Month: April 2023

We had a a bit of a ‘meh’ day, today, and we puffed and sighed our way through most of it.

Despite the pair of us being awake early, neither of us could winkle ourselves out of bed. When I finally got up, John could see I was a bit fed up, so he offered a variety of activities that he thought might cheer me up. In the end, I said ‘no, thank you’ – all I wanted to do was to get the utility room sorted out! John, for his part, was keen to get the printer working and to try and do more research on getting the Lotus going.

So, in between cups of coffee, a spot of lunch and some daytime TV, that’s what we did.

I was just scrolling through my social media apps on one of my many sit-downs, when I came across a reminder that the ‘Pub Lotus’ group were having their monthly meet-up this evening. “Do you want to go to that, John?” I asked. “There’s a meal at a pub just outside Stratford and then some chat to people about the cars.” Maybe, came the response. “Alright,” I said, “We’ll decide in an hour or so,” and I carried on with my cleaning and sorting job.

About four-thirty John decided, yes, he thought we’d go – but beforehand, he’d have a bit of a rest. Bless him, I had to wake him up when it was time to leave. But we did go. And we had a very nice time. Now, there’s a surprise.

We met some very nice and some very friendly people, some of whom were ‘useful’ in the sense that they knew about mending a Lotus, and some were just interesting for their own sake.

The meeting was held at Broom Hall Inn just outside Stratford and, thanks to John getting a wriggle on once he’d woken up, we arrived on time. We ordered some food and drinks and then sat down at a table where, fortunately, there was couple who were experienced Lotus drivers and menders. John was able to have a fruitful chat with them about his car and get some advice. The other couple on the table coincidentally live just a few miles from us , in Knowle, and were not car menders – simply Lotus drivers who loved their car. But we had children with psychology degrees in common, so a lovely chat ensued.

There were a few notices to be read out and, after that, all new people to the group were asked to stand up and introduce themselves. All everyone only really wanted to know was what sort of Lotus you’d got, and what colour the car was. So that was easy. Hehehe.

So the day ended on a high. Good-oh. More like that please.

Take care everyone. God bless.

Phew!! Our feet have hardly touched the floor since I last blogged! And the events of the last few days haven’t been too shabby, either.

Very few photos though – I was clearly camera forgetful!

We had a smashing Easter Sunday, even though we were family-free. We went to a great Sunday Service at Church first thing, followed by a farewell ‘do’ for Father Peter in the Church Hall, retiring after 18 years in post. It was really good and so lovely to see people we haven’t seen for ages. They all seemed delighted to see us, too, which is always a bonus.

There was tea, coffee and soft drinks – and prosecco for those who fancied a glass for the toast to Peter. We had some lovely food too! Everyone had been very busy baking, and we had a delicious piece of fruit cake to follow the savouries.

Father Peter lit the fire pit outside the church, symbolic of renewal (I think), much to the excitement of the children; in the Hall there was a little band playing and singing; there were games for the children; and Becky and Jon Powell offered us the Easter Story via the Puppet Theatre, and great fun that was. Apparently, Jon wasn’t allowed to put in half the jokes that he wanted….. but it still made us laugh and uplifted us all.

Straight from church we went round to Pete and Dawn’s for lunch. Oh my! What a treat. We were en famille and felt very blessed to be among such dear friends, witnessing their lovely family dynamics. Arthur was a hoot, chattering away nineteen to the dozen and generally offering us all a great floor show. Such a clever little boy. Jean entertained us, too. For an octogenarian, she is so very much on the ball, and joined in the repartee to a Tee. It was all lovely.

On Easter Monday, I popped over to see Mum in the morning. She was once again on top form and excited to get an Easter Egg and some flowers for her vase. She made me laugh though – the Easter Egg had a Lindt Bunny in it, which I put in front of her her TV. I think Mum thinks it’s an ornament….. hehehe. I wonder if she will have eaten it by the time I next visit?

Mum had a couple of bruises that I queried though. She had no idea where they had come from or how she had got them. There was one on her arm, which I imagine is from leaning on the bedstead when she gets dressed, but there was one on her leg which I had no clue as to how it would have got there. The staff had been unaware of it too, so I’ve written a little note to ask them to make a note of any injuries sustained in future.

Home again and it was a Sunday Roast on a Monday! The Kenilworth Newbies were on their way. We had a smashing time together and a delicious lunch of lamb, roast potatoes and all the trimmings. Ah, yes!! Easter! It just has to be lamb!!

On Tuesday, we had a little toddle into Coventry, where we met Danielle and the boys for a viewing of ‘Dippy’ the Diplodocus, at the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum. Another smashing time was had. Into the café first for a lunch snack, then straight in to see Dippy. I think I was more excited than the boys were! William was busy telling us all about all the fossils that were on display. Crikey! That boy knows a thing or two! Thomas followed on and copied William – and baby Oliver wriggled and wriggled in his buggy, just wanting to be out and about!

Here’s Dippy acknowledging William’s arrival!

We had a lovely wander round the art exhibition for local painters and sculptors, too, and William and I voted for our favourite picture. Fabulous, and we loved it.

And now it’s Wednesday, when we would normally have our Quiz Night. However, we cancelled this evening’s session as there wasn’t going to be a full complement of us all. I took the opportunity to take myself off for the first open water swim of the year. Brrrr……. it was cold!

Ambient temperature: 10°; Water temperature: 9.8°; and me? Dipped my toes in. Then up to my knees. Hips. Chest….. and…… all in! Three or four very splashy strokes of breast stroke before I hopped out again!!

I was pleased I’d managed to at least get my whole self in. Not a full swim. But maybe next time?

John, meanwhile, has spent most of the day trying to set up a printer to his computer and then researching how to mend his car……this is what he calls fun!!

That’s us, folks. Take care everyone. God bless.

We have had a busy day today, one way and another. John had decided he was going to catch up on his sleep this morning, so after a cup of tea and some hot cross buns in bed, he snuggled back down again while I nipped to Waitrose. My aim was to buy some lovely food for a Sunday Roast on Monday.

Great success on the shopping front, and I thoroughly enjoyed tootling round the shop, picking up items I had been promising myself for months, if not years in some cases. A soap dispenser; some chopping boards; a potato peeler; a potato masher……oooh, the luxury.

Home again and John was up and about, valiantly doing the exercises that Paul had given him. It seems to me, although it may not to John, that he is less puffed out while he is doing them. I seem to hear fewer moans and groans anyway!!

I put the shopping away and then we grabbed a bite to eat. We sat out in the garden to eat our lunch and it was lovely. The breeze was a bit cool, so we wrapped a blanket round our knees and enjoyed the warmth of the sun on our faces. Bliss for an hour.

After lunch I wondered whether we should pop over to Kenilworth to say ‘hello’ to Marie, Danielle’s Mum, who is over from Jersey for a few days. We texted/phoned the Kenilworth Newbies and yes, that sounded a great idea. “Join us at the pub?” they said. Well, it would have been churlish not to, wouldn’t it?

We had a smashing time at the pub. The weather was warm and we sat outside. The company was good and Grandpa led the Easter Egg Hunt. Thomas fell over a million times while he was doing it, got up, dusted himself off and carried on; William told us about every single Easter Egg he’d found and the number of Easter Eggs he was still hunting; and Oliver feasted on the gravel path……”Not in your mouth!” was the permanent cry. I fretted over losing the children in the crowd while everyone else told me to shut up and keep calm…….. Ha! As if……

We came home and ate our evening meal, with plans to call on Pete and Dawn to drop their Easter card and gift of chocolate round. John thought he might go in his new wheelchair. Regrettably, I noticed that it didn’t have much charge, so that scuppered that idea and, anyway, after he’d eaten, he was rather tired. All that fresh air and exercise had done him in.

In between times, we had taken delivery of a parcel. Excitedly, I opened it and, wow! What a lovely surprise!! A pair of ‘daffodil’ bird feeders from Pete and Dawn. How absolutely lovely. Can’t wait to put them into the garden tomorrow!!

I did go round to Pete and Dawn’s and left John resting on the sofa. I was very excited about the bird feeders and was able to thank them while I was there, of course. Jack made me a nice cup of tea, and we all sat and nattered for about an hour and then I came away back to see what the ol’ man was up to.

He was TV viewing. He had found a really interesting programme about the capture of mob leaders in America. Fascinating stuff. While I watched I did a spot of ironing so that there’d be crisp sheets on the bed……. ha, ha, more luxury!

And that was us today. Quite a busy day, but we were rather pleased that we’d kept going.

Take care everyone. God bless.

Did you know that there are lots of superstitions about what not to do on Good Friday? I didn’t, but apparently you shouldn’t:

• handle any nails or iron tools.
• plant anything or break any ground.
• wash clothes.
• climb trees (children).
• work (adults).
• eat or drink anything containing vinegar or nettles.
• do housework.
• eat meat.

Erm….. I am not sure what the penalty is for having done any of these things, but at the last count I had done at least four of them! Oo-er!

I did do a little contemplation today to remind me what the day was all about and thought of my fellow parishioners who may have done the ‘walk of witness’ this morning. I was still lazing in bed when that was due, having spent the morning procrastinating, despite the gorgeous weather.

I had asked John to strip the bed this morning so we could wash the sheets. I clearly didn’t know about that particular superstition when I made John bung them in the washing machine……hehehe! But they dried a treat on the line in the warmth of the sun.

It really was a beautiful day, but neither of us really grabbed it by the horns this morning. However, by this afternoon we both thought we ought to do something. John had a little go at his car (he thinks it fired on three cylinders today) and then twiddled about on the computer, trying to set up a new printer.

Meanwhile, I went into the garden to see if I could have a bit of a tidy-up. We had brought a branch in, last autumn, that had fallen from the oak tree over the road and, although we had cut a lot of it up, there was still a great big pile of brash waiting to be sorted. So I did that, and was pleased with my efforts. Mind you, I might have sore arms tomorrow – it took a toll on them with all that lifting, breaking and cutting of branches. And there might have been some handling of metal and breaking of ground…..

It was nice in the garden though, and I had a different view than from our normal one via the patio window….. see how pretty my narcissi look…..

The weather was reasonably warm so, after John had finished messing about with his car, we had ourselves a little cream tea on the patio. Thought it’d boost our spirits, and it did. Lovely – lucky us!!

We didn’t eat meat for our tea, but had the time-honoured fish. I made a fish pie, which I love, but aren’t they a fiddle?

After our evening meal, we were both pooped, so we plopped ourselves in front of the telly and watched absolute trash. Suggestions, please for decent programmes!!

Anyway, I keep thinking back to the lovely times we have had with our friends this week, and thought I’d share this fabulous photo of everyone at Carol’s 70th Birthday Bash. It is such a happy photo, because it was such a happy day, and I’d like to share the happiness with everyone on this day of the ‘darkest hour’.

Take care everyone. God bless.

It may have been Maundy Thursday today, but we didn’t take part in any of the activities that mark the day. We simply went about our normal day, which involved lazing around in bed this morning, with all the best intentions.

However, I did make a mental note of the last commandment Jesus gave to his disciples at that last supper, and of which we remind ourselves today. He said, ‘….. love one another, as I have loved you, you are also to love one another.‘ How wonderful if we could all do that, always? What a wonderful world that would be!

After my ‘Thought for the Day’, I finally managed to get out of bed and phone the Land Registry to ask how to amend the ownership of Mum’s house. Apparently, my Dad’s name is still on the deeds….. I spoke to a chap who was incredibly helpful. He sent me a form, which I duly filled in and posted off forthwith. Excellent. A sense of achievement for once!

We had a bit of a to and fro text message conversation with Kenilworth Newbies this morning. ‘Can you come over this afternoon to let the plumber in?’ ‘Oh, scrap that, Danielle will be in‘ ‘Hang on, Danielle will be out, so as you were.‘

In the end, we did go over. Michael had meetings and needed to be in them, and the plumber’s visit coincided with his absence. When we got there the plumber had yet to arrive, but Michael was downstairs having his lunch break – without any lunch to eat. “I’ll just nip to Sainsbury’s and buy some sandwiches,” I said, and rushed back out again.

When I got back, Steve, the plumber was there. Michael wolfed his sandwiches down in readiness for his meeting. Then stopped. “I think I’ll email them and tell them I’m dealing with an emergency plumbing situation and will join them when I can.” What a good idea! And……..relax.

We stayed for a bit longer and I put together a little ‘Easter Tree’ with little eggs in baskets, for the children to enjoy and as a surprise when they got home. I am sure they’ll enjoy it! The Kenilworth Originals will have to wait for theirs until they get back from their trip.

This afternoon John and I went into Coventry to have a conversation with a real person at the Virgin Bank. John puffed his way up the incline to the High Street, only to find when we got there, that they had new opening hours and had closed at two o’clock…. Booooo. Ah, well, I am sure the exercise did us good and at least we have rekkied the joint now.

A bit of telly this evening and that was us today.

Take care everyone. God bless us all this Eastertide:

May we be blessed with Love; 
That we may show patience, 
Tolerance, kindness, caring and love to all. 
Amen

On Monday morning, we had the greatest pleasure of Skyping Graham and Gail. It was so lovely to ‘see’ them and to mull over what has been happening in our lives in recent times, since Christmas. They are well, despite the aches and pains of getting older and their specific ailments. And they were on top form, so we thoroughly enjoyed our chat.

As soon as we had finished nattering, we hot-footed it to Solihull for John to do his exercise class. All good there, and John did really well with some cycling, weights, and stand-ups. In fact, I can see an improvement in his strength since Paul did the little video for him to follow and, although he’s still a bit wobbly and breathless, he is firmer in his walking. Fingers crossed the improvement continues.

Naturally, when we got home, we then slumped on the sofa – and that was it then, for the rest of the day!

Great excitement, however, was that the new wheelchair arrived that John had ordered. It is an electric one, with a remote control, so John’s plan is to use it for walks and he can sit in it when he’s tired and get out and walk when he’s not. Mind you, it’s come from China and the instructions, although they are written in English, seem double-Dutch….. some translating required, I think!

The following day, Tuesday, we were back at Solihull, but this time it was the hospital and not the gym, for an appointment with the Orthopaedic consultant on John’s hip. Bless the NHS….. it was a case of good cop/bad cop….. John was referred for his arthritic hip two years ago and the appointment just came through now. But the appointment itself went swimmingly, even if the outcome wasn’t quite what we wanted to hear. Chat to the consultant: “I’ll need another X-Ray, I’m afraid,” he said apologetically. We wandered along the corridor and were more or less straight in for the x-ray. We wandered back and straight into the consultant’s room for the result. “You can see that it is bone-on-bone here, and here,” He said, pointing out the areas on the x-ray. “Are you wanting a full hip replacement? Or an injection? Or do nothing – just carry on as you are?” John said he’ll carry on for now. Can’t face more treatment.

At home, we had another afternoon of TV watching – to the extent that I started watching a series called, ‘Magpie Murders’ and went on to binge-watch the lot until nearly midnight. Tut-tut-tut…..

Some days are definitely better than others. One thing that helps John of course, is company. The chatter and banter helps takes his mind off his difficulties, so today was a ‘good’ day! We met up with Dave and Chris, and Rob and Kay, who were up from Devon, and we had a fabulous lunch and general chat that went on all afternoon. The restaurant had to kick us out in the end! We thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon and there wasn’t a moment when we weren’t chattering away. Lovely.

Naturally, our thoughts turned to our lengthy friendship and we agreed that for all of us it’s at least 55 years, and for some of us, it’s almost sixty years since we first met. Crumbs! How did that happen? Here we all are – looking not a day over 21!!

Tonight was Quiz Night and another cracking evening. Although John was very tired, he stayed with it and enjoyed the challenge – as did we all. A great evening of banter was just what the doctor ordered!

Take care everyone. God bless.

So, yesterday we got ourselves ready in our Sunday best to travel up to Derby for Carol’s birthday celebrations. I rummaged through my wardrobe and dismissed most of it as being ‘too small’. Will I ever fit into any of it again? I think not. Not only am I plumper than I used to be, but I am also shorter and things have gone south.

John also dismissed much of what was in his wardrobe for similar reasons. “We’ll have to go through the clothes and chuck out what we can’t wear,” said John. I agreed, but reluctantly. All those lovely clothes! I can hardly bear to part with them , but I know it’s the sensible thing to do. But maybe not just yet?

Anyway, we found something we could squeeze ourselves into and we set off, just before one o’clock, to arrive at the Clock Warehouse in Shardlow at 2. In the event, we were early, and found Carol, John, Laura and Henry busy beavering away blowing up balloons and constructing table decorations. They were not in the conservatory where we expected to find them. “Derby County supporters,” groaned Carol’s John. “They’re in the room until ten to two.” Ah, well, never mind. Let’s drink tea while we wait. A very British tradition, eh what?

Other guests arrived and we were soon able to get into the room and sit down for our meal. Oh, my goodness! What a lovely time we had! Everyone nattering away ten to the dozen; laughing and sharing stories and really enjoying themselves.

The waitress did her utmost to keep us all happy, sweeping in with food and drinks, shouting as loudly as she could to see who wanted what. Poor Carol had to adjudicate and direct the waitress to the person whose food she’d brought because the chatter was so loud.

Only one mishap! Carol had arranged a glass of prosecco for us all and the waitress wobbled in with a tray of glasses almost full to the brim. The wobble overturned the tray and a glass of prosecco promptly drizzled all the way down Barbara’s back. Oh, dear. The waitress was horrified and froze, looking at the liquid as it started seeping into Barbara’s dress. With great presence of mind, Laura grabbed a handful of napkins and she and I mopped Barbara up. We’re certainly not going to forget this get-together in a hurry!

Carol was on top form and looked absolutely stunning and thrilled to see everyone. Ah…. my lovely, lovely bestie!!

We went back to Carol’s after the meal for a quick cuppa and then had a very good journey home. John was pretty tired by the time we got home though, having enjoyed himself so much!

It transpired that we both must have been tired because we chose not to get ourselves out of bed before mid-day today. I took John a cuppa and then we sat and chatted for a bit before we slunk downstairs to slump on the sofa to watch the Grand Prix. The race being in Melbourne, Australia, Gail had texted to tell us that she thought we’d find it an interesting race. And sure enough, we did! Goodness me, what an action-packed and thrilling race – even if it did make you feel a bit sorry for some of those who didn’t finish in the points at the end.

We went to Michael and Danielle’s for our roast dinner today as we waved our goodbyes to the other Kenilworth family, who were jetting off on their hols this afternoon. We had a lovely time with the newbies, and chuckled particularly at Oliver who spent a good twenty minutes or so banging a pan and its lid, grinning that lovely lob-sided grin as he did so, enjoying every minute of it.

He then took his attention to his best mate, Chester, who is not allowed on the sofa….. is he? And butter wouldn’t melt in either of their mouths, would it?

Take care everyone. God bless.