A Lot of Firsts

Over the past two weeks we’ve enjoyed some family visits, and our first trip to the theatre for almost 18 months.  The only bad news was that Sandie had managed to break her left little toe, which limited her walking and caused us to modify some of our plans.

Oscar and Charlie come to stay   

Our grandsons stayed with us, for the first time since August last year.  They arrived with Claire and Ant late on Tuesday 10^th; they’d spent the day at Thorpe Park as a belated birthday celebration for Charlie.  We had dinner together and then Claire and Ant returned home.

Next morning Ian took the boys up to Hughenden Manor (main attractions: luxury hot chocolate and a good playground) while Sandie went to the hospital to have her toe checked out.  The nurse confirmed that it was broken, but no further complications.  It should heal in about 4-6 weeks – just in time for our SW coast path walk, we hope! 

In the afternoon we all went bowling.  Caroline came too, and drove Sandie into town, while Ian and the boys walked.  Caroline won our first game, and Charlie the second – with a score that placed him third on the leader board for highest scorers of the day.

On Thursday the weather was not so good, so Ian and the boys went for a short walk in the morning, then in the afternoon we all went to see the film Jungle Cruise (based on the Disney ride!) – our first visit to the cinema since before Covid.  On Friday morning Claire arrived, and had lunch with us before taking the boys home. 

Back to the theatre     

We felt quite excited about going to the theatre on Tuesday 17^th.  It was our first visit to any theatre since March 2020, and our first visit to the Theatre Royal Windsor for several years.  We used to go there regularly when we lived in Langley, but it is not so easy to get to from Wycombe.  However, when we heard that Ian McKellen was playing Hamlet, we decided we really had to go!

There is no direct bus (or train) between Wycombe and Windsor.  Originally we thought of taking the bus to Maidenhead, and walking along the river to Windsor.  Readers will know that we are very fond of walking the Thames Path!  But Sandie’s broken toe ruled out a ten-mile walk, so instead we took the bus to Slough, which is not far from Windsor. We decided to walk from Slough, and it was a pleasant stroll along the Jubilee River and across the playing fields of Eton.  The only problem was that it was so cold – no sun, dismal and windy – is this really summer?

Needless to say, Ian McKellen was brilliant, though we did rather struggle to cope with Hamlet being played by an actor aged 82.  Even apart from that, it was a rather quirky production (the first time we’ve seen a guitar-playing Ophelia).  But it was great to experience live theatre again.

On Saturday 21^st we went to the cinema – not quite the first time since lockdown, because we’d been with the boys to see Jungle Cruise, but it was the first time we’d had a night out at the cinema and watched an adult film.  We chose The Courier, based on a true-life story and starring Benedict Cumberbatch.  It was an excellent film with brilliant acting.  

Seeing all the family 

 Well, almost all – everyone except Ellie who had to work on Thursday 19^th, the day that   Andrew, Kit and Iso were coming to Wycombe. Claire decided to undertake the journey again, in order to see her brother and nieces. By coincidence, the two families arrived – from opposite directions – at almost exactly the same time.  Since we cannot accommodate nine for a meal in our flat, we went to the Spindle and Thread for lunch.  It was great to be together again, for the first time in many months, and we enjoyed a good chat as well as a pleasant meal.  

To see the rest of our family we travelled to Manchester by train on Sunday 22^nd.  Paul and Alexa met us there, as the trams were not running, and took us back to their house for coffee and cake.  Then we drove to Nuttall Park, walked round the park and into Ramsbottom.  We stopped for drinks at ‘The Mouse-trap’ where we consumed a selection of great cheeses, washed down with red wine.  We walked through the town and up to the Eagle & Child, the pub/hotel which Paul had booked for us last October (as part of our anniversary celebration). Because Greater Manchester moved into Tier 3, we were not able to go, so he had transferred the booking to tonight.  First we had drinks in the beer garden, which was very pleasant as the sun was shining – amazing.  Our room was very nice – and there was a bottle of prosecco on ice for us! 

Paul and Alexa went home, but returned to join us for dinner at 7.  Next morning they collected us at 10, and took us back to their place for coffee.  Then we set off to do a walk which Alexa had planned.  It was a lovely circular walk, with great views over the countryside.  On the way we stopped for a light pub lunch, and sat outside, enjoying the sun.  Back at the house, we sat out in the garden (a real sun trap) and drank prosecco. In the evening we played scrabble, Oh, hell! (two rounds) and another game which was new to us. 

On Tuesday morning we returned home.  Paul had to go to London on business, so we went to Manchester Piccadilly station together, and said farewell there.  The weather was gloomy when we set off, but the sun was shining brightly when we arrived back in Wycombe. 

We’ve realised that, while writing this, we’ve used the word ‘first’ many times.  Our first visit/trip/time for many months/since lockdown/Covid/last year.  Maybe things really are getting back to normal! 

Back to normal???

More than two weeks have passed since our return from Spain, and we’re more or less back to normal – whatever that is!

Local walks

The weather has not been good – cooler than usual for this time of year, with rain at frequent intervals.   Nevertheless, we’ve managed to find gaps in the clouds when we’ve been able to go for walks.   We’ve done some of our standard local walks (Hughenden, Hazlemere, Loudwater etc); one day we did a long walk to the Thames – down via Flackwell Heath and back via Little Marlow.  Over on the west side of Wycombe we explored a small nature reserve which was only just off a regular route, but for various reasons we’d never ventured in before. It was pleasant and very peaceful – especially as we were the only ones there!

Because we’d been away for some time, even walks that we’d done many times before seemed fresh.  But there was a problem on some paths.  Despite the showers, we no longer had the mud which made some walks difficult or impossible early in the year.  But the plants had grown so much, we had troubles sometimes fighting our way through the brambles. And in one field (used by horses) the wildflowers had grown up so high that there was no longer a clear track to follow.

Friends and family  

We’ve been catching up with friends and family that we haven’t seen for a while.  We’ve had several dinners with Caroline, at her place or ours.  Sandie managed to fit in two of her Tuesday coffee mornings with Daphne before Daphne left for Corfu.  We swapped news (via Zoom) with Jacqui and Roger in Loughborough.   On Friday we had a visit from Hugh (one of Ian’s Cambridge friends) whom we hadn’t seen in years, due partly to his wife Margaret’s long illness (she sadly passed away in the spring).     

We’ve had phone conversations with all of our children, and can’t wait to see them all (and our grandchildren) over the next couple of weeks.  When we arrived back from Spain, our August diary was completely blank, and there was very little for September, with the notable exception of a wedding.  Both months are now rapidly filling up. Apart from family visits, and appointments with the dentist or the optician, we’ve booked tickets for the theatre, which will be our first visit for many months.  And we’ve decided to walk the first part of the South-West coast path in September, so we’ve spent a lot of time booking hotels and making travel arrangements.  We have a lot to look forward to!     

Return of Lockdown Acrylics:

Green lizard & Vila Joyosa (Happy Town)