This is a very short blog because we are very busy this morning preparing for the weekend. More on that next week, but we did manage a Shedcast last night, so here it is. I have to say sorry for the abrupt ending but in all the jollity I forgot to check the battery and my computer blacked out - it was probably the hand of God saying 'enough already'.
If you are reading this, Jim and Pam, we are thinking of you and hope you are feeling better soon. I will probably ring you in the week.
Have to go now, please everyone, be careful when you are out and about, this Covid is still on the rampage. I am still disinfecting my weekly shopping delivery.
Lots of love and hugs to all, I'll be back next week with a full blog. Keep smiling!
Jane (and David) xx
P.S. Hope to see as many of you as possible at the Academy theatre in Birdwell, next Saturday or Sunday for our performance of 'That's the Spirit'.
Oh and if you are looking for a good read or are thinking about Christmas presents then buy one of my books. I need the revenue. Love you, byeeeeee! Go to Amazon.com Many thanks, Jane x
David and I have had yet another action packed week. We are certainly making up for the lonely lockdown days. I am going to start back to front this week, because yesterday, Sunday, was such fun and the perfect way to end a perfect week.
Just after lunch we donned our hiking boots with a specific destination in mind - The Acorn pub at Burncross, a 5 mile gentle jaunt through West Wood along the Trans-Pennine Trail. The weather was a bit overcast but very pleasant for walking. And why The Acorn? Well, our very good mates, Lee Pollard and Paul Athorne were performing in their band, Atlantic Heights. It's the first time we have seen them play so we didn't know what type of music to expect. We were not disappointed - rock music. It was a 2 hour mini festival, complete with hotdog/burger stand, outdoor bar and all the fun of an outdoor band. And lucky for us there was a group of young girls sitting near us whose enthusiasm only added to the enjoyment of the afternoon. So, thank you ladies for all the fun, and thank you, Lee, Paul, Gareth, Matt, and Karl for your excellent music making.
Working backwards, Saturday was just as much fun at the wedding of John and Karen.
And we danced the night away...
One step back and it was Friday night and Shed night, so here is our Shedcast, number 34 - The Surprise Parcel
I spent the whole of Wednesday (it felt like it anyway) in Barnsley doing a bit of last minute shopping and picking up David's trousers from the dry cleaners. And I had my hair trimmed a bit. I did enjoy going round the shops, although places in the Alhambra like TK Max and Next were very low in stock as they are on the move next month to new premises in The Glassworks. Not to worry, I still managed to get what I wanted, mainly a glittery belt. I then did the market and bought a sloppy top and an oversized dress (£10) which, I have to admit is a bit big. Anyway, the way my diet is going with all this new found social life, I might need it.
MONDAY - On Monday my sister Jo, her hubby David, and son Ben together with his bride to be (in January), Hayley, came to see us and we spent a brilliant afternoon and evening, catching up as we had not been together for months. We had lunch at the Strafford Alms just down the road, which was lovely, and then went home for a good old natter. The old photos came out, and Ben played piano for us. I did try out a bit of cello (not good after a bottle of Prosecco), and we had such a laugh opening the box (see Shedcast 34 above). We rounded up the day around our little firepit in the garden before waving them off, back to Manchester.
Did I mention last week that we went to a birthday party last Sunday, It has been such an action packed week. And in between all of this I have had rehearsals for the play, which is coming up fast, 'That's the Spirit' at the Academy Theatre on 11/12 September, and, a fun night at the Belmont Club with the Hoyland Theatre Group. Have you got your ticket yet?
Gosh! And I'm still breathing! And if I thought I could now relax, none of it. Our daughter, Jo is coming at the weekend, we are going to an exciting Golden Wedding Anniversary party (David's sister, Nan and Lawrence) on the Worth Valley Railway Steam train, followed by further adventures, so no time for binge box sets this week.
Do log on to my blog next week to see what we have to report. I am sure it is not going to be a quiet week. Thank you again for all the people who have been part of our lives this week, may you also live in interesting times.
Keep healthy, and keep smiling,
Lots of love,
Jane and David xx
PS And a special hello to Vito and Sharon, David and Kaeley (hope I've spelt that right) whom we met at the wedding.
Well, I've hardly had time to draw breath this week. It has certainly been the busiest and most social week we have had in a long time.
The week started well with a trip to Sheffield on Sunday afternoon where we spent a couple of hours down on the Quays at the Dorothy Pax bar where Ray Hearne and his daughter were performing. The bodhran player, Ciaran Boyle also made a guest appearance, as did the Fagan boys, Hamish and Harry. The whole show was a real treat and our first trip to Sheffield Quays was a total success.
On Monday we had to take the car in to have the breaks sorted out (an essential job) and while Halfords were sorting that out, David and I took a look in the shops, first B&M and then Dunelm. We wanted a few bits and it was good to just mosey around the isles and see what was on offer. We have now discovered that B&M is a good place to go to buy the Greek larger, Mythos. We didn't actually buy any, but we now know where to go should we decide we need some. Anyway we had a snack in the Dunelm coffee shop and that was very pleasant.
On Wednesday I spent the whole afternoon with Valentino (cello). The first time I have touched him in ages, shame on me, but it was a good practice.
Thursday was cleaning the house day ready for visitors on Friday, but we did manage a trip down the road to the 'jam lady' and as we were passing The Cock, we popped in for a cheeky pint.
And that brings us to Friday, Shednight, Yeah! And while we were enjoying life in our back garden we happened to see our new next door but one neighbours. Well, we had a chat and one thing led to another and before we knew it we were sitting in the shed enjoying a bottle of wine with Graham and Glenna - a Shed Afternoon.
The day unfolded perfectly and our evening guest arrived just after 6p.m. John Carter and his partner Karen. We knew John way back in Crete where he was a holiday rep. It's many moons ago and a long time since we last saw him. To cut a long story very short, we are invited to John and Karen's wedding and thought it would be great to get together to talk about their upcoming day. It turned out to be a brilliant evening, ending with toes toasting round our fire pit. So, here is our shedcast with visitors, John and Karen.
Saturday, and 10.30 to Belmont Club at Hoyland for our weekly rehearsal of 'That's the Spirit!' Get your ticket soon if you haven't already got one.
AND SUNDAY we were off partying again. This time it was at the Boatman's Rest at Worsbrough Dale where we had a family gathering for our son's partner's birthday - Tracy, 50 today! It was a great get together with our lovely granddaughters, Star and Jade. Here are a few pics:
AND TODAY, MONDAY as I write we are awaiting the arrival of my sister, Joanna, her hubby, David, and their eldest son, Ben with his bride to be (in January), Hayley. They are on their way from Manchester and we are all going out for lunch at the Strafford Alms, near Birdwell. It's another first for us, so we hope it will be OK. See next week's blog for a full account.
So, as you can imagine, I am slightly busy getting ready to go out. I hope you have all had a good week. For us it has been such whirlwind week, and beautifully sociable one. I think I could get used to having visitors in the shed, give us a ring if you fancy popping round.
Until next week then, keep well and keep smiling,
Lots of love, Jane and David xx
P.S. And as we have a wedding to go to next Saturday, there will be photo's of that to look forward to.
