Well, 50 years ago we were sweltering in tremendous heat. Ah yes, 1976! That was a year to remember. And, here we are in 2026, basking in the 34 to 36 degree heat that has once again swept our continent. Basking? Hmmm… maybe a bit of an exaggeration! It seems we’re mostly hunkering down and buying up all the fans we can lay our hands on!
Who’da thought it? In Ol’ Blighty? Heat? Us?
And has this chaleur changed my plans? You bet!! A couple of weeks ago I had a lovely weekend scheduled in London – Friday to Sunday at Nev and Jane’s. Ooh, I was so excited! We had tickets to the Marilyn Monroe Exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery; a restaurant booked to meet up with George and Val; and tickets for the opera ‘Turandot’ in Holland Park. I was hopping about with excitement!
I think the weekend was thwarted from the off, though. My plan was to rush back on Sunday morning for my goddaughter Liz’s ordination at Coventry Cathedral at four o’clock. Ha! I think I know how it happened, but the upshot was that I’d got the date wrong. Ohhhh….. Saturday afternoon at four o’clock….. darn it! No opera for me then! Nev, bless him, was able to return the ticket and someone else bought it. Phew! No-one was out of pocket.
Okey-dokey – all set for one night then, instead. Nah….. it was too damned hot!!! I didn’t want to be poaching in the heat, so during the week I checked in with Nev: ‘What do you think about my visit on Friday, given that it’s going to be 36 degrees in London?’ He replied to tell me that it had been ‘very unpleasant in London in the last few days‘. Hmmm…. we postponed.
But I was very disappointed. This is the second time I’ve had to cancel my visit to Nev and Jane this year. Grr….
However, I share with you the fact that the time I actually did manage to visit them, in August 2025, I had a fabulous time! Having a bit of a writing block at the time, I never did share the photos and great excitement I felt during my visit. So, might as well do it now, eh?
At Lords, we had watched a bit of league cricket; Ann and Nigel came along too, so that was nice. It was the first time I’d visited the ground and I was thrilled to see, close-up, some of those players you only ever see on telly, such as Jofra Archer.
Before we arrived at the cricket ground, I had a little play on a certain zebra crossing in Abbey Road…..
We had a super visit to the roof garden at 120 Fenchurch Street as well – free to wander round among the plants and admire the London view – I seem to have lost the photos of the greenery on the roof, but here’s me in front of a spectacular gherkin instead.
We went on to the Leadenhall Market afterwards. That was amazing, too! Here are mine hosts, whom I’d hoped to see again this year, at said venue. Eeh…. we did have a good time!!
Meanwhile, back in Balsall Common in 2026, I made it to Liz’s ordination at the end of June. Despite the heat, the service was very poignant and, after she’d been ordained, Liz offered the cup of wine to us when we took communion. Sent shivers down my spine!
There was much grinning when we came out of the cathedral. We were unable to wipe the smiles off our faces following this amazing event. I was a very proud godmother.
I think Liz’s family felt the same! Grinning like Cheshire Cats they were…..
Take care everyone. God bless.