Life!

Got up quite early as Jayne had 9 am appointment for blood test.  I put some more washing on, and once this was out went and picked up Jayne and we went straight on for a walk in Bovey Valley woods.  We started on the usual route and then decided to go left to Houndtor Woods when we got to the footbridge.  We took the wrong path back and had to zig zag down to the correct one later, but it was a good path and quite a reasonable route and we were both very relaxed about it. Some ponies with a foal came trotting into the car park as we were about to leave.  We were out for nearly 3 hours and decided to go to the Edgmoor Hotel for lunch.  Jayne had fishcakes - which were delicious but rather large.  I had the club sandwich - which was rather dry and unappetising.  The chips were wonderful but the sandwich was a ciabatta roll with a chunk of cheese, a slice of bacon, some bits of chicken and some tomato and was quite heavy going.  I felt full and slig...

Got up at 6.30 and had shower - had put washing on timer and it was ready to be put out at 7 am.  Put next load on and took Suki for a quick walk round the block - over the hill and back via Rendells Drive and bridleway.  Got back and put washing out, putting third load on, and had porridge and cup of tea then drove to Exeter for 9 am meet for handbell peal with Tim, Sue Sparling and Tom Hinks.  Rang a peal of Bristol - Tim and Sue struggled and often put each other off, but afterwards all agreed it had been better than their first peal of it the previous week.  I was only put off a couple of times and was pleased with the way I had rung.  Then went to Sainsbury and stocked up on stuff.  Jayne helped unload car and I had a hot cross bun for lunch.  Jayne had prepared cabbage and red wine marinade for the pork chops, and we put them on to cook with roasted carrots and beetroot and went out for a walk to Parke finishing with a cup of tea at the cafe. ...

Had a good night's sleep. Got up at 7.15 and had a shower - left my teeth as no toothpaste! Took Suki to Parke for a walk and then came back for a cup of tea before going up to ringing.  Tim turned up (he had taken Guy to the station for 9 am and heard us ringing up).  10 ringers there in all as Peter also there, although Lisa was missing (it's her birthday).  Apparently there is also a new ringer called Bobby.  Stayed to the service with Rosemary but went straight home afterwards rather than having coffee because of Suki.  Just wondering what to do for lunch when Margaret came to the door and suggested going out for lunch.  So we went to Pink's Place and had a really good 3 course lunch with coffee for £11.  Got some Lenor and toothpaste on the way back and put my first load of washing on.  Attached my new USB extension leads to the computer (HUGE hairy spider behind computer desk)! Took Suki for a quick walk up to the quarry and round over Hay T...

Decided to spend some time with Mike before dashing off to Devon, so we had some breakfast and then took the handcycle and Suki to Richmond Park.  Very hot sunny day so  immense amount of lycra on display.  The place was heaving with cyclists.  Mike did a couple of circuits while Suki and I walked along by Beverly Brook with me throwing the ball in the water for her.  Had Camembert for lunch which John and Ionie had brought back from Paris - very good - with some toast.  Mike had a shower and I patched him up.  Then helped him grease the cranks on the handbike before setting off for Devon around 3.30 pm.  Girls had gone over to Carolyn's for the day.  Got to Devon at 6.40 just after Jayne had got in.  I had set the tripometer at the petrol station on the Chiswick Roundabout, and it showed exactly 200 miles when I parked on the drive.  We had a cup of tea and a chat and then went down to Party in the Park at Mill Marsh Park.  Ha...

Didn't need the ear plugs after all that as there was only one swift delivery this morning, and even the gulls were quiet.  Had a shower and packed and we were all up with the chalet empty in good time.  We put all the stuff in the car and then went and had breakfast/lunch in Rosso's - which was air conditioned and very pleasant.  The food and the service were very good.  We then changed up the tickets and generally mooched around for a while.  Carolyn and Leanne went off with Ollie about 12 and then we went back to Rosso's for a drink and for Bethany to have a feed, before setting off about 4.30 pm for home leaving John to get a taxi to the station.  A good journey home until we got to the bottom of Roehampton Lane - satnav showed long delays on all routes in from about 5 miles away (probably because Putney Bridge and Hogarth Flyover closed).  Decided to try Castlenau but traffic queuing back to Rocks Lane so went over to Chiswick Bridge and were ok u...

Got up at 7 and had a shower - having been woken at 6 by screeching gulls and deliveries again.  Found ear plugs waiting for me on coffee table - too late for today but will have them ready tomorrow morning! Went over to the fairground and went on horses and helter skelter with Ollie - then he went on the racing cars while Lorraine and Leanne did the ropes challenge again.  Then more fairground - trampoline, trabant and dart throwing stall. Then went and had lunch in the diner at 1pm when Mitzi Melba was due to be working and singing as Ollie was very keen to see her again.  She came over to see him and sang to him and was generally very sweet and so was Ollie - clapping her as she was singing and hugging her.  I didn't have a meal myself but helped Carolyn and Ollie out with their chips. In the afternoon we went to Soccer for Tots - it was very hot with no shade at all.  Afterwards we all felt wiped out and went back to the chalet to cool off and recharge the b...

Had a much better night's sleep.  Woke up once with very bad cramp and was awake at 5 with screeching gulls then noisy deliveries.  Gave up at 6.30 and watched an episode of mock the week on ipad before getting up and having a shower.  Made porridge again. Leanne did a load of laundry - she Ollie and Carolyn went off to find breakfast and play in the play area.  Lorraine,  Amanda, Bethany,  John and I went in to Bognor - John took the noddy train and the rest of us walked along the sea front.  Another beautiful sunny day.  After a little time we split into two groups.  John and I went to Boots and then wandered right round the town.  We all met up in the coffee shop.  I only had a latte but then helped Lorraine out with her gooseberry and elderflower cake (with icing! ). John and I then went back on the noddy train and the girls stayed on for more shopping.  I had an hour to myself guarding the chalet as the windows were wide ...