3rd May 2015

After the disastrous earthquake in Nepal, it’s hard not to feel for the countless people affected, a true tragedy for so many families. Just before Nan left us, I was actually plotting a grand adventure to Kathmandu in late April. I’d always dreamed of seeing the Himalayas, even entertaining the idea of trekking to Everest Base Camp with Mr. Crawford (who later went on to conquer Alaska). But, alas, other family holidays dashed those lofty ambitions. Perhaps it’s a blessing that Nepal slipped my mind in recent months. Age has a way of tempering one’s dreams, a lucky escape, in hindsight!

Late April still brought some highlights, though. On the 22nd, Mia came over for a bit of football practice and to help do some digging in the garden. Lee dropped her off bright and early, and she was picked up in the evening after he’d finished a full day officiating in the Northampton courts.

The next day, John Lee arrived at Willow Bank for a few days of fun. We started with a round of golf at Corby Golf Club, a beautiful sunny day for a game of “follow the little white ball.” After a hearty lunch, we headed back to Harborough. That evening, we sampled local brews at the newly opened Beer House in town before joining the usual Thursday night pool crowd at the Catholic Club. As a former Harborough resident, John recognised most of the lads from his rugby days.

The following morning, we set out on one of my favourite walks to Laughton and back, finishing, as always, with a delicious lunch at the Bell. In the afternoon, John headed home to Bourne, while I turned my attention to prepping a Thai Green Curry and a Balti for our upcoming “Family Curry Night.”

After dinner that evening, while the family enjoyed games in the lounge, Suraj and I snuck off to the cinema to catch ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’. I enjoyed it, though I must admit I was a bit lost, not having seen the previous films. One line, however, had me in stitches: “They breed like Catholic rabbits.” I’m not sure if it was the joke itself or the fact that I was the only one laughing in a quiet theatre, but I found it hilarious.

The next morning, feeling a bit weary, I joined Sue and Charlotte for a walk to see the bluebells in Hambleton. The scenery was beautiful, though a brief shower put a slight damper on our spirits (someone had forgotten their waterproofs!). We capped off the day with a delicious lunch at the Fox and Hounds in Tugby.

Returning to Harborough late in the afternoon, I rallied and headed to the Rugby Club with Jim to catch a game. To my surprise, it was my old club, Stoneygate, facing off against Sileby in the County Spring Cup final! Down 24-10 at halftime, they staged an incredible comeback, clinching victory with the final kick. We decided to skip the post-match celebrations and head home; after all, we had plans to meet up at Joules for a 7 pm performance of ‘Govannen’.

Sue and I joined Jim and Brigitte right on time for the evening’s festivities, which included a BBQ and live music. ‘Govannen’ is a folk band, featuring a member from ‘Bellowhead’, and they certainly impressed us. It was a wonderful night, and I even picked up their CD, hoping Mia might take to their music more than ‘Pink Floyd’. Fingers crossed!

On Tuesday, Sue, Charlotte, and I treated ourselves to a lovely meal at the Crown in Tur Langton. It had been on our list for a while, and it certainly lived up to its reputation.

We saw Mia again on the 30th for a busy day of football practice, garden digging, and a walk to Lubenham. By the end, the little pup was thoroughly exhausted and slept soundly in her cage until Lee arrived to take her home.

The following day, I returned a fleece to John that he’d left at the Bell during our last adventure in the Leicestershire countryside. We set off on another ramble, following the ‘Hambleton Bluebell Walk.’ I mapped out a circular route starting at the aptly named Stilton Cheese Inn. It was a beautiful day, made even better by a meal of delicious cod, chips, and mushy peas. Curiously, there wasn’t a single Stilton dish on the menu, still a mystery to me!

The next day, I joined Jim and Peter at the Rugby Club to watch Leicestershire take on Buckinghamshire. There were a few familiar faces on the Leicestershire side, including some lads I’d coached back in Harborough. To my surprise, a former player and one whom I had coached, Matt, was lining up for Buckinghamshire. He’s grown into a skilled fly-half and managed to score a fantastic try, kicking all of Buckinghamshire’s points. I had a long chat with his parents after the game.

Jamie has traded in his blue Vauxhall VXR for a red limited-edition sports model. If the last one was fast, I can only imagine the speed of this one! During the gap between cars, he borrowed his mum’s pink Suzuki for a week, causing quite a stir on Facebook, and it definitely didn’t add to his “cool” factor!

 

Sue’s broken wrist is healing well, and she’s almost back to her usual self. She’s even able to pick up her tapestry again and carry shopping bags without wincing. She’s been out for several lunches with Lynne and Doreen, too. Though she’s still attending weekly physiotherapy sessions at the Cottage Hospital, the doctors are very pleased with her progress.

Meanwhile, Charlotte had a visit from an old school friend, Helena Wilson. With Ellis out of school due to a throat infection, Sue and I looked after him so Charlotte and Helena could enjoy a coffee and some retail therapy in Harborough.

At the start of May, Sarah completed the gruelling ‘Three Peaks Challenge’ in Derbyshire with her work colleagues. Impressive!

On Bank Holiday Monday, Jamie joined Sue and me for a trip to Braunston to visit Sarah. We opted for my more economical Fiesta, as Jamie’s VXR is quite a petrol guzzler! After showing Jamie around the house and garden, we enjoyed a lovely walk through Braunston Park with Mia. Despite the beautiful weather, it was pleasantly uncrowded. We left around midday as Sarah had to head to work.

Back at Willow Bank, Sue had lunch with Jamie, while I retreated to bed, feeling under the weather. I suspected it might be a reaction to a recent Flu vaccination, so I stayed in bed until the next morning to rest up.

The following day, I felt much better. After breakfast, I set off on a leisurely bike ride through the scenic Leicestershire countryside. Along the way, I stopped by Peter’s for a coffee and a quick catch-up before heading back home. After a refreshing shower, I went out to collect some logs I’d spotted earlier, left by hedge cutters at the roadside. Later, I helped Peter deliver some Lib Dem leaflets for Roger Dunton on the Southern Estate. For lunch, I savoured a delicious chicken and leek soup Sue had made, then headed to my allotment. I spent the afternoon planting turnips, kohlrabi, fennel, and beetroot. The blustery weather made sowing seeds quite a challenge!