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.

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.

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.

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 pucked 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.

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.