Had a real mix of work & pleasure things to go to over the weekend. Friday started in Goole with a surgery and then the AGM of the Goole Renaissance Board. A good turnout of board members and lots of guests. There is a real air of optimism as we've now got the backing of Yorkshire Forward (Government Regional Development Agency) and both myself and my excellent Vice-Chair, Carolyn Burgess were re-elected for another year. One of our speakers at the AGM displayed a quote about Renaissance from John Prescott that called the process one of establishing "lifestyles of choice, not fate", which I commented was an excellent phrase but so good I couldn't imagine John ever saying it!
Anyway straight from there to Scunthorpe to the HQ of the Magic Moments charity that does so much good work with autistic children. They had won a Queen's Award for Voluntary Work to be presented by the Lord Lieutenant who turned up in white gloves and a uniform so I thought he was a snooker referee - but then I saw his sword, which he used to cut the cake! But well done to Pat & Alison and all the gang, including Jayne who opened the champagne in a manner more associated with Formula One drivers! Take the opportunity of being in town to go to Gamestation to get the new Beatles Rock Band game - no doubt hours of fun will follow!
Saturday I was off to Pittwood House for 8am for the countdown to the start of the Tour of Britain cycle race. Huge crowd and I pull the leg of Council Leader Mark Kirk that the start gate says Scunthorpe next to a Welcome to Yorkshire sign! At 10:15am they get on their way at a pace that even I'd fancy keeping up with but I'm told they were only warming up.
Then to Blundell Park with Hannah to watch Grimsby take on Hereford with my old mate Rob Atkin running the line! He clearly has not listened to my pleas to help us out in these difficult times but Grimsby squeak a win with a late Danny North goal. So full of relief it was off to the Winterton Rangers Club for the 40th birthday bash of local Winterton butcher & baker, Jason Gray. I ponder on Twitter whether he would do any vegetarian options for his buffet. I got my answer as I arrived as he'd put up a big poster saying "Strictly No Veggies!". Anyway a good doo and Jason was taken on the dance floor by a female police officer who turned out not to be the real thing. Discretion leads me to say little more except I didn't know that's what WPCs wore under their uniform and I hope that's not the same cream Jason uses in his products!
Back home Hannah and her friends and Jake and Lydia are all drumming, guitaring and singing Beatles songs with my new game - proving again the remarkable shelf life of the Fab Four.
Up early for a Sunday to go to Brigg for the first car boot sale in aid of Brigg Fair Game FC, a recent youth group formed in the town. It starts quite slowly but picks up as the morning progress and the hosts (The Ancholme Inn) do great butties! On from there to Swinefleet Gala where I am asked to present a gift to Alex Moffat who is believed to be the village's oldest resident at 92 and opened the event. Linda and I spend a good couple of hours there and go the local church which is part of a Marshlands Heritage Trail weekend. And I fit in a quick home visit to a couple very unhappy with the flood defence work going on in the village who see me at the Gala and ask me to come to see the problem - so I do!
Driving to the event I heard a brilliant bit of local radio. The Round the World Clipper race began in Hull today and as part of the event the Red Arrows are to do a display and they honestly said "you can hear them live on Radio Humberside"!!
Head home and we decide to call for coffee at Mrs B's Teashop in Burton upon Stather. Just over 1 year old now it has become a local favourite and coffee & white chocolate cheesecake are the order of the day. I hope they are around for many years to come!
Home by tea time and Hannah cooks Sunday dinner. A night of telly and playstation I would guess - I can't let my own children beat me on a Beatles game - I'll practice 8 days a week, or get Help!
And by the way - I am the Walrus!