I am glad I booked Monday off! My legs are quite achy and I am quite tired.

I noticed that the deelyboppers had shed almost all of their glitter during the run. I wasn’t quite a gay comet streaking along the course, but it’s funny thinking that I was trailing a glittery tail!

To keep moving I walked into the city centre. I’d planned to visit the city art gallery, since I’d never been, but it’s closed until 2026 for refurbishment.

After enjoying a trio of tacos, I thought I’d go to see the Tudor House in the centre of Southampton. It’s called the Tudor house because that’s what it looks like and much of the building dates from that period, however parts of it date back to Norman times (ie 11th and 12th century).

To start with, you are led into the banqueting hall, where there’s a bit of a light show and the voices of ghosts and the “time weaver” tell you about the history of the house. Cheesy.

After that, you’re on your own to wander the rooms. The garden is small, but pretty and fragrant with herbs. You can go down to “King John’s Palace”. It is interesting to see the other side of a wall that I have seen a lot of from the outside. These days, the palace is a bare courtyard. I couldn’t establish the relationship with King John though.

According to “1066 and all that”, King John is famous for losing the crown jewels in the wash. Quite what they were doing in the laundry basket, history doesn’t tell 🤣.

There’s a lot to read here and lots that’s “look but don’t touch”. The very fabric of the building is fragile. There are interactive elements.

I enjoyed the graffiti etched into the walls of the house; they reminded me of the graffiti in Pompeii: an insight into the lowest ranking people of the time.

I’m sat in the garden, drinking a nice cup of tea and eating a tea cake with butter, enjoying the sunshine, while I write this.

And I’m thinking of my husband. He loves this kind of place and I would have much rather have come here with him: shared experiences are one of those precious things in a relationship.

I am also thinking “why are we splitting up?” He has no family that he’s in contact with. My dad isn’t much use as a father (I could never depend on him). My brother had his own family and couldn’t help me if I needed it.

My husband and I only really have each other. I need to find a way to share these thoughts with him.