1st May 2016

A whole month has passed since we returned from our warm global wanderings, and my once ample stock of firewood has taken a serious dent. Cold, wet, and windy days have swept away our healthy light tans, returning us to the usual pale, anaemic appearance of Brits in winter.

Exciting news came from Sarah and Lee, who announced that their wedding was planned for August 2017. They’ve booked the church (and priest) on Rutland Water itself, and are now exploring options for the reception venue; thankfully, there’s plenty of choice in the area.

Sarah, Sue, and Charlotte have already been on several wedding dress expeditions, and the topic now dominates their conversations. I happened to spot a few lovely dresses in the Oxfam shop at very reasonable prices, though I wisely refrained from mentioning this.

Breaking News: Sue and Sarah made a trip to Syston and bought a wedding dress. A little birdie tells me it’s stunning, but I’m forbidden from seeing it until the big day (surely that’s meant to be the groom’s rule?).

After the wedding, Sarah and Lee are planning to take a month off work for a spot of global hopping. I’m not entirely sure how they’ll pull it off, but it sounds like a fantastic idea. As the weeks go by and plans become more concrete, I’m sure there’ll be plenty more to report.

In the meantime, Sarah and Lee are off to Paris in May for Sarah’s birthday, a lovely getaway to look forward to.

Charlotte and Suraj, along with the boys, have an exciting holiday planned in Cambodia for a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, Northamptonshire Education Authority’s recent policy change, reducing permitted school absences from 10 to 5 days, has caused some frustration. The new rule could result in a £250 fine, which seems unfair given the trip was booked in advance. Charlotte is appealing on the grounds of prior commitment, and rightly so.

What has happened to our education system? Common sense and flexibility seem entirely absent. Heaven forbid that children should enjoy learning through life experiences. Political dogma and soundbites dominate, Bah!

In early April, the Rothwells managed a short break to North Wales. They stopped at Nan’s bench at Caergwrle Castle before continuing to a caravan site just outside Rhyl. The weather was mostly kind, allowing them to explore and enjoy themselves. However, Suraj had a mishap en route that somewhat limited his activities. At a Science Park in Wrexham, he made the questionable decision to run through a mirror maze, with predictable results. He emerged with a lump on his head, a mashed knee, and plenty of laughs from Charlotte and the boys.

Jamie and Harley have also been on holiday. On 10th April, I drove them to East Midlands Airport for their flight to Rhodes, where they spent a sunny week at an all-inclusive hotel just outside the town. A week later, I rather wearily picked them up at 1 a.m., but they seemed thoroughly refreshed from their getaway.

A lot has happened since we returned from our global wanderings. Jamie celebrated his birthday on the 19th of April with a day of fun at Thorpe Park alongside some friends. He’s now the proud owner of two cars: an economical Vauxhall Corsa for daily commutes and a weekend toy, an uneconomical Mitsubishi Evo, perfect for some spirited driving.

Jamie’s been dabbling in the stock market, with some apparent success, though I suspect we only hear about the ‘ups’ rather than the ‘downs.’ He’s awaiting surgery on the knee he injured playing soccer, but with ongoing NHS delays, his appointments keep getting rescheduled. It’s a source of frustration, and at times, discomfort. Despite this, Jamie stays fit with daily gym sessions, though it seems unlikely he’ll return to ball games post-surgery. To compensate, he and Harley frequently go out for meals, which appears to be a shared passion.

Mia has been a regular guest, and I always look forward to our outings. Our routine involves a morning walk, lunch at a dog-friendly pub (The Black Horse in Foxton is a particular favourite), followed by an afternoon walk. After returning home, Mia enjoys a bath to rid herself of the day’s mud, and we both indulge in a well-earned nap before her taxi arrives. The landlady at The Black Horse dotes on Mia and always has treats at the ready, while I relish a more substantial pub lunch.

Sue’s diary is as packed as ever, with a constant stream of U3A activities. I sometimes worry she’ll tire herself out, especially since we’ve taken to attending the Wednesday morning ‘Odeon Silver Screen’ in Kettering for weekly films. How she manages to balance all this with shopping, cooking, and cleaning is a mystery.

Meanwhile, I’ve been busy in the allotment. The unusually cold spring hasn’t set me back; if anything, it’s kept me on par with the others. I’ve planted eight rows of potatoes (skipping earlies), four broad beans, seven onions, and a row of parsnips. Despite recent snow, the beans and onions are sprouting. In the greenhouse, tomatoes and cucumbers are starting to grow, though I’m eager for the weather to warm so I can sow carrots and beetroot.

With the council now charging £40 annually for green bin collections, a service I can’t use given the volume of garden waste I produce, I’ve taken to digging trenches in the vegetable plot to compost grass cuttings. The idea is that the rotting grass will generate warmth and retain moisture, enhancing growth. Only time will tell if this theory holds.

Despite the weather, I’ve been cycling each morning. Lambing season adds a certain charm to my rides, as fields come alive with gambolling lambs and watchful ewes. One particularly memorable morning, I broke into song, belting out “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning.” To my amusement, the ewes joined in, their baaing harmonising in rustic delight. It seems Rodgers and Hammerstein have unwittingly gained an ovine fan club!

On a snowy evening last week, Sue and I enjoyed ‘Genesis Connected ‘in concert. The band’s renditions of Genesis and Phil Collins classics were impressively faithful to the originals. Definitely worth a repeat visit.

Jamie treated us to a belated birthday meal at The Queen’s Head in Saddington, where we indulged in a substantial three-course dinner. Suffice it to say, we rolled out of the restaurant feeling thoroughly satisfied (and a little bloated).

Sue also had a late Mother’s Day pampering session at Bannatyne’s in Leicester, courtesy of Jamie. Accompanied by Charlotte and Sarah, she returned home looking radiant, or at the very least, clean!

As for me, I embarked on a trip to Iceland on the 24th of April with five of my ex-rugby mates. Snow greeted us at Luton Airport, but by the time we reached Reykjavik, the skies had cleared. Incredibly, we enjoyed four sunny days, quite a feat in a country with only 11 clear days annually!

Our hotel in Hafnarfjordur was a short bus ride from Reykjavik’s centre. Highlights included catching the Leicester Tigers and Leicester City matches at a local sports bar (though only the latter secured a win) and sampling Icelandic cuisine, such as meat soup served in a bread loaf. The Blue Lagoon was a highlight, where we floated in warm waters and tried volcanic mud face packs, though whether they made us look ten years younger is up for debate.

We also visited the Eimverk Distillery, known for its award-winning Floki Gin. A tour and tasting session left us in high spirits (quite literally). Dinner that evening at a Viking-themed restaurant was equally delightful. My standout dish was Guillemot with blueberry sauce, served by staff in traditional Viking attire and accompanied by live music from a singing Viking wielding a massive axe.

Iceland’s stark beauty and unique experiences left a lasting impression. While undeniably expensive (with beer ranging from £7 to £10), it’s a place I’d recommend to anyone seeking an unforgettable adventure.

Being so far north, the sky didn’t get dark during the night. Midnight.