The last (I hope) reunion.

Yes, yet another university reunion, this one back at Warwick. It was supposed to happen 3 years ago – 50 years since we went up – but the pandemic got in the way so it became this year, (just over) 50 years since we graduated. A friend (well, I assume we are friends) gave me a lift there and back, thankfully, as the roads were really busy on the way up and there was horrendous rain on the way back. I was very grateful.

We were staying in Scarman House, which is one of their conference centres and they had put us at the top and in the far corner (was that a hint?) so it was a bit of a trek to get up to our rooms. Having checked in and done the basic minimum unpacking, I wandered down to where we had been told we could get a cup of tea. Having done so I joined most of the others outside on the patio. Greetings and chat.

After a while it got a bit cool outside and very smoky from a barbeque that was being set up (not for us) so we went inside and started ordering drinks and food from the bar. They weren’t serving food in the restaurant because of the barbeque – for 200 people. The food took a while to come, so I was hungry. Moved around a bit after finishing, but by about 8.30 I had had enough and was ready to go home…… Went to bed about 9.30 (maybe a bit earlier?) instead.

Breakfast next morning most of us were around. Lots of choice but the cooked food was halal (needed for a large group) although I discovered they did have pork sausages and pork bacon behind the scenes, if one asked for it. People were doing different things in the morning but some of us were doing a “Treasure Trail”, several of us having downloaded and paid for the Coventry one.

We met up and then went to get the bus into Coventry – after some discussion about which bus and when it was due as it wasn’t term time. When a suitable bus arrived we got on – top deck and front seats! Don’t think the bus would usually get so many Senior bus passes from the university!

We got off at the bus station and headed for the Cathedral – starting point for the trail.

The four of us in our group headed for the Herbert Museum for the loos and a coffee to give us the energy for the trail! The first two clues were in the area near the museum and cathedral, although the first clue was rather hidden. We suspect the statue had been moved because of alterations going on in the area.

The trail led through lots of the old and new parts of the city, but I can’t say I remembered any of it. There have been big changes in the last 50 years and we probably didn’t explore much when we were there. I think there is now more information for tourists, like us, too. Or maybe I just wasn’t interested then.

There was one clue on the Lady Godiva statue and we had to walk through the shopping precinct, which we don’t think was there in our time. The trouble with doing the trails is that one is so focussed on solving the clues that one doesn’t take in the information on the boards and statues we are seeing! They do cover a lot of good sightseeing if one took it in.

We stopped for lunch when we were just over half way through the trail but in fact the parts after lunch were much quicker. We solved the code, finishing back at the old Cathedral and then went for a cup of tea at the museum again before getting the bus back to the university.

On getting back we decided it was time to visit old haunts – if we could find them among all the new(er) buildings: Rootes Hall (canteen, airport lounge/bar, concert/work/exam space, shop/laundrette); L26 (where I lived in the third year); the library and the physics block. We didn’t go in, just looked from outside.

By then it was cup of tea time before going up to our rooms to rest and change before the dinner.

We were not overly impressed with the choice and there was a definite lack of vegetables – especially with some of the choices. The fruit salad was one of the best I have had, though.

We moved around and chatted more when we had finished. The decaf coffee was instant and the tea in bags with hot water – no pot. Again not impressive for what we were paying.

Then to bed. Apparently some people were kept awake by loud music – I didn’t hear it as my hearing aids come out at night!

Breakfast and farewells next morning before paying and departure. And they had failed to mention the VAT when they quoted the meal cost and couldn’t/wouldn’t give us an itemised bill – pretty poor.

So? Well, I survived it!

(At least) 2 friends have tested positive for Covid since – I knew reunions were a bad idea!!