16-Jun to 22-Jun 2013

Sun 16-Jun

Talk of applying for a loyalty card, being back at The Dolphin for the third time in two days, this time for a three course lunch for Father's Day. Here we are tucking into the main course with Doreen popping off for some gravy and Beth multi-tasking, winding Amelia and lunching one handed. After a couple of glasses of wine and chasing the grandchildren around outside, had a serious nap when I got home.


Mon 17-Jun

Long, boring day stuck indoors while the gas man gave our central heating system a power flush and replaced the pump. But look what the postman delivered... a postcard from Paige, sent last week while she was on holiday with the school for a couple of days!


Tue 18-Jun

Off on the walk to Houghton via Old Ramsey Road this morning, with lunch at the Houghton Mill cafe. Beautiful warm and sunny day. Ambled over to get a closer look at the alpacas on Mick George's farm. Really amusing and inquisitive, and the babies were gorgeous. Sammy and Paige would love them.

Wed 19-Jun

Arrived at Hunstanton this morning for the annual walk with Terry, only to find someone had stolen the sea! Although it was supposed to be sunny, hot and humid we only got the latter two and looking out to sea there was no colour difference between sea and sky. Very weird! Managed to complete 12 miles, from Brancaster Staithe to Wells next the Sea.

Had the usual narrow squeak... ambling down the last mile towards Wells, I idly thought about checking the bus times back to Hunstanton and the b&b. Bit of a shock when I clocked the last bus was 18:10... barely 30 minutes away! Lucky I looked since we could have been stranded. The plans to show Terry the delights of Wells were hurriedly ditched


Thu 20-Jun

Woke up this morning to hear on the 6am news that James Gandolfini had died of a heart attack, aged just 51 years. SAD! SAD! SAD! In the evening, having got back home from the walk with Terry, started series 5 of The Sopranos by watching episodes 1 & 2. Just a great, great actor.

Fri 21-Jun

Had a note in the diary for Sunday to give one months mobile 'phone cancellation notice to Virgin. 'But Sunday's not a working day, I'd better call them today' I reasoned. And having done that, thought I might as well 'wander' into the Three shop in Huntingdon to check out the process of getting a replacement mobile from them, to whit an iPhone 5.

Surprise, surprise... walked out of the shop with a brand spanking new iPhone 5. The agony is, strictly speaking, I can't use it for thirty days, until my Virgin contract ends and I transfer the existing number. But it's sitting beside me now, seductively calling, and I've gone and ordered the Vaultskin Lexx wallet for it. Already justifying doing the transfer in three weeks to ensure there's some overlap and no loss of service. How long can I hang out?

Sat 22-Jun

Long day on the allotment today. Sammy came with us, the aim being to build the bug hotel I'd promised him. Bit boring watching me huffing and puffing with saw and drill, so off he wandered to catch anything that moved. 

Here he is with a stink bug, soon to be joined by a beetle, a moth larva and the discarded skin of a dragonfly larva, all collected in a plastic box and taken home. He was also treated to the spectacle of one chicken, frog in beak, being chased by the others who wanted to share the feast. The frog was already dead when I realised what was happening.

The bug hotel got finished, but no time to stuff it with materials. At least I survived the project without sawing or drilling myself.