Life!

18th to 25th August 2017 at Bognor Regis Photos I picked Lorraine up at 10 am and we set off for Bognor.  Apparently I had passed the intercom test with flying colours!  The intercom on the gate at the convent was broken and the sign said "press the button and state who you are and why you are visiting" which I had done.  Everyone else had pressed the button and then gone "hello...... hello.....".  We had a good journey down and arrived about 12.30.  We messaged the family WhatsApp group and discovered everyone else was on the same train!  Lorraine and I had a nice lunch in the new Fish and Chip restaurant where Lorraine was able to get tomato and basil soup and some chips.  I had a delicious fish cake.  I then allowed myself to be accosted by one of the awful dressed up people so that we could send a photo to the WAgroup showing we had started!! Lorraine and I checked in and had a little wander and then the others arrived at the gate. ...

When we got back from Devon I checked the garden and found the fence was now much more substantial, and attractive, but that they had run the electrics for the garden lights up our side of the fence and then drilled holes in the fence to feed them through!!  And still no sign of the trellis!!  I texted Nicki again, and they both came round the next day.  They agreed with us entirely, and in fact helped pull the wires back through.  They said that they had just spent half an hour digging out half the plants that had been planted as there were far too many and way over budget!  Its a shame about the holes but hopefully I will be able to cover them with the climbers. We also found that the bathroom door no longer closed - and there were large cracks in the door jamb.  We put it down to the house settling after all the work that had been going on either side of us! It was a weird week without Suki - very quiet and no need to go out for a walk twice a day...

Spot the trellis in the alleyway! I couldn't believe my eyes when I got back from Kent and let Suki out into the back garden.  Our fence had been removed, my climbing plants were hanging down on the ground, and there were large holes where our fence posts had been.  In its place was a huge panel fence.  I texted Nicki (next door neighbour) straight away to see what was going on - and discovered later that she had emailed me about it but with only one day's notice while I had been away.  She had also talked to Mike on the phone but of course he hadn't mentioned it to me.  Neighbours had thought we had agreed to replace both fences with just one and they were having a complete makeover of their garden.  In the morning it looked a lot better - and I spotted my missing trellis in the alleyway and went round to ask them to replace it.  They didn't speak much English but seemed to agree. I spent a quiet Saturday doing all my washing and putting all my...

25th July to 5th August - Tour organised by Mike Itinerary Photos I stayed at Bolton Barn in Lenham Heath. Roving Ringers were at Palace Farm in Doddington My accommodation ran from Friday to Friday, whereas tour was from Saturday to Saturday, so I packed Mike's bags and left him to it on the Friday.  Penny B was going to be turning up sometime in the evening and staying overnight and he was also giving a lift to Peter, so I was confident he would have someone there to pack the bike in the car etc.  Louise Palmer dropped out the day before with a stress-related illness and Peter stepped into the breach as Master. I left after lunch on Friday and found the traffic very heavy going, especially as I got further round the M25, but eventually Suki and I arrived at our destination.  It was absolutely delightful - a small barn conversion, and quite the most dog-friendly accommodation I have ever had.  They provided throws for the chairs and bed for when the...

I was home for one day after the Barnes ringing trip and then it was back down to Devon for a week.  I was determined that by the end of this trip I would have sorted out the curtains and blind once and for all - either by ensuring that Victoria came round or by going and collecting the blind and hooks/gliders and doing it myself.  I knew that she was on holiday until 19th so on 20th I texted her to ask her to come round.  She could not come any earlier than Wed 26th - the day I was due to go home!  So I asked her to come at 9 am so that I could leave at 10 am to walk Suki and drive home - and she agreed. I had the thought of that hanging over me all week, but tried to push it to the back of my mind as far as possible. Jayne and I had a nice week together - we sorted out the linen cupboard and did various of the bits and pieces which still needed sorting.  I finally got the computer set up and I gave Suki her new blanket - which she seemed to be very happy wit...

12th to 16th July 2017.  Towers and pubs organised by Mike, hotels by Trisha Itinerary Photos Artistic Notes on Churches Quarter Peals For me this trip was going to be a cross-stitching fest - staying in a hotel and enjoying the countryside and sitting in churchyards (weather permitting!) and watching Wimbledon finals week when the signal was good enough.  I didn't intend to do any ringing at all! We picked up Peter and then Monica, and were on the road by just after 10 am.  We made good time and arrived at the lunchtime pub ( The Greyhound at Ixworth ) at noon - the official start time.  There were a few other ringers there already - but Mike, Monica and Peter got their lunch order in first and had all the available pork chops!  I ate my sandwiches in the car and had some coffee - then popped in to say hello and use the facilities. The ringers went off to ring and I did some cross stitch in the car in the pub car park.  By the end of the ring...