I have been away for a few days down in Bridgwater, and staying in a local hotel called the Walnut Tree. Quite a nice hotel, with half decent food where they make an effort on presentation and served at a reasonable price. Not only good food, but real ale, in fact two real ales, one local, and the other carted half way across the country from Bedford. I opted for the local, good thing as I heard from other drinkers the Charles Welles brew was off.
The breakfast staff were chatty, but I was taken aback when one one said to me, I see you are a lover. I thought, what have I let slip? She, seeing my bemused face, quickly followed on with a comment on my Marmite choice.
They had free wifi in the hotel rooms, though on my second day it was not working. Went to reception to complain. “Ah, you need a new number” said the receptionist. “Yes” I said, “but it also is not showing the logon screen”. “Let me take a look in the office” was the reply. “Ah, I see the boss has unplugged the internet. Ok it will be back in 5 minutes.” And back it came.
This weekend we spent a lovely weekend in Norfolk at my Father’s and Ann’s home in Norwich. On arrival we were whisked off for lunch at the Ship Inn at South Walsham where there seemed to be a groom’s pre-wedding drinks party. We ate outside in the sun, waiting for the forecast rain which never arrived.
Next onto Ranworth Broad where we had a pre-booked trip on the private broad in an electric boat. Being somewhat early, we had time to visit the church of St Helen. This contains the greatest rood screen in East Anglia. It stretches right across the church, aisles and nave. The tower was also open, so Stephen (that is the author) climbed the very narrow spiral stair case to the top and snapped some images from the tower.
Then on to Ranworth Broad in the electric boat to view birds. I took some pictures, not the greatest, will have to purchase one of those mega paparazzi lenses or get nearer to the birds. Anyway saw some Terns, Grebes, Cormorants, Herons, a flash of a Kingfisher, ducks and gulls.
Our main holiday this year was in Scotland. Ravi and Maggie had invited us to launch the Hossack Institute of Highland Studies in memory of Maggie’s parents. So, we decided to extend the holiday by staying in the Cairngorms National Park near to Tomintoul.
The drive to Inverness was uneventful, except for the police car parked on the motorway bridge with a speed camera. The speeding ticket has not arrived, so reckon I have gotten away with it. That evening some of went out an ate the Great British Menu, curry.
The next day I did some site seeing. Looked around Cawdor castle, the Clava Cairns and Culloden where we whipped the Scots.
One more day in Inverness, Sunday saw a few of us taking a boat trip on Loch Ness to Urquhart castle in the rain and then a delicious meal in a local restaurant converted from one of the many churches in Inverness that have fallen out of use. I might say a far better use of the premises.
Monday saw us heading to Tomintoul where we were to stay in a converted barn for the next 5 days. When we tried to buy food, it was suggested the nearest place was Inverness. Why had we not visited Tesco as we left Inverness? During the 5 days we toad a steam train, walked around the Glenlivet estate, and tried some Speyside whiskies.
Finally, we travelled to Helensburgh for a couple of nights. The original intention was to stay with some ex-colleagues (Mary and Ed) in a B&B owned by a woman who had been a customer. Alas, she had to go to a hospital, so Rosemary and I stayed in Helensburgh (Loch Lomond appeared full) for a couple of years. I stayed there in 1972 during the enterprise championships.
You may wonder about the pictures of the trees in the gallery, I took a picture of this tree in the exact same spot in 1972.
24th July, Rosemary and I visited the hunting, shooting and fishing festival, the CLA Game Fair. We must say the food at these events is not a patch on Glastonbury catering. The pictures are from the dog and gun stand, a chase, where the dog runs after a lure, any one can enter. There also was a pageant of birds of prey marking the history of hunting with birds.
The Gun and Dog stand was where Chris and Ann entered their dog Boss. Alas I have no pictures of Boss, but have of one of his siblings.
We are not sure we will go again, or at least give it a miss for a few years before going back.
Hot sunny day on Saturday July 10th, we ventured forth to a sculpture exhibition nearby in Asthall Manor, Asthall, Burford, Oxfordshire, OX14 4HW. The exhibition was by various artists and can be seen on the site onformsculpture.co.uk. Not only was some of the sculpture impressive, so was the house. Setting the sculpture in a garden setting was a fantastic idea.
Food was not a success for the day, we had intended having lunch out. We spent too long in the gardens, only to find any decent eating places closed. Eventually had a cream tea in Woodstock.
It is over for another year. Glastonbury festival, the 40th anniversary is over and finished. Rosemary and I are back, and I have sorted my photographs and from 650 I took, managed to trim then down to a little over a 100. I am sure R would do a better job. I am looking forward to next year, but I expect I will be going on my own. Click on this link for a write up and picture gallery for Glastonbury Festival 2010
This morning we set off to go up to London to go to the V&A to see a couple of exhibitions. Went to our new Chiltern Rail station. Instant suspicion, only two cars in the free car park. No trains cos of engineering works and no railway-run bus link from that station to one with trains. Drove to Haddenham. They had bus links, but the next “train” wouldn’t get us into London until nearly 2 hours later and the tickets were £23.80 each! Decided not to bother, too expensive & too little time there. Prefer a lunch out at those prices. I looked into a railcard. It gave 1/3 off but only to the holder & it cost £26 for a year. I don’t catch that many trains. No wonder few people use public transport.
Just spotted an Ozzfest in the O2 arena for September 18th. So far the following bands are playing: Ozzy Osbourne, Korn, Murderdolls, Skindred. Lots more bands to be announced, two stages. I have bought my standing ticket. https://www.ozzfest.com http://www.o2blueroom.co.uk/events/Ozzfest-2010/383
Fantastic, my Bike voucher has arrived, I can buy my bike now. Rang the shop, out of stock, won’t be getting it now until after Glastonbury. I’ve ordered a racing bike, millions of gears and carbon fibre forks, I can pick it up with my little finger. All road users, you have been warned, here comes Tour de Buckinghamshire with team Blasdale Tour in his yellow jersey.
On Saturday we went to the annual Caius alumni garden party. This is a thank you party for those who contribute to the Caius fund. This fund is to maintain the outstanding college, provide much needed funds to maintain the unrivalled standards of education, and to keep the university open to disadvantaged students. The party is open to those who maintain a minimum benefaction to the college.
In total Cambridge University has raised one billion pounds in recent fund raising. This was achieved two years ahead of target.
Back to the day, I met up with two other Caius alumni from my year, one was Chris who used to run the late night bar and organised the May Ball. I was able to tell him that Sonja Christina from Curved Air was still touring with a version of that band. Curved Air performed at the Caius May Ball in 1975. I think Chris had made some comment in the past about showing her up to her room in Tree Court, and short skirts. Rosemary and I had been to see Curved Air, The Strawbs, Focus and other bands in Aylesbury last year. I spoke with Sonja (from Curved Air) after the Aylesbury gig, but alas she did not remember playing Caius college. I see they are playing at the Croissant Neuf stage in The Green Fields, Glastonbury.
We also met up with Richard and Andrea, friends we meet with regularly now. I was asked to remove my shoes from her blanket while we were watching the Bumps! Somehow I always disgrace myself with my shoes in front of Andrea.
Food at the garden party was as usual very good, and masses of it. The sun shone as well, a wonderful event in the historic courtyards of Caius College.
Next we went down to the river, and watched the final day of the May Bumps. Caius 1st were second behind 1st & 3rd Trinity. The final day was a row over, despite the promise from the Master that we would bump Trinity at Caius Meadows. Oh well, there is next year.
