May promised to be a busy month, with two little holidays planned, and many other things. On Thursday 2nd Tricia was on her first official duty as a Church Warden at Jade and Adam’s rehearsal. The nervous father of the bride, Bob, had been round earlier in the day to dry run his speech with me. Friday was the wedding itself, Tricia having to announce the bride. I went to the evening reception, Tricia went off with Sara on an arts weekend at Hartlington Hall in the Peak District.

On the Saturday, I was at West Ham to see them play Southampton, the final league game of the season. Bob couldn’t come as he was on family duty, so I went with Big John, who was back after his Australian trip. A good afternoon and a comfortable 3-0 win for West Ham. Monday was a Bank Holiday, I got on with some work in the garden. Tricia arriving back later afternoon. Wednesday evening I went and watched the final rehearsal of the Winslow Players production…. Which I couldn’t be in because I had got confused about dates.

Thursday saw the start off our first mini holiday, when Tricia, me and Pat and Clive travelled down to Gatwick in the evening. Reg was off at Nikki’s for the weekend. We had a nice meal in a pub local to Gatwick, then we dropped the car off at the car park and returned to the Gatwick Premier Inn and slept. Up early we were off to South Terminal and our flight to Guernsey. Once over to Guernsey we were immediately into tourist mode, visiting an excellent museum on the wartime occupation. We then went to see the ‘Little Chapel’, a miniature chapel. We checked into our accommodation which was very comfortable, and at the pub on the first night. Pat and Clive weren’t too happy at the noise from the bar, late into the night, and so were moved to a suite! Very nice.

Saturday we looked around St Peter port, gathering various ‘passport stamps’, a stop for coffee and what felt like a second breakfast, before a local traffic warden tipped us off about getting up Victoria Tower, not common knowledge that you could get the keys apparently. When we were up there it gave a magnificent view of the area.

Sunday we took a boat trip out to Herm. Lovely weather, and a beautiful place. We walked around the island, lovely views and sand, we could have been in the Caribbean. Monday we looked around, stopping in St Martin we went into some gardens for a cup of tea, and ended helping some old feller who was running a model boat and fell in the pond! We flew back on the Monday afternoon. A lovely weekend.

Tuesday I had a team building day in London. I survived without getting frustrated with it all :-). Thursday 16th we went to Buckingham Church for a service for church wardens, which Tricia now was. Ellie and Matt came to support, and a number of villagers to support Tricia and Ally. Friday Tricia was off to Hertford with Sara to see an art exhibition, then in the evening it was curry night at Pete and Sara’s. Saturday 18th was FA Cup Final day… I did all my jobs and settled in to watch Man City v Watford. I had no vested interest in either side, I just wanted to see a competitive fixture. And for about 15 minutes it was… Watford could have gone ahead. But… City took full control and won 6-0 in a very one sided final. So City did the treble. Mainly on account of them having the most money, via rich owners. The gap between the top few clubs and even a club like Watford that finished in the top 8 of the Premier League now seems vast. Sadly.

Sunday we had a family lunch. Tricia had to take some time out in the afternoon to go to Waddesdon church.  Tuesday 21st, Tricia took Ellie up to Lincoln for her final exam of the year. On Wednesday after the exam Tricia joined Ellie and some of her friends for a little celebration, before returning back. Meanwhile I was being put through my paces at a BUPA medical. Everything is in working order.

Thursday Tricia and me travelled to Hay on Wye for the Literary festival. I had always wanted to go. We stopped on the way near Abergavenny and walked up ‘Sugar Loaf’, before getting to Hay. We ate from a limited menu in the Blue Boar, and then went down to look at the festival site. Over the course of the weekend we saw Simon Schama, Marcus Brigstock, Bill Bailey (brilliant), Stephen Fry, Jo Brand, Keir Starmer, various people in the BBC tent, including a heart surgeon who had written the ‘angina monologues’. It was a wonderful experience. In between items at the festival we went into town where I browsed books, Tricia went for some walks, and our stay and the company at Elmsleigh was excellent. On the Monday we finished with a recital in the local church, recorded by Radio 3, it was piano and violin, a lovely way to finish.

Whilst all this was happening, Robbie and Amy were having their respective Stag and Hen do’s. Both survived :-). Tuesday 28th we went up for the pub quiz, and won :-). The 30th Tricia went to Hidcote with Nikki, and the month finished on Friday 31st with a meal at Ally and David Perrets… a coming together of the two church warden. A lovely evening, and I particularly enjoyed looking at Ally’s book collection.

It was a quiet start to April. There was the boiler service on the Tuesday, and Tricia hosted lent lunches. On the Saturday Pat and Clive came round and and we watched The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society film… and ate a rather nice potato peel pie Tricia had made. This was all ahead of our planned trip to Guernsey in May. What made it all the better, was watching it on the new TV, a 49” Samsung smart TV…  what with the new Q box, we are all up to date televisually :-).

On Sunday Tricia did the lent walk from Oving. Lent was getting to the back end now, and about time, I needed a drink :-). On the Thursday following Tricia went up to Lincoln, and then came back with Ellie and a car full of her items on the Friday. In the evening we – Tricia, Ellie, Matt & me – went across to Aylesbury to a quiz supporting Laura’s trip to Africa – Ellie’s former dance partner and daughter of Juliet and John.

On Saturday Tricia went to a meditation lunch. Sunday was Palm Sunday, Tricia went to the traditional church breakfast, and then in the afternoon did the final Lent walk. On the Tuesday, Tricia took Isobel and Sarah Michelle to Whipsnade zoo, for their respective Christmas and Birthday presents.

Easter arrived… always good to have a long weekend and two short working weeks. On the Saturday Tricia and Carole travelled up to London with Bob and myself. We visited the Olympic Park, walking around in excellent weather, before Bob and myself went into the football whilst the Ladies went into the shopping centre. A terrific game of football, which ended 2-2… West Ham conceding a late equaliser. But we played far better than in the Everton game. On the way back we dined at Bills Baker St… a very pleasant day.

Easter Sunday was roast lamb in red wine, family over and Reg enjoyed the lamb bone. A quiet Easter Monday heralded a quiet week, but it was a warm Easter Monday, the Met Office reporting it was the warmest on record. On Saturday evening Tricia and me went over Granborough for their poetry evening. Sunday was Rachels 50th meal at the Hand & Flowers in Marlow… an excellent meal, laughs and a good time.

The month ended with two fillings on Tuesday 30th for me :-(. Re bores, drilling out old fillings and replacing. The white replacements look far better!

March 1st started with the delivery and install of the a new Sky Q box. The Sky engineer also put a new satellite dish up. The new Q box has more storage, and allows you to watch and record more at the same time, so a good upgrade :-). Saturday the 2nd and Bob and I were at the football, for West Ham v Newcastle. This wasn’t just another game of football though, today one of the stands was named after Billy Bonds, one of my favourite players. It was great to sing his name, and see the old feller parade in front of the fans. Six foot two, eyes of blue… Billy Bonds is after you :-).  The game that followed was a good one, with West Ham getting the game won, 2-0. On the Sunday Tricia was at a Thinking Day Service.

The following week we had Tom the electrician in to fit some new fans in the bathroom and ‘downlighters’ as well. A nice job. Wednesday was the start of Lent, and Tricia and I had decided to give up alcohol this year. It was also my birthday, 58… not that I really celebrated it. But a nice gf cake from Tricia, and one from Amy, pics below. Thursday the decorator came back to try and rectify the paint issue on the walls. He tried a new Dulux paint… it bubbled like the others. He then tried two coats of a primer which wasn’t perfect either. Hmmm. After he left I went to B&Q and got a Valspar paint mixed up. I spent all day Saturday painting, and it went on like a dream… At the end of the weekend the dining room was finished. At last. Over the course of the month I managed to get the bathroom finished as well, some tiling edging, refreshed the paintwork etc.

Sunday 10th was a family lunch. Ellie was home for the weekend and had an appointment in Amersham on the Monday for her problematic wisdom teeth. Afterwards Tricia drove her back to Lincoln, and stayed over with her before returning on the Tuesday. Friday evening and I was off to Pats to see the film of the MADS play. Tricia hosted Clive and treated him to Gammon egg and chips! On Saturday it was football, no Bob this time he was away on the stag night of Adam his future son in law, so I took my old Safeway colleague Keith. West Ham started well, 1-0 up after 16 minutes… but then went half to sleep, and on the hour mark we were 1-3 down. Somehow West Ham upped their game and not only got level, but managed to win the game. Exciting to watch, but disappointing we were so sloppy defending and got ourselves in bother to start with. Here we have Clive with his meal, Robbie cleaning up the Thames with work colleagues, Reg with a stick and Tricia with various animals

Sunday 17th, Tricia did the lent walk in the afternoon, whilst I went across to Bracknell to see my Mum and Dad, ahead of Dad’s 83rd birthday on the 19th. Monday and Tuesday Tricia was on a retreat at Stanton. Thursday 21st in the evening Tricia, Pat, Clive and myself went to see the Stewkley production of Stepping Out… Helene was performing in it. Then Friday evening we met Juliet and John at the Five Elms in Weedon for a meal… it was excellent, good gluten free options, including a gf bread and butter pudding. Marvellous!

Saturday 23rd we travelled over to Deb and Carlos’s … with Robbie and Reg. Ellie travelled there by train. Reg had a great time chasing a ball up and down the stairs, and was absolutely worn out. A quiet Sunday for me, Tricia did the lent walk. Tuesday wa the pub quiz, and also a 59th wedding anniversary for my Mum and Dad. Wednesday night Tricia was at a girly night at Cathy’s. Reg here getting some attention from Matt, and a couple of Reg on walks.

Friday 29th was a curry night at ours, then Saturday Tricia was at a county training day, whilst I went off to football with Bob to witness a miserable half hearted performance by West Ham, losing 0-2 at home. We could have been beat by 6. Sunday… was Mother’s Day, and also the end of the month.

The end of the month should have been when we left the EU. March was gripping and fascinating as Parliament voted down Teresa Mays deal twice, making it three failures overall. There were indicative votes, MP’s leaving political parties and forming new ones, there intrigue and political posturing. But no resolution other than having to go to the EU and ask for an extension as we did not quite know how we were going to leave… so it is now October 31st we leave.