I got to Gatwick at 9am on Friday to collect the hire car and got really mucked about by Avis who wanted a further £280 for insurance for the week. I kicked up of course and one hour later was driving away a brand new Citroen Cactus. I was able to spend the day with mum before meeting up with brother Chris and Sue later that evening.

On Saturday I left before 6am for Sheffield reaching it by 9.15. I dropped in on Fr Shaun Smith who had been very supportive during the cathedral fiasco and then visited the Lettings Agents to sort things and collect keys for my house.

Following that I visited the cathedral and bumped into the Walsingham folk attending their AGM. It was good also to meet Sacristan Jean who is always welcoming. I met up with Ali and Pippa at the Fairtrade coffee shop and then visited Val who passed on her sister’s contact details in Florida.

In the evening I joined a party at the house of neighbour Andrew and Ruth. Andrew was celebrating his 60th and it was a joy to meet up with so many that I knew. While I was there the dilapidated state of one of my outhouses was brought to my attention so I was able to get a builder to look at it while I was there. I will have to part with £3000 to get the work done!

On the way home on Sunday I was able to stop off at Emily’s in Leicester. She is settled into her new job and house there. I arrived at mum’s place in Kingston at the same time as my twin brother and we immediately sat down to mum’s Sunday dinner!