We packed (again) and drove to Torin’s for the weekend. In the evening Torin put Skrillex on and Grandad, Scarlet and Jack had a bit of a crazy dancing session.
Later we had a take away and a few drinks.
Thought for the Day – “I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.” ~Maya Angelou
Mal started his work early and I went shopping. While I have still got a car at least I can go a bit further than walking up to Westwood. Actually, when the car goes back, I still have my bus pass! I want to get as much use out of that as possible before the government decide to scrap those too! If I stay in the caravan, I tend to chat to Mal until I get used to the idea he is working!
When Mal had finished for the day, he wanted to go and get some shopping, so back up to Westwood.
It was such a nice day I sat out in the garden for a while. It’s nice to have a small easy to manage garden and even bluebells, a little late this year!
Thought for the Day – “Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” ~ Epicurus
Mal was knee deep in exam moderation parcels and so I went into Margate. We watched a programme last night “Mary Queen of Shops” and it was all about Margate and trying to regenerate the High Street which is full of empty shops, It seems Mary came to Margate last summer with ideas to wake the town up and the first steps to getting Margate to the seaside place it used to be.I have to say it did look busier in the High Street than it was last year and also some interesting market stalls there. Nor did I know that you can get a return ticket from London to Margate for £10!! This is to encourage people to come here. Sadly it doesn’t work the other way round for us. Margate has the Turner Centre now, so should really have a lot going for it.
Later I went up to Westwood to have a look around. I had spent a lot of the day when I was around putting washing out and then bringing it back in again when it started to rain! And again and again!
In the evening we went into Minster to get a take away. The place we usually go to has now closed down and has been replaced by “Sin Le”. We chose Thai to have and it was very good.
Thought for the Day – “We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” ~ Jawaharial Nehru
I didn’t wake up until 7, which is good for me as I have still been on Cyprus time. Marion, Mal and I had some breakfast and then took a drive to Chiltern Woodland Burials, which is where Bryan’s ashes are. Marion had told us all about it. I know people don’t like talking about dying but this is the ideal place to end up! It is a woodland area, so you can go for a walk in the woods and then visit the ‘spot’. There is also a little place where you can have a cup of tea mid wander. It was beautiful there. I did let the side down a bit by having a “blub” when I saw Bryan’s resting place but the walk around the woods was lovely.Julie my niece was on her way home from work and she drives past it, so she called in and had a walk with us. I was very impressed.
Back to Marion’s house for some lunch, She has some lovely flowers in her garden, although she says because of the bad weather here in the UK, things are later than usual flowering. But her Lilly of the Valley has just started flowering, just in time, as it has always flowered for my birthday.
We then started packing up again, for the last leg of this journey, back to the caravan, 600 miles so far! I can’t say I enjoy living out of a suitcase, so it was nice to get back and unpack everything in the caravan. John, in the caravan opposite us had kindly put all the post into our van so Mal can start work straight away as otherwise the office is closed until Thursday morning and Mal has deadlines for samples.
Julie, Marion and I
Thought for the Day – “A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost.” ~ Marion C. Garretty
We left Cardiff and headed to Tewkesbury to see Shirley and Steve. Steve is greatly improved after his stroke, still a way to go but he is very determined and has even done a bit of plastering. He has set himself goals and really has a great attitude. We stayed and had some lunch with them and then headed off to my sisters in High Wycombe. She made us a lovely dinner.
Marion and Mal
Thought for the Day – “You keep your past by having sisters. As you get older, they’re the only ones who don’t get bored if you talk about your memories.” ~ Deborah Moggach
We had breakfast and paid the bill and were informed as Mal is a “Priority member” we can have the room until 2.00pm, so I dropped Mal off at the Uni and didn’t have to pack everything in the car, so I could go to “Party in the Park”.That was good in spite of the rain coming and going. There were also a variety of all sorts of cars lined up (about 40, vintage and sporty ) and you could pay to have a ride in them and all the money went to MacMillan Nurses.
I collected Mal after his meeting and we drove to Cardiff to see Lou, Rhys and all the kids. It was very well timed, as we arrived, they just dished up a huge Sunday roast for us all. Later the kids gave me my birthday presents and insisted that I open them then.
We went down to have our breakfast and chatted to the waitress who discovered we were from North Cyprus. She was Greek. We then had an outraged speech from her about the Turkish and Turkish Cypriots. I have never seen one so young, so angry. But when Mal mentioned what actually happened that week in July 1974, she hadn’t a clue! It didn’t matter it seemed the Greeks owned everything and always had. She didn’t want to listen to Mal who was giving a totally unbiaised view and quite honestly a History lesson. After listening to her, without her even wanting to know all the facts, how ever will there be a solution to the Cyprus Problem? If I am honest her attitude really shook me up.
Well, wasn’t I lucky? The Kenilworth Festival is on while I am here and our hotel is right in the heart of it. So, I dropped Mal off at Warwick Uni and went to the street market. From there I went on to the Food Fayre.
There were a lot of bands playing all around the streets and also female Morris Dancers performing. One of the Jazz Bands was excellent…and then the rain came down! In fact it was on and off all day. Still, it was a good days entertainment.
I collected Mal from Warwick Uni when his meeting had finished and in the evening we went to eat at Loch Fyne I love fish, so I was in my element. My sister often goes to one near where she lives but there aren’t any in our area of Kent. It was very good.
