under another sun

Frosty morning. Getting ready for a funeral. Appalled by suddenly being unable to fit into my formal black trousers, which only a few weeks ago I was able to enter like a seal sliding into the wide sea.  My hair is also deeply rubbish at the moment, having not had a cut for too long. Felt shabby all day.  Luckily, the day wasn't all about me. Lorraine and I hopped into the car, then picked up some sandwiches, a wreath made of flowers, then Pat and Maureen who were sitting downstairs at Stratheden waiting for us. To south London to attend Maureen's sister Bet's funeral. Reached south London fairly rapidly. The driving app took us through some windy country lanes just at edge of south London near Biggin Hill, Skid Hill Lane, and Corkscrew Hill. We arrived at Bellingham just a bit south of Lewisham, at Bet's house where her son Ted lives. Ted in his dressing gown, who said his ribs were damaged and seemed in a lot of pain. Probably not helped by us arriving very early, and...

Croissants with Sue and John, and Lorraine and I packed up and made our fond farewells to Sue and John, who had been wonderfully welcoming as usual. After two nights with them, Lorraine and I felt more relaxed than I had done in a while.  Then we drove the half an hour or so off to see Maxine and Simon (who arrived after work), and Emelia who was back from University. Long chats sitting outside in the sunshine, in their increasingly lovely garden, with the field next door just having been mown, and the grass drying ready for baling. Maxine, who is Lorraine's cousin, is always so welcoming and warm. Emilia, meanwhile, is really enjoying her degree in Psychology, and showed us a great tome of a family bible she had bought second hand. She loves books, of all kinds, including philosophy. She is also doing powerlifting, and loving it. Tay was doing a summer job so we didn't see him. Simon arrived in his chef's whites. Interesting chatting to him about his love of independently ...

Another family day -- this time off to Kent to see Pat and Maureen, who had invited Lorraine's cousin Maxine, Simon and her sixteen year old twins Tay and Emilia who Lorraine and I had popped in to see close to the Welsh borders in our wee summer jaunt. Guernsey lilies in Pat and Maureen's front garden. A cheery afternoon, with Lorraine finishing off the cooking of the Sunday lunch, with me doing a bit kitchen portering. Maureen had baked an excellent apple pie for me, because I been a good boy looking after Lorraine. Maureen on sparkling form. Pat bonding with Tay over jigsaws, and teaching him his patented jigsaw method.  Maxine and Simon really nice, and Maxine was talking to Maureen getting a few facts about the family. Her mum, Rose, whose funeral we went to a couple of years ago, was close to Maureen so it did Maxine good to see her aunt. Not on great photo duty today, and took one of Lorraine, Maxine and Maureen sitting on the sofa which was one of the worst snaps I'...

Up and packing for our last morning with Sue and John. Little Monty cheerful and full of beans this morning. Felt sorry to be saying goodbye to them. Staying with them had made us both feel much more relaxed than we had been. Loaded up the car, and made our fond farewells.  Then we drove off, pausing at the Wye Valley Brewery John had told us about, and given us sample drinks from where we judiciously paused and bought twelve beers to take away. We chose Butty Bach, HPA, Wholesome Stout, and Glorious IPA. and the Hopfather. Stashed a box of these in the boot. Then pausing only to buy a gift, made our way to see Maxine and Simon for lunch in their garden, joined by their sixteen year old twins Amelia and Taylor. Simon had kindly prepared an amazing lunch, including pulled lamb to make into wee little kebabs, quiche, lovely greek salads and so on, plus Eton mess, and lemon tart and cake. It was an amazing feed. Lovely to see them again, almost a year to the day that we dropped in on ...

A leisurely morning, and breakfast outside in the garden. The owner Lesley said we should go for a walk in the garden, and it was deceptively long, and kept opening up into new areas. Absolutely gorgeous and full of trees, including apple, pear and plum, plus some vegetables, trees an enormous horse chestnut and so on. We picked two apples and mine had pinkish flesh. Butterflies drifting about too. Had a long chat with Lesley who we both liked, she is a semiretired acupuncturist, and talked about the Monmouth Bubble. Chatted about the picture that is in the room too, a rather nice abstract from a woman living locally. Off then into the Wye Valley, and to look at Tintern Abbey, which windy old Wordsworth liked so much, he wrote one of his better poems about. A gorgeous road through forested hills, and Tintern Abbey impressive, although you couldn't actually wander about it as it was closed. Peering in, seeing the forest through empty windows, and arched doorways looking at remains...