All posts by A Scotsman in Suburbia

I am not a Grumpy Old Man I am a middle aged man who occasionally gets slightly hacked off with things. My politics are greenish and to the left of centre. I am married again, following being widowed. I own two bikes, one car, one campervan and half a cat. I love cycling (hence the bikes) and cycle sport especially road racing. During the winter I enjoy watching football (soccer if you are North American). I sometimes paint and enjoy cooking and eating.
Travel

Lockdown Holiday

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Day 1: to Glasgow

This holiday started off as a Rhine Cruise with a a side trip up the Jungfrau by rail. That was cancelled due to Covid-19. The next option was a rail tour entitled “The Treasures of Tuscany”, which sounded a decent alternative. We might have needed to isolate on our return but as I am now retired, that would have been an inconvenience, but not much more. That was also cancelled. At this point Diane called the tour company to find what tours might actually run. Which is how we have ended up on a five-day tour of Oban, Skye and Mull.

Last week Nicola Sturgeon announced new and stricter lock down measures for Scotland. We thought that this holiday would also end up being cancelled as well. On Friday we received a phone call assuring us that the holiday was going ahead.

The new restrictions might make it a bit different from holidays we have had in the past. But then life is different from what we have known in the past. In the Central Belt all pubs are closed, cafes and restaurants have to close at six p.m. They also have other restrictions. Outside the central belt, where we are headed, the restrictions are (slightly) less severe. Hotels are allowed to serve evening meals, but not alcohol to residents. At least we can eat. (I think we are allowed to drink if we sit outside, in Oban, in October.)

The trip up to Glasgow, was fine as far as it went. Sitting in a train, wearing a mask, for five hours isn’t great, but I can put up with it. There was no catering on the train, but we were prepared, with a flask of coffee, sandwiches, and what our grandson Jack, describes as “snacks”.

The first three hours of the journey are fairly unremarkable. Some parts are attractive enough, but a lot of the time the line runs through industrial areas in varying states of decline. However the last two hours, from Lancaster, north to Glasgow are very attractive. The line passes though the Lake District and the Western Borders.

A lake,or possibly a loch.
Lake District fells

After we arrived in Glasgow we checked into our hotel (Holiday Inn Express) and decided to go for a walk, partly in search of alcohol, which the hotel is no longer allowed to serve.

Glasgow , at least down by the river, proved to be more photogenic than I remembered it.

Dinner was OK. Especially considering that the hotel probably doesn’t have a proper kitchen. we went to bed early. It had been a fairly long day.

Covid-19

Lockdown V2.0

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22/09/2020

Bozo appeared on our TV screens tonight to announce that we were returning stricter lockdown conditions because Covid-19 infections had started rising exponentially (R>1). As can be seen from the graph

UK: number of new coronavirus cases per day 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1.000 Mar 4926 May Aug

It is back to working from home if you can. Not that it will make any difference to me. I have recently, more or less, retired. It seems like it was only a few days ago that every one was being urged to go back to the office to save Prêt a Manger and Costa Coffee.

We are allowed to meet in groups of up to six people, from no more than six different households, (I think) except for grouse shooting. The guidance, as per normal, is a bit vague.  Mask wearing is now compulsory in a lot of situations, with fines of up to £200 for non compliance. How that will be enforced I have no idea.

I’m not even sure that people will follow the regulations. The first time round, most people followed the guidelines fairly well. However a lot of that goodwill evaporated when Dominic Cummings took his trip to Durham, after having been diagnosed with Covid-19. This broke every rule in the book, but rather than being sacked, he was allowed to carry carry on as before, shovelling barrow loads of taxpayers money to companies run by friends and acquaintances, for services of dubious provenance.

In the video, if you can stomach watching it, he says that too many people failed to follow the rules, and that is why we are in the situation we are in now. I would say that because one high profile person broke the rules with impunity others decide to follow his example.

During the month of August, we were all encouraged to “Eat Out To Help Out”. On  Mondays Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the government paid half our bill in a restaurant. This led, in New Malden, at least, to non-socially distanced queues of people round the block for some restaurants. This would not have had any effect on transmission rates.

Since my last post I have had a very pleasant holiday in the Isle of Wight in the company of Diane’s grandkids. (We allowed their mum and dad to come along as well)

Other bad news from the lockdown announcement;  Stadiums will remain closed to supporters indefinitely. I bought my new replica tops (home and away) yesterday, in preparation for our (AFC Wimbledon) return to Plough Lane. I also bought a new Plough Lane scarf and a couple of AFC Wimbledon facemasks. The way things are going the only things that I might get to wear are the facemasks.

23/09/2020

Toilet rolls are disappearing from the shelves again, which surprises me, I would have thought that half the country still has about six months supply from last time.

Football

Life goes on in the sort of Locked-Down United Kingdom

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I haven’t written anything on here for over a month. This was the last thing I wrote, but didn’t publish. Since writing this bit below a couple of things have clarified, The season has now started, behind closed doors, and we have a temporary home at The Kiyan Prince Memorial Stadium, courtesy of Queens Park Rangers. We played Oxford in the EFL Cup yesterday and lost on penalties. Disappointing, but apparently there were a lot of positives to take from our performance against the team that I thought was the best in League One last year. Work at Plough Lane has progressed as well, but we still don’t have a definite opening date. The first match could be against Blackpool on Tuesday the 27th of October, but we don’t know as yet. Whenever it is, I hope that at least some fans are allowed in to watch. I would hate the team to run out for the first time to an empty stadium.

Day 132 Sunday 02/08/2020

Yesterday was the first Saturday in August. It should be the start of AFC Wimbledon’s annual attempt to remain in EFL League One. Four seasons ago we stayed up comfortably. Three seasons ago it took a scrappy 0-0 draw away to Doncaster on the second last game of the season to ensure we stayed up. Two seasons ago, it was another even scrappier 0-0 draw at Bradford on the final day that kept us up on goal difference. The season just gone saw us stay up, just, on average points per game after the season was curtailed.

Last seasons opening game.

If we continue that trajectory, we are favourites to be relegated.

This year however The Cherry Red Records Stadium is no more. Kingsmeadow has reverted to its proper name, and is now solely the home of Chelsea Women. We are on our way home to Plough Lane. The only problem is that I have no idea when the new season will start. It is probably a good thing, from our point of view, as the new stadium is unlikely to be completed until October. When, or if, the season starts the first games will probably have to be played behind closed doors. It might be possible to do that at Plough Lane as the pitch has been laid and looks in very good condition. Otherwise, we will need to find a temporary venue. Possibly Kingsmeadow, if Chelsea are willing.

Under construction
What it should look like
Getting there

We also have new Home and Away Kits.

I like them a lot.

Change Kit
Travel, Uncategorized

LOCKDOWN?? UK DAY118

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Day118 Sunday 19/07/2020

More lockdown easing. Today we went to Painshill Park. A c18th landscape garden set between the A3 and the M25. Neither of which existed at the time of it’s creation. Actually the A3 probably did, but it would have run through the centre of Cobham rather than bypassing it. And it would have be known as the Portsmouth Road. Considering that I have lived in this area for 35 years this was the first time I had visited. Surprisingly t was also the first time that Diane had visited as well, and she has lived (almost) all her life in the area.

The park was laid out by an Anglo-Irishman the Hon. Charles Hamilton. He started in about 1738 and ran out of money 1773 and was forced to sell. In the meantime, inspired by two Grand Tours and his art collection he laid out a spectacular landscape garden populated by follies.

For a more information there is a Wikipedia entry and the Official Website. Click the links to find out more.

I was highly impressed by it. Entry at £9.00 for adults isn’t particularly expensive.

Probably the best way to give a flavour of the place is to post some of the pictures I took.

I can’t really comment on their catering as the facilities were only partially open, but I had a good mascarpone ice cream before we started our walk and we finished off with a cup of tea and a scone under the trees.

Covid-19

Lockdown?? UK Days 109-112

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There has been a bit of a hiatus in my lockdown postings. Partly because, although this pandemic is by no means over, our wonderful, “led by the science” except when the science disagrees with them, government seems to think that it is. Consequently, it does not feel like lockdown any more. The only trouble being that nothing is back to normal either.

Day 109 Friday 10/07/2020

Today was a big day for Diane. She had an appointment with her hairdresser. She has been quite happy to cut my hair using the clippers (No.3 all over), and I have been happy for her to do it. In fact, I may let her carry on doing it and save £12 a month. Strangely, she was reluctant to allow me to return the compliment.

She came back not sure about her hair cut. I’m not sure why, the style is the same as she has always had (as long as we have known each other) just a bit shorter and less shaggy than yesterday. I sure that she will be fine after she gets used to it.

Day 110 Saturday 11/07/2020

We had some little visitors today. It is Jack’s (who used to be Diane’s youngest grandson) fifth birthday on Monday, and we are having a party tomorrow. His new cousins decided to come up from deepest darkest Hampshire to help him celebrate. (Mum, Dad and big sister also came). The idea is that we will look after Amiee and Andrew, and hopefully keep ‘Tilda occupied so that they can have a bit of a rest. That is provided Finn and Sol are cooperative. I think that the idea is I do the cooking while Diane gets to cuddle the babies. I might get the occasional cuddle myself.

Apart from Finn and Sol we had another visitor this morning. We found a Golden-Ringed Dragonfly. We knew that there were dragonfly larvae in the pond, so it had almost certainly just hatched out. It is big (for a dragon fly), probably about 85 mm long. I managed to take a few photos before it flew off.

Day 111 Sunday 12/07/2020

Today was Party Day. Because lock-down isn’t quite over, Jack couldn’t have his friends to the party. He had to make do with his aunts, uncles, grand-parents and me.

He liked his rainbow cake, and was definitely amused by this book that we bought him

Day 112 Monday 13/07/2020

We still had our guests staying with us. As we hadn’t been up to the allotment for a while, we thought we had better go have a look and see what was growing. We took Matilda, to give her mum a bit of a break. We picked quite a lot of raspberries, but by the time we made it home there seemed to fewer than I remembered picking. Strange that.

  • Some photos we took made the allotment look like an exotic holiday destination.

I am running a bit behind, but nothing much has been happening recently to inspire blogging. I’ll be back when I have some more inspiration.

Covid-19, Travel

Lockdown?? UK Days 106-108

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Day 106 Tuesday 07/07/2020

I’m not really sure whether we are still in lockdown or not. But we are off for a break in the BGB.

Taken earlier.

We have come down to the Caravan and Camping club’s site at Normans Bay on the Sussex coast for three nights. We decided on three nights because at the time we booked it was unclear whether the toilets and showers would be open. We thought that we could manage three days washing in the sink and using the PortaPotty.  As it turned out all the facilities, except the shop were open. There were a few restrictions on their use, but none that made a huge difference.

By the way Normans Bay is so named because it is the place that William the Conqueror landed to start his invasion of England in 1066.

It was a beautiful sunny day, so we decided to cycle into Bexhill to find some lunch. On the way to Bexhill, we passed a pub called The Star, which was serving food. We checked to find out if they were open in the evening as well. As they were we booked a table for dinner, then carried on to Bexhill.

Bexhill has some happy/sad memories for me. After Grace died, it was one of the first places that I managed to take myself off to on my own. I’m not sure why I chose Bexhill, I think I wanted to see the De la Warr Pavilion. I took the train from East Croydon and had a good day. I had lunch at the pavilion, a meander along the sea front and round the town, then caught the train back home.

Beers on the seafront

These thoughts were going through my head as Diane, Brian and I cycled into town. We found a baker’s shop and bought pasties for lunch. We went down to the seafront to eat them where we also found a bar, so we had a beer to go along with them.

I also took a few pictures of the De la Warr Pavilion.

We cycled back the way we had come, arriving back at the van about three thirty.

We walked along to the Star for dinner. Because they were operating under social distancing rules, their menu was quite limited and the service was different. Food and drink was placed on a side table from which you passed it to the other people on the table.  However, the cheese bacon burger and chips that I had was fine. Every one else said their food was fine as well. The puddings were large.

In a previous life, I might have said that the food was adequate at best, but to be honest after 106 days it was lovely to sit down to a meal that someone else had cooked for me and where someone else was going to do the washing up. Critical faculties are currently suspended.

Day 107 Wednesday 08/07/2020

When we woke up today, the weather had taken a turn for the worse. I had been woken up by the rain during the night, so it must have been fairly heavy. Bacon sandwiches for breakfast were needed.

We were booked to go to Pevensey Castle in the afternoon. We decided to visit Hastings for lunch first.

  • A hopeful seagull
Hastings

We found a cafe for lunch and wandered back to the BGB along the foreshore. Hastings doesn’t have a harbour, even though it has a fair sized fishing fleet. T he boats are winched up the beach. They are launched (I think) by pushing then down the shingle using an old Caterpillar.

We had booked a slot at 3pm for Pevensey Castle, so we didn’t have a lot of time to look around Hastings.

The castle is an interesting site. Unusual in that it has been used as a fortification from Roman times right up to WWII. (There were gaps when it wasn’t in use). The Romans built it to protect Pevensey Harbour. The sea used to come right up to the walls of the castle. The Roman walls are still visible right round the site. After the Romans left, the Saxons used it. It was William the Conqueror’s base after he landed his army at Norman’s Bay in 1066. It was an important castle all through the Middle Ages, but gradually fell into run. In 1940, with The United Kingdom facing the prospect of invasion the castle was returned to use. For more information click here.

Pevensey Castle

We went back to the van and made cup of tea, while Diane tried and failed to get a photo of some cute, but uncooperative piglets.

Supper was cooked in the van.

Day 108 Thursday 09/07/2020

We woke up on Thursday morning to find out grey and damp. We had thought of going to Battle to visit the battlefield, but wandering around in the rain looking for the spot where King Harold got an arrow on the eye didn’t appeal. We packed up and headed home.

It was good to be able to finally get out after one hundred and eight days.

Covid-19, Travel

Lockdown?? UK Days 98-105

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Day 98 Monday 29/06/2020

Following yesterday’s excitement (seeing the twins for the first time) it was back to more mundane matters today. Some charity shops have reopened. We have been doing a bit of sorting out during lockdown, and had a reasonable amount of stuff to re-cycle. We took the BGB, to Rayne’s Park — we did have a fair amount of stuff- to find a charity shop, and do some shopping.

Diane came back with two cappuccinos and a slice of chocolate cake to share. As of the moment cafes are only open for take-away, but we had our own private socially isolated cafe with us.

Our own little socially isolated cafe

After lunch, we went up to the allotment I decided to attack the brambles and the bind weed. I should have taken before and after photos, but forgot. It looks a lot better, but the brambles took their revenge on my hands and arms.

Day 99 To 104 29/06/2020 to 05/07/2020

I managed to miss the momentous 100th day in lock-down. We probably should have thrown a socially distanced street party, or something like that. On day 103 (Saturday 4th) however the pubs, and hairdressers were allowed to re-open. It went surprising smoothly. The predicted mayhem did not occur. Though there were apparently a couple of localized incidents, some over hair appointments.

Sunday (Day 104) was spent getting The BGB ready for our first trip of the year, because not only are the pubs allowed to reopen, so are campsites. I checked that everything was working, filled the fresh water tank and the fridge with beer and wine (and some food). Just to be clear the water tank only has water in it. We packed about twice what we would need for three nights. I put the van on electric hook-up overnight to make sure that the electrics were OK, and to ensure that the leisure battery was fully charged. We went to bed quite excited about our first trip in almost a year.

Practising for the trip.
Day 105 Monday 06/07/2020

The big day dawned , bright, clear and sunny. The BGB was packed and ready. the bikes were on the bike rack. We set off about an hour and a half later than planned. The idea was to travel to the campsite at Norman`s Bay via Liphook, to see Finn and Sol (and Tilda, Aimee and Andrew)

Sort of defeats the object of having a Brompton, but we need a rack for Diane’s e-bike

Finn and Sol were of course lovely. As was Tilda, though I think she is finding sharing her mum and dad slightly difficult. Everything was going smoothly until we had lunch and I discovered that I had left my spare insulin at home. To be honest it wasn’t much further to go from Liphook to Norman’s Bay via New Malden than it would have been to go the way we had planned. Or at least that is what I told myself.

We arrived about five thirty. Diane’s cousin was on the next pitch to us (planned), so we had a drink with them. We had a walk on the beach before we made dinner. It was a beautiful evening.

Covid-19, Football, Uncategorized

LOCK-DOWN U.K. DAYs 89 – 97

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Days 89-96 are a bit of a blur.

Day 97 Sunday June 28th

There hasn’t been much activity on the blog recently mainly thanks to these two …

Finn on the left and Sol on the right.

Diane’s daughter Aimee gave birth to them in the early hours of Sunday the 21st. Diane and I got to see them for the first time yesterday. Because of Covid -19 restrictions we couldn’t visit them in hospital, so we had to wait until they came home. The babies seem fine, but Aimee and Andrew are knackered. ‘Tilda, their proud big sister is happy, although she was initially a bit disappointed because she was expecting a little sister as well as a little brother. After she met them she was fine.

Nanny, Mum, Finn (and Me), not sure why Sol missed out on getting his picture taken.

By the way Finn is called Finn because he is the twin that Aimee “knew” was a boy, and they already had chosen that name. Sol is the twin that “should have” been the girl, so he didn’t have a name when he was born. He spent a few days known as Twin One (he was the first to be born), before being named Sol, because he was born on the Solstice.

Other (non-baby) stuff

What else has been happening? To all intents and purposes lockdown might as well be over. As far as I can gather new cases of Covid-19 are nowhere near zero, in fact in England they may well be rising again, but the clown(s) in charge of our country are acting as if the disease has been eliminated. Communication has been confused to say the least. Pubs and restaurants are re-opening next Saturday (4th July) which BoZo will almost certainly try to dub as Independence Day.

Over the past week we had about half a million people on the beach at Bournemouth. This caused the Police to declare a major incident. BoZo told us to use our common sense. They (and the Liverpool fans celebrating winning the Premiership) all took their lead from the common sense that Dominic Cummings displayed back in April. How the authorities plan to enforce the distancing requirements on pubs I have no idea, and I suspect that they don’t either.

BoZo was last seen doing press-ups to show that he was physically, if not necessarily mentally fit to lead the country

Liverpool became Premier League champions on Thursday, without actually having to kick a ball. Manchester City lost to Chelsea to leave Liverpool with an unassailable lead. I haven’t watched much of the football since it restarted. Partly because I’m not that fond of watching football on television, partly because I’m not that interested in The Premier League and also because the artificial crowd noise is just that, artificial. It is just random noise. Yes they ramp it up if there is a goal, but you don’t get the round of applause for a bit of good defending, or the collective gasp when a shot goes just wide.

Two wonderful new baby boys make all of this seem better. I know that Aimee and Andrew are going to have their work cut out looking after them and Matilda, we will do what we can to help.

Covid-19

LOCK-DOWN U.K. DAY 88

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Day 88 Friday 19th June

Birthday party time. Our friend Dave was seventy today. In times of lockdown organizing a party gets complicated, especially if you have more than six friends. We were allocated the breakfast option. Prosecco and Danish pastries at eleven o’clock, in the garden. Which meant that we had to be up reasonably early for a Friday morning. I’m not usually ready to party at eleven a.m., but is was an enjoyable get together. I assume that other batches of friends were allocated the afternoon tea shift and the evening shift.

We had to leave slightly early because we had arranged to visit the Royal Horticultural Society garden at Wisley. Grace used to be a member of the R.H.S., as is Diane. I hadn’t been to Wisley since, what I suppose, in retrospect, was our first date about fifteen months ago. Grace and I used to visit reasonably regularly. It has not been possible to visit since lock-down started. The gardens have been partially reopened since, June 1st. In order to control the numbers you have to pre-book a slot, and ours was two p.m.

The gardens looked magnificent and it was pleasant to walk around with a lot less people than normal. The normal restaurant’s and cafés are not open, but the have a few old style Citroën vans set up selling tea, coffee and ice cream. On did rather good sausage baps.

There were some sculptures, scattered around the garden, based on the work of the c16th Milanese artist Giuseppe Arcimboldo. He painted several pictures of human heads that were actually composed of fruits, vegetables and flowers.

About fifty years ago Diane became involved with the folk music scene that centred around Tanners Hatch Youth Hostel (near Dorking). A motley collection of folkies and various hangers on would take over the hostel for the weekend to make music together. The tradition still carries on.

Tanners Hatch is quite possibly the most beautiful, ‘traditional’ Youth Hostel in England, in an idyllic National Trust woodland setting in deepest Surrey near Polesden Lacey, Dorking. For many years on the second Saturday of every month (except June, July and August) there was an informal session of acoustic music, loosely referred to as ‘folk’ but ranging from traditional folk songs and tunes to the finest in rock and pop classics, depending on who is there! Although these regular events are not so regular any more we do aim to have at least 3 a year, which we will advertise on this site. The main music session is on Saturday but if we have Friday booked, there will be an informal session then too. As ever, players, singers and listeners of all ilks are welcome. You can come just for the session or stay the night in one of the heated single sex dormitories!

From the Tanners Hatch Music Site

Diane is still in contact with a lot of the people from back then and through her I have been drawn in. Obviously It is not possible to have the sessions at the moment, so in common with every one else, they have moved to Zoom. In the evening we joined an online session. Some sound quality was less than perfect, but it was an enjoyable evening.

Tanners also organizes an annual festival (held in a field near Dorking) unfortunately it has also had to be cancelled for this year. We went along in the B.G.B. last year and had a wonderful time.

B.G.B at Tanners last year
Covid-19, Uncategorized

LOCK-DOWN U.K. DAYS 83-87

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Day 83 Sunday 14th June

Grow bags are the new toilet paper.

We have some tomato plants that need potting on. Over the years, I developed a very good system for growing tomato plants. However, it does require grow bags to make it work. The pots cut into the grow bags and the wire cane holders support the canes, Everything fits into a plastic tray to keep things neat and hold water.

The system in use, two years ago.

Yesterday we tried B&Q, there were none available. Today, we went to Woodcote Green, again none in stock. “ Sorry sir, we might have a delivery Tuesday next week.” Amazon doesn’t have any available.

My conclusion; the part of the population that hasn’t taken up baking has started growing their own tomatoes instead.

Having failed to find any grow bags, we bought some plants instead. Then we took our sandwiches up to Farthing Downs.

After we had eaten our sandwiches, I did something I hadn’t done for a long time. I lay on my back in the long grass and watched the clouds drifting across the sky. It was slightly hypnotic and very relaxing.

We were very organized before we went out. There was a lasagne already assembled, all I had to do was stick it in the oven and have a gin while it cooked.

Day 84 Monday 15th June

I re-potted the tomato plants into larger pots and did the same for the peppers. Meanwhile, Diane was playing with the new pond cleaning kit she bought yesterday. It has two nets, a brush, and an extending handle. Our pond has never been cleaner.

Lockdown Haircut V3.0

Day 85 Tuesday 16th June

With the lockdown conditions over whom you can meet and where you can meet easing, Diane took a trip to deepest darkest Hampshire to see how Aimee, Thing 1 and Thing 2 (she is expecting twins very soon) were getting on. The idea was also to give Aimee a short break from ‘Tilda, who can be an over energetic three year old. I went to work.

Work was work, albeit a reasonably productive day. Aimee, ‘Tilda and the twins are all doing fine.

Day 86 Wednesday 17th June

Another day at work. I also went back to my house to check that it was still there and to cut the grass.

We visited the allotment for the first time in a few days. We have not needed to go up quite as often recently, because we have had a reasonable amount of rain in the past week or ten days, so we haven’t needed to water every day. Our raspberries were beginning to ripen the last time we were up. We were hoping that a few more would be ready to pick. We picked two ice cream tubs full — and one strawberry. Our strawberries have not been particularly successful, so far.

Day 87 Thursday 18th June

Breakfast was home-made granola (recipe here) and allotment raspberries, delicious.

I thought about going to the local McDonald’s drive through (as it is McDonald’s should that be spelt thru?) but when I saw the queue decided to get a sandwich from Sainsbury’s instead.

Diane is having second thoughts about our choice of wedding venue. She explains why in her latest blog post.