Jackies blog while Brians away

Sunday Tea Club

10 days since the last blog, and now there will be two at once, a his and hers!

We started off together, on Sunday, with a Sunday tea club, a new restaurant, but as yummy as all the rest. Pete had brought a new friend, Marge, who it turns out lives in Blackwell and knew Pat and Malcolm, its a small world.

Monday Brian had to pack two bags, one for the West Highland Way, and one for me to bring to the housesit. It’s not easy thinking that far ahead.

From LtoR: Brian and Helen (out of shot), Ian, Marge, Pete, Reuben, Crystal, Manu (out of shot) and Jackie

Monday night club at Tim and Jills. That's Tim, Jill & Fiona

Then up to Tim and Jill in Derby. Tim had messaged Brian to say he was going to Glasgow on the train, the same day Brian was flying to Glasgow. Bearing in mind that Brian still hadn’t booked any hold luggage, and still needed various bits of train journey, it turned out it was virtually the same price to the flights and do it all on the train, thus removing the stress of Birmingham Airport, and trains connecting with planes. It was Monday, so Tim had also invited the rest of Monday Club. For the first time in a very long time there were eight of us, including Mark who decided that he’d go to Lichfield with Fiona, where she was meeting a friend, and run to Derby! After a lovely evening we stayed so Brian and Tim could drive to Crewe just after 06.00. Jill and I waved them off before going back to bed and chatting at a more sensible hour!

And this is Jackie, Mark, Martina and Bill. The conversation got round to all our travels from 30 years ago and Jill went and got their old photos out from that time. The photo below is Mark 30 years ago at Uni (you can see him today in this photo)

Mark 30 years ago! He won't thank us for putting this on!

Back to mums then for a week. I’d woken up with a very sore throat and didn’t feel brilliant, we had to food shop though. I did a Covid test on Wednesday before mum went to stroke support, only seemed fair. It was clear so I let her out! Sadly she did come down with my cold, I feel very guilty. We did manage to get quite a lot done though, new bedroom curtains, both had haircuts bought train tickets and organised passenger assistance through New St station, to get mum to Oakham, where her wine club group of friends from Tring were having a couple of days away. Sunday we volunteered at Forge Mill for 40’s weekend which was good fun, lots of people and cars of the period and a good atmosphere.

Tuesday I put mum on the train to Oakham before going to have a long lunch with Abi. Great to catch up with her and our bestest Sooty. I then had a whole day to myself, except for packing my bag and the car ready for our first Housesit.

Climbing frame for goats at Earlswood

I’m now between Evesham and Pershore with the very cute Cookie and Cracker. I came down early to walk the dogs, while Donna and Keith packed to head off earlier than planned to join the queues at Birmingham Airport. I was planning to go back, shop with mum after her few days away, and collect Brian. This has all gone to pot, Brian’s train from Carlisle got a crack in its windscreen, slowing it down so he missed his connection. I’ll go and get him tonight and go back to shop with mum tomorrow! And then .... chill.

And then it got worse, I was about to head to Redditch to get Brian, when the trainline told me that the late afternoon/early evening trains Birmingham to Redditch had been cancelled after Longbridge with a replacement bus service the rest of the way. Off to Longbridge then, a longer journey, but at least I got him, cold and all. More fortunately, mum got home without mishap!

The ever lovely Sooty cat

Brian back at the house-sit with Cookie and Cracker