April started on a Saturday with the final event for Ellie’s World Challenge fund raising, afternoon teas. Ironic somewhat that Ellie wasn’t there, she was at work. Tricia had done all the baking, I got the house sorted… it was a nice day and so we were able to serve teas outside. We had a good turn out and a bit of fun. In the evening we met Ellie at Nando’s and then went on to the theatre to watch ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie, which I have to say was done very well.

Sunday was a quiet day, recovering from the busy day previous. Tricia was out on Monday and Tuesday at Stanton St John on a retreat. It was a short week for me, as I had the Friday and following Monday booked off as Tricia and me went to the Isle of Wight with Pat and Clive. We had a splendid weekend away, good weather, good company and good food. A comfortable drive down on the Friday, a little stop off for lunch in Beaulieu, then onto Lymington for the Ferry. The B&B was on a  farm, not the finest quality we have had, but very nice, and, most importantly the breakfasts were good. Saturday was spent at Osborne House, walking in Queen Vicky’s and Alberts footsteps. Then we squeezed in a visit to Carisbrooke Castle… from the outside I didn’t expect too much, but it was great inside, lots of treasures. I just managed to squeeze in a quick visit to the museum shop, where I purchased a Tudor rose china mug and place mat. Nice.

Sunday we went across to Alum Bay, walked out to the Needles battery, then down onto the beach. Lovely weather until we were down on the beach when the mist came in really quickly, quite something to watch. Monday we drifted back via Yarmouth Castle, the ferry and a drive back through the New Forest.

On Wednesday 12^th, Ellie and Tricia met Deb in London to see Les Miserables. Seems like they had a good time. On the Thursday, which was just before Easter, I went over to Bracknell after work to see the folks. Dad was telling me about the changes in the town centre, which seem to have been going on for an age. So, with no time pressures I decided to stop in and have a look on the way back home. I walked through the new areas, still not open, down through Charles Sq and stopped close to the entrance to Princess Sq. Off to my left was St Joseph’s church… door was open, lights on and I could hear some sort of service. The church was part of my life when in Bracknell, when at the primary I did carl services there, first communion, confirmation… and so I went in, sat at the back and wallowed in some nostalgis. Nice.

We had a quite Easter weekend. Tricia’s Mum and Dad came across on the Sunday for lunch, and Nikki and Matt came across on the Monday.

A quiet week followed, I had a filling at the dentist on Wednesday 19^th, then Friday evening Tricia and me went to Pat and Clive’s. We watched the recording of the recent MADS production, and then Monte Carlo or Bust. Wow, how dated is that film! I say a quiet week, but I was doing a lot of rehearsals. The Winslow production was on first week in May, and it was getting close. Here we have a singing, dancing policeman… typecast?

The following weekend, we were off to the theatre again. This time to see a production of Jane Eyre, that was quite simply brilliant. We came out, got in the car, and switched the radio on… the big fight was on. Joshua v Klitshcko. Round 6… Joshua was hanging on. We got home and I sat and listened to the end of the fight. All the pre-fight perceived wisdom was that if Joshua didn’t win early then Klitschko would win. Wrong. I sat and watched the fight on Sunday… boy those guys hit each other. I hope Klitschko retires now… he lost to Fury in his last fight, and now a KO defeat to Joshua. He is 41. Time to stop.