Returned yesterday from Nottingham, where we spent a few days with the Evetts. Happily the weather improved enough for us to enjoy some outings, and today we have full-on sun.  Dot has gone into the city to buy a birthday present for Anne, but she is not feeling 100%, which is a pity as we are having a meal out with the Robinsons this evening.

We travelled by train to Nottingham, and after a coffee-starved journey (I spilt Dot’s Starbucks cup while getting into our seats, and the promised trolley did not materialise) we transferred to a tram and were met by Dave at Toton Lane. Happily he had the car and was able to convey us quickly to Katherine Close, where coffee was quickly made available.

Later on we walked round the Attenborough nature reserve, where was saw something that looked like a Puna teal but may have been a ruddy duck. Afterwards we popped into a new M&S outlet to get some wine for our hosts.

On Wednesday it rained in the morning, but we trusted the forecast and travelled to Sudbury Hall, where there is a Childhood Museum. Happily, the rain stopped by the time we got there, and the museum was extremely interesting: nostalgia field day.  We walked round the grounds despite the chilly wind and ended up in the cafe next door, where I had a small apple crumble with summer fruits ice cream, which was delicious. The others had cake. Let them eat it, I say.

In the evening Julia cooked an interesting main course of chicken with tomatoes, which tasted as good as it looked.

The next day we drove to Carsington Water and after tea in the cafe walked to Carsington village (about two miles plus), where we had a baguette lunch in the Miners Arms which, to its credit, does not allow dogs in. We walked back to the car, feeling ever warmer, and then drove to Allestree, home of Alan and Rosemary, where we had tea and cake. Both of them looked rather frail, and in fact Rosemary is weakening, and Alan’s cancer has returned after a long gap. They have accepted our invitation to the golden wedding celebration at Dereham in June; I hope they will be able to make it.

In the evening we went to a posh restaurant called La Rock and had a very pleasant if expensive meal. As usual the amuse-bouches were best, but the wine was good too, as was my fillet of beef.

Yesterday we walked up to the garden centre by a circuitous route to get our steps up, and had a tea in the coffee house. Dot admired the olive trees. After lunch back at the house, we were driven to the tram stop, and Dave and Julia accompanied us all the way to the platform at Nottingham Station. We had half an hour to spare, during which they moved the train to a different platform. A fellow-traveller felt it was fortunate they did not have a brewery. Ho, ho.

Very crowded train from Nottingham, but Dot snatched us a couple of seats, and a lot of people got off at Grantham, after which there was more space. Spent a lot of time reading a book that David Coomes had given me: Whisky in Small Glasses, by Denzil Meyrick, which is a thriller set in Scotland. In the adjacent seat a young male dancer spent a great deal of time telling a mature lady all about his (exhausting) life so far.

We got into Norwich not long after 6pm and discovered we were both very tired. I unpacked my car, but Dot sat down, mainly.