Challenge#12 – Out with Friends

#11 Luke

Meet Luke!

He is an amazing pianist who I love to bits! He plays in various establishments in Canterbury. We used to have a second home int he City which we visited monthly so we know this young man very well.

One of my favourites ‘toons’ is Van Morrison’s ‘Moondance’ and whenever we see Luke he plays it for me. The last time we saw him I decided to have a go at videoing on my phone. It is not that good but gives you a flavour of Luke and the Dolphin, which is the pub we were in.

You can see hubby buying him a drink and at the end hear me clicking my fingers – a must for this music!

Enjoy!

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#10 Steve

Meet Steve!

Come for breakfast!

He went to college at Weymouth with hubby and from what I hear they were inseparable. They were both keen sportsmen, particularly tennis so were usually sporting a sun tan.

As you can see from his colour, Steve still likes the out- doors. He is now a teacher and lives in Devon with his wife and five children.

When we visited recently, the forthcoming 60th birthday of another colleague friend was the topic of conversation. They couldn’t believe he was as old as that. They had forgotten that they are on their way to being THAT age!

Just in case they forget, here is a photo of the three of them taken 35 years ago!

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#Ceri and Kath

This week over at the Gallery, the theme is ‘From the Archives’. Now I know the people in this post will be a bit cross but they go ‘way back’!

Meet Ceri and Kath. They are dear friends of ours and Ceri is one of hubby’s school friends so I feel it is correct to include them in the ‘old’ theme.

Here they are inspecting their wonderful garden. Ceri is the only one of our friends whose garden is so big he needs one of those sit-on mowers!

In this one, we were all admiring their new ‘brook’. They found it when a bank was cleared and it is certainly going to be a great water feature when it has matured.

Finally, it is Pimms under the shade. Just what summer days were invented for!

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#7 Mike

Meet Mike! A cornish man ( or is it a man of Cornwall) now living in Bristol.

A L-O-N-G time ago, there was the possibility of him becoming my deputy head. He was my numeracy consultant at the time and he gave my staff and the children some great support in all things mathematical.

We worked very well together so he would have been the ideal candidate to support me as I opened a new school. Unfortuntely for me, another opportunity came his way so I lost out :(. He is now a headteacher of a very successful school but we still keep in touch for a good gossip. As he is near my son’s age, I do consider him my ‘Bristol’ son!

Please look closely at the plate in front of him. What you see are not the remnants of a yummy pudding. That is the pattern! Pudding was dispatched PDQ!

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#6 Angela and Rob

Say hello to Angel and Rob. They are looking very serious here but they are concentrating!

Angela was a colleague headteacher with me so we have lots in common. We love getting together for a good gossip! She has appeared on this blog before  (#Blogadesh) She is also my ‘honoured’ friend having received a much deserved MBE for her services to education.

As with many of our friends, the lads share a passion for sport and Rob is no different.

They have both now retired from work and have recently been on an ‘envy making’ cruise. We are hoping to see more them in the future and may be able to combine visits to National Trust places which will give me another challenge to write about! However, they have also just become grandparents to Jack so they are definitely going to very busy!

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#5 Jackie

Meet Jackie!

My connection with her was originally ‘professional’ when she supported a school where I was a governor. Since then we have found a number of interests that we share ( including good coffee!) and we have become firm friends.

Those of you who visit ‘Relentless Optimism’ will know that I have been on my own this week-end. Jackie kindly offered to take me out for the day – sort of ‘granny sitting’!

We visited Montecute House near Yeovil. ( This will be one of 13 Challenges #9) Jackie is sitting on a sculpture in the gardens. Can you see what it is? This next photo may help.

The sculpture is of an oak leaf hence the acorn!

It was a special day because not only did the sun come out, but we were able to have the roof down on her car! This was the first time this year for Hackie, but the the first EVER for me in such a vehicle!

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#4 Sandra and Stuart

Meet Sandra and Stuart!

I have known Sandra since ?? when we worked together. She became my Deputy during my first headship. We were quite a formidable team to the extent that I never had another Deputy whilst I was a headteacher.

We became close friends when she left to take on her own headship. Our husbands are both sport fans but football in particular. Stuart is a keen golfer. We meet up quite regularly with us girls putting education to rights and the lads sorting out various football clubs!

Here we are enjoying the atmosphere of a great Mexican restaurant.

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#3 Ken and Anne

Meet Ken and Anne!

They are among our ‘younger’ friends having not long celebrated 50 birthdays. They are a lovely ‘smiley’ couple. Ken (didn’t realise photo was being taken) worked with hubby and also goes on the annual football tour, known as The Fleet to Leeds.

Anne is a midwife and at the moment is being really worked hard. Good news for those teachers among us!

 We took them to Ezos  as we had lots to catch up on and the atmosphere there is ideal!

We have known them for over 20 years so have seen their family (they have a son and a daughter) grow. It has been lovely and well may it continue!

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#2 – Virignia

Meet Virginia.

She has been a friend for around 10 years. We met when we bought a second home in Canterbury. As you will know hubby is a supporter of Gillingham football club and we decided we would buy a property to save us the travelling back and forth.

Virgina was our eyes and ears between our visits and we became close friends. She has since moved to Cheltenham which is not far from us so we like to get together for lunch occasionally. She is a very active lady who puts us to shame with all the things she does. As an example, she had never been abroad until she was 75. She now travels extensively in her mid 80’s!

…and yes – she is that tiny!

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#1 – Margaret

Another new challenge and what a lovely one – going out with friends!

First off the blocks is Margaret, my sister-in-law and all round good egg!

We all went up to London to see the Valentino exhibition which was brilliant. Below is a collage of our day:-

Somerset House, the Living Wall of Athaneum Hotel, Selfridges, shoes, the Crypt of St Martin in the Fields, Pret a Manger, skyline of London, work on new underground and of course Margaret!