Farewell Bavaria

We leave our lovely alpine hotel under clear blue skies and enjoy a wonderful drive through 'Heidi Country' to a small station where we pick up the slow train to Munich. It's wonderful to see the mountains and the lakes clearly and in the sunshine! We arrive at Munich in time to buy a sandwich and then get on the ICE train to Nurember. It's a. Dry comfortable rise in the first class carriage.

We book into our hotel in Nuremberg and then go out to explore the characterful old town, rebuild in its old style after it was bombed in the war. Today it is bustling. A Saturday of course, and a hot summer's day and the pavement cafes are all buzzing. We go into 3 of the major churches, climb up to see a Dürer sculpture near the castle, and sit for a while tomhave a cold beer. The waitress seemed to think Jean, who was having iced tea, needed cake and persuaded us to have apple and plum cakes with ice cream to share between us! It didn't go that well with the beer! But it was delicious! We have finally made it back to our room, and are glad of our air con. We have a last meal with the group tonight and tomorrow we catch a train to Brussels where we get the Euro Star home. 

Terrible weather today. Wind and rain. Jean, Catherine and I meet for a coffee in Kendal, deprived of our walk by the conditions. This is the second walk of the week that has been cancelled for the weather. 

It has been a week or so of coffee with friends, catching up with people on the phone or on FaceTime. Cathy and Dick have completed their 3 week pilgrimage to the COP in Glasgow. They have both got Covid for their pains, one after the other. But sleeping in church halls for 3 weeks doesn't make it that surprising. They are hosting people visiting COP too. I admire all they have done for the cause. I don't know yet whether to be pleased or disappointed with the result.There is still some hope that there will be an agreement. I hope not too much compromise.

Nice to have been involved in planning my church memorial service last week. Added bonus was that after handing over my PowerPoint to Elaine, she invited me up for fish and chips with the neighbours, which was convivial.Moving service, and I was glad to be able to light candles in memory of my mother and Hugh, and Richard of course. I miss them all.

Ellie has been given a new and more responsible position at work which is good. I hope it is a role she can use all her gifts in. 

Managed to have chats with Tom as well this week. It isn't always easy to catch him. I am going to visit the Warwickshire crew next weekend. I am looking forward to seeing them. It feels a long time. Ash who is on crutches after a football injury, played the last post at his school with a few other brass players yesterday. Think he managed to stand with the splint he is wearing. Playing a trumpet on crutches wouldn't really be possible! Joe seems to be well settled at Southampton. 

Really hoping to get out tomorrow with Mary. A walk in Swindale she proposes. I tweaked a muscle in my back this week which has been troubling me, so a challenging walk is off the cards for tomorrow. I will,be happy with a 5-6 mile walk I think.