Five fifteenish. Conservatory doors open. Lovely and fresh out there but that is deceptive. Computer says it will hit thirty three today which in reality means hotter. Yesterday as I was walking from the nice air conditioned gym across the carpark to the Silver Bullet I sweated more than when I was working out. The car didn’t really have enough time to cool down before I got home. Gonna be the same today except I’ll be in campervan Betty at Woodhall Spa. Betty’s idea of air conditioning is to open the window.
I’ll be the advanced party. THG follows tomorrow. 40s weekend at the Woodhall Country Park. It isn’t the Woodhall Spa 40s weekend of old. That got cancelled because it grew so big they couldn’t afford the cost of traffic management. It was a free event. This weekend is a lot smaller, private job, that charges entry. Not much mind you. I have my outfit sorted. My biggest concern is that my shirt is long sleeved. Will have to see how it goes. She’ll be rite.
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Took the tea up at six thirty, the appointed hour. In the bedroom the wireless set had already been switched on and was belting out the Home Service. Belting out doesn’t really describe the sedate and serious nature of the news but those words have been committed to the page and it is too late to change. Did it for effect. Now, at 08:45, THG has gone swimming and I am cooking some bacon. The toast has already popped up. Breakfast on the deck methinks. Today there is no rush. I have the whole day to get packed and nip out to buy the odd thing left until the last minute: bread, bacon, bbq protein, ingredient X etc. No idea what ingredient X is. It’ll be one of those impulse buys.
A butterfly visited a number of meadow flowers in vain. The tall yellow daisies (or whatever they are called) are now in seed. It could have dropped down to the blue cornflowers but maybe blue wasn’t its thing. Plenty of insect action in the garden anyway.
Not a cloud in the sky. Mornings and evenings are the best time of day when it is really hot innit. Shame we still haven’t got the hammock. Would have been perfect with an overhead awning. Outstretched arm waiting for the occasional chilled drink to be delivered. By who I have no idea. These things just happen. Don’t they?
Yesterday afternoon I added to my 2026 membership at Notts CCC with the purchase of the same for 2027. The ashes beckon. I only really do it for the test matches although I have had the occasional day out at a county game. Life is v busy and when you combine that with trying to find someone to come with me it means there aren’t so many opportunities. Plus the county cricket schedule is somewhat disjointed these days with the various one day competitions on the go. The one change in my Notts membership is that for next year I am in the Seniors category which qualifies for a reduced price. I had previously been a Country member, living as I do, more than 20 miles from the ground. For 2027 the Seniors rate is the same as the Country rate for 2026 and they’ve whopped up the Country membership. Looking online I don’t think they are offering Country membership to new members. Anyway I’m alright jack.
The garden is completely still. Perhaps a very occasional movement of taller flowers. I’ll get it watered in a bit.
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Bag packed. Garden watered. Now sweating on the deck with a pint of cold water.