18 Jul: What a strangely different week - hard work, funerals and two cinema trips. Tuesday was Danny Gower's funeral out in the Garden of Kent, so I was up at dawn and in a cab to arrive in Beau Riviera in time for a coffee at 7am as Adam was picking up a BMW for a few days. We drove down to Adam's mum's which was a lovely drive as we were against the traffic bound for London Village. The service began at 11:00 and I had been given the honour of helping carry Danny on his last journey - I was very touched. In return for this honour I sang my heart out as the lovely ceremony completed. Then we went to the little village of Bobbin to the appropriately named pub - The Bobbin Apple - for a few hours and then a trip to cheer ourselves up at Bluewater. I have to say, Adam's family all held up well and despite being a little down myself I am glad I went and acted as support for them. As funerals are not something you do too often, and I had more than my fair share last year with Mary, Aunty Peggy, Mum and Uncle Andrew, it was different to be a little further from the inner-circle. Later in the week I went to see the new Mike Leigh film at a press screening with Hudson. As usual, a Leigh film is just observing a little part of the lives of interesting, complex characters. I loved it. The rest of the week was very busy with work, Saturday up with the dawn and cake baking, shelf cleaning and then to see "Inception" at Vue Islington in the posh seats! What an amazing movie! Complicated story, the most amazing effects and great acting. Then to Camino for a quickie but the main bar did not have Manzanilla, so I went to the little Sherry Bar across from it and had a lovely one there. The barmaid in Camino wanted to give me Tio Pepe instead of Manzanilla - NO WAY JOSE!

Beautiful "Thank you" orchids from Adam, with a lovely card inside which, like Our Lady Of Sorrows, I will keep in my heart forever.

On the way to the cinema, two different ladybirds having sex...

13 Jul: Some new garden furniture, just in time for Cake Saturday!

The new Garden Tank...

11 Jul: Just back from the annual History and Heritage Weekend up near High Wycombe, which was the usual great success. Anthony and I left at the crack of Saturday dawn (well 9:15) and traveled up by train but at the station not a single taxi driver knew where we wanted to go. Thankfully Friday saw me get an iPhone4, so the maps were even better than the old one, which has gone to a happy home in Anthony's pocket. St Katherine's is lovely as you can see on the images, and there was a great turn-out this weekend. It is nice now and again not to be speaking and just listening. Saturday morning was spent listening to a different side of Templary from Dr Karen Ralls, whom I know very well as she is a trustee on the THT with me. It was good to catch up. Thereafter there was a discussion and presentation about communication in the time of the Crusades and lunch which was very nice. The weather was fantastic and some went to Henley for a walk and some (me) stayed behind just relaxing in the lovely gardens. This was enhanced by home made cakes and scones at 4:30, a treat that always goes down well in my books! Then at 5:30 we were entertained by Schola Gregoriana, a mediaeval singing troupe who sang a round of songs relating to the crusades times (C12) and some lovely non-plain chants. The instruments looked to be taken right out of a museum, and sounded like it too! Some stayed for dinner (fab) but could not wait for our evening ceremonies, where awards, promotions and election results were read out. All very well arranged. It was also time in the evening for your favourite author to be seen in the grounds, in his church mantle waving a Light-sabre! Early beds all round as it had been a long, hot, sunny and educational day. Sunday dawned for me at 6:20 but the night had not been so good for Anthony who was claustrophobic in his little room. I slept like a log of course. Once we were up and about, breakfasted and ready, the Grand Prior gave us a tour through the last 50 years of the Order, but went back a bit further to 1804 with his introduction and outline. This was fascingating as I knew som of the story from my days in the Regency Obedience, but the Atlantic Obedience side was new and illuminating. Seneschal John asked me to do some work during the Induction and Installations which was a great honour, as Anthony was moving from Postulant to Novice so he was dealt with first before the four new Knights. I read the Epistle, did not drop anything, but lost Seneschal viewing when I had to step behind a 6'2" new knight with his mantle and had to guess and hope that John was on the other side catching the edges of the collar! Everyone had a lovely weekend. As always it is uplifting to be surrounded by people having fun, especially today as it is exactly one year since Jenny died. What a year it has been, she is terribly missed from near and far and I wish she had danced at my wedding, but she had to move on as it was her time after an exciting, love- and fun-filled life.
Pixie Knight at night?