Busy busy bust

This could be a long blog post. If you get bored easily go now and do something useful. You'll feel all the better for doing something worthwhile.  I have had a busy few weeks as have those around me so I have to cover odds and sods from last time, the launch of Caz's book, my trip to Europe on the Marco Polo and a wonderful weekend in the Cotswolds. Plus Pam and gang have been skiing and Florence had a birthday. I think I'll make the Marco Polo a separate post. It'll be along very soon so be patient.

First a few oddments.

Tony Benn  (3 April 1925 – 14 March 2014) was a British Labour politician who was a Member of Parliament (MP) for 47 years between 1950 and 2001 and a Cabinet minister under Harold Wilson and James Callaghan in the 1960s and 1970s.

I know he's been dead a few weeks now but I met Tony Benn once years ago when I was gainfully employed. To put it in context in Harrow, Stanmore to be exact, there was a house called Heywood. It's now a block of flats. Heywood has three claims to fame as far as I'm concerned. Firstly it was the home of Clement Attleee, post war Labour Prime Minister whose raft of legislation included setting up the NHS. Secondly it was subsequently turned into a Nursing Home and is where my Grandfather Wall died. Thirdly it was used illegally in the 60s as an abortion clinic and was the subject of my first  successful planning enforcement notice. I'd have been about 18.It was the Attlee connection that brought me into contact with Tony Benn. The Harrow Heritage Committee decided that a plaque should be put up on the flats to commemmorate the former Prime Minister and Tony Benn with Attlee's Grand daughter (then Liberal Mayor of Beaconsfield) were invited to unveil the plaque. As the bloke that organised such things I rang the contact number to agree fine details such as transport and catering. Normally the phone is answered by a secretary or similar and they deal with the oiks. When the phone was answered I asked to speak to Mr Benn's secretary and the great man said "You've got him" He wanted no special arrangements other than a big pot of tea. He arrived spot on time at Heywood, made a speech of 20 minutes exactly, without notes but with many anecdotes of his personal dealings with Attlee. He carried out the unveiling, thanked me very much for the tea and off he went. Believe me in 35 years of dealing with politicians and others from the great and good he was the most down to earth, sincere,and entertaining one I met.

Caz's Book
While I was away I missed the Launch of the book although I made sure everyone on board knew about it.It sounds as though it was a great success and the book has been generally well received.
AND I got a signed copy as a present so well happy.

Well done Caz!

It had been a busy few days for the Nicklin gang; the previous weekend Pam, Nat and Caz had visited Ollie in Chamonix for a long ski weekend. Sounds like they had a good time and Ollie is now running down as he finishes work and returns to Bristol this week .



 Before skiing and cruising and book launching there was Florence's Birthday!!

Joe visits his cousin

 To Chiswick with Pam and Joseph for the unveiling of the new Wendy House and a very fine house it is with all mod cons. I took a toaster as a house warming present and we had yummy tea and cake and dancing and all had a jolly time.
Happy Birthday Florence!

Happy Birthday to you....

 After the birthday came the skiing at Chamonix where Pam, Nat and Caz met up with Ollie. While they were there I was cruising round the NorthSea(see next post).


 On our return from foreign parts Pam and I went to the Cotswolds, to the village of Swinbrook nr Burford to stay with our friends from Canada.

And this humble abode is where we aboded.
With Daphne (with whom Pam trained a few year back) is husband Duane, who is Canadian and bloody nice bloke. Daphnes' children Chris (another bnb) and Victoria with her husband Rod (bnb). Daphne's brother  Graham (bnb) and sister in law Verena and daughter, Emma with Brian (bnb) and Grandaughter Shannon. and niece Katherine.

The main reason for the gathering was a Memorial Service for Daphne and Graham's father Monty who died last year.It was a beautiful service with a very fine address given by Chris ,who apart from being a bnb is also a Pastor back in Canada.
 (Pastor back? Didn't he write Doctor Zhivago?)

The church was at Emsfield (St Thomas More), a beautiful church in a beautiful setting. Not a bad place to finish your days.I only met Monty once so my knowledge of him is mainly from what Pam has told me.
Later when thanking Daphne and family for their hospitality Pam referred to him as a gentleman who was a gentle man. He also had taught various trainee nurses including Pam to drink sherry. The evidence of his prowess as a teacher is all too clear. Patently a good man much loved.

Another Wendy house Cotswold style.

Pam and Daphne compare fruit juices

Pam and Shannon duet on the piano.

Daphne, Shannon and Rod with Victoria doing her sheep impersonation

Pam chills out

It's mandolin time

After the Memorial service Pam and I checked out the local pub in Swinbrook-The Swan-very nice too though Cotswold prices, before adjourning to the cottage for grub and gossip. Our hosts had stocked a bar to satisfy all needs and even the most powerful thirsts were sated. Some of them twice.
The evening passed quickly and despite the worst cold any man ever had-I suspect it was in fact TB-I slept well. Too well apparently.

The following day (Sunday) I was nearly first up and headed into Burford for church and papers. A leisurely breakfast d then David, Tricia, Caitlin and Ewan arrived. They are friends of Duane and Daphne whom they met in Canada but now live in th UK.

A walk was suggested and despite having the worst cold any man etc I went along. A glorious sunny day, a clear head and the prospect of an evening of fun and frolics. Deep joy. On my return from the walk I thought I should contribute to the bar stocks and drove into Witney to raid the local Sainsburys. Unbeknown to me the younger contingent were heading into Burford to do the same thing so a bar of great quality was our reward.



An evening of good food, copious libations and home made entertainment ensued with those under 40 composing and presenting a musical tribute to Swinbrook. I thought it was very good and the more I had to drink the better it sounded. Lovely people, great company.

The morning brought further entertainment in that already suffering from the worst cold anybody ever had (did I mention that?) I came downstairs feeling like death and because of a combination of polished floors and stairs in matching woods, varifocal lenses and my delicate feet encased in socks I missed the bottom stair, hit the wall opposite, cannoned into the piano and took the piano stool a few feet up the hallway before landing on my back like a beached whale on Tenby Beach. I was lucky in that as I lay there waiting to die the cream of the Hillingdon Student Nurse intake mid 70s arrived in the form of Pam and Daphne to mnister to my wounds and utter sympatheteic comforting words such as "Silly old sod', Pissed again" and " that piano will need retuning"

Much shaken I was only restored to near full health by a good breakfast and the fact that apparently five others had nearly or actually done a base over apex on the same stair during the weekend though none had managed to play the opening chord of the Warsaw Concerto on their way past the piano.

A good weekend, with good company.
Daphne, Duane, Rod and Victoria  are off to Paris before returning to Canada. Chris returns home earlier.
Graham and Verena, Emma, Brian and Shannon return to Scotland

Cheers Monty. Thanks everybody.

Cabaret time!

And more food

Followed by cards

The Moorings are preparing for the start of the Social Year with our annual St George's Party on Sat 26th April. My days running up to this great event are preoccupied with getting ready for my 4 yearly Safety Inspection on Independence which takes [place on St George's Day, 23rd. I wont be there as I am at the quacks at the same time getting some attention to the leg I damaged in Swinbrook. I am not looking forward to either event.

But first I must get something blogged up about the trip to the continent. It's the Tuesday after a very enjoyable Easter which included a beautiful service on Good Friday,a lovely walk through Wendover woods on Saturday, a visit by Pam's brother for two days. (You would not believe the heat that can be generated by two Yorkshireites arguing over making Yorkshire pudding. The cat and I hid under the table.
Plenty of sunshine, plenty to eat and the boat nearly ready for Wednesday's inspection


Bye bye