Brian and Jackie Cross: Back from housesitting to a social whirl

Tuesday 18 July 2023

Back from housesitting to a social whirl

Taking Monty dog for a walk last Saturday with Helen, Phil, Jackie, Ian (in the distance) and Sue (out of sight)

I wrote the last blog 10 days ago, though it took Brian 2 days to post it because he was spending all his time transferring and editing videos. This one might be the same as he’s outside digging out roots so he can put down some concrete and then get a shed, so whether he’s going to want to post when he finishes is most unlikely.

Taking Ruby dog on our 8 mile walk round Carsington Water (see our Relive short video with more photos: click here)

We took Ruby for a last long walk at Carsington water, last Friday 8ish miles round a reservoir, very popular with cyclists, though there were more hills than I expected. We were overtaken by a couple of cyclists only to come upon them a short while later standing by the path. I asked if they were ok to be shown a bit of a messy elbow, knee, and both palms. She’d come a right cropper. They had no first aid kit, but we did, surprisingly, as Brian moans about carrying it on a regular basis. Glad to be of service I savlon’d and covered all the various bits as we all had a chat. She was all for carrying on, but they never came past us again, so he must have got his way and returned them to the carpark. Ruby is a very intuitive dog, she’ll moan and winge if we stand talking to people, but when it’s important she didn’t utter a peep and was as good as gold. She was like that last time, when the car blew up and she had to wait for hours to be taken home. She’s a fabulous therapy dog.

No photos our our pub lunch or first aid to an injured cyclist, but we had a lovely but long day

We stopped two thirds of the way round at the Miners Arms for lunch. Brian’s was really good, where mine was ‘interesting’! Ruby however was very happy as they have four tubs of dog biscuits for you to help yourself from (us, not her obviously!) Having finished the walk we all rounded off with an ice cream, we’ll it seemed rude not to buy Ruby a dog one if we were having one! She had a good day!

Needless to say, we had a quiet Ruby dog that night!

I started this on Thursday, it’s now Tuesday and time has flown, but re the above, we saw Tim and Jill last night, and apparently Ruby dog had never had a doggy ice cream before, she had a REALLY good day!

Likewise for Stimpy cat

Saturday Brian went off to do his park run, on his own as the forecast wasn’t very good. Very disappointingly though it was cancelled due to the ‘Race for Life’ he wasn’t the only one to have been caught out, not that that helped him much! He didn’t bother taking himself for a run though after the walk the previous day.

And they even sat quite close to each other on occasions too

We pottered and chilled with a tired dog for the weekend before coming home on Monday after dropping Ruby round with Johanna and Ebony dog for a doggy sleepover. We had to get back as Tuesday we went down to Aylesbury to Caroline’s end of year concert. She and her friend Syd were playing their flutes in the foyer before the concert started, then she was in senior choir, senior orchestra, concert band and acabellas. We have to say it was a thoroughly enjoyable evening, the standard of performance was incredibly high, and what was really special was that the kids themselves conducted, choreographed the dance and presented.

A snippet of Caroline and Syd playing their flutes

We stayed over so we could actually spend some time with Caroline the following day. We went into Leighton Buzzard, looking for the party shop. We were off to a pirates of the Caribbean party on Saturday and hadn’t really thought about costumes! We’d just got sorted with parrot and cutlass when Charles rang Caroline to say his train was arriving in about half an hour, and we were about half an hour away. We abandoned the plans we had for lunch to go and collect him, thinking he would join us.

This is the only photo we were allowed to take at the concert

He didn’t look a well man though, he’d been down visiting an infantry unit which apparently had involved huge amounts of alcohol and not much sleep for two nights! We took him home and went to the Travellers Rest where Caroline works, might as well take advantage of her staff discount then! Lovely lunch, and a thoroughly enjoyable visit. Back in time for Wednesday club with John and co, at the Weighbridge having not been there for ages

In Grand Central (New Street) station in Birmingham and there's Ozzy the bulls horns peeking out waiting for the big unveiling

Friday we were out again with Terry and Sue at the Saxon Mill in Warwick for the annual business meeting. We got two trains to Leamington Spa, changing at New Street where we just had time to go and see Ozzy, the bull from the Commonwealth Games. There was such an outcry at the end of the games that he was just going to be destroyed he’s been rebuilt and found a new home. He wasn’t officially open, so was hiding behind some information boards. We were pleased to see that we were actually visible in the picture from the night, and by some strange quirk I was wearing my trousers and jacket from the performance! We had a lovely lunch, much wine was drunk and much rubbish was talked. We finally got home about 8pm. That’s what you call a lunch!

Jackie standing in front of the photo of us at the Commonwealth Games last year - and she's wearing the same jacket and trousers

Saturday Brian went to do a park run before we headed over to Helen and Ian. Phil and Sue were also there and we were all going to stay and go to Mike and Ella’s pirate BBQ.

And there we are! You can see Jackie in her dark green jacket just left of centre, I am next but one to the right of her with my flat cap on

We managed to just about miss the showers and took the dog out for a couple of pints before dressing and going to the party. Amazingly it stayed dry, though not particularly warm. As I was wearing two skirts this wasn’t such a problem for me! A good evening was had by all and it was great to catch up with Linda one of our fellow marshals from the Commonwealth Games who we’d just got talking to before discovering we had Ella in common.

Out for a few pints in Stirchley on Saturday afternoon before the party. LtoR: Sue, Phil, Brian, Helen, Ian and Jackie

Sunday was breakfast BBQ before visiting the allotment. I’ve got great meals to cook for the next couple of days, thanks H&I. We got back in time to catch up with Helen and Richard who were visiting John for a few days, lovely to see them, though I was surprised not to see Richard at the Weighbridge later.

We're ready! Waiting outside Ian and Helen's for the taxi. Not sure what the driver thought!

Yesterday was busy (seems the norm at the moment) the BBC have finally paid my pension so I will get a monthly income but I also took the 25% tax free sum. This was sitting in my bank account over the weekend. Fortunately Santander didn’t go bust! So we’ve paid that to the various places Jason has recommended, and I can breathe again. We also collected mums will from the solicitor. We’d waited the required time 20 days between sending in the inheritance tax form, so we could finally apply for probate, hurrah! Just have to wait up to 16 weeks now! I’ve sent off the original will so fingers crossed it doesn’t get lost.

Bill and Martina were there too

Last night was Monday Club so fab Diwans curry and a couple of pints in the Old Mo. Lovely to see Tim and Jill to hear about Cuba, and Mark, Bill and Martina obviously.

A great time was had by all

Today Brian has finished off his shuttering for the shed base and laid most of the concrete, though it’s now raining, and we’ve had a water meter fitted. Just popping out to get a touch more cement, and look at Iceland. Apparently Tuesday is 10% off for the over 60’s