Out in the Country…

Recently we visited friends Andy and Jodie who live near Ludlow in Shropshire and we caught up with them tacking time out to visit the delightful market town of Shrewsbury where we had lunch in the fabulous Henry Tudor House with ‘period’ pictures of past musicians and comedians. We enjoyed a few new card games, lovely home cooked food and a drink or two and were sad when the weekend was over and we had to return home.  

More of wot I have seen…

I have been out to the movies a couple of times this year. We went with Bed and Barbara to see Lion and we were very impressed with the acting in this somewhat sentimental working of a true story. Next I saw the Lego Batman film with Chris while the girls were at a baby shower and we enjoyed the silliness of it and loved the references put in for the grownups.

More of wot I have heard…

I have bought some new music for my birthday and the first batch included the following:

Vance Joy – Dream Your Life Away. An Australian act recommended by friends in NZ.

Lawrence Arabia – Absolute Truth. A kiwi act also recommended by friends. Reminded me of the old Flying Nun sound of old.

Bread – Best of Bread. This was a retro choice and I knew pretty much all of the tracks on the album.

Izzy Bizu – Talking to You. A digital download of the single as it is such a catchy track.

Rag’n’Bone Man – Human. A digital download as a result of seeing him perform on Hootenanny and hearing this track on the radio. Very soulful.

Ed Sheeran – Castle on the Hill. Another digital download and this single has a very nostalgic feel to it that is very appealing.

Rumer – This Girl’s in Love – A Bacharach and David Songbook. We just love the sound of her voice.

Van Morrison – Duets: Re-working the Catalogue. Bought for a cousin but an interesting paring with different artists.

Gin Festival…

As part of a gift to blonde Deb and Dave and to Chris and Carole, we bought tickets to the London Gin Festival. Sue and I travelled up earlier to have a wonder around Wapping on a lovely winter day and we met Chris and Carole for lunch at a pub on the river.

The festival was held in a large covered market and included a glass, guide book and few other giveaways with the drinks being provided in exchange for tokens purchased separately. There was a tasting area, talks, a cocktail bar and food hall, but the main event was in a large hall with the bars spread around the circumference. Live music was also provided and as the drink was consumed there developed a real party atmosphere. 

Cardiff Conference…

I spent a few days in Cardiff for a company sales conference and was pleasantly surprised with the lovely weather in this part of Wales. The hotel was located in the castle district opposite the rather impressive ramparts and near a few interesting old malls.

The highlight of the trips was meeting the New Zealand Silver Fern Netball team who were staying in the same hotel while they were over to play a couple of friendlies against the Wales national team. I managed to get a photo with them and I wasn’t the tallest there.

For the big evening out our company group went to the nearby Zero Degrees brewery where we enjoyed a few of the brews made on site.

Out and About in London…

This weekend started on the Thursday night with a folk-opera show called The Transports at the Cecil Sharp House. We saw this with Terry and Gill and were very inspired and moved with the story based on the true events surrounding the transportation of convicts to Australia.

Next morning we started with cocktails at the new Design Museum at Holland Park. It is a fabulous building of great architectural merit and the displays were very interesting and thought provoking. Afterwards we walked through the park and spent a little time at the Japanese gardens which were very peaceful.

We travelled to Soho to meet up with Jamie for lunch and a drink and spent an enjoyable few hours in his company.

That evening we saw the strangest puppet show every at Wilton’s Music Hall. It was called The Depraved Appetite ofTarrare the Freak, and freaky it was too. I loved it! After that we ended up at the Blues Kitchen where we were some of the oldest people there. It was a good evening.

Breakfast the next morning was back in Soho and refuelled we walked through Chinatown (picking up a couple of steamed buns on the way) and headed back home.

That evening was a more relaxed affair as we collapsed in front of the television and eat fish and chips from the local van. 

The Big 30…

The youngest of the nephews, Terry, had his 30^th birthday, with a family dinner at Deb’s. 

Rippered Off…

After a bit of email ping pong we arranged to visit London this time to join a Jack the Ripper Tour gifted to us for Christmas. We arrived earlier so that we could explore Old Spitalfields Market and have a snack, and a few drinks in Brick Lane, which we thoroughly enjoyed. Unfortunately the guide never turned up and left a group of us wondering what had happened. The money was refunded later. 

The End and Beginning…

The transition from the old year into the new start for us with a visit to London to see a matinée performance of the pantomime Mother Goose at the delightful Victorian shabby chic Wilton’s Music Hall. It was a joyful experience headed up by Roy Hood as Mother Goose.

Later we met up with Jamie and Gia for a few drinks and a chinwag before we headed home for an evening watching the Hootenanny.

On New Year’s Day walk we joined the local history group for a stroll that ended up at to the oldest house in the village where there were mince pies and mulled wine.

Later we played a few new board games and chilled out at home.

Winter Walk…

Was also at ours this year and we were blessed with a lovely winter’s day that allowed us out into the fields around Westcott before returning to celebrate the season with work friends old and new.

Boxing Day…

Was back at ours this year with Terry and Gill, our neighbour Howard and Debs. 

Christmas Dinner…

Was a more traditional affair held at Deb’s house with a full table groaning with food and happy guests with groaning bellies afterwards.

Christmas Eve Party…

The theme for this year’s celebrations at ours was Jamaican with jerk chicken and my ting-ting sauce, rice and peas, pineapple cake, patties and plenty of cocktails courtesy of our new shaker. It was an enjoyable time for all.

Another Year…

I surprised Sue with a couple of large paintings for our wedding anniversary. I had managed to paint the canvases up in the loft space over a couple of nights while she was out and had hung them before she came home from work. They were simple landscapes inspired by the colour scheme of the feature wallpaper on the opposite wall and included a few small elephants as she loves them. 

Birthday Girl…

We celebrated Deb’s birthday in Dorking this year with Chris and Carole and ending at the Star where they had a singer’s night with some very talented acts.

Christmas Carols…

The much anticipated gathering at Terry’s neighbours (Alistair and Brunie) where the guests bring a dish and their sing voice and we celebrate the season in style. 

Party Season Starts…

With a Xmas party at Deb’s. Plenty of old fogies, abundant alcohol and a selfie stick.

Games Day…

Recently I got together with a few friends as part of our semi-regular face-to-face gaming days. Here we played a few varied games including:

Fury of Dracula – In this I was Dracula vs the vampire hunters and I was doing quite well until I got cornered in England and a valiant self-sacrificing all-out attack from one of the hunters eventually put me down.

Sushi Go! – a sweet, easy to learn, easy to play game.

Machi Koro with Harbour expansion – the expansion turns it into a 5 player game and adds a different way of arranging the marketplace, it slowly progressed until a gamble by Martin and a series of doubles paid out big time enabling him to a win with a landslide.

Spartacus with Shadow of Death expansion – I have not usually succeded in this game before, but we played the quick version and I was able to capitalise when Martin bought an almost unbeatable gladiator by manipulating him into decimating our enemies.

Dead of Winter – a co-op survival game that soon had us overrun by the zombie horde.

Christmas is coming to Town…

Our late holiday had put us a little on the back foot for Christmas, but after a concerted effort in the shops and on-line we are mostly there, and with the help of Deb’s we have the house decorated and are now ready-ish for the big event.

Our festive celebrations have started with lunch at Chris and Carole’s where a generous spread was provided and much jolly fun was had by all.

Tasty Tasting Meal…

Uncle Tony arranged to take many of us out for a family dinner at Drakes near Wisley. Here we were treated like royalty and provided with a spectacular series of delicious masterpieces accompanied by perfectly matched wines. It was a culinary delight throughout.