Monday, August 11, 2025

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Here Comes The Sun - Sunday August 10th 2025

M picked our apples on Sunday.

I popped over to RSAC to try out the PA we got from Oxfam. Seems OK apart from some noisy volume controls on the speakers. M went to the docs on Monday. The x-ray seems to show a few alveoli have collapsed. She went back for a blood test and they're booking her in for a CT scan. In the meantime she's on more antibiotics. An AFD. M's certificate of Irish citizenship arrived on Tuesday. Her blood test indicated she has a B9 deficiency so she's been prescribed folic acid. Mike Porter came round. Another AFD. I cycled out to Calcot on Wednesday morning to buy a couple of stage clocks for HCTS. Popped in for a coffee at no 81. M submitted her application for an Irish passport. The kids can now also get Irish citzenship. My bubble machine arrived. It works well but makes the surrounding area a bit slippery. Had an inaugural operations meeting at RSAC. Another AFD. Went to Chris Gavin's funeral on Thursday. A big turn out as you would expect. Popped over to RSAC in the afternoon to do some prep for the festival. A 4th AFD in a row. Spent most of Friday at RSAC prepping for the festival. The festival was on Saturday. Everything went well. I looked after the garden stage. He Fired First, ZAP, Amazing Tiger Band, Open Mic, Poets and DAP. Great.



Here's a couple of photos of the other stages.

The excellent Magical Mystery Four finished things off. Meanwhile Edith visited the Loddon brewery.

On the way back from RSAC I found a man collapsed down Coley Park Rd. Couldn't wake him up. Got M to help. His phone rang and she answered. Turns out he was a Hungarian chap living down Mansfield Rd. A couple came to get him. Went back to RSAC on Sunday morning to help pack up then went blackberry picking.
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Monday, August 04, 2025

Published Monday, August 04, 2025 by with 0 comment

Bognor - Saturday August 2nd 2025

Drove down to Bognor on Saturday afternoon. Staying in probably the nicest house in the nicest street in town. It's strangely quiet but probably wasn't once.



Went for bit of a wander on Sunday. There was a brass band setting up in the parkbut ended up in The Dog And Duck watching a duo called Hoverdonkey followed by a chap called The Horse Loom.
Watched England women win the Euros in the evening. Drove over to West Wittering beach on Monday.
It was quiet to start with but filled up. It's well managed by lifeguards.
Walked to Hotham Park on Tuesday morning and had a ride on the miniature railway.Popped into Chichester in the afternoon and had a look round the cathedral.
Then met up with everyone at a kid's indoor play area called Little Street. Had excellent fish and chips for tea. Went to Arundel Castle on Wednesday. As stately home type things I've been to go it was probably the best. Popped out for a swifty at the Dog And Duck in the evening.
Walked over to the park again on Thursday morning. 
They do an excellent sausage sandwich in the cafe. The younger generations drove over to Worthing in the afternoon to visit Elona, a friend from Highdown days. Me and M had a quiet afternoon in as if rained heavily. Tom, Sally, James and Amy then went out for meal in the evening and we baby sat. We went back to West Wittering on Friday. Started off at East Head where the sand dunes are.
Then moved back to the main beach. Picked up some Turner's Pies for tea. We then celebrated Amy's birthday. Me, M, Tom and Sally went out for a bit if a walk later and had a couple in the Dog And Duck. Packed up and drove home on Saturday. I forgot to cancel the milk and the courgettes have grown well.
Had a great time in spite of the fact that Bognor is so run down.
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Sunday, July 27, 2025

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Reading FC Points Ride - Friday July 25th 2025

Took M over to the West Berks Community Hospital for her chest x-ray on Tuesday. Checked out my road bike for the ride later this week only to find the rim on the rear wheel was severely damaged so will have to do the ride on my mountain bike but need to fix a carrier to it and a problem with the gears. Made plum jam on Wednesday and sorted out the mountain bike issues. Did the Castle Tap folk session in the evening. Drunken Hearted Man and Old No 7. Pretty busy only just time for 2 songs each. The lease is up on the pub and Cara is leaving so a group are planning to take it on https://thecastletapcic.co.uk/. Did the URZ points ride on Thursday with Stuart, Kelvin and Graham. We headed out Wantage way and met Andy in Wallingford for the last leg. 75 miles in all. James and the kids came round on Friday morning after a trip to the Robbie Hewlew park. Did the sound at RSAC in the evening for Grace Pounds, Nick Saxton (actually Nick Shorey) and Bored Slippy. I did it with Adam Thompson who does the sound at the Castle Tap open mics and is blind. It was his first time doing it at RSAC and he did a great job. Amazing how he can even remember what each track is given that we need to write it on masking tape.
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Monday, July 21, 2025

Published Monday, July 21, 2025 by with 0 comment

Roy and Sue's Party - Monday July 21st 2025

On Monday we looked after Madeline and Owen as James and Amy had stuff to do
Took them to Beale Park in the morning. They seemed to enjoy it. Brought them back here for Owen's nap then took them to the Robbie Hewlew Park after a bit of duplo. Took them home after and had dinner there. Lazy day Tuesday. There are a lot if butterflies around at the moment.
Mainly housework on Wednesday. M still has a cough so went to the docs again on Thursday morning. They're going to book her in for a chest x-ray. Sally sent a picture of. Tom's new office in Regent Street.
Did my Theale, Pangbourne, Mapledurham ride later. Had a meeting at RSAC about HCTS then had first Thursday drinks in the Hop Leaf. Full turnout apart from JR. Andy Coltman was also in. We watched the Lionesses beat Sweeden on penalties in the quarter finals of the Euros. Went for a swim on Friday morning. JAMO came over for tea. Drove up to Ian and Fran's on Saturday. Went to Roy and Sue's party on Sunday afternoon. Great do. Drove back on Monday.

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Thursday, July 17, 2025

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Three Gigs - Sunday July 13th 2025

Finished painting the bench on Monday.
On Tuesday put up the new clothes post. Took about 3 hours to dig the hole and I didn't have enough postcrete so had to dash to BnQ for another bag.
M went to the docs in the evening because of the cough she's had since Center Parcs. They perscribed antibiotics. On Wednesday set up the clothes line for the new clothes post. Then drove over to Oxford with Paul Hunter to pick up some PA equipment for RSAC that Oxfam were giving away. JAMO came over for tea.  Amy had been working in Gloucester. Did a bit more garden work on Thursday. M went to a talk about Greyfriars Church at the library. Late afternoon I went up to London. I was going to see Albert Lee at The Half Moon in Putney but decided I'd walk from Paddington. Went through Hyde Park, down Exhibition Rd then south to Albert Bridge and along the North side of the river. Very monies. Don't think I've been to the Half Moon before but it's a very intimate venue and as it was all seated there were probably no more then a 100 in the audience. He's 81but can still sing and play. Very tight band, bass, drums, keyboard and Great backing vocals. A gem. Proper Job on draft too. Putney Bridge looked great in the darkand I think these were paddle boarders in the river.
Went to see The Backbeat Band in The Butler on Friday evening with Fiona and Morwenna. Haven't seen them for about 15 years. Mike and Chris Porter were there and Chris Bloomfield. There was the open mic going on as well and quite a few people I knew from RSAC and open mics. A very lively evening. Lazy day on Saturday. Went to see Stewart Lee at the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday. We went up early, had a pint in The Harp followed by a Prezzo then drinks on the terrace and a Waterloo sunset in the interval.
He was very good.
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Monday, July 07, 2025

Published Monday, July 07, 2025 by with 0 comment

Mandy's Party - Sunday July 6th 2025.

Tony came round on Monday afternoon for a rehearsal. Afterwards me and M went down to County Lock to check out the spur of the river once known as St Giles Mill Stream. It goes under the road and then it looks like it rejoins the river in the Oracle. Never paid much attention to it before. Me and Tony did the Castle Tap open mic in the evening. We did Love In Vain, Wild Horses and Spider. Went on first which was odd. Michelle gave us the original painting she did of us.
I assumed she did them from photos or sketches but she actually tries to do the whole thing there and then. She gave a guy this.
There's lots on her Instagram page. Went swimming on Tuesday morning. M moved in from the garden office because of the heat so I decamped there with my laptop. I checked over the plans I'd made to build a new storage bench for outside the back door then did a bit of googling and found I can buy one for less money so agreed with M and ordered it. My project for July is now greatly simplified. Did a quick ride along the Kennet on Wednesday morning and back through Green Park. Although we haven't had any rain to speak off for a while part of the tow path was flooded for some reason and it did deter a couple of walkers.
Did a spot of baking in the afternoon. James and the kids came round for pizza's in the evening on the bike. Amy was working in Scotland again. Did my Theale, Pangbourne, Mapledurham ride on Thursday morning. Saw a snake near the Theale Waterski Club. The bench I ordered arrived in the evening so I assembled it on Friday.
Went to Mandies for a party in the evening. A select bunch as a lot of people are away. Great night though sitting in her garden overlooking the fields. Undercoated the bench on Saturday. Had a society walk on Sunday organised by Stuart and Clare starting from The Hindshead in Aldermaston. I assumed some of it would be along the canal but it wasn't although some was by the river Kennet including this fish ladder.
It also took us through Padworth College which had this odd pebbledashed church.
Only 6 if us on the walk but Dave and Jane joined us for the meal. Dave had broken his arm playing pickleball. Good food and friendly, helpful pub. Put a first coat if paint on the bench when I got back. Started to feel a bit shivery in the evening but was OK after  couple of Advil.
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