Something from the Shining (so I am told)

We hashed at The Bramble Hill Hotel yesterday with H4 and what a hidden gem this 'could' be. An amazing rambling pile in exquisite gardens just out of Bramshaw. My wife and I used to drink there in the early days of our marriage. Before the drink driving thing came into being, but that's another story of what we did in those days. One of the guys whose jaw dropped on arriving, he lives not far away and didn't know it existed, said it resembled something from The Shining, which I know is a film but I haven't seen it. I suppose on a dark and stormy night, you would think twice about venturing up its long narrow rhododendron hedged drive and knocking timidly on the door.

Whilst they warned that a lot of hashers would turn up the didn't gear up and the bar service was abyssmal. I got there first and had no problem. It was the hottest day in the year so far and we all opted for the garden, but once again they had not geared up for any visitors regardless of us. One or two cheap plastic tables and chairs, no parasols. It spoiled the ambience and you could tell by the disappointed reaction of folk turning up for their Sunday lunch.

Apparently it is owned and operated by a genteel old dear and only opens 3 days a week, so I suppose she ain't going to spend much on the place. Pity.

Look it up if you fancy a good (by all accounts) Sunday lunch and maybe a room.

A feelgood gesture

In my part time occupation I work with a 27yr old girl sometimes. We know she is a camper and likes Rufus Stone but yesterday I found out she is a LandRover fan and also goes to steam rallies with her dad who has a 52 Series 1 Landy. Apparently last weekend she was helping him fix the steering on it, so they could go to a steam/vintage vehicle rally near Winchester, one which I would be attending if it wasn't for the drinking and running weekend we have planned and paid for.

As I sketched an old Landy on my outdoor painting session on Monday, I have given it to her today as an present. She was quite chuffed and gave me a hug. Hmm! Let's see what else I can give her.

Jobs/Chores/DIY?

Got to paint the kitchen now the plaster has been repaired. The paint is purchased, the roller and tray are in the garage, dust sheets ready - but I am not! As usual with all things DIY I hate them and am crap with my hands, but have done all of it over 40 odd years of marriage.

The shower tray needs resealing in the bathroom which is above the kitchen (that's why I had to remove some kitchen ceiling and now have to paint it). When we installed the new walk-in shower cubicle, I followed the instructions in the box correctly for the tray. When the plumber and I tried to install the glass walls, they wouldn't fit. A lot of moaning at B&Q finally got the manufacturers to admit they had supplied the wrong fitting details and they sent a fitter to overcome the problem at their cost plus a significant compensatory settlement. That certainly worked aesthetically, but practically it is not satisfactory. The plastic tray flexes, not with our combined weight I would add and as it isn't fitted correctly the silicone gradually loses its grip on the tiles and I fear water ingress at points. So I reckon about every 3 years I am going to have to do this.