Author Archives: Rosemary

Silver Wedding Anniversary – July 10

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We don’t seem to be able to remember our wedding date and often when we do, we discover the date’s already gone, but this year we had checked well in advance, because we knew it was our silver wedding anniversary.  We spent it camping in France (about which more to follow eventually; R a big let down on write-ups).  That evening we sat in the car and looked out at the lashing rain on the widscreen.  Far too wet for a bbq, so what to do?  We decided to walk into Mayreuis (Languedoc-Roussillon), the campsite’s local village, and ate a pleasant meal in a local restaurant.  And, oh yes, it rained as we walked back and dived into our tent.

So it was a lovely surprise when we got home to hear from R’s brother Steve & sister-in-law Marilynn in Canada.  They had remembered; most impressive!  They said to watch out for a gift in the post.  Several weeks into August (we suspect it got held up in the various rotating postal strikes in the UK) a parcel arrived.  R waited until the Friday, when S came back from working in Edinburgh, so we could both open it – a lovely silver, footed, International Silver Co dish (brother Steve unsure whether made in the States or Canada) and a gorgeous cut-glass, silver lidded salt & pepper, around 1890 to 1920.  Both much admired by visitors.  But best of all is that M had cross-stitched a celebration sampler which means we now have one, as well as S&G whose celebrates their wedding, and R’s mum & dad whose celebrates their golden wedding anniversary.

Murder Mystery Night, 8 June 2007

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Friday night saw The Square Pants team (Selina’s idea of a name; R&S had no clue why that name, while Graham objected, but was overruled) try their luck at the Quaintwood Players Murder Mystery Night.  Held in Grendon Underwood’s village hall, we were entertained with a half hour play about, coincidentally, an amateur dramatic group. 

Beforehand we had sat down at tables & chairs and realized this was serious; a list of suspects and whodunnit solution piece of paper lay waiting for us to ponder & complete.  During the break, another clue was given to us as we ate of fish & chips and we discussed the intricacies of the plot and alternatively dismissed and accused every suspect.  The cast came amongst us and answered questions.  The finale was for the cast to sit on the stage while each table asked them clever questions.  Should we ask red herring type ones?  Smart-arse Selina pointed out we could do that only if we had a theory, which plunged us into temporary gloom.  But suddenly we realized who it was!  It was blindingly obvious!  Why had we not noticed before?  We looked around triumphantly. 

We sat there smugly as the murderer(s) revealed themselves…..but, wait, hang on, the cast had got it wrong and had the wrong person(s) and the wrong motives!

The Kingswood Tug Of War

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The ususal tug of war against our next village neighbours never took place.  Sunday the area was prepared.  Nettles were strimmed down, a foot bridge was built over the border-marking brook, and a dam built of corregated iron was placed against the road bridge.  All this was done in the cold, wet rain.  Hopefully the day of the event would be better.

Monday moring, George rang, wondering whether we should cancel the event.  It was still raining, and had been all night.  So we decided it should be cancelled.  Drove down to the border to dismantle the bridge and dam.  On arrival was a little worried our dam building might have been rather too effective, the water was flooding the surrounding fields and was higher than the bridge arch.  Luckily this was not the case; the whole of the river on the other side of bridge was also above the fields.  There was nothing we could do to retrieve the dam on the bridge until the water died down.

 It rained the rest of the day.

Cambridge & Kettles Yard

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Rosemary wanted to go to see Kettles Yard so off we go on Saturday morning to the Cambridge Park & Ride (no charge for parking, unlike Oxford, but what do you expect from a superior university town?).  Arrived to discover gallery closed to set up for a new exhibition, but house itself open from 14:00.

What else could we do to pass the time other than have lunch?  Cafe Rouge beckoned us and we shared a starter of miniature French bread batons and dips.  Steve had moules (complete with requisite finger sucking) to follow and Rosemary had something she much enjoyed but can’t now remember (must be her age).  Wait, she’s remembered – chicken breast stuffed with brie and wrapped with ham.

Back to Kettles Yard for its opening.  What a lovely place it is, see  http://www.kettlesyard.co.uk/  It was founded by H.S. ‘Jim’ Ede as a place where visitors would ‘find a home and a welcome, a refuge of peace and order, of the visual arts and of music.’  It now belongs to Cambridge University.  We were told on entry that we could sit in any of the chairs and look at the books, but not put them away and instead leave them out ready for shelving by one of the staff.  Pictures were everywhere and so were some very comfy chairs, both upholstered and wooden versions, and some brilliant tablescapes.  Natural objects interspersed the sculptures on tables, shelves, furniture and the wooden or brick floors – including shells and pebbles, some in complex arrangements.  Amazingly, not a speck of dust to be found.  R wrote to compliment them and was told “Like any good employer, we encourage the dust to spend weekends at home.”  R says she knows whose home it went to and she didn’t invite it.  We also encountered Janine the daughter of an ex-Walkerite who is now helping there.  Small world.

Life Styles and Local Bird Life

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Rosemary’s nephew’s better-half Kirsty has just launched a new business Be Styled Interiors for interior design, home staging & de-cluttering in West Sussex & Surrey.  Should be very exciting her and we had a look at the new website for them.  I reckon we know quite a few homes which could benefit from the de-cluttering!
 
Local birds are behaving very oddly.  Over the past few weeks and for the first time in the 20 years we’ve lived here, the local blue tits are repeatedly tapping at windows and leaping up & down at them, too.  Is it the same single bird?  Not sure, not many distinguishing characteristics, but I don’t think we’ve had more than one window attacked at the same time.  Meanwhile, we spotted a buzzard in the field.  The farmer whose sheep are very kindly eating there said there were buzzards nesting in the wood near him, well blow me if a buzzard hasn’t come here and sat on the fence into the “coppice” part of the field.  However, he doesn’t appear to be that bright cos he was sitting very near a collared dove and there were bunnies running around beneath him.  Surely he shouldn’t have been that friendly with meals?