WSBK, Silverstone, Saturday, 3rd August, 2013.

Off out again are we? All day? OK, take yer time. The longer you're out the guiltier you'll feel when yer get back and the more treats you'll give me so off yer go and don't forget to shut the door on the way out.

Having arrived at midday we still have plenty of time for a cuppa before the start of the final Superbike Practice session. There's a distinct threat of showers but we have a cunning plan. If we carry our raincoats with us all day it won't rain. It didn't (well, not more than 5 mins).

Tom Sykes and his Kawasaki going thru' the gears down The Wellington Straight. Much quicker than an F1 car if the strain on David's spinal mobility whilst desperately panning is anything to go by.

James Ellison (on a busman's holiday) bears up well under the attentions of a big-faced old fella.

Andrea Antonelli - gone but never forgotten.

Christian Iddon. 

We remember yer Dad Paul when he was racing, we tell him. He's just over there, he replies.

Paul Iddon (as he is now, not in the '80's).

Watching WSBK Superpole from the banking at Copse.

Aussie-fella Billy McConnell doing a practice start on The Wellington Straight at the end of WSS 600 Qualifying on his Triumph 675R.

Come on Vic, hurry up. I can't hold me 'Harry Worth' for ever y'know. I'm not as young as I was.

Last action of the day at just gone 6 o'clock. Race winner Alessandro Nocco leads the STK 600's at Luffield on lap two on his Kawasaki.

Sunday, 28th July, 2013.

Emlyn's had a difficult life, what with one thing and another, so the last thing he needs when trying to catch some zeds on a balmy Sunday morning is that old unsettling feeling that something wicked this way comes.

Shipston-on-Stour, Sunday, 21st July, 2013.

A lovely little drive out to the edge of The Cotswolds for brunch at Vicky's favourite 'at work' Tea Room: Mrs Browns. 

Guess who's having the Bacon and Garlic Mushroom on Granary sammidge.

Searching for the Jazz Fest, Birmingham, Saturday, 13th July, 2013.

We could have gone to Silverstone today but we agree that it is far too hot to be traipsing 'round there from corner to corner. Much better to go into Birmingham, have a nice Italian at Carluccio's, and then check out the Jazz Fest.

Hmmmm, but where is it exactly? 

Surprisingly, it's not here, although Mary Poppins is on for free on a fairly big screen!

It's not in the Mail Box either but at least David spots his new look for the Autumn season in the window of Harvey Nicks.

Nope, definitely no Jazz-persons 'round here.

Perhaps it's within the new entrance to New Street, er, sorry, Birmingham Central, station? 

Nope, not in here either.

But what came first?

We've found the Food Festival in Victoria Square so we must be getting warm (and weary after a two mile wander in 27 degrees only made tolerable by two stops at various tea rooms along the way).

Yay! Here it is! Well, part of it. 

A bloke from Liverpool on the ukulele and another bloke of indeterminate accent on acoustic and vocals. 

Perhaps it'll really get going later on?

Note audience more interested in the antics of the chicken and the egg.

It's five-thirty and time to go home, via the weekly shop in Droitwich, to lounge around in our living room in the stifling humidity of that 'delightful' rarity: a British Summer. 

We think we've still got a fan somewhere. Cowin'-well hope so!

Roll on October.

Evesham Cats Protection, Sunday, 7th July, 2013.

You're off out where? Evesham Cats Protection?? Nah, sorry, never heard of it. Make sure yer back for me lunch at 1:30 prompt and shut the door on the way out.

It's too cowin' hot Vic. 25 degrees and still not ten o'clock. Can't we go home a bit early?

Nope.

Mickey is hot an' all. He needs a bigger shelf to stretch out on.

Donnie.........

.........and Marie. Still here? What on earth is the matter with the world?

Tillie-Marie and Merton, her Tillie-Marie mini-me. 

Tillie-Marie was chosen by a new family this morning and will be re-homed in a couple of weeks time, which is good.

All washed up and drying in the scorching sun. It must be 28 degrees now.

Well-earned final cuppa of the morning before Lucy comes in at 12:15 and, after a catch-up, we can go home to watch Andy Murray against that dastardly dirty-cheatin' Novak-fella. 

We all agree, Andy won't win. Lose in four sets. Bound to. 

Ah well.

Worcestershire CCC v Australia (Day 3), New Road, Thursday 4th July, 2013.

Emlyn watches us leave from a nice sunny spot in the living room. 

Promise me the sun won't move from here.

Two dead 'ard Aussie-fellas in matching comedy sun glasses. They're prescription, 'cos they are.

After a bit of jiggery-pokery we have secured a nice spot under the scoreboard. Not for the scoreboard but for the crucial adjacency to the Tea and Cake Pavilion.

Catch it! Oh bugger.

It's now mid-afternoon and it's that time. Vicky takes her place in the queue for the tea and cake at the Tea and Cake Pavilion.

Meanwhile, the Aussies continue to smash the ball over the boundary with alacrity. Grrrrrr.

Splendid action shot of Vicky returning with the tea and cake.

Washing down the lemon drizzle cake.

David scoffing huge slice of juicy bread pudding, thankfully, well out of shot.

Howard celebrates the long overdue fall of an Aussie wicket (note to David: make sure you clean Howard's fur when doing the housework next week).

Despite the ongoing construction of a Premier Inn, New Road is still the most evocative venue to be watching a game of cricket on a lovely warm, nay hot, summer's day.

Out middle stump! Oh ok, it's an illusion. The Aussie-fella is smashing it away for another 4.

They declared not long after this for 3,582 runs or something equally outrageous and, as it was gone five and we were suffering with the dreaded hayfever, we decided to wander back home along the river.

Like we say, you can't beat a spot of cricket down New Road.

F1 GP, Silverstone, Friday, 28th June, 2013.

Alarm went off at 5am. Out and on the road at 7:20. Parked up at the circuit at 9:15 after much grumpiness en route as the rain got heavier the nearer we got to Brackley. However, parking up was a synch this year and at least the rain is lighter now and we're giggly with excitement as, gulp, it's already warmer than it was last year. Note Vicky's new wellies and our new super-strength umbrella. Also note, Vicky is sporting sunglasses just in case the sun come out. Well, you never know.

9:40am.: had our first pee and a tea near The Wing and are now strolling towards Luffield.

9:50am: plenty of time to walk past Luffield and take a seat in the stand at Woodcote for the start of the first F1 Practice session which starts at 10:00am. 

11:00am-ish: God Bless Daniel Ricciardo. After much fannying-about by the teams doing 'installation laps' and then looking at their lap tops for an hour to see if the rain is ever going to stop, Torro Rosso send him out to do a few consecutive laps much to the joy of everybody in the stands and around the circuit on the grass banks. He's good to watch in the wet an' all. He was good last year too.

11:30am: F1 practice is over and there's time to get a hot drink before the start of GP2 Practice. It's a head-scratcher alright: hot tea or hot chocolate? Just make it something hot, Vic!

Midday: the sun came out a few minutes ago. Vicky missed it - she was having another 'visit'. Its gone in again now, of course, but it has stopped raining and the track is drying out. This is Sam Bird flying past (Eh? Geddit?) the National Pits Straight Grandstand in his Team Russian Time GP2.

12:45pm: Lunchtime! Yay!! Japanese noodles (Japanese curry for Dave), followed by fresh strawberries (no cream - boo!), and all washed down by yet more tea. And the weather is now lovely and warm! No sunshine, but it must be at least 20 degrees. It's no good Vic, I'm gonna have to take me coat off.

1:55pm: slow stroll 'round to Luffield for the start of F1 second practice session. Much anticipation in the throng as the track is bone dry now and (stay calm) all the teams will soon have no excuses and will have to come out and, y'know, have a bit of a whizz 'round. Golly.

2:20pm: Wow! Three cars on track at the same time: F1 - you spoil us.

Now let's go and see if we can find a spot where the cars are moving left to right as opposed to right to left. We know where the spots are (oh yes). Just a short walk over the Wellington Straight Bridge. Come on Vic, let's go.

2:40pm: bother, all the 'spots' we had in mind are being used today for 'hostilty' or have thick green netting attached to the safety fencing. We decide to walk towards the 'complex' instead. Good decision as it goes. This is Romain Grosjean doing about 290kph (he's not quite at full-chat yet) down the Wellington Straight.

2:55pm: this is the view from Farm. we have never sat here before. The stand is usually closed for 'normal' meetings. We like it as we can see (from right to left) Abbey, the Pits exit, Farm itself, then the complex. We are pretty tired now from all our strolling around and so decide to stay here 'til the end of the session.

3:20pm: Two cars going left to right shock! Albeit in the 'complex' and a long way away. Still, makes a nice change, eh?

4:05pm: we have had more tea, to wash down a shared beef and potato pasty, and are now walking back down the Wellington Straight. This is Worcester's-own James Calado in the Art Grand Prix GP2.

 16:50pm: we've had a little stroll around the 'F1 Village' en route to Brooklands but, to be honest, it wasn't up to much. The band's doing a sound check on the stage were more interesting. The Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup cars are always a touch underwhelming, we find, after the the F1's and GP2's have finished playing. The grandstands remain pretty full, having said that, so we guess we are in the minority.

17:50pm: we are back at Luffield now and most people are heading for the exits now and the Grandstands are virtually empty for the GP3 practice session. We guess folk are just too knackered after a long day to watch 'the stars of tomorrow'. Oh well.

6:15pm: we are knackered now an' all. Time to head back to the car park via a quick shuftie around a Silverstone retail outlet. Quick Vic! Take Howard down from there before somebody tries to buy him. He's a bargain at that price.

Getting out of the car park took two hours last year: this year it took less than a minute. So, all-in-all, we have had a rather jolly time. Over the last three F1 GP's we have had a 'fairly good' day, a 'crap' day and, now, a 'very good' day. Which is good, 'cos now we can rest happy with our decision to 'give it a miss' for the next few years. Or can we? Time will tell, eh?