Supper

The FT's came round tonight for a very enjoyable evening, a sort of farewell supper really before they leave on Friday to go to their new home by the sea.  I cooked Christine's favourite, chicken wrapped in parma ham followed by some of the blackberries that Chris and myself picked two years ago.  It's a wonderful and exciting new phase in their lives and I'm really pleased that their long held dream has now become a reality.

Bath

This afternoon I took William to Bath for the start of his third year.   We were both very quiet in the car.  It's been really great having him home for the summer.
Christine loved the poem 'Walking Away' by Cecil Day Lewis - the last line sums it up

'And love is proved by the letting go'

Blue and Red runs

William and myself spent a great afternoon at the FOD trails.  I took it very very easy on both the Verderers and the Miners track but, and I don't know how, I took a minor tumble 150 yards from the car and landed hard on my right heel which is a bit painful.  I seem to be having a series of minor incidents even when I'm doing everything safely and sensibly!  It'll feel better in a couple of days.  It was lovely to get out with my boy on the day before he went back to Bath.  As usual William flew around the trail as the video shows - he's just a blur.

Biggles

Today we spent a fabulous day with Jane, Richard and Jess who joined us for a day at Nympsfield to watch us take glider flights.  The day was beautiful with rich blue skies and blistering sun - affording views down the river Severn to the Estuary, across the Ox bow to the Forest of Dean, up river to Gloucester and Cheltenham and down below us the thickly wooded Cotswold escarpment.

Both William and myself took control of our gliders and dropped the nose to race downwards to pick up speed and then pull back to gain height.  As we picked up thermals we spiralled upwards to 2000ft and soared across the patchwork of fields below us.

Thanks to Jane and Richard for this wonderful Christmas present

Surfs up

Spent the weekend at the Ho!  An early morning start on Saturday where we met up with the FT's and the S's.  On Saturday it was a quiet day and Will and myself pitched the tent and did a bit of sight seeing.  Sunday saw the surf steadily increase in size - fabulous with the sun shining all day.  I went in the sea but resisted the temptation to surf in case I damaged my recovering wrist.

The red run

I took Will and Ed over to the FOD trails - a very enjoyable day.  However, William came back with a buckled wheel - one of the pitfalls of down hill riding.

Cannop Pond

Spent the day walking around the FOD and resting at Cannop Ponds.  William did battle with the blue and red cycle runs and won.

FT's at FOD

William and myself spent a lovely day with the FT's at the FOD trails. While the boys ripped it up on the Verderers and the Miners trails Claire and myself took a more relaxed approach and talked and walked around the woods. I think the day took its toll on the bikes as bits seemed to be coming off them.  Thanks all for a great day.

Today I looked at last years blog.  Jerry's wonderful video of us all sledging in January last year is how I want to remember Christine - full of joy, smiling and just loving the day.  A day I'll never forget - we were so happy.  Sledging January 2013

Mum just rang me (22.00 hrs) to wish me good night - that was really lovely.  Spoke to my old school buddy Andy after loosing touch eight years ago - which was great.

Love bears all things

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.  It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  

Love never ends.

So now faith, hope, and love abide; but the greatest of these is love.

Tour of Britain

We parked the car at Leckhampton Church and walked up the hill to meet Jerry and Claire to watch the tour as it climbed it way up Leckampton Hill.

The Walkers

William and myself spent a lovely afternoon with the German Walkers.  We drove over to Witney and met up with everybody including Al's old University buddies Pete and Huge (Hugh) he's a big lad.  It's strange really - because Christine's family still love us both, I feel Christine is still with me in spirit. Thanks all.

Symonds Yat

I spent a very enjoyable day with the FT's. While I made a few sketches the FT boys paddled down the river Wye from Ross to Symonds Yat East.   I had the cast taken off my wrist on Tuesday - it's very stiff and painful but I can drive, and if I take it easy for the next few months I'll be back to normal in the New year.

A long weekend

Where do I start on such a busy few days?

Thursday lunchtime William caught the train to Bath for his exams, in the afternoon Jonathan and Melissa picked me up on the way to Midlands, I stayed at Jane's.  I saw mum's flat with all the furniture in it for the first time - it looks great, really comfortable and practical. On Friday night we all went for a curry at the local Indian, which is just around the corner from mums.  Mum loved it and wants to go again as soon as she can.

On Saturday J and M left for home and I popped over to the Gatehouses for the day. We spent the afternoon in Ludlow and at Henry's house - getting a tour of the hop yards and drying process.

Sunday was quiet and I just chilled at Jane's, in the evening Jane and me popped over to see Dale my old mucker from school.

Monday, we put up a hop garland at Jane's and I came back home.

Today, I had the cast removed from my wrist.  It's been in a cast for ten weeks - no driving has made it really difficult to get out and about. When the cast came off my wrist looked like a snake shedding its skin - yucky!  Its very thin around the the wrist but puffy at the fingers. The consultant was very pleased with how the break was healing and didn't need to put another cast on - it's going to be gentle exercises (seeing the physic tomorrow) and no heavy lifting for a few months.

A lovely few days where I got to see nearly all of my family on both sides (T's and G's) Thanks all.