English Travels - Part 4 - The Midlands

Drinks and dinner at The Hopwood with Pauline (mum)

As ever, we barely seem to have stopped, though a lot of it has been sociable. Thursday we were at Rob and Alex’s, we had a gazebo to erect and a house to clean. There was going to be an event the following day.... they were getting married! Hurrah. The house is a work in progress, the kitchen has no plaster or ceiling, the spare room was plaster boarded, but no more....Got as far as we could, and then had to do a runner, mum had a haircut booked. Now that’s important! We got back and the sun was out, so we headed to the pub for an early supper. It wasn’t the warmest, but it was fab to be out, and we really enjoyed it.

Waiting at The Mailbox in Birmingham just as they all arrived: LtoR: John, Bonny, Alex, Rob, Mark & Andrea 

Jackie outside her old place of work at the BBC, Birmingham

Back to R&A at 09.30 on Friday morning, chairs and and table, nibbles for later, sandwiches for the other four guests who were arriving from North and South Wales, decorations... There were flowers everywhere, for the table, for bouquet and button hole and as gifts. We left at 11.30 to change, eat and meet them back at the Mailbox (where I used to work) to walk to the registry office. We were honoured to be there as the ‘standby’ witnesses. Fortunately we weren’t needed for that, but were still invited! We met old friend Ed, a

All lined up in a wedding group, here we are for a photograph..

photographer from the mountaineering club (Edward Shaw Photography), who Rob had lodged with when he first came to Birmingham, but where were the other members of the party? As ever, time keeping is not the best, but they arrived, looking fabulous. We walked together Ed taking pictures, arriving bang on time. Despite being a completely minimalist ceremony (no music or singing allowed at the moment) I think everyone had a tear. We are all so thrilled that they have finally got married!

Ed lining up Rob and Alex for a photo with the others standing around watching on a lovely warm afternoon

The bride and groom at the reception

A quick jaunt to the Winterbourne Botanical Gardens, part of the University where Alex works, for photographs. We haven’t, as yet, got Ed’s pictures so it’s pictures of pictures being taken instead. We vacated as the bell ringing for closing time became more frantic and headed back to the house.

The champagne was chilled, and the nibbles plated up (I’d carefully labelled them “not lunch” to avoid any confusion) and the party began. Catering was coming in, Bistro@B31 had been all set to open a restaurant as Covid hit, so have been delivering instead. I’d found them in the web, Alex had tried calling, to no avail, but Rob had got through. The food was delicious and they were stars, they plated up, served and washed up with absolute efficiency. We were waited on and ate and drank and celebrated with efficiency! Possibly too much efficiency on the drinking! An Uber home just after midnight and the end of a wonderful day.

Here's one of Ed's professional photographs of Rob and Alex. A fabulous photo!

This is Andrea and Mark (Rob's best mate from his rugby days)

Saturday we should have had the mad panic of readying Ted for our trip to the Yorkshire Dales, but due to mum getting an appointment today (Monday) at the ophthalmologist, fortunately we could take it easy. To the pub instead then, the Attic Brewery in Stirchley to meet Bev and Iain and Helen and Ian. It was lovely to see them all and catch up, though more catching up is required!

Sunday as a spare day, without a hangover, was food shopping, we’d only planned until Saturday, and then going to visit in the garden with John and Helen and Richard. It was lovely to actually be able to sit and talk with them for the first time since the funeral.

And this is Bonny and John (Alex's good friends)

We’ve had two days of bird watching in the garden, the bird feeding station mum was given for Christmas has been starling central, half a dozen newly fledged chicks and about eight more mature starlings are eating anything they can get their beaks on, or in the case of the babies, anything mummy puts in their beaks, though they are beginning to work out what to do on their own. It’s been a joy watching them!

So today has been prepping Ted, and blogging before the hospital at 17.00. Tomorrow we head back north which will be either lovely or OK, depending on the weather!

And here's us making up the numbers. A nice compact gathering of eight. A fabulous day and great people - it just went too fast (and we drank far too much)!

At the Attic brewery for Saturday afternoon drinks, with Bev (not seen here, she's taking the photo), Iain, Helen and Ian. Those pints Jackie and I have lasted the full two hour booked slot, the quantity of alcohol we consumed the previous evening at Rob and Alex's prevented us drinking more without being ill! Mind you, Bev and Iain were at Helen and Ian's the previous evening and Bev was suffering the same as us. She only managed a half - lightweight!  

Haircuts wouldn't normally get a mention, but these times have not been normal. Hairdressers opened for the first time on April 12th and getting an appointment has not been easy due to the demand. Jackie got her's on 4th May. Here she is before she went...

And here she is after. I think she feels a bit better!