July started with a relatively quiet weekend… scarce things. On Saturday 1^st Ellie had originally planned to go and view Newcastle Uni, but that was canned. Tricia was also going to have a table at Hoggeston Church fete, but that was delayed a week.  I enjoyed a slow Saturday morning by watching the British Lions edge past the All Blacks in the second Test, 24-21, close game.

On Sunday the 2^nd, Tricia and Robbie went off to visit the cat sanctuary near Welwyn. On the Monday I was at Winslow Players for a read through of ‘Wyrd Sisters’, a Terry Pratchett book turned play. Not my kind of thing… but some good characters to play. A busy week for Tricia, as we led up to a busy weekend. She was doing the catering for the ‘Medieval Banquet’ at the church, and was doing a lot of prep. Friday night was a curry night, then on Saturday the Banquet. Theme for Curry night was ‘Call My Bluff’, with Alan Gray doing his finest Frank Muir impression. For the medieval banquet, Robbie came across and put his armor on to add some authenticity… and I had a small acting part as part of the entertainment. Then on Sunday Tricia had a stall at the Hoggeston church fete.

Monday 10^th was the last Brownies for the summer term. On Tuesday 11^th, Ellie was on a drama trip with the school, whilst I was in Henley to pick up an ‘excellence in governance’ award for the school – essentially the completion of two years of training. On the Wednesday Tricia was off having tea at Hartwell House with Elizabeth. In the evening we were at the school for the annual prize giving… Ellie, as Head Girl, helped host the awards. A significant event in one way, the last for the Head. On the Saturday we went across to Buckingham for Isabella’s birthday party.

Sunday was mainly spent with Ellie as she packed, and re-packed and got excited at the prospect of going to Africa the next day :-). Off on her great adventure. Sunday evening Tricia went off with a group from the village to see the World Para Games at the West Ham stadium. Monday 17^th Ellie was a bundle of excitement and trepidation as she ventured off for a month. Hugs and watery eyes all round. I did assembly in the morning, and saw Ellie off in the sports hall. In the late afternoon I was across at Waddesdon for the Head (Peter’s) retirement do. It had been a difficult year for him (and therefore for me as well to some degree), but we got him over the line. The event went well. I had to say a few words. On the Friday there was a nice relaxed closure of the school for the summer…. Good. I needed a break as well! Friday was not such a good day for Tricia… after months (literally) of antibiotics, and sinusitis, a troublesome tooth was taken out. The only good thing was that it meant the sinusitis would clear.

With Ellie off to Africa, Tricia and I were ‘home alone’ …. With Ellie away for a month this was the longest period we would have had on our own at home since Nikki was born nearly 29 years ago! So on the Saturday and Sunday of the 22^nd / 23^rd July we took went off to the Costwolds for a few days and visited Snowshill Manor and then Chastleton House. Snowshill was full of a rather extensive and odd collections made by its rather eccentric owner, and Chastleton is a Jacobean country house, that was used as a filming location for Wolf Hall.

On Friday 28^th, Tricia, me, Gran, Gramps and Sarah all piled in to the car and drove to the Lake District and Millom for Lesley’s 50^th. Oh my… we got stuck in Friday traffic and it took the best part of 8 hours to get there. On the Saturday during the day Tricia and me went off to see Beatrix Potter’s house, and looked around the local area. In the evening was the party…. And then on Sunday after a bbq at Les and Les’s it was back in the car and on the M6… and it took nearly as long to get back.

A couple of other pics…. Amy and Robbie at a friends wedding, and Nikki at a friends Hen party.