We all remember Jerry Green from Lord Bills? He remembers Cathy and Julian and has become an avid keeper upper with the blog and so I'll need to be careful what I say!
Anyway, he was a boarder at LWGS and as I mentioned before, he and I were among the last ones in our form in SHORT TROUSERS!!!! (and Neil Datson and Fenton Rae, and Stoker), at the age of THIRTEEN (oh the pain!). He had a long shock of hair (me short back and sides) and was one of the boarder reprobates with Pete Wynn. In Upper sixth moved into a caravan with Charlie Fairhurst in Charlie's back garden 3 doors up from the 6 Bells and after leaving school went round Europe on a train ticket with Judith Jowett before doing teacher training.
So we had a great time catching up on the last 35 years.
The names that came up you'll maybe remember?
David Cann was one and after I got home, Gemma had Eastenders on and there was David ( as a GP) giving Dot Cotton the all clear from something or other, which was odd because of what Jerry's had ie: the thumbs up after some treatment for bowel cancer-lurgy.
The only running advice I could offer was to get some decent shoes and run with someone who doesn't mind waiting for you at the end and then will drive you home, run you a bath and put a cup of tea and a sandwich in your hand!
So say cheerio to your toe-nails now keep up the good work mate!
Fay turned up too after visiting Stan Hayes so was able to chuck some more names into the pot. Apparently Norman Lilley is still fighting fit and is very active at St Mary's church. Kim Bostok is a little more matronly looking now and there has been at least one sex-change from my year (hardly surprising). Nona Hawkins-Smith is in Wheatley now and has set up some sort of church group! I put in about Auntie Joan and Stosh! Has anyone else been in touch via Friends-Reunited?
Anyway don't forget to go to the Roy Castle Foundation
I went this morning to sponsor Jerry but I then wanted the title of the London Marathon Theme to put in a little message.
Clicking on Google cut me off from the secure site but in case you don't know it's 'The Trap', by Ron Goodwin (Polydor records)
KOB
Monday, January 31, 2005
Sunday, January 30, 2005
News from home
Good morning to all you bloggers.
Congratulations, Julian on the newlook website – very colourful. Also to Pete and the Stanley Rowe website, and Steve’s photos in Cornwall. Well, done Jess and Beth on your stage shown in aid of the wave. Was it just dancing or was it the full monty of dance and song? Good photos Pete. Nikki’s photos of our Christmas sojourn were reminiscent of a happy time we all had in Bonchurch. I hope you have not been too put off Cathy in your blogger postings.
I am sorry that you are all so cold. – Not so here, I am pleased to say. Although it is not yet February Wootton’s famous mimosa trees are out in full blossom and we have seen many daffodils out on the road verges. Strangers passing our house may have seen an old man clearing up our garden. So much for twice a week visits to our Fitness Club!
Earlier in the week we could see a great big cold bubble on the weather maps, which missed England but spilt down into France and Spain, giving you all that period of frost and snow..
Are you trying to equal our walk up the Ventoux, Ruth when we arrived half way up the Mont Severin road, before walking down into Malucene and getting a taxi back to Les Gargorys??
Birthday reminders for 3rd February for Will and Jen-Hwei.
It seemed that my attempt at a Yahoo Christmas card must have slid down the email drain as there has been no mention of it. Never mind, the thought was there. Joke – Adam says to God “what would you require to supply me with a female to do everything for me that I could ever desire”. God said “An arm and a leg” so Adam says “how much will I get for a rib”. Which only goes to show………………you get what you pay for! Sorry girls, it’s only a joke.
Congratulations, Julian on the newlook website – very colourful. Also to Pete and the Stanley Rowe website, and Steve’s photos in Cornwall. Well, done Jess and Beth on your stage shown in aid of the wave. Was it just dancing or was it the full monty of dance and song? Good photos Pete. Nikki’s photos of our Christmas sojourn were reminiscent of a happy time we all had in Bonchurch. I hope you have not been too put off Cathy in your blogger postings.
I am sorry that you are all so cold. – Not so here, I am pleased to say. Although it is not yet February Wootton’s famous mimosa trees are out in full blossom and we have seen many daffodils out on the road verges. Strangers passing our house may have seen an old man clearing up our garden. So much for twice a week visits to our Fitness Club!
Earlier in the week we could see a great big cold bubble on the weather maps, which missed England but spilt down into France and Spain, giving you all that period of frost and snow..
Are you trying to equal our walk up the Ventoux, Ruth when we arrived half way up the Mont Severin road, before walking down into Malucene and getting a taxi back to Les Gargorys??
Birthday reminders for 3rd February for Will and Jen-Hwei.
It seemed that my attempt at a Yahoo Christmas card must have slid down the email drain as there has been no mention of it. Never mind, the thought was there. Joke – Adam says to God “what would you require to supply me with a female to do everything for me that I could ever desire”. God said “An arm and a leg” so Adam says “how much will I get for a rib”. Which only goes to show………………you get what you pay for! Sorry girls, it’s only a joke.
Friday, January 28, 2005
Links
Julian, sorry, this is the only link I have used elsewhere....The Big Tree. No real need to put in a link though. Wait for the next masterpiece in 2015!
Just got back from a night out at the theatre...local groups performing for the Tsunami appeal, including our little blessings doing some great dance routines. It was a really good show and all put on in less than a week. It included some fancy footed flamenco, ballet, guitar, modern dance, plus some extracts from shows like Godspell and Grease by local schools and theatre groups. Culture is our middle name down here!
By the way I understand that the artists all left the Cote de Rhone after Van Gough and his crowd because the light was also something to behold in Barcelona...can this be true? People will be telling me that Valenciano is sexier than French and that Rioja beats Chateau Neuf de Pap for bouquet next..
Just got back from a night out at the theatre...local groups performing for the Tsunami appeal, including our little blessings doing some great dance routines. It was a really good show and all put on in less than a week. It included some fancy footed flamenco, ballet, guitar, modern dance, plus some extracts from shows like Godspell and Grease by local schools and theatre groups. Culture is our middle name down here!
By the way I understand that the artists all left the Cote de Rhone after Van Gough and his crowd because the light was also something to behold in Barcelona...can this be true? People will be telling me that Valenciano is sexier than French and that Rioja beats Chateau Neuf de Pap for bouquet next..
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Picture the scene..Sicily 1941!
ok so no it was Tuesday!
Clive came in from an exasperating day at the office, having been shuffling mad bits of paper from intellectual nut-cases or more formally.. sorting News Drafting Suggestions for the new Oxford English Dictionary, whereby words not yet in the dictionary are proposed by the public, then researched, validated, and agreed or rejected by commitee.
As the new edition of the OED is due out soon (AD 2040), there's a lot of competition now to get new words in in time, with related academic kudos!
Gemma greeted Clive as usual at the front door with a cheery "Anything happened at the office today darling?" as she lovingly brought him his pipe and slippers (bubble pipe of course).
"Labradoodle!" he replied.
(sound of convulsions of mirth and wetting of knickers!)
After the guffaws had subsided, and Gemma had settled Clive down with his usual home made steak and kidney pie and chips! (NOT!), it was time for CORRIE.
We're in't Rovers now and Kirk say's to 'Fizz' (a big ginger trollette) in a touching scene of (as it's known in Hertford Street as) 'Soap-Gold' ie a touching moment of outstanding drama!
"She's my little Labradoodle".
So have you heard any new words off the telly you want put in the dictionary.. hurry because Clive says 'L' for Labradoodle
is scheduled to be collated in 2023 AD.
Clive came in from an exasperating day at the office, having been shuffling mad bits of paper from intellectual nut-cases or more formally.. sorting News Drafting Suggestions for the new Oxford English Dictionary, whereby words not yet in the dictionary are proposed by the public, then researched, validated, and agreed or rejected by commitee.
As the new edition of the OED is due out soon (AD 2040), there's a lot of competition now to get new words in in time, with related academic kudos!
Gemma greeted Clive as usual at the front door with a cheery "Anything happened at the office today darling?" as she lovingly brought him his pipe and slippers (bubble pipe of course).
"Labradoodle!" he replied.
(sound of convulsions of mirth and wetting of knickers!)
After the guffaws had subsided, and Gemma had settled Clive down with his usual home made steak and kidney pie and chips! (NOT!), it was time for CORRIE.
We're in't Rovers now and Kirk say's to 'Fizz' (a big ginger trollette) in a touching scene of (as it's known in Hertford Street as) 'Soap-Gold' ie a touching moment of outstanding drama!
"She's my little Labradoodle".
So have you heard any new words off the telly you want put in the dictionary.. hurry because Clive says 'L' for Labradoodle
is scheduled to be collated in 2023 AD.
labradoodles
One of my old dad's sayings, when trying to describe an awkward person was to say "he acts like a cow with a fountain pen", perhaps a labradoodle is a dog with a bic pen at a dull meeting. I remember one of the girls in the Chinnor Operatic, Chairman Pam used to do the most intricate doodles on her sheet of minutes. Is it a doodle drawn in a labyrinth?
Another lovely day today, but cold - I burned some of the willow trimmings, but there are still a lot left for tomorrow. An hour of gymn tomorrow, walking, pedalling and doing the Ellen MacArthur winding thing with the windlass. Very tiring - I don't know how she does it, day after day for three months.
Another lovely day today, but cold - I burned some of the willow trimmings, but there are still a lot left for tomorrow. An hour of gymn tomorrow, walking, pedalling and doing the Ellen MacArthur winding thing with the windlass. Very tiring - I don't know how she does it, day after day for three months.
Labradoodles!!??
Hello everyone. Can anyone guess what a Labradoodle is? No cheating allowed & google use is prohibited...answer to follow shortly....tick tock tick tock..gem xxx
Love the new
Spent the last hour, after getting home at 10 pm last night from a night out with the Lions, thirsty, afraid to drink too much for fear of the £60 fine and the marks on my licence (Oh for the Gendarme free Bedoin), reading all the new blogs, and drinking a nice hot camomile tea. How Topsy has growed. Love your website Ruth. You ought to write a daily diary for Le Musicienne - if there is such a periodical. Welcome to the A painting a day. As my old Dad used to say (bless him) all the brains are not in Whitehall. Addendum - are any of them ???? Welcome to the Rowes - to Jodie and Beth and Jess. Lovely website also, Pete. Good luck for the exams. I have got three Spanish audio cassettes but after initially thinking "how easy this is" I am mixing my cuentas and Ola's and talking like a John Waynes spic. Hasta la vista and quanta las gusta to quote an old Mexican song. it is now 0510 and time for me to get back to sleep, so buenos dias!! Adios.
slight changes..
We has bin playin' muchly with ye ol' internetty thing, given as we now as access to major down/up time access my precious, so we as even more experience, we can get our weblog pinged and such so I made a few changes tonight - many thanks those of you who noticed whilst I was doing it - no prizes i am afraid but hope you all like it. that is ruth in the poppyfield for those of you who aint seen it afore. We is off to Paris tomorrow and then to Madrid for the big portrait exhibition at the Prado. I axidentally wiped the previous template in my excitement so all things like links n' stuff send to me at you know who at merrow-smith.org and I will reinstate them. I have a new twice daily painting update at: http:permanent-red.com and Ruth is writing lovely things at meanwhilehereinfrance please visit. The whole links, comments thing is much easier now and you can edit your own post by clicking on the pencil next to the post, also you can easily comment on others posts by clicking on comment. You can also email a post to a friend by clicking on the enveope at the foot of the post - very handy.I will re-instate the search thang when I have time.
Hope your exams went well jess and beth, good idea with the hot chocolate: happy to post you more when it runs out though prefer that you visit. We saw a crap but enjoyable film about exams the other day called -- a few moments at google - eh voila! The Perfect Score, kinda fun. Anyway lots of love to y'all, j
Hope your exams went well jess and beth, good idea with the hot chocolate: happy to post you more when it runs out though prefer that you visit. We saw a crap but enjoyable film about exams the other day called -- a few moments at google - eh voila! The Perfect Score, kinda fun. Anyway lots of love to y'all, j
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
CSS Web master!
Julian, I see you are trying CSS. I'm trying to do some HTML but have been told to concentrate on CSS. Nonetheless it means learning how to use HTML first and then marrying the best of boths worlds according to one expert whose page I read on the web. While you are reorganising, any chance you can put the blogger button higher up? With a 12 inch screen I always have to scroll down before I can click to create a new post. I'd like to be able to click it on opening the page and reading the most up-to-date blog.
As for the Rowes, I'm trying to set up a blog for that side of my family. So far I have merely adjusted someone else's template but it looks quite nice. It can be found at http://hamiltonrowe.blogspot.com/. Create a link if you feel like it. I could do it now but I thought that might be a bit cheeky! My plans are much more grand for the Rowe blog but until the new file is fully finished I won't change anything.
It's a laugh this, isn't it? Time consuming, but good fun.....
As for the Rowes, I'm trying to set up a blog for that side of my family. So far I have merely adjusted someone else's template but it looks quite nice. It can be found at http://hamiltonrowe.blogspot.com/. Create a link if you feel like it. I could do it now but I thought that might be a bit cheeky! My plans are much more grand for the Rowe blog but until the new file is fully finished I won't change anything.
It's a laugh this, isn't it? Time consuming, but good fun.....
Tee Hee!
Well, I've survived this far....to tell you the truth, it really hasen't been that bad with exams. Me and two friends have been practising our dance regularly, cos on Thursday there's a Sunami appeal show and anybody who wants to do something (eg. song, dance, poem) can enter but they have be quite good cos the lady running it said it's gotta look "quite professional". She was pleased with our dance, though we had to cut it short, and we've been practising often. Fingers crossed.
Anyway, mum says more studying so gotta go. x
Anyway, mum says more studying so gotta go. x
Monday, January 24, 2005
Brrrrrrrr!
...this was a little while later, down on the beach, looking at the phosphorescence and getting VERY cold!
Much merriment!
Now this was taken by Mr Tumble (aka JR) after a few medicinal compounds imbibed at the Bonchurch Inn....
JR enjoying Xmas in the Caribbean
Ok....here goes...it's Cathy's friend Nikki hre, trying to upoload some photos from our Isle of Wight Christmas extravaganza for all you bloggers out there!
Sunday, January 23, 2005
Buenas noches!
Hello folks...
This afternoon we were going through an index of first lines from a song book we used to use at church in Portugal. Jan and the girls were trilling away and in the end I had to take the book off them so I could turn the pages and look at the words.
"How do you know the words to all these songs?!" asks I.
"It's easy! You can even learn languages to music!"
"Languages!" says I, "I can't remember the English words let alone the foreign words. I only once learned a song all the way through and that was just to prove I could do it."
My misses looks at me and says, "Not...not 'When the red, red robin comes bob-bob-bobbin...!"
Laugh? There wasn't a dry seat in the house I can tell you!
Sorry dad but we had to laugh remembering you five nights of torment! Red, bed bobbins! Red, dead dobbins! Red, red roddins (nearly)! No more throbbins! He starts sobbin!! Doh! The memories! There but for the grace of God go I. I would have made a hash of it, to be sure.
Ah, heady days.
ps. They'll be no more bloggin when he starts logging his own 'Pete' ones!!
This afternoon we were going through an index of first lines from a song book we used to use at church in Portugal. Jan and the girls were trilling away and in the end I had to take the book off them so I could turn the pages and look at the words.
"How do you know the words to all these songs?!" asks I.
"It's easy! You can even learn languages to music!"
"Languages!" says I, "I can't remember the English words let alone the foreign words. I only once learned a song all the way through and that was just to prove I could do it."
My misses looks at me and says, "Not...not 'When the red, red robin comes bob-bob-bobbin...!"
Laugh? There wasn't a dry seat in the house I can tell you!
Sorry dad but we had to laugh remembering you five nights of torment! Red, bed bobbins! Red, dead dobbins! Red, red roddins (nearly)! No more throbbins! He starts sobbin!! Doh! The memories! There but for the grace of God go I. I would have made a hash of it, to be sure.
Ah, heady days.
ps. They'll be no more bloggin when he starts logging his own 'Pete' ones!!
Mmmm..
Enjoying a nice mug of french hot chocolate while studying for exams beginning tomorrow. ahh! We failed to mention, Ruth and Julian that on our way back from our lovely stay at yours, we snuck into Intermarche and bought 4 packets of the coco powder you used to make the hot choc and ever since Beth (or dad, who she passed her well taught knowledge onto) have been making it frequently. When it runs out, we'll have to come and stay with you again!
Well, tomorrow I've got maths and science, the two that I worry about the most. Why on the same day? why?! I don't really need to worry about spanish as it's fairly simple stuff nor french (dito) nor english. I think I'm ok on languages. History? not so. I'm useless with dates but I somehow always pass. I'm doing well at art. We are currently doing paintings of the horror of the Sunamis. Then there's goegraphy, IT and that's it I think. Nobody likes exams but I'm sure there are people looking forward to them much less than I am!
I'll say bye for now then. x
Well, tomorrow I've got maths and science, the two that I worry about the most. Why on the same day? why?! I don't really need to worry about spanish as it's fairly simple stuff nor french (dito) nor english. I think I'm ok on languages. History? not so. I'm useless with dates but I somehow always pass. I'm doing well at art. We are currently doing paintings of the horror of the Sunamis. Then there's goegraphy, IT and that's it I think. Nobody likes exams but I'm sure there are people looking forward to them much less than I am!
I'll say bye for now then. x
birthday climb
thanks everyone for your biffday greetings! e cards, jess your special one and steve for your three. what Julian failed to mention was that while he slaved away on his computer, I climbed half way up the ventoux with our neighbours (under a rainbow) before dinner with our posh funny friends so I earned it! we mostly communicate by blog now, good or bad marital therapy? we don't know!
pete i am enjoying your book which, along with the mac. made very good company on the 'delayed' (they apologise profusely)'by 4 minutes' TGV from Paris. It's a great story! Let me know if you want any comments.
what about that fab painting eh? could it be that at last he has found his muse?
love to all, ruthiexx
pete i am enjoying your book which, along with the mac. made very good company on the 'delayed' (they apologise profusely)'by 4 minutes' TGV from Paris. It's a great story! Let me know if you want any comments.
what about that fab painting eh? could it be that at last he has found his muse?
love to all, ruthiexx
Saturday, January 22, 2005
Hi Auntie Ruthie
Hello all. I'm sorry I'm not as up-to-date with all the info at the moment but I really wanted to wish Auntie Ruth a happy birthday personally. Well happy Birthday then; and how're the cats?!
Lotsa love Jess
Lotsa love Jess
Ruth's birthday
Many thanks everyone for your best wishes and e-cards and such. We had a lovely day starting off the previous evening with an early present of Steve Coogan in "The Parole Officer", which I picked up in FNAC for 5 euros; recommended. We, especially me, had quite a laugh. Today Ruth opened a few more bargain basement presents CD's and the like, (a short step up from pipe cleaners) and recieved her big pressie of this painting, which is by me of course (cheap), and is a little painting of one of two cups I got for christmas as a present from Ruth (synergy) made by David Garland who is well know as potter and painter and once dined in our garden in Crillon-le-Brave. His wife Sarah is, (Pete), a successful writer of children's books. I say that as "The big Tree" arrived this morning - very flash - and Ruth has taken it on the train to Paris to read.
Last night we went out to dinner with friends George and Johanne who are chefs and restauranters and have a very famous restaurant in Rhode island called Al Forno. They are great fun and love searching out local foods from little markets and growers. They have an extraordinary big cat with six toes on each front foot and seven on the rear - the cat comes from the USA of course where everything is bigger!. Our cats have discoverd the delights of meecies and mices. Manon has come in with a succession of little voles (so cute but usually rather damaged) and last night with a mouse so tiny it was smaller than the tiny radishes George and Johanne served with the apperitif. Oscar is a little tardy his response, on finding a live vole under the cushion on the sofa - which we presume Manon had left for later - was to go out and catch a huge mouse, however since that day he has been bringing in pebbles so I don't think he's quite got it yet. that's all folks,tara and lots of love j
Friday, January 21, 2005
Happy Birthday Ruth
I hope you are having a lovely time somewhere. Lots of love Cathy,John,Edmund,Thomas and Kate. XXXXX
Get down to Tesco
and pick up The Very Best of Cat Stevens...aaah
Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing fresh from the world
Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass
Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's recreation of the new day
get some hankies too!
You'll need'em
9 quid bargain!
Happy Burfdy Woof
Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing fresh from the world
Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass
Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's recreation of the new day
get some hankies too!
You'll need'em
9 quid bargain!
Happy Burfdy Woof
London Bus
Blogs are like the London Buses, none for some time then a rush. Lovely to read all your blogs, Steve, Jen, Cathy, Pete - nice photo of you Julian. Hope you both have a good day. Good for you, Georgina - keep it up!! Did I tell youse that Mum and I signed on at the local gymn in Newport. We go twice a weeks (Mon and Thurs) at 0930 for an hour. We do cycling, (two types) walking - very tiring - 4 mph for 5 mins takes it out of one. Now we are doing an arm exercise - sort of pedalling with your arms. We manage to work up a sweat and are glad when the hour is up so we can get a lovely shower. Our last session will be on 6th March but we hope to sign on again when we return from Spain. What about the Aurora eh? good job we didn't spend £40,000 to sail rounf the IOW. Four more years ++++++++!!!!!!!!!!!!! We heard this morning that the Rolling Stones are possibles for the IOW Rock Festival. It is hard to believe that Cathy and John have been together for 20 years CONGRATULATIONS to you both. It is also a bit of a shocker to see that Edmund will be 14. It seems such a jump from 13 to 14. Bethany will be 12 on 14th March: William 25? on 3rd February and Gemma 28 on 23rd March Slow down clockkkkkkkkkkk.
Thursday, January 20, 2005
20 years Together...Aaaah!
Congratulations you two Cathy and John.
You need an official day, so let this be it or when?
love Steve
ps what about planning a Silver bash?
You need an official day, so let this be it or when?
love Steve
ps what about planning a Silver bash?
Many Happy Returns Ruth 4 Tomorrow:)
Many Happy Returns Ruth?
Take it easy gorgeous, you don't want to get too plastered before I get there!
(an expert...not)
/Users/stevemerrowsmith/Pictures/iPhoto Library/2004/10/18/CNV00008.JPG
Originally uploaded by ezappy.
Take it easy gorgeous, you don't want to get too plastered before I get there!
(an expert...not)
/Users/stevemerrowsmith/Pictures/iPhoto Library/2004/10/18/CNV00008.JPG
Originally uploaded by ezappy.
School holidays
I was just sitting here perusing Edmund's school contact book looking for lost homework assignments,'have you any home work for tomorrow','duno'. When I can across the holidays page, so here they are for those that are interested, also as an 'aid moi'better than searching our house for bits of paper. Spring half term 12.2.05 to 20.2.05 Easter hols thurs 24.3.05 to sun 8.4.05 May day 2.5.05(Edmund's 14th Birthday) Whitsun half term 28.5.05 to sun 4.6.05 Edmund has a history trip to the battle fields of France,13.6.05 to 16.6.05 followed by an inset(mum-BAKER)day on 17.6.05. break-up for summer 22.7.05 until? lots of love Cathy P.S. Nic and Jen happy belated 7th have a wonderful year. A week ago today John and I celebrated being together twenty years, although I was sick in bed with some bug, and John was still nursing his abscess, anyway it doesn't realy count!love you all Cathy
Note:
after saving the draft (v good Sis), go back and publish....
Note:
after saving the draft (v good Sis), go back and publish....
Cleaning!
Hi Jen and Nic, Claire and Dan - good to hear you're all so well.
Jen, it's not the cooking you have to worry about while Mary's away but the washing up, cleaning the baths and basins, the toilets, the walls and windows, etc... Hope you can get by! There are courses on this kind of thing but alternatively, get Nic to do that bit while you take the kids out for a McHappy Meal!!
When we came back to Europe after eight years in Africa the concept of doing it all ourselves was not one we relished, although Seno (our maid in Botswana) never did more than slice vegetables on the cooking side. Cooking is not the forte of the vast majority of Batswana, (though they do a good side line in dried mophane worms and termites); but when it comes to cleaning floors she was tops. We would still love her to be with us, not just because she did all the elbow work for a hundred quid a month, but because Seno was more a treasure than an employee - a real diamond of Africa. She was both a friend for us and an auntie for the girls. She could make us laugh one minute and cry the next. She always tilted our pictures to show she had dusted the frames as all the maids in Orapa seem to do if they have been in service for as long as Seno had been! Ah! Such cherished memories evoke feelings of tenderness that tears cannot wash away! Sob, sob.
Still, life goes on and its looking pretty good here too. Blue skies, beautiful mountains...it must have been 23 or 24 today and the job is proving to have plenty of challenges to keep it interesting. I have considered taking up plumbing or plastering on more than one occassion this week!
Nice picture of Nic. Are those pyjamas, ol' boy? I reckon they got you out of bed!
Jen, it's not the cooking you have to worry about while Mary's away but the washing up, cleaning the baths and basins, the toilets, the walls and windows, etc... Hope you can get by! There are courses on this kind of thing but alternatively, get Nic to do that bit while you take the kids out for a McHappy Meal!!
When we came back to Europe after eight years in Africa the concept of doing it all ourselves was not one we relished, although Seno (our maid in Botswana) never did more than slice vegetables on the cooking side. Cooking is not the forte of the vast majority of Batswana, (though they do a good side line in dried mophane worms and termites); but when it comes to cleaning floors she was tops. We would still love her to be with us, not just because she did all the elbow work for a hundred quid a month, but because Seno was more a treasure than an employee - a real diamond of Africa. She was both a friend for us and an auntie for the girls. She could make us laugh one minute and cry the next. She always tilted our pictures to show she had dusted the frames as all the maids in Orapa seem to do if they have been in service for as long as Seno had been! Ah! Such cherished memories evoke feelings of tenderness that tears cannot wash away! Sob, sob.
Still, life goes on and its looking pretty good here too. Blue skies, beautiful mountains...it must have been 23 or 24 today and the job is proving to have plenty of challenges to keep it interesting. I have considered taking up plumbing or plastering on more than one occassion this week!
Nice picture of Nic. Are those pyjamas, ol' boy? I reckon they got you out of bed!
Long weekend...
Hiya all, thank you all for your greetings. Nic and I had a really nice anniversary dinner at 'The Cliff' restuarant here in Singapore. Very nice food indeed, mainly seafood.....lobsters and foie gras :) Nic's design annual dinner went down very well, 250 guests in all with a 'girly' transverstite show thrown in as well!!!
We're entering a long weekend here (Hari Raya Haji tomorrow) and hope to get some R n' R in with the kids. Mary our help will be going home for two weeks beginning of February (which also coincides with Chinese New Year) so we're having to take leave to become housewives/husbands..whatever. I've practically 'forgotten' how to cook/iron/clean/etc....jjking! Anyway, I've attached a piccy of Claire, Dan and Nic.....on their new bicycles!
We're entering a long weekend here (Hari Raya Haji tomorrow) and hope to get some R n' R in with the kids. Mary our help will be going home for two weeks beginning of February (which also coincides with Chinese New Year) so we're having to take leave to become housewives/husbands..whatever. I've practically 'forgotten' how to cook/iron/clean/etc....jjking! Anyway, I've attached a piccy of Claire, Dan and Nic.....on their new bicycles!
Monday, January 17, 2005
Seven years..
Congrats to Nic and Jen.. it brings up lots of stuff, it means that it's nearly seven years since I moved here and therefore seven years since I gave up smoking, ( passing on that last carton of Marlborough lights, that I had smuggled into Singapore ILLEGALLY, to Auntie Tina, before I boarded the Eurostar for a new life as a red wine drinking layabout... hurrah best to concentrate on what your good at!).
Steve, your holidays (working holidays!) are guaranteed now you can plaster, tho' you will have to let go of straight lines and smooth surfaces! We also offer very inexpensive residential 'How to plaster/ render with lime putty' courses affiliated with the 'Musee des Ochres' in Rousillon. Here, of course, you actually pick the (red) sand up from the end of the track past the house where the supply is almost endless; it's that that gives our house it's colour, a couple of bags of Chaux (hydrated lime I think Pete!) and a hand full of stones and you could build your own house with planning permission.
Cathy just to say that all of us, I think, that have used computers have had that first time where something we have been 'crafting' for 3-4 hours is suddenly lost into the trash bin of the great computer in the sky, and we all think never again, but of course it happens again - but the first time is the worst. The only advice I think is to write it on something else, another program, before cutting and pasting it on to the Blogger window (if it comes up..doh!) then your words are still there if it all goes arse up. Safe havens are MS Word or indeed write it as an email first. Not neccessary of course for the usual terse replies I give like this, ( I am starting to panic). of course you guys would be welcome anytime although we have a couple and their 10 year old here at Easter, so room is limited. After that it is all free - perhaps early summer, that would be fab!
Anyone wanting a warm winter holiday is advised to contact Pete, they all arrived here for New Year in t-shirts, to nearly sub-zero temperatures, having driven 8 hours from balmy Valence where it had been 22 degrees, course you can't sledge in that kind of weather!
Hi Pete and Jan and Jess and beth and amy
You were in Singapore in 1999 when Claire was born!! Sentosa and that fabulous under the water somethingarium. I don'i know if you were there for Christmas. My memory says that you came home for Christmas. Look in your video of the girls on skates at no 37.
Happy anniversary Merrow-Smithii orientalis
Congratulations on 7 years you chaps. Can't remember how long ago it is that we came to see you and spent time in Sentosa, but that's how old my video camera is! Have yet to get to grips with the video editing box that I bought myself for Christmas to convert VHS to DVD. Time is pressing!
Am I to understand that Manon the mynx is expecting? Well, perhaps that's her way of saying happy birthday for the 21st Ruth. I'll say it now as I'll only forget. Will try to get the one and only 'Big Tree pocket edition' off to you by the weekend. Email the posting address, would you please. (Don't put it on the blog as Michael White might be surfing the internet).
Oh, wo is Cath. Hang in there my darling. We may not be in your neck of the woods very often but you are always in my thoughts. Why, only the other night I thought of you for three hours and then...oopps, I lost it - completely forgot what I was thinking of - my memory is like a sieve.
Love to all.
Am I to understand that Manon the mynx is expecting? Well, perhaps that's her way of saying happy birthday for the 21st Ruth. I'll say it now as I'll only forget. Will try to get the one and only 'Big Tree pocket edition' off to you by the weekend. Email the posting address, would you please. (Don't put it on the blog as Michael White might be surfing the internet).
Oh, wo is Cath. Hang in there my darling. We may not be in your neck of the woods very often but you are always in my thoughts. Why, only the other night I thought of you for three hours and then...oopps, I lost it - completely forgot what I was thinking of - my memory is like a sieve.
Love to all.
Lovely to hear from you Nic
Looks as if our congratu;ations have crossed. So glad you had a lovelt mea; in Sentosa. Congratulations and lots of love from Mum and Dad, with special hugs for Claire and Daniel
Is it me... nope!
Dear Cathy.. I think there may be a problem with your yahoo account as
I keep getting returned mail from nythva.
Get yourself another account and try from there.
Need a week off after getting plastered properly... after the
plastering!!!
Keep bloggin'
I keep getting returned mail from nythva.
Get yourself another account and try from there.
Need a week off after getting plastered properly... after the
plastering!!!
Keep bloggin'
Singapore update
Hi folks, sometime since I last blogged. A happy new year to you all. Jen mentioned this awards dinner I have organised, thankfully that is now over, due to retire soon from honuorary duties and bring up my children instead. Today is our wedding anniversary and we have been to the Beaufort on Sentosa Island for a nice meal. Very picturesque with a sea food menu.
We now have a 256mb flash drive so will try to find a way to put up movie clips here. Any tips?
Nic
We now have a 256mb flash drive so will try to find a way to put up movie clips here. Any tips?
Nic
Teary blogs
Darling Cathy, The mysteries of blogging are many and varied. Julian once gave me a tip which was to put a ? at the end of a website as per---http:// www.merrow-smith.org?/ if you get stuck. Another is by going to http://www.blogger.com/home which should bring up the posting page, where you click on CREATE and start you blog. Another is to do a little bit then click on save as draft, which should be building up a blog for transferring to PUBLISH POST. I am not very good at this thing and if I am wrong, all I can say is that "it works for me". Will you boys please correct me if I am wrong. I would hate to be giving duff gen. Be brave Cath.- three hours is a lot of waste time in a busy house. Ring or email ezappy or julian - don't get upset. I know what it is to lose a pageful of type. Save every few lines - it won't break anything.
You are not forgotten - as soon as we have a spare window, we will come down. Could be June or July. I am sure you would love Provence - I am as sure as we will like Spain. emails are also a good way to contact us all, if blogging drives you to distraction. There is always the telephone!! We would love to read your destroyed blog if and when you feel like it. Your loving Dad - p.s I am in tears writing this. We must be alike.
You are not forgotten - as soon as we have a spare window, we will come down. Could be June or July. I am sure you would love Provence - I am as sure as we will like Spain. emails are also a good way to contact us all, if blogging drives you to distraction. There is always the telephone!! We would love to read your destroyed blog if and when you feel like it. Your loving Dad - p.s I am in tears writing this. We must be alike.
The Aviator
Well, we did get to see this film. We saw the 1pm showing on Sunday as we had been to church on Saturday evening. It was a fabulous film, atarting with his filming of "Hell's Angels" and thankfully ending some 2 hours plus later, and before he goes into his final decline in the darkened room - although we did see a bit of "darkened room" before he attended Alan Alda's committee hearing in Washington. We thought LdeC did a wonderful job as Hughes, We also admired Cate Blanchett as Katherine Hepburn (I am reading Kate Hepburn's life story entitled ME!) Another Kate (Beckinsale) did a fine interpretation of Ava Gardner - I must admit I didn't connect Jude Law with the Erroll Flyn character - I'll have to see it agaon. How he managed to crashland his own designed airplane (a twin boom fighter) and get up to walk away and how the producers managed to crash another plane on to Beverley Hills was amazing filming. The end of the film where we see his piloting of his 8 engined flying boat Hercules (popularly nicknamed the Spruce Goose) built for the transport of troops but too late for the WWll, and almost the last of the piston engined planes before the onset of jet travel, was wonderful. How did they do it?? A marvellous film..
Happy Anniversary to Nic and Jen
As I write this I imagine that you are both out in some posh hotel enjoying a wonderful meal and drinking to your 7th wedding anniversary. We remember being with you seven years ago and even neeting you on your Honeymoon in Bali. Two lovely children later and I am sure you are both as happy as you were on that day. With all our love Mum and Dad
Ikea and the flatpacks.
Now none of you will ever read 'my amusing week, with Ikea and the Flatpacks', sounds like a band. Still all I was trying to say was greetings all thanks for all the news. When is someone going to visit us? Bit wet and windy at the moment though! Ruth and Julian would we be able to visit you, I know we're abit of a handful and I would understand if you didn't feel able to say yes, but if there,s a yes, when would be good for you. We of course are restricted by school holidays, although I have less and less faith in their abilities to do my children any good.enough of that! I was very upbeat when I sat down at this computer at nine this morning.I,m impressed by the plastering Steve. Plasterers are in such short surply in this part of the world that all the builders we know end up doing it them selves, and we had to wait weeks for the rendering to be done, so look into another course on rendering. Love Cathy
Is it me?
or this stupid machine,or our stupid rural phone lines,or the big computer in the sky, the last time I tryed to blog when i went to post there was no post box on the page and I had to wait for two days for john to find me an alternative route, by which time my posting sounded rediculous because it was so out of sinc with everyone elses I'm only going to write in installments now and not take the chance again. so pissed off with nothing ever working out. sorry
WASTED
Yet another three hours down the tube,I sit here with tears streaming down my face as I have just lost three hours ten minutes of blog never to be seen love you all Cathy
Thomas! Oy!
Firstly, many congrats Nic and Jen- blimey...seven years no itch and still speaking?
A milestone for our non smoking artist too.. what's that all about? Keep down the vices is it to an even number?
So good to be able to keep in touch like this isn't it.
Cathy I need to know about Ikea and the Flatpacks.... As to your lickle problem this morning, make sure you keep your email account active. So Thomas please get your Mum to log in at least once a week into Yahoo.
Don't forget user is your house name and the password is your postcode.
By the way, have you got any spare Allen keys... tee hee!
I can just imagine those heavy boxes dangling out of the back of the Peugeot all the way back from Cardiff, with kids arguing about who gets to sit on them.
Thought I was going to be working this week but now not until the weekend so have taken up an offer of a few days rest in Cornwall. Unfortunately, I'm now obsessed with walls and heard myself say, after surveying the loo in a pub "That'd be three buckets!" obviously to consternated faces adding "..of 'Finish' to sort out the walls in there!"
noh!
or Doh!
Am hoping to organise a trip to Wales soon so get them wardrobes or whatever finished. Rendering no prob.
No job too small as they say.. £150 a day! plus travelling expenses!
A milestone for our non smoking artist too.. what's that all about? Keep down the vices is it to an even number?
So good to be able to keep in touch like this isn't it.
Cathy I need to know about Ikea and the Flatpacks.... As to your lickle problem this morning, make sure you keep your email account active. So Thomas please get your Mum to log in at least once a week into Yahoo.
Don't forget user is your house name and the password is your postcode.
By the way, have you got any spare Allen keys... tee hee!
I can just imagine those heavy boxes dangling out of the back of the Peugeot all the way back from Cardiff, with kids arguing about who gets to sit on them.
Thought I was going to be working this week but now not until the weekend so have taken up an offer of a few days rest in Cornwall. Unfortunately, I'm now obsessed with walls and heard myself say, after surveying the loo in a pub "That'd be three buckets!" obviously to consternated faces adding "..of 'Finish' to sort out the walls in there!"
noh!
or Doh!
Am hoping to organise a trip to Wales soon so get them wardrobes or whatever finished. Rendering no prob.
No job too small as they say.. £150 a day! plus travelling expenses!
Sunday, January 16, 2005
dartmoor and dartmouth
oooh lovely, days in devon! the carved angel has a superb reputation and i have longed to go there. we had our last but one wedding anniversary in the dartmoor inn, also fantastic. a gastro-pub with local and mostly organically produced food, a big fire and a very cosy atmosphere.
julian says something about yes he does remember, and patrick saying his rabbit was like a baby's bottom...
meanwhile our baby's are well. oscar has chewed a cinnamon stick which he must have nicked from the cous cous and is stoned out of his little brain, rifling around in my knicker drawer, and manon caught two voles and a feather, all of which she played with in a very lunatic fashion. we are considering having her babies, especially when we see her handsome boyfriend robert. any requests from spain?
julian says something about yes he does remember, and patrick saying his rabbit was like a baby's bottom...
meanwhile our baby's are well. oscar has chewed a cinnamon stick which he must have nicked from the cous cous and is stoned out of his little brain, rifling around in my knicker drawer, and manon caught two voles and a feather, all of which she played with in a very lunatic fashion. we are considering having her babies, especially when we see her handsome boyfriend robert. any requests from spain?
Saturday, January 15, 2005
What a lovely wall
Congratulaions, Steve, on becoming an official plasterer - looks real good. Now you have learned a trade, Jim!!
Pity I don't know any Spanish lawyers, --- but I know someone who probably does.
Did you see that programme about John Burton Race. He can't stop still can he? Remember L'Ortolan, Julian?? - down near Sonning, I think. After his year in SW France he is back and is now opening a restaurant down in Devon - looks like Dartmouth or thereabouts. The Carved Angel. As we are having a few days down in Devon for Mum's birthday, I may try and look him up. I don't think Dartmouth is very far from Torquay where we are booked in. Looking in my memory box, I see that someone is having a birthday next Friday. One month to the day after Pete's. We hope you will be at home Ruth and enjoying a rest. Has anyone tried to log on to photobox.com yet. Think I'll have a go to see what it does.
Joke for Beth - man was walking down the street with two penguins when a policeman stopped him and said "I thought I told you yesterday to take those flipping birds to the Zoo" - man says "Well I did and they so enjoyed themselves, that I am taking them to the cinema today." I don't wish to know that - please leave the stage.
Pity I don't know any Spanish lawyers, --- but I know someone who probably does.
Did you see that programme about John Burton Race. He can't stop still can he? Remember L'Ortolan, Julian?? - down near Sonning, I think. After his year in SW France he is back and is now opening a restaurant down in Devon - looks like Dartmouth or thereabouts. The Carved Angel. As we are having a few days down in Devon for Mum's birthday, I may try and look him up. I don't think Dartmouth is very far from Torquay where we are booked in. Looking in my memory box, I see that someone is having a birthday next Friday. One month to the day after Pete's. We hope you will be at home Ruth and enjoying a rest. Has anyone tried to log on to photobox.com yet. Think I'll have a go to see what it does.
Joke for Beth - man was walking down the street with two penguins when a policeman stopped him and said "I thought I told you yesterday to take those flipping birds to the Zoo" - man says "Well I did and they so enjoyed themselves, that I am taking them to the cinema today." I don't wish to know that - please leave the stage.
Friday, January 14, 2005
Fiiiiinished!
IMG_0037.JPG
All done and dusted.. a 12 foot wall.. ezappy look!
Got me stifcat too!
As for buying property in Spain, you need a Spanish lawyer, as it could be that your new Spanish neighbours have an option in law on their adjoining neighbours land and if that is you you may be forced to sell at half what you paid. Channel 4's A place in the sun (nightmare edition).
What lovely blogs
Loved the pome, Pete. You should be a plasterer!! Loved the plastering, Steve, you should be a poet!! Lovely to see the 3 cousins. We are also very glad that Fay has come through her neck problems. Dare I say that Ruby is very much John's daughter? You are all doing very well. Julian does a bit of mean plastering, too. Pete, UK television is full of people wanting to buy houses abroad. The current one on Channel 4 is of a couple who want to buy a house in the Costa del Sol. (at 40 degrees, it is a bit hot for me) I am waiting for someone who wants to buy a property on the Blanca coast, I was interested in the houses you showed on your local area. When Steve and Julian have a spare week, they could help you with the plastering of a suitable property. It shouldn't be too difficult to muster up enough moolu for an old wreck. No offfence to anyone!
Ruth, Margaret thinks the black hat in the Audi is yours. Shall we send it on to you?? You also left a useful road map. I'll hang on to them until you shout. How is the dinner planning getting on Nic, or is it all over? The weather here is still lovely, though with a low sun and clear skies, it is a bit nippy. What is the weather like in your part of Wales, Cath. They seem to have had some nasty weather up in the north. Mum says Hello darlings to you all. Like me, she is looking forward to some sun in a few weeks time. Talking of finding things, we have found one of Kate's false nails. Shall we put it in the post or has she lost all the rest yet? Love to you all - Mum says she misses you all.
Ruth, Margaret thinks the black hat in the Audi is yours. Shall we send it on to you?? You also left a useful road map. I'll hang on to them until you shout. How is the dinner planning getting on Nic, or is it all over? The weather here is still lovely, though with a low sun and clear skies, it is a bit nippy. What is the weather like in your part of Wales, Cath. They seem to have had some nasty weather up in the north. Mum says Hello darlings to you all. Like me, she is looking forward to some sun in a few weeks time. Talking of finding things, we have found one of Kate's false nails. Shall we put it in the post or has she lost all the rest yet? Love to you all - Mum says she misses you all.
good mornin' good mornin'
Great bloggy morning! Cheered me up and made up for a grumpy Jume this morning.
Masterpiece of poetry Pete, and, oh Steve, a plasterer, especially in the form of delectable you, is ALWAYS welcome here!!!! It sounds like you might be a bit busy tho’.
Nice pics of new babe (and old ones too).
It’s a clear frosty morn here and Manon is out on the razz until the vet comes back from his strange wilderness trip in Feb. Oscar fully recovered and we are waiting for him to get fat. The chocolate cake is still on the table so it will be hormonal rather than gourmet (that’s us) blubber.
Sorry about the death of the poor Audi. I imagine a Glyndebourne tour finished it off about as much as it finished me off…should I be feeling guilty? On the other hand, what a way to go, in a flurry of Mozart and Puccini down the M6?????
Masterpiece of poetry Pete, and, oh Steve, a plasterer, especially in the form of delectable you, is ALWAYS welcome here!!!! It sounds like you might be a bit busy tho’.
Nice pics of new babe (and old ones too).
It’s a clear frosty morn here and Manon is out on the razz until the vet comes back from his strange wilderness trip in Feb. Oscar fully recovered and we are waiting for him to get fat. The chocolate cake is still on the table so it will be hormonal rather than gourmet (that’s us) blubber.
Sorry about the death of the poor Audi. I imagine a Glyndebourne tour finished it off about as much as it finished me off…should I be feeling guilty? On the other hand, what a way to go, in a flurry of Mozart and Puccini down the M6?????
Belated Happy New Year
Having left it so long to blog it is hard to know where to start! but I have been watching all the news and pictures. Lovely pictures of you all in the snow, it looks heveanly, it made some of us quite jealous, despite having stayed in the most beautiful place with the most beautiful weather for Christmas. Sorry to hear of the demise of the Audi, do you remember me teling you of the time a man came bounding up to me in the forecourt of the one-stop-shop, saying how much he admired the Audi every time he passed the house, and that there were only... made , so I had to confess that it was'nt mine and no credit was due to me but to my mun. Thomas has just come to read this. Oh, says he, I always liked tat car, I don't know why, I supose it's because it smelt like Grandma. I have to go to bedtime calls. Love to you all. Cathy.
ezere!
Hello everybod peeps!
Today I have been mostly
Getting Plastered!
I've literally been plastering all day and all week so you can imagine there's not much energy left for bloggin'!
Yeah but no but, I've enrolled on a five day crash course in bonding, scrimming, trueing up and finishing a 3 metre square booth all to myself, which is your normal third bedroom or kitchen or whatever. Fortunately the East Sussex Plastering Academy(sic) is 40 minutes from Fay and Pete Hayes's place so I've got myself booked in there too at the Hotel Splendide, and have been getting my dinner cooked for me as well as being availed of first class ablutions for getting rid of the daily "Mr Pastry" hairstyle!
Rather cheekily, I took the opportunity while Fay was out shopping to completely gut the house, replaster it all and put everything back before she came in and she's not noticed anything amiss! I take that as a compliment to my new skills!
By the way you'll all be relieved that a month after her op, Fay's back to normal almost, chasing round and getting everybody organised. This week's challenge was to start driving again and she seems very happy back behind the wheel so that she offered to drive me to school and more importantly pick me up on the day I was due to do ceilings (as I was dreading the damage it would do to me reaching up all day) as well as facing the drive back.
The previous day's efforts almost put me in traction, which was sand and cement screeding an entire wall "hopping up" onto a milk-crate to do the top of the wall with a hawk full of muck!
Always handy to know a medic.. what what?
So who else is doing it? Well I'm the only student there with an HGV/Fine Art degree, as the other lads are mostly diy'ers and renovaters who can't find a decent plasterer.
Of course I'm really doing it because of the project I'm running with Gem and Will's Auntie Val, which is to do up a 3 bed terraced property in Woodford Essex. Val thinks I'm a bit handy but I really dreaded the idea of plastering an entire room which I thought warranted getting a bit of inside knowledge rather than learning on the job etc.
(And the 'Sold'sign went up today on 5 Mill Lane Woodford Essex hurrah!)
So Julian, got any walls mate?
I'm told plastering in France and Germany is done by hosing it on by machine and a team of lads flatten it down and do a house in a day.. imagine! I'll let you know when the package arrives mate cheers.
When selecting a skill to tackle I thought of the one which has the most knack for the least outlay, which has got to be your plaster at £3 a bag and a tenner's worth of tools.. and a couple of buckets. hey hey!
I could have saved a few quid by going to Charlie Carolli's plastering school but I think he's bit too sophisticated for me. love to all S
Today I have been mostly
Getting Plastered!
I've literally been plastering all day and all week so you can imagine there's not much energy left for bloggin'!
Yeah but no but, I've enrolled on a five day crash course in bonding, scrimming, trueing up and finishing a 3 metre square booth all to myself, which is your normal third bedroom or kitchen or whatever. Fortunately the East Sussex Plastering Academy(sic) is 40 minutes from Fay and Pete Hayes's place so I've got myself booked in there too at the Hotel Splendide, and have been getting my dinner cooked for me as well as being availed of first class ablutions for getting rid of the daily "Mr Pastry" hairstyle!
Rather cheekily, I took the opportunity while Fay was out shopping to completely gut the house, replaster it all and put everything back before she came in and she's not noticed anything amiss! I take that as a compliment to my new skills!
By the way you'll all be relieved that a month after her op, Fay's back to normal almost, chasing round and getting everybody organised. This week's challenge was to start driving again and she seems very happy back behind the wheel so that she offered to drive me to school and more importantly pick me up on the day I was due to do ceilings (as I was dreading the damage it would do to me reaching up all day) as well as facing the drive back.
The previous day's efforts almost put me in traction, which was sand and cement screeding an entire wall "hopping up" onto a milk-crate to do the top of the wall with a hawk full of muck!
Always handy to know a medic.. what what?
So who else is doing it? Well I'm the only student there with an HGV/Fine Art degree, as the other lads are mostly diy'ers and renovaters who can't find a decent plasterer.
Of course I'm really doing it because of the project I'm running with Gem and Will's Auntie Val, which is to do up a 3 bed terraced property in Woodford Essex. Val thinks I'm a bit handy but I really dreaded the idea of plastering an entire room which I thought warranted getting a bit of inside knowledge rather than learning on the job etc.
(And the 'Sold'sign went up today on 5 Mill Lane Woodford Essex hurrah!)
So Julian, got any walls mate?
I'm told plastering in France and Germany is done by hosing it on by machine and a team of lads flatten it down and do a house in a day.. imagine! I'll let you know when the package arrives mate cheers.
When selecting a skill to tackle I thought of the one which has the most knack for the least outlay, which has got to be your plaster at £3 a bag and a tenner's worth of tools.. and a couple of buckets. hey hey!
I could have saved a few quid by going to Charlie Carolli's plastering school but I think he's bit too sophisticated for me. love to all S
all plastered by me!
here's my booth all ready for painting!
9 out of 10 for my finishing!
2nd best ceiling too
9 out of 10 for my finishing!
2nd best ceiling too
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Cats and cods
What does one call castrated cats?
Catstrato Toms or moggies perhaps?
How is the wee lad's singing voice,
Now he's no longer one of the boys?
As to Manon, what is her state?
And if not snipped, what is her fate?
Are all her Frenchy fury friends
Still sniffing at her fury end?
Does chastity remain intact,
despite the affectionate tomcat?
'Chaste as a cat' the bard might say;
Chased morelike, for one so fey.
Well, enough of such poetry.
Let's now consider other things,
beside the fate of toms and queens,
and what now hunts alone between
the cabbages and sings. Ha, ha.
(With apologies to everybody, including Lewis Carol, but bear in mind it took only a few minutes and it could have been a lot less pretty!)
Julian, does Jan need her own email to log in and post to the blog? We share my account but she'd like to be able to log in all by herself. Perhaps you could send another invite to her via my address?
Love to all
Catstrato Toms or moggies perhaps?
How is the wee lad's singing voice,
Now he's no longer one of the boys?
As to Manon, what is her state?
And if not snipped, what is her fate?
Are all her Frenchy fury friends
Still sniffing at her fury end?
Does chastity remain intact,
despite the affectionate tomcat?
'Chaste as a cat' the bard might say;
Chased morelike, for one so fey.
Well, enough of such poetry.
Let's now consider other things,
beside the fate of toms and queens,
and what now hunts alone between
the cabbages and sings. Ha, ha.
(With apologies to everybody, including Lewis Carol, but bear in mind it took only a few minutes and it could have been a lot less pretty!)
Julian, does Jan need her own email to log in and post to the blog? We share my account but she'd like to be able to log in all by herself. Perhaps you could send another invite to her via my address?
Love to all
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
The one and only Formula Uno
Sorry to hear the Audi is no more. What a loss. Crushing. Never mind, when you come over to us, all is not lost.
We have a Fiat Uno that can compete with the worst in the world. The MOT ran out months ago, the shocks which nearly caused it to fail last time still need doing, it squeaks on turning right, the lacquer has peeled off the bonnet, a number of interior lights don't work but forget all that! What an engine! How can you scrap a 1700cc diesel when it just keeps going? It hasn't been to the doctors since February last year. Mind you, it tends to squeal like a banshee and shed fan belts from time to time, but what's a few fan belts between friends? I would be more than proud to show anyone the ownership papers. I'd be delighted in fact because, having sent the transfer documents to the DVLA in June last year I have yet to receive my ownership papers back! - but hey! Who cares? It's got foreign plates so the local Guardia Civil are not interested in it.
Of course you don't need to drive in this if you don't want folks. You can always sit up behind me as I zip across town on the scooter!
(Truth be told we will probably have a different car by the time you get here).
Looking forward to your visit!
We have a Fiat Uno that can compete with the worst in the world. The MOT ran out months ago, the shocks which nearly caused it to fail last time still need doing, it squeaks on turning right, the lacquer has peeled off the bonnet, a number of interior lights don't work but forget all that! What an engine! How can you scrap a 1700cc diesel when it just keeps going? It hasn't been to the doctors since February last year. Mind you, it tends to squeal like a banshee and shed fan belts from time to time, but what's a few fan belts between friends? I would be more than proud to show anyone the ownership papers. I'd be delighted in fact because, having sent the transfer documents to the DVLA in June last year I have yet to receive my ownership papers back! - but hey! Who cares? It's got foreign plates so the local Guardia Civil are not interested in it.
Of course you don't need to drive in this if you don't want folks. You can always sit up behind me as I zip across town on the scooter!
(Truth be told we will probably have a different car by the time you get here).
Looking forward to your visit!
Et tu brute
We are sorry for Oscar, but it was inevitable. As inevitable as us having to sell the Audi this morning. It went for the give away price of £15 per ton at the local scrap dealer. We got about the same for the Audi as Nicholas got for de-flowering Oscar £15.40. We thought someone may want a class old car and put it outside with a label on it for £400. We had an immediate bite from someone who would offer us £270, but after driving it around and seeing that the MOT runs out in a couple of weeks, and inspecting the tyres, he said he would be back next day but we heard no more from him. Bite the bullet - take it to the dump. At least we did not have to pay someone to cart it away. We had a good run.
Notice in a laundromat.AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES; PLEASE REMOVE ALL CLOTHING WHEN THE RED LIGHT GOES OUT.
Notice in a laundromat.AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES; PLEASE REMOVE ALL CLOTHING WHEN THE RED LIGHT GOES OUT.
oscars castration
For those of you who adore him, in particlar Bethany his soul mate, you might want to know that Oscar has had his proud sacs of manhood removed by the infamous monosyllabic vet and is now an inanimate and incontinent sausage on our laps.
My first encounter with Nicolas was by phone when I tried to book an appointment at six months for them to be neutered. His answer was “Sept mois”. When I presented, as a way of practicing my French, the case of a friend’s kitten who got pregnant at four months by her brother, he simply put the phone down on me. I have since heard that he is the best vet in the area, and that he cures all the wild horses on the Ventoux, but that he rarely speaks.
On arrival this morning there was a gaggle of pet owners at the door; plump peasant ladies with their beloved Mi-mis and Dou-dous , a downy beautician and two cow piss yellow hunters. The conversation amongst us was aglow with respect for the man inside, and ranged from vaccinations against cat aids to contempt for the local Leclerc supermarket’s new car park design. When it came to be Oscar’s turn I entered the shrine and was overwhelmed with the smell of lavender, clove and citronella oils which are his main medicines. The vet himself seemed to be an animal in a man’s skin – quite a hunk if you like a bit o’ rough. He was gruff towards me, but swift and almost tender towards Oscar as he put him to sleep and snipped out his little sperm making factories. He said two words to me: “Castrer” and “Vingt Quatre euros”.
Nicolas is just about to leave for his annual holiday, which, I imagine will see him in the wild corners of the mountains living off thyme and snow and growing a long icicle encrusted beard….
meanwhile at les Cougieux Julian is web-designing, I am Oscar nursing and we are preparing to prepare to have our neighbours to dinner.
Pete I have found book and will pop in post. love to all
My first encounter with Nicolas was by phone when I tried to book an appointment at six months for them to be neutered. His answer was “Sept mois”. When I presented, as a way of practicing my French, the case of a friend’s kitten who got pregnant at four months by her brother, he simply put the phone down on me. I have since heard that he is the best vet in the area, and that he cures all the wild horses on the Ventoux, but that he rarely speaks.
On arrival this morning there was a gaggle of pet owners at the door; plump peasant ladies with their beloved Mi-mis and Dou-dous , a downy beautician and two cow piss yellow hunters. The conversation amongst us was aglow with respect for the man inside, and ranged from vaccinations against cat aids to contempt for the local Leclerc supermarket’s new car park design. When it came to be Oscar’s turn I entered the shrine and was overwhelmed with the smell of lavender, clove and citronella oils which are his main medicines. The vet himself seemed to be an animal in a man’s skin – quite a hunk if you like a bit o’ rough. He was gruff towards me, but swift and almost tender towards Oscar as he put him to sleep and snipped out his little sperm making factories. He said two words to me: “Castrer” and “Vingt Quatre euros”.
Nicolas is just about to leave for his annual holiday, which, I imagine will see him in the wild corners of the mountains living off thyme and snow and growing a long icicle encrusted beard….
meanwhile at les Cougieux Julian is web-designing, I am Oscar nursing and we are preparing to prepare to have our neighbours to dinner.
Pete I have found book and will pop in post. love to all
10, 9, 8, 7, 6 and 5 is eleven
Cost of meal £30 total discount £5, therefore cost of meal is £25 - add 3 X £1 returned and £2 for the waiter. Very clever
Seen in a London store - gents toilet out of order please use floor below Boom Boom
Seen in a London store - gents toilet out of order please use floor below Boom Boom
Cleverly phrased....
Hiya all...and Peter...this is right up my street....I love puzzles :) The problem is that the question is always cleverly phrased to conceal what is really going on. The flaw is in the phrase "the waiter only stole 2 pounds." This should not be added, it should be subtracted, since the 2 pds the waiter got is part of the 27 pds the three guys spent altogether. If you subtract the 2 from the 27 you get the 25 that goes into the restaurant till.
Anyway, how is everyone? We're quite busy at the moment, Nic's pretty snowed under with work datelines and his design society annual dinner which he seems to be organising all by himself. I shall not say more as 'delegation' should be the key word here *grin*. I've been finishing some grant reports, datelines always seem to be in January. For the last week, me and my old school friends have been put on a roster (3 hrs/day each) to sit with another close school friend who's in hospital. She was diagnosed 2 years ago with stage 4 stomach Ca and now the Ca has spread to the brain. As a result, she has seizures etc and fluid also has to be drained from the brain. We've been helping her husband out by sitting with her 24 hours a day, keeping watch whilst he manages their kids (4 cute kids aged 7-11) and continues to work. The amazing thing is although she is in pain, she has the most amazing smile. spirit and absolute trust and faith in God. Well, anyway, so I guess we've been pretty busy.
The kids are well, Claire's started kindergarten 2....tis big school next year. I guess we'll be putting Daniel into Nursery 1 in a couple of months time. He seems quite eager to get out of the house every morning :) My sister Alexia is due in April so it's getting chaotic here, Mary's sister will be working for them.
Well, that's all for the moment....I apologise for this rushed mail. Hugs to all.
Jen
Anyway, how is everyone? We're quite busy at the moment, Nic's pretty snowed under with work datelines and his design society annual dinner which he seems to be organising all by himself. I shall not say more as 'delegation' should be the key word here *grin*. I've been finishing some grant reports, datelines always seem to be in January. For the last week, me and my old school friends have been put on a roster (3 hrs/day each) to sit with another close school friend who's in hospital. She was diagnosed 2 years ago with stage 4 stomach Ca and now the Ca has spread to the brain. As a result, she has seizures etc and fluid also has to be drained from the brain. We've been helping her husband out by sitting with her 24 hours a day, keeping watch whilst he manages their kids (4 cute kids aged 7-11) and continues to work. The amazing thing is although she is in pain, she has the most amazing smile. spirit and absolute trust and faith in God. Well, anyway, so I guess we've been pretty busy.
The kids are well, Claire's started kindergarten 2....tis big school next year. I guess we'll be putting Daniel into Nursery 1 in a couple of months time. He seems quite eager to get out of the house every morning :) My sister Alexia is due in April so it's getting chaotic here, Mary's sister will be working for them.
Well, that's all for the moment....I apologise for this rushed mail. Hugs to all.
Jen
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Con artists take note..
Three men go into a restaurant and order a meal. The bill turns out to be £30 so they each pay a tenner. The waiter takes the money to the till whereupon the manager decides to give his customers a £5 discount. The waiter takes five £1 coins from the till, gives one to each of the men with the manager's compliments and pockets the other two £1 coins himself.
If the men each paid £10 and got £1 back then the meal cost them £9 each. Since three nines makes £27 and the waiter only stole £2, where has the other pound gone?
Answer on a postcard please.....
If the men each paid £10 and got £1 back then the meal cost them £9 each. Since three nines makes £27 and the waiter only stole £2, where has the other pound gone?
Answer on a postcard please.....
Bloggs
This Duane Keiser is some busy man, n'est il pas. I clicked on to his website and saw some of his recent paintings. One a day on a postcard size sounds good for you Steve. How are you, by the way, we haven't heard much of you recently.
Lovely to welcome you Spaniards. Hope to see you all soon.
Well done Ruth what a busy lady! I haven't quite got into flikr yet, Julian or to Steve's cheap telephone line, but then we do not use the phone so much, now that we can blog the world. Sounds windy outside, but thankfully nothing like they have in Cumbria. Pete, there is an English chap on the Costa de Sol who is making a fortune cleaning private swimming pools. He is now into building them - Next year a millionnaire. Shufty.
Lovely to welcome you Spaniards. Hope to see you all soon.
Well done Ruth what a busy lady! I haven't quite got into flikr yet, Julian or to Steve's cheap telephone line, but then we do not use the phone so much, now that we can blog the world. Sounds windy outside, but thankfully nothing like they have in Cumbria. Pete, there is an English chap on the Costa de Sol who is making a fortune cleaning private swimming pools. He is now into building them - Next year a millionnaire. Shufty.
Monday, January 10, 2005
Aaahhh!
Doesn't he look so cute?
Well, about a month ago, I entered into a poem competition. Quite a few from the school entered, including Beth. There were meant to be about 10 first places and about 5 second places I think and the prize was alot of money. Today, everyone who entered into the competition got a big brown envelope. Neither of us won but we both got a certificate award telling us that our poems are good enough to be published and if we send them back again, they will get published in a poem book that we can order!! I consider that next down from winning a prize!
Well, gotta go wipe down the dinner table, dry the dishes and then study a bit for our exams in a couple of weeks. Bye for now..xx
Well, about a month ago, I entered into a poem competition. Quite a few from the school entered, including Beth. There were meant to be about 10 first places and about 5 second places I think and the prize was alot of money. Today, everyone who entered into the competition got a big brown envelope. Neither of us won but we both got a certificate award telling us that our poems are good enough to be published and if we send them back again, they will get published in a poem book that we can order!! I consider that next down from winning a prize!
Well, gotta go wipe down the dinner table, dry the dishes and then study a bit for our exams in a couple of weeks. Bye for now..xx
Might as well...
show you what I have been doing over the autumn. This is one of several new paintings which are hanging on the wall of our home while I decide where to go next - a luxury I didn't have before.
The flickr uploading thing is now set up so that I can put the paintings straight up on to the blog and eventually to my new blog which will be a studio diary on my stillives.com site, this way updating will be a snitch. Click on the painting and it automatically creates a pop up window of the right size for the original image which is stored on flickr. I am right chuffed.
Hello all, lots of love j
the young oscar
Here is the little darling at 9 weeks - for all those who know him, coogie coogie coo. Having lots of fun with the flickr thing which is where I am posting from. Here I can see all Steve and Ruths photos. Pete it would be great to put all yours up as well when you get a mo' I am testing some flashy effects with pop-up windows - all in a good cause, go on click on him.
Sunday, January 09, 2005
tsunami
we dedicated our perfomances in valence to the victims of the disaster and there was a collection at each instigated by the musicians and the theatre. meanwhile there was a funeral here in mazan for one of the victims and, even closer to home, my friends sarah and nicolas were in a hotel in sri lanka when it happened. i thought you would be interested to hear her words:
The tsunami hit the hotel where we were staying at Bentota beach. The
ground floor of the hotel was completely wrecked and we could not stay there
so were transfered to another hotel in Colombo. We were not in any danger as
we were on the first floor, although the third wave that came in had us a
bit worried. We decided, as we were not injured and still had all our
luggage, that we would stay as we had
only just arrived! We ended up going into the interior of the island and
although we got plenty of news on CNN we were away from the main impact of
the tragedy. The Sri Lankans are very friendly and kind people and never
made us feel that we should not be there. Of course we were respectful of
their situation and made sure that we did not intrude on their grief. It was
a very strange time. It did cross my mind to go and help but when you are
not qualified in any of the fields needed it seemed as if we would just be
getting in the way rather than helping. The tourist industry was very badly
hit by the tsunami as many many tourists just went straight home. We thought
that at least we would be helping a few people continue their livelihoods.
We are now back and begins the business of getting back to reality. The news
has apparently been wall-to-wall here so we may get more of an idea of what
is going on re the relief effort. I have already been asked to play in a
concert for the Relief Fund, I'm sure it will be the first of many. I
donated money while I was there so that it goes directly to the Sri Lankan
fund as we were extremely lucky, two people did die in our hotel, stuck in
their rooms on the ground floor.
We are home now, and beginning to get back to reality.
Actually we were not too shocked by the tsunami. I know that seems weird but
at the time we were not in any immediate danger and it was only afterwards
that we realised how devastating the whole thing had been and how many
people had actually died. We count ourselves extremely lucky indeed in
hindsight.
Am taking part in one concert for the relief fund already on Jan 28th at
Haileybury.
Saturday, January 08, 2005
Collecting
Spent three hours this morning outside Tesco, collecting for the tsunami victims, on behalf of the Red Cross. Wonderful people - many put £5. £10 and £20 notes into our buckets, and that was day 1 of a 2 day collection. We won't know how much was collected until Monday or Tuesday.
I don't know how the people of Carlisle will feel today when they see their town under water from the torrential rains and high winds of yesterday. 25 high sided lories blown over on the A1. Winds of 80 and 90 mph. Hope Steve is OK. Welcome to our Spanish ladies. I liked the paintings, Julian, but I do not have a spare $100.
I don't know how the people of Carlisle will feel today when they see their town under water from the torrential rains and high winds of yesterday. 25 high sided lories blown over on the A1. Winds of 80 and 90 mph. Hope Steve is OK. Welcome to our Spanish ladies. I liked the paintings, Julian, but I do not have a spare $100.
Just testing..
The new flickr account. Changes in the pipeline. I have started a (beta) version of the blog using MovableType, which will allow us to comment, and comment on comments, etc. it is unstyled yet - just the standard template and all the blogs up to yesterday are on it. You can have a look at:merrow-smith.org/blog/ to log-in go to log in for testing username is margaret and password is (her) maiden name. I have put most of you on it so steve/cathy/peter/patrick etc.(ie your name not your blogger username) will also work. I am just writing this drivel as I need quite a large block of text!
Got to get off and pick Ruth up from Valence (yes off to the opera again tonight). Steve this guy duane keiser does an art blog which is where I am at the moment (about 6 months into the planning!)love to all,j
ps. welcome Jess and Bethany!
Hi everyone!
Can I join the club? I'm a member of this blog thingy now so I don't have to keep writing 'from jess' at the end of every blog I send. I am officially here.
(and I'm not going to write 'from jess'!)
xxx
(and I'm not going to write 'from jess'!)
xxx
Friday, January 07, 2005
crossing wires..
just using a well worked metaphor, but thanks for the imput! the 'build it and they will come' thang relates to (metaphorically) the Church not the building, faith in yourself, your ideas, the future, the world, love (not ["just"?] Christian faith) not bricks and mortar. I could (do) spend alot of time not painting 'cos the studio faces the wrong way (south) ie. you've just got to do it. Think I will stop now and do something - something that maybe requires less punctuation.
Bless - Oscar just gave me a look over the bannister - that was my house at school!?Doh!! -now he wants to sit on me laptop, say hello Oscar -Meeeow.
Bless - Oscar just gave me a look over the bannister - that was my house at school!?Doh!! -now he wants to sit on me laptop, say hello Oscar -Meeeow.
You don't need a building
Sorry if I am cross threading but the Christian Church is its members, not necessarily a tin hut or even a cathedral. "For where two or three are gathered together in My Name there I am in the midst of them" Ipso facto- a Church ?? Pete will know better what I am trying to say and where it comes from.
Lovely to hear that you are happy in Valence, Ruthie. It must make a great deal of difference to perfom with a conductor you are happy with. As for Julia Cameron - could this be Julia Margaret Cameron - one of the earliest photographic artists - part of the Tennyson group who lived on the IOW. If so, there is an artistic studio called Dimbola Lodge in Freshwater, founded by JMC after she and her husband returned from Dimbola in Sri Lanka. She was a very religious lady and one can buy her books at Dimbola. Probably not - just a thought!!
Turning to thoughts of food again, Margaret and I have been members of CountryClub UK for a couple of years and as such are members of their Dining Club with reciprocal membership at St. James's Club, although we have not used it much. Everything from Champagne Gala Dinners at The Ritz to Free bottles of wine at Teatro and Amici in Soho, Free Champagne at Dover Street Jazz Bar, 25% off at One-O-One in Knightsbridge, 15% off at Brian Turner Mayfair, £18 three course lunch at 2Audley Square Luncheon Club etc. There are also offers for free accommodation if you pay for breakfast and dinner, at many hotels in London and the Country.
We have booked a flight from Southampton to Alicante on 11th March (one way only) and we will book a return flight from Spain, when we run out of money or accommodation. I have also booked a five day stay in Torquay for Mum's birthday, from 11th - 14th May, returning home on 15th. The house would be available (empty) for those periods if anyone wants an IOW break. Phew! all that blogging has tired me out. Ryde Lions are collecting outside Tesco for the Tsunami earthquake relief tomorrow morning, so I will be up early, as I am Treasurer. Cho everyone. Love Dad (and Mum)
Lovely to hear that you are happy in Valence, Ruthie. It must make a great deal of difference to perfom with a conductor you are happy with. As for Julia Cameron - could this be Julia Margaret Cameron - one of the earliest photographic artists - part of the Tennyson group who lived on the IOW. If so, there is an artistic studio called Dimbola Lodge in Freshwater, founded by JMC after she and her husband returned from Dimbola in Sri Lanka. She was a very religious lady and one can buy her books at Dimbola. Probably not - just a thought!!
Turning to thoughts of food again, Margaret and I have been members of CountryClub UK for a couple of years and as such are members of their Dining Club with reciprocal membership at St. James's Club, although we have not used it much. Everything from Champagne Gala Dinners at The Ritz to Free bottles of wine at Teatro and Amici in Soho, Free Champagne at Dover Street Jazz Bar, 25% off at One-O-One in Knightsbridge, 15% off at Brian Turner Mayfair, £18 three course lunch at 2Audley Square Luncheon Club etc. There are also offers for free accommodation if you pay for breakfast and dinner, at many hotels in London and the Country.
We have booked a flight from Southampton to Alicante on 11th March (one way only) and we will book a return flight from Spain, when we run out of money or accommodation. I have also booked a five day stay in Torquay for Mum's birthday, from 11th - 14th May, returning home on 15th. The house would be available (empty) for those periods if anyone wants an IOW break. Phew! all that blogging has tired me out. Ryde Lions are collecting outside Tesco for the Tsunami earthquake relief tomorrow morning, so I will be up early, as I am Treasurer. Cho everyone. Love Dad (and Mum)
build it and they will come and mix metaphors
don't you mean the church is ONLY the building, Julian? (Hi Julian)great quote though. i also recommend 'the artist's way' by julia cameron which i tried to find for you pete in crillon but couldn't but will have another go on my return. it's very spiritually based and also a great key to liberating all that creative energy you have (one has) boiling beneath the respectable surface. i recommend it to anyone struggling on that score, or even not struggling.
anyway thinking lots about you guys and your visit, food for thought and for tummies too. the best kind.
hello anyway from ruth in valence where i daren't mention who i'm playing with for fear of being visible, but i wish you could all see it. the marionettes are made by world renowned emilie valentin who has also made marionettes in ICE for avignon festival and whose next will be in porcelain. the music is delicious and our lady conductor/ pianoforte player a big beating breathing heart who generates pots of love and joy and inspiration. it is a huge sigh of relief for me after the ozzie beachbum we had in glyndebourne this year, and small theatres with cosy bars are much more my thing really.
i have just been told i am not allowed to do mail or blogging in the mediatheque where i have been hangin out so i will have to close. anyway love to all.
anyway thinking lots about you guys and your visit, food for thought and for tummies too. the best kind.
hello anyway from ruth in valence where i daren't mention who i'm playing with for fear of being visible, but i wish you could all see it. the marionettes are made by world renowned emilie valentin who has also made marionettes in ICE for avignon festival and whose next will be in porcelain. the music is delicious and our lady conductor/ pianoforte player a big beating breathing heart who generates pots of love and joy and inspiration. it is a huge sigh of relief for me after the ozzie beachbum we had in glyndebourne this year, and small theatres with cosy bars are much more my thing really.
i have just been told i am not allowed to do mail or blogging in the mediatheque where i have been hangin out so i will have to close. anyway love to all.
Thursday, January 06, 2005
Diet commenced...
Yesterday I only had a red cabbage salad, baked potato, bowl of soup an orange and the usual bouteille de vin rouge, not all at the same time of course(well its a start) I love these lists, reminds me of Micheal White's 'what I did in the summer holidays' essay (he had jam sandwiches).
I have added a little search box on the right so you can find things in what is now turning out to be an enormous site. Which reminds me, I put 'Philomen et Baucis' into Google to see if I could find some information about the Musicians du Louvre production (currently in Valence - hi Ruth!!) and it brought up 6 pages from the entire web and the first was... yes you guessed it merrow-smith.org, so I suppose we must be careful what we say. (I can just see me getting sued by Micheal White).
Sounds like you are being well looked after Gemma, we also had a little Rioja imported by hand by Pete and Jan and the girls, and btw thanks for coming all the way up to see us you guys it was really lovely, we had a fun time. Pete I think you should see 'Field of Dreams' with ol' Kevin Costner its all about faith and second chances - 'build it and they will come' dont forget the church isn't the building (i know you know this). Jessica and Bethany send me your email addresses and I will send you your own log-in for the bloggy. lots of love to all j
I have added a little search box on the right so you can find things in what is now turning out to be an enormous site. Which reminds me, I put 'Philomen et Baucis' into Google to see if I could find some information about the Musicians du Louvre production (currently in Valence - hi Ruth!!) and it brought up 6 pages from the entire web and the first was... yes you guessed it merrow-smith.org, so I suppose we must be careful what we say. (I can just see me getting sued by Micheal White).
Sounds like you are being well looked after Gemma, we also had a little Rioja imported by hand by Pete and Jan and the girls, and btw thanks for coming all the way up to see us you guys it was really lovely, we had a fun time. Pete I think you should see 'Field of Dreams' with ol' Kevin Costner its all about faith and second chances - 'build it and they will come' dont forget the church isn't the building (i know you know this). Jessica and Bethany send me your email addresses and I will send you your own log-in for the bloggy. lots of love to all j
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Nice to see Les Gougieux again
Pte et al. Glad you enjoyed Bedoin and Provence, even if it did mean a long drive.
Loved the photo. Who took it ? Manon or Oscar. About our trip. I think we could be with you for Beth's birthday on 14th, but I don't know if we can wait for Easter Sunday (27th) unless we can get some cheap digs. Perhaps we can do the 10 days from 11th - 21st. I won't do any booking until we get an idea of local costs. All we want is to see you guys and be happy, tours of the hinterland are not necessary (perhaps Guadaleste). Mum wants it warrrm. Thanks for the flights study, Julian we now have many options although it is much shorter from Alicante to Alfaz, than from Valentia. Cheers. Dad
Loved the photo. Who took it ? Manon or Oscar. About our trip. I think we could be with you for Beth's birthday on 14th, but I don't know if we can wait for Easter Sunday (27th) unless we can get some cheap digs. Perhaps we can do the 10 days from 11th - 21st. I won't do any booking until we get an idea of local costs. All we want is to see you guys and be happy, tours of the hinterland are not necessary (perhaps Guadaleste). Mum wants it warrrm. Thanks for the flights study, Julian we now have many options although it is much shorter from Alicante to Alfaz, than from Valentia. Cheers. Dad
Au revoir Côte de Rhone!
Just another thankyou Julian and Ruth for a very lovely and relaxing time. I reckon your neck of the woods just has a stress peeling affect on anyone lucky enough to live there, even for just a few days. Anyway, we really enjoyed our stay, sharing your company and visiting the lovely places all around. The house is great fun - a bit like Colway Farm but with Foi Gras, views, wine, hot water, flushing toilets and heating! Oh, and beds.
Loved the sledging. We'll definitely be back again!
Pete and Jan.
Loved the sledging. We'll definitely be back again!
Pete and Jan.
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Hi Pete and Jan and Jess and beth and amy
Did you think any more about our trip to Costa Blanca?. Mum does not want me to book a flight costing £276 if accommodation is doubtful. Glad you all had a lovely vist to Provence. Beth said you would be tired from an 800mile car trip! Julian and Ruth were so happy to see you. I cannot find a telephone number and I don't appear to have your e-mail, as we always talk on the blogger. Anyway, either phone us or put a message on the blogger. Yea or nea. Love Dad
Back to work....doh!
Hello Everyone, Wow its been ages since I last blogged and as Dad has kindly left his Mac here (he is in the pub with Will - hello Will!) I thought I would seize the chance! We have the new self titled Bebel Gilberto cd playing & cheeky glass of 1997 Rioja on the go. We naturally assumed the wine was a Christmas present from Rosemary (Clive's boss) , but today Clive found out it was extra generous (£13 in Bottoms Up!) as Rosemary was awarded the MBE in this years Honours List for Services to Scholarship, for her work as Sub Editor of the Oxford Dictionary National Biography! (You can't get an entry in this great tombe till you are pushing up the daisies).
Bebels's cd comes highly recommended for all you lovers of the relaxed latin beat. We think she is either Gil Gilberto's niece or daughter so a strong brazilian heritage there. It sounds like a lazy summer beach party which is just as well as its been dark & gloomy all day here in Oxford.
Christmas Day was very chilled & relaxing here at No 32. Will came over Christmas eve on the day we had a roast lamb dinner with Delia Smith's homemade chocloate orange mousse for afters. Top rceipe; basically melt down the highest % chocolate you can find add juice & rind of an orange, cool then add egg yolk for each person, then add whipped egg whites, leave to set then if feeling cheeky add booze (rum or brandy)and cream to serve mmmmmm....
Back to work with a crash this morning. I had to be at work for 830! At my morning break I was reminising about my holiday &ornings of waking gently (no alarm call) with a lie-in, followed by a lazy bubble bath and having a slap up breakfast while catching the next episode of Simon Schama's excellent History of Britain programme which the Beeb were repeating over the holidays. History ranged from Mary Queen of Scots all the way up to WWII. Yesterday it was discussing the political similarities of 'The Two Winstons'. A reference to Winston Churchill & Winston Smith, the hero of Orwell's 1984. Although on different sides of the political fence with Churchill stubbornly believing in the defence of the British Empire, and Orwell against imperialist rule these two Great Britons were lone warning voices during Chamberlain's occupancy of No 10 to the threat of the' nazi war machine' and threat to the idea of English freedom. And who says TV can't teach? Top stuff. All I've got to do now is read '1984' & 'Animal Farm' which they showed over Christmas! I have also signed up for an OU course starting next month seeing as I can study for free being an OU employee. So my first course will be a biology course studying the life of mammals. Its been 5 years since I last studied so starting off with a short course and see how I get on.It was written in conjunction with the Attenborough BBC programme 'Life of Mammals' so I'm looking forward to the DVD set of all the shows which support the course. So with all the brainy kids in the family I may be asking you out there for help with my homework!
Well Clive tells me my supper is ready (so spoiled) so signing off now..
love Gem xxx
Ps Will I heard from an OU student that if you work for the UN t you don't pay UK tax as you are in effect servant of the 'Nations'. Sounds like a good deal to me- Can anyone verifiy?
Bebels's cd comes highly recommended for all you lovers of the relaxed latin beat. We think she is either Gil Gilberto's niece or daughter so a strong brazilian heritage there. It sounds like a lazy summer beach party which is just as well as its been dark & gloomy all day here in Oxford.
Christmas Day was very chilled & relaxing here at No 32. Will came over Christmas eve on the day we had a roast lamb dinner with Delia Smith's homemade chocloate orange mousse for afters. Top rceipe; basically melt down the highest % chocolate you can find add juice & rind of an orange, cool then add egg yolk for each person, then add whipped egg whites, leave to set then if feeling cheeky add booze (rum or brandy)and cream to serve mmmmmm....
Back to work with a crash this morning. I had to be at work for 830! At my morning break I was reminising about my holiday &ornings of waking gently (no alarm call) with a lie-in, followed by a lazy bubble bath and having a slap up breakfast while catching the next episode of Simon Schama's excellent History of Britain programme which the Beeb were repeating over the holidays. History ranged from Mary Queen of Scots all the way up to WWII. Yesterday it was discussing the political similarities of 'The Two Winstons'. A reference to Winston Churchill & Winston Smith, the hero of Orwell's 1984. Although on different sides of the political fence with Churchill stubbornly believing in the defence of the British Empire, and Orwell against imperialist rule these two Great Britons were lone warning voices during Chamberlain's occupancy of No 10 to the threat of the' nazi war machine' and threat to the idea of English freedom. And who says TV can't teach? Top stuff. All I've got to do now is read '1984' & 'Animal Farm' which they showed over Christmas! I have also signed up for an OU course starting next month seeing as I can study for free being an OU employee. So my first course will be a biology course studying the life of mammals. Its been 5 years since I last studied so starting off with a short course and see how I get on.It was written in conjunction with the Attenborough BBC programme 'Life of Mammals' so I'm looking forward to the DVD set of all the shows which support the course. So with all the brainy kids in the family I may be asking you out there for help with my homework!
Well Clive tells me my supper is ready (so spoiled) so signing off now..
love Gem xxx
Ps Will I heard from an OU student that if you work for the UN t you don't pay UK tax as you are in effect servant of the 'Nations'. Sounds like a good deal to me- Can anyone verifiy?
arived safely yesterday...
at 12:30 at night. I was exhausted and Amy too so I don't Know how dad felt driving that way!!
Sorry to leave France and Uncle Jume and Auntie Ruth but most of all Osca and Manon!!!
IT'S 2OO5!!!!!!!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!
Beth xxx
Sorry to leave France and Uncle Jume and Auntie Ruth but most of all Osca and Manon!!!
IT'S 2OO5!!!!!!!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!
Beth xxx
arived yesterday...
We were sorry to leave France and to leave Uncle Jume and Auntie Ruth but most of all Oscie and Manon!!!!
We arived yesterday at 12:30 at night and I was washed out. Amy was too. We all were,and I don't know how anyone could drive for so long.
IT'S 2005!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR.
bey
beth xxx
We arived yesterday at 12:30 at night and I was washed out. Amy was too. We all were,and I don't know how anyone could drive for so long.
IT'S 2005!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR.
bey
beth xxx
Sunday, January 02, 2005
Nana and Grandad...
Hi
Just want to say that pretty please come to Spain before the 14th because whenever you come in March you come after the 20th or so. So please come before my birthday, and no one has ever been to my birthday apart from Mum,Dad,and my two anoying sisters!!Just kidding.And I met my second Aunt, just as nice as Cath...
lots of love,
trusting you!
Beth xxx
P.S.In France and using Ruths computer,and Uncle Julian is now called Uncle Jume!!
Bey
Just want to say that pretty please come to Spain before the 14th because whenever you come in March you come after the 20th or so. So please come before my birthday, and no one has ever been to my birthday apart from Mum,Dad,and my two anoying sisters!!Just kidding.And I met my second Aunt, just as nice as Cath...
lots of love,
trusting you!
Beth xxx
P.S.In France and using Ruths computer,and Uncle Julian is now called Uncle Jume!!
Bey
Visit to Alfaz del Pi
We would be able to book a FlyBe flight from Southampton to Alicante on 11th March, returning on 31st. There are vacancies. The Hotel Tuberon in Alfaz can offer us 10 days from 11th March at Euro44 per night double. I don't know what accommodation you have (if any) without completely overloading the system?? There are probably places in the town B&B, or there seems to be plenty accom in Benidorm. Wodja rekon?
Saturday, January 01, 2005
New year @ 2005
Hello bloggers....
Amy says happy noon near, which is pretty close because we got up quite late after seeing the new year in. Yesterday we were introduced to the sandstone dragons down the road (Les Demoiselles Coiffet) and one of the cats nearly proved to be a Nicky by going off with a different family. We are looking forward to another morning on the piste ('piste' I said! - we had enough of that last night). Hope everyone has enjoyed the celebrations. Even Bedoin let off a few fireworks last night (which we could see clearly from here Barbara). The moon slipped gracefully between the clouds and gave us a beautiful shimmer on the midnight mountainside...then we decided it was bedtime.
Love to all
Pete and Jan
Amy says happy noon near, which is pretty close because we got up quite late after seeing the new year in. Yesterday we were introduced to the sandstone dragons down the road (Les Demoiselles Coiffet) and one of the cats nearly proved to be a Nicky by going off with a different family. We are looking forward to another morning on the piste ('piste' I said! - we had enough of that last night). Hope everyone has enjoyed the celebrations. Even Bedoin let off a few fireworks last night (which we could see clearly from here Barbara). The moon slipped gracefully between the clouds and gave us a beautiful shimmer on the midnight mountainside...then we decided it was bedtime.
Love to all
Pete and Jan
and a happy new year from provence...
We barely stayed awake till midnight but just about managed by playing a wild game of Charades - I think Jessica and Bethany came equal first. On the menu for New years eve was Foi Gras on toast with Muscat de Beaumes de Venise, then oysters (a first for Jan and Jessica) and prawns with Champagne followed by a leg of lamb with various French and Iberian wines and then rice pudding to soak up the wine. A noisy and jolly time had by all but we couldnt keep little Amy Jo upstairs alone (we tried) so eventually she re-joined us at the rice pudding stage. She has a new blue dressing gown which she doesn't want to take off and we had to put forward some pretty pursuasive arguments earlier in the day when she wanted to wear it to visit the Demoiselles Coiffees! All three girls have new boots so today we will head off up the mountain for some more snow fun... pictures to follow. A happy New year to you all, hope you got to see your fireworks Barbara, lots of love from us all in sunny but chilly Provence. Julian
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