David J. Lodwig

We've not managed to get to the Cotswold country show before as it's usually taking place when we are away elsewhere, but with a free Sunday for once we headed over to the Bathurst Estate to take in the sights. Understandably I spent the most time in the rare breeds tent.

Tim from #yacf was visiting Coventry with work this week so a meeting and ride of forum members from the West Midlands was arranged. In attendance was myself, Tim Hall, Kim, Basil, and AWL.  Meeting up at Berkwell station we prepared to head off to see the Anthony Gormley statue in Lowsonford, very quickly a route was concocted and we were off.

This week I had the joy of finishing a day early. alas that joy was spoiled by the fact it was easter and so had everyone else. It also seemed that they’d all decided to take the train to somewhere, anywhere really it seemed as long as it involved the train I was on.

After the great vole adventure whereby Pauline had insisted that something be done about the voles eating the flowers and a single vole had been trapped we returned from some very lovely noodles to find two toads mating on the slabs.  While I took pictures Mary rushed inside to fetch her mother and the toads where moved to the pond. And then we did some newt spotting... in the dark.

It's been just a little less than a month since I got down on one knee in a muddy puddle and asked Mary if she would marry me, and plans for our wedding have been steaming along nicely.  We are both originally from the country, me from Gloucestershire and Mary from Buckinghamshire so we wanted a wedding that reflected our origins.  Another important factor was that Mary wanted to be married from home which has been making things a lot easier.