Albert Hall

Show of Hands (Sunday 8th April)

Back at the Albert Hall Steve Knightly and Phil Beer were at their best to delight another sell out audience. Their trade mark of audience participation was evident from the first impression that someone was coming on stage. The applauding eventually subsided as it was clear that Steve once again was somewhere in the stalls arriving from a far flung place in the farthest point away from the stage. With only his guitar and vocals his haunting voice driffted to us in the gods and set the scene as Phil Beer's drawling violin notes were increasing in volume to match Steve resonating on the other side of stalls. The audience burst into rapturous appreciation of a duet who then spent the evening holding the audience in the palm of their hands or was that on the end of their finger tips.

Joined on stage for most of the evening by Miranda Sykes, who had her own jazz/blues solo later on, SoH settled in to a comfortable night having a few friends round and good old session took place.

Martyn Joseph, Tom Robinson, John Jones as well as a mix of unknown/new artists Jenna, a host of Cornish singers and a trio of young female violin players arrived and left at the end of their sets. Typical of SoH many of these established musicians were given the opportunity to join their heros on stage whilst the floor was given over to up and coming star Jenna. Whilst her music was already well accomplished the highlight of her song was when believing she was well off stage she gave a little jig of sheer excitement at having just performed at the Albert Hall.

Giving thanks, all and sundry were brought back on stage for the unaccompanied final sea shanties where the roof was raised once again on what was a splendid eveving at the Albert Hall.

Buena Vista Social club

Buena Vista Social club

Having come back from Northampton on the Friday (30th March) we were off to see Buena Vista Social club on that evening. This was a splendid evening listening to a group with such vitality and rythm. Right from the first number the crowd were swaying in their seats to the buxom bussom and sensuous back side of Cuba. With outstanding solo perfermonces the coming together of all the individuals was a cresendo of delight.

Canals and music gigs

Back on board Solong
A lovely week when I at last experienced that magicalfeeling as seen in the photos in Canal magazines. Sitting in the bow with book and ipod I was in complete bliss. The world was passing by, squirrels on the path, a foxe in the field, kestrels in the trees and sheep in the fields.
Foxton was a scream with Jimmy being prop bound by a wayward sweat shirt. Meanwhile Gill had to rope up to a Tug to stabilise the boat. Any excuse for Jimmy to get up to his arm pits in rubber gauntlets and soon the prop was clear.
Down to see the inclined plane, we then went to Bridge 61 - yes this was the boater pub where with common sense Rhian and Gill went off to change for dinner. Meanwhile David had a thirst and I never one to so no kept on pouring down "Steaming Billy" - as recommended by Bruce Coleman. By the time that Rhian and Gill returned it was more like "Steaming Jimmy".
Highlights were the baked potatoes in the stove, kestrels, king fishers (not too many) and just being on the cut!
Roll on May when we will be back on Solong.

Oakhampton Activity Weekend

Off we went last weekend with Gill's badminton club to the Manor House Hotel in Oackhampton - in a round about way. I had to London for a meeting and had to leave shortly after lunch to get to Exeter St. David's for our bus at 5.55pm. Anyway it was bad enough that my train was 15 mins late but Gill's train only arrived 2 min after the bus had departed. Ah well time for a beer and meal in the Imperial (Weatherspoons) at the grand total price of £8.40.
Eventualy got bus to Manor Hourse and arrived 9.30pm for a gathering in the sitting area and to say our hello's. A blissfully relaxing weekend spent swiming, table tennis, carpet bowls, walking on the moors, drinking, and certainly lots of eating. There is ceratinly a larger contingent of young efficient Polish workers at the site who are keen and enthusiastic. What a nice weekend. Thanks to Ros for organising our nice trip. Bus and train back worked well and we went to bed extremely satisfied on the Sunday.

The image here goes with the posting below and is of some of the lovely McDowell clan. Second from the left is Aunt Margaret - 93 years of age - more like 63!

Aunt Mary's Funeral

Aunt Mary's Funeral was of course a sad affair. Whilst it took 5 and half minutes for the minister to actually say Aunt Mary's name the service as a whole was about "The Church" and being with God. For Aunt Mary we are all happy that this is what she wanted, however, I can now understand why my father is unable to have any sympathy with the Presbeterian Church. The rest of the sermons were taken up with us being sinners and going to hell, unless we mended our ways.

Where has the "love" of Christ gone? Where was the forgiveness?

Aunt Mary would have loved her last day. Surrounded by the Walkers, McDowells, the Andrews and the Reids. Quite a gathering all in all.

Coming home from work on Friday night to sad news was not so great. My dear Aunt Mary had passed away at the grand old age of 98. Not surprising Aunt Mary had been a major part of all our lives and every trip back involved a trip to see her. This was not carried out through duty but through respect for a very special person who right up the end was still full of spirit and up until the last two years she was still living in her own house. Oh how she used to laugh and loved her TV. Especially the wrestling when it used to be on ITV on a Saturday afternoon when Mick McManus would strut his stuff and Aunt Mary would be thorougly invovled and entertained. Amazingly for someone who hardly ever went out she would occasionally jet off around the world on holiday with Aunt Margaret. Aunt Mary is on the left side of Aunt Sadie during a visit to mum and dad's in Gartlea some years ago. Aunt Mary occupied a very large space within all our hearts. Now I hope she is a peace.

Kitchen is coming along

After three weeks the kitchen is beging to look like well - a kichen. Having lost a wall and replaced two windows, what was two rooms, now looks like a nice long area stuffed full of kitchen cupboards. Plenty of down lights mean that there is no shadowing anymore and lots of under cupboard lights gives us enough illumination of the surfaces - it is amazing, we can actually see what we are doing now!
Not quite finished yet as we don't have a proper floor and of course the walls need painting. Try not leave it for more than 5 years this time.

Here is the half way stage showing where the wall used to be and the old windows still in place.

dear me - jimmy's sore knee

I've been playing at silly buggers and came off me bike on Tuesday morning (30th Jan). I was carrying the works laptop in my pannier which was placed on the left hand side of the pannier rack and hence the bag was a little bit heavier than usual. So, just as I was heading down to the bottom of our estate, for the left hand corner that I take every morning, the day took a most unexpected turn. Well not so much as a turn as a thumping great crash to the ground. Would not have been so bad if I had just skittered along the road but when I went the down, the front of my left knee took the full impact of the blow. Just like being winded I just could not move for the shocking pain in my leg. A kind man driving past stopped to check I was okay and was keen to phone for an ambulance as I lay there trying to work out how bad the injury was. All seemed to be in place so he was able to pull me to my feet and assured that I was relatively okay he went on his way – people really are kind. Trying to walk with the bike was too painful so it was time to practice for the "Olympics" 2012 one legged cycle race as this was the most convenient way to get home. Gill was still in the kitchen as I came hopping through the door with this painful, guilty/embarrassed, feeling sorry for myself look on my face. Whilst I took to the sofa Gill went off to retrieve some ice from the freezer and wrapped it round my knee and then set about finding some pain killers. As the computer was needed for presentations that morning I had to contact work and have them make alternative arrangements - the computer was fine and came in handy to get some work done later in the day.
By the following morning the knee still looked like a small football and I decided to pack myself off the A&E. Impressive service indeed! Arrival 10:10h and out by 11.30h – and it looked busy. The x-ray (all digitalised and accessible from a range of computers on site) had shown that the knee and all associated bones were still in tact – I nearly jumped (well more like hopped really) for joy. The nurse and consultant prodded and probed and decided that as I could lift the leg (only by an inch) that all tendons were still attached. Although not ruling out internal surface damage they were satisfied that with painkillers, crutches and physiotherapy that I should make a recovery, however they did say that it may take two weeks to be able to walk without crutches and 4-6weeks before getting back to normal.

Anyway it is now the end of the week and I can walk and put some weight on the knee - which is great progress.