A pretty humdrum week; work, work, work for all of us. Sue put in yet another full week, Sarah was mega busy at school, Jamie was equally busy at the workshop and with College and I murdered a few more trees for winter fuel.

On Friday I and four friends drove over to Highley in Shropshire on our annual walk and away time. In the past, we have all been on some strenuous forays into the wilds of England, but as we all agreed we are getting on now and have decided on something a little more sedate. I had booked a little cottage with the River Severn flowing by the front garden and the Severn Valley Railway rattling in the back garden, quite picturesque. Next door to our accommodation was the Ship Inn (enough said).

On Saturday we walked from the cottage downstream along the riverbank and through the surrounding forest to Bewdley (11 miles). Exhausted we got a taxi back to the cottage and then had a kip for a couple of hours! Our evening was spent watching a very good blues band at the pub. On Sunday we walked a further 6 miles up the river and then back again, before driving home. A very enjoyable break, I even forgot about the ‘Disability Scheme’ policy that I have to write for school before Dec 16th, it’s only a million pages long and obviously ‘vital’ to the smooth running of the school.

Charlotte and Lucas came down to stay with us on Friday night, Suraj is still busy with the floors again. They stayed until Monday morning, then went home. Sarah and Charlotte spent most of Sunday night experimenting with nail extensions, no doubt they loved it but to me it seemed quite pointless.