Bye bye pussy cats, hello again Big Ted!

Millie cat struggling to stay awake

Newport was a place I can’t say we’ll rush back to, but success was achieved, I have a new passport! We had popped into the neighbours at Iain’s suggestion but at the words “it’s a criminal offence to lie on this form” they were understandably reticent about signing the photo to say they’d known me two years and the picture was of me! Fortunately it was unnecessary.

The cleaner came in on Friday which was a treat, so we went out to lunch. Iain had sent us so much local info about what is going on in and around Bristol. The last recommendation was, on Friday, for a band in the pub at the end of the street. Rude not to go and have a look, particularly on finding they were a 50’s rock and roll band. They were having real problems with their PA, feedback was prominent and they were very loud, so we did only stay for the first set but we had a dance before going home with ringing ears! 

Now here's a question: Is this Welsh Rarebit? We had four hours in Newport while we waited for Jackies passport to be made. Newport is in Wales, so it only seemed right to eat something local. We saw Welsh cakes, but what I really wanted to try was Welsh Rarebit, so I didn't think I'd have any trouble finding it. It was harder than we thought! We asked in several restaurants and cafes, no-one offered it. Someone recommended a place about 50 miles away, but then we saw a couple of people walking the streets with Newport Ambassador on their jackets. They'll know we thought. Looking rather puzzled one of them pointed us in the direction of the local butchers! Obviously he has no idea what it is then! Eventually, at a cafe in a market the lady behind the counter told me that its "just cheese on toast with a poached egg on top". I knew it was something like cheese on toast, but I told her I didn't know, she was the local expert and if she said that's what it is, that's good enough for me. "Can you make it?" I asked her, "I can do anything". This is what she served up. It tasted really good but Jackie insist it isn't proper Welsh Rarebit. As far as I'm concerned, I asked a local Welsh person to cook me Welsh Rarebit and this is what she served so, I think I can claim to have eaten at least a version of it. What do you think? 

A rather interesting suspended footbridge in Newport

Saturday we pottered before fish and chips and Strictly Come Dancing. Bev and Iain arrived back in the middle of the night in the pouring rain on Saturday night and it’s barely stopped since, they are not happy, they would have gladly hopped back on a plane at left us with the cats, it was very tempting... We had a good catch up with Iain and Bev on Sunday morning over bacon, sausage and mushrooms before heading back up to Alvechurch, empty the car, pick up stuff we want back in Helen and Ian’s loft and over to them for dog walk to the pub and then a lovely Persian meal.

The ruins of Newport castle, founded in 1372

We collected Ted this morning so he is now on Mum’s drive, via the garage to fill the new larger lpg tank with gas, but we didn’t really start on him. We were due at the nurse at 10.45 to see what inoculations we all need for South Africa. For us, only typhoid, for mum typhoid, hepatitis A and a flue jab, all done there and then. We were very impressed.

We’ve since been in the loft, done some last shopping and tomorrow we start sorting out to load. Tyres arrive, hopefully, on Wednesday and then we’ll book a ferry. Unless we end up going to Scotland! 

The 50's Rock and Roll band in the Kings Arms on Friday night

This is a possibility in our minds as the lovely Nicky that we go and stay with and ‘work’ for up near Elgin fell off a ladder on Saturday. All we know so far is that she has broken her leg, below the knee, in three places, and that she was being moved from Elgin hospital to Aberdeen when a bed becomes available! In tricky circumstances what are friends, who spend their lives ‘swanning about’, good for if they can’t be available when needed?

Champagne to celebrate the tenants moving in to our refurbished house in Alvechurch

Bye bye pussy cats, we're going to miss you! All four on the bed one morning. Shadow is curled up by Jackie, Millie is next nearest to Jackie, then Tinsel and finally Mr Pickles with his white chest. How do we know the difference between three black cats? It's not easy, but after a month we recognised their different personalities, their distinctive meaow's and their little differences in looks. Sorry about our rubbish in the background - don't tell Ian and Bev!