As I have often stated on this website, Tricia isn’t an idle person. She likes to be active, and busy. Like everybody else, she enjoys sitting and watching a bit of tv in the evening, and thank goodness she does, otherwise she would be completely worn out by now. However, she does like to be on the go. So, this week, when the weather allowed, she went out for a bike ride with her friend Cathy. After 15 miles they were coming back in along the back road into the village, which is a single track road… when Tricia fell off. She had moved over for a car, ran out of road and slipped off. Fortunately, beyond a few scratches she was fine. That was Tuesday.

On Wednesday evening, as per the usual weekly routine, Tricia went off training with Nikki and Robbie. Towards the end of their session, Tricia was doing some standing jumps. Determined to jump as far as possible, she jumped, slipped and crashed onto her knees.. fortunately, beyond a few bruises she was fine.

Just to add insult to injury, when she was in the garden this morning, she got stung by a wasp. That is twice she has been stung in August…. Tricia has started the process of putting the garden to bed for the autumn and winter months. Hopefully we will have a nice Indian summer, and be able to enjoy a sunny September. However, on a dry and sunny day like today, it is a good opportunity to start all the end of summer jobs. I cut the grass, Tricia, in between wasp stings, did the borders and beds. She also dug up some potatoes… and very nice they look to. It looks as if (weather permitting) I will be doing some fence creosoting next weekend. That will be something to look forward to.

In between causing herself injury, Tricia has been busy making jams and chutneys. A lot of the local fruit is in season, and we often open the door to find that people in the village have dropped off bags of apples / plums / damsons etc for Tricia to work on.

Robbies job this coming week is to sand down the patio furniture and oil the wood, before it comes back into the conservatory for the winter. Nikki is working at Homebase today. She was in Bath on Saturday pushing the Bobsleigh. She learnt during last week that she had been pre-selected for the GB training squad, so was very pleased with that news. She also recently won a place on a athletic scholarship programme in Hatfield which will allow her free use of gyms and facilities, and get access to physio’s. So, again she is pleased with that. Nikki moves back to Hatfield next weekend. Ellie goes back to school on Thursday. She has been practicing 11+ papers this week.

My first week back at work was hectic. I found myself covering for 5 people… 2 on holiday, my boss who was in an offsite meeting for 3 days, 1 of my colleagues who was on compassionate leave, and 1 who was sick. My feet barely touched the ground. I did manage to get in the pool and swim though, and did three sessions. The scales told me I had put 1lb on over the holidays, so that wan’t too bad. I will soon work that off.

Yesterday we all went across to Wendy & Robs near Thatcham for Sunday lunch. Deb and Carlos came down as well, with Debs mum, Yvonne. It was her 78th birthday, so Tricia did her a birthday cake. It was an excellent afternoon, catching up with friends, and lots of laughter… A few piccies.

The last picture needs some explanation… we have what I can only describe as a ‘game’ in the village of passing around a garden gnome called Norris. Wendy & Rob found a sort of gnome, that has been called Mrs Norris. Here is Robbie all dressed up as he went out stealthily in the dark last night, and left it outside one of the houses in the village  I laugh when I think of what they thought when they came out of their house this morning..