The Happy Tandemer shares her exciting cultural and natural adventures

Hello, it’s the Happy Tandemer here. I’ve been out and about recently, and I’ve not managed to do lots of diaries.

However, I am really excited to tell you that I did go to one of the Tandemer events and had a wonderful, wonderful time with people there, but the icing on the cake was being able to stroke an owl – an eagle-owl. How brilliant that was! It absolutely made my day and the man who showed us all the other animals [inaudible] was really, really exsorbed [sic] with what he was telling us. It was a great, great night. And it was a really nice gift to be with people who are in the same situation, which I do think [inaudible]

So that’s one of my diaries. Another one was a fantastic day round the Brandon Marsh which is the local nature reserve. I went with a friend.

Oh, as I sit here there’s a big enormous spider that’s just gone up your leg! Oh, and moving on! Oh, look at that, look at the size of that! It’s enormous! We’ll have to take him outside [laughs].

Hello, I’m still the Happy Tandemer but I’m glad to say that the big, enormous spider has just been escorted out the house – not by me, that’s for sure! Enormous, it is. There’s no more, is there? Oh, poor thing.

Yes, I’ve been out and about, round the nature reserve in the sunshine. Absolutely amazing. Unfortunately I still haven’t managed to…what was it I was hoping for? I’m still hoping to find a kingfisher but they weren’t in sight at that time. One day, just one day – I’m hanging on.

I had a lovely time, going to see our eldest son in Liverpool and enjoyed seeing the Rennie Mackintosh exhibition in the Walker Gallery. Enjoyed it, particularly as I’m a Scottish woman, where Rennie Mackintosh is a big thing. It’s good to see what he’s done and the influence that he’s made in the arts and crafts and similar movements. And it’s good being out.

And I’ve enjoyed finding out about Port Sunlight, which was the story behind Lord Lever[hulme] and the person who made his fortune by making soap. He was also somebody who looked after his workers really, really well and that was fascinating to hear that and see things. So that was the best thing, enjoyed that, and came home with some soap, which is on my mantelpiece. Yes, all very interesting and I’m please that we’ve had a jaunt and finding out this , and how that organisation honoured their workforce.

That’s all for now, Happy Tandemer, bye!