A fellow treehugger

 Dear Marmite

Who would credit it? Ezra-Mae is showing her true colours very early. She is a treehugger! So by nature, she is very much in the Woolhead tradition. On that same afternoon while I was looking after her, she also proved herself to be a beer swigger, an escapologist, a burger thief and a charmer! I wonder where those traits come from?  She was all over the place. 

I was multi-tasking while looking after my grand-daughter. I was the MC for the afternoon - if only to annoy the neighbours with my very loud, hockey-pitch voice! I remembered to turn the mic off each time I talked to Ezra-Mae or swore so I consider myself a success in the role for those reasons only.

All this happened on last Saturday, April 23rd - St. George's Day - the Community Orchard in Wolverton held an open event to celebrate the renovation of a railway carriage that is now 150 years old. As there really is a dragon in the Orchard, the day seemed quite auspicious.

That little haven in a dedicated railway town really does know how to put on a party - Teas and cakes were served from the carriage itself while a collection of kippered men did a roaring trade on the burgers. A Scottish country dance troop and a local band entertained. There was even a stall for children to make dragon sock puppets fierce enough to frighten any saint! I tried to imagine a warm, sunny balm but in reality it was a bit on the chilly side for April. It didn't stop the crowds, luckily. That is England for you. 

I have started my swim Marms! Yes, I have done 372 lengths already and that took one week. Today I am off again for another splosh. The final total is just under 4000 lengths so a little way to go yet. You will be pleased to know that your picture is on the wall to show where we have got to. I imagine you by my side all the way.

I have also been brave enough to inject green slime into my bike tyre. The thought of doing it was far worse that actually pumping the stuff in. I can thoroughly recommend the stuff. After you fill the tyre with green slime you have to cycle for 30 minute to distribute it in the tyre and so fill the hole. I live in a very small village I didn't want to go far from base in case it didn't work so I cycled up and down the same place far too many times. I kept seeing the same people and felt the need to explain myself. I am not sure why I should feel embarrassed going to and fro but to me it didn't seem normal. Perhaps I am not!

And so another week begins and there are lots of things to look forward to - a tennis match, a couple of jaunts, meeting friends. What is there not to like about retirement!

As always, I love you Marms

XXX

Happy Easter number 3!!

 Dear Marmite

Time flies and this is my third Easter here in the UK. The days are getting longer and the weather at last is heating up. We have been promised temperatures as high as 22c. This, I know, you will think as cool. For me - I am already excited about playing tennis in clement conditions.

With Spring in my heart, I set off on Monday for a bike ride to the Three Locks along the canal. This was a team trip with Yvonne and her hunsband, Steve. The round trip was about 30 miles except we didn't finish. I got a blow out near Campbell Park and despite being with a maestro tyre fixer, I ended up walking back the way I came. Yvonne and Steve headed for a pub much closer to home, while I trudged on pushing my bike dreaming of the beer I had promised myself. This weekend my plan is to get the tyre sorted so I can go off again and do another jaunt if only to sit in a pub garden and have a beer!

Meanwhile, I have promised myself that I will do a long swim equivalent to a section of the Thames. I am planning to do a lot to start with so that any missed swims because of a potential social life won't stop me reaching the target. I used to Swim with you, Marms, so I plan to have your face as my picture on the wall chart. I'll imagine you alongside me all the way.

I have also caught up with Singapore friends too. David, who used to give you the ocassional walk, came for lunch last weekend. We did a quick circuit of the Ouse Valley Flood Plain - weather was glorious (UK style). I know, Marms, walking doesn't float your boat. That was always a No No and if you could, you would have let me take the lead without you attached. 

I then popped down to Chippenham to visit Rachel. Another lovely catch up. You'll be pleased to know that Claude - the white fluffball of a dog - who you used to walk with is doing well. We did a walk round Chippenham and then an amazing trip to Alcock - This is a National Trust Village that features in period dramas. I felt  mightily underdressed for the ocassion. I needed a lovely bonnet, Empire line, long dress and a muff  - and lots of lace - to blend in with the architecture.

So, all in all I have had a wonderful busy time. If only you could come and see my life over here. I have a comfortable car that you could come along for a ride in. I promise I wouldn't make you walk too much. There is nothing quite as nice as England when the weather is good and the evenings stretch out. 

Missing you loads and love you so much

Love

XXX

Ramadan Kareem!

 Dear Marmite

Ramadam Kareen to all my Muslim friends! While many in our world are denying themselves throughout daylight hours, I continue to potter around doing the same old things as the seasons change. I have evidence of this as today in my inbox was a Google Timeline of my last month's outings. Big Brother is truly watching me, Isn't that scary? So many of my journeys are repeated over the month - swimming and back, tennis and back, New Bradwell and back. My world is so small - I really do just potter! 

Enthusiastically, as March came, I planted loads of seeds in my garden and then in April it snowed! Argh! I was out in my little garden early one morning, inspecting the pots when I thought I saw ash floating around. It wasn't ash, it was snow. The ocassional flake rapidly turned into a flurry.  I had far too many pots to protect them all. Now the weather is marginally warmer, I reckon my seeds have suffered. I need a cloche, or a mini cold frame. This is on my wish list for next year. I am thinking of getting a cover for my bins and turn that top of that into a roof-top planting area.

My grand daughter is walking at last! Now is the time to tell her to sit down and shut up. Walking is one of those big milestones that Mum's never forget. It is a real sign of independence and a new need to put even more things out of the way. It won't be long before she will be walking alongside Shadow. Love you Ezra-Mae! 

I know walking is getting tougher by the week for you, dear Marms. You were always a great swimmer  though and I have set myself a goal for ploughing through the miles. While I do it I'll be thinking of you swimming along with me as you used to do. My local pool has a challenge to swim part of the length of the Thames - 58 miles. I don't have to do this all at once. I reckon 5 miles a week is do-able and I have til October to do this. I am using your face to represent me on the swim chart.

One of the downsides of doing this swim is that my Samsung fitness watch number 2 is on the blink. I use it to count my lengths and when it lets me down I find it hard to remember how many I have done. The first Samsung watch died two weeks after it passed the warranty. This one has lasted 18 months so far. It needs to go another 58 miles at least. I just hate the way they don''t last. errgh...

This one is for certain friends who will find this joke funnier than it really is. The horse in the picture isn't Eric, by the way!

I am sure you are in on the joke, Marms - 

Love you

XXX