Badminton & Birthday

Just to prove we do play badminton... & we play every week!

However, there are plenty of curries as well... for this one, our excuse was a birthday. Normally we don't bother about a reason & just scoff down!

Badly Dressed Christmas Lunch

Out for a lovely Christmas carvery... filling us faces once again... Mind you, we had to endure Jim's jokes, & that was before the devastating satire that leapt from the cut-price crackers. Terry got a 3-inch ruler after his big pull - we laughed & made horrid, crude jokes.

Jace had left the protein-only diet well behind; complaining about putting on a few pounds back on as he powered down his grub 2-handed. RobS seemed to enjoy the beer better, as he chatted away wi'Neil on their plans to return in the evening for chips n'gravy! Chris had a little one, as he often does! He did however, ensure 'Chelle didn't have to stint on her portion - which was v 'christian' of the fellow....

There was a bit of a problem with balls; big, doughy, minty balls! After Eight? Gill wouldn't wait & piled into'em about 2.15pm. They didn't go down too well; pretty much no one else could face'em - Linda, unsurprisingly, went for the crush. Shaun sat a little further away from the table, & there were a lot of left balls - they simply weren't right!

For some reason, Rob kept winking & giving all-&-sundry the 'big thumbs up'... Rhys got a bit flustered, claiming football was a more enjoyable spectator sport than rugby union - how we all laughed! I'm not sure if even Gavin could agree with that!  

A wonderful way to while away an afternoon... good grub; good mates; good heavens, we still have our Christmas curry to look forward to! More gruntling for all - Hoorah! 

World Mental Health Day walk

"Six full English & one toast & jam", what a way to start our WMHD walk... as we worked our way through a wonderful two-of-everything fry-up, the grey had lifted, the sun was a-trying, & the stroll through Cannock park & over the golf course was lovely.

Mild confusion reigned for a wee while as we waited for Jason, who rang after a while to lsay he couldn't make it - I was surprised he missed the grub! - so Rob & Linda had carried on by themselves. As we caught'em on the edge of Shoal Hill, they told us they were off to enjoy the park whist the rest of us battled the red-in-tooth-&-claw nature of the common.

Real men sit on walls & couldn't give a damn if their bottom gets cold...

Some chaps have delicate bottoms...

It became a beautiful day for an autumn walk; bright & warm; not too wet underfoot. And the heights of Shoal Hill offers some great views off to the west & north: you could swear just reaching out would enable you to touch the Wrekin' the Shropshire hills & Welsh mountains nestled on the horizon...

And, the Common itself is a great place to spent a few hours wandering! In truth, we had a lovely morning doing some of those things which promote mental well-being - spending time with friends, eating well, getting close to the natural world, & exercising a tad. What's not to like?

It is important to remember WMHD 2017 isn't just about having fun. This year's message was to encourage everyone to consider mental health & well-being in the workplace. There are plenty of resources readily available, but a good starting point would be the Mental Health Foundation's WMHD page click here.

We'll be out again soon enough &, I give you fair warning, that could be a time we look for sponsors! 

Another Big Night Out - stuffin' us faces...

 

Nature can improve one's mental health & wellbeing

I know... it ain't a new idea.  But it is worth reiterating relatively simple, low cost options we might adapt to our own circumstances & have a positive impact on our sense of wellbeing.

Nice article by ecotherapist Hayley Gillard in HuffPost UK here.

Black Country Living Museum

Well, what a lovely day out, away on the train to Tipton & the Black Country Living Museum.  Sadly, a couple of folk had to cry off because of knackered knees, but we had a small, beautifully crafted group of badly dressed blokes...

It started not too well, our timings meant no cooked breakfast before we went to Cannock station - & Neil really missed his 4 slices of toast & jam!  Well priced off peak return to Tipton, nice journey (change at New Street), then a brisk mile walk along busy Black Country roads to the museum.

I would urge you to go - especially if you travel by train & use the 2-for-1 offer available until the end of 2017 (check out this & similar offers here - download & print vouchers, present'em at the venue with your rail tickets) - the Museum is entertaining & informative.  I'd go back simply to look at the buildings...

There was an awful lot to see, but plenty of space & time to see it.  Shaun was somewhat 'challenged' by the demands of the smoking 'ban', & we really should have sat down a lot more (if only to shut Terry up moaning about his own knackered knee, & stop him wandering off every 10 minutes or so!)

Still, plenty of added extras, such as the historical vehicles dotted about the various buildings & driving around the site - we never did get on that coach - & I still want a go on their trams (have to check the BCLM website for dates).

 

Lunch proved a bit of a running affair.  We'd no sooner got there than Neil was all about the butties - missing his morning toast, you see?  Shaun had brought enough to feed the lot of us - & proceeded to try (the 'fish & chip' corn snacks went down especially well).  Jim shot off for a bag of historical chips: Rob & Terry followed his lead: lo & behold, there was more sharing!

With the guy forging chain, the living history staff, & the standing exhibitions, there was so much information we decided to spring for their most informative guide (we're mean & just bought the one, to share around...)

The gardens of the small cottages & houses were often little oases of calm & quiet &, on a lovely summers day out, might lead you to believe that outside plumbing, coal fires, incessant domestic drudgery, & a lifetime of hard, filthy work, before an early death, are the sorts of outcomes we should aspire to after Brexit - they ain't! 

One final thought: how come the Midlands, in the middle of the country, miles from the sea, has so many sea cadet groups?  The kids at TS Centaur (Dudley) even have Bofors guns... & look, proper davits!

The journey home was a bit of a mare, delayed trains, increasing numbers of delayed commuters, Terry moaning more... Rob had been sensible enough to bring a book!  Back into Cannock for 7.00pm, an hour+ late, tired, hungry, thirsty.  But, having enjoyed a fine excursion, we all agreed we'll do it again!  Maybe take the other 'knackered knee folk' with us.