Saturday, September 05, 2026

Published Saturday, September 05, 2026 by with 0 comment

A Short Week - Friday September 4th 2026

Lazy day Tuesday. In the evening I went to The Castle Tap as I had left my short mic stand there. On the way I bumped into Paul Webb who was also going down for a pint so I had a couple with him. Gil was also in there. A good start to the day on Wednesday. I woke up quite early and did all the minor crosswords in the Guardian then me and M finished quite a tricky Fed cryptic so all the crosswords were done. We had a follow up kitchen appointment at John Lewis in the afternoon. We had assumed it was in Reading but M got a reminder saying it was in High Wycombe. She phoned to check and they confirmed. We just about had enough time to get there for 1pm.so off we went. As we were parking up M got a call from the woman we were meeting only to find the appointment was in Reading so we rebooked for 2 30 and drove back. Hey ho. Had quite a productive meeting in the end. Went to see URZ beat Mansfield 5 0 in the evening. On Thursday evening had first Thursday drinks in the Hopevening as we were all flying from Heathrow early on  Leaf. Managed to keep to 5 pints of Summer Lightening. Got ready for going to Greece on Friday. SET came over in the Saturday. A short post this week as as yet no pictures so I took one of the lawn to show the green returning.
Read More
      edit

Wednesday, September 02, 2026

Published Wednesday, September 02, 2026 by with 0 comment

August Bank Holiday - Monday 31st August 2026.

On Tuesday got the new lock for the car. It seems to work with my key. A lady from Wren came to check out the kitchen. Did a bit of gardening on Wednesday morning. In the afternoon popped into town to pick up M's birthday present and my bike from Bike Hub. They seem to have done a good job with the service. Did the Castle Tap folk session in the evening. Played Map and Vigilante Man on the dobro. Then did a couple of jams on a borrowed guitar with a guy playing harmonica, Love In Vain then a 12 bar in E. Pete arrived on Thursday late morning to stay with us for the festival. Tony came over in the afternoon for a rehearsal. We went to Zero Degrees in the evening for a meal. Jo, Chris, Ivy and Eden came along from the festival. They are staying in a camper van they hired. Had a bit of a late night. These signs appeared in the street.
Lazy day on Friday but did pop into town to pick up a pair of swimming shorts from MnS. M gave Pete a lift to the festival in the morning. He got back quite early as it was raining. Gave Pete a lift down to the festival on Saturday morning. Popped into town to pick up another pair of swimming shorts. Did a bit of praticing then took mine and Tony's gear over to RSAC in the car as we were playing at Variety Night and I was doing sound. Came back and cycled over. We were on first after an intro from Jessica. Did Seeds, Love In Vain, Need Your Love and Map. Went down well. A good night overall exceot we somehow managed to lose Tony's double guitar stand. Got back about half 11. Pete got back a bit later. They had had a good time in spite of the rain. Waited until midnight and then opened the bottle of bubbly Pete had bought for M's birthday. Joanne came to pick Pete up on Sunday morning as they were driving back Sunday night after the festival. Had a birthday call from JAMO. We then caught the train to Marlow as we were having a night away for M's birthday and our wedding anniversary. Stayed at The Chequers, nice old pub in the High St. Wandered down to the river, had a look in the church then went over the bridge for drink in The Complete Angler. I asked for a large glass of rose and the barman  checked with me that it would OK as it was £24. M had half a lager instead.Had a great meal in the evening at Piccolino's. We'd been to one in Chester. Shared a frito misto to start with then I had liver and  M had meatballs. SET called to wish M a happy birthday. Afterwards we had a drink in The Two Brewers, another great old pub, and a last one back at the ranch. Got the train back in morning. Lots of young folk at the station on their way home from the festival. I went over to the Castle Tap just after 2pm to help set up for the open mic showcase.We were on about 4 45. Went down well. Tony left after Ben Higson (who also played with Lydia). I stayed to the end. Really liked The SubTotal, some great songs, and Mallow but I'd seen them before. A great little event.
Read More

,

      edit

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Published Tuesday, August 25, 2026 by with 0 comment

Anne And Wynn's - Monday August 24th 2026

A quiet day on Monday. Relearnt some tunes on the guitar. An AFD. Cycled out to Maker Space for breakfast with Kelvin on Tuesday. It was Madelines first day a school.Also Owen's first full day a his new nursery although he had been in a few times last week to get used to the place. Another AFD. A person from Wickes came round on Wednesday morning to measure up the kitchen. Took my town bike into Bike Hub for a service. We've had quite a few humming bird hawk moths in the garden and managed to get a photo of one.
Yet another AFD. Went swimming on Thursday morning. Went to pick up a new lock I'd ordered for the car but they'd sent the wrong thing so reordered. Went to have a macula scan at the optician's and the drops have worked so I can have the cataract removed from my right eye. I will need distance glasses for the left eye though. A person from John Lewis of Hungerford came to look at the kitchen on Friday morning. Then we drove over to Anne and Wynn's. SET were already there when we arrived. They've put a glass fence round their sitting out area on top of tha garage so it's now child and old person friendly.We all went to The Cornmill in the evening for dinner and met up with Peter, Carol, Alex, James and Emma. Great view of a misty valley on Saturday morning.We helped set up for the BBQ. Michael and Ann came along and Wynn's kids and grandkids. They all enjoyed the hot tub. Edith had an obsession with Princess Aurora from Sleepy Beauty and wouldn't stop singing Hail To Pricess Aurora. In the evening this resulted in her and Emma performing songs to us all. On Sunday those that were left had lunch in The Three Eagles.Then with the exception on Michael and Ann everyone went back to Anne and Wynn's for cake. I managed a go in the hot tub myself joined by Emma and James. We drove back on Monday.  Meanwhile Owen had his first Monday off nursery without his big sister.
Read More

      edit

Monday, August 17, 2026

Published Monday, August 17, 2026 by with 0 comment

Quietish Week - Sunday August 16th 2026

Went into RSAC again on Monday to finish tidying up. Sent an thank you email to performers and volunteers. Cycled out to Charter Alley with Kelvin on Tuesday. Finished updating the HCTS documentation on Wednesday and put it to bed. There was a partial eclipse in the evening. Glasses were hard to come by. You were supposed to be able to see it using a colander as a sort of pin hole camera but that didn't seem to work. We had some glasses from the 1999 one but they were no longer meant to be safe. Used them anyway and it was OK. Derek down the street took this.
We were walking down to The Retreat to do the quiz when the coverage reached it's peak (19:12). It didn't go dark like 1999 but it did get darker. Came second in the quiz. Went swimming on Thursday morning. Madeline's sunflower is now fully blooming. We got woken up in the middle of the night by an owl.
A person from John Lewis came round on Friday morning to discuss the new kitchen. Got a severe government alert on our phones in the evening.
Got mine twice.
Went to see Reading v Luton on Saturday with Ralph. It was a 12 30 kick off. We started brightly but then conceded after about 5mins. Jack Marriot then scored a hattrick to make it 3 1 at half time, however we lost 4 3, the last goal being scored in the 96th minute. Went to Mandies in the evening for a little soiree. Got stung by a wasp. Only the second time that I can remember. Lazy day Sunday.
Read More
      edit

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Published Wednesday, August 12, 2026 by with 0 comment

HCTS - Sunday August 9th 2026

Popped into RSAC on Monday and helped put the HCTS banner up. M went into town. An AFD, its been a while.Spent most of Tuesday cleaning downstairs. Another AFD. Cycled out to Yattendon with Kelvin on Wednesday morning.  Had a very nice breakfast bap in The Pantry. Nice looking homemade cakes too. M cooked really good chicken meatballs for tea. Tony came round in the evening for a rehearsal. Yet another AFD. Went to the hygenist's on Thursday morning. Tony came round in the afternoon for another rehearsal. Had First Thursday drinks at The Alehouse in the evening. Full turn out. On Friday it was HCTS set up day. I went to Booker, which used to be Makro, with George to buy food. We discovered the griddle we had ordered would not arrive on time so Amy bought a BBQ from BnQ. Just about got enough done, outdoor stage assembled and bunting up. It was the big day on Saturday. Took a car load of stuff down about 8 and cane back for a hearty breakfast. Then cycled back down. Lots to sort out and then suddenly me and Tony were first up on the amazing Tree Stage. Did 4 originals and 4 covers, the last being Lazy Bones with Amy Gibb on clarinet. It was a great day. Here's a few random photos.







Got all the gear packed away by about midnight and made it to Kelvin's for a couple of whiskies at the end of his 80th birthday party.
Went back in on Sunday to help pack away.

Read More

      edit

Monday, August 03, 2026

Published Monday, August 03, 2026 by with 0 comment

The Move To Perth - Sunday Qugust 2nd 2026

On Monday took my Martin acoustic in to have a pickup fitted. Picked up the bunting from Ellie for HCTS. Created a QR cide for the HCTS clashfinder.Did the Castke Tap open mic in the evening. Played HCTS 2026, Love In Vain and Lazy Bones. It was very busy and some great stuff on including Mallow who will be playing at the festival consisting of Eleni and Kia fron The Amzing Tiger Band. Tony came round on Tuesday afternoon for a HCTS rehearsal. Went swimming on Wednesday morning then picked up my Martin. Tony came round for another rehearsal. In the evening we popped over to The Nags as Joe Doak was having drinks after his PhD graduation. Steve and Lindsey were also there. During the rehearsal on Wednesday I realised I needed an E harmonica and a new guitar tuner so popped into town to pick them up on Thursday along with some jam sugar as M was making plum jam. It was Madeline and Owen's last day at nursery.

Took Madeline and Owen on a dinosaur trail on Friday so James and Amy could pack for the drive to Perth.



Vic came round with Isla later and James made pizzas.They set off for Perth just after 8 on Saturday.  They stopped off a Sizergh Castle on the way and met up with Charlotte Curle and her family.
Meanwhile SET arrived here just before 2. They were going to PJ's fortieth. Sally and Edith got back just before 8. Tom much later. Edith invented a new peg game on Sunday. 
Read More

      edit

Thursday, July 30, 2026

Published Thursday, July 30, 2026 by with 0 comment

Recovering - Sunday July 26th 2026

I didn't sleep on Tuesday after the sleepless half night on the plane. Did some admin and played guitar. The car battery was completely flat and the doors wouldn't open with the fob and the actusl key wouldn't work. Called the RAC but they wouldn't do it so they called a locksmith. He inserted a couple of inflateable pads in the top and side of the drivers door and inflated them slightly so he could get a rod in to pull the door lever. He then got the car to start using a battery. I took for a spin to charge it up. Picked Madeline and Owen up from nursery. Went to bed about 10ish. I did wake up in the night but then slept through  til quite late on Wednesdsy morning so more or less got rid if my jet lag. More admin, HCTS stuff and guitar playing. I have a mole on my neck that I noticed had got bigger whilst in Canada so applied for a doctors appointment on line. They booked me in on the same day which was kind of disturbing but the GP didn't think it was anything to worry about and just took a picture to send to the dermatologist. M didn't sleep at all that night. On Thursday afternoon M went to the Biscuit Factory with some of the walking group to see The Odyssey. I had tried to deliver flyers there for HCTS but it had closed. Good to see it open again. I believe it was a problem with their licence. On Friday I applied for compensation to Air Canada for the cancelled flight we had from Charlottetown. Went into RSAC to check on a few things. Discovered we no longer have the gas griddle we use for the BBQ. It was Adam's last day there. He's going on cycling trip round Europe. Agreed on a design for HCTS badges. Saturday was a HCTS prep day. Got quite a lot sorted. Baby sat in the evening as Janes and Amy went to Josh and Vics. Created a clashfinder for HCTS on Sunday. Did roast chicken  as it will be JAMO's last Sunday with us.
Read More
      edit
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)