YvonneHi to everyone, from a sunny, yet bitterly cold Somerset.
I had hoped to have something of a quieter, more relaxing day today, but by the time I get to finish all my ‘Domestic Goddess’ duties, I think that will be a vain hope.
Especially as I took some time out this morning, to watch poor Andy Murray get out-played and out-classed by Novak Djokovic, in the Australian Open Tennis Championships
This week has been as eventful and worth a mention, as most weeks are mundane and ordinary.
Monday, Wednesday and Friday were spent in my volunteer capacity at my local Hospice Shop. I carry out a full range of backstage and front of house duties, but generally concentrate on selecting, pricing and displaying books, games, toys and most other accessory items. We have received some fantastic donations of books and toys this week, but can always accept more of just about anything.
Tuesday we went with my brother and sister-in-law to London, where we were treated to a visit to The Apollo Theatre, in Victoria, for the evening performance of the smash hit musical ‘Wicked’. A full account of my great day, can be found here.
We have also fixed up with my brother and sister-in-law, for the four of us to have a four day mid-week break, in Tenby, Wales, in May. We have got a great deal on a fantastic apartment that we have rented before, overlooking the sea and are busy planning our itinerary to incorporate any local National Trust properties and coastline walks, plus any other things that we did not get to appreciate fully on our previous visit.
We have a busy time ahead in May, as to co-incide with four family birthadys in that month, we yesterday also booked a weekend away in London for seven of us, in conjunction with a Saturday matinee performance of Les Miserables, at The Queen’s Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue. Now we just have to decide where to book for our birthday meal on Saturday night and what we would like to do on Sunday, before returning home.
I manged to get a couple of posts up, but am getting way behind on my reviews and thoughts articles. I shall be working on them later however, and hope to post my thoughts about ‘A Dead Man’s Debt’ by Grace Elliot, tomorrow, or Tuesday.
Finally, I would quite like some time to relax and read a little of my great latest read, which is a very moving family saga of war and romance:
‘Remembrance Day’ by Leah Fleming
We are all in mourning here for Murray as well and the day wasn’t made any better by the English Cricket Team getting beaten, either. Couple that with the freezing weather and I think I’m hibernating!
Feeling very sorry for Andy Murray. I gather there have been adverse comments on Twitter. Seeing as he’s gone further than any British player for donkey’s years I think that’s rather unfair.
How lovely to be going to Tenby in May! We were there for a day last July and liked it very much. Such a beautifully situated town – lots ot do. Nice little museum etc.
Enjoy everything you have planned!
I must admit that I only tend to follow the cricket avidly, when it is a test match, or the ashes series. Makes me a bit shallow I guess, but to be honest one-day matches and twenty-twenty games are so commercialised that they hold little interset for me.
Neither does the notion of playing in coloured clothes, that applies equally to the tennis as well.
Poor Andy did get rather thrashed by the much better player, on the day. It is such a shame that he gets nearly all the way in a tournament, but never quite makes it to the finishing line.
It is definitely freezing cold today, the lovely sunshine and blue skies are very deceptive.
Hi Cath,
I haven’t read any of the reports following the match, but it is unfair to Andy to castigate him, when as you comment, he has got much further than almost any other British player.
The worrying thing is that we don’t seem to have any up-coming youngsters ready to step into his shoes, a few years down the line.
My niece has a best friend who is wheelchair bound and plays tennis for the England team. She is right near the top of her game and is hoping to participate inthe 2012 paralympics.
We loved Tenby, when we were there a couple of years back and the surrounding countryside was amazing. It’s always good to get a few days away and with all the wedding plans for their eldest daughters big day in September gathering momentum, it will give my brother and sister-in-law the chance to unwind for a bit.
Sounds like a good and busy week!
I hope you enjoy your trip to Denby. My dad volunteers at a local National Trust place here in Mid Wales.
Hi Nikki-ann,
It’s not often a week comes together like that, I can tell you.
We have quite a few NT places right on our doorstep and I have seriously thought about splitting my volunteering time between the hospice and one of the NT places.
Our nearest place is ‘Stourhead’, about 6 miles away and I keep hoping that they will adopt the same strategy as many of the other places and start a small second-hand bookshop, then I would be first in line to help out!!
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-stourhead
Where does your Dad volunteer?
I love the look of the book you are reading – REMEMBRANCE DAY. This is not an author I am familiar with but I’m headed over to Book Depository to take a look. Thanks for sharing!
Oh good, now I am able to comment….thank you. I wanted to say how great I think it is that you are able to volunteer to benefit Hospice organizations. We are very fortunate here, for all they do to improve the last days of life of those we care so much about….thanks to people like you.
Hi Yvonne,
Dad volunteers at Powis Castle. He started last year when they were asking for volunteers and he loves it. It gives him something to do in his retirement!
Attingham Park near Shrewsbury (another NT property) has a second-hand bookfair last year. I couldn’t make it, but I’m hoing they’re going to have another one this year.
Hi Kay,
I’m about half way through now and it’s certainly an emotional read. Although I think I can see where the story is headed, I’m not sure that the outcome is going to be quite what I am expecting.
Hi Nikki-ann,
Checked out both those places and they look great, I like the sound of the Indian treasures at Powis Castle and of course the book fair at Attingham Park.
Shrewsbury is do-able for us in a day if we set off at the crack of dawn, so who knows. We are planning to visit some of the more Northerly trust properties as part of a more organised trip, where we stay over for a few days.
Hi Diane,
I’m so glad that you are able to comment now and your kind words are very much appreciated. I think that hospice and palliative care comes to someone we all know eventually and it is good to think that special care is being taken of that person, when they most need it.
Sounds like you have some exciting things planned for the next few months. Enjoy!
It sounds like you had a great week! The activities planned in May should be a lot of fun too, especially the weekend in London!
HI Alyce,
It was certainly a more active social week than usual and we don’t generally make snap decisions about going away anywhere, but everything kind of happened all at once.
It’s always good to get up to London once in a while, but really neither of us are city people. There are just too many people and too much hustle and bustle for us. Our local cities are Bath and Salisbury, both of which get very busy during the summer, with tourists from the US, but are both walk around cities that are much more tranquil than somewhere like London.
Hi Chris,
I’m sure we will, it’s always good to get away for a while and short breaks can often be as beneficial as a single long holiday.
Wales has some lovely coastline, which is what we both enjoy and we are both into live musicals in a big way, especially Les Miserables, so that is always a treat to look forward to.