Barbecues and a Kitchen

The Social Calendar of the family has been a little full over the last two weekends. Hence the lack of any blogging since my previous one!   

Last Friday (8th April) we were invited up to East Marton to join Chris Simpson (of Magna Carta fame) to help celebrate the birthday of his good lady - Cathy. Since his semi retirement, Chris has purchased a narrowboat which he has christened "Seasons" - after one of his most successful recordings.

When we arrived there were already about half a dozen people gathered around a barbecue. One of the local canal dwellers - a wonderful character who seems to survive on a regular intake of alcohol - was there, and during the first quarter of an hour he managed to consume a full bottle of white wine. 

We took Ruby with us, and she enjoyed an extended swim in the canal, after having being made a fuss of by all the people at the barbecue!

                   

Earlier in the week I had given three different talks ["Down Memory Lane - Radio & TV Music of the 50's and 60's", "The Musicals of Rodgers & Hammerstien", and "Classical Music used in Advertising"] to three different groups of people, as well as played for two funerals and also played for a "sing along" morning assembly at the local Primary School, to which all the parents had been invited.

The BIG NEWS of the week is that the lady of the house has finally succeeded in persuading me to purchase a new kitchen (so from now on you will see me in threadbare clothing!) The picture above gives you the general idea of what the units look like. It is a Magnet "Shaker Cream" kitchen.

Barbecue at East Marton

We spent a convivial evening up at East Marton yesterday. We had been invted by Chris Simpson (of Magna Carta fame, who is a friend from times past) to join him for a barbecue. When Chris arrived he had brought his black labrador dog, Harvey, with him, and as we had taken Ruby up too they soon became great pals.

They romped up and down the towpath like a pair of demented spring lambs, and finished up carrying a stick between them.

Ruby managed to get into the canal about half a dozen times, and at one point was trying to chase some of the ducks, who soon learnt that by taking off they could rapidly outpace her!

Harvey looking for Chris

We'll just investiGATE this

Chris, Harvey & Ruby

A romp with a stick always goes down well

except when someone throws it and it finishes up in the canal between a narrowboat and the bank!

We spent ages searching for it!

Harvey posing for his photo