September

After last month’s noisy visit to the safari park, Rovy added a grating sound to its intermittent squeaks, so in the end needed attention to its front brakes (which cured the grating) and back brakes (the squeaks). Meanwhile, the horse-box had to have its hand-brake freed up after the floods immersed the chassis (just stopping short of the cab and body). But this problem, combined with the cancellation of some events, meant that Jay was not able to compete with Clyde in the final couple of months before going to university.

On Wednesday 5, Teresa and Jay went to London to see The Sound of Music, for the second time (their first visit in February), though the competition winner, Connie Fisher, again was not performing. So a little disappointing, but they did enjoy the shopping beforehand.

On Saturday 15, we went to a quiz in Winchcombe – run under church auspices for all the local parishes – having been invited to join a team by our friend in Dumbleton. We tried to look suitably god-fearing. There was a clerical skew to some of the questions, but, despite this, we crept up into equal second place, though a long way behind the evidently more pious and demonstrably more knowledgeable victors.

Teresa has succeeded in selling a few more stories, though the summer, particularly with Jay’s long weeks at home, has left little time for writing. However, Teresa did win first prize in a poetry competition run by the local dentist – for an appropriate humorous poem – and now possesses a voucher for free laser whitening treatment, which she has generously passed to Jay.

Teresa’s poem

On Friday 21 Teresa and Jay paid an advance visit to Oxford, partly to familiarise Jay with the rail journey, but also to do some essential shopping in advance. Roger opted out of this, but did put in some time setting up the financial arrangements Jay would need – bank and building society accounts.

Jay had a few more driving lessons during the month with a different instructor. It has been going better, but, with less practice than intended, still slowly.

The outdoor bowls season came to an end on Sunday 23, with a ‘fun day’ followed by the presentation of prizes for the club competitions by the club’s patron. The trophies this year took the form of a miniature bowler on a small plinth (see left – click for detail).

Roger’s indoor season began on Friday 28 at Littleton with a heavy defeat.

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