3 days working and 4 day weekends… seems like the way forward to me

After a reasonably relaxing Easter Bank Holiday Monday, it was back to work on Tuesday. I say ‘reasonably’ because I found it difficult to relax, always feeling I should be doing something. Nikki worked Monday, was then in Hatfield for the rest of the week. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday slipped by quickly enough at work… there was plenty of work so time certainly didn’t stop still. Tricia had a crown fitted on Tuesday, which was straight forward, and she says it feels better. Ellie was back at school on Wednesday, and Thursday, starting the summer term, and her final term in the primary school.

On Friday it was of course Royal Wedding Day… now I hadn’t planned to take much notice. Tricia and Ellie went to watch it at a friends house (Champagne was on offer, so no kore incentive was needed for Trish). I sat down and had a nose around 10:30, and have to say watched pretty much all of it… I am not much of a royalist. But, it was interesting to see how organised it all was, and I have to say I thought they did it brilliantly. Rightly the focus was on William and Kate, and I thought they went through it all with dignity and poise, and looked to be enjoying the whole day. At the end of the service, as they were all leaving the cameras focussed on the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh… he was trying to get into the carriage, and it wobbled and he almost fell backwards… quickly the cameras went elsewhere. Pity, I wanted to see him trying to get in again. On Friday afternoon Tricia and Ellie went onto the village hall where there were some royal wedding fetivities… I stayed home and cut the grass. And just in time, as we had a terrific thunderstorm, with hail, shortly after I had finished. The garden needed it. Early evening we went up to a small street party… till it got cold and we came home.

On Saturday morning, Tricia and I packed our bags and went off to Ludlow for the weekend. We left Robbie in charge at home with Ellie. Tricia has wanted to see the area around Ludlow for some time, and about 6 months ago we earmarked the May Bank Holiday for a weekend away together. We arrived in Shropshire early afternoon, and went and visited a place called Croft Castle’. The sun was shining and it was very pleasant. Croft Castle wasn’t really a castle, but more a manor house with turrets. Here is a pic.

We then went onto Ludlow for a look around, with half an eye on somewhere to eat in the evening. There were some lovely buildings, but there was also a street fair in for the weekend which meant we couldn’t really see the town at it’s beat. And it also meant that it would be very busy in town in the evening.

We went and checked in at our hotel, which was just outside Ludlow, and decided to eat there in the evening… good decision. The food and service was excellent.

On Sunday we set out to go to Ironbridge. On the way we went to Stokesay Castle, not a big castle, and only sieged once during the Civil War. Here is Stokesay.

We then drove up to Ironbridge, and went to the Victorian Town musuem. This was built around an old foundry with Victorian styled houses and shops. We were there till late afternoon, and enjoyed the time there… in lovely sunshine.

We then went back to see Ironbridge itself…

We then went and had an evening meal in the Charlton Arms in Ludlow. The food was good, and we were given some unexpected entertainment, in the form of three couples at a table nearby, who all sounded like refugees from Chingford, and who had too much sun and drink. We couldn’t help ovehear their conversations as they boasted and bragged to each other about what their cleaners did, how good they were at skiing… etc and so on. Honestly, it was better than watching tv

This morning we wnt into Ludlow and visited the castle, which was fantastic. We are lucky in this country to have such a rich history… you can only stand amongst the castle and marvel at what life would have been like 300 year ago…

We then decided to go for a ‘walk’ before coming home…. of course with Tricia this is not often just a ‘walk’… Tricia chose Clee Hill. The highest spot in Shropshire. We were able to drive part way up and park, and finish the rest on foot…. boy was it windy up there ! As you can see from the way Tricia’s hair is blowing… but the views up there were magnificent. The picture of the two of us was taken sheltering amongst some rocks

And so homewards. We took the scenic route, coming down through Worcester, to Stratford Upon Avon, to Banbury and eventually home. It has been great just spending some time with Tricia this weekend…. we must get away more often.

The house was still standing… the kettle had blown but that was it. Nikki had come home on the Saturday evening, and they had a bbq, so it could have been worse.

Robbie has gone back to Uni. He enjoyed his Easter break, and worked hard doing various painting (ceiling and fences) jobs, house sitting, baby sitting etc, to earn himself some cash… but he was keen to get back to Uni and catch up with his friends. He is 19 on Thursday, and we won’t be seeing him… the first time on his birthday. Oh well, better start getting used to it… He will be back in a few weeks with some of his uni friends so we will catch him then. Nikki is back in Paddington on placement tomorrow for the week. Ellie will be at school… the house will be quite for Tricia.

Sadly Henry Cooper has passed away…. I always liked Henry. A fair sportsman, who said it like it was…. In his day there was ‘Light Heavyweight’ up to 12st 7lbs, and anybody over that was a heavyweight. Henry was around 13 st 7lbs at times, which is light for a Heavyweight so he was often disadvantaged. These days, a division called ‘Cruiserweight’ has been introduced for fighters between 12 and half stone and 13 stone 9lbs… It would have been perfect for Henry, and he would undoubtedly have had a good chance at a world title. Never mind. RIP Henry.

Not so sadly, Osama Bin Laden has passed away. I do feel slightly uncomfortable though with all the celebrations that seem to have taken place… I suppose he was killed in a ‘war’, but I don’t think we should rejoice the killing of anybody.