Rutland columnist Allan Grey has had a busy week

It had been a busy Tuesday, and now it’s 3.40pm and I’m in Savvi Travel, discussing some future travel arrangements when my mobile rings, writes Rutland columnist Allan Grey.

My daughter’s voice says: “You were supposed to be picking up three little girls from school at 3.30pm and taking them to gymnastics. Where are you? I’ve had the school on to say you haven’t turned up?”

I respond with several words for which the editor’s profanity filter would instantly seek a safe synonym, apologise profusely to my lovely travel agent lady and leg it round to Tesco where my car is parked. To get my two granddaughters and their friend to gymnastics requires two traverses of the Brooke Road level crossing, and as sure as night follows day and the Pope wears white, the red lights are flashing and the gates are down in both directions. How boffing predictable. Believe it or not, I had cause for several visits in and around town that Tuesday, and I experienced net zero for the first time, zero incidents of the crossing gates open, eight visits, eight closures.

The new man in No 10 Downing Street had promised net zero, but had also promised change. Well he’d been in the job for nearly a week and not a damn thing had changed, the BLC should have been one of his top priorities, but credit where credit’s due, he’s achieved net zero some years earlier than planned, chapeau mate.

Well, we made it to the gym at Ashwell, but too late, access denied. I then had three disappointed little leotard-clad gymnasts to get home, and yes, I know, I should have set an alarm on my phone like any responsible grandparent with a dodgy memory would have done, it definitely won’t happen again. Er, sorry, what won’t happen again?

Now, you all know me as a OAMIL, and I do still enjoy a social cycle once or twice a week, but I also enjoy walking and my target this year is to walk 1,000 miles. I regularly read just how good walking is for one’s health, both physical and mental, and I’m already ahead of the game. I mentioned my target to a friend who was deeply impressed, that is until I suggested they do the maths. Yes, 1,000 divided by 365 is a meagre 2.74 miles per day, just enough to get me from home to a range of local coffee shops, pubs and restaurants where I can quickly undo all the benefits gained from the effort in getting there and back in the first place.

However, there are other benefits, like bumping into friends at your chosen caffeine charging concern of the day, and thanks go to one musical mate who tipped me off about a concert in Uppingham at the Goldmark Gallery one Sunday recently.

A renown Indian lady sitar player, Roopa Panesar, was to be giving a recital along with the equally renown tabla player, Shahbaz Hussain. Along with around 50 other aficionados, I enjoyed an evening of mesmeric music, marvelling at the skill of both musicians and amused at the relationship the two demonstrated.

Introducing the post-interval session, Shahbaz explained that when accompanying Roopa he never needed to know what music she was planning to play, he just needed to know what mood she was in, and it was clear for everyone to see just what a telepathic connection they had as she played divine melodies whilst his hands were an accompanying blur on the tabla, a wonderful new experience, and nostalgic as well, bringing back magical memories of many trips to India and Nepal.

Now, as the new solo occupant, I am slowly relocating some of the mobility equipment the Lovely Lady used to get around the house and out and about in Oakham. Two virtually new wheelchairs now have a new home at a large primary school over in Yaxley, where according to the assistant headteacher, the children will have great fun in the playground during their breaks. I know the Lovely Lady would have been delighted to know that young children at a school recently voted the ‘Happiest School in England’ would benefit when her time was up.

Following the wheelchairs, it’s just the mobility scooter to find a new home for now, which fingers crossed I have, with Shopmobility. They currently have a base in Melton, but hopefully will soon be coming to Oakham. Shopmobility are a charity that hire out scooters, wheelchairs and other mobility devices at very reasonable rates by the day, and also for longer rentals to folk who don’t get around so easily. The real bonus is that all the scooters are given individual names, and so there will be no surprises when Lovely Lady hits the streets of Oakham once more.

Well, after a weekend of unbearable expectation, it’s clear it’s not coming home any time soon. Once again the promise of ending 58 years of hurt and humiliation for English football supporters has crashed and burned in Berlin. Nonetheless, if like me you have Spanish heritage, it’s been a great weekend, first Wimbledon and later the Euros. I’m sure I mentioned recently that my great uncle’s step sister-in-law’s next door neighbour has a week’s timeshare in Torremolinos. Well you don’t get much more Spanish than that do you?!