Sunday, July 27, 2025

Published Sunday, July 27, 2025 by with 0 comment

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

Published Thursday, July 17, 2025 by with 0 comment

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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