Back in Birmingham and hitting the ground running .....

With old friends at Solihull Mountaineering Club summer BBQ

Thursday we treated ourselves to a Thai lunch out in Paisley (The Thai Siam), fabulous meal, really enjoyed it, before spending our last afternoon with MrT and MrsP who really are very lovely. Friday Yukko and Joe arrived bang on time, just two days late! After a bit of a chat we headed off, only five hours the sat nav said, but with the holiday traffic and the hideous rain, all the way down, it took six and a half, had gone up to seven at one point so could have been worse!

Paul and girlfriend Julie at the SMC BBQ

Got to Helen and Ian in time for a G&T before heading out with them and Corinne to the Indian (The Balti Bazaar in Stirchley), still in the rain. This was worse for Ian than the rest of us as the Uber could only fit four, not five, so he’d walked, very fast, but not fast enough to dodge the raindrops!

We stayed over, but no one had time for a lie in, they were off to Sheffield to see Pam, Ian’s mum, and we were down to Alvechurch to collect mum and carry on to Jonathan and Lucy to catch up with Charles. Recently back from his month In Nepal. It sounded amazing and he seemed to have enjoyed himself. We saw lots of pictures of the acclimatisation trek, the work project, the proper trek and the white water rafting. Probably just as well Caroline was working at the stables as by the time she got back we could move on and catch up with her too!

Assembling for Roni's talk at the SMC BBQ. LtoR: Mike D, Alex, Jackie, Pete, Donna, Bill and current SMC Chaiman, Jo

Ash, Dave P (background) and the other Brian in SMC

Sunday we went round to the house (no, it’s still not let, but credit checks are being carried out, so keep everything crossed) to mow the lawn, weed etc and measure up for boxing in the gas meter and a floor in the boiler room. Things we didn’t think at all necessary but we’d been worn down by Colin! We then headed over to Abi and Sooty in Hall Green which is where we are now. Monday was woodwork day, looks good though I do say so myself.

Tuesday was Jason the IFA, usually we don’t really have much to tell him, so telling him we’d been spending on the house was a bit of a shocker, but as what we’ve spent has been more than covered in estimated value of the house it’s really just moved our cash from liquid to asset! To this end, when Brian said we were thinking of a big trip or two with his recently matured endowment policy we were soundly encouraged. It’s great when the financial advisor tells you you can spend money!

The very cute Sooty cat at our current housesit (for the 13th time!)

This was followed by a late breaking appointment at the dermatology clinic for Brian. He’s looked at regularly, and they always say to come in if there’s anything we are not happy with. He’s got a pimple on his shoulder which to me looks like the first one he had when we were in New Zealand. Neither the registrar or Dr Shah thought it was anything but might as well biopsy it anyway so that was yesterday.

Wednesday we were also at the hospital, three times in three days then, as he’s been taking part in a gene study for the last five years to see if there is any link between Lynch syndrome and prostate cancer. Gets him an annual PSA check anyway! We also popped in to see Sarah, who does all our post, as she had been admitted and operated on for a lump in her bowel all very quickly. In Brian’s family it’s something that’s almost expected, to ‘normal’ people it’s all a bit of a shock! Obviously we are keeping everything crossed for a good outcome to the histology report.

Now that is how to relax!

I then went to see Alex, looking and feeling better than she has done in a long time. If once in a day wasn’t enough we then decided to go to Solihull Mountaineering Club summer BBQ, just up the road. It was a great evening, food, chat and a talk by Roni who has recently completed the John Muir Trail in the US 200 and something miles, on her own over 25 days! She did this to raise awareness for sepsis, something her father died of only for her grandson to be diagnosed with three days later. As a one year old Loki fought unbelievably, although he lost a leg and has many scars he is now an exuberant three and a half year old. Her message, a fever, feeling like death and a mottled skin, don’t mess about, get to the hospital. Here's a link to Roni's Just Giving page where you can make a donation. It was a great evening, though slightly marred by the rugby club completely forgetting about the booking so there was no beer, and no BBQ facilities! Disposable BBQs and a trip to the off license sorted that though!

We are now just waiting to collect Ted, who went for a service, MOT and aircon check yesterday. They had to order a part for the aircon this morning and then we can take him away!

Just a little footnote from Brian. Despite the fact that I don't look old (!) I am actually getting on a bit. So much so that my daughter has recently turned 40 years old and my eldest grandaughter, Abbie celebrated her 21st birthday yesterday! I know, unbelievable isn't it.

Here they are in Florida. LtoR: Becky, Fiona, James, Jenny and Abbie

They're all in Florida visiting all the attractions at the moment in order to celebrate Fiona's 40th birthday, Jenny's (my youngest grandadughter) 15th birthday and James' (Fiona's partner) birthday on 5th September. The real surprise of the trip is the engagement ring James smuggled over there and, after they all sang Happy Birthday to Fiona, he got down on one knee in front of them all and asked her to marry him. Is that romantic or what! Back in July, when we all went for a family meal at their house he had asked my permission to marry her, a fact I kept secret from Fiona. The message from Fiona in Florida saying "James tells me you knew" was all I needed to know. She said 'yes' of course!



Abbie is now at university in Manchester and has just completed her first year of university and of turning vegetarian. She's just done a You Tube video explaining her first year as a vegetarian and, with her permission, there's a link to it below. We're not vegetarians (can't ever see that happening, particularly Jackie!), we've included it not because of her views, but just because we're immensely proud of her: