My Average Holidays

After an abundant October, November was a bit fallow. I did find out the arthritis in my right foot is a bit more extensive then first thought along with something called Freiberg’s disease which is in all likelihood another gift from when I broke my foot during COVID and nobody wanted to do their jobs! So injections for me when the NHS can fit me in. Still a better option than fusing the bones or chopping it off. We got our car back after 7 weeks which was nice. They manage to finally source the part of one of the best selling cars in Europe after I started complaining. Funny that.

I mentioned back in August that they (the council) wanted to turn our Old Library building into a gym so I went along to the planning meeting and gave, even if I do say so myself, a very good 3 minute speech on behalf of local residents. It even made the local papers! You can see this tour de force here, my bit starts at 12:21. They came within a hairs breadth of refusing the application. Instead it was deferred to give them a chance to come back with something else. Apparently I’m going to be played by Samuel L Jackson in the movie adaptation!

I was obviously feeling very community spirited after that so I applied to be a volunteer at my local National Trust property which is Arlington Court. This was for the position of “Carriage Museum Engagement Volunteer”. I have no knowledge about carriages but I’m guessing as long as you get the horses at the right end it couldn’t be that hard. They never got back in touch…not even to say ‘go ‘f’ yourself’ which is a bit rude but probably for the best.

A relative of Lyn’s died and the funeral was in Hampshire (our original county). In days of yore we would have done the whole thing in a single day but we’re at the age where it’s beneficial to at least take 2 if not 3 days for something like this. Initially I wasn’t going but I then had images of Lyn driving a 400 mile round trip on her own and thought better of it.

We stayed at a relatives house for the first night (thank you John and Katie) and were going to drive back after the funeral but Lyn, with a days notice, decided that we didn’t really have a lot planned for November so we should stop off somewhere on the way back. I started looking at Travelodge’s and Premier Inns and then in a stroke of genius, at least I hope it was that kind, I remembered I had over £40 in my Expedia One Key and so booked us in to The Riverside in Salisbury for £82 (should have been £125) for the night with breakfast.

I didn’t realise when I booked that the hotel didn’t do food in the evening, instead providing a shuttle service to the centre of Salisbury. On reflection I like this idea but at the time I was a bit annoyed because I just wanted to eat and go to bed. It did give us a chance to have a look around Salisbury at night something we almost certainly wouldn’t have done. It also puts money into local restaurants and pubs which is a good thing. The hotel gave us a list of eateries and we decided on the Côte Salisbury. A French restaurant (chain) no less! Go Lyn trying new things. She had a Sirloin Steak Baguette with red onion jam, frites and homemade béarnaise to dip. Basically a beef sandwich with chips but it does sound better “Frenchified”.

Like a Russian ‘tourist’ we couldn’t leave Salisbury without seeing the cathedral with its impressive and “famous 123-metre spire”. Obviously that works best if you say it in a Russian accent. Long story short it’s a very nice building. I particularly liked the oldest mechanical clock in the world (allegedly) which we saw a demonstration of. The demo only happens once a day at 10:30 so go us being early birds. They also had the Magna Carter, well one of them. Interesting fact, there’s 4 of them and about 24 ‘copies’ and when I say copies I mean from a few years later 1216-1225. With so many about its a bit disappointing they don’t let you take a photo. Something to do with the flash.

I liked Salisbury, it has a small town vibe and a nice atmosphere about it. Nearly 40 years ago, chuffing hell I’m old, I read a book about Salisbury called Sarum by Edward Rutherford and I highly recommend it. If ever there was a book ripe for a TV drama series it’s this. It’s an historical fiction that traces the history of Salisbury through 5 families. Go read it.

Our pre-planned event was The Nutcracker at the Queens Theatre in Barnstaple. This was Lyn’s choice and a Christmas present which if I remind her on Christmas morning and get her nothing else I’ll be in ALL sorts of trouble. It’s nice she can occasionally still surprise me even after being together for 40 years by announcing that she’d always wanted to see this ballet. Neither of us have ever seen a ballet before so it’s something to tick off. I for one don’t want to see another but Lyn enjoyed it which was the whole point.

It wasn’t helped by the rude couple behind us who were rustling plastic bags and making other noises. The man (in his 70s) seemed to be having some sort of homo-erotic fantasy because he would try and suppress a giggle every time one of the male ballet dancers in tight white tights did a jump. He also mumbled “Here we go!” When the dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy started so make your own judgment.

And that was November. One more month and that’s 2025 done. Bloody hell that was quick! No video this month… Quis Autem Reformationem.

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

^{Ferris Buller}