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.