Harmstock 2009

Today we celebrated Charlotte's twenty-eleventh birthday with a memorable (if somewhat damp) trip to Harmstock '09.

We started with champagne and birthday cake at Chez Hickerton. Apart from M & C and K and me, there was Pete & Ginny, Clint & Emma, Steve (but no Patricia as he had left her in the kitchen!), Jon, Lou & Dan, Nick & Amy, Becky & Dave and Maria & Dave (and a gaggle of neices and nephews). While we were there, we had the chance to look at some of Martin's photos from Kenya - they got amazingly close to some of the animals and he has some superb pictures to prove it.

The weather was looking decidedly "iffy" (meteorological term) so the original plan to walk from South Hykeham to Harmston was canned in favour of driving to Waddington and just walking the last bit. Some people had to duck out at this point so the walking party numbered eleven. After a bracing snifter in the Horse and Jockstrap we embarked on our trek. Then the rain came! By the time we were halfway to Harmston it was properly p155ing down and those people without waterproofs did very well to keep going without complaint.

We arrived at the Thorald Arms in Harmston to be met by a sea of umbrellas and goretex - everyone else seemed better prepared than us. Anyway, once we had a couple of halves of Sneck Lifter inside us things began to look a lot better. The weather did begin to slowly improve and somebody managed to purloin one of the pub parasols which provided a fair amount of shelter even it involved huddling in uncomfortable proximity. We had been joined at this point by Phil and Ted, Yvette, Neve & Isla; later on Suzie also turned up (having left Paul in charge of baby Phoebe).

The beer and the bands and the company and the laughs were all of top quality and I think Harmstock may become a regular fixture on our calendars.

1st Skellingthorpe International Croquet Tournament

K and I took part in the 1st Skellingthorpe International Croquet tournament today. That's the official name, the unofficial name is the Annual Excuse For A Few Summer Swals At Jon's Parent's House. I realise it's not catchy but you've got to admit it's descriptive.

This year Mr B senior had laid a croquet course on the vicarage lawn. He also instructed the assembled rabble on the finer points of this gentlest of summer games. Jon split the eight or so pairs into two teams and battle commenced.

Some of the participants (Glenn!) were more interested in wrecking their opponents chances than advancing themselves but all is fair in love and croquet. K and I had a good win against Danny and Kirsty (Danny, you are the weakest link, goodbye) but were then put to the sword by Martin and Charlotte - despite Charlotte not being able to properly focus, or even stand up straight on occasion. Suitably beaten, Team Shepherd decided to withdraw gracefully and leave the rest to slug it out. I'm not sure if floodlights were on offer but I feel they may well have been required.

2-1 nuff said

Why is every other driver an idiot?

I think I must be getting old. So much about driving annoys me these days, I feel the need to share my frustrations with the world.

1. Drivers who don't pull over to the left on a dual carriageway or motorway. Unless you're overtaking... GET OVER!
2. Drivers who feel the need to drift to the right in order to make a left-hand turn and vice versa. You're not driving an artic, you're in a bloody KIA!
3. People with convertibles who drive around with the roof up in nice weather. Why did you buy it? If you don't want your hair to blow around, buy a hardtop!
4. People who go through the drive-thru at McDonalds and then eat their food in the car park. Surely there must be somewhere more appealing.
5. Tailgaters - this is just plain dangerous - if you're behind me I will brake test you.
6. People who dawdle along at 40mph when the limit is 60 and then arrive at a village and carry on doing 40 even though the limit is 30.
7. Drivers who overtake on wide single carriageway roads even when there is stuff coming the other way (Newark bypass is a prime example). Have you ever wondered what will happen if you meet another moron doing the same thing in the other direction?
8. People whose cars still sport Comic Relief red noses from 1986.
9. BMW drivers.
10. A lorry doing 50mph overtaking another lorry doing 49.5mph and blocking both lanes of a dual carriageway for mile after mile. All lorries should be restricted to the inside lane and only allowed out at night.
11. People who take up two spaces at the supermarket so no-one parks within 4 feet of them. These are usually drivers of kevved up hatchbacks or rally reps.
12. People who don't notice that their indicator is on for mile after mile. This is usually on the motorway after changing lanes - can you not see the flashing light and hear the tick tick tick? At least they bothered to indicate in the first place.
13. People that don't indicate. Every lane change, every roundabout, every junction, they all need indicators. You'd think it cost money to flick the lever. BMW drivers are the worst (see No.9) - indicators must be an optional extra on all BMWs.
14. People who don't want to overtake (fair enough) but also don't leave enough room between them and the vehicle in front to allow other people to overtake.
15. Drivers who drop their fag butts out of the window. It's still littering you know. There is no difference between your dog end and a KFC carton.

Anyway, rant over (for now), feel free to leave your own comments.

Sunday lunch with Ivy (et al)

Met up in Aubourn for lunch with Jo, Tony and Ivy today.

Food was excellent as always. I had a sausage and onion pie which really hit the spot. T had a piece of cod the size of a small whale.

The company was just as good as the food, a great way to spend a warm Sunday afternoon.

Hanging around the Binns'

It was Andy's birthday party this afternoon. He and George invited us round to theirs for a barbecue. Also in attendance were Clint, Emma & Joel, Steve and Patricia and Craig, Helen and Nicola. We hadn't met the last three socially before although it turns out Keren knew Helen from Robert Patt - Lincoln is a very small town sometimes. It was a sunny, if windy, afternoon but very pleasant sat out in their garden. There was enough food to feed around 50 people (even if one of them was me) and the beer and wine were also flowing freely. A great afternoon - happy birthday Andy!

Des and Daisy's Wedding

K and I were at Des and Daisy's wedding in Cambridgeshire on Friday. I was a great day. The marriage service was at a church in the centre of Cambridge so we nipped for a quick snifter in the Avery beforehand. The ceremony was great with a couple of belting hymns - Lord Of The Dance was one which is definite contender for inclusion on the forthcoming album "Christianity's Greatest Hits".

After the service there were some photographs outside the church and then we travelled by car to the fantastically named Shingay-cum-Wendy for the wedding breakfast. The weather was being very kind so we started with champers on the lawn while more photos were taken before moving inside for the meal. Strasbourg pate, venison and banoffi was served and it was all superb. The speeches were very funny and everyone seemed to have a great time. In the evening there was a disco and much "enthusiastic" dancing.

It was a terrific day all round and I'm sure the bride and groom will remember it forever.

Curry night

Tried out the curry house in Metheringham with K, Jo and M & C last night. I arrived early and was well oiled by the time they got there - I'd had a few in the Star & Garter - after a few more pints of Cobra it turned into a very merry evening indeed.

Thursday night's special offer is any starter, main, side, naan and rice for £9.95. Bargain! We'll be back.

One very cool dude

The summer might not be exactly blazing but Oli is determined to make the most of the few rays that we get.

Torn by Johann Lippowitz with Natalie Imbruglia

Over 3 million views now. Amazing!

Housey housey!

Kezza and I are bingoing, Come on lucky number seven.

Update: we won £20... result. That's a £7 profit, if you ignore the beer, and the petrol, and the car parking, and the sausage and chips!

DerryStag

Spent a very drunken weekend in Manchester with Paul Derry and his mates to "celebrate" his impending nuptials. Hicko and I drove over together late on Friday night (after attending a wedding party in Woodhall Spa) - we arrived at the hotel at 1:15am and sat in the bar waiting for the revellers to return. In they shambled in dribs and drabs but not ready for the night to end. Some were still in the bar when it closed at 5am!

Saturday morning, following a full EB at 'Spoons, we boarded the 'folk train' for Edale in the Peak District. I'd mapped out a route from there that took us (via several pubs) to Hope where we got the train back. Weather was a bit hit and miss but we avoided the worst of it and everyone made it in one piece. That night it was out in Manchester again where we saw a couple of Dorii from Hollyoaks before heading to an indie club until the early hours.

Sunday morning was another 'Spoons EB and hazy discussions of the night before. I got home at about 3pm and just sat quietly for a while. It seemed the best thing to do.
Well done Charmo for organising everything and well done Des for surviving.