April Part 2

This date of Easter must surely be the latest on record but still the weather continues unsettled. Even today on 9th May there is blustery, cold, wet weather.

The sun managed to shine for the Good Friday service in the town centre. The band played and the people sang and then we went to church to eat a hot cross bun.

Our own Easter Sunday was much more low key but still we kept to our tradition of Easter eggs on the Easter table. Spot the difference.

The Brighton weekend came up. The main purpose was to spend some time with Joe and Julia and, as always, rain was not far away.

On our journey down we discovered that Greggs had started operating in motorway service stations. The offer was any cake and any coffee for £2.50. The man who came in after us did not spot the offer and paid £4.50. It was raining and so we consumed our cream filled doughnuts in the car. Next we stopped at Pease Pottage for a toilet stop before going to find our motel at Hickstead.

We entered Brighton to the accompaniment of rain. Having parked and got a parking permit from Julia we made our way to their new flat. Joe joined us shortly after we arrived. The flat is an improvement on their previous one. It is possible to walk around the main room, the kitchen is good and they have access through a proper bathroom into a small garden.

The rain continued and so we stayed in the flat to have a meal and then to play the families' favourite game of Chartbusters. 

At the end of the evening we made our way back to the Travel Lodge, first getting lost (even with a SATNav) in the one way system of the town. The rooms are much improved and the bed is comfortable and does not move when you lean against the headboard. After breakfast of porridge of the instant variety from Asda we returned to Brighton. We parked on their street once more. For some unaccountable reason the rain more or less stopped and we were able to walk into town.

We were heading for 'Waikikamukau'. This is a vegetarian restaurant. If you are interested in Kiwi the origin of the name then see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waikikamukau. This is about as close to the truth as you will get. Our route was through an alley way of stalls and shops of the 'different' variety.

I was on the look out for a bright shirt for the summer. Once we had settled down in the restaurant Irene said that there were bright coloured shirts on the racks outside the shop. I was not long in finding and paying £3 for an attractive shirt.

After a filling lunch we made our way through the town to our first place of interest. (As if walking through the town was not interesting enough). We passed a sort of garden centre. Joe enjoyed the view of neighbouring alleys that he got by climbing up some steps.

At every turn there was a shop of interest.

I loved the long alley way which had small gardens opposite the row of terraced houses.

Eventually we arrived at the Toy Museum. This was a place that I have wanted to visit. It has featured on television and in my railway books. It is an amazing collection of things that went back in time beyond my childhood but include things from our older children's childhood. I did not know that Pelham Puppets had made a Harry Potter puppet before they finally closed.

After this we went to an exhibition at the art gallery. Local people had access to some London collections and they had made their own choices. It was an interesting selection. Particularly appealing was a painting of a lamb on a kitchen table with the farmer and is wife looking at it with some affection. It was obvious that later the lamb would be eaten.

On the way back to the flat we passed a strangely named shop and above was a strangely juxtaposed sign of a robber. I could not work out the significance.

Then we called into a greengrocer that had a very colourful display at the front.

After a great meal we settled down to play a train game.

Once more we badly negotiated the one-way system but got back to another night at the Travel Lodge. We had hoped to meet Joe and Julia at a nearby National Trust gardens but as we left the hotel the rain came once more. We had a pleasant morning in their flat before heading home.

Our lunch stop was at Cobham Services. We had seen this being built. It was one of the more modern ones. The main food hall was maintained by MacDonalds but around it was a number of eateries. Once more we found good food at Greggs and after afternoon refreshments at Watford gap got back home.

On the 30th the weather was reasonable and so off we set to Clumber Park. It is a little while since we had been there and found that in many places the permitted speed had been reduced. We were not sure that it was the local park that people from Stapleford seem to make it out to be.

Last time we went we were not members of the National Trust and so we missed out on visiting the walled garden. This time we intended to make a visit to it, but after refreshments in the cafe.

After this we popped into the visitors centre which displayed much of the wildlife that could be found around the park grounds. One recorded sound was that of the cuckoo and I thought that the last day of April might be too early to here a real one.

As we were at the car getting ready to go off on our walk I spied a lady that I knew. Parked only a few car away were our friends Margaret and Derrick. They were spending a week away at the nearby Thorsby Hall.

Recently I had had a discussion with another friend who had noticed that whenever he parked his car other people parked next to him. I noticed it too. I deliberately parked in the middle of the car park and when we came back from the cafe we were surrounded by other cars despite there being a lot of room in more convenient parts of the car park.

Off we set to the walled garden. It is one of the most impressive ones that I have seen. Along one side was one of the longest lean-to green-houses we have seen and some of the largest tool and potting sheds.

It was mainly a kitchen garden. The apple blossom was almost fully out. Exactly a week later the local BBC station chose to feature the apples here on their programme.

The BBC did not mention that as well as apples there were 121 varieties of rhubarb. They did not make for interesting photography but the vivid coloured flowers did.

 We had our picnic in the woodland area where a disappointed squirrel came to be fed.

Then we miss-judged the time and the length of our walk as we set off; first to find bluebells and then to cross to the other side of the lake.

 Eventually we reached the bridge.

We reached a good view of all the buildings of Clumber Park and then we heard the cuckoo. This must have been the earliest that we have heard. I think that last year was the first time I had one for some years.

 Inspired by this and despite time running out on us we walked a little further and came upon the temple.

It is a little disappointing from close-up and not the magnificent structure that can be seen from the opposite bank.

April in Brighton

This time last year Irene and I were into the second leg of our New Zealand journey. It began to feel cold as the days shortened and the evening temperatures dropped below 20 degrees. Now we are in a country and in a season where the days are getting longer, but still  the thermometer refuses to climb.

So, it was not surprising that our first April visit was to buy more loft insulation. At the same time we picked up compost in the hope that spring would soon arrive.

Near to B and Q is a place called Locko Park. The plan was to have a picnic in the car followed by a chilly walk. However, the park gates said that they would be locked at 1.00 pm. The new plan was a quick walk in and out and then home.

This meant that we would be back in time to lay the insulation and for Irene and I to give more time to the railway.

The next day the Summer house arrived and building began. We actually got as far as putting on the roof and most windows.

 The following day was the arrival of my new 300 mm lens. It is a great piece of kit with vibration reduction. It even has a setting for taking pictures from a moving vehicle. It can tell if the movement is accidental or deliberate.

On Saturday we went down to Nan's. The long awaited aquarium now had a few fish in it.

The next Wednesday of the month came round. Irene and I had plans to drive to the canal at Sandiacre, walk along the canal to Long Eaton, have snack lunch and walk home.

However, we had the pleasure of our friend Lawrence coming over to do a plumbing repair. He wanted to know our plans and offered to take us to the canal and walk with us, if we had a woolly hat. The time was to be spent so that he could check for leaks when we returned.

Off we set along the canal. Half way along Lawrence's phone rang. His wife, Jan wanted to know where he was. The plan was further modified and she would meet us for lunch.

However, we got to Long Eaton too late for morning coffee and too early for lunch. So, off we set beyond the chimneys of Long Eaton to the pub at Trent Lock.

Lawrence and Jan

The 'meal deal' was for two courses. Now, Jan and Lawrence prefer a starter and we prefer a sweet. Therefore, we sat through their starter course and enjoyed the main course together. Then, time was running out for Jan's parking in Long Eaton and they set off back to the Asda car park. We sat and sat before realising that our sweet was not forthcoming.

The sweet came, was consumed and off we set. The phone rang. The call was to turn back and wait to be collected. Back we went to Sandiacre, transferred from one car to the other and back home.

The repair was leaking. We now have a more sophisticated piece of plumbing which will make future repairs easier. Thank you Lawrence AND Jan.

Now to Brighton. The reason was to see Joe on his birthday. We set off on a sunny Saturday morning but drove into rain at the Pease Pottage service area north of Brighton. We found our accommodation, unpacked and set off on foot, in the rain to the Royal Pavillion to meet Joe and Julia.

We discovered that the Pavillion was open every day, but the museum and gallery would be closed on Monday. So, here we are in the museum and Joe and Julia are interacting via a football game. Don't ask why.

After this adventure we went off to find food. Would you believe that the restaurant was a meatless one called 'Wai Kika Moo Kau'. Please follow the link to see the connection to New Zealand. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waikikamukau. 

Then came another drenching and a bus back to Preston Park. Back at the flat I sampled Joe's fine whiskey, played a game called 'Ticket to Ride' (Please note that just about everyone in the Norwood circle are hooked on the game in its various forms.)

The following day we had plans to meet with Joe and Julia for a birthday dinner in the town centre, a visit to a museum, birthday cake in the local park before going our separate ways.

It was decided the four of us would meet for Sunday lunch in town. Irene and I had a pleasant walk down to the sea front. It happened to be the morning of the Brighton marathon and so we, somewhat unwillingly, joined the crowds cheering on the 10,000 runners. This event could well explain the lack of accommodation and the high price of rooms at this time of year.

Walking against the runners and the crowds we eventually found a tunnel through to the beach and we could enjoy the sight and sound of the sea in the gravel. Last June the harsh, cold winds forced us back into town.

Lunch time meant a crossing in the other direction which the marshals made possible through the remaining stragglers.

We met Joe and Julia at St Georges pub which, being Brighton was, once more meatless.

From there we made our way to the 'Booth Museum' http://www.brighton-hove-rpml.org.uk/museums/boothmuseum/pages/home.aspx which was near our accommodation. We had passed this a number of times and it looked like a Salvation Army hall and I had expected it to have some connection with it. However the vast building had been bought to house the growing natural history collection of an Edward Booth who lived a smaller house next door.

From the museum we crossed the road to buy beverages and went to sit in the park and cut Joe's birthday cake with a wooden stirring stick.Improvisation can be fun. Then, once more, our plans were changed. Instead separating at this spot we all walked back to our car and drove back to J and J's flat. We had another game of 'Ticket to Ride', a delightful supper and then, having said our goodbyes, we drove back to our room and bed.

In the morning we walked back down to the Pavilion. The interior is just as magnificent as the outside. In fact it was very much over the top in regards to opulence. Unfortunately photography was not allowed, but it was well worth the visit. 

After lunch we took a decision to use our bus passes and see where they led us. With little information we boarded a bus towards Eastbourne. A local man sat opposite us and he suggested that we head for the Seven Sisters. We were to keep on the bus until it crossed a one-way bridge and then get off.

The bus stop was at the Seven Sisters Park and visitors centre. We wanted to get on to the headland which would look back on to the cliffs themselves. Taking the advice of the  centre employee we set off back along the road with instruction to keep left and not go up the river path. He did warn us of mud, and, mud we found. So, like others heading back we did.

Having taken photographs of the mud and the cliffs in the distance we returned to the road and went back across the river to take the beach walk.

This was more do-able and we were able, once again, to enjoy the sound of the sea, but also to be able to get close to the white cliffs.

This is a picture of the vantage
 point at the other side of the river

The adventure ended and we returned to Brighton, walked past the Brighton Eye and found our way to fish and chips on the sea front.

After a last photograph of the sun setting on the arches we made the trudge back up Dyke Road and so to bed.

The following morning we left with the intention of stopping at a garden, but the weather was not pleasant and so we stopped off in Milton Keynes to see Nan and Tim before heading home.

Once home the work on the summer house continued. I decided to finish it off with a bit of decking. The first step was to raise it on to four inch high bearers, which I helped my friend Alan to do. Then came the cutting and mounting the decking on to a frame.

As a final touch the sign of ownership was added to the front. The floor is now carpeted and the room has been used on most days since.

On Sunday our church friends, Brian and Teresa celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. Irene had the idea of giving them a painting which is seen in this photograph.

Pastor Dave Mansfield
with the happy couple

In the afternoon we popped over to Joni and Fiona's new house with the last of their plants.

It is a good house with a well established garden. Having moved in on Saturday they spent most of the rest of the week  getting it organised and adding new furniture.

Irene and I are pleased that they have been able to make this big step and wish them well.