On Monday we helped James pack in preparation for the move. Bob Noyes phoned to say the monitor was irreparable. James came round for dinner. I did the Castle Tap open mic in the evening by myself. Did Depreston, Writing On The Wall and Waiting For A Train. It was very lively. More help with the move on Tuesday. James had dinner here again but this time he stayed over as the removal men had already packed their bed. I went round to no 81 again on Wednesday morning. I was hoping to take a picture of the van in the front garden but they were just pulling out as I got there. Very efficient. Packed away a few last things and left James to finish off. He came back around tea time. All done and keys handed over.Went swimming on Thursday morning. Teacake of no 81 completed OK. Started planning the programming for HCTS. M went to Oxford for a lecture given by the chap who ran her MSc course. Bit of a lazy day on Friday but meanwhile somewhere in London.....On Saturday we sorted out the room where the kids will be sleeping and moved up to the guest room so James and Amy can sleep in ours. I did the sound for an event called 50 Laps Round The Sun at RSAC. They were using upstairs and down. A good band called Freisians down stairs  to start with followed by an acoustic duo called The Hemingway Method. Downstairs there were a couple of electronic acts, Electrohed and d'Voxx which were surprisingly good given I generally don't normally like that type of thing. The rest was DJs. Unfortunately it didn't finish until midnight. James came with us on the society walk on Sunday from the Falcon at Rotherwick, organised by Becky. Lots of lambs.

Spent most of Monday doing admin. In the evening we went to a talk in the long gallery in Englefield House. Very interesting just because ot the location. Went to the dentist for a check up on Tuesday morning. All OK. Did a short bike ride with Bobby in the afternoon, across the uni, down to the Lodden and back along the Thames. Went swimming on Wednesday morning. In the afternoon took a dodgy foldback monitor from RSAC to Bob Noyes. Left it there to see if he could fix it. Went to see Dry Cleaning in the evening at the Brixton Academy with Pete Larrett. It's a good venue. As it's an old theatre/cinema it has a sloping floor which means it's easy to see. Pretty good sound too but the singer could have done to be clearer/louder. Didn't think much to the support acts so they don't get a mention. Before the gig we met in a really good pub called the Duke of Edinburgh. When I initially looked at the map I saw the Trinity Arms and this reminded me of when I worked in London and we used to play 5-a-side with some guys from Lambeth Council who used to be customers of ours when I worked for ICL . We used to go to the Trinity afterwards. But Pete checked out both pubs and reckoned the Duke was better. I walked past the Ferndale sports centre on my way there which might be where we played. On Thursday morning I had an appointment at the Thatcham  Community Hospital to see the consultant about my eye. M drove in case they gave me drops. He perscribed more Acular drops for 2 months. This needed 2 bottles. i tried the chemist in Coley Park but they couldn't read the prescription. Went to Boots down Broad St. They didn't have any in stock nor did their branch in the Oracle. Neither did Superdrug but they suggested Saood down Oxford Rd. They had one bottle. They took the prescription but gave me a note and suggested I went to the hospital chemist for the second. They had it in stock but wouldn't accept the note, said I needed an outpatients prescription from the eye department. Tried the eye clinic they told me to go to eye casualty and eventually they gave me one. There was a very long queue when I got back to the chemist but the woman I had spoken to said I could just go straight to her but inevitably she wasn't there. What a palaver. Installed a new extractor fan in the downstairs loo. Spent most of Friday doing housework and stuff. No 81 came round for pizzas in the evening. We opened up the pizza oven for the first time this year. James and Amy dropped the kids off on Saturday morning so they could pack for Amy, Madeline and Owen's trip to Canada.

A quiet day on Monday but in the evening I went to RSAC for an ops meeting only to find out from Larry that it was just online. He was doing it from a laptop in office so I joined him. An AFD. Blasted the table and storage box on the patio on Tuesday. M got some pots from Lorraine down the street including this chimney pot. Went to the garden centre near Playhatch.

M had started painting some of the outdoor chairs on Monday and finished off on Tuesday. I painted the downstairs window sills and started touching up some of the wood work. Went for a haircut. Finished off the windows on Wednesday. Did the Retreat quiz in the evening and came our usual 3rd. Went swimming on Thursday morning, just me though as M has conjunctivitis and didn't want to risk it. Went to get some food waste bags from the library, thought it had moved to the civic centre but it hasn't yet. Had a band practice in the evening followed by first Thursday drinks. I left my Doc Martens in Sedbergh and they arrived safely back home on Friday. That was the excitement for the day. Quiet days on Saturday and Sunday but JAMO came round for dinner on Sunday.

On Monday I attempted to remove the cotoneaster (cotoni aster as opposed to coton easter) from around the bay. It went into early lead, first breaking a tine off the fork then bending it completely. After a struggle though I prevailed in the end.

Warren, Mary Ellen, Amy and the kids came round late afternoon on Saturday. They had been into town. James came over later. He had been working and showing the buyers round the house. We had a takeaway from the Tasty Greek Souvlaki supplemented by home made hummus, tzatziki, Greek salad and chips. Good start to the day on Sunday, finished the quiptic in record time. Did some gardening then went over to no 81 for dinner. Owen can now jump.

Drove up to Sedbergh on Friday for the annual trip away with the walking group. Food provided by June in the evening. Probably had too much to drink. Did a walk from the house organised by Stuart on Saturday. Food provided by Becky in the evening. Had a few games of shithead later. I organised the walk on Sunday to the Brigflatts quaker meeting house followed by lunch at The Dalesman. Me Steve and M had a pint in the Thirsty Rambler before walking back. Had  a few games of come up after. On Monday we planned to drive to Smardale nature reserve to walk but the road was closed so did a circular walk from the house instead suggested by Becky. Last time we came here at the same time if year there were lots of lambs. This time they are later but we did see some.Stopped off in Sedbergh for a pint in the Red Lion. Chilli in the evening provided by Jane and Dave. Had a sing song later with Fiona, M and Steve. On Tuesday did the walk we planned to do on Monday. It was a lovely day. Sausage and baked potatoes provided by Clare in the evening. Had a sing song with Andy and briefly Dave. On Wednesday we were joined by Kelvin and those of us who fancied it walked into Sedbergh and then up the big hills behind. Hard on the knees but a beautiful day the great views up there. Met up with the others afterwards for a pint or two in the Dalesman before walking back. Nice sunset.Leftovers for tea sorted out by Dave then more come up. On Thursday we drove to Dent and did a walk organised by Steve. More lambs. Had a meal in the evening in the Red Lion. Another lovely day but clouded over later. Drove back on Friday.Good trip. Meanwhile the Eberlins had landed.