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1 June 2025

We had our French Twinning party over from Corné for the weekend – a great success – and we cut the ribbon on our "Corné Corner" signs (my idea originally) on the village green.

The French coach arriving

Cuttiing the ribbon on Corné Corner

Everyone (except me and Dil!) after dinner/dance

22 May 2025

I went to the Royal Surrey Hospital for my eye operation, which went well. It was on my left eye, to remove a cataract and insert stents to relieve pressure for glaucoma. During the procedure, which was painless, I saw the most amazing psychedelic colours whilrling in front of me. I'm told not everyone sees this, so I count myself lucky in that respect – and let's hope for a repeat experience when I eventually go in for the other eye!

9 May 2025

We took the car ferry from Portsmouth to Santander – without the car. The Hotel Bahia was just across the road from the ferry terminal, and we spent three nights there while the ferry returned to Portsmouth and then came back for us. Very civilised. Pictures below.

Santander harbour
with the car ferry 'Salamanca'

Hotel Bahia across the road
from the ferry terminal

Our bedroom in Hotel Bahia
on the 9th floor

View from the bedroom window
– rear of cathedral

Statues in the park in memory of
the fire in 1941

Just to prove we were in Santander

The 'Stone Crane' on the jetty
now a home for pigeons!

The Botin Centre: arts above,
coffee and arty souvenirs below

The merry-go-round in the park
opposite the hotel

We did an open-top bus tour ...

... which included a ride on a little road train

View through an arch to the Cathedral

Is this the post to Amarillo?

Obviously the HQ of the Santander Bank
had to be the grandest building on the block!

And equally obviously
we had to visit the local Zara

In a hilly town, there are escalators
by the side of some streets ...

... this one continued on
for a second flight

5 May 2025

Today we celebrated Headley Village Hall being 100 years old, although technically it wasn't opened until 31st October – but May is a more clement month to be out and about doing things. We had stalls on the village green and activities in the Hall itself. I was involved (with others) in giving a demonstration of Pilates to an admiring audience – and later in the day I gave an illustrated talk about the history of the hall, and then performed on stage in the evening. Altogether a successful day.

Centenary Banner
by Gerald Whittaker

The Stage with Foresters Banner

Gardeners Question Time
in the Marquee

Me as René Artois
in the evening

25 April 2025

I had a day of eye tests at the Royal Surrey Hospital today to see if I qualify for a European 'blind' (sic) trial between two different procudures for cataracts and glaucoma. It all depended on the pressures, and apparently I just squeezed in – so now I await the call for surgery.

13 April 2025

We ran a Spring Fair in the village hall along the lines of our annual Christmas Fair – and it was a success.
We had rather given up on Spring fairs some years ago when they were poorly attended, but this time it was the week before Easter (which was late this year) and we were lucky with the weather. Shall we do one next year when Easter is earlier? Not sure.

2 April 2025

We ran the first Folk Club in our local pub (the Arford Crown) for many, many years, and it went well. We now plan for it to be on the first Wednesday of each month. Come all ye!

28 March 2025

To the eye clinic today for my annual check – they have offered to put me on a European randomised trial for combined glaucoma/cataract surgery. But first I must have more tests to check I'm a suitable subject. Watch this space!

16 March 2025

Up to Mansfield Woodhouse in the Mini – our first long trip in it – to visit Pam & Stu for a long weekend.
While there we went to see Mr Straw's House in Worksop and Bolsover Castle, neither of which we'd visited before.

Mr Straw's House front view

Mr Straw's House back garden

Bolsover Castle model …

some of which has seen better days

… but inside the tower

… things were a lot better!

They also have a riding school
like the one we saw in Vienna

But not for these horses
at the Harley Gallery!

4 March 2025

Our wedding anniversary. Our good friends the Farnluchers had given us a voucher for a posh lunch in London, so we took the train up to Waterloo and wended our way by bus across to the Liverpool St area (new territory for us) and walked down Catherine Wheel Alley (so narrow you have to go single-file) to find the London Steakhouse. It was a lovely long, relaxed meal – and we beat the rush hour coming back on the train.

You can keep your eye on the departures board
if you sit in the right seat in the Waterloo Arms!

13 February 2025

Zak (see photo of band below) has just passed his driving test, and to celebrate he drove me to Southsea to visit the D-Day Museum which we'd both wanted to do in the past. An interesting place altogether, but the pièce de resistance is the Tank Landing Craft outside – not a replica, the real thing with real tanks on it. If it hadn't been such a cold day we'd have spent more time looking round it, but we soon sought sanctuary in the warmth of the indoor displays.

A Sherman and a Churchill on a cold Landing Craft

10 February 2025

Our affair with a Citroen C3 Aircross was short-lived, in fact it lasted just 5 months. Dil couldn't get on with it and it was a bit of a disappointment after having had two C3s before and enjoyed them. So it's back to Blighty with a Mini (OK, so I do know they're really BMWs these days!) and an automatic at that. We're quickly learning to control that left foot, always having gear shift before this.
And of course, as it's really a BMW, we're now entitled to hog the third lane on a motorway!!

Front …

… and back.

18 & 23 January 2025

The year started as ever with the village pantomime – this year our Cinderella script getting another airing. I played bass in the band (as well as directing and prompting) and Dil was the Fairy Godmother (as well as being responsible for costuming and choreography). It went well (see pictues here) although on the second weekend Cinderella lost her voice completely and had a satnd-in reading her lines from the side of the stage!

Me (with Jo Levy & Zak)

Dil

Continued …

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