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.