Still being 'Normal' in the Midlands

Cheers John! A GnT and a beer was necessary after the relief of the good news following John's op. A collective sigh of relief  and glasses clinking from many in the village

Monday was a ‘normal’ Monday Club, all eight of us met in the Old Moseley Arms for a pint before going to Diwans for our first Brum curry. A thoroughly enjoyable evening and a great curry. Now we know we are back.

Ducks standing on the ice on the Grand Union canal in Alvechurch on our cold but bright walk through to Barnt Green and back

Tuesday, surprisingly, we were told we could go and collect our, new to us, car. Well we’ve got it, it drives nicely and amazingly we got just over £500 for our old one from Webuyanycar.com. Sadly, the thing we knew it would fail its MOT on, the flashing airbag light, was still flashing when I got in it. Hopefully that will get sorted on Tuesday! We then came back and moved to John’s. Helen and Richard had been up and taken him to the hospital in Basingstoke where he was going to have the big operation to remove the tumour, appendix and other apparently unnecessary organs. He’s been waiting since March, so everything was crossed for it going ahead.

On the return leg back on the canal just outside Alvechurch. That house used to be a lock keepers house and was derelict for years. It has recently been refurbished to what looks like a high standard, complete with solar panels and is now a holiday let. Nice location with a great view, but a long way from any shops and pubs. 

Wednesday, the start of the cold snap we stayed in and fiddled with the central heating which kept tripping out. We finally got hold of the boiler man who promised to come round on Thursday afternoon. We went out on Thursday morning, firstly because it was jolly cold, so a walk sort of made sense, and secondly because the cleaner was coming so staying out of the way also made sense. We had a nice little lunch with mum in ‘The Lounge’ in the village before getting back for the boilerman. He sucked his teeth, it’s very old (30 years plus), and horrible microbore pipe. He chopped out a bit of pipe he couldn’t unblock, bled the air out after unblocking the valve, and said what we knew that a whole new system is required. This is not surprising, but not good news for John to come home to. Running up and down stairs to reset the boiler regularly will not be good for a convalescent! We are getting a quote, and hope he will give the go ahead for us to get the work done before he gets back!

Another crisp, sunny walk in Arrow Valley with Denise and Paul. Have a look at our short Relive video with photos: click here

Thursday was John’s operation day. He was taken down at 07.30, for surgery to begin about 09.30 for 10-12 hours! Helen was to receive updates and pass them on to the specially set up WhatsApp group. Just before 18.30 we got the message we had all been waiting for that they had removed everything nasty and all was looking good. Large G&T’s all round then.

As usual, chatter is non-stop. Its the reason we made two mistakes on the walk having to backtrack, as no-one was paying enough attention to the map!

Friday we met up with Denise and Paul for a lovely crisp walk around Arrow Valley in Redditch, a hot chocolate and chat with Debbie at Forge Mill, and a good meal at The Boot in Mappleborough Green rounded off a thoroughly enjoyable day.

The ruins of Bordesley Abbey by Forge Mill in Redditch. We'd hoped to walk round it but the gates were locked. The abbey was another victim of the Dissolution of the Monasteries carried out by King Henry VIII. His trail of destruction across the country is everywhere to see

Saturday we thought we were seeing Fiona and James, but they asked if we could swap to Sunday, so I slow roasted our pork shoulder on Saturday instead, and jolly yummy it was too. It is strange doing something like that, and having mum round, in this house where I have spent so much time, and where I am in so many pictures. There is even one of the day Sarah and John first met Brian, round at mums as we demolished her shed!

Forge Mill Needle Museum. It is a real old mill and they did used to forge needles (for knitting and sewing) here. It's now a museum with lots of old working machinery as well as having a cafe and staging special events (including a 1940's day) during the year. Jackie's mum used to volunteer here so we've visited a number of times in the past. A good place to enjoy a hot chocolate in warm surroundings halfway through our walk

Today then, B has just gone for a run (barking I know). He did go to the park run yesterday, but got there to find it was cancelled as it was too cold for the marshals! I’ve written the blog and we are off to Fi and James after lunch.

The Forge Mill original needle factory viewed from the other side of the River Arrow.

Views over the local countryside. It really is a green and pleasant land!