Bluebells at Buckland Abbey

I am here in Devon with my dear friends Ade and Sue. We came down on Friday for the long weekend and to miss the 'Royal Wedding', which meant also that the roads were clear. Then yesterday we went on a bluebell walk.
I love this time of year, and down in Devon all the blossom is out, the gorse is out, and so are the bluebells. Knowing my love of bluebells Adrian has looked out a bluebell walk and so off we went yesterday. It was an hour's drive but worth it.
Buckland Abbey is an old Cistercian monastery which later became home to Sir Richard Grenville (must be someone famous) and Sir Francis Drake (definitely someone famous). The wooded walk was a two mile gentle path through carpets of rich blue flowers. They are so blue they have an almost purple hue. Through the trees you can see the undulating Devon countryside. Marvelous, just what you need to remind you that there is life away from the bustle of weekly work life.
We came back home via the Castle Inn and then a nap. I woke up just in time for the Chelsea Tottenham game followed by dinner. Civilised, conversational and excellent.
Xante and new puppy Pebbles were sufficiently badly behaved to be cute, although a loud thunderclap frightened them briefly. We watched a couple of episodes of Lead Balloon and an early night. I love this pace of life.
I told Ade about my thoughts on twenty four hour retirement. Oh yes, I'm thinking of doing that in a few years. Apparently I've earned too much in my career to make it worth working longer, but twenty four hour retirement means you can collect you pension and then work again if you want. I'd like that, and draw back a bit on the humdrum and perhaps stick to my cardiology stuff, we'll see. It would even be nice to retire down here, but I miss too much, I think, and my children.
It's not been possible to avoid the Royal Wedding altogether, of course, every news paper has the 'happy couple' kissing, on their front pages, and Chelsea managed to scrape a win from Tottenham. Apart from that it's been a lovely weekend so far.
Today it's a local walk and United Arsenal. It is also one on my own wedding anniversaries, so I offer her a thought and a prayer, and hope she is happy and well.