Sunday ~ 25/6/06 ~ Anyone for Brideshead ?

Got up early and caught the Tube to Oxford. Got there at midday and met up with Chris & Ben, then after a wander around went for Lunch at Browns. Had steak and ale pie .. as per umpteen times before ... Bimbled along the Broad and went to The KA .. a well worn path ...



Took the above pic of the Sheldonian .. for no better reason than it is such a beautiful building. Spent a lovely, lazy afternoon before catching the 9:40pm back to London.

Friday ~ 23/6/06

Odd day at Work .. everyone seemed to be "present but not voting".

Went to Red Lion after Work, sat reading Flashman in the evening sunshine till Simon and Andrew arrived. Other people turned up during the course of the evening. Fiona and Antony arrived back from Ascot. (see pic below of Fi looking rather glam, do you like her pearl choker ?).



Usual oddballs .. including the strange man in the mac who insisted on walking through the middle of us .. and then lurked nearby taking pics of us ... much to Andrea's amusement .. oh and the drunken loony who thought he was a Prophet ..

Weekend ~ Fri 16/6 - Tues 20/6

Home in Yorkshire. Was a good laugh.

Family all on good form. All systems go for my Sister & Co moving to Italy. Oh well, I mustn't grumble. Free holidays in Chiantishire and at least there is a decent Independant School in Parma for the Girls to go to, with English Teachers, so they'll grow up biluingual. At Lucy's current school I'd be amazed if she came out speaking English.

Darcey is certainly a contrast to her elder sister. Give Lucy a new book or play a board game with her and she's as happy as larry .. take your eye off Darcey and she is likely to invade Poland.

Didn't get to see David, Sara and Charlie as they are off for a few weeks in Spain. Saw Sara's parents, Norah and Ray, for Dinner on the Saturday.

Came back on Tuesday evening. Train was pretty empty as most people were watching England v Sweden. Chap across the aisle put his feet up on the seat. Goodlooking but no manners ..

Thursday 15/6/06 - Beating Retreat

Thursday evening found myself, Kate, Hope and David sitting in the sunshine on Horseguards watching the Massed Bands of the Royal Marines "Beating Retreat".

Was great fun, you can't go wrong with Monarchy*, Music and Militarism.

*Prince Philip too the Salute as Captain-General of the Royal Marines. HMQ watched it all from the window of Wellington's Office.

Then we went on for Dinner at the NLC and then Simon's birthday bash on the Tattershall Castle.