Speed Awareness!

Back in December on a road that I (thought that I) knew well in Bath, I exceeded a 20mph limit by a significant amount - believing at the time that I was in a 30mph area.

I was completely unaware that I had been caught by the speed camera and so the letter detailing the offense was a bit of a surprise when it arrived some weeks later.

Avon and Somerset Police are one of only four police authorities in the country that currently offer the option to take a 20mph Speed Awareness course as an alternative to the automatic £100 fine plus three penalty points that the offense carries.  It is of course possible to take the case to court but given that the end result of that could be a £1,000 fine, I don’t imagine that many people would try that option.

So it was that a few days ago I headed to Taunton (the nearest course within the 120 day time limit  that I could find whilst in the UK) to join a group of 30-40 other motorists of all ages for some classroom driver education.

At the start we were asked how we felt about being there and the responses ranged from ‘embarrassed’ to ‘cynical’ but over the three hours of discussions, video exercises and a workbook, most of us, I think, learned quite a lot about our own attitudes to driving/ how we might drive more safely/why and where the 20mph zones are created.  

Certainly the course provided plenty of food for thought and opportunity for reflection and was a useful refresher on the practice of driving and the Highway Code after nearly forty years behind the wheel.

‘Accolade’ (Friday 6 April)

The first flowers are just coming out on Mum’s beautiful cherry tree.  There will be lots more flowers to come as soon as there are a few more warm days.

The deep pink buds and semi-double blossoms of this tree, called ‘Accolade’ are usually the first to appear in the garden.

At ‘The Min’

I  have been inside this historic building before to attend meetings - many years ago - but have never had the occasion to be still and look around at the oil portraits on the walls, the statues and the grand staircase.

As there is now a major appeal to site a new, state of the art, Rheumatology Unit on the main RUH campus at Combe Park, I assume that the Min (or the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases to give it its correct name) as a building will cease to exist.

Of course it was originally built in its town centre location in close proximity to the Hot Sorings to enable patients to be treated for their ailments by immersion in the mineral waters.

In the waiting area, some framed reminders (in teatowel form, so perhaps produced for fundraising) of how things were for staff and patients not so very long ago.  The Duties of Nurses is undated but the Rules for Patients date from 1939.  If you are able to zoom in to these pictures you will see that it was a fairly tough regime for patients and staff alike.  Nurses appeared to be living in.

 For patients fresh air was obviously considered very important except on bath days (presumably days on which they had received treatment in the hot baths).  Fresh air was definitely not approved of, however, on rainy days.  Three glasses of the mineral water from the springs were to be consumed throughout each day.  Patients were required to help out with light work (men) and dusting (women).  No mention of smoking for the women but on the men’s ward that was ok.

All Kinds of Weather

It looks as if there is an interesting week of weather ahead...

In the South of France

David is away in France this week - not in Toulouse but near Narbonne.

The hotel (built on a vineyard) and the view from the hotel look great, as does the ‘cheeseboard’....

Lambing at the Farm

Lambing is a magical time at the farm and it is a privilege to be able to go along and see the ewes with their new lambs.

Theo enjoyed his visits to the lambing shed..

And hanging out with the grown-up farmers!



Time for a quick family portrait with some other little families in the background!

Easter Egg Hunt

Theo thoroughly enjoyed his Easter Egg hunt at Aunty Maggie’s!

No competition from Charlie this year but no doubt that will change in the future.