A packed month of socialising and surprises.

November began with an unexpected visit from Alex who needed a break from London to relax and rest as he was still suffering from post covid fatigue.  Cheryl enjoyed some quality time as they went on gentle walks and had lunch out together.  His visit also coincided with a rum tasting event at The Shed.  The evening consisted of 11 different rums paired with 11 different BBQ inspired dishes.  We really enjoyed playing with the different tots of rum and the mixers and had a lot of delicious food which we just couldn’t eat so we brought home our leftovers in a goodie bag.  It was a really good evening and we happened to be on the next table to the very entertaining Paris and Carl who we had met previously in our local micro pub The Hat.  Sadly this is one business which hasn’t made it through the pandemic.

The garden has gone completely mad.  Tomatoes and sweet peppers were always likely in November from the greenhouse but to pick strawberries from the garden is absolutely bonkers.  Harvesting the squash and pumpkins is expected at this time of year but something very weird happened whilst we were away in Bristol last month.  We had lots of pears on two trees plus a few Cox apples on one tree.  Now last year we did lose a few to the squirrels but this year we’ve lost the lot!  They are not on the ground half eaten as the squirrels would leave them, they have just totally disappeared. It’s a mystery.

As covid numbers appeared to stabilise we focused on socialising again.  We had a night with Eric and Laila, Eric being one of Cheryl’s fellow councillors.  He cooked us a delicious curry with lots of side dishes and we did drink far too much wine whilst putting the world to rights.  It was a late night so when we return the meal next month we’ll start earlier in the hope we finish earlier….yeah, right!

Doris, our lovely neighbour opposite is now 92 and following the death of her husband Allan a year ago she’s very lonely. So, armed with a bottle of fizzy and some chocolates we went a calling for an afternoon of chat and fun.  Physically she’s not great, using a Zimmer to move around, but she’s as sharp as a tack in her mind and made us laugh as she told us stories of when she was younger including the fact that she worked at Radio Luxembourg and knew Horace Bachelor, young folk you’ll need to put this name into Google and find out why it’s synonymous with Keynsham where Cheryl grew up.

Then it was time for some 007!  We headed off to The Gateway with 6 neighbours to watch No Time to Die.  Taking advantage of the picnic night we enjoyed our picnic food and drinks from the bar before the film started.  The evening was good, the film not so brilliant but, once again, it was great to be socialising again.

Then another surprise visit from Leanne this time who was on her way down to visit an old Uni. Friend in Brixham.  We had time to go out for a walk, have lunch at The Anchor in Beer, find a geo cache in the park and then wave her off.

Next night it was a quiz to raise funds for the Hospital League of Friends with Bob ‘n Sheila and  Matt and Tracy, who used to live in Lone Pine.  We came fourth but managed to have a lot more fun than any other table as we all sang along to the answers of the music section which contained lots of 80’s stuff.  We were very noisy.

The following day we decided on a day out by bus to Lyme Regis to enjoy a community lunch put on for members of the Good Food Club.  This is an initiative run by The Old Dairy Kitchen which provides meals of restaurant quality using local produce.  Week by week the amount of food delivered ready to eat reduces and more ingredients are added so participants learn new cooking techniques.  There was also a range of charges per month so that anyone, regardless of income could participate with some receiving the meals for free subsidised by the other members.  It’s been an interesting journey, some recipes easier to follow than others, and it’s certainly made us try things we wouldn’t normally eat.  The lunch was to bring together the members so we could meet and enjoy food provided by the organisers.  A great initiative and the food and company were excellent.  We ended the day with a walk around Lyme before catching the bus back.

A few days later and another fun packed night with neighbours Bob, Sheila, Paul & Maureen.  Early dinner in The Shed followed by The Polar Express.  As volunteers we were offered free tickets for a couple of guests each for the technical run through of the Tramway’s premier event.  This attracts thousands of visitors and is the equivalent of Panto in terms of the revenue it brings.  The whole evening is themed and follows the format of the film The Polar Express which starred Tom Hanks.  Professional actors are employed and the stations are transformed with Colyton becoming The North Pole.  The opening song and dance routine was spectacular and the Trams become The Polar Express itself.  A great evening, the kids were enthralled and we did our bit to participate in any singing and dancing required.

It was soon to be Cheryl’s birthday and we took a 3 night break at a country hotel between Bodmin and Padstow.  It was bed, breakfast, 3 course evening meal including a bottle of wine.  The price was great, the hotel staff and guests very friendly and it was all going swimmingly until we had a text from Karen next door just checking ‘that you two are OK after the huge tree fell down’.  It was definitely an ‘oh shit’ moment thinking that we would have to leave immediately to go home and fix whatever has been destroyed by Storm Arwen.  In a bit of a panic we tried to call Karen but she didn’t answer so we contacted Bob over the road.  He went to look at the damage and met Karen who had since called us back.  Fortunately, the 40ft Eucalyptus had politely fallen in the one place where it didn’t cause any damage – miracles do happen.

Not having to cut our trip short meant we could continue with our plan to visit Yvonne who lives near Bude, just a 40 minute drive away.  Before Covid we used to meet her and husband John in Goa at the same complex, Micon.  They were neighbours and we enjoyed lots of laughs and meals and, of course, party boats.  It was great to see her.

On the way home from Cornwall we stopped off at the vaccination centre outside Exeter to get our Covid booster.  All good with Neil OK and Cheryl having some minor after effects.

Neil has been desperate to get some proper travelling back on the agenda.  However, the prospect of us flying to Goa after Christmas was looking increasingly unlikely as although scheduled flights had been announced as starting mid month, India refused to issue long stay visas or allow the flights to resume.  Then BA, trying to rationalise their flights, ended the uncertainty for us by cancelling our outgoing flight. We could either reschedule or take a voucher to rebook flights to any destination without incurring any loss.  So, we took the voucher option and we are working on plan B, Mexico.  We were meant to be going a few years ago but covid put pay to that.  The planning is already underway during quiet times and wet days so we should have 7 weeks of exploring a totally new country.  We’ve updated our travel jabs, Diphtheria, tetanus et al in the hope that Covid permitting, we finally get somewhere, anywhere, please? 

As if Plan B Mexico wasn’t enough we’ve also booked something else for October 2022……a cruise.  Cheryl has had Egypt on her bucket list for years so we’re off for 4 nights in Cairo, 7 nights cruising the Nile and 10 nights wallowing on the Red Sea, 5* all inclusive.  Sorry to shock our regular readers – yes you did read that correctly, former cheapskates have booked a 5*, and you thought there couldn’t be any more surprises, ha ha.