Franky!

Yes, Boss?

What have you been doing for the last month?

Ee, eck – I don’t know! Seems tha left me wi t’babby at start on it.

Well, I didn’t leave you HOLDING the baby, did I?

No – tha pushed off in Big ‘Arry and disappeared for a few days.

Yes, we wrote that up already.

Next day tha took me back to t’dealers where tha got me from.

Yes, and that was a waste of time! They said there was nowt -nothing – wrong with you!

Well, there isn’t, is there?

So why do you keep ‘throbbing’ when we’re waiting to move off, and why doesn’t your radio come on when it should?

Ee, eck – I don’t know!

You keep saying that. Where next? 1st of June?

Oh, aye – that pointless trip to Manchester wi thi lad.

It wasn’t exactly pointless – we had a good lunch. Yes, we were auditioning together for a certain TV show –

And yer didn’t get on it.

Well, we don’t know yet, but, well, no probably not, so maybe that bit was a bit, sort of, pointless. Incidentally, so was trying to park at Oldham and go in on the tram. Not a hope! What about the next week, June 9th?

Ee, aye – that were a long un! Ovver the ‘ill to Sheffield, then all t’way down t’motorway to London. Motorway were all right, but after that ….

Yes, we’d arranged to meet family – Philip, Christine and Carol – for a meal before seeing ‘Showboat’ at the theatre in central London. The drive was very slow and tricky – but we got there, and found the car park, more or less on time.

(More pictures – just search ‘Showboat’ New London Theatre. Or click on that photo and it will take you there.)

After the show we took the others back to Surbiton.

Aye – and next morning tha pushed off again and left me for a week on yon car park.

It’s a very nice nice car park. Harry’s been there often.

Where did tha get to, then?

Ah, well. Train to Southampton to get on a ship. Then a cruise to Guernsey, La Rochelle, Bilbao and La Coruña.

(There are more photos – nothing very special cos the weather wasn’t so good – in an album on One Drive. If I haven’t shared it with you, just ask if you want to see it.)

Sounds like fun.

Hmm … might have been. Worth trying, but I’ll stick to travel in Harry, I think – if I can drive him after the hip replacement.

Back at Surbiton, more ‘shipboard’ entertainment with HMS Pinafore at the theatre in Kingston, performed by an all male cast!

Very entertaining, in spite of the strange concept!

Next day there was a barbecue on the lawn at Porton Court – weather held off the bad stuff just long enough! and on Sunday 17th we had lunch out followed by a return rubber or two / three at the home of Philip and Christine’s friend, Ena. Ena and I, while not calling the grand slam we made, still made enough of the good hands we had to take ‘revenge’ fo the total wipeout P & C inflicted on us a few months ago!

So to the drive home on Monday 18th. Uneventful.

I wouldn’t say that.

What would you say?

Dunno – not that.

Well, we did it with only one stop, which is unusual. Torrential rain to start with but sunshine to welcome us home.

Since then – one evening babysitting in Wakefield, several school runs –

They want to get that road fixed ! I could get hurt going up there!

I know. Several school runs, and one to A & E to pick up Chris & S. who had broken his collarbone. Sunday lunch at Linfield, and quite a bit of political excitement – if that sort of thing excites you! Oh – and a first visit to Meltham G & S group to rehearse ‘The Sorcerer’.

Next consultation at hospital on own behalf – July 18th.

That’s about it. BFN

Ta-ra!