Rough

I had a very poor night’s sleep and have woken up with a gravelly throat and voice that would make Barry White sound like Tiny Tim. I was up at 6:16 and sat quietly with my coffee until Di came down at 8:00.

I started on some post-vacation admin, which kept me going until we had to leave to collect Jasper from the cat whisperer. As usual, he has been well cared for, and with last Friday being his birthday, Mark even gave him some presents (though no cake). Jasper was very vocal during the drive home, and as soon as he leapt from his carrier, he went to his bowl and tucked into the food we had put down.

With Jasper home, Di continued to wade through the pile of laundry from the holiday. I went to Sainsbury’s to get some fresh fruit to last us until we do a proper shopping trip on Thursday.

The afternoon saw us enjoying the warmth in the Orangery while pretending to read our Kindles. In my case, I didn’t bother; my head felt as if it were full of cotton wool and concentration on a book was not feasible.

Returning

Some guests had a very early start to the day. We were lucky and needed to have our bags outside our cabin by 8:15 and be ready to leave at 9:15. I had woken early, and this meant it was no trouble for us. We went down to breakfast to say farewell to Shakilah and Nina, who had looked after us so well throughout the week. 

We gathered in the lounge to await the coach. We were whisked across country to Frankfurt and had a trouble-free check-in for our flight. We grabbed a bite to eat while we waited to be called. The plane was loaded quickly, and we were able to depart on time. We had a very smooth flight, landing 40 minutes early. Heathrow Terminal 2 was a slick operation, and we were out with our driver within 30 minutes of landing.

We had a comfortable ride back home, arriving at 16:30. Within a few minutes, Zoe had spotted we were home, so came to see us, and Ellie soon followed. Unpacking is virtually complete.

Looking back over the week, I must conclude that the Moselle is a stunningly beautiful river with some fairytale towns and castles. River cruising is wonderfully relaxing. The boat is so smooth that you don't feel as if you are in motion, but rather that the world is moving past you. We met some lovely people on the cruise; others, however, were "meh!" They didn't trouble us, except as the source of jokes.

We were delighted, on our return, to find that Hannah and Ewan had been good to their word and had laid the replacement irrigation pipes for the back garden and extended them to the front. What's more, they have done an excellent job and hidden all the pipework.

Koblenz

Overnight, we had moored in Wittingen, but in the early hours, the ship moved downriver towards Koblenz at the confluence of the Moselle and the Rhine. (The name Koblenz comes from the Latin Confluentes). We had slept well but were up early to get some breakfast before today’s excursions. The forecast for the day was 24-26 C and some cloud with a possibility of some rain this evening.

Jane, Tevor and I had a long excursion around the town and up to the fortress. Di had a leisurely excursion planned later in the morning. Our long excursion left at 09:30, and we were taken through the various squares, streets, and alleyways of the town, hearing the history and significance of each location as we passed. 

Our guide, Siggy, was very knowledgeable and had a perfect command of English. He kept up the commentary throughout the three hours. We saw parts of the old Roman walls, squares dominated by Jesuit colleges, squares celebrating the town’s history, and, of course, promenades along the Moselle and Rhine riverbanks. 

As we passed German Corner (where there is a huge mounted statue of Kaiser Wilhelm), we passed Diane’s tour coming in the opposite direction. 

By this time, we were on our way to the cable car. We hopped into the pods and were whisked high above the Rhine to the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress high above the city. 

The Ehrenbreitstein Fortress is the second-largest fortress in Europe (after Gibraltar). Siggy explained the layout and the defensive structures that should make it impregnable, but in reality, it was never attacked and became redundant with the advent of breech-loading cannon that could pound it from a range of 2000 metres.

I left Jane and Trevor up in the fortress and made my way back to the ship, where Di and I had a quiet lunch and a glass of wine. We then went back out for another walk. During this morning’s tour, Siggy pointed out an ice cream shop which was regarded as the best in Koblenz. We found our way through the streets and joined a queue to get some ice cream. The queue stretched about 50m up the street by the Cathedral, and moved slowly towards the huge selection of types and flavours of ice cream, yoghurts, and gelato. We chose well and sat in the shop working our way through their mid-sized ice cream tubs. From there, we looped down to the Moselle and made our way back via German Corner to the ship.

We had a quiet afternoon in our cabin. I was trying to check in online for tomorrow’s flight (unsuccessfully). It appears that Lufthansa’s website is playing up. I managed to get checked in my aski our tour director to try. He was also having problems, but finally succeeded. I also managed to do the bulk of my packing.

We met up in the lounge for a drink before dinner, then went down for our farewell feast. 

Traben-Trarbach

A new day and a new port. 

We had moved overnight, and by the time we woke up, we were alongside in Traben-Trarbach. It was a lovely, bright morning, but there was a residual chill in the morning breeze. We had an early breakfast because our tour was due to start at 9:30. We left the ship and were allocated to one of four guides. Ours was a lady of middle age with a wicked sense of humour. She kept up a running commentary as she walked us through the twin towns (one on each side of the river).

This twin town flourished at a narrow bend in the river, the two sides being linked by a bridge since 1898. It became so affluent that it was regarded as the richest place on the Moselle for nearly 200 years. Like so many towns along the river, its history dates back to Celtic and Roman times, as evidenced by the many archaeological finds made in the region. From the 1300s, the Grevenberg Castle, overlooking the town, served as the seat of government until it was destroyed by French troops. Many of the newer buildings in the town were built with a strong Art Deco influence. It was the first town in Germany to introduce electric street lights, and Goethe famously stayed there in 1792.

It was a leisurely tour, and finished as we approached the boat, and the guide got a fit of the giggles. Jane, Trevor, Di and I walked back to the square and found a coffee shop, then sat in the square nursing our caffeine fixes. It is worth noting that today was May Day; as such, it is a public holiday, so very few places were open, and even our coffee shop was scheduled to close at 11:00. Di and I returned to the ship while Jane and Trevor went to explore the churches above the square.

The boat set sail again at lunchtime. We have a long trip all the way to Wittingen (near Koblenz), and are not expected to arrive until late evening. That’s fine. It gave us a chance to sit up on deck in the sunshine and read our books while the world drifted silently by.

There was a "Disembarkation" talk, mid-afternoon. This was a briefing regarding what would happen on Sunday morning. It seemed to be well thought out and very clearly explained for the hard of thinking. 

At the end of the afternoon, we had the farewell event, where all of the staff were introduced to the passengers. It's always nice to see the people who are beavering away behind the scenes and get a chance to say "Thanks". The Chefs and Waiting Staff always get the biggest cheers, and today was no exception. After the farewell, we went down to dinner. (Di had Filet Mignon, while I enjoyed sole in a Madras sauce).

After dinner, we returned to the lounge for an evening of entertainment from Glen Williams. He used to be a member of the 70s pop band "Sweet" but now has an incredibly wide repertoire of songs and tunes from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. He interspersed the songs with some very funny "Dad jokes" which elicited groans and laughter. He was really very funny, and it was a brilliant evening.

Trier

We had an early start this morning. We had to catch coaches to take us to Trier, so we needed to have an early breakfast. Soon after nine, we boarded the coaches and were whisked to the town and deposited near the Porta Nigra, one of the Roman gates to the old city.

Trier is often described as Germany’s oldest city, and under the Romans, it was one of the most important urban centres north of the Alps. Its Roman name, Augusta Treverorum, hints at both its imperial status (“Augusta”) and the local Celtic tribe, the Treveri. Trier was founded around 16 BC during the reign of Augustus. What began as a provincial town grew rapidly thanks to its position on the Moselle River, a key trade route. By the 3rd–4th centuries AD, Trier had become extraordinarily important: It served as a residence for Roman emperors, including Constantine the Great. It was effectively the capital of the Western Roman Empire for periods in the late 3rd century. Its population may have reached 70,000–100,000, making it one of the largest cities in the empire at the time. Trier is remarkable because so much of its Roman infrastructure survives. Several sites are part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing.

Our tour guide started by taking us to the Porta Nigra. This is the best-preserved Roman city gate north of the Alps. Built around 180 AD, its darkened stone gives it the name “Black Gate.” This is an impressive building, even now, though some refurbishment is underway at present, so on one side is free of scaffolding.

From Porta Nigra, we walked past the home where Karl Marx was born and spent the first 16 years of his life. Then we walked on to the heart of Trier, where, after the Roman era, was the lively main market square, the Hauptmarkt. It sits just a short walk from the Roman sites, but the atmosphere shifts completely—from imperial stone to colourful medieval civic life. The square dates back to around the 10th century, when Trier became an important ecclesiastical centre under the Archbishop-Electors. It developed as the city’s main marketplace and social hub with traders from across the Moselle region gathering here; it hosted markets, festivals, and public announcements, and it reflected Trier’s role within the Holy Roman Empire rather than the earlier Roman world. Today, it hosted a wine market where pop-up stalls sprang up around the square, surrounding tables and benches where people could sit and sample wines from all of the local wineries that were on show today. It was a little early in the morning to start on that.

We walked from the market to the Basilica, where our guide finished the tour. As he left, we went into the Basilica. It contains Holy relics brought from Palestine: the Robe of Christ and a nail from the cross. The Robe is only displayed a couple of times a year, and last time it was on full public display (in 2012), 650,000 people came to see it. The nail from the cross is on display in their museum. 

From the museum, we walked out to the cloisters. Cloisters are a happy place for me. I find them serene, and they seem to encourage contemplation. I could have stayed there for hours, but we were both in need of some coffee. We made our way back to the square and found a coffeehouse where we could take on caffeine in appropriate amounts. We then made our way back through the Porta Nigra to the meeting point, where we boarded our bus and headed back to the boat.

The boat sailed soon after we returned. Whilst the sun had been shining throughout the day, there had been a very chilly wind. So much so that I resorted to my leather jacket when we were out and about during the morning. After a light lunch, we found a spot on deck and angled our chairs to protect us from the wind as we drifted back downriver, back toward Bernkastel-Kues, where we would dock for the night.

Early evening, the Captains (yes, we have two) gave us a debrief on the safety drill we had yesterday. He started by acknowledging the issues that had arisen and then opened up for questions. Being a ship full of senior people, we got the same questions and the same points raised time and again, as nobody listened to other people’s questions or the answers that had been given. The old bat behind me was raging until I turned to her and pointed out that the navigation channel on the Moselle was on 2.7m deep, and the boat can’t actually sink. It could settle on the bottom, and we could remain in the lounge drinking wine without a problem. That shut her up.

After dinner (DI had steak, and I had pork loin), we made the most of the evening. The wind had dropped, and it was quite warm. 

We went for a walk along the riverbank and looped back through the town before returning to the boat for a cross between a quiz and bingo… during which we won some prizes. By 10 p.m. I was flagging, so we went back to our room for some Kindle time before bed.

Bernkastel-Kues

I was up early, but didn’t want to disturb Diane. I snuck into the bathroom and crashed about as usual while I washed and dressed. I then grabbed the MacBook and my phone and headed for the lounge, where I could write my blog and grab some coffee. When I started, the sun hadn’t yet popped its head over the surrounding hillsides (though it was obviously light). It was gone 7:30 before it burst over the hillside and painted the river with light.

Today’s stop, Bernkastel-Kues is one of the prettiest and most visited towns along the Moselle River—very much a “storybook Germany” kind of place. The area was inhabited back in the Neolithic era, with evidence found from 5,000 years ago. The town itself goes back to Roman times (at least the 4th century). It was first mentioned in the 11th century. In the 7th century, the town was controlled by the Merovingian and Luxembourg forces from the fortress, high above the town.

Our excursion was a trip around the area on the land train, but as we had a couple of hours to kill, we walked into town and wandered through the market squares, and along the picturesque streets and alleyways. It was charming, and we were there early enough to see it before the roads became clogged with tourists. 

After an hour or so, we decided it was time to sit and have a coffee. We chose one of the squares and sat down outside a cafe. Coffee was served, and within about 10 minutes, it became clear we had started a rush, as one by one the other tables filled up with tourists sporting accents from all of Europe.

We made our way to the pick-up point for the land train. It looped across the bridge and took us through Kues, passing the Cusanus Foundation, a Medieval complex founded by Nikolaus von Krebs, over 500 years ago. It serves as a home for elderly men, but also houses a rich library and a museum. We then climbed through the town and up onto the steep hills beyond. From the top, we could look down across the twin towns and see the extent of the vineyards as they carpeted the hillsides all around. The land train took us back to river level and back across the bridge into Berncastel where it tootled through the streets we explored earlier. Finally, we were deposited back at our starting point and walked back to the boat.

The afternoon was spent drifting slowly upriver. This stretch of the Moselle is a series of loops and curves and would be a wonderful study for a geography class. We passed dozens of vineyards and tiny chocolate-box towns. The only interruption to the afternoon was a mandatory safety drill, which was chaotic, but we were soon able to resume our study of the world as it drifted by.

The boat moored up at a place called Riol, a little way out of Trier. We met up for a drink and to listen to the port briefing for tomorrow, then went down to dinner. (Di had lamb, IO had perch). The evening’s entertainment was called Hollywood Divas, and featured an opera singer from Paris, singing songs from various films… Breakfast at Tiffany's, Abba, My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music, and so forth. I’m sure she was very good, but it is not my sort of music.

Cochem to Berncastel-Kues

We had spent the night moored in Cochem. The place where we were moored had no mobile signal, and the boat’s WiFi was useless.

We had originally planned to do an excursion on the Landtrain, which takes the passengers around Cochem, but decided last night that it wasn’t worth doing as we had walked around much of the town already. Instead, we walked into town ourselves and just strolled around. We stopped for a coffee at the riverside, then shopped in a store we visited yesterday. This store sells various liquers, and we were particularly impressed by the peach flavour we had sampled yesterday. We purchased a bottle to take home, then made our way back to the boat.

At midday, the boat threw its moorings and continued its passage upriver. We had a glorious afternoon sitting on the sun deck watching the picture postcard villages float by, and traversing a number of locks that raised us up bit by bit.

Late in the afternoon, we returned to our cabin. I finally cracked the technology problems that had been troubling me. They were partly caused by the dreadful WiFi in the lower part of the river (caused by the steep-sided surrounding hills. I had also been logged out of my Google account without my knowledge, and it took a while to realise this and log back into the system.

We met up in the bar for a briefing on Berncastel-Kues, where we would be tomorrow, then went down to dinner. Di chose a nice piece of cod, while I selected Nasi Goreng (with duck breast on top).

Back in the lounge, after dinner, we grabbed a remote signal box so that we could participate in the quiz. The questions were all multiple-choice, and to answer, you just pressed the corresponding button on the remote device. It was quite good fun, but we didn’t do particularly well.

During the quiz, we arrive at the dock in Bernkastel-Kues. I nipped up on deck to get some photos of the town at night. We then sat chatting until gone eleven, when we all headed off to bed.

Cochem

After a very good night’s sleep, we woke to find the boat had left the dock and was now cruising down the Moselle towards our first stop. I settled down to write my blog, but was stymied by the lack of WiFi and poor mobile signal. Writing offline, I recorded my thoughts to upload later. By 08:30, we were passing through the first lock on the trip. (The Moselle drops 150 metres from where it rises in France to where it meets the Rhine, so there are several locks which manage the flow of water.)

Mid-morning, we had a safety briefing from the Captain. As part of the briefing, he explained that we would cover 348km during the trip, and pass through 18 locks all told. After the Captain had finished, the Cruise Director, Jean, took over and gave a briefing on our first port, Cochem. It’s only a small town with a population of 5000 people and is dominated by its castle. During the war, there was a concentration camp housing 13000 prisoners working for Bosch, making pumps for tanks. More about Cochem, later.

We spent the rest of the morning up on the sun deck, drifting along the river passing some beautiful scenery, and chocolate box villages.

We docked in Cochem at midday. We grabbed a light salad for lunch and prepared for the afternoon’s excursion. We were split into two groups with our QuietVox boxes set to different channels for each group. 

Our guide was a very chatty lady of senior years who took us along the riverbank and across the bridge to the main part of town. All the while, she was giving us a running commentary, pointing out places of interest and explaining the history. She took us through the old market squares, passing several of the town gates. Here and there, there were marks on the walls showing how high some of the historic floods have been. Some of these reached the second floor of the houses and shops. 

In the Church of St Martin, she pointed out the stained glass windows which had been done in the style of Chagall, and were really quite astounding. (I was a little surprised to hear that the population of Cochem is predominantly Roman Catholic).

Leaving the church, we made a few more stops in the higher part of the town before taking a minibus up to the Reichsburg Castle. The castle was built around 1000AD for the Counts of Palatine. It remained the seat of the Counts until 1689, when it was destroyed by the French and remained a ruin until the 1800s, when the Berlin counsellor of commerce, Jakob Ravene, bought it for the equivalent of 1000Euros and set about restoring it to its former glory (based on historical prints and drawings). 

 The castle is now owned and maintained by the city of Cochem and is available for concerts, wine festivals, and weddings, as well as being open to tourists. It is said that the castle was the inspiration for the castle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.

After the tour, we returned to the boat for a drink and then set off again along the riverbank to one of the wineries for a wine tasting. This was led by an enthusiastic chap who explained about the various grapes and the difference between those grown on the flat, as opposed to those which are grown on the steep slate hillsides. He led us through four tastings, each one of a higher quality than the one before. It was very interesting, but as I am not a great lover of white wine, it was more of an intellectual exercise than anything else.

Back on board, we had the formal Welcome Reception, where we were introduced to the heads of department. Then, we went down for dinner. Di had a scrumptious-looking short rib of beef, while I had a lentil curry with Jasmine rice. Having eaten, we went up to the lounge where the evening’s entertainment was about to begin. A young American violinist, married to a German, took to the stage and kept us riveted for about 40 minutes. Hearing some classics, some pop music, and even Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir performed with such vigour on the violin was riveting. I think it was one of the best evenings’ entertainment we have had on any of our cruises.

That was it. It had been a long day. Time for bed, said Zebedee.

Up River

This morning we were up early in order to be ready for our collection by the chauffeur who took us to Heathrow airport. Unlike last year, we had a private transfer, so we had the car to ourselves with no diversions to pick up other travellers. We were at the airport by 9:05, and by 9:25 we were through security and we’ve had our comfort break. Trevor and Jane were not far behind us, and we met up in Leon for a coffee. Our plane was delayed by 25 minutes or so, but by midday we were in the air, on our way to Frankfurt.

Despite the late take-off, the flight was only 55 minutes, and we were soon wandering through the labyrinth of the airport to the border station where we queued for quite a long time as we were all subjected to the new European Entry System checks. We collected our bags, boarded the coach and set off to Koblenz. The trip was about 75 minutes, and I took the opportunity to enjoy a nap.

At Koblenz, where the River Moselle meets the Rhine, we were greeted on board our home for the week, The Spirit of the Moselle. We were shown to our cabin, where we dropped our hand luggage, and then made our way to the lounge for a cup of tea and a beer. Once refreshed, we had a quick look around the ship before returning to our cabin to unpack our luggage (which had magically appeared in the cabin while we were in the lounge).

We made our way back to the lounge, where we met up with Jane and Trevor, and went down to dinner in the Panorama Restaurant. The meal was excellent with free-flowing wine and a small but perfectly formed menu. We started with a spring salad, followed by a pork loin Wellington (which was outstanding). DI finished the meal with fresh fruit, while I had a selection of cheeses. It was a good meal, and portioned in such a way as to satisfy without leaving you feeling bloated.

After dinner, Di and I went for a stroll along the riverbank. It was dusk, but there was still some residual warmth in the air. It was very pleasant as we started towards the cable car, which carries visitors across the river and up to the fortress above the far bank. After our constitutional, we returned to the boat and joined Jane and Trevor in the Library for a while before we all retired for the night. It had been a long day, but it was a good day.

Packing

 With Jasper away at his Spa, there was no worry about interruptions to our night's sleep. The alarm was switched off, and a lie-in was on the cards. Well, it was until I woke up to check the plumbing at 03:45 and failed to go back to sleep on my return to bed. In the end, soon after 05:00, I was up and nursing a coffee in the kitchen. I used the time to tinker with my presentation for the Inspiration Day, and to have a long chat with Gemini-AI regarding the implementation of AI in enterprises and the impact on my old career. It was very interesting, and I felt that the time had been well spent.

Di wandered down before seven, and wrapped herself around a cup of tea while I headed for the shower. I had my usual call with the cousins a bit later. It seems that Tim is also off travelling this weekend. He's heading for Calahonda. I do hope he enjoys it. I wasn't blown away by the village, but I did like the area and the various places we visited when there.

With the call finished, I set about packing. I have deliberately packed lighter than last year, as I have realised that the nature of river cruises allows a more casual approach. With the packing complete, I went to Zoe's. Di was already there, helping out by washing the floor downstairs. I took the vacuum cleaner and went through the bedrooms, bathrooms, landing, and stairs.

Back home, Di started on the final selection for her packing. I spent the time sorting out the cables and chargers that we would need and completing the last of the paperwork. We managed a bit of Kindle time during the afternoon. 

It will be an early start in the morning, but I think we are well-prepared.

Insurance

The day started early. I was wide awake by six and got up at six-fifteen. Other than the start time, the rest of the early morning followed the usual pattern, and by eight-fifteen we were walking to Zoe's to collect Ellie for school. We dropped her off at the classroom door, and Di went home, while I went off for my usual walk.

Once home from my walk, I grabbed some breakfast, then returned to the presentation I have been working on. I had several ideas during the walk that needed to be included in the slides. As I filed these amendments away, it was time to grab Jasper and take him for his Spa Break with Mark at the Cattery. Jasper is getting old, so grabbing him isn't the problem it used to be. He was soon in his carrier and had started the usual yowling that accompanies any road trip with our feline friend. We deposited him with Mark and made our way home.

After some lunch, I started looking for car insurance. The bundle of insurance products that I have used for so long no longer works. NatWest is extracting itself from the motor insurance marketplace. This forced me to look at alternatives. There was a wide variation in price and also in the feedback for various companies. In the end, I chose one of the products from the AA. It was a bit more expensive than my current insurance, but it seemed like a good product and had a 5-star rating.

We managed some Kindle time before having to collect Ellie. She was a bundle of energy as she finished her dance class. We took her home and, while there, helped out by changing the bedding on her bed and Zoe's.

Ellie is with Pete for the weekend.

Playing Away

The day started in the time-honoured fashion, and we enjoyed the early morning sunshine as we walked to Zoe's to collect Ellie for school. Having dropped her at the classroom door, Di headed home and set off for my walk. I had timed it pretty well, and my audiobook came to an end as I was turning into the Crescent on the way home.

Being Thursday, we headed to Sainsbury's for a sparse shop. As we will be away, we didn't need too much and were in and out very quickly.

The nice couple who visited yesterday phoned. They cannot fit us in before we leave, but they asked if they could complete the job next week while we are away. They will then return to check we are happy with the work when we get home. We agreed and have every confidence that the job will be done properly.

After some admin and some lunch, we settled with our Kindles until it was time to collect Ellie. She burst out of the classroom with a note inviting her to be in the Athletics team. We acted amazed and surprised and congratulated her. It does mean that her Monday afternoon appointment will have to be changed, but Zoe was already on top of this.

We headed home, where Di started to prepare Jasper's "stuff" ready for his Spa Break. I settled back with my Kindergarten until it was time to prepare dinner.

A quiet evening is planned.

Nice People

We were up and about at our usual time. It was a bright start and promised a warm day.  We walked to Zoe's to collect Ellie for school. Apparently, she had been up and about since about five. We dropped her off at the classroom door, then both went home. There was no early walk today.

At 09:00, the doorbell rang. It was the couple who had come to assess what we need doing to the irrigation system. (How nice that they did phone me back, how nice that they made an appointment, and how nice that they turned up on time). They were charming and listened carefully as I described the problem and what I felt would be needed. They listened, made some suggestions, checked on some items, and then promised to call us back within 24 hours. We wait with bated breath. They came across as very nice people.

Once they had gone, Di headed off to Pilates, and I set off for my walk. When I arrived home, I had an email waiting. This confirmed that my old school wanted me to present to the sixth form on their "Inspiration Day" next month. They wanted a short biography, a photo, and several other items of information. I sat down and crafted a bio, which I then pumped through AI to get some ideas to make it more punchy. Then, realising it was too long, I asked for a summary in a couple of paragraphs. This worked really well, and with a few tweaks, I soon provided my response. My next task will be to create a presentation... which is needed in just over a week!

I received a call from SAGA. There has been a change to the excursions during our river cruise. I was given a chance to reselect, which I did after discussing it with Di.

After lunch, we had some Kindle time before I went to the study to begin my presentation. I have crafted the outline, and now I must select the key points that may inspire the students. At the moment, I am finding it a bit of a challenge, being significantly out of practise.

We collected Ellie from her after school football game and took her home before returning home ourselves. We also heard, on the quiet, that though there are Athletics trials at school tomorrow, Ellie has been pre-selected based on her previous performance.

Counting down

 Jasper decided to start a football chant soon after six this morning. That was it. I was awake. I tried to stay put, but by 6:15 I decided coffee was necessary.

We both walked to Zoe's to collect Ellie and take her to school. It was very bright, though there was high cloud. There was also a bitter wind, and 8 °C felt more like 3 °C. After we left Ellie, Di went straight home, and I set off for my walk. The cold wind encouraged me to walk faster to generate some warmth. I knocked about 30 seconds off each kilometre.

Back home, I grabbed some breakfast and another coffee before heading into the garden to use the leaf-blower (in reverse) to vacuum up the fallen leaves while they were dry and crispy. It didn't take long, but it did half fill the garden bin.

Next on the agenda was to return a parcel at the Post Office for Diane and pick up her latest batch of medicines from the Chemist. While I was in the village, I took the opportunity to get my hair cut (it's always an item on my checklist before a holiday). Meanwhile, Di was wading through her pre-trip ironing.

The early afternoon was spent doing some paperwork (though, strictly speaking, it was all digital). We managed some Kindle time before going to collect Ellie from school. We deposited her at home with Zoe and headed home to finish the paperwork and ironing before dinner.

Dripping

 It was an early start. Not because it was necessary, but because I was wide awake by 6:00 and got up 15 minutes later when Jasper started to get vocal. The weather looked wonderful again, though there was still a chill in the air.

We walked around to Zoe's and escorted Ellie to school. I then set off on my morning walk. This was made a little more interesting by watching a neighbour reverse his car into a car outside his neighbour's house. No damage was done, and they were all chatting when I circled back around.

Back home, with breakfast finished,  we loaded the car with a collection of books and toys and took them to the local charity shop. They took most of what was on offer, but there were several items they couldn't accommodate and will have to be disposed of separately. I stopped off at the irrigation company to buy a hole punch for the drip bayonets. Once home, I fitted 4 more drippers to the existing hose to water Di's newest plants.

City Irrigation recommended a local company that may be able to help me replace the drip hose. I called them and was pleased when they called back within about 30 minutes. I explained our dilemma, and they said they would check their diary and call to arrange a visit. They did! I will report further after their assessment on Wednesday.

We managed about an hour of Kindle time after lunch and then went to collect Ellie. We took her to her usual Monday appointment in Chichester. While waiting for her, I managed to complete another book.

We've just finished dinner (salmon and prawn linguine with white wine and cream sauce), and now expect a quiet evening.

Taxi!

 It was another glorious Spring day. The flotilla of clouds that had scudded across the horizon yesterday evening had disappeared. Now the perfect blue was only interrupted by a few ruler-straight contrails as aircraft flew to, or returned from, their exotic destinations.

After breakfast, but before my second coffee, I set off for my walk. A new audiobook kept me company as I marched around my usual circuits. It was a perfect morning for walking. Bright and sunny, but just cool enough to remain really comfortable.  As I started on my final stretch, a message pinged in my ears, "Grandpa, will you take me and Poppy swimming, if Poppy's mum says it's ok?" Well, that hadn't been on the plan, but then again, there hadn't been a plan.

I returned home and checked whether Di had anything she wanted me to do, but there was nothing specific. She had planned to spend some time cleaning up Ellie's old toys so that we could take them to the Charity Shop tomorrow. I responded to Ellie and waited for her to turn up with Poppy. I drove them across to LA and settled down with my Kindle while they headed for the pool. I left them to it for an hour or so and then signalled for them to get changed. Needless to say, I found myself having to fund a lap full of snacks for them to eat on the way home. I left them at Zoe's and went on home.

The girls, with Jaxson in tow, wandered back to see Nana a few times through the afternoon.

Three to become One

 It may be Saturday, but I was up early anyway. I guess it's a consequence of age! DI pottered downstairs about an hour later, but it was still much earlier than needed.

I had my usual call with the cousins. Helen was struggling after an eye operation, Sam was still getting over her cold, and Sarah was looking after a puppy that had chewed through her carpet. It was the usual varied discussion covering every subject under the sun.

Much of the rest of the morning was spent looking into how we could best rationalise Ellie's three accounts into one and sort out her burgeoning requirement for photo storage. It took a while to work out the correct sequence, but I am pretty sure I have got a workable plan (which includes testing to make sure she doesn't lose anything).

After lunch, Di went to potter in the garden. I had tried to add some driplines to the irrigation system, but couldn't push the bayonets through the hose. I went to the store around the corner, but they were closed. It will have to wait until tomorrow or Monday.

I finished another book during Kindle time, and downloaded several more so that we have plenty on the virtual bookshelf before we head off on the river cruise. Dinner tonight was salmon with salad for Di, while I had a chicken vindaloo using the East at Home sauce. It was exceptional, and I will certainly order it again.

Zoe and her friend Poppy made contact. They wanted me to escort them to the corner shop so that they could get some snacks for tonight (I assume they have a sleepover planned). I wandered long to the shop with them to make sure they crossed the roads safely.

Links

I was up and about soon after six. There was a bright start to the day, and with a coffee inside me, I was ready for anything.  Di was up well before seven, and we had a leisurely hour or so before going to collect Ellie for the school run.

Leaving Ellie at school, Di headed home to get ready for her Cardiac Rehab session, while I headed out on my walk. I was on the second loop of my usual route when Di drove past on her way to the community centre. I continued with my route and finished my audiobook. With another loop to go, I switched to BBC Sounds and listened to "I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue" and laughed like a maniac for the last 30 minutes of the walk.

After breakfast, I headed for my study. I had to reformat a micro SD card for the home security system. The old one had developed a fault, so I binned it. While I was finishing that, Zoe called. She was trying to sort out Ellie's phone, which was running out of space. Ellie had asked for a couple of additional apps, but there was insufficient space to install them. This started a long-running discussion involving Apple and us. In the end, we managed to get everything working, but it has highlighted some more consolidation that we should consider.

After lunch, I spent some time trying to add a link to Di's watch strap and remove two links from her Med-alert bracelet. The watch strap was simple, but the Med-alert bracelet was an absolute nightmare. I did succeed in the end, but I hope I don't have to fiddle with it again!

After some Kindle time, we went to collect Ellie from school and take her home.

If it's Thursday...

 There was a cult film back in the 70s called "On Any Sunday".  In our case, it's "On Any Thursday", and in our case, it doesn't feature motorbikes; it focuses on shopping trolleys. 

We were up at our usual time and walked to Zoe's to accompany Ellie to school. Diane then headed home, while I set out on my morning walk. Lottie was already starting her blitz of the house by the time I returned home for breakfast. Once I had tidied away the breakfast things, I finished the shopping list, and we headed to Sainsbury's.

There seemed to be a new, younger breed of Zombies there today. These were an entitled breed who blocked the aisles and wandered off without their trolleys to collect things. Though the store wasn't busy, it was congested, and the thought of fitting curved blades to the trolley wheels seemed alluring.

We dropped a few items off for Zoe and became embroiled in a call with Apple. Zoe was trying to install some additional apps on Ellie's phone. She had, however, locked it down and was having trouble unlocking the ability to install new apps. I eventually cracked the problem, so now Ellie can do her Maths practise on her phone.

We had a quiet hour or so with our Kindles after lunch, then set off to collect Ellie and take her home. Zoe's friend Tammy and son Brodie are visiting this afternoon, so we left them to it.

Drizzle

We were up at the usual time so that we could be ready to collect Ellie and take her to school. There was a fine drizzle as we set off, and it didn't ease until well into my walk. Even then, it restarted before I completed my normal route.

By the time I arrived back home, Diane had already left for Pilates. I settled down for breakfast and a quick pass through social media. The rest of the morning was spent with domestic tasks, including planning for next week's menus and the shopping list for tomorrow.

By the end of the morning, the rain had stopped, and it was bright and sunny. The Orangery was lovely and warm, and we both sat out there with our Kindles. We collected Ellie after her football session (it had started drizzling again by then) and took her home, then returned home ourselves. Diane phoned Denise for a chat, and I prepared dinner.

The new regime for bin collections starts in the morning. We have been checking that we have all the right items in the correct bins. Goodness knows if we have got it right! It is fair to say that this new regime is not universally popular:

ANYONE ELSE HAD ENOUGH OF THESE ****** BINS OR IS IT JUST ME??? Because honestly, I’m at the point now where I’m questioning my entire existence over household waste. Years ago life was SIMPLE, you had one black bin, you put your **** in it, it got collected, DONE. Then some council genius clearly had a breakdown over landfill and decided what we all needed in our lives was MORE BINS. Not one, not two, but a full ****ing rainbow of responsibility sat outside your house like some sort of plastic shrine to poor life choices. Recycling bins, garden bins, cardboard bins, and probably a bin soon for your thoughts and feelings, because apparently, nothing can just go in one place anymore. And God forbid you put the wrong thing in the wrong bin because suddenly you’re basically a criminal and facing a fine like you’ve robbed a bank instead of misplacing a yoghurt pot.

Anyway, I accepted it, I adapted, I became one of those people who stood in the kitchen like a lunatic separating rubbish into categories like I’m running some sort of domestic recycling facility, and just when I thought I’d reached peak bin life… NOW they’ve introduced a FOOD WASTE BIN. Not just a bin either, oh no, a MOTHER BIN with a BABY BIN inside it. I’m sorry, but what in the actual **** is that about??? So now I’ve got this tiny baby bin in my kitchen that fills up every 2 minutes because, shock horror, a family of 5 eats food, then I’ve got to take the bag outside to the mother bin like I’m completing some sort of Olympic bin relay that nobody asked for. And I’m sat here thinking… WHAT THE **** IS EVEN GOING IN MY NORMAL BIN NOW??? Because apparently food goes in one, cardboard in another, recycling somewhere else, garden waste somewhere else, so what’s left??? AIR??? MY SANITY??? THE LAST THREAD OF MY PATIENCE???

And can we just address the fact that I am essentially now providing FREE STORAGE for the council on MY OWN LAND. These ugly bastards are sat on my garden where I could have had a lovely border, some flowers, a bit of peace, but no, I’ve got a ****ing bin exhibition going on outside my house. I should be charging them rent at this point, and if they fine me for not complying, I’ll happily deduct it from the YEARS of unpaid storage fees they owe me because I never signed up to house this plastic army.

And these new bins?? Built like absolute ****. A light breeze and they’re off. Storm Dave comes through, and they’ll be halfway down the M1. We’re going to need EMA air traffic control just to manage rogue bins flying through the neighbourhood. Honestly, a gust of a fart would send one of these airborne, and some poor bugger’s going to be taken out on a morning dog walk because a food waste bin’s decided to go on a journey. Health and safety haven’t even begun to unpack that.

I’m telling you now I am DONE. I am 40+, menopausal, and I no longer have the capacity to deal with this level of absolute nonsense in my life. When that bin turns up at my house, it is going STRAIGHT BACK via the arsehole of whoever delivers it with immediate effect. Enough is enough. The government can push people so far, and this, THIS is my limit. Anyone else, or am I about to go to war with the council on my own???

With acknowledgements to the original author on: Long Eaton:Spotted, on Facebook. 

Pitchside

 It was a school day, so things played out in the usual fashion. 

We walked Ellie to school, and then Di went home, while I went for my walk. There were meds to collect from the Chemist's, so I diverted from my usual route and looped around the estate before heading to the village. It was a bright morning, and it was a pleasure to be out and about, particularly as so many of the trees are in blossom.

Much of the morning was spent on domestic activity and admin, while Di went to Zoe's to help with jobs that she can't do. Having said that, Zoe is moving about a lot more easily than she had been.

After lunch, we had our traditional Kindle time until we had to collect Ellie. She, like most of the kids, seemed to be hyperactive as they bounced out of school. We took her home, then went home ourselves.

We hadn't been in for long before Ellie phoned me. "Grandpa, would you like to come and watch football with me between six and seven o'clock? My boyfriend Oscar is playing." Well, how could I refuse? I prepared an earlier dinner and waited for Ellie to come and call for me (yes, I know!) We walked along to the local pitch where the coaches were preparing for a training session. It turned out that there was no match; it was an hour of football training. This was not the most riveting way to spend an hour in the cool of the early evening, but Ellie enjoyed it. I said that if she wanted, I'd take her along to watch a proper match at Bognor Regis Town sometime soon. We'll see if she remains interested.

Back to Normality

 With the start of the new school term, we have returned to normality. We were up around seven and prepared ourselves to take Ellie to school. She was a bit quiet this morning, probably because she was tired after a couple of weeks of late nights. We walked her to class, then Diane went home, and I went for my morning walk.

Once home, I tucked into breakfast and the social media while nursing a coffee. Di processed her regular INR blood test and sent the results to the Anti-coag clinic. I retired to my study for a morning filled with admin. I had to contact the bank regarding an ISA transfer, contact HMRC regarding my tax code, file my P60, write yesterday's blog post, and check the passwords for some of the NAS volumes I use regularly. This filled the morning and early afternoon.

I joined Di for some Kindle time before we went to collect Ellie from school, and take her to her appointment in Chichester. She was in a bit of a strop and needed cajoling to attend the appointment. Once there, however, she soon reverted to her normal self.

Colonials

 We had a gentle start to the day. I was up at my usual time, but Diane, thinking it was Monday, got up earlier than she would have otherwise. We had breakfast and then prepared to go a-calling.

Michael and Emily had invited us to their wedding in Portugal a few years back. Unfortunately, we were unable to go as it coincided with Diane's heart surgery. They arrived in the UK this morning (from home in Connecticut), and it was our opportunity to meet them and their daughter. Jane and Trevor were hosting them, and we were invited to lunch.

We had a good run to Wokingham, which included a brief comfort stop near Camberley (just as the heavens opened). We arrived soon after midday and were greeted by Jane and Emily. It was so nice to finally meet her. Mark and Lel were also there, and we all stood and chatted until Michael and Trevor joined us. 

Their daughter, Eloise, was asleep when we first arrived, but she woke up after a while. She was an absolute joy. Despite all of the noisy adults and the attention, she remained happy and alert. She reminded me of Ellie in that way.

As usual, Jane presented us with a wonderful lunch, which we all tucked into and demolished the lot. After lunch, we settled in the lounge so that Mark could play with the trains using the excuse that it was to amuse Eloise.

Mid-afternoon, except for Jane, Diane and me, they went for a walk between the showers. The idea was to allow Eloise to play on the slide in the local playpark. They did manage to catch a shower but didn't get too wet.

Michael, Emily, and Eloise are off to Rye tomorrow to stay with Emily's dad.

We set off for home at about 18:30, and had a wonderful run through, getting home by 20:00.

We'll be seeing Jane and Trevor again in a couple of weeks for our next river cruise.

Library

 I didn't have a lot planned for the day. It was bright, but quite nippy, and the forecast suggested it would be windy throughout the day. I had my usual Zoom call with the cousins. Sarah was unable to join as she was flying home from the Alps, and Simon (her twin) was somewhere in the outback visiting one of his children. Sam was suffering from a combined cold and hangover and got very little sympathy.

As I returned to the kitchen after the call, Zoe phoned. She had decided that she wanted a tall shelving unit for books to install in Ellie's bedroom. It was discussed at length with Di, and she went ahead. This meant that I was sent to Argos to collect the unit. It was a bit of a squeeze (being 180cm tall), but I managed to get it into the car. I then spent the next few hours putting it together and positioning it so that the girls could finish tidying Ellie's bedroom (they have been doing this for a couple of days, now). 

I left them to it and returned home to go for a walk and do some reading. Late in the afternoon, I started preparing dinner. We had invited Zoe to join us, so I went along to collect her. We had a lovely couple of hours as Di tucked into her salmon, and Zoe and I enjoyed a Chicken Bhuna curry.

Once we had taken Zoe back home, we settled down for a quiet evening.

Finding Fino

I was up at my usual time and settled with a coffee and the news. Di came down about 30 minutes later. I took the opportunity to get myself ready and head out for a pre-breakfast walk. It was a little grey, and there was a nip in the air, but once I had got underway, it was really quite pleasant. During my walk, my latest Jonathan Kellerman audiobook came to its conclusion. It was another very enjoyable read (if audiobooks count as reading). I had another book already lined up, so I switched over to that immediately. This is a totally different author and has moved my focus from 2024 LA to 1867 Brentwood.

I grabbed breakfast when I got home and then pottered during the morning. We had planned to go out for lunch with Chris and Maureen. We made our way to "Fino's" at Felpham, arriving just as they opened. This was a good move as it meant the car park was empty. Over the next couple of hours, we sat and chatted, putting the world to rights and updating ourselves on the latest news from our respective families. We chose from the lunch menu (rather than à la carte), and I started with some whitebait, which was followed by a Chicken Milanese with Spaghetti Pomodoro. To be honest, it was a little underwhelming. Di chose more wisely, selecting the lasagne, which she rated as delicious. 

When we left the restaurant, we stopped off at Zoe's. Di had resolved to sort out the mess in Ellie's bedroom. I picked up Zoe's driving license so that I could collect a parcel from the local shop for her. In the end, the license wasn't checked, and the parcel was handed over with little more than a cursory check on the addressee. I dropped the parcel back at Zoe's and came home, leaving Di with a cup of tea and a plan for Ellie's bedroom. I spent most of the afternoon in the Orangery with my iPad and Kindle. The Kindle didn't get switched on, however.

Rinse and Repeat

 For a Thursday, it was a case of rinse and repeat. Nothing was startling or memorable. The day started just before seven with coffee and the news. After some breakfast, I completed the week's shopping list, and by ten we were heading for Sainsbury's. Sainsbury's was very quiet (not just because Zoe wasn't there) and we completed our shopping quickly. As we left, we stopped to fill the car. We have been lucky. Though the prices have gone up, we have had no difficulty getting fuel, nor have we had to queue.

Back home, with the shopping packed away, I updated the accounts before we had some lunch. We then had our usual Kindle time. I realised, late in the day, that I hadn't had my usual walk. I will leave it for today and give my knees a rest!

Irrigation, Arigato

We had a quiet start to the day. Di had to get ready for her Pilates, and I had plans to sort out the irrigation this morning. She left as I went out to the garden. 

The first task was to install the new 2-port manifold to split the water from the tap between the hose and the irrigation system. That went remarkably smoothly. Next, I had to cut the existing pipe and install an elbow joint so that the pipe sat properly along the edge of the garage. The new length of pipe had been wound into a circle for a while, so I poured hot water through the pipe to straighten it out. Another elbow joint was fitted, and the system was complete. I did a test run. It worked. It didn't work well, though. The problem is that the original contractors had laid a dripline pipe. This has holes every 30cm and is designed to leak. We don't want that. We want the water to be taken to the specific pots where it's needed, and not just wasted among the slates and the cobbles.

I measured up the existing pipework and returned to the chap around the corner. I explained my problem, and he agreed that I need a completely different type of pipe. I have asked him to get one of his contractors to make contact so that I can see about getting it replaced.

We managed to get some Kindle time in the Orangery this afternoon. While there, we overheard some people examining the garden next door. It sounds as if they may be our new neighbours before long. It also sounds as if they have plans for a conservatory or Orangery.

Drip feed

 It was a bright and sunny start to the day. The forecast was very promising. I was up just before seven and started the day in my usual way with coffee and a trawl through the news. Di came down soon after, gasping for a cup of tea.

Zoe went into work for a couple of hours this morning to see how well her knee would stand up. She wasn't there too long, but I think she was relieved to see something other than her four walls.

Jasper had an appointment with the vet, so we plonked him in the carrier, and Di chauffeured him to Oving for his monthly jab. I stayed at home and, after updating the accounts, hung out the washing and waded through a pile of ironing. When Di and Jasper arrived home, Jasper took himself upstairs, and Di and I went to the local nursery and charity shop. I took the opportunity to go into the Irrigation Centre. There, the chap was most helpful, and I was soon clutching some pipe (to extend our current system) and some connectors and drippers. It was clear that the contractor we had used was not up to scratch, and I learnt more in 20 minutes from this chap than I did in a couple of days from the chaps who installed it to begin with. I just need to wait for the replacement 2-port manifold that I have on order, and I can hopefully finish the job properly.

When we got back home, Di headed out to the garden to potter, while I went for my walk. When I got back, I settled with my Kindle until it was time to start on dinner. All of the virtual paperwork has arrived from our energy supplier, so I spent a while filing this in the document management system.

Bargains

 I did not sleep well. I have no idea why, but I just seemed to doze throughout the night. By seven, I was up and about, making coffee and tea, and preparing to read the news. When Di came down, I grabbed my breakfast and then headed out for my walk. My second coffee would have to wait until I returned.

Di had gone to Zoe's while I was out. She was sorting out the washing and getting it out on the line, as these are the sort of domestic items that Zoe still can't manage. In the meantime, I had to sort out the garden tap, which sprays everywhere when connected to the hose. It turned out that the washer was missing from the connector. A new washer was fitted and the problem solved. The other problem we have is the manifold, which splits the water to the hose through one port and the irrigation through the other, has a gaping crack in it. I managed to find a suitable replacement from Amazon, and this should arrive tomorrow.

Di pottered in the garden during the afternoon, and I read in the Orangery. The phone rang. It was Zoe. She had heard from a colleague that sides of salmon had been reduced from £24 to £4.50; she asked the colleague to put three to one side for me. 

I drove to the store and asked for the colleague, and she presented me with three huge packs of salmon in exchange for some coins of the realm. They were much too big for the freezer, so I cut them down into 500-gram portions and froze them. We now have 6 Sunday lunches sorted out for the next few months.

Family

Happy Easter. May peace and kindness return to the world, and may you be content and healthy.

I managed a walk after breakfast, before starting on preparations for lunch with my wonderful family (of crocks). I prepared a nice leg of lamb, with parsnips, roast potatoes, cabbage, carrots, and sweetcorn (for Ellie). Zoe and Ellie arrived first, Di having collected them. Zoe hobbled in on crutches, her knee ligament still preventing her from getting around easily. Kim and Jon arrived soon after... Jon, having had a couple of days off with gout in his knee, and Kim arrived wearing a sling, having fallen up the stairs and dislocated her shoulder (which she subsequently relocated before spending 6-8 hours in A&E, yesterday). To complete the picture, Di is still awaiting a knee replacement. I think that Ellie and I should wrap ourselves in cotton wool in an effort to remain whole.

We had a lovely few hours as we demolished the Easter lunch. We chatted about everything under the sun, and I can't help but feel blessed to have such a wonderful (if damaged) family.

By late afternoon, everything was tidied away, and everyone had gone. We settled in the Orangery for a while, then migrated to the lounge to watch some TV later in the evening.

Boxcutter

Despite an excellent night's sleep, I was up before 6:30. I settled down with a coffee and the overnight news. I took Di a cup of tea, but didn't expect to see her until at least 8:00.

Being Saturday, I had my usual Zoom call with the cousins. We had a few no-shows, but we still managed a good chat. Tim revealed that he was off to Calahonda in a couple of weeks... so, as his unofficial travel consultant, I made several recommendations for trips he could comfortably manage from there. Checking my photo library, I discovered it was 2003 when we stayed in Calahonda. I suspect it has changed a bit.

Over the last week, we have had a number of deliveries. As a result, the Orangery had become a dumping ground for large cardboard boxes. It was time to recycle these. Out came the Stanley Knife (or boxcutter as they call it in the US) and bit by bit all of the boxes were reduced to a single stack of cardboard sheets that would fit in the bin. With that complete, I headed out for my walk. It was breezy, but pleasantly mild. My audiobook chattered away in my ears as I marched around my usual circuit. Meanwhile, Di had gone to Zoe's to trim her roses.

I arrived home after about 75 minutes, to be greeted by the domestic necessity to clean Jasper's litter tray. Clearing up, then spraying an Air Freshener, was a mandatory task before anything else was attempted.

After some lunch, I retired to the Orangery with my Kindle. Di arrived back just after I had sat down. She joined me with her Kindle. This was how we passed the afternoon, at least until I went to prepare dinner.

We have the family here tomorrow.

 

A quiet Day

 I was up before 6:30. It's frustrating, knowing that there is no reason to wake up and get up early, yet I find myself wide awake earlier than usual. I took Di a cup of tea and sat downstairs with a coffee and the overnight news. It was a couple of hours before Di came down, and I could go up to wash and dress.

It was wet and miserable, first thing, so I skipped my pre-breakfast walk.

The day has just been quiet, with a few chores to complete. The first was to clear and reorganise the "man cave" under the stairs. The new vacuum cleaner needed a convenient slot on the wall where it could be hung and charged. This meant that everything else had to be moved about. When this was done, I headed out for my walk. This was curtailed by bladder pressure caused by the surfeit of coffee I had consumed.

We had some Kindle time after lunch, though that was interrupted by Zoe calling to ask if I could configure her iMac to accept her new Bluetooth keyboard. I wandered to Zoe's and sorted the keyboard out. I took the opportunity, while there, to apply the updates that were outstanding for the machine. This took about 15 minutes, but everything is now up to date.

Study or Administerium

 I was up by 6:30, and as Diane was awake, I took her a cup of tea in bed. I sat in the kitchen, nursing a coffee and reading the overnight news. There was no hurry again this morning. We both enjoyed a leisurely breakfast before Diane headed off to the hairdresser's, and I went to my study to get on with some admin.

Lottie arrived to do her weekly clean (downstairs, this week). We offered our old vacuum cleaner to her, and she accepted it with the intention of passing it on to her mum.

I returned to my study and read through the SAGA documents in detail. There was nothing out of the ordinary, but I did update my checklists and my reminders. When I had finished all of the admin, I left for my walk. Soon after getting back, Di arrived home, and we grabbed a snack for lunch before raiding Sainsbury's. Once the shopping was stowed away at home, we sat in the Orangery with our Kindles until it was time for dinner.

Wakeup Call

I had set my alarm. I had a wake-up call for the first time in ages.  We had a delivery due today, and it was scheduled between 07:00 and 09:00. I decided I did not wish to frighten the courier by answering the door in my PJs, so I got up early, washed and dressed, made coffee, and waited. He arrived at about 7:30, but I was ready for him. 

Di had Pilates today, so she was up and about and ready to leave by 9:30. I was left to my own devices. I had some domestic stuff to clear and a review of the accounts now that we are on the cusp of a new financial year. It was gone midday before I was finished. I took the opportunity to go for my daily walk. The weather was a bit mixed. It was cool when the clouds drifted over, but pleasant enough when the sun broke through.

The post was delivered. The most interesting item was the package from SAGA with all of the last details of our forthcoming river cruise. I have skimmed through, but will read it in more detail tomorrow. It's all getting rather exciting.

Di arrived back, having stopped off at the vet to collect Jasper's meds, and at Zoe's to help with some cleaning and tidying.  After a snack and a tea, she joined me in the Orangery with her Kindle. For some reason, I wasn't in the mood to read, so I spent the time doomscrolling.

That's about it for today.

Gunwharf

We had a quiet start to the day. There was no pressing need to get going, so we had a quiet breakfast. While Di went to get ready for the day, I fixed the mounting for the new vacuum cleaner to the wall in the "man cave".

We set off for Portsmouth. Di wanted some Skechers (sandals) and the outlet shop at Gunwharf Quays has a vast selection. It was a bit grey as we drove to the car park, but the sun was trying to break through, and it wasn't long before we had a lovely sunny morning. 

We started our trip with a gentle wander around the whole complex, so that we could see what was available. We stopped in at various stores that caught our eye. There was a Charles Tyrwhitt outlet where I ordered a couple of new shirts, and a Crew Clothing outlet where we found a jumper for Di and a polo shirt for me.

Eventually, we found our way into Skechers. There was a good selection of sandals, and Di found two pairs that she liked. After trying on a couple of sizes of each, a decision was made, and we walked out clutching two boxes.

After a phone call with Zoe, we went straight back to Skechers to find a pair of trainers for Ellie. The selection wasn't extensive in Ellie's size, but we found a pair that we thought she would like.

With the shopping done, we strolled around the site. Away from the main drag, it was quite tranquil.

"Surely, there must have been a suitable restaurant for lunch?" You may ask. 

Well, it's funny you should say that. We did, indeed, sit down in the sunshine outside The Old Customs House and ordered their fish and chips and a nice cool drink.

We sat and chatted and watched the world potter by. Eventually, we stirred ourselves and, after a final walk around the shopping centre, we returned to the car and drove home.

We had a quiet afternoon with our Kindles.