https://www.richardherring.com/warmingup/ en robs@notbbc.co.uk Tue, 01 Sep 2026 12:19:50 +0100 https://www.richardherring.com/warmingup/30/8/2026/index.html Sun, 30 Aug 2026 16:38:00 +0100 8669/21588Phoebe has been given homework for her new school, which seems a bit mean since she hasn't even got there yet. So after the kids had had a fair share of ipads and TV, I said it was time to get off screens and for her to have a crack at her summer holiday schoolwork.Phoebe put down her phone, but Ernie was still on his iPad. She went into adult mode and told him to get off his screen."Who put you in charge?" I asked. "Was it mum going upstairs?""Yes,"Phoebe agreed without laughing at my clever satire. https://www.richardherring.com/warmingup/29/8/2026/index.html Sat, 29 Aug 2026 09:35:00 +0100 8668/21587Off to a wedding today and one that began at the unusually inconvenient time of 8am. Luckily it wasn't too far away from our house and also it was a Sri Lankan wedding, so the breakfast (and lunch) were made up of amazing food. Also you have to respect the traditions of other cultures, but still. Come on guys. You can have breakfast at midday on a Saturday.It wasn't just the kids who were reluctant for such an early start, but we somehow got everyone into their best clothes and the car by 7.15. https://www.richardherring.com/warmingup/28/8/2026/index.html Fri, 28 Aug 2026 09:03:00 +0100 8667/21586Now King Harald V and Ratko Mladic are gone? Another part of my childhood gone. It's like 2016 all over again. The parts of Hitchin that had turned to ponds were largely restored to dryness today. I returned to the tennis court and it wasn't even slippy. So I only had the excuse of a month off for my relatively poor play.Catie was our with a friend (hello Kim) so I had to drag my reluctant and squabbling children out to the supermarket. My daughter was adamant that she wasn't coming and would be OK in the house alone. https://www.richardherring.com/warmingup/27/8/2026/index.html Thu, 27 Aug 2026 12:34:00 +0100 8666/21585Back home today and Catie and I had a date tonight. We were going to the Hitchin Priory to see the Human League, Toyah and Roland Gift on an outdoor stage.I don't go to many music gigs, but this one was right on our doorstep and I thought it would be fun to see these musical artists from my youth, even if I could only recall about one of each of their songs. https://www.richardherring.com/warmingup/26/8/2026/index.html Wed, 26 Aug 2026 16:33:00 +0100 8665/21584Goodbye Cornwall, hello Somerset. Another flying visit to the aged Ps before returning home tomorrow.My dad has recently celebrated his 90th birthday and proudly told us that the local MP had unexpectedly turned up on the day to personally give him his birthday card. He is a man who has done much for Cheddar and the surrounding area in the last 51 years and there should probably be a statue to the man in the town centre or a Keith Herring world at the end of Cox's Cave.I discovered something that I did not know before. https://www.richardherring.com/warmingup/25/8/2026/index.html Tue, 25 Aug 2026 16:07:00 +0100 8664/21583We decided to have a lazy day in for the last day of the holiday. I was the only one who left the house, when I popped out for some milk and bread from the local Post Office.I was glad to have a relatively quiet day as I was feeling pretty crappy after eating too much at the pub last night. You know you are old when food gives you a hangover. Not because the food was bad (it was really good) but because you had too much of it. I am sad to report that all the weight I lost on chemo has returned. Fingers crossed for a bit more cancer. https://www.richardherring.com/warmingup/24/8/2026/index.html Mon, 24 Aug 2026 10:48:00 +0100 8663/21582Dragged the reluctant kids to the Lost Gardens of Heligan, (I bet I made the joke about finding them on my last visit, but am not going to check or repeat it here) but managed to keep them there for over four hours, even though they largely claimed not to be enjoying themselves.We went on our second rope bridge of the holiday, but this one was more sturdy and the kids kindly didn't try to shake it and I got across without any vertigo or pant-wetting (I didn't wet my pants on the first one and anyone who says I did is lying).W