Easter Weekend

 Saturday, 7.45 a.m. I've been to Worcester. I left Milton Keynes at around 3 p.m on Good Friday afternoon. I had left Alfie with Irene ("The Doggy Lady.") around 12.30, which meant I could return to my flat, unload the cage from the back of the car, and generally chill out before actually leaving Milton Keynes. The journey out wasn't too bad, apart from getting stuck behind several HGVS towards Buckingham. That's what you would expect on a country road, but never mind.

I was surprised how quickly I got to the M40, and it was a straight run to Worcester. It began to rain, although not heavily, but as a result, it caused spray to be thrown up by other vehicles, particularly those huge HGVS. I don't like where you have to move over lanes and then transfer to another motorway, from the M40 to M42 and finally, M5 to Worcester, but it was done easily, and I arrived outside Chloe and Steve's house a little after 5 o'clock.

It was great to have arrived. The grandchildren have grown, especially the youngest, Rosie. George, asks all sorts of questions. Lots of noise and general talk. George took my bag up to my room. Very polite and he didn't need to be asked.

We had spaghetti Bolognese for dinner, all sitting at the dining table. 

I had a small bedroom. When I last went to Worcester, I had to sleep in a bunk bed. It was somewhat difficult getting in, up a ladder to get onto the top bunk (no lower bunk.) So, if I had to get out of bed in the night, which was quite often, to use the loo, it could be quite difficult. Fortunately, that bunk bed has gone and been replaced by a single bed. Much better and no problems. I slept very well, even though I had to get up several times at night.

The next day, Saturday.

Chloe went to be part of a park run. I don't know where, but somewhere in Worcester. That meant that I stayed in the house with Steve and the children. It was raining slightly. It didn't really matter.

Later that afternoon I went with Chloe and the children to The Hive, Worcester's library, which is part of the University of Worcester. The children selected a wide range of books, and we sat and listened to story time with other children. On the walk back to the car, George, Eddie, and Arthur insisted on walking along walls and down the slope along the steps down to the road level. It looked quite dangerous to me, but it's no good telling them not to, as it's the sort of thing small boys do, and I think I did the same at their age. It's good to challenge them. They were certainly enjoying themselves.

After lunch, we went to Hanbury Hall, a National Trust property. It was attempting to rain, but we didn't let it prevent our visit. Keeping the children incarcerated in the house would only lead to arguments and be quite stressful for all. 

A field near the main house was set up with games, with a prize of, would you believe?- Easter eggs! Hula-hoops, racing around yellow poles, throwing bags into a sort of device with holes in and several others, which I forgot. I recognized the place as we drove in. We came to Worcester, to George's christening. We thought the christening began at 2, so we went to Hanbury Hall to have lunch. I remember it was very nice. We arrived at the church, and everyone was coming out. The christening had started at 1, not 2! Never mind.

The following day, Easter Sunday, there was another Easter egg hunt, but this time, all around the house! Later on, we went to Steve's brother's home, which is a short walk away. Yet ANOTHER Easter egg hunt, all around their garden. They have chickens in their garden. The garden is long and I don't somehow think you would find a garden similar if you were looking for a house in Milton Keynes.

We went back to Chloe and Steve's house and prepared for a meal which we had later. The rest of Steve's family turned up. A table was produced from behind the sofa and put together so that the main dining table was extended. A lovely meal was eaten, which included wine. 

The next day the weather changed. It rained,  although not heavily. Chloe had arranged for us to visit yet another National Trust property near Stratford-Upon-Avon, Charlcote Park. But, because of the weather, it was decided instead to visit Croome. So, the children were packed up in the car and we drove to this rather interesting place. It was a long walk to the house, but the exercise did me good. There was a means of transport to get there, as there usually is at most of the National Trust properties, a couple of what I would call buggies, which only took around 10 people. We had a look around the house and then walked back to the car park and drove home.

On arriving back at the house we had lunch and I got organized, making sure I didn't leave anything behind at around 2 o'clock I left for Milton Keynes and rang the lady who was taking care of Alfie, just to let her know what time I would be coming to collect Alfie.

It was a reasonably good journey home and when I got to Milton Keynes, I had to first go to my flat to collect the cage and then go to pick up Alfie. He appeared to have had a good time and then went home. So, a rather pleasant weekend and actually good to get out of Milton Keynes for a break.

The Sun Has Got His Hat On!

 Monday. 7.35 a.m. Yesterday was a busy day. We had a somewhat shortened service at church, followed by a members' meeting. Halfway through the service, a baby boy was dedicated. I must explain. We don't have christenings in our church. You are baptised when you accept Jesus, and it is a voluntary action. Anyway, the parents, friends and those who were to be Godparents went to the front of the church. Baby Leo, who is around three months old, was fast asleep during the dedication. At the end, his dad held him up for all to see, and it reminded me of a similar scene in the Disney film, 'The Lion King' and appropriate since he is called Leo.

Lots of stuff to be discussed and considered during the members' meeting, including voting for new members of the leadership team. Once that was over, we set up for what is called Messy Church and that went on until 5 o'clock, which was cleared up, and I eventually left for home at around 5.30. 

As I write this, the sun is out and the digital thermometer reads 22ºC. Yesterday was cloudy and dark clouds threatened rain, but if it did rain, there wasn't much.

Tuesday. 10.05 a.m. The weather has changed. What do you expect in this country? Fickle? Possibly. The sun no longer shines. Is summer over? Probably not. My digital thermometer currently reads 22ºC.

Wednesday. 7.50 a.m. Having just read the very short piece above, regarding the weather, I now have to write that the weather has now done yet another about-turn. When I went out earlier, as I do every morning, with Alfie, it was windy and dark clouds were crossing the sky. As I write now, it is sunny and a powerful wind blows. It's almost autumnal. My digital thermometer reads 21ºC.

Good Friday. 6.40 a.m. It's fully light as I write this. I have to say, I love this time of year. I took Alfie out and I noticed how quickly the trees are coming into leaf. I think the past few days of sunshine have helped them put on a spurt. The hedge, alongside the garden of Dexter House, is completely leafed (is that even a term, or a word? Well I know what it means.) 

The electric scooters are STILL taking up space along the corridor on the way out. When will these confounded things be able to be removed and stored in the sheds outside? The story continues. And continues . . . .  and continues.

Yesterday was Maunday Thursday, the day when Jesus and his disciples ate the Last Supper. I was on duty to supply the bread and wine in the evening for a time of reflection at SCF in the evening. I had to go to Sainsbury's to buy a white sliced loaf of bread, which I then cut up into small pieces. I did it early, because I was focussed on the task and wanted to have it done so I could concentrate on other matters. I drove to the Oaktree Centre at around 6.15, but found the place locked, so I had to wait until the place was locked up and once inside, the same old problem of having to open the kitchen, which has one of those doors with a lock which you open with a code. I don't have it, but it was eventually opened and I set up the trays into which the small plastic cups are placed and then made up some fruit squash (I think it's blackcurrant.) to then put into a squeezy bottle so that I could put a small amount into each plastic cup. This is a job you cannot rush. You need a steady hand. We weren't sure how many people were going to turn up, so I made up one tray and began to fill a second one, leaving the second one on the counter in the cafe area. In the hall, the table was set up in the centre, with chairs in a circle around it. It was a very moving evening, with readings and music.

I have taken a case out of the cupboard in my bedroom, which has been in there, unused, since I moved in around 6 years ago. I have never looked inside, but I needed to empty it, because I want to use it when I go to Worcester later this afternoon. I found various bits of rubbish, which is often what you find when you've been on holiday, tickets, empty packets and so on. But I was surprised to find Carol's swimming costume. It was unexpected and caused me a certain bit of emotion. I just did not think that I would find that in the bag.

11.00 a.m. I've been to the Shell fillingl station in Grafton Street. I needed to check the car's tyres. It's not a job I enjoy. I had a £10 note, because I didn't know whether I would need to change it for coins. I had a couple of 50p with me, just it case. I got to the machine and drew up. I then discovered you could pay using your debit card, which I had with me. Unfortunately, the confounded machine wouldn't accept it. Goodness knows why. But the machine did accept my 2 50p coins. You have five minutes to go round and check your tyres, but the hose it uses is difficult to hold as it keeps wanting to rewind into the machine. Crazy! I had to unscrew each cap on each tyre, and keep a foot on the hose to prevent it being drawn back into the machine, at the same time attempting to read the pressure on the machine. Carol always used to help with this job. She would stay with the machine and stop the hose rewinding into the machine, but without her, I have to do this operation on my own.

Goody Goody!

 Monday. 7.30 a.m. A bright and sunny morning. The thermometer reads 21ºc.

A slight problem this morning. I have lost my keys. More correct to perhaps say, mislaid. I was at the point of taking Alfie out, part of my morning routine, and I needed the keys to get back into Dexter House through the door which I always go out into Strudwick Drive. But look everywhere the keys could be and nothing. The situation was not helped because, when I came back from church yesterday, some delightful person had parked their car across the entrance to my usual parking spot, so I had to park further along. I think it must have disrupted my concentration, and that incident made me put the keys in a less obvious place. Not having the keys means  I can't go anywhere in the car, because the bunch of keys has the electronic key which not only locks the car but enables me to start the car. It's a sort of plastic device that you use as a remote to open the car's doors and then, once inside, slot it into the place on the dashboard and start the car.

8.30 a.m. The keys eventually came to light, in my trousers pocket, in my wardrobe! I still say that I mislaid them because of the car which was blocking my parking space. Well, at least that's sorted, thankfully. I have a hook where they are usually kept, and on this occasion, they weren't put there, so causing something of a panic and some stress. Alfie has now been out.

Tuesday. 8.50 a.m. Yet another pleasant and sunny morning. The thermometer currently reads 22ºC.

Thursday. 8.20 a.m. I have been revising some of my writing. It has not been touched for some time because I had no idea how to develop it further, but the time has not been wasted, because I have now found a way to go with it. I spent yesterday writing quite a bit more and even, during this revision process, new ideas developed. It's surprising how you can be writing and ideas sort of spring into your head. You know the expression 'the lightbulb moment', I think that is very appropriate.

Saturday. 12.00 p.m. Yesterday, we had a social evening at the Oaktree Centre. I was expecting it to be for just the Thursday Morning Life Group, but it was for all members of all the SCF life groups. It was a pity that only two other Thursday Morning Life Group members when you consider that there are about 15 regular attendees. Cadian, who is a member of the leadership team at SCF and is in charge of Life Groups, said he wanted to have some sort of policy for Life Groups, which will come into force once all the groups have been consulted. Then we had a Bible quiz. 

The Whole Darn Thing

 Wednesday, 5:00 a.m. Well, I'm wide awake and thought I might as well do some more blogging.

I have mentioned in previous posts about the infamous electric scooter sheds (the scooters are electric, not the sheds. Well, I don't think they are. Oh, just being somewhat sarcastic.) The reason for them, so that these devices aren't in the way inside Dexter House and a hazard if there's a fire. We now have beautifully resurfaced paths, all with lighting and access to these lovely sheds (irony here.) has been completed at huge expense.  Workmen have been working on the external gates which open onto Strudwick Drive (or, at least, the path, which runs alongside the Dexter House garden, and where the scooters will get into the garden and, hence, the store sheds. But STILL, the work isn't completed! This whole situation has become farcical, to say the least. I don't think you can make any of this us, but if you did, nobody would believe it. 

I've been watching episodes of the BBC sitcom 'Yes, Minister', and the above situation could come straight out of one of the episodes. It may be over 40 years since this show was first shown, but I think it's probably more relevant now than it was then.

7.25 a.m. It's bright and sunny as I write this. The digital thermometer currently reads 21˚c. 

Yesterday morning, I went out again with my DJI Pocket video camera. I went back to Campbell Wharf, which is on the Grand Union Canal where there is a marina, pub and flats. It looks as if it's being developed, with more buildings going on, a cycle shop and a One-Stop convenience store, a coffee shop and a barber's, which appears to have only just opened recently. There were workmen outside, putting up the sign.

I took some good footage, but I still haven't got the settings absolutely right with the gimbal. Having my iPhone connected to the camera on the new rig makes it easier to view what you are filming, by using the Mimo app. When I got home I managed to view the footage through the app and discovered you can even edit what you have filmed and also watch through my Apple Watch with the app.

5.50 p.m. It's been warm and sunny all day.

Alfie was due for a haircut at The Groom Room at midday, so I drove across Milton Keynes to the Pets At Home store in Bletchley. I took him into the store and got him registered. A trim around his face and body and then I went to Greggs, further along the parade of stores, for a drink and filled roll and then returned to my car to eat it. I went to T.K.Maax to have a browse. It seems the upstairs departments have been moved around and, as usual, there were no end of items I liked, but didn't buy. I went back to the car and a minute or two later the Groom Room phoned to say Alfie was done and I could collect him.