Sunday

We had “full english” in the B+B and very nice it was too, before going to Tracey + Mark’s for a brew. It was Megan’s 4th Birthday party and we helped erect a gazebo, blow up balloons, stuff a pinata and blow up more balloons.
Oh, and we did party bags for the kids too.

Unfortunately, as the guests started to arrive, we had to make our departure to catch our train to Surbiton. Thanks Tracey and Mark for having us – it was a great weekend.

We had a bit of a kerfuffle getting onto the train as the last 6 carriages of the train had doors that didn’t open. So we ended up entering through 1st class and then the train started to move, so we just sat in 1st class. The guard took pity on us and let us off the surcharge.

Time was tight this afternoon and we had to be at Ronnie’s sisters (Karen) for 2pm for a barbecue. We made it in perfect time and had the best EVER barbecue. The meat was cooked to perfection (a whole leg of lamb done completely on the barbecue and perfectly pink). Marinated for a day in some concoction, it was the dog’s b+ll+cks.
I think we all had seconds ! Karen was head of the table and the rest are Ronnie’s family. (Roy and Karen, Alan and Sue, Jack and Laura, Ronnie, me, kp and not forgetting Irene and Keith (Ronnie’s mam and dad). We got such a warm welcome, it was lovely. kp and I got VIP treatment And the biggest of hugs off Irene !

No sooner was the barbecue over than it was time for the England v Ecuador Match.

Half-time brought some lovely desserts. About an hour after the match, we returned to Ronnie’s. Ronnie was kindly sleeping on the sofa to allow kp and I to use her bed. Here is kp on the sofa. God only knows what face she was pulling when I snapped this.

We were stuffed after the barbecue and watched Big Brother before bed.

Monday

Up early (10am) for Wimbledon. Ronnie sorted breakfast for us and took us to Wimbledon. We knew the forecast was bad. “Heavy Rain” was forecast for all day, but wimbledon kicked off on time. Our seats were the best you could have. Here is a shot (taken during the rain), highlighting kp’s wheelchair spot and the seat to the right where I was sitting.

Here is kp in her spot…..with the covers over.

We spent most of the afternoon just inside the door (outside the groundsmen’s rest area). Here is kp looking snug as a bug in a rug…………

It was a cracking position to have as we could hear all the gossip about when they were going to cover up and uncover up. We could also see a computer screen with a weather radar display showing the rain.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom. Wimbledon got off to a good start and we saw Federer and Gasquet play their first set, before the rain set in.

Here is how close kp was……….

I wanted to achieve certain things out of the day and they included…..

1. Seeing some play
2. Seeing them put the covers on
3. Seeing them take the covers off
4. Sitting in the rain under a brolly

And I got all 4, so I was happy, although we did spend a lot of time (6 hours) waiting around. We had a few marital tiffs whilst we were waiting around. kp wanted a cup of tea and something to eat. I was annoyed at this, as I had gone out especially (to Sainsburys in Surbiton) to get food and refreshments and we had everything we needed to eat and more. So to have to queue for tea etc wasn’t well received. We finally got to the front of the queue………

kp:- ask them if the sausage rolls are hot !
dp:- Are the sausage rolls hot ?
Woman:- Yes

I purchased her cup of tea and her sausage roll and we left to find somewhere to eat.

kp:- The sausage roll is cold. Go back and tell her.

dp:- CENSORED

So, we went to find a spot so kp could eat her cold sausage roll and her cup of tea. We found some stairs which I could sit on and kp and I were at the same height. I put the cup of tea down, moved something and the tea fell over, wetting my trousers. kp wasn’t best pleased. She knew not even to ask to go and get another one.

We got over this and were laughing at it and eventually I got her a cup of tea (about 3 hours later, when the queues had died down), and it was do disgusting she didn’t drink it. The coffee was lovely though

One of the difficulties pushing someone round in a wheelchair is that they can’t hear you and you can’t hear them, so apparently, kp had asked loads of times to go in certain directions and was getting very frustrated that I wasn’t doing what she was asking.

This all came to a head when we were leaving Wimbledon and she was telling me where to get Ronnie to pick us up. kp had one idea and I had another. I knew mine was right. kp wanted to be picked up on a busy road where Ronnie couldn’t have stopped (because of the police moving traffic on) etc and I knew a road which was quiet.

kp was giving me her full…..

kp:- You don’t listen to me. You’re always right. We should have got picked up here….

routine, and I was explaining that it is quieter round the corner etc….Anyway, we went round the corner where it was dead and Ronnie was parked up and I could hear kp bite her tongue, knowing she was wrong.

Within minutes, we were in stitches about it.

So…….a really cracking day, despite the lack of play. I have perhaps overegged the marital tiffs, but they made us laugh, so they are included.

The best bit of all is we get a full ticket refund from Wimbledon because there was only 30 minutes play. That always make a Pollard smile.

Once home, Ronnie had made us a LOVELY Lasagne. We had that, watching Big Bro and retired.

Tuesday

Going Home day today. Ronnie took us to the airport where we met up with Tracey, Marge and Megan (who was off nursery with a cold). It was lovely to see them again.

I spent most of my time walking round and round the airport with megan following me on her scooter. It was great. I love Megan to bits, and I love the fact she loves me back

Here are the crew (minus Tracey who took the picture), before we boarded the aircraft home.

kp and I stayed awake for the takeoff and then the next thing we remember is the captain saying……………

Captain :- Cabin Crew, 10 minutes to landing

It’s the only way to go to Southampton and back. Over in no time !

Great to be back home, but a fantastic few days !