wine, women and song!!

thursday:
went with the women's group on a day trip to france. it was a great day out. met at jackie's at 5.30 a.m. and reached boulogne around mid-day. this is boulogne from high on the bridge. not a terribly good photo - it is much much prettier than this really - and so delightfully french!!


strolled through the town and then had a wonderful lunch in the courtyard of the hotel de ville. there were 11 of us and here we are waiting for our meal:

from left to right: siobhan, dorota, sue s, dottie, jackie, cathy, hilary, liz, sue j and katrina. after visiting the basilica, we headed for cite europe for the inevitable wine/cheese etc shopping and then home on the ferry.
and the song, i hear you ask? well we all sang 'white cliffs of dover' as we landed (to stares of bemusement from several other travellers) haha! arrived home at 1.30 a.m. friday. it was a blast!!
friday:
bit of an anti-climax after thursday . . . at work we moved offices . . . to a much nicer office, i think, though naturally many of the other staff spent much of the time grumbling. our little team have a good spot tucked away in a corner - and i am in the furthest corner of all - just how i like it tee hee!!
saturday:
visited o and g. poor o had cracked a hip bone whilst on hols. it was very fortunate that the bone did not break completely - at 87 years it would have been no joke. the hospital have given her a zimmer frame and she manages to hop around the house very nicely. apparently it will take about 8 weeks to knit back - 8 very impatient weeks for her and 8 very trying weeks for my poor father. took g shopping into daventry for groceries as he gave up his car last autumn so not as mobile as previously. janey, eric and lizzie popped in on their way home from hols (j and e) and staying with cat (lizzie). we are all looking forward to the 'counting' next saturday. here are o and g when i visited them a couple of weeks ago - and before their hols:

saturday night and sunday morning:
went on the starlight walk in aid of the peace hospice. this was a sponsored walk of 13.1 miles starting at watford colosseum at mid-night and ending back there at (for me and margaret) 4.20 a.m. i understand that 1,200 women took part (it was a women-only event) and was a fun way to raise money for the hospice. my feet jolly well ache now and i am fairly tired but i am so glad i did it. i first met boogs on a sponsored walk way back in october 1967 (a 20-miler and we were both 17 so took it well in our stride - if you will excuse the pun!) and the peace hospice was where he was for the last 3 days of his life. the care and kindness with which he was treated were outstanding - this was a cause well worth walking for!

it often pays to be obliging . . .

work asked me to go in on wednesday and have friday off instead.


i didn't really want to but as i had nothing planned i agreed to do it . . .

this morning just after nine stella phoned my mobile (thinking i was at work)

she had a job in london and was taking jago and wanted to know if there was anywhere nice they could go in her 2 hour 'break'

so i met them at kings cross - yay!

we went to the british library, looked at the 'sacred' exhibition' - comparing Judaism, Christianity and Islam through their holy books. we couldn't stay too long but we did see the display of ancient texts which was beautiful and fascinating.

here are jago and stella at the library
we had a quick coffee in the cafe and then it was time to say goodbye
a great afternoon - and i wouldn't have been able to do it if i hadn't gone in on wednesday!!

i should be blogging the good things in my life . . .

. . . but they have been so good i have been too busy to blog!

wednesday: visited o and g and had a lovely day with them

thursday: stella rich and the pies came for dinner. it was horrible!! i was supposed to do some fishy dish but used far far too much lemon. no-one liked it. stella and i ate it but i think that is only because we have been 'trained up' to eat everything on out plates hahaha!

friday: collected kezia and jago after work and had them here over night. we had a lot of fun - they really make me laugh!! after the catastrophe the evening before i gave them sausos and beans - didn't think i could go wrong there!!

saturday: the pies and i had a fairly lazy morning and then just as we were finishing lunch (weather was nice enough to have it in the garden) frankie, alex and lucia came to call. we needed a couple more chairs out for f and a so got the fold-up chairs that live in their own liitle bags out of the shed. as soon as they were up, kezia got inside one of the bags - it came up to her armpits - and started jumping around the garden. i was laughing too much to run inside and get the camera!!

then we all went over to jackie's for a barbecue and sat out until quite late nattering

sunday: frankie and alex went to the baptism course at church so i had lucia for a few hours. we went for a walk and then sat in the shade of the trees in the garden for a while. she was very good - i am looking forward to having her one day a week when frankie goes back to work in september.

tuesday: frankie alex and lucia came round after i arrived home from work and frankie cooked something nice for us

i have done very well in the grandchildren department recently!!

and while i'm on the subject . . .

. . . of not hearing things correctly . . .

someone whom i know (who will remain nameless to protect the innocent) was explaining Judaism - and specifically Hasidic Judaism - to his son

i expect he explained at some length and at the end his son asked 'is it their skins?'

'is what their skins?'

'is it their skins that are acidic?'

a poisoner's licence!

i sometimes think i might be going a little deaf - but there is a funny side to it:

yesterday stella and i were talking about car insurance and i thought she said that rich has:

'a poisoner's licence'!!

but what she actually said was that he has:

'points on his licence'!!!!

a week in the life . . .

this has been my week:

sunday: i) a little much-needed gardening: cutting the grass

ii) reading art history stuff

iii) went to cat and david's for dinner (which was delish!!) frankie, alex and lucia came too. here are lucia, freddie and james:

and imy and freddie:

monday:
frankie and lucia nipped round in the evening for a cup of tea. nicola knitted this lovely little teddy bear suit for lucia - doesn't she look cute?

tuesday: governors' meeting in the evening

wednesday: day off and more reading

i did a little knitting too: finally sewed the ends in my grey scarf and did some more on 'mr pink'

here is 'big mr grand-dad teddy' modelling my grey scarf:

thursday: ??? it is getting pretty bad when one can't remember what one did 2 days ago!!!

friday: i) stella rich and the pies have come for the week and are staying at jackie's. met stella and the pies and had lunch at barracuda. i was very disappointed!! stella and i often had lunch there when she was working at the town hall during her uni hols and it was a great little cafe: good variety of tasty snacks, efficient service and very clean and bright. i was sorry i had suggested it - it is sadly changed!

ii) called in on frankie in the evening for a cup of tea and we looked at some of her wedding magazines for ideas. lucia was still up and i got to hold her for ages. she is lovely - and very alert!!

today: this was a nice day!! did a little ou work in the morning and then collected stella at 1.30 to go up to crowland. stella had bought 4 dining chairs on e-bay and needed to collect them so i went for the ride. crowland is only about 10 miles from where we used to live and is a lovely little town with an interesting old church (croyland abbey) and an unusual triangular bridge in the centre of the town. after we had collected the chairs we went to look round the abbey. we were really lucky because there was a 'wedding dress' exhibition inside. about a couple of dozen women had lent their dresses which were beautifully displayed on mannequins down the nave. the oldest dress was dated 1927 and there were photos and dresses through most decades up to 2006. many of them had veils, jewellery etc set up too and with the beautiful flowers throughout the church made a wonderful display. some of the ladies had also lent their wedding albums and it was fascinating to realise that many of the families were related. one lady turned up as bride in 1963 and as m.o.b. in 1987 and 1991!! we then had a quick stroll up to the bridge and then drove home. the only annoying thing was that i forgot to take my camera so sadly i don't have any pics of the day

the parish centre

i have just returned from mass with edna

after mass we went into the newly refurbished parish centre to 'inspect' and have some refreshments

it has taken over a year to do but well worth the time because it looks great!!

frankie and alex have booked their wedding reception there and it was a bit of a concern that it wouldn't look that good - it used to be really grotty!! - but i needn't have worried - it looks fabulous!!

i haven't done too much else today - bit of ou work and i cut the hedge - grrr!!! i hate that job!!! i keep cutting it back a bit more each time and hope to get it completely taken out and ask alex to build a nice wall for me

struggling . . .

i am struggling to think what i have been doing the past week or so . . .

• finished tma8 and handed it in - only one more tma and that's the end of this course
• signed up for another course - but only a 10-pointer this time - wasn't going to plunge straight in again but i have enjoyed myself so much i don't want to stop!!
• frankie, lucia and jess came over for lunch last saturday - which was very pleasant!
• met pauline for a drink in the essex
• ??
• well there must be other things i have done but i can't remember them right now

back later!

4 things about me!

FOUR JOBS I HAVE DONE IN MY LIFE:
1. Saturday girl in John Lewis
2. Census Enumerator
3. Waitress
4. Market Researcher

FOUR MOVIES I HAVE WATCHED OVER AND OVER AGAIN:
1. The Great Escape (who hasn't?)
2. Doctor Zhivago
3. Ben Hur
4. Father of the Bride

FOUR PLACES I HAVE LIVED:
1. Liverpool
2. Buckinghamshire
3. Lincolnshire
4. Hertfordshire

FOUR TV SHOWS I LOVE TO WATCH
1. Midsommer Murders
2. New Year's Day Concert from Vienna
3. Period Dramas
4. I only really watch TV about twice a month

A FEW PLACES I HAVE BEEN ON VACATION:
1. Cornwall
2. Sailing in the Caribbean
3. Austria
4. Switzerland

FOUR OF MY FAVOURITE FOODS
1. Butterscotch Angel Delight
2. Crispy Tuna Bake - Boogy's recipe
3. Tiramisu
4. Fat Baguettes

FOUR PLACES I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW:
1. Hillsborough, Sheffield
2. Gillan Creek, Cornwall
3. Rose Cottage, Lincolnshire
4. Thetford Forest, Norfolk

i've been 'up lunnon'

two trips to london in 3 days - good going for me!!

thursday evening: went with a group from work to see 'mary poppins'. i must be about the only person in the whole world never to have seen this film! i probably have seen it all in bits but never all the way through - though i did have a pretty good idea of the plot!! this stage version was SUPERB!!! the set and the props were incredible - the singing and dancing were a treat - and the actress who played mary poppins was amazing!! we could hardly see her feet for the speed at which she danced!! the chimney sweep didn't have that AWFUL fake cockney accent that poor old dick van dyke has in the film - and the children were lovely - and very talented - altogether a very enjoyable evening

saturday: met a group from my tutorial class at the tate modern and went to see rothko's seagram murals - took at while to really aclimatise myself but well worth it! then we went to look at some warhol - a bit easier!! i really like the other members of my group so it was a good morning - i had a great time socially and certainly found the trip useful - i am sad now that this course is coming to an end!

we had finished by 1.30 so i wandered about by myself for a bit and looked at some more paintings and then strolled along by the river until i reached the globe and picked up a couple of brochures in the hopes of going up to see something this summer

i crossed the millenium bridge and decided to go into st paul's for half and hour or so - and came out pretty smartish when i discovered it costs £9.50 to get in!! - will have to go back some time when i have a LOT more time!!

came home and decided to get 'pan's labyrinth' video from blockbusters - this was a film which diane (who is on the course) had recommended - watched it after going to mass with edna

a busy day all told!!

freddie's baptism

yesterday:
what a fabulous day!! the baptism went like a dream - fr. paul made it very special and freddie was so-o-o good: no crying and, like clara at hers, was only curious as to where the water was actually coming from!!
here are imy, freddie, david, cat and james in front of the beautiful holy rood altar:













then we all went back to cat and david's house for the party. they had borrowed jackie's big marquee and decorated the inside with voile panels, ribbons and balloons and it looked magnificent. we had wonderful food: lots of curries, samosas, salads and tasty things i don't know the names of - but it was all delicious!! it was warm and sunny and all my family and lots of my friends, too, were there - who could ask for more?

here is a photo of me with freddie and peter - my fellow god-parent and also, of course, freddie's uncle:

most people had gone by around eight so a select few: cat, david and family, eric, jane, lizzie, bronnie, graham, claire and i sat round a sort of wok-type fire on the patio and chatted and laughed - and drank wine!
because o and g were there we decided to try for a photo of them and all 5 of the great grand-children - this was not an unqualified success as none of them were prepared to sit still long enough - and some of them were decidedly unhappy about the process!! but i think they results are very funny:

everyone just wants to escape!!
















the 3 littlest ones:that's frankie, lucia on g's lap, o, stella holding clara and cat with freddie
then stella decided she would like a photo with 'oldest siblings': mum, stella, kezia and i are all eldest in our families - so all of us are 'big sisters' and consequently all of us are very bossy!! lol!!










and finally:
cat and david gave me this lovely mug for being freddie's god-mother. it is a lovely spotty design:







and

not only is it specially for me:











but:
look at this:




how clever is that??

a walk in whippendell woods

wednesday evening: we are very lucky to have these beautiful woods right on our doorstep - and the bluebells look magical every year. this year was no exception! anne, jennie, tassa, jan and i went for a walk early in the evening and then stopped for a 'light bite' at the essex arms.

it's been a busy week alright . . .

i don't really function terribly well if i don't have time on my own at home and this week has been busier than i would have liked. trouble is, of course, all the evening things i went to were events i just didn't want to miss!!

monday: i met pauline for one of our regular chats and drinks in the essex - always very pleasant

tuesday: women's group had a 'pamper evening' at katrina's house - we all had a foot soak, drink and chat - and some of us had either a manicure or a pedicure (i had neither - too busy chatting!!

wednesday: book group at jean's. we had read 'dreams of sleeping' by gail jones (an australian author). i thought this book was wonderful - loved her turn of phrase, the images she presented and the little pieces of biography dotted through the novel. i would recommend this book and would love to read more of her work

thursday: tutorial - took me an hour and a half to drive the 20 miles to luton!! grr!! that m1 just gets worse!! it was well worth the effort though

friday: was going to have quiet evening at home = then frankie and lucia came round about 7.30 (this of course is a GOOD THING!!) and then we zoomed over to uxbridge to collect alex sister from her flat (alex was at the rugby club dinner - 'nuff said!!)

today: day school at hitchin on our current block which is 'the sixties' - fantastic day which i thoroughly enjoyed - and lots of help for our next tma!

so i have had a good week this week - but i am glad that i'm not doing quite so much next!!

here's . . . tully!!

i herewith present my lovely cat, catullus, or 'tully' as we call him
he has been resident for 3 years now, arriving as a tiny bundle of fluff one bank holiday week-end - and i can't imagine my home without him now

he is, admittedly, not the brightest cat in the world and despite having had one of those magnetic cat-flap openers attached to his collar since he was a kitten, still hasn't really got the hang of it!! i hear him scrabbling about each time he wants to come in having presumably forgotten since last time how to make his entrance. he usually gets in eventually (more by luck than judgement!) but when i do hear him i go and let him in.
he gets rather skinny during the summertime as all the other cats in the neighbourhood come and eat his food (i always have all the doors open) so i have to stand over him a bit to make sure he gets enough and then he fattens up during the winter
what he likes to do best is sit on the arm of the sofa and look out the window and keep a supervisory eye on proceedings in the road - that's what he is doing in these photos
hmm! i see it is a quarter to ten - better go and give him his supper!

this time last week . . .

. . . i was in sheffield visiting stella, rich and the pies and i had a lovely lovely time!

thursday: stella kezia and i went to see the new house - it was very exciting! the roof is on now and all the windows are in - yay!! - hopefully it won't be long before it is finished and they can move in

friday: we all went for a walk (scramble more like!!) to the top of win hill in the peak district - it was very enjoyable and the view from the top was fantastic - both kezia and jago walked all the way up and all the way down (clara hitched a ride in the sling!!) and then we went to 'aunt sally's' to celebrate

saturday: in the morning stella, kezia, jago and i went to the weston park museum - which is wonderful!! it is a fantastic place to visit with littles as there are heaps of interesting activities for them - well worth a visit!! and in the afternoon stella jago and i went for another walk - very short this time though - it has been a good couple of weeks for walks!!

ruda 2007!

. . . was good - even though i was only there for just over 48 hours

friday: arrived around 5 - and joined janey, eric, lizzie, peter, cat david, james, imy and freddie for dinner 'chez awks' - then everyone else turned up soon after nine for chat and drinks - and a toast to jude and john on the birth of their grand-daughter, catherine eve, - hoorah!!

saturday: janey, eric, lizzie and i walked 'up baggy', over the fields and down into croyde for drinks and cheesy chips at billy budds. walk back to ruda and then dinner at my van before nipping round to the de braux for the rest of the evening.

here we are after finishing dinner:

david and cat

imy, eric and janey

peter and james (freddie was fast asleep in his buggy and i don't know where lizzie had gone!!)

sunday: awks, elliotts and self went over to mortenhoe and walked to the lighthouse (i was very ill unfortunately - though no one else affected so at least it wasn't my cooking - lol!) - round to cat and david's in evening for 'sunday dinner' - jackie arrived around 7.30 so there were 10 of us round the table - we were very noisy!! it was 'all round at the whitmore's' that night but i left to come home at 10 - and made in the door by just after 2 - so good going

i was having a great time and would have liked to stay for the week, but it was strange not having either of the daughters or families there - so i came home only to find that frankie has gone down to portsmouth with alex!! - never mind she is back tomorrow - so will see her and lucia then

in the pipeline . . .

. . . are lots of good things - however, being of a superstitious turn of mind i am unwilling to blog them just yet - but will update as soon as i can

meanwhile . . . frankie and alex have booked a venue for their wedding - the parish centre right next to the church - phew!! - it will be fully refurbished by then and with brian offering to help decorate i'm sure it will look magical

i have had a good 2 weeks since last blogging - but too much to blog in detail really

day school: for my course - a great day!

comic relief night: stella rich and the pies came to stay and arrived in time for dinner (mushroom stroganoff) and frankie and alex left lucia with us while they took alex's car back to reading. then we all watched comic relief . . . and laughed!

mothering sunday: a tray of cafetiere coffee for me in bed courtesy of stella and the pies - and then the pies, the pip and their parents all here for lunch

last saturday: frankie asked if i could sit for lucia while they went on the marriage prep course but i had already arranged to visit o and g for the day and go to jean's focs afternoon - but it was ok - i took lucia with me! yay!! she was very good, o and g had a great time watching her while i was at the meeting and the meeting (fortunately just round the corner and only for 2 hours) was extra-ordinarily enjoyable - lovely women and a good time was had by all

back soon!

my camera broke . . .

. . . and i kept thinking i would blog again once i had worked out how to mend it . . .
took it to the camera shop this lunch-time . . . it's mended now!
however, i'm somehow not really in the mood for catching up . . .
so i think i will go and find tully and see if i can get a few decent shots of him . . . then i can post some of them here and you can all admire him
back soon

a good week-end

saturday:

spent most of the day doing my latest assignment. it wasn't my favourite block on the course so i am pleased it is over with!!

sunday:

frankie, alex and lucia popped round early afternoon which was lovely . . . and then, as we were chatting away - and marvelling over lucia - cat, david and freddie arrived too. freddie is lovely - he is such a smiley baby. good excuse to crack open a couple of bottles of vino . . . and then . . . cat asked me if i would be freddie's god-mother!! wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! what an honour!!! i am very excited!!!

frankie, lucia and alex laughing:















tully and freddie:

today:

was tiring and very busy at work . . . and i was on the last counter slot . . . and then went round to liz and david's for the 'holy nation' session. it was good but now i think i will head off for an early night

february 2007 . . . and some exciting events!!

we don't get snow often enough . . .
here is my garden looking magical (lol) . . . and kezia enjoying herself:
(this was just 2 days before lucia put in her appearance - and we all thought there were weeks to go!!)


















frankie and lucia the day after they arrived home (lucia 11 days old):


















meet the cousins: the stripey gang!!
















and . . . 'little lucia':