What a change in the weather… from Asian Monsoons a few weeks back, to Caribbean sunshine this last week. The garden is starting to look good ! The patio furniture is now set out, and we have been eating outside these few days. Tricia has planted some clematis to climb the arch and the fence… my favourites at the moment.

Coughs, colds, and chest infections seem to have abated. Although Ellie, whilst recovering from her sprained ankle, did have a visit to the doctor about her asthma, and she now has different inhalers, and has to record her lung volume each day. Seeing her run round the mulberry bush this weekend, with the cats chasing, you wouldn’t think that she has asthma. We will see what the longer term diagnosis is. She also had a visit to the orthodontist – her teeth are progressing very well, and he is pleased with how Ellie is looking after them. There are presently no planned visits to the NHS for Ellie this week… Tricia is back on her feet again, and taking on life at full tilt.

Over the weekend my old friend from the 6th form at Brakenhale, Ian Barnes (aka Bard, or the Apothecary Wizard), visited. Rob and I picked him up in Brighton on Friday. Alan and Rachel from next door joined us on Friday evening for a curry. Then on Saturday Bard, me, Robbie and Ellie, went across to Charlbury, where we messed around doing some filming for the forthcoming Mystc Wizards film. It was blisteringly hot. Here is a photo of Bard on the ‘bench of philosophy’ at the weekend, and me and the Cardinal Wizard (old Longead) on the same bench 30 years ago. Then one of the Mystic Dustbin which Robbie has refreshed the paintwork on, and Robbie pretending to be me playing drums in the ambient field – we will apply a special effect to make it look as if it is old footage. As Longead put it, ‘Excellent pics and an astonishingly accurateresemblance of the younger Speed. Although not as grumpy or violent looking…’ Thanks

Saturday evening we had our friends Pat and Clive around, we enjoyed a meal outside, then somehow ended up watching the end of the dreadful Eurovision song contest. With Robbie being home we have a different flag up everyday…. Sunday was Sweden, as they had won Eurovision. On Saturday Nikki had flown the Leicester Tigers rugby club flag… it was the end of season Premiership final against Harlequins, and Nikki and a few friends went to Twickenham to see the final… sadly for Nikki they lost 30-23.

After a quiet Sunday morning, and a roast beef lunch, I took Bard back to Brighton. Robbie went and played cricket for the village – he batted very well, and took a wicket when he cowled – and was pleased with his performance considering he has had no practice yet this season. Nikki and Ellie went and watched and enjoyed the sun. Tricia went across to Hemel Hempstead to see some of her athletes compete. Sunday evening was spent flopped in a chair

Rob has started one of his summer projects… he is doing a wall painting in the conservatory. This of the ‘ponte vecchio’ in Florence… it will take him ages, so I will post progress pictures over the next few weeks.

Well that’s it for now, I am off to watch the last prog in 56up.