Lichfield, Staffs, UK

We were in Lichfield for my brother-in-law's 70th birthday party, so I was not able to update the blogs. It was a good family get-together. I guess it won't be too long before some of us meet for funerals! It will be some years before there is a round of grandchildren's weddings. For some of these we may be around, but it is unlikely we'll see them all get married. Still, this is how it has always been since time began.

Lichfield is a small city to the north of Birmingham. It has a very nice cathedral with three spires. Unusually, the cathedral is made in red sandstone. It has some fine carvings over the entrance. Lichfield itself is charming with many fine old buildings and a pedestrianised centre. There are 2 large lakes near the cathedral. I guess at one time these were stocked with fish for monks nearby?

Bury St Edmunds

Bury St Edmunds is our favourite place to shop. It is a bit further than Cambridge but easier to get to. It is a classic Suffolk market town with charming shops and a good market twice a week. Most of the people you see are true locals from the area with Suffolk accents.

In Cambridge it seems that a good proportion of the people are from China!

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bury_St_Edmunds .

Sepura share rebounding?

See http://www.lse.co.uk/ShareChart.asp?chart=intraday&sharechart=SEPU&share=sepura .

Shares in my old company seem to be bouncing back after heavy falls earlier due to a profits warning. I retired 8 years ago, which is a long time. I am very out of touch. Sepura design, make and sell TETRA and DPMR radios with a focus on public safety. They sell worldwide to more than 100 countries. On the whole, I enjoyed my time there.

Alibris (again)

Yes, you guessed, another "special offer" today. I just ignore them. Silly, stupid marketing.

Witchford walk

This morning the sun shone.

As I write this, we have hail again!

On the walk we saw baby moorhens, swallows, house martins, a blackcap, a chiffchaff and a buzzard among the many. It was a shortish walk but tired me out. It is years since I was last in this village near Ely.

The name "Witchford" comes from witches. Not far away is the village of "Coveney", which must also have past connections with witchcraft centuries back.

Hail

We had a very mild and wet winter followed by a cold spell in February and March. Here we are at the end of April with a wind from the north 7 deg C, hail, and now thunder! We have had daffodils in flower since the end of November. The weather is crazy! Because of the storm risks, I have disconnected all my amateur radio gear.  There has just been another hail storm and the grass is now white!

Alibris UK "bargain"

Well, this must be a bargain - NOT!  Yet again, they are offering "up to £20 off". I must get at least 3 a week from them. Never, EVER pay the full price as there is always a "never to be repeated" special deal.

Yes, this IS the place to go for secondhand books, but why treat us as idiots?

See http://www.alibris.co.uk/ .