This has been one of the most eventful and interesting months that I can remember.

It started with the death of an elderly relative, 'Maggie' Walker, at the age of 98. For the last ten years of her life she had been housebound, and dependent on a number of us for support. Sadly, she had shunned her in-laws in earlier years, and so came to reap what she had previously sewn. Her funeral was attended by 15 relatives and neighbours. I found it hard to accept the necessity for one of the mourners to send a text message during the ceremony.

Until this month the National Trust had claimed that its Auricula Theatre at Calke Abbey was the only one in the country. With the unveiling of mine, this is no longer the case. It was the excellent work of my cousin-in-law, Norman Milnes, who is now taking orders.

The fine weather made a visit to Coton Manor Garden particularly enjoyable. At this time of year one of its many attractive features, and the object of our visit, is its meadow of wild flowers.

The last weeks of school term proved to be remarkably busy. First I attended a retirement 'bash' at Chez Jules for two long serving teachers (in the days before political correctness we called them 'Masters') Phil Tuck (37 years) and Trevor Davies (31 years).

Then, in the last week, I did my normal Monday morning stint working in the school's archives. The next evening saw a more restrained farewell at the school for the above named, at which I felt unexpectedly sad at their departure, and the loss of so much experience. The following afternoon saw me leading three year 10 students (we would have called them 'fourth formers') on the 'Five Hundred Year Walk' around Birmingham city centre, looking at sites associated with the school's history. This had its unexpected and amusing moments too. Our first two choices of coffee bar for a mid-walk break had gone into liquidation on learning of our intended visit: our final choice had a fire alarm while we were half way through our coffees!

On the penultimate day of term I shared in entertaining a distinguished old boy, microbiologist Professor Chris Henney, who had flown in from his home in Seattle, USA to receive an honorary degree from his Almer Mater, Birmingham University. Whilst here he took the opportunity for a trip down memory lane to his old school.

The last week of the month saw me just outside Eastbourne at the home of my oldest friend and his wife, Mike and Ann Hutchinson. Set below the South Downs, we ventured out to Chartwell, the former home of Winston Churchill. I was amazed at the number of visitors, who clearly wished to learn more of a great Englishman, now dead for more than forty years.

On other days we walked in the magnificent Sussex countryside around Heathfield with Polegate Ramblers, of which Mike is chairman and, much less successfully, on what we were convinced was the South Downs Way to Alfriston. With six university degrees between us, not one related to navigation! But, despite this, we managed to reach our destination, where we visited the Clergy House, one of the National Trust's earliest acquisitions.

On the last night of my stay we went in to Eastbourne to see an open air production of 'Much Ado about Nothing' by Eastbourne Operatic and Dramatic Society. The convoluted plot was admirably portrayed by actors and actresses whom it was hard to believe were amateurs.

In a month that had seen at its start the departure of a family member, it was particularly appropriate that it should end with the 70th birthday celebrations of my cousin Susan Coultrup. We told her grandsons that it was her 90th but, though aged only 4 and 7, they are beginning to realise that we are prone to 'leg pulling', and so responded with suitable disbelief! Among her other guests was a member of the England Men's Hockey squad.

The most exciting event of the month has been the installation of solar panels on the roof of my house. As soon as this was complete the sun went into hiding, so I have yet to discover exactly how much electricity I am capable of generating for a grateful nation, and thus how much more exalted my lifestyle can become!

A warning to my dedicated, and much appreciated, readers: next month's 'blog' will be late for reasons that will become apparent when it appears!