Bath

I spent a lovely afternoon with my boy in Bath.  Sunday lunch at the Hare and Hounds just outside Bath, the a drive in the country where we chewed the fat, as William is now preparing to apply for jobs and thinking about his future. 

Yorkshire

Drove up to Thwaite on Sunday for a week with Jane, Richard, Jess and Steve. The dales as always are beautiful, a patchwork of fields in the valleys, which, as they rise up the banks of the fells change to a blanket of yellow ochre green, with the lines of stone walls catching the low afternoon sun.

Jane, is tearing her hair out as she wrestles with an electric cooker!

At times the Yorkshire sky was flecked with the smoke rising from controlled fires set off by farmers to burn the heather on the top fells. I understand it increases bio diversity and protects the heather from being overtaken by other stronger and more virulent plants.

Cycled up and over the Buttertubs Pass to get to Hawes and then back again - quite a climb.

Leisurely strolls in the valleys and high fell walks.  Popped into the Tan Hill, thirty five years after I  first went there, nothing's changed much - the fells are bleak, 'Everest' double glazing still keeps out the cold and the Tan Hill snow plough sits in the yard.

A lovely week, with leisurely strolls in the valleys and high fell walks.  Fish and chips from a 'mobile chippy - only in Britain could this happen. 

The weekend

A very enjoyable weekend, first I went to see an Inspector Calls, and on Sunday went for a walk over the Malvern Hills on a beautifully sunny, late summer day.

A sunny weekend.

On Saturday I went to see Giffords Circus - a really enjoyable, but wacky village circus, later in the day went to the cinema to watch the film 'Everest'.  On Sunday a blast to Stroud and back on my bike followed by a pub lunch with William prior to him going back to Bath, to start his final year.

Seaton Hall

On Saturday I drove from Cheltenham to Seaton Hall, near Sunderland - a five and half hour journey, for a weekend reunion with the North Eastern contingent of Christine's family and also to meet two long lost cousins who have just met up with each other, and their family after fifty years apart.

At times a joyous and at times emotional few days.  Christine loved all her family and would have been overjoyed to see everybody.  When we first met, Christine said to me 'love me, love my dog - I come with my family'. That was OK with me as they are, and have always been, a great bunch and continue to welcome me as one of their own.  

Weekend

After a long cycle on Saturday morning I then popped up to Anita and Johns for the afternoon. Stopping overnight at Jane's in readiness for a fabulous Sunday lunch.

Exeter

Spent a lovely weekend at Jonathan and Melissa's in Exeter.  Watched Gloucester play Exeter Chiefs on Saturday, and on Sunday we went for a ride on the road bikes, taking in the legendary Salcombe Hill up to the Observatory - I was worn out afterwards.