May
The
month brought a welcome improvement in the weather, and we were able to get the
barbecue out a few times, one of which coincided with a visit from Helen on
Wednesday 11. We also made our first
Sunday visit to Malvern for the Band in the Park concert. The drive there, however, turned out to be a
nightmare from start to finish: the
first leg was spent negotiating a mass cycling event; as soon as the bikes had
turned off, we were beset by a stream of speeding motorcycles. No sooner had they left us in peace than we
found the road leading to our preferred route avoiding
◄ Roger supervises the barbecue
On
Thursday 18 Teresa and Helen set off for a short break in
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Meanwhile,
Roger resumed his mowing duties at the bowling club without any ill-effects,
the sciatica pain much reduced. Other
bowling activities followed thick and fast – matches, competitions, and, on
Monday 29, a Bank Holiday Fun Day. In
the garden, we made our usual modest efforts – tomatoes and potatoes on the
patio, plus, this year, a very small herb garden in an old kitchen drawer.
Helen
and Juliet went to an open evening for prospective bell-ringers at the local
church: Juliet quite took to it, but
will probably be unable to fit it in the her regular activities.
◄ Helen being shown the ropes
On
Friday 26 our local heritage railway, the Gloucestershire-Warwickshire Railway,
held an open evening to show the work in progress at Broadway station, due to
open next year when the extension of the line from Toddington should be
completed. We saw the platforms, waiting
rooms, signal box and footbridge, all recognisable on their way to
completion. As no parking is currently
available at the station, a shuttle bus brought visitors to and from Broadway –
an old London bus from the 50s, I believe, reminding Roger of similar models
used in Leeds for his daily trip to school.
There were a few side shows and stalls and lively entertainment from a
ukulele band. An interesting evening.
The shuttle bus in its