More of wot I had heard…

The other day we were walking past the Old Kings Head Court in Dorking when we heard music, and so we followed the sound and took a table at the Courtyard Café to enjoy coffee in the sunshine and guitar music courtesy of Kai Jansen. We had a chat with this personable musician and bought his album Passport from him.  We also looked at some of the lovely artwork at the John Arthur Gallery there

More of wot I have read…

Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey

This is an interesting read, written from the perspective of an old woman suffering from dementia as she tries to hold onto her fading memories and solve a many-decade’s long puzzle. It is sensitively written and goes some way to express what it might be like to suffer this debilitating and cruel illness.

‘Maud is forgetful. She makes a cup of tea and doesn’t remember to drink it. She goes to the shops and forgets why she went. Sometimes her home is unrecognisable – or her daughter Helen seems a total stranger.

But there’s one thing Maud is sure of; her friend Elizabeth is missing. The note in her pocket tells her so. And no matter who tells her to stop going on about it, to leave it alone, to shut up. Maud will get to the bottom of it.

Because somewhere in Maud’s damaged mind lies the answer to an unsolved seventy-year-old mystery. One everyone has forgotten about.

Everyone, except Maud…’

More DIY and Gardening…

We have now pretty much finished the first phase of redecoration after three weekends in a row. The ceiling front room, rear bedroom and bathroom were re-plastered and  now have been painted along with our bedroom, and we have gone out for quotes for new carpet for the stairs, hall and back bedroom. There are just a few finish touches to be made but now we can have a couple of weekends off before we contemplate the dining room and kitchen (once you do one room all the others look scruffy). The will just leave the attic room which may include fitted storage and does not need immediate attention.

All this DIY meant the garden had been neglected so it need some attention with grass cutting (using the strimmer after an abortive attempt to get the lawn mower to work), weeding, and earthing up the sprouting potatoes. Needless to say we were glad to sit down and put our feet up at the end.

Fish & Chips at the Seaside…

I little while back we had a family run out to Dungeness where had a look around the wild landscape of vast shingle banks and wide open marshland that form the National Nature Reserve. Here too is where Derek Jarman retired to his Prospect Cottage when he became ill and on the side of which is written John Donne’s poem ‘The Sun Rising’.  After looking in at a quirk little gallery, outside of which is a sculpture made of flotsam, we went to eat at the Pilot Inn, reputed to serve the best fish and chips. This establishment was built with the timbers of the wreaked Spanish ship Alfresia that was lured onto the shore in 1633 by nefarious types eager to loot it of its cargo of spirits.

Suitable refreshed we drove along to Winchealsea to see a tea shop that Sue’s mum once contemplated buying many years before. It is now a Farm Shop but much of the old town is still the same and we explored the churchyard where Spike Milligan is buried and whose headstone bares the inscription, in Gallic, ‘I told you I was I’ll’. We had a drink at the New Inn opposite before travelling back to Seaford to see Chris and Lyne’s garden work and then back home.

More of wot I have seen…

We saw Belle and Sebastian at the Guildhall in Porstmouth and since it was a Tuesday we stayed in the nearby Ibis hotel overnight. The band was fabulous playing a mix of their new album and favourite songs from their extensive back catalogue. They had some entertaining video graphics playing on a screen behind them and brought several people from the crowd onto the stage to dance along to some of the songs.

The tour was to promote their new album: Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance.

They were supported by an enthusiastic American indie rock band called the Lower Dens.

Plaster & Paint…

We have started some decorating at home with a plasterer coming in to fix the ceilings in the front room, rear bedroom and bathroom and with Sue’s cousin helping us out with some preparations to get them ready for painting. With assistance of Sue’s sister we did some of the rooms and currently have completed the front room and the hall painting with the first coat on in the bathroom. This weekend we plan to finish the paintwork and order the new carpet, with the front bedroom to follow the next weekend and the remaining rooms sometime later on. Not a fan if DIY and we have had a few issues along the way but it is beginning to look better and fresher for the update.

A sad day…

We went to the funeral of a neighbour and friend who had battled bravely against cancer and showed great dignity in the face of the inevitable. Too young she left her family and friends to continue on without her. The moving ceremony was well attended and had heartfelt readings from the family and was followed with drinks at the local pub. 

Being Sociable…

We met Fi and Bexi in London while they were over on a recce mission, meeting at Portobello Street Market where we browsed some of the shops and stalls and I picked up a watch and Fi some jewellery.  We had an enjoyable pause at the boutique chocolate shop Alexeeva and Jones where the girls had mochas and hot chocolate and I had a chocolate & whiskey taster.

Suitably fortified we then went on to Camden Market where Bexi was meeting some friends. Fi bought a leather coat. The market was too busy for us so we escaped along Regents canal and headed towards Regents Park, through it, and on to The Albany pub for lunch. Fi and Bexi returned to the hotel while Sue an I wandered around the local area looking at coffee shops (HR Higgens – by Royal appointment), art galleries and drinking establishments (Barley Mow) meeting again at hotel for a delicious dinner in the Maze Grill.

Following day met Terry and Gill and went up Box Hill for a walk in the woods then on to the historic Dolphin pub for a yummy lunch.

Met Marc in Dorking later that afternoon and brought him home where we caught up on the latest news. Howard popped over for a little while and we had cheese and nibbles, and after he left we had a meal and spent more time chatting before retiring for the night.