Hard work.

G was at home today receiving visitors of all persuasions, from the police, insurance, etc
Fortunately, the Volvo was returned, clean & beautiful, before I needed to go to college - a real pleasure to have it back, a proper car with a hand break, a bit of zip & heated seats.
Fancy needing heated seats in the middle of May - 7 degrees today, stormy with heavy showers.
 I stayed for too long at college & didn't have time to buy food, had to rush home to go to Coleshill with G for 4.00pm, then on to Erdington to return the hire car, in the rush hour.
It was VILE.
I lost G & couldn't find the horrible hole until G texted the postcode.
We stopped in Coleshill for fish & chips as I was losing the will to live - only had to wait 15 minutes for it to cook.

I have the outline for my next/first novel - starting in 1963, a family drama.

To add a controversial note, I think that it's an abomination that all shops open on Sundays.
I'm sure that life was better when people had to interact with their families/friends for one day a week & were unable to spend.
The good old days when we wore clothes until they no longer fitted or were worn out, when kids had presents for Birthdays & Christmas only, when the only thing "on tic" was the house, for those who had managed to save a deposit.
People run up vast credit card bills buying crap that they don't need.
And another thing......

Life goes on.

Still in the spare room as I have yet to make our bed up, having boiled everything washable in our bedroom.
Everything clean & tidy again but a temporary back door, with no panes, whilst a new, burglar-proof one is made.
G took me to tennis this morning, whilst he went to see the nurse for re-dressing of "mole-holes".
He dropped me at college for an hour, then we went into town, G to lunch with A whilst I plodded around the Jewellery Quarter, checking for any of our stuff & getting values.
Back in time to collect J & Th from school, tea then home for a Church Fund-raising Group meeting here - formalising some ideas from the last meeting: we're having all of the churches open one Saturday in September, serving different refreshments, with walks signed between them.
Just had JS curries & a sleep, now ready for bed.
College again tomorrow - I have some work to go through & some to return. Unfortunately, even the mot willing students only seem to work when you're with them, however easy you make it for them to complete assignments on their own.
They're all worthy of distinctions for excuses!

Still chilly here but much brighter today - when does summer start? 

Happy Birthday T.

We have just returned home from T's birthday party, the dining room had been converted into a cinema for his friends do yesterday, so T was in his element. P, A J and Th came. The children had a great time.
I took the services at Sh and OW this morning before we set off, stopping en route for lunch at "The Great Western", on the canal at Aynho.
It was very good.
We eventually got to see "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" on Friday - pretty good, but not great.
We arrived home at about 9.30pm, to see a 4x4 Mercedes (ZBK 3817) parked outside. As we swung into the drive we realised that the bedroom curtains were askew, the light was on & we had burglars.
The guy in the car started the engine & pipped the horn, G tried to phone the police , we ran up the drive to see three men in black, wearing balaclavas run out of the back door & round the back.
G ran in to phone - no mobile signal - I ran down the drive, saw the car drive off, obviously without the burglars and started to run along the road, assuming they would reappear around the corner to meet the car.
Actually they came through a very small hole in the hedge in the corner so I came face to face with them , apparently all carrying shotguns and a white bag full of booty.
I shouted abuse at them and tried to grab the bag - a pillowslip.
They were equally abusive and got round and ran off down the road, me in hot pursuit, screaming "phone the police" at the top of my voice.
The chap in the first cottage heard me, phoned then came out.
When I reached the corner there was nothing to be seen.
The car had left & the burglars were in the ditch, we later found out, where they left the guns & bag of swag, found by the police dog & returned.
A police helicopter was over for about half an hour and the police were here for hours, desperate to get these guys as they reckoned catching them would clear up a lot of other thefts.

Rumours were rife on Facebook & phone lines hot , within the hour   - we had been attacked by thee men with shotguns, etc etc.
The back door was shattered and we're still missing the jewellery and cash they pocketed.
Thankfully, they only did our bedroom, big time though, we were back in time to stop them getting away with a lot of our stuff and no-one was hurt.
Saturday was spent with police and clearing up.
Today, we needed a break!

If you see the Merc 4x4, with darkened windows, do ring us or the police.

Tennis & college tomorrow then a trip into town.

This is how it looked:

I may take time off next week - I feel another novel coming on; possibly a crime thriller! 

Age

I'm really a morning person - I've just hung out the washing & had a walk around the garden, all before 7.00am.
It's a beautiful morning & after all of the rain the garden looks wonderful - bluebells, white bells & lily of the valley flowering in abundance, the polyanthus filling the beds under the bay windows after decorating the church for Mothering Sunday,  the rhododendron in full flower & everything having had a growth spurt.
I put in 20 plants last week, ordered from the Telegraph.
The labels weren't too clear & I think that they may not be where I intended - I have just noted the dwarf lupins in the bed by the gateway, I'm a little concerned about the whereabouts of the delphiniums!
I wonder if my loss of interest in shopping, delight in the garden & pleasure in spending a day at home may be part of the ageing process.
I'm delighted to have a day off today, having been to college 4 times last week & 3 days this week - all at the request of the students, 2 - 4 hours a session 7 a fair bit of preparation - plus the 25 mile round trip.
Two articles in yesterday's paper said that older people are happier the more activities in which they take part, especially if they do voluntary work, & if they enjoy what they have in life alongside being adventurous.
Apart from stating the ...... obvious, I reckon I could tick all of the boxes - I can even regard the college work as voluntary at £22 per hour, chalk face time only.

Prince Charles did a weather forecast yesterday - a long held ambition, apparently.
I'm trying to think a a similar ambition that I can work towards - none has come to mind yet.
I'm watching morning TV; not sure it's a good idea, bit like the daily Mail! 

work....

No tennis as I agreed to be in college to work with a student who is way behind with her work due to absence.
Firstly, I forgot to phone my tennis partners, then the student didn't show - said she was ill when I phoned.
The rest of the science students were in lessons so I worked in the library, on assignments, until 1.00pm when I went to a tutorial & worked with 4 students for a couple of hours - half an hour beyond their finish time - completing one assignment.
Great.
They want to work for another couple of hours this morning to complete another one, so in at 10.00am.
I've already done 6 hours this week, only down for 4, so will have to book them in for when I'm away, apparently.
How ridiculous.

Went to Knowle on the way home, to buy lovely bread at Curtis's - walnut for dinner & wholemeal.
Jan & Chris came to dinner - last chance for a chat  for a while.

I seem to be bored with Solihull, even with M&S, after being there a number of times a week for 3 weeks. I can't even find anything I want to buy.
That's really sad - perhaps it's an age thing!

Raining again, but a little warmer today.

Lovely photos of a very happy J on LWW>   

Back to work.

Yesterday we were really lazy, I don't think that either of us ventured outside.
We got up late & then tried on clothes to select things that fitted & put on one side.
I did a charity shop pile & a possibles pile.
We lunched at 3.00pm, the watched TV/prepared work for college/drank tea.
G cooked two ready meals just before 10.00pm, then we went to bed.
How sad is that?

I was up early this morning to finish going through assignments before going to College for 10.30am.
The girl I was meant to meet didn't show so I nabbed another couple that I have been working with, from the Lounge (big seating/coffee area with large TVs), & worked with them until she arrived at 11.00am, worked with her until 12.30pm, checked on a missing girl & then left.

As a reward/ for lunch, I had tea & a scone in ..........BHS.
Not a good idea.
M&S now cook their scones in the cafe & they don't look good - not risen.
BHS scones looked good, but weren't.
Just tea in future, I guess.

I did a little shopping - wrinkle cream & moisturiser, mainly - Boots have 3 for 2 on No 7.
Three tubes should last the year.
If I don't, aj can have them! (only joking)
I then went to P & A's & walked to collect J & Th from their schools, then home for tea & a session drawing "Mushies"

We have a Vauxhall Insignia whilst the Volvo is mended. We had to drive to the airport to put my name on the insurance, before dinner, so didn't eat until 9.00pm - chicken stir fry.
Knackered - I'm having an early night & will finish work in the morning before I go in for 10.30am.
No time for tennis.
  

Nature walk

We've had a lazy day today, G still recovering from the removal of moles on Friday - slept a lot.
I did the 11.00am service at N W, then home to have coffee & read the papers in the conservatory, in the sunshine.
I made leek & potato soup & we eventually had lunch at three o'clock then went for a walk, taking in the Alms houses.
We provided entertainment for Bostock's cows, saw a mole on the verge down the main road - the first time I've ever accosted one above ground - & caught the peacock displaying in a field nearby.

G took photos, to share - mole's the best.
We've just watched the Alison Steadman programme & the campsite play Nuts in May - still funny.
Reminds me of someone!.
Two loads of washing & ironing done so nothing to do tomorrow! 

Shall I write to the Times?

After my complaint yesterday, I was woken up this morning by the cuckoo, at about 5.30am.
What a pleasure.
I walked to Jan's this afternoon & he was still singing away, sitting in the top of a tall tree across the road.
Spring has arrived.

a lazy day today, waiting for the rain to stop so that we could plant some plants that came  on Saturday.
we gave up eventually & went to Coleshill.

Tennis, college & collecting J & Th from school. tomorrow, followed by a visit to the cinema to see "Salmon fishing in the Yemen" with Ewan MacGregor & a meal at Wagamama, possibly.
Sounds good.
I have a sermon to prepare for Sunday & a busy few days - J, G & the children on Thursday, to stay - I wish I'd done it today!

White Rabbits.

A late night, so it's already tomorrow - 1st May.
We had a good weekend, no trips to IKEA, just cooking on Saturday then 35 for lunch on Sunday.
We had a really good time, the meal turned out well & we made £300 for Christian Aid, helped by a raffle.
The catering came in at £3.00 per head, including wine - puddings are cheap to make.
The day got even better s there was an e mail from the tennis club offering a pair of surplus tickets for Wimbledon.
We replied & G bought them for aj & me for our birthday.
I went to tennis this morning & the friend who had attended the AGM/Wimbledon ticket draw on Friday gave me a second set of tickets, from the draw.
Having confirmed that there is no-one else who wants tickets, aj & I have planned a six day break; aj has booked a room with P in Richmond, I hope.
Fantastic.

I had a good session at college, working with a couple of students, both with no work completed to date.
Free now until Wednesday am, after tennis.
A lot of water  & branches about; a veritable flock of swans on the floods at Blyth - another wet night threatened.