Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Published Tuesday, August 26, 2025 by The Adventures Of Howard And Mary with 0 comment

August Bank Holiday - Monday August 25th 2025

Spent a fair bit if time on Monday working on Mowtown Junk and Motorcycle Emptiness for the Manic Street Preachers tribute night. The doctors called and they no longer think M needs a CT scan. Her cough is a lot better. Went to the hygenist on Tuesday morning followed by a swim early afternoon. Did a rehearsal for Tribute Night at Whitehouse Studios in the evening with Tony, Andy and Sarah. On Wednesday did a ride to Windsor Great Park with Ian, Mark and Dom from Northgate. At least we thought we had but it turned out to be Sunninghill Park. Pete came to stay for the festival on Thursday. Chris and Jo are camping with Ivy, Eden and Clara. Tony came round for a rehearsal. The festival goers then came round and we went to Zero Degrees for pizza. Quite a late night chatting with Pete. Tony came round for another rehearsal on Friday. Meanwhile James came round with the kids. Another late night. On Saturday afternoon I showed a new volunteer and some of the people organising DIY Pride how to use the sound system at RSAC. Yet another late night. James and Amy dropped the kids off on Sunday morning as they were going up to London for lunch with Scott and Spencer and few others. We took them to Wellington County Park.

On Monday me and Tony player at the Castle Tap Open Mic Festival. We were first on at 1pm.

gig

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Monday, August 18, 2025

Published Monday, August 18, 2025 by The Adventures Of Howard And Mary with 0 comment

Quietish Week - Sunday August 16th 2025

I thought Monday was going to be a quiet day but made blackberry jam (got 4 jars), 2 loaves of bread and granola and then JAMO came tound for tea. Went swimming on Tuesday morning. James had mentioned they were going away later in the week and asked if they could take the travel guitar. I checked the strings and they weren't too bad but I had been meaning to change the strings on my other acoustics for a while so took the hit and did all 3.

Went for a drink late afternoon with Penno and Clive Rogerson (also known as Big Clive, an old friend I used to work with) in the Allied Arms.

He does wood turning these days and had made this for Penno from a damson tree they had cut down. Went for a ride out to Hambledon with Kelvin on Wednesday. Did the Retreat quiz in the evening with M, Kelvin, Bobby and Fiona. We came 3rd and got our money back. Went to a garden centre on Thursday. On Friday we went over to Brendan and Lynda's for the annual summer get together. Great fun and good as usual. Went to see URZ for the first time this season with Ralph. They lost 2 1. They were lively to start with and should have gone ahead but ended up 2 0 down. Wing pulled one back with a cracking shot with about 10 mins to go so it was an exciting end to the game. On Sunday did a fair bit a cooking to use up excess fruit.

The younger generations had been away for a long weekend and sent some great pics.

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Monday, August 11, 2025

Published Monday, August 11, 2025 by The Adventures Of Howard And Mary with 0 comment

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 The Adventures Of Howard And Mary 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 park

but 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.