June

Saturday 1st June we hosted a meal for all those going on the Iona trip, a discussion around arrangements, and some introductions for those who didn’t know each other. The weekend was quiet apart from that. The following Thursday was the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings. There was lots of press coverage, and remembrance ceremonies. Tricia and myself went with the history club to Biggin Hill museum. Biggin Hill being a famous aerodrome from the Second World War and the Battle of Britain. It was an excellent trip. The museum wasn’t big, but you were able to get a feel for how the place would have been in the war. There was a particularly moving flag ceremony.

On Friday the 7th we met up with Juliet and John at the Five Elms in Weedon. A lovely meal and good company. Saturday, Tricia was at a Meditation lunch, I stayed in and worked on the decoration for the ‘snug’ as we were now calling the former dining room / study. On Sunday, I continued with the decoration, whilst Tricia got some miles in her legs on the bike, and then went to Granborough Flower festival.

Monday evening, the 11th, Tricia and me went into London to the British museum for a private viewing of drawings, which included some Rembrandts, arranged by BP. The event was hosted by a couple of museum experts, who provided context and insight. On the way home we popped into Bill’s near Holborn for a meal. A lovely evening out.

On the Friday, it was a birthday meal for Tricia, at the Chequers Inn at Weston Turville, with Ellie and Matt. Great food, which is what you would expect from a ‘fine dining’ pub. On Saturday I popped across to see my Dad ahead of Father’s Day. In the evening Tricia went off for a birthday celebration to ‘Pink Punters’, whilst I went to Aylesbury to see a Genesis tribute band called ‘Book of Genesis’. A group of us went, Alan, Rob and Amy, Bob and Adam… they were both a little non-plussed, expecting it to be more modern Genesis. Alan loved it. Sunday, Tricia went to church, whilst I went to Aylesbury to check out some potential new furniture for the living room… which was good. Then we had a Father’s Day and Tricia birthday bbq over at Nikki’s. Reg loved seeing his bro’s and chased around with them. In the evening Tricia dropped Ellie and Matt off at Luton for their little holiday to Paris. What you might call a busy weekend!

Monday I was speaking at a Microsoft event in London, on adoption of o365 services, which went down well. Wednesday evening Tricia was at Rachels for a Girly night, and then on Friday we had a curry night with the usual suspects, and attempted ‘blankety blank’. I also finished work for a few weeks. On Saturday Tricia cycled to Waterperry and back, as part of the Ride 100 prep. Then on Sunday, Wendy and Rob came up for lunch, and we were joined by Pat and Clive, Ellie and Matt.

On Monday, having finished the snug decorating, I started on the living room. I had pretty much finished on the Wednesday evening before we went away. We also got the Mazda thru it’s MOT, had my car checked for an error that had come up, been to the pub quiz and had a little visit to Claydon house (we had gone to Waddesdon but it was shut). On the Wednesday, a chunk fell off of one of Tricia’s teeth… so an emergency visit was made to the dentist for repair before we drove north to the Lakes. Reg was housed at Nikki’s for the week. Ellie left in charge of the house.

We drove up went Tricia got back from the dentist, a lovely day, we stopped at Sizergh Castle and Garden on the edge of the Lake District. After going round the house and gardens it was an ice cream, and back in the car to stay at Les and Les’s. Except they were not there, away themselves. We had a meal with Dan, Chris and Hannah. On the Friday we went and walked up Helvellyn, which is the third highest peak in England, and one we missed on the coast to coast walk. A lovely day, with plenty of sun and breeze it was a good climb. A small lunch at the top before returning. In the evening we went out to a pub for a meal with Dan, Chris and Hannah.

Saturday we set off on the next leg of our journey, with a drive up to Oban. A reasonable drive up, we arrived late afternoon. We met up with everyone else going to Iona, who had arrived via different routes. An evening meal in the town, and the acquisition of a bottle of Oban whisky and I was happy :-). Sunday morning was damp… a bit of breakfast in the B&Bm and we set off for the ferry to Mull. Tricia and me went off up to Tobermory, with Paul, Les and mad Helen in the back. Tea / coffee, a wander round, more whisky from the distillery and we were happy. We drove down the ‘scenic’ route and picked up the ferry to Iona…. And settled in at Bishop’s House.

A busy month … and busy elsewhere. Liverpool won the Champions League against the Totts, Theresa May resigned as leader of the Tory Party, meaning we would have a new Prime Minister. This was all on the back of her unsuccessful attempts at driving through her Brexit bill. Parliament made compelling viewing, with MP’s changing parties, and hard in fighting around Brexit. England were playing in the cricket World Cup, and making heavy weather for qualifying for the semi finals, having beaten South Africa in the opener, they then went and lost to Pakistan, then they beat Bangladesh, the West Indies and Afghanistan before losing to Sri Lanka and then Australia.