11th July 2012 Last Tuesday, Nan’s internet connection was finally installed. A minor triumph, but in this house, we take our victories where we can. Royal Mail, meanwhile, decided to amuse itself by hiding my parcels in plain sight. After several rounds of phone tag, I discovered the missing pieces had been lurking in the… Continue Reading

3rd July 2012 Since my last post, it has done little else but rain. Honestly, if Noah had popped by with a half-finished ark, I wouldn’t have been surprised. Jamie found himself in Birmingham during one of the more biblical downpours, where the streets turned into canals. He managed to paddle his car to safety,… Continue Reading

24th June 2012 The following Tuesday, I was up at the crack of dawn and on the road north to Thurcroft, arriving around 9 am. After reading the long list of instructions Nan had left for me, I dutifully planted some runner beans at her insistence while she popped off to have her hair done… Continue Reading

7th June 2012 Sarah spent the week back in Sheffield, fulfilling her duties as Social Secretary of the Scuba Diving Club by organising their end-of-year dinner/party/booze-up (delete as appropriate). She also had her final course meeting and the small matter of packing up her worldly goods from the Pinnacles. On Friday, we hosted the Rothwells… Continue Reading

30th May 2012 Since the last blog, the mercury has shot up into the high twenties, and the sky has been obligingly cloud-free, practically Mediterranean, only without the sangria. On Tuesday, Lee popped over for a visit. Charlotte and Ellis joined us, and we all headed to Dingley Woods to admire the bluebells and test… Continue Reading

22nd May 2012 The return drive from Heathrow to Harborough was remarkably smooth, with minimal traffic on a Sunday at 7 am. The rest of the day felt a little surreal, battling the cold weather while unpacking and trying valiantly to stay awake. We held out until 9 pm before surrendering to sleep, though we… Continue Reading

12th May 2012 Heading home today. Started the morning with a hearty breakfast of lamb and chicken curry, plus a few other local delicacies I couldn’t even begin to pronounce. I decided it was safer to experiment with my taste buds here, where medical help is at least a short taxi ride away, rather than… Continue Reading

12th May 2012 We woke to yet another glorious, sun-drenched morning. After breakfast, we hopped on the monorail to visit the Bird Park, proudly billed as the world’s largest indoor aviary. Both of us are suckers for anything bright, feathered, and noisy. The walk from the hotel to the station was mercifully short, and we… Continue Reading

10th May 2012 Breakfast was at 7 a.m., and in the interests of gastrointestinal harmony, we opted for European-style dishes, though I’ll admit the curried fish heads were calling to me in a rather persuasive way. After fifteen minutes in the lobby, our mini-bus rolled up, already carrying about ten other guests from the hotel.… Continue Reading

9th May 2012 We woke bright and early at 6.30 a.m., breakfasting on melon and pineapple we’d stashed in the fridge the night before. At 7 a.m., a bell boy appeared to collect our suitcases, and we ambled down to reception to settle the bill. While Sue waited for our taxi, I popped into the… Continue Reading