July Phil

Another month gone but the weather has improved more than we could have hoped for.  Lots of things happened this month.  Mum came to the caravan to take advantage of the British summer when Georgina rang to see if I could pick her up from MK train station later that morning.  Ideal, it meant that Mum could come with me and see her at the same time without me driving Georgina to Melton.  As it turned out we couldn’t have come to Melton as Georgina started her summer job in Shrewsbury the following morning.  She has just finished her second year at London School of Economics (LSE) doing International Relations.  She was quite happy when she found out that she passed this year with a 2:1 in all but one subject where she got a first.  Better than she had expected for the amount of time and effort that she put in.  Unlike me, Georgina is naturally bright; I have to flog myself to death for a half reasonable result.  Since her exams finished she has had a part time job at the university but cant remember what she is doing.  Im not even sure I understood what she is doing.  We dropped her off at home as her Mum and Nick are on holiday.  She is getting to use her mum's car to drive to Shrewsbury in which should make an impression with the foreign students when she arrives.  She is administrating a foreign students language course for 4 weeks.

While we were at the caravan, Harriet came over to take advantage of the good weather.  She doesn’t like sunbathing outside her flat in the garden as its a bit exposed; especially since the hedge has been trimmed.  In fact Harriet came over to the caravan almost as much as we have been there lately.  Its such a lovely facility when the sun is shining; you seem to leave all your problems behind and relax while you are there.

I just had to put this picture in, its not very often I get to the city centre very often but I had to buy Claire a Birthday card.  They have a great display outside where the fountain used to be so I snapped this on my phone quickly.

We met John and Marie (Claire’s step Dad) in a pub at Cambridge which is half way between Suffolk where they like and MK.  This is a good compromise, we get to see them for just long enough.  Still it was a very pleasant lunch.

The other thing I have been threatening to do for years now, is to go over to Luton and see Jim at Mertech where he works.  I used to work at Mertech with Jim mary years ago but Jim and two others did a management buyout shortly after I left.  Jim has since bought the other two out and bought new premises which I have not really visited.  We did leave our car there when we flew from Luton once but I have never really had a look around.  As Steve is also between jobs, he came over with me.  Jim took this picture outside Alfi's Arms which is quite appropriate.

Jim showed us around town; I couldn't believe just how much it has changed since I was last there.  Some of the original buildings are there but surrounded by open spaces now, it really has changed for the better.

 

Good job the signposts were there else I wouldn't have known where I was.

Later that week, Sue insisted on taking us out for a meal for Claire’s Birthday.  Brian and I came along to Aspley Guise where they have opened up, “Little India” where the Blue Orchid Thai restaurant is.

They had made a nice job and we had a fabulous meal.  They sat us outside which was great with the weather that we have been having this month.  Although we would have taken coats for later if we had realised.

The food was great with a fabulous choice that we shared all washed down with copious amounts of wine.

 

Although its Indian they have lots of Thai waiters and waitresses.  This one was our favourite  she comes from northern Thailand and has only been here 8 months.  She speaks excellent English and brought us a complimentary sweet for Claire’s Birthday with a candle in it.  Not only did Sue pay for the food and wine but insisted on paying for the Taxi both ways so that we could all enjoy a drink.  Cant wait for my birthday!

 

The weekend came, the weather still with us, so it was back to the caravan again for a bit more R&R.  Of course, Harriet came too.  The girls soaked up a bit of sun while I sorted out lunch on the BBQ.  What a life.

 

Harriet wanted to go to the pool for a cool down and as I have yet to go there, Claire and Harriet insisted that I came for a dip as well.  They drove there leaving me to wash up and walk down.  I walked there via the two lakes but just as I arrived at the gates, I got a text.

 

“We came back cos it was too busy x”.  I had no choice but to take one photo and turn around and walk back around the lakes again.  This time I walked by the bank rather than along the footpath.  I found where all the carp hang out; well away from all the fisherman.  There were so many of them at the surface, I could have walked over them.

As it happened, that night we had party in the park which is an annual free event that our campsite puts on.  We had Sue and Brain, and Maddy and Steve come along with us.  Steve and Jan were to come but it was the same night as he was going out with Jan for a meal for his Birthday.

We had a massive BBQ along with all the food that Maddy brought with her, washed down with a drop of wine and then we toddled off to the park.  Claire and I had already taken and erected the Gazebo and the table and chairs.  We were a little late getting there as it had already started.  Next year, not so much food before we go, because we always take snack and drinks with us anyway.

Anyway it was a brilliant time and they always have fireworks at the end when it gets dark.  I love this picture.  The brass band were good but nat as good as the one we had last year because they had arrangements for contemporary tunes and let the fireworks off to the music.

The following morning we felt a little rough but had been invited to Dick and Carol’s for a drink outside their log cabin.  They bought it 10 years ago for £100,000 and have had the gardens landscaped since.  They asked the site how much they would buy it back for and were offered £23,000.  Still you don't buy a caravan for profit, unless you own a campsite.

It was only a couple of days to wait until we went off on our 2 days cruise on the Queen Elizabeth to Hamburg.

Its a fabulous ship and we had a tremendous 2 days on it for our £159 which included our flight back.  Its massive with 14 decks.

It was also the first time that we had been to Hamburg and we hadn't realized how many bridges and canals were there.  They have more bridges and canals in Hamburg than Venice and Amsterdam put together.  Have I said that before?

We found a lovely German bakery for a coffee but Claire preferred her McDonalds from next door.  I wonder where Harriet gets it from?  Following our mini cruise, I finally started back at Rexam.  It was months ago that I was first told that they had bought another computer for me so I could come back but their IT department are hopeless so it has taken months to get the software loaded onto it.  Its great Im only doing 3 days a week but am being paid enough for a week at a normal place; it was worth waiting for.  The other bonus is that they give everyone £5 a day for food off the wagon that comes around every morning.  I could even go there on my days off if I wanted.  Now there an idea.

No sooner back than the next weekend we were off to London for a meal on a boat down the Thames.  This was another birthday treat from Sue.  She even bought the train tickets and paid for a taxi in London.

The platform was by Tower Bridge and even the seagulls were queuing to get on as well.

Opposite the platform is HMS Berlin and the Shard which still look unfinished somehow.  HMS Berlin is open to the public.

Our boat was called the millennium of London.  I wonder how old it is?

Anyway, we had a really nice meal washed down with a little wine.

It was lovely having all the points of interest pointed out to you while you were being waited on.  This place is the Aquarium but further up it says “Movieum”, not sure what that is?  But its all in the old Town Hall.

One of the attractions is a replica of the Golden Hind, the ship that Sir Francis Drake sailed in.

Of course, we ended up back at Sue’s for more drinks and a made up game in the garden.  Thanks so much Sue for two great treats and it wasn’t even my Birthday.

For the last year or so we have been going to the Nags Head at Linford for our Wednesday night out.  Chris, one of the founder members came out with us for a change.  He’s the one at the back on the right and is Claire’s first husband and Harriets Dad.  The one next to him is the reason that Chris came out, he has a great name, Norman Night.  He used to be a headmaster in Brisbane and many years ago, Chris did a job swap with him.  Chris didn't really meet him at the time but all Chris’s friends got to know him over the year exchange period.  George ended up as one of his closest friends here.  He actually taught George's son Chris's wife Vanessa while he was here; small world.  That almost makes him related to George surely?   Anyway about 15 or 16 years ago, chris and I went over to stop with Norman for two weeks while he was living in Japan teaching English.  Norman was in Kobe when that had that really bad earthquake and moved to Osaka after it.  He has been living in Thailand almost since we last saw him.  Anyway, he is about to go back to Australia so he can claim his pension.  You have to live there for more than 6 months a year before you get it.  Steve, on the right, who had his Birthday this month had a biopsy for prostate cancer and just found out that he is in the clear.  He also started a new job the same day as I did.

Having finished work on Thursday we decided to spend our last weekend of the month at the caravan.  The weather was still holding out and we walked around the lakes stopping at the clubhouse for a drink where the Golf Society had a meeting outside and were giving prizes away.

As we were off to Melton to see Mum on Saturday it is always more convenient to go to and from the caravan rather than MK.  I fixed the leak from the outside tap and fetched mum’s travel kettle from the attic while Claire did a touch of painting. 

 Later on Saturday we had an invitation to steve and Maddie's garden party which is also close to the caravan.

 

Sunday I had promised Claire a meal out in the country.  I have a list of good grub pubs in the area that I have collected from people that have been in this area for years.  This was the second from my list, the Lamb at Little Harrowden.  Service was slow but nice food and menu at sensible prices.  As it was busy and the lone barman was also taking orders in the restaurant, bringing food out and clearing plates, it was hardly surprising so we will give it another go when we get chance.
On the IFA front; on the down side, Daphne's house is now sold subject to contract.  On the up side the Financial Ombudsman has agreed to take on my case and have now assigned an investigator to me.  On Monday I spoke to my MP outlining my problems and asked if there was anything he could do to get the police to do their job.  He asked me to email him an outline of events and he will forward it to the Chief Constable and insist that fraud and forgery should be investigated.  Lets hope I'm not disappointed again next month and I have something positive to report.
Well, next Saturday 3rd August we are off on our Norwegian Fjords cruise with Mum so don't miss the end of month blog next time, have a good one.