So Tricia planned to go to Exbury Gardens with Sally on Tuesday (20th)… Could I use your car she said… of course I said. So on the Tuesday morning, Rob and I got in the Mazda and set off. As we got into Aylesbury, the oil warning light came on. Now the RX8 is oil thirsty, and my immediate reaction wa sthat Tricia hadn’t, and should have, checked the oil. However, as I was conveniently next to a BP forecourt, I rolled in, bought some oil, quickly topped it up and went on my way. Rob was dropped off at Aylesbury station, and I continued. Five minutes later, as I went down Wendover by-pass the light came on again. My heart sank… this wasn’t going to be good news. So, I rolled into Wendover, and parked up in the library car park. As I got out of the car I could see a small trail of oil where the car had come in. Clearly the oil was leaking.

Every night I put my phone on the charger. Some nights I forget to switch the plug socket on, and so the next morning I have a phone nearly out of charge. Just my luck then, that when I went to phone the AA I noticed I was nearly out of charge. Still, I managed to call them and a man was on his way. I text Tricia to let her know of the calamity, and sat and waited, and contemplated if this was the straw that broke the proverbial camels back with regard to keeping the RX8. It was starting to become expensive, new coils recently, new tyres etc.. Eventually AA man turned up. Fortunately he was familiar with the RX8, and quickly identified the ‘oil cooler pipe’ had split, I nodded sagely as if that was what I had always expected (not). The upshot was being towed to the local Mazda dealership for repair.

However, I had other ideas. Over the following few days Tricia and I talked with them about a trade in, and so on Sunday the 25th Tricia picked up a newer, but smaller Mazda 2. It is a lovely drive, and cheaper on the fuel. The RX8 was fun, but becoming expensive, it was time to move on.

The trip to pick the new car up on the Sunday was a welcome interlude for Tricia and me, having used the the long bank holiday weekend to embark on a loft clearance. We had been struggling to move around the loft due to the volume of our treasured possessions (junk) that we had accumulated up there. So, we set to with a steely determination to lighten the load… we worked hard, and I have to say on the Spring Bank Holiday Monday I was somewhat shattered from all the work. As Tricia put on her facebook, ‘Day three of the loft clearance, can see the wood for the trees, or rather cardboard boxes. Can’t believe how much stuff one family can acquire’…But, we have made a massive difference, we can walk around the loft now! And all those treasured possessions we have sent to either the charity shop or the dump… don’t think we will notice they are gone. Robbie had been in Wakefield over the weekend catching up with his old mate Jordan. On the Monday he went into the loft to clear through some of his stuff.

The final week of May was half term week, Ellie was pleased to have a break, and even more excited about travelling out to Lörrach to see Nikki for a few days. So Tuesday morning was an early start as I drove Ellie down to Gatwick. She was a little nervous about flying on her own, but I was always confident she would be fine, she is pretty sensible. I saw her off at security, and she text me when she had reached the departure gate, at which point I drove off to work. Nikki text me later to say she had met her ok at Basel airport.

On the Thursday of that week, we saw the kick off of the ‘Schorne 700’ celebrations in the village, marking the passing of John Schorne some 700 years before. A service in the local church with the bishop, was followed by fireworks at the sports field. Tricia was on duty, having provided some nibbles, and serving drinks. Then on Friday, Tricia was off with the Brownies for a pack holiday weekend, a long trip for them, off to Norfolk. In the evening I drove to Gatwick to pick up Ellie, and Nikki and Kevin who were coming over for a visit. The traffic was pants, and so evening meal was in a MacDonalds at Gatwick.

Some pictures …. Of Exbury gardens, Robbie at Airsoft… wearing his new camo gear, don’t ask about the frying pan, Freddy the dog helping Nikki in Lorrach, a selfie Ellie took of her and Tricia, and Ninja the cat protecting the house at the front door (in reality he was a nuisance getting in the way!)

And of course, the new car…