Blogs from Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Written, February 2010. Very soon Nottingham will shoot to the top of the UK's "Nice Day Out" charts. Because Ridley Scott is at it again. Ridley and Russell Crowe are making a movie about Robin Hood. Robin Hood hung out in Sherwood Forest and often nipped into town to take a pop at Nottingham's sheriff. I went to Nottingham where I read Geography and History - and so I can’t wait for Ridley's remake. At last our very English own Mr. Scott could / should / will reclaim one of our finest legends after we lent it out to Johnny Hollywood for far too long. Hollywood seems to enjoy pinching our national myths if only to slap American accents on them. "Norttinghaarrm." The Septics love the English sword slashing and the candlestick flinging that we do ... read more

Thought it would be good to have a reminder of what we are leaving behind for the next 3 months... read more

Leaving David & Gill at Sykehouse we drove to Church Warsop in North Nottinghamshire to spend a couple of nights with my niece Emily (Charlotte's daughter) & her partner Jason. After kisses, cuddles and other such greetings it wasn't long before we were eating once again, washing it down with yet more wine following what we'd drunk with our meal at Sykehouse! We managed of course. While we had two nights with Emily & Jason it was only really one full day on which we decided to visit York, about 90 minutes drive away. We visited the Jorvik Viking centre which Charlotte, Kev & I had visited before but it was well worthy of another visit. The Jorvik centre is a recreation of the well preserved remains of the Viking city of Jorvik which were excavated ... read more

A whole week has gone by and finally I am working part time. The decision has been made to try to get up early, do something and make the most of the extra days without work. A walk to the swimming baths, 50 lengths and a walk back on two days. A trip to the local garden centre to buy vegetable seeds ready to plant up for the summer. The car received its much needed wash before its trip to the garage for new wheel bearings and to have its handbrake cable sorted. Life is much more pleasant now with more time on our hands and more importantly Spring seems on its way. The mornings are pleasant, the sun shining, gardens full of the colours of Spring; the yellow opening buds on the forsythia, daffodils waving ... read more