back on form in the 'grumpy' department

nothing much to report really . . .

stella and the pies went back to sheffield last week but are returning tonight so stelps can spend some time with frankie and lucia - nice!!

lucia, frankie and alex continue to thrive - more photos when i get around to it

in the meantime - and just so you don't think i have stopped being grumpy - here is one of my all-time hates:

front doors which have no shelter above them so that when you call on someone and you are waiting for them to answer the door, you have to stand in the rain until they come! i mean what is that all about? you would think the occupants would want somewhere to stand out of the rain when they come home and have to get their keys out, manage their shopping etc etc!! It really is very inconsiderate of these house-holders!!

. . . and of course it always IS raining in Britain!!!

cpie's baptism and christmas

sadly i don't have any photos of cpie in her lovely dress - this is the dress which o made for stella when she was baptised - this is mainly because i was too caught up in the actual ceremony - and then she changed into 'ordinary attire' for the drive to the restaurant where we had a meal - never min! - hope you like these:

the star of the show:

oma with lizzie and f'ster:


cat and janey:


g and me (looking typically stressed!!):




. . . and then it was christmas:

this is our crib - we have had the figures well over 20 years - most of them are a bit chipped now and poor old joseph's head has fallen off a few times and been glued back on - boogs made the stable 8 years ago when he was recovering from his throat op:


christmas eve: me, g, o, kpie and rich:


jpie:


and cpie:


and last of all: my tree - this fell over just after i had finished doing it the first time and i didn't have the heart to start all over again so just chucked the dec on after that!! - still it doesn't look too bad - though there is a decided tilt!!

cpie

i did say i would post december pics - but i'm a bit pushed for time tonight so i'll do them next bloggins

i will just add this pic of cpie last march: she was just 2 days old . . . and it was the first time i met her . . . in the words of stevie wonder 'isn't she lo- o - v - ley?'

look!! photos!!

Yay!! Cracked it!!
now to update with photos of the last few months:
LAST JUNE: we went to Austria:

It really IS this beautiful!


g, janey and eric in berg

We also went to Helen and Geoff's Pearl Wedding Celebrations - I forgot to take my camera but a friend mailed me this shot of eric in his weskit:

JULY:

F'ster as we first knew him

David and Becky's Wedding:

In the chapel

Tony, Kathy and Anna with Jess

and here are anna and jess with claire who was one of the bridesmaids.
claire also has the honour of being my one-and-only god-daughter . . . and she is LOVELY!!

SEPTEMBER: Anna and Ricky's wedding:

Anna and Ricky at the Reception

anna and claire with kpie

stella concentrating on her camera, kpie concentrating on? mischief?

my kpie! . . . and if this isn't mischief personified . . . .

back next time with photos of cpie's baptism . . . and christmas

more luck than judgement!

i'm not sure which of the photos i have uploaded here - it should be (l - r) cpie (in the customised t-shirt Auntie Mary made), jpie, kpie holding lpip
hope you like it - if i have been successful, more to follow!

my news since last time . . .

it has been an exhausting and emotional 2 weeks!!

stella and the pies are still here - rich travelled down by train to help out with jpie and cpie for a few days (kpie nipped off to cornwall with jackie and company for a week's hols) when stella went down with flu - and then i caught it too which didn't help!!

little lpip is doing well - she was transferred to the brompton hospital when she was 4 days old and frankie and alex stayed with her there for a week. but now she has been discharged and they are all home - hoorah!! - stella and the pies called in on them and kpie, jpie and cpie were all delighted to meet their new little cousin - with f'ster included, that means 5 cousins born within 4 years - what fun for them all as they grow up!!

pipkin has arrived safely!

and she is doing well!
weighed 7 lb 14 oz
real name: lucia-rose collette
mummy daddy and all the family thrilled to bits!
another instalment some time soon . . .

this life, this week

I have hardly touched base this week - it has been very busy

but briefly:

wednesday: met pauline in the essex for chat and drinks - really enjoyable evening!

thursday: zoomed up to luton after work for tutorial -it's ahassle getting there but well worth the effort

friday: party at liz and david's to celebrate OFSTED - another great evening

saturday/sunday: to janey and eric's - arrived for coffee, then after lunch we went for a good walk around the grounds at calke - cold but beautiful sunshine - janey cooked a fabulous dinner of duck and trimmings . . . and we sat around the table (peter joined us) and, as usual, we laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed! more laughing and talking this morning . . . and eric made a terrific 'hearty'.

frankie: is still bearing up - only one more week of work. spoke to her this evening and she sounds well but looking forward to finishing work next friday and (hopefully) a well-earned rest before the baby