A busy weekend

My working weeks have been reduced to 3 and 4 days alternately and last week was my first 3-day week – followed by a 4-day weekend 🙂 🙂 .

Thursday saw Ian and me visiting Sally and Steve. Although we did get gin and tonic we also found ourselves helping to slash and burn some woodland (Pete, you missed a power tool opportunity).

On Friday we went to Newcastle so that Ian could be fitted with a penguin suit for his role as best man at a wedding down south (no, not that wedding). No photos of the fitting but watch this space for pics of the real thing in a couple of weeks’ time. 🙂

I took the chance to see the John Martin exhibition at the Laing art gallery, which was excellent. When he paints fire (e.g., in The Destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah) I swear you can feel the heat, and when he paints lightning you can hear the thunderclaps.

Sunday saw a more common event – another road race:

Although St George’s Day is 23rd, because it falls on Easter weekend this festval is being observed on 2 May. Nevertheless the race was held on 15th and there were dragons, St George’s cross flags and so on in plenty.

I was pleased to reach my target of 50 minutes, cutting my time over the route by 4 mins 23. It was a bit disappointing that Ian came in only a minute or so behind, making me wonder whether training on whisky and secret chocolate bars is something I should try.

Saturday evening saw us meeting our sailing friends Wayne and Deb at the Royal Windermere Yacht Club for dinner again. We were all gutted that pavlova was not on the menu as the chef does a great one.

Sunday brought the first assault of the year on the garden, helped by various pets.

After this another run along the river between Hesket Newmarket and Caldbeck, and back again, with Sarah, then all three of us joined Andy and Sabiene for lovely food and DVDs – including the recent blockbusters “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest” and that must-see: The Antarctic Painting DVD.

All in all, if not an adventurous, a packed and sociable weekend. How did I ever find the time to work five days a week??