More NZ Guests...

Carol and David Burroughs stayed the night with us as they passed through on their way from Falmouth to Germany. Carol will be staying with us later when she returns before heading back home to NZ.

Edinburgh Party...

We had a long weekend away in Edinburgh with Chris & Lynne and Debbie for Chris’s 60^th birthday. We stayed in a flat near the Union canal and we walked along it into town and then besides the Water of Leith to the sea all on the first day. There we had lunch and visited the Royal Yacht Britannia. In the evening, we caught up with Jamie and Gia and had a night out on the town ending up at the fun Mad Hatter. The next day we visited Princes Street and the Old Town where we caught up with Jack and Jean. That evening we had a lovely meal at the Raeburn Hotel.  Next day we wandered around the pretty Royal Botanic Gardens, went on an Underground Ghost Tour and caught up with more of Chris’s friends before gathering for an evening meal in a local curry house. On our final day, we visited the Edinburgh Zoo where we saw pandas and king penguins amongst other animals – the place seems old and I felt uncomfortable about the condition of the enclosures for some of the animals.

Surprise Party...

Jamie and Gia visited and we walked through the woods looking at the bluebells and belted Galloway. Following day was Chris’s surprise 60^th birthday party with many friends and family in attendance.

More of Wot I have Seen...

We visited Cambridge in the lovely spring sunshine, wandered around the collages and along beside the river watching the punts. In the evening, we watched Nouvelle Vague play at the Cambridge Junction. Next day wandered around the very pleasant University Botanic Gardens and went and visited Anglesey Abbey and gardens before heading home.

Homegrown...

First home grown asparagus and rhubarb of the season. 

Easter Walk...

The Easter walk with the local history group passed by EM Forster’s house and a memorial to where Samuel Wilberforce (third son of William) died after a fall. We continued and had a drink at the Gomshall Mill and returned via the Witch’s Broom tree.

Teaching Games...

Recently we spent an evening with the Whittenbury’s and learned and played Ollie’s new game (Dungeon Roll).

Kiwi Visitor...

Avette stopped over with us for a few days as part of her trip to the UK. On the first afternoon, we walked around the village and played a few board games. Next day wandered around Shere and went for a pub lunch. Marc joined us later and we played another board game. Visited Arundel and looked around the castle and gardens.

Winning Game...

We supported Tom and the Dorking Rugby team as they won against the London Irish in their final.

Date Night...

Sue and I had a date night in Dorking where we went to a few pubs The Star, The Queen’s Head, and Old Home – where we watched a band called Peach.

Springtime...

As the lovey spring weather continues we spent a day out at Kew with Uncle Terry and Katherine.

Apprentice Geek...

Recently we celebrated Tom’s sixteenth birthday with family and friends and on a weekend afterwards we went into town, taking Ollie to visit comic shops (Orbital, Gosh and Forbidden Planet), a games shop (Orcs Nest) and a record shop (Fopp) and a café, while Tom was out spending his birthday money with his parents. We then all met up for dinner at Polpo.

Spring has Sprung...

We made our regular spring visit to Wisley RHS to see the early blooms as they herald the change of seasons.

Holiday Blues...

Sue went out to Tenerife (Los Gigantes) with a bunch of girlfriends and unfortunately caught a nasty bug.

Felt the Earth Move...

I felt one of the recent earthquakes that has happened in Surrey, it was relatively minor and just shook some ornaments on the sideboard.

Games Day...

Games day with Martin at James’s place where we played several games, including: 

• Roll for It; 
• Okey Dokey; 
• Pirate 21; 
• Karuba; 
• Game; 
• Space Base; 
• Epic Spell Wars of the Battle Wizards.

More of Wot I have Seen…

Sue and I had a night out at the Guildford Electric Theatre where we went to the very entertaining and accomplished Budapest Café Orchestra play. We had a meal beforehand at Yo Sushi.

More of Wot I have Read…

The Axeman’s Jazz by Ray Celestin

I enjoyed this book, partly as I have recently visited the city and like jazz music, but mostly for the well-developed characters and interesting interconnecting storylines that are based on historical events (although altered to give a greater sense of drama).

‘New Orleans, 1919. As a dark serial killer – the Axeman – stalks the city, three individuals set out to unmask him.

Detective Lieutenant Michael Talbot, heading up the official investigation, is struggling to find leads and harbouring his own grave secret. Former detective Luca d’Andrea finds himself working for the mafia – whose need to solve the mystery of the Axeman is every bit as urgent as that of the authorities. And Ida, a secretary at the Pinkerton Detective Agency, stumbles across a clue which lures her and her musician friend, Louis Armstrong, to the case and into terrible danger…

As Michael, Luca and Ida each draw closer to discovering the killer’s identity, the Axeman himself will issue a challenge to the people of New Orleans: play jazz or risk becoming the next victim.’

Spare and Found Parts by Sarah Maria Griffin

I found this book a little annoying. The characters and setting were not well developed and I found the whole thing somewhat contrived and lacking depth.

‘Nell Crane has never held a boy’s hand.

In a city devastated by an epidemic, where survivors are all missing parts—an arm, a leg, an eye—Nell has always been an outsider. Her father is the famed scientist who created the biomechanical limbs that everyone now uses. But she’s the only one with her machinery on the inside: her heart. Since the childhood operation, she has ticked. Like a clock, like a bomb. And as her community rebuilds, everyone is expected to contribute to the society’s good . . . but how can Nell live up to her father’s revolutionary ideas when she has none of her own?

Then she finds a lost mannequin’s hand while salvaging on the beach, and inspiration strikes. Can Nell build her own companion in a world that fears advanced technology? The deeper she sinks into this plan, the more she learns about her city—and her father, who is hiding secret experiments of his own.’