Rural Adventure

Life got very hectic after China. Nada, our visitor from Germany, stayed for a week at the start of May. Nada and Mel, Queenswood

We treated her to the best that rural England has to offer - she went to the Greenman Festival in Clun, visited Staike House (see earlier blogs), went flat green bowling with Mum and me and took trips out to Worcester and Stratford on Avon. I think she had a good time and the kids adored her.

Greenman Festival, Clun

Ice-creams

Meal at home, cooked by Nada.

Mum has persuaded me to join the bowling club this year. It's kind of a family tradition. My grandfather helped to set up the club in about the 1960s and taught some of the current members how to play. The last trip to the club he had was on his 96th birthday, three days before he died. Anyway, I am now playing with his bowls (woods), which I think he would have liked, though none of his skill has, as yet, rubbed off on me.

Cherry blossom, Queenswood

The school I'm at is nice. The kids are mostly polite and biddable. My stress level is within containable levels. I'm still experiencing fall out from the past three years in a poisonous atmosphere. For example, I'm hiding myself away a bit, not joining in with coffee time and making sure I don't ask too many questions or rely on anyone for anything. If I'm invisible, then I am less likely to get picked on. Ironically, I don't think it would happen in this school, but once bitten, twice shy.

Bluebells, Queenswood

I'm getting back into climbing and exercise. I took three of the kids out up the Brecon Beacons for a ten mile walk last Sunday. I will post photos on my travel blog when I have a chance. It was good, but I think they were all a bit stiff the next day. I have also done a couple of training jogs in the hope that when I do the Race for Life in June, I will be able to puff and pant my way around the course. After the first one, I hurt for two days. I guess I need to do more aerobic activity.