V pleasant short stroll around some of the attractions of Lincoln History weekend yesterday afternoon. Met Ajax in front of the Cornhill and spent a minute or two looking at the Norman encampment. The lad had brought Monty the dog with him as wife Sue was away with their daughter on a luxury holiday in Tenerife, or Lanzarote, or somewhere like that. He did tell me. Monty was the champion of champions at last year’s Heckington show. This had a lot to do with the fact that when the judge had finished looking at all the section winners she admitted she could not choose and asked the audience. The hound with the loudest cheer would be declared winner. There were quite a number of our camping lot watching and Monty took the title by a country mile.
The Norman stuff only needed two minutes tbh. Then we mosied towards the Posterngate where we were meeting Jezzer. En route there was a queue forming outside the Stonebow which is a v historic building. As we were early we stopped with a view to quickly nipping in for a skeet. However the doors were locked and the people stood outside said that it was open at 10:30 and 2pm. Huh ok. Thought it would be open all day, it being History Weekend an all.
On we continued to our intended destination passing Jezzer on the way, sat on a bench along Saltergate. At the door to Posterngate Ajax was informed that Monty wasn’t allowed in. Jezzer, who had already been inside whilst he was waiting for us, offered to look after Monty whilst we went and did the history bit. Was interesting enough but really only a five minutes job. 7 mins max if you wanted to read all the fairly informational but clearly well past their best boards. One sign referred to something that was going to be updated in 2007 or 2014 or similar!
We climbed, blinking eyed back into the sunlight and as it was still not quite two decided to check out the Stonebow which should shortly be opening. There were more people waiting and we asked the old bloke in the council shirt and tie who was clearly an official what the scoop was. He didn’t understand “scoop” so I rephrased the question. The tour was free but you had to have booked and it was full. This surprised me as it didn’t seem to fit with the nature of all the other History Weekend attractions which were walk ins.
Turned out the guide didn’t even know it was History Weekend and the 10:30 and 2 were their normal opening times. If we hung around we might have some noshows which would mean we could go in. However when he said it was a 45 minutes gig we decided that this didn’t fit with our extremely slack schedule and moved on.
It was at this point, when we were discussing the Steep Hill challenge ahead and why couldn’t we have arranged to meet at the top of the hill which would have better suited Jezzer and me, that Ajax declared that dog Monty being quite old wouldn’t make it up the hill and that we should repair to the Royal William IV pub on the Brayford to discuss. We spent the rest of the afternoon sat in pleasant sunshine outside the pub talking about things historical, I think.
At five thirty I declared a need to get home to cook dinner and left them to it. The Uber picked me up 100yds away at the corner of Lucy Tower Street and was already there waiting for me by the time I got there. The app had said it would be three minutes but once confirmed it said it really meant 1 minute which is the waiting time the expedited more expensive fare was going to be. I’ve got wise to that ruse. Anyway getting an Uber was a no brainer with the fare at £3.97 compared with the busfare of £3 and I wouldn’t have to walk to the bus station and stand around waiting. Uber driver Hassan got me home in plenty of time to season the steaks and warm up the grill.
This morning we are off to Wirral to see family and thence to Chester for a night out with @Barbara and George. Before we go will have to water the wildflower meadow even though it rained most of the night. Better safe than sorry innit.
Ciao amigos.
Oh, and no fox but seven separate visits over the whole night by the hedgehog at the Raised Beds and a couple of nattering Robins shortly after daybreak.
Coast to Coast Day 3 2016.
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Fox came 09:35