As I was watching the last few minutes of The Apprentice (Friday at 10am) - waiting for Sir Alan to cry ' your fired' I remembered I was supposed to be picking Dan up in Wilsbridge. I gave Jasper a two minute walk and then Checking all my luggage I Headed off and picked up Dan.
It was the orchestra weekend away to Minehead and I had organised it - on the way I was a little worried about whether the hotel would be friendly and comfortable.
We walked in and the receptionist completely blanked me and barked out a message to me about keys and the breakfast menue. Later christened 'Frosty' she greeteed all guests the same way! However my cheeky chappie routine almost produced a movement something towards a smile. Most of the day she looked like she could freeze most of the Atlantic with one look if so much as an apple strayed its way into the hotel.
However the hotel was very comfortable. We met up and headed off for the local Weatherspoon pub in a grand hotel - now reduced to serving fish n chips but a pleasant atmosphere non the less. I started the evening as I meant to go on with several guinesses until Paul and others arrived.
We headed back to our hotel but the night was still young so three of us decided to head over to the Duke Of Wellington hotel which was populated by a local crowd and mostly by grannies. We watched some very painful kareoke including some one singing from the floor. Som - one of whom asked for a dance and I feighned severe drunkeness. Had some more guiness / port my head was beginning to spin and it was 1.30. Meanwhile one of the dancers decided to strip and do the full monty - fortunately provided with a hat. I think I must have been a little light headed at the time but with no intention of doing the same!
I woke up early without a hangover (!!) and had a cooked breakfast and headed into town to buy a stash of food even though there was a notice saying 'thou shalt not bring food into the hotel.' I had a quick look at the seafront before joining the others for a spot of playing which was good. I particularly enjoyed Shostakovitch jazz suite!
After playing we set off for the cafe for lunch which was enjoyable with some nice views of the welsh coast (and Boverton Power station where we camped years ago as students) before walking along the coast and beach. We got as far as Dunster four and then headed for the norht somerset railway station where we boarded the King Edward which puffed its way to Minhead. Had a good look at the engine and at some of the records on sale (bought Rachmaninov record) and then took a walk along the seafront and up church hill to the medieval 15th cen church.
Popped down again and saw a small group pracitising in the lounge - and I joined Annable playing second parts.
After tea we had a quiz and remembered to put our clocks back. I didn't sleep so well but got up early to shoot across to the sea front and back for breakfast.
The trip home seemed long and after dropping Dan off I headed for Bath and parked up in Lansdown and walked down the hill into the city - I wanted to see the new Debenhams (not very socialist of me!) but to be honest I was quite fed up with the pretentious attitude of some of the crowd there. It seemed to me that everybody there seemed to think they were some kind of celebrity - but maybe thats my imagination!
I saw a sharp needle of a gothic spire and curiousity drew me to it! Being halloween this was just the place to come. A victorian cemetery closed in the 1930's with some sharp gothic chapels with a needle like spire - all boarded up an covered in ivy. Sadly the cloister had a row of angels whose heads had been taken off by some vandal but there were a few interesting heads left. It was exceptionally creepy given its neglected state and a complete contrast to the 21st century greed I witnessed in the city below. It was very quiet too and I wasn't sure which I prefered?! I thought the vIctorian building would be great for a Victorian horror film - it was certainly queer how the place has been mothballed for so long.
I walked back via Victoria Park and enjoyed the Georgian buildings - very much in the knowledge that I will never own one! Quite surprised at how many seemed to have intact 19th cent interiors too!
On the way back I drove over the high land at Lansdown and then took a very narrow turning down to Lang(something!!) which had a very narrow lane and a steep hill! My brakes just about made it. I came to an ancient norman church stood high above the road with an open door. I went in - and it was pitch black and full of atmosphere with 17th cent headstones and a norman arch! How did they get it here in the 12th cent?!! Also on display some roman coins found in the churchyard. I had been here before but had forgotten how dark and isolated this church is (yet so near to Bath) before driving off to see mum and dad.
