South West Coast Path - Part 3 29 March - 4 April.

Cheryl and I were indebted to Ken and Denise for putting us up and driving us to the start of our walking.  Staying with K and D is such a pleasure.  Great G&Ts, great food (they take it in turn to cook, very civilised) and just wonderful company.
Essentially in the 4 days of walking we went from Brixham to Salcombe.  K and D dropped us at the start of day 1 reluctantly - or was it that we were reluctant to get out of their car.  It was raining!  We had all our waterproof gear on and made slow progress as it was very slippery.  I proved that by slipping off a stile very early in the day.  I had a bruise on my buttock that could not be covered by a hand - not that anybody tried.  Uphill is always slow, but with the slippery conditions , downhill was even slower.  There was no level ground.
We then had a rest day - what clever planning.  Met K and D in Dartmouth and had lovely meal on a boat in the Dart estuary.

Day 2 was a bit on the damp side but much more manageable and involved a walk along Slapton Sands alongside the Nature Reserve.

Day 3 was so glorious that nothing else on Earth mattered!  Blue sky, wonderful scenery, just one of the great days walking.

Day 4 was nearly as good and we could almost forget the hardship of the first day. 

We arrived in Salcombe after rounding Prawle Point with a few hours to kill. My boots which had given great service but no longer could be kept in close proximity to somebody with all senses intact, were cermonially dumped!

Then on to the bus to get us back close to K and D.  Sitting on top of the double decker bus as it hurled around country lanes was a white knuckle ride but a great way to see the coast from a different angle.

Spring and Summer in the UK

Outrageously I have been saying that it is only a holiday if I get on a plane! Not so, I have had a great time with lots of visits and visitors, without once going near an airport.

I went to lots of concerts and shows during the year. Carmen and Hairspray, with most of the “gang” (Marc, Di, Janet, Joan, Jane and me), Ballet Rambert with Annabelle, Rumer and Eddie Reader with Cheryl, and more coming up. I wrote to the Evening Post about the production of Carmen as I thought it dreadful!

Cheryl and I spent a week visiting Ken and Denise, the friends I have known for 60 years, to walk more of the South West Coast Path, more later.

I enjoyed the Malvern Spring Show, after missing it for a year, with Cheryl.

I enjoyed some great tango in Edinburgh with Kay, firstly in April and then at the International Festival in May. This is the most amazing tango I have experienced outside Buenos Aires.

Fritango, now L Tango, has developed in Nottingham.

A wonderful visit from Lesley which coincided with Flavia and Vincent's Midnight Tango show in Nottingham. The supporting cast and band, visited a Fritango milonga and danced for us. This was a highlight, in some ways better than the show because of its spontaneity and that it was just for us! Martin Alvarado sang and made a separate visit later and gave a very successful concert.

Jiving has taken second place to tango but the "gang" did the Hemsby weekender. Jane so bravely attending despite her illness.

I spent as much time as possible at Trent Bridge watching lots of cricket, although I seemed to get frozen on many evenings. Not so for the test versus India, which was as good as any I have seen, with special things happening every day. Cheryl joined me for that and came for a week later when we managed 3 walks, 2 films, 1 theatre visit and 1 night camping with a special walk up Mam Tor and along the Great Ridge.

The camping followed a very successful visit and camp to the Gower peninsula when we had glorious weather and wonderful walks along the beaches.