HOLIDAY FUN
So a nice long week of relaxation over – and I’m looking forward to work next week for a necessary rest!
I had a wonderful visit to see long-time friends (we’re all at a Too Sensitive age to call them Old Friends…) in Mossley – with the finest weather the North West has had so far this year. Having passed Piccadilly and Hyde Park to go north, I passed Piccadilly (Manchester) to get to Hyde Park where mine host was helping out at the Pennine Rangers stall, which was hot, happy and successful. His brother was also visiting, and the four of us had a lot of Heavy Duty crosswording and discussions, 5-star food, massive hospitality and relaxation! Including a teensy weensy 5.2 mile amble over the Pennines , passing a dead sheep which they wouldn’t let me take home…; apparently that was taking recycling just a LITTLE too far!
Back home, cycle ride to Battersea and back to see my sister, then back home to a scenario that is just begging for a Bernard Cribbin ’s sketch writer to perfect.
Take one comedic Bright Shiny New Community-Leader-to-be; add a washing machine, tumble drier and a designer-challenged Community Leader’s flat. Add two companions and assemble for installation of machines. Yep, the results were utterly farcical!
I was appointed Door Opener in Chief, which entailed my standing against an open door advising everyone to mind my feet. The items in question were to go into a cupboard about 4” wider than they are, which had all the piping and wiring ready for them. The washing machine went in with room to allow plumbing in to take place – and yes, you’ve guessed it – the job successfully doused Community Leader-to-be to the point where he left it for the experts to complete! Not helped by pair of Companions absolutely laughing their socks off whilst he mopped up in very confined space and alas broke the mop bucket… “So there I was, digging this hole, hole in the ground, big and sort of round it was…” kept coming into my head at the most inappropriate moment! Meanwhile, it was realised that the tumble dryer could not go on top of the washing machine until plumbing in has been successfully achieved, so it is now having an extended holiday on the spare room bed!
Saturday; various staff members having cried off because it ‘looked like it might rain’, four Companions set off on an extremely enjoyable bike ride, via Manor House (to see the Snuff Mill), Beddington Park and Mitcham Common. We had several (dozen) stops on the way because it’s Blackberry Season again, and alas I hadn’t taken any boxes to bring them home in, so we just had to stay and graze. Here. And There. And Over There. And a little way past… You know how it is!
Then Sunday, the Allotment Group had a Work Party and Bar b q, which a couple of us attended. We were greeted by terrific news – we’ve been allocated another half allotment – and bestest of all, (from a selfish point of view) it is the one currently belonging to the gentleman who has been giving me such good advice and tomato and cabbage plants, and keeps an immaculate site! He has decided that the age of 94 is a really good age at which to reduce his commitments!
He was very glad to hear we would be taking it on, as he was anxious (as were the Committee) that it would go to someone who would be sure to care for it, and we were judged so to be, which is nice.
Elizabeth
