Bold as brass at Burnby

Apart from a poor showing at the pub quiz, it has been a good weekend. Mum really enjoyed the coffee evening on Thursday night. On Friday, we went to Hull Braves Guild and Mum came along. There were plenty of people to talk to and the turn played the sort of music that she enjoyed.
I have been trying to provide meals to tempt Mum's appetite. She has been complaining about not enjoying her food. The only blip was Saturday when we had a Chinese take-away as Lisa and Alan came round and the meal she chose wasn't that good. We all gave her a bit of ours and she enjoyed all the bits.
We had looked at going out for the day on Saturday but the horrendous pictures coming from the Severn basin and the terrible weather forecast changed our minds. Instead we went to the cinema to see Die Hard 4.0. Bruce Willis was on top, if inprobable, form and all three of us enjoyed it very much. As I said above, Lisa and Alan joined us and we had a take-away. We then watched the TOTP2 Disco show with the subtitles on. How sad is that?!

We decided to take the risk on Sunday and went to Burnby Hall Gardens in Pocklington. What an inspired choice. We got there to find that there is a Brass Band playing most Sunday afternoons. So we had a walk round and fed the fish and looked at the beautiful plants and water lilies then got a pot of tea and a cake and settled down to listen to the band. It was the East Riding of Yorkshire Brass Band. Unfortunately, the leader announced the web site but my memory is failing! However, I would recommend a listen if they are in the vicinity. The rain started as the band started so I took my cuppa under cover while Mum and Barbara sat under their umbrellas. However, the rain eased off and finally stopped so I went for a walk around the gardens with the band playing. Magical.

Mum had arranged to meet her friend Dot today so I took her home this morning. Barbara went to the hairdressers while I was doing that. It didn't take me too long and I was back before lunch so we made a start on the dining room. It is going to get a coat of paint and then we are having the carpet cleaned. In fact, I am sat in the hall typing this as we have moved most things out! We are already to start tomorrow.

Glad that's over

Over the last couple of weeks, I have been a bit distracted. In fact, I have felt downright guilty when I did anything on the computer. I agreed to do a mini sermon for Brenda H. in today's service to mark Aldersgate Sunday and Wesley Day on the 24th. The theme was John Wesley's sermons and Charles Wesley's hymns. I was asked to do a shortened version of a JW sermon in his own words. I kept looking at it and did several drafts before going back to my original plan. I can't judge really how it went. Barbara said it went well but as it was the last one of three, it was a bit heavier. I got a lot out of doing it but will try and say no in future!!
Friday was my first outing with the people from Willersley House. I thought I ought to go as I will be the treasurer from next month. The rest of the outing are on Wednesdays which are difficult for us. I didn't have to go up there until 1pm. Just as well as I didn't want to breathe beery fumes over them after the quiz night. A successful night there for a change too.
The trip was just to East Park in Hull. I say just but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The coach was provided by PBJ Coaches of Bridlington. The coach was equipped with a lift and Peter, the driver/owner, was very proficient at getting people in and out. There were several staff with the residents and so I was a bit redundant. Still, I enjoyed the ride and then the talk we were given at the Park. We went to the Pavilion Cafe where a room had been set aside for us. Tea and coffee were served and a delicious cream scone then Stuart MacDonald, one of the park keepers, gave us a slide show about the park. The slides were of old post cards he has collected over the years. He was very knowledgeable and quite passionate about things. The talk had to be cut short as we had to get back for tea and loading/unloading plus crossing the city would take a while. I hope to get to see the rest of the talk sometime. When we got back, Ken C. handed over all the papers and books from the accounts. I will present the accounts to the AGM as he is on his holidays!
Saturday, we went and picked up Lisa and, after a call to her bank in Hessle, we went to have a look at some cars. Lisa is looking to replace their car and I wanted to channel Barbara's mind really. We have talked about downsizing but I soon found that she is looking at similar sized vehicles to ours if a little lower (we have a Mazda Premacy). It made me think too. The worse thing was we were offered what seemed a good deal and decided to think it over (too much of a shock really). We talked over lunch and rang to arrange a test drive only for the salesman to ring and say the car had been sold in the interim. Barbara had been a bit shocked by the pittance we had been offered for ours and how much a used, allbeit nearly new, car cost and then by the audacity of the salesman selling the car before she had had a go. I was looking at a bit later in the summer when we have more time so wasn't fazed.
We took Lisa home at 6pm and continued on to see "Wild Hogs" at the cinema. Sadly there were only four of us in the cinema. We enjoyed it. It may have been a bit predictable but there were some unexpected gems in it. We used one of our prize vouchers from the quiz we won at Church a few weeks ago. Still have one to use. What shall we go see? Quite a few "blockbusters" coming up. Trouble is the nights are getting lighter so going to the cinema seems a bit sad!