So Friday 7th November arrived and we emerged rested and ready for the day. Stef would be arriving later today traveling up from London.
The day would be planned around chores because the Rings is not just the home of relatives it is also home to sheep, assorted chickens, Aylesbury Ducks, two toy poodles Ozzie and Coco and animal house guests. The animal house guests Sal's home business.
Part of the great charm here is the animals. It is also a passion of Kim's to fully engage, welly boots and thick jacket on. The time spent with Sal so important for Kim so this old man detaches and does his own thing; most importantly trying to figure out how he was going the watch England Versus the All Blacks the next day when no Sky Sports was now in place at the house. Sky Sports was a standard feature at the Rings until Dimi moved to Toronto, and Stef spent more time in London than in Lincolnshire. Stef was tasked by Sal with finding a solution. Watch this space for updates.
Breakfast free range eggs on toast from Sal's hens. Delicious and more muttered pledges to diet once back into Canada.
Another tradition when visiting the Rings is team shopping. This is where all and sundry are placed in a large shopping cart to make the stay a delight. So we headed to ASDA and through all the aisles filled the cart. By this time we had determined the evening meal. You've guessed it! Sausages...But not just any Sausages these were local made butchers sausages. We would pick these up from Bassingham Village. Lincolnshire is Villages with very few main urban centres.
Lunch was very Ploughman's. Quality cheeses, crackers and fresh bread.
I offered to pick Stef up from Newark Rail Station (Northgate) and set out at 8 pm to make the pick up. The station approaches can only be described as bedlam with traffic everywhere, on the street, on kerbs, nose to tail. I suddenly recall the chaos from a previous visit; too late. Driving conditions like these make me revisit my held view that Canadian drivers are more reckless than UK drivers. The picture from archive needs another fifty vehicles vying for the space in view to truly reflect.
Eventually Stef emerges from the Station and we are quickly out of the chaos and making the 20 minute return trip to Haddington and the Rings. Pork and Sage Sausages, Chipolatas, Mash, Vegetables and Gravy. I will look like a sausage before the trip is done!
Lots of chatter with Stef catching up on his news accompanied by glasses of fine red wine. Discussions with Stef always interesting. Stef is quite connected and among close friends is Charlie from the band Busted. Stef has other noteworthy connections in elevated circles in the City. I will not expand further in this blog because he deserves privacy. I'll wrap up simply by saying Stef like all family not seen for some time just waltzed in and reconnected from where we left off.
The news regarding the rugby was not great so it looked as though a pub trip would be required to view. One thing I forgot to mention in the blog from yesterday is the fact that I was overtaken by a rugby great on the A46. The B4CKY registration plate on the BMW prompted the need for a visual confirmation which was duly verified at the next enforced stop. Neil Back was a legend in England and Lions colours. He was also a third of the best back row in history in my very biased opinion. Alongside Lawrence Dallaglio and Richard Hill they were part of the England World Cup winning side in 2003.
Bed again beckoned for me but Kim stayed up with Stef much later to secure more of the details of his life; loves and plans. Must be a woman thing...For me the rugby was on the front burner.
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