My aim is to make a Journal entry every day. Some months I achieve this, but I'm not doing very well in March, am I?
My excuse for a lack of input can be discerned from the following paragraphs. I wouldn't be surprised if you thought these were mediocre, at best, when presented as an excuse for not keeping The Journal up-to-date.
Thursday, 20 March 2025
First job of the day was to sort through the Defender's documentation and provide the interested party with details of its service history.
An email was sent out into the ether and I headed out around the Three Miler with the dogs. About half way around my phone rang. It was the interested party. A short conversation followed where I discerned that a) he hadn't checked his spam folder, b) he lived down in Hampshire and c) he seemed very interested.
He said he'd like to see whether he could get up to see the Defender on Friday and committed to calling me later in the day to confirm when he could come and view the car.
The day trundled on and the afternoon saw me meet up with Buzzer for a ride out on our bikes. Our route took had us skirting the outskirts of Evesham and Pershore, before heading out towards Upton-upon-Severn. From Upton we took the A38 towards Tewkesbury, before heading back towards Evesham on the A46.
We peeled off the A46 and headed down the B4077, stopping at Toddington for a coffee. After a break and a chat, we headed up to Stow-on-the-Wold. From Stow we headed out to Morton-in-Marsh. I have to report that the North Cotswolds looked absolutely glorious in the warm Spring sunshine. Rolling hills, honey coloured stone villages, sheep filled pastures. It really is a fine part of the world.
From Moreton we headed back towards Evesham via Bourton-on-the-Hill and Broadway. It was then a short run towards Dunnington, where we parted company and headed towards our respective homes.
30% and I were having an early evening meal, as we were out tonight attending the Comedy Club at Redditch's Palace Theatre.
As I sat down and attempted to take the first forkful, my phone rang. It was the interested party, who advised that he would like to come over tomorrow afternoon to view the Land Rover ... Bloody Hell, I might actually have a buyer!
Friday, 21 March 2025
Friday was slightly less frenetic, but there was a certain sense of anticipation following yesterday's conversations about the Defender.
I walked the dogs in the morning and the chap arrived to see the car shortly after lunch.
After a very brief viewing and a short run around the lanes he decided that he'd like to make an offer.
His offer was great, but I'm old enough to know that the first offer is just that ... an opening move. I therefore upped his offer by two hundred and fifty quid and stuck out my hand. He paused and then shook my hand. The deal was done.
He advised that he'd like to collect the car on Saturday and I offered to collect him from Evesham station ... after all he had just paid top money for a sixteen year old Land Rover!
We were out again this evening. This time it was to see the Pissed Up Panto, again at The Palace in Redditch.
I saw an adult panto a couple of years ago in Monmouth and thoroughly enjoyed it, but unfortunately I can't say the same about this one. The were a couple of scenes that were reasonably funny, but a lot of it went on far too long, and substituted expletives and on-stage drinking for a well crafted comedy script ... 4/10.
What I should mention was that Thursday's comedy club event was great and we are already thinking about attending the next one in May.
I should also mention that TP welcomed us back from the Theatre. He will be spending the weekend with us
Saturday, 22 March 2025
Obviously my first mission was to head over to Evesham and pick up the interested party buyer.
We chatted as we headed towards home and I ascertained that he was a lovely chap with a very well paid job in Finance and Carbon offsets. He definitely fell in to the more money than sense category of car buyer.
After checking that my bank balance looked far more healthy, I waved the new owner off and wandered back to the house.
There was, however, no opportunity for resting upon laurels of any sort.
We collectively spent the next few hours tidying the house in preparation for what could be loosely described as a college reunion.
30% and I attended that fine educational establishment known in the 1980's as Wolverhampton Polytechnic. Our circle of poly friends included C & M, and we are incredibly lucky to have maintained the friendship and now also include their long suffering wives.
C&S rolled up in the early afternoon and, after a cuppa and a chat, I headed out with Hobson, C and S for a wander around the Three Miler.
As we arrived back home it was apparent that M&M had arrived and we all settled for tea and cake and a lot of chat and laughter.
The day continued in that vein with champagne, wine and dinner making an appearance in the evening. We all eventually retired at some point after midnight, having revelled in an evening of 80's vinyl and a very funny game of Cards Against Humanity.
Sunday, 23 March 2025
It will be no surprise that Sunday was definitely a day of rest.
The gang departed after many cups of tea and brunch featuring scrambled eggs, toast, croissants and yet more tea.
The afternoon included a snooze on the sofa and I can report that the drive does look not quite right now the Defender has gone.