22nd April 2025

Over the past year, I have revisited and edited previous blog posts for errors. Recently, I have been working on the years of the COVID-19 pandemic, which, interestingly, coincided with the first term of Donald Trump’s presidency. During this time, I frequently commented on his appalling conduct, narcissism, misogyny, and foolish and callous decisions. At no point did I ever consider that he might become president again, nor did I foresee that he would not rightly face imprisonment for fraud after leaving office. How wrong I was, as were many others in the free world, who have been fortunate to live in a society where basic rights, such as freedom of speech, the right to assemble, freedom of religion, and the right to vote, are protected, safeguarding individuals from discrimination, oppression, and injustice. In a society where conflicts are resolved through dialogue, democratic processes, or legal means, rather than through violence or authoritarian control, one that encourages tolerance of different lifestyles, cultures, and beliefs.

I fear that the USA is now too divided, too far along the path to dictatorship, for its more sensible citizens to restore democracy. I predict that Project 2025 will come to fruition with the removal of Trump, likely on the grounds of ill health or declining mental capacity, and JD Vance will, as planned, assume the role of ‘king, ‘ continuing to subjugate those who do not support the party line. Unlike Trump, Vance could serve two more terms, consolidating the position of the ‘elite’ and aligning the country with the ‘axis of evil’. Sadly, these are grim days ahead for the world. I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t think I am with 42% of  Americans (according to a recent poll) still believing that Donald is doing great with the economy and forgiving all his indiscretions.

(15th April 2025)

Since returning from Bali, despite our body clocks still being somewhat out of sync, Sue has thrown herself back into her U3A activities, while I’ve been keeping busy in the garden and on the allotment. So far, I’ve planted a variety of potatoes called ‘Lucy’, which I ordered from Northern Ireland, along with four rows of onions. Both propagators are now filled with seeds, and I’ve also sown some hardier vegetables in trays in the greenhouse. The lawns have been mown, and the weeds tackled.

 

We’ve also enjoyed some lovely impromptu visits from Charlotte and Sarah, accompanied by Alice and Archie. The tooth I broke just before we flew to Bali has now been repaired by my dentist, at a cost of £72, coincidentally the same amount I paid for the painting we bought in Ubud.

The Rothwells have been busy with their carpentry once again, having installed decking in the garden and built a pergola beside the garage to house a swing and hammock. Not to be outdone, the Newbold Verdons have been hard at work installing a garden kitchen in preparation for some summer alfresco cooking.

Although Jamie is the only qualified carpenter in the family, my two daughters, ably assisted by their husbands, are not afraid to pick up a hammer and saw, saving money by making things themselves. It makes me feel incredibly proud.

We have had lots of updates on Jamie and Ruth’s honeymoon via Messenger and Facebook, and they are having a wonderful time in Indonesia.

Late in the afternoon, I pulled the hosepipes out of the garden shed and connected them so they would stretch from the two empty water butts behind the Garden Room to the river, via the drain that runs beneath next door’s driveway. There hadn’t been any rain for over a month, and the outdoor pot plants, along with the sprouting broad beans and onions in the raised beds, were becoming desperate for water. Now that we’re on a water meter, I wasn’t about to waste the free supply flowing past the house.

I ran a power cable from the house, threading it through the same drain, and connected it to my water pump. It took four hours to fill the two tubs with natural, fluoride-free water, far better for the plants, I believe, than what comes out of the tap.

(17th April 2025)

After several cold and blustery days, it was a welcome relief to find that the day we had planned to walk the new Griffin Trail, linking Braybrooke with Market Harborough, was bright and calm. The route had been advertised as follows: “Braybrooke Parish Council invites you to explore the beautiful countryside surrounding our historic village via an 8km walking route. This scenic walk takes you through rolling fields, picturesque trails, and key landmarks, offering a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the fresh air and local heritage.”

Sue had taken part in two long U3A rambles over the previous days and wasn’t quite up for another, so we opted to cycle the route instead. We set off at 9.30 am, disheartened to see that roadworks at the junction of Welland Park Road and Northampton Road were causing severe tailbacks, making any trip by car through town a nightmare.

We joined the trail at the Brampton Valley Way by Little Bowden Park and headed south, passing a sprawling new development that straddles the old railway line, yet another project turning the once-charming town into a characterless metropolis. We reached the point where the Griffin Trail diverged east across a broad bean field, the footpath hardened into dry, cracked mud. We bounced along until we reached a small stream and wooden bridge, which marked the start of a gravelled stretch continuing to Braybrooke.

Sue’s electric bike gave her an edge over my pedal-powered one on the only hill of note, but the surface was well-laid and easy-going. Nearing the village, Sue paused to buy four free-range eggs from an honesty box outside some stables. We decided to call in on Roger Woolnough to see if he’d returned from his annual winter escape to Cyprus, and indeed he had. We spent a pleasant hour catching up on family news before setting off again.

Curious about the Braybrooke Beer Company and Tap Room, conveniently located along the trail and part of a local farmer’s initiative, we made a short detour. On arrival, we were pleased to find a dozen or so others enjoying the spot: dog walkers, cyclists, and a few who had come by car. As it was now after 1 pm, we stayed for lunch. The bacon toasties were excellent, and I washed mine down with a pint of Braybrooke Porter, tasty, though an eye-watering £8.75.

Fully refreshed, we made good time on the return leg. I briefly broke away to water the onion sets at my allotment while Sue carried on home.

(18th April 2025) Good Friday

A chillier day than of late, and perfect for weeding the driveway. Over the past three days, I’d been steadily working my way towards the main road and had now reached the section that runs alongside a mature blue spruce, the area with the greatest concentration of weeds. Over the course of a year, the tree sheds a vast quantity of needles, along with a carpet of cones and seeds, all of which get crushed into the gravel surface.

In an effort to separate the gravel from the debris, I attempted to sieve the mixture using a length of wire mesh stretched over a wheelbarrow. Unfortunately, it wasn’t effective enough, so I reluctantly ordered a proper garden riddle from eBay, which should arrive by the end of April.

For lunch, Sue and I drove to The Yews in Great Glen to take advantage of their ‘two meals for £20’ offer, only to be disappointed to find that it didn’t apply today. Nevertheless, we enjoyed our meals, but we’ll be reading the small print more carefully next time.

Back home, while checking my emails, I found one from ATOL confirming that they had reimbursed the money I’d paid to Jetline Cruises, which has now gone into insolvency. However, on closer inspection, I realised they had refunded only the balance of the payment, not the original deposit. On contacting ATOL, I was told they don’t cover payments made by credit card, which is how I’d paid the deposit, with the balance settled via debit card. When I got in touch with HSBC, they informed me I’d need to ring again on Tuesday, as the relevant department was closed over Easter. Fingers crossed for then.

A lesson learnt concerning booking foreign holidays is to use just one method of payment, and it will greatly simplify the process of claiming your money back if the company goes insolvent.

At the crack of dawn on Easter Sunday, Sue set off to hunt for bargains at the Saddington car boot sale, and afterwards we drove to Rothwell for a family lunch. Although Jamie, Ruth, and Joey were mid-flight on their return from Bali, Sarah and her family had already arrived at Charlotte’s by the time we turned up. The day before, they’d visited Cambridge, dropping Mia off on the way, and the dog had stayed overnight.

We arrived around 11.30 am and immediately took Harry for a short walk before playing with Alice and Archie in the garden while preparations for the meal were underway. As ever, Charlotte and Suraj put on a lovely spread, with a charming seasonal touch to the table, rabbit decorations and napkin rings shaped like rabbit ears.

After lunch, the family migrated into the garden for drinks and a chat, while I stayed indoors to watch the Tigers take on Bristol Bears on television. With two very tired little ones, Sarah and Lee headed home just before half-time. During the interval, we left a very sleepy Charlotte to enjoy a well-earned nap and made our way back to Harborough in time to catch most of the second half and witness a strong winning performance by the Tigers.

I have finished compiling the video of Jamie and Ruth’s wedding: Bali Wedding