October started with a batch of rehearsals for me, then on the 4^th, 5^th and 6^th performances of ‘Tomb with a View’. I was playing a crusty old solicitor called Penworthy. I had struggled somewhat with the lines, but I was pleased that I got through it. I had some good feedback, but wasn’t entirely happy with my performances. ‘Big John’ had come across to see the show, and then on Sunday we went across to Bletchley Park with our ‘reusable’ tickets to see some of the items we missed earlier in the year.

We got back in time for a ‘family lunch’ although it was later than lunch, and we celebrated Treicia’s Mums (Granny) birthday.  Monday I was at the dentists early on, then onto MK to pick up my car after repair… it was a quiet afternoon, then the phone rang…. Nikki had had an accident. Her horse Diaz had come down on her and she had broken her leg! She had been taken to John Ratcliffe hospital in Oxford. After a long wait she was put in a temp cast and sent home.

Tuesday morning Tricia took her back to the hospital. Two attempts to plaster her up failed to be done successfully, and it was then decided that an Op to put in a rod would be required. So, she was found a bed for the night and booked in for the Wednesday. On Wednesday Tricia was also putting on a demo of some old WW2 recipes (potato peel pie anyone?) for the History club. The news that the op had gone ok came through from Matt, and Tricia’s demo went well.

Thursday evening Tricia and me went across to the hospital to see Nikki. All was going well, and on Friday she was discharged. Saturday evening was the annual ‘Poetry Evening’. It wasn’t so well attended this year, but was still a bit of fun. Sunday morning Tricia and I did prayers at the church.

The following week, my boss was over from Houston, which required a ‘team meal’ on Tuesday evening. Which was fine, but it was in Richmond and was a pain to get to in the rush hour, and then quite a trek getting home.

Friday 19^th was Ellie’s birthday. I picked her up in Lincoln, and we drove back and then went for a meal at the Pilgrim with the Robinsons, Matt etc. Saturday I went off to football with Bob… West Ham v Totts. A close’ish game we lost 0-1. We arrived back, and both went directly to Peter and Jane’s for a ‘games night’… and it was a late night. On Sunday we packed Ellie into the car, collected Pat and Clive and drove up to Lincoln. We had lunch with Ellie then drove onto Field Dalling where we stayed at Sara’s mums house for a few days.

Thursday I was in the BP Swindon doing a presentation, but back on leave again on the Friday. Tricia and Sara had a Charity Art exhibition on, and I helped with the set up, before it opened Friday evening. They had a successful few days, Tricia selling one of her paintings. Saturday evening West Ham were winning by a goal at Leicester, before conceding an equaliser late on. I was bit down about this… till the news came through that the Leicester owner’s helicopter crashed leaving the ground. Killing him and all those on board. A horrible event, and put the football into perspective.

Sunday morning, after benefiting an extra hour in bed courtesy of the clock change, Tricia and me went across the wedding venue Amy and Rob are looking to use next November. After some considerable time looking and going through all sorts of questions, we went across and had lunch at Akemans just off the A41. To round off October, it was a winning visit to the pub quiz on the Tuesday… and then Wednesday evening Bob and I went off in good spirits to see West Ham v the Totts again in the League Cup. A 1-3 defeat… Halloween stuff alright.