Well, last night it rained in volumes like we hadn’t seen in a long time. It was just as the dogs were due to be walked – of course, so we waited a bit and then we all forlornly headed out into the deluge. Whilst we were walking up the road, a car stopped and commented on how we must really love our dogs to take them out in ‘this weather’. At this point we all just looked at him glumly, as the dogs were up to their knees in running water (not basil), and we were feeling decidely damp. I’m not sure that the dogs felt particulary loved!
On Monday I went to Swanage – not Poole as Dad is now home. Mum was magistrating so I was due to go to the hospital as usual, but on Friday Dad was discharged and is home, certainly for a couple of weeks until he is starting his radiotherapy. Dad has come on leaps and bounds over the last couple of weeks, and was very happy and comfortable in the house, and went up and down stairs with no problems at all.
Sunday we went to Kingsbury Episcopi to see Uncle Roy and Auntie Annie – and U Keith A Pat, A Ann, U Don, Cousin Andrew, Karin, Cousin Nicolas and Susan and Andy. Quite a house full! AP and UK were here for a short visit and had seen Dad last Tuesday. They were delighted to see how well he was and I think were enjoying their visit. A few of us went to the pub in Kingsbury – and UK said it was up for sale. Luckily we had only one glass of Black Burrow cider, as I think we two we could by now be joint owners of a family pub!
A few weeks ago, you may remember that Alston hit the headlines with the news that there were 10 men to every woman and a campaign was underway to ‘regenerate’ villages like this (which annoyed many people as Alston is a ‘town’!). Anyway, this campaign was started by a lad called Vince, and he has become a bit of a celeb. The website in question is http://www.villagesincrisis.tk/ and if you go to it (it starts off somewhere else but wait for a bit and it will get to the right page) and then go to ‘diary of the V Man’ on the left hand menu bar. It is worth reading, it is like Aidrian Mole of the north. Of course, I am not taking the mickey – I know that people in glass houses etc etc and that people could well be passing our blog round saying ‘you’ll never guess what they’ve said now’…
We’ve had a bit of an Ebay week. We sold the caravan and the Happy Monday tickets that Ian bought me for my birthday. The Happy Monday tickets were bought on the basis that if we had not moved then it would be a treat, if we’d be happy not to go. We didn’t have a contingency plan for half moving! Anyway, we felt that Newcastle was too far to go to see the H.m’s so we put the tickets on to Ebay and unusually for us have made our money back. Blimey.
Ian keeps coming to look over my shoulder at a recipe he has found on the internet for Bhindi Bhaji, which will be going with the mushroom rogan josh that he is making. The smells coming from the kitchen are quite delightful.