Lock-in...

Hi....glad to know all's well. We've had a pretty quiet week (of sorts). Nic's taken the day off to play golf except that it's raining cats and dogs over here so I don't know if his golf game's affected. Kids are well......we had a 'mini' mishap last Saturday. Dan the man 'accidentally' locked himself in the car with the car keys in the ignition at my mother's house. Needless to say, we were totally responsible for this.....flashback to CNN newsnight...."kid locked in car, exterior temperature 35 degrees C, interior temp. goodness-knows-what.....father frantically hosing car with cool water, mother pleading with kid to 'pull the lock up'". Anyway, we were very fortunate to have a spare key at home so after about 20 minutes, Mary turns up with our little piece of metal. Nic and I had a good 'talking-to' by relatives (especially Grandma Sng) later in the evening when we went for her 90th birthday party. Dan's fine now......he doesn't play with the lock anymore...and Mummy doesn't leave the car keys in the ignition whilst bubs are in the car.

Last night, Nic, Claire and I went with Nic's workmate to watch Cirque du Soleil's Quidam. It was visually quite entertaining.....the music and singing was superb. Claire was fascinated by this 'headless ghoul' that was walking around with an umbrella! The next concert on my agenda is 'Stomp' which begins this week. Trying to persuade Nic to come and hear some rubbish bins banging together.

Yup, the Singapore's port is pretty busy. I've to pass it everyday on my way to work and fight the container trucks for space on the expressway. I'm going to get a HGV licence, my dream machine is a 18-wheeler or a 3-tonner army truck. Nobody will mess around with me! We've not really made any decision on our car.........it's all look-see at the moment. Our present dengue epidemic is going rather well, can't seem to erradicate the Aedes mosquito carrying this particular new strain. Many factors involved, death toll at 12, nearly 4 000 cases so far. Blitz....!!!!

Will write again, take care!

Jen

Hi folks

Hello all you Merrows...life has been pretty much back to back work and no play recently as we try to get the school on an even keel while trying to attract more customers and more income. New pupils always upset the group dynamics and of course these kids are usually transfers with problems which all makes work for the working man to do.

As far as family news is concerned, we are pretty good. Cash flow is a bit erratic as we are still awaiting our dole money and a few bits of income like tax rebates. At least the salary comes back on line in a few days. Alas the car has packed up and we need new wheels (currently we are borrowing a friend's jaloppy? from church). Never the mind. We get by with a little help from our friends, as they say.

My eyesight seesm a bit dodgy at the minute. I reckon the time of the tightening lenses has arrived..a bit earlier than anticipated. I thought I'd get a couple more years but anytime over forty is prime time for glasses, so they tell me. It may just be tired eyes but I've put in for a check up to see what I need. My boss got wind of it and went out to the local Chinese importers to buy some +1.50 and +2.00s for £1.50 each. Unfortunately there are differences between the eyes. I reckon my right is weaker, so I'll need a prescription fit first of all. I can go for the £1.50 pairs in a few years time when I know what the form is!

Beth went in for a check too recently. Her prescription is for some specs which is no doubt caused by her always having her head in a book. She's a great kid and has really blossomed in the last few years into a mature thinking and intelligent girl. Mature, intelligent, glasses...Maybe the bees won't swarm so thick around the honey pot for a year or two but I doubt it. It's Jessica who is really the fashion hippy babe who always has one eye on the mirror. Still, she is also growing up to be a great young adult. I'm really proud of them both. Amy too. She is learning to read with Biff and Kipper from the Oxford reading tree programme. Her art is fantastic for one of her age. Hey...let's keep it in the family. If she turns out like the other two I'll be very content...although I'll probably spend a few more hours at the opticians' too.

We are really enjoying the house. I never realised how different the sea can be every day. No wonder Turner was so fascinated by it. I could have taken hundreds of photos by now. Every day the sun rises in a different place and we get a slightly different shimmer or else there is a different cloud formation. Great stuff. We still have no bannister yet and the place needs a new front door but little by little as they say.

Next week we have a solar eclipse in Spain and we are on the centre line. It is annular, which means it won't go dark. It will be as if there is cloud in the sky, but for the interested observer with the right eye protection the sun will appear as a white disc with a black hole in the middle. We should get a good ring effect and maybe will be able to see the mountains on the moon in relief by projecting a magnified image with a telescope. Should be good if the cloud stays away. It starts shortly after sunrise and hits its peak at about 11am with a four minute totality. Watch this space - I'll see if I can post a photo. Apparently this is a once in a millenium event. Nobody can predict far enough into the future to say when it will ever happen here again.

Like glasses, it'll be a first for me!

Love to all

Pete

Where are you all?

No blogs for a week, unless my OSX is out of sorts, so I thought I would get the ball rolling again.
To Nic - we saw a lovely hour-long programme about the Singapore harbour - absolutely fascinating We saw all the work of unloading a large container ship, using those massive cranes, to re-loading it and sending it on its way again. The number of ships that are dealt with in one single day was breathtaking. Riding high in those mobile cranes and latterly we saw the new computerised 'drivers' in their warm comfortable office, doing the same thing as the crane drivers but from comfortable seats on the ground floor. We are sorry that you cannot join us all in the south of France next July (although we will will see you in June at home here) Can Claire not be excused from her school for this one occasion (your sister's 50th birthday celebrations?)
Julian, you are continuing to send us your delightful little Postcards from Provence. Everyone I have shown them to, thinks they are marvellous. I wish some of them would buy some to help you with your massive tax bill!! The window installing process seems to have gone OK - now comes the inside ? Perhaps Steve can help you, although from memory it is quite a magnum opus. I am sorry that your holiday, Ruth, is nearing its end - I hope you have benefitted from a lovely rest.
We cannot wait to seeing le Hameau (l'Hameau?) again. Like Africa - Bedoin beckons.
We have had an invitation from the CountryClub, of which we are members, to spoil ourselves by staying at Les Barrattes, formerly the home of Avignon aristocracy and pres de Les Isles-sur-la-Sorgue. It says in the blurb that I-d-l-s was famous for its silk mills during the Middle Ages and from the house can be seen views of the Luberon Mountains and also of Mt. Ventoux. Sounds like a nice place. www.thevillabook.com I wonder if the food matches Le Cougieux?
Pete, I have sent you a separate email on the return of the package we sent you four weeks ago! What a shower!!
Hi. Steve - many thanks for all you did for us while you were staying here. I have strengthened the tap aids you put on by drilling through the covers (red and black) and inserting 4 small screws in each tap. The taps now work a treat and should last a good time. Cathy rang us to say how much they enjoyed seeing pictures of us at the Bonchurch Inn - also your reverse view of Ventnor from the beach. Yesterday we went to our GP in Ryde as Mum had some funny turns and our very pretty young doctor said she may have picked up a virus which is going round which induces a form of vertigo. Whether or not that is the case, she prescribed some tablets which has made Mum feel much better today. She is due to see the Urologist on Tuesday next - perhaps he has some helpful words for her. We had a lovely evening out at the Yelf's Hotel in Union Street Ryde on Tueday evening a super meal followed by some comical relief in the way of a quiz. Mum had a lovely bunch of flowers when she was in the Orchard and she was able to thank everyone for such a lovely gift. On Monday we had a visit from friends of ours who are members of the Catenian Assoc - also bringing a lovely large bunch of flowers. People are so kind and thoughtful. Today we are lunching out having a pub lunch at the Cedars as Mum is having her hair done during the lunch period. I am expecting a call from the Argos man as I have ordered a new horizontal sander with which I hope to ease off some of our sticking doors. I have also bought a hand power screwdriver (like yours Steve) so now I can dispose of my screwdrivers and files. Does anyone want 'em of do I dispose of them to ebay or elsewhere?? I have been filling up my iTunes with some of my favourite piano works and the house is full of Rach 1.2.3.4 and Beethoven piano concertos. Plus Chopin, Liszt, Satie etc. Last week Rock, this week classical. Next week ?Country? Love to all Dad and Mum

Last Day..

You just can't leave the Isle of Wight without a visit to Ventnor and a splash in the sea can you? So here's yours truly with camera and Mater and Pater on the Esplanade.

where do y'wanna go?

look it's John and Cathy's favourite Inn from Christmas.

Car Correction

Hello, what my DFS ("dear forgiving spouse" or duty free shopper", you decide) forgot to mention was that I hardly ever get to drive the car and when yesterday I eventually did get to drive it, I noticed that the knocking from the drive shafts had got really bad since I last drove. As the car can only be driven for ten years without renewing the license to keep it on the road (road tax is different and paid yearly like the UK), and we are 9 1/2 years already, I was umming and ahring about scrapping it. But as cars have a habit of doing, the Honda forced my hand. So we got it back now with a new battery, two new drive shafts, service etc, for less than two hundred quid.

On the money front, Steve, I have Bob sorting out the Ivinghoe house, 4 new windows and a door all in wondeful UPVC, plus making good the render for about three thousand eight hundred quid. Suppose, besides keeping the tenant, this may even add a bit of value to it.

What else. Mum you look good, worse bit was probably the GA right, stick a pipe down your throat, took me two days to get over that alone. Anyway, nice to see you standing.

Love Nic

All dressed up

Vacuuming and washing done we're out to lunch. Not sure where yet.

Wheel shafts and things....

Glad to hear that the op went smoothly Margaret, hope that you're getting a good rest. A day at a time is the best is way to go :)

On our front, we've been having car 'trouble' as well. For quite some time, I've been hearing this 'knock knock' sound whilst driving. MDH (my darling 'well informed' hubby) told me that it wasn't that important....until I pestered him to call the workshop....when we were informed by the 'all-knowing' mechanic that 'it is very serious, don't drive on the expressway'! It transpires that our wheel shafts are knackered, need replacing..plus battery etc. This has 'spurred' us on to look at new (i.e. brand-) and new (i.e. 'old') cars......and now our minds boggle. As you know, car prices in Singapore are hyper, super-duper inflated. To put it in perspective, the cheapest car in the market, a brand-new very unsafe, probably-no-airbag, made-of-tin, we-cannot-trust, unknown China made car costs 15k pounds! This saga will continue...me and my hubby will trash this one out...I'm sure he has his own take on this..haha.

Both kids are well, still 'resisting' school. It's amazing the number of excuses they can come out with....but to no avail, I've probably used all these excuses before during my heyday. Singapore's going through a bit of a dengue 'epidemic' at the moment. Approximately 100-150 new cases a day with the government declaring a 'blitz' on mosquitoes. Keep you informed on that too.

Got to go now.......will blog again soon. Hope the Chinese takeaway was tasty....kids will look forward to that when we come over next June!

Love,

Jen

Refurbished Mac

I always check the online apple store on a Wednesday morning, here's selection of deals from the refurbished apple mac online store. I'm pretty sure that a student discount is 20% too.

go to Wednesdays from 10am only

Refurb iBook 12" 1.2GHz/256DDR/30GB/Combo/AE
(Original Product inc VAT Price was: £699)
-20%
Refurb iBook 14" 1.33GHz/256DDR/60GB/SD/AE
(Original Product inc VAT Price was: £999)
-20%

PowerBook 15" 1.5GHz/512DDR/80GB/Combo/APX/BT
(Original Product inc VAT Price was: £1379)
-20%
PowerBook 15" 1.67GHz/512DDR/80GB/SD/APX/BT
(Original Product inc VAT Price was: £1579)
-20%
PowerBook 17" 1.67GHz/512DDR/100GB/SD/AE/BT
(Original Product inc VAT Price was: £1849)
-20%


Refurbished iPod
Refurb iPod 10GB (Mac & PC)
(Original Product inc VAT Price was: £249)
-69%
Refurb iPod 15GB (Mac & PC)
(Original Product inc VAT Price was: £249)
-62%
Refurb iPod 20GB (Mac & PC)
(Original Product inc VAT Price was: £299)
-50%
Refurb iPod 30GB (Mac & PC)
(Original Product inc VAT Price was: £399)
-60%

Meanwhile here in France

I could not switch off without paying you a compliment Ruth on your descriptive writing. I can almost picture the French marche ouvert. The tomatoes look ravissement - is there such a word. Well done and enjoy your well earned rest. Love from Hugh and Margaret

Congratulations to the Von Merrows

Well done Pete and family and a what a lovely photo of the gang. Even Amy is is playing continuo. I am sure that your concert was received well - we still talk about our efforts to accompany you in Orapa.
What are your plans for the car - you could do with a larger van/people carrier. Reg in the bungalow opposite was selling his son-in-law's H- reg Landrover Discovery for £2800 and I thought of you. Even Steve was interested. It has now been sold, but what the final figure was, I do not know. I think you need a l/h drive if you intend to stay on the Continent.
At the moment the air fares Southampton/Alicante are quite high and it would cost nearly £200 for us to fly return, but even that is not impossible.
Mum is still in some discomfort, but she was warned that it would take a couple of weeks before everything settled back in place. She is impatient for everything to be right again, poor love. Steve has been fixing up a grab rail to assist her in getting out of the bath - he has also made it easier to turn on the taps at the kitchen sink and cleared the algae from the decking next to the house, to make it less slippier. I will be re-painting that today.
Did you see Steve's painting of a sailboat? He has loaned it to us and at the moment it is hanging over the stair well. Looks great and even he is pleased with his painting. We are so lucky with all our artistic family.
We hope you are all interested in Steve's plans for next July. He will be viewing the accommodtion when he visits Provence next month, to spend some time with Julian, and report back.
We now have an Indian takeaway, a Chinese one next door and a fish & chip shop next to that so we will not be going hungry. I am planning to sample the Chinese t/a today. LOL Dad

The Von Merrow-Smith Family Players

Here we are at the old folks home in the German speaking district of La Nucia. We gave a short concert of ten two minute pieces and everyone loved it. "Do you do Christenings, barmitzvas and weddings?" Perhaps this is the start of a career change - the von Merrow-Smith family players...Ah, the hills of La Nucia were alive with the sounds of Kumbayaa and Kingston Town. Role on lights, music, maestro...we're going to be stars!! We even have an agent who was once the son in law of Mick McMannus...Things have never been so good. Except that the car has broken down but soon we will be needing a road crew and a fleet of articulated lorries, so who cares. Saltzburg, here we come!

lots of love...

How do you people say lots of love in text messages? Personally, lol would be more useful for that than for laugh out loud or even loads of laughs, loss of lebido, little or large, Lawrence of....whereever. Anyway, just goes to show the ridiculous nature of abbreviating everything to a single letter for the sake of speed.

My boss is a specialist in minimalist communication. I was so cross with the ambiguity of an email he once sent me that I wrote back..."Re meeting at 2pm. Parents here on holiday. Will attend." Suffice to say that mum and dad didn't attend but the point I tried to make was entirely lost on him. He thought my message was clear as a bell. Lol? I could have wet the chair.

Mum, great to see you looking so well. Lubbly photos. Well done boys, you are obviously looking after her superbly. We are very pleased that everything went to plan and let us assume that this will solvee the problem and that you'll be back to jet setting around the globe shortly.

We are doing a marimba concert slot today and have been hard at it practicing and this is why I may have appeared out of communication for a couple of days. Email has also been playing up. I'll try to do some videa of us and if it is possible I may and try posting a snippet onto the blog. Wts.

Pete

Good Morning World.

Pleased to say that Mum came home at 1500 yesterday (Saturday), looking radiant, but I suspect a little tired. She is naturally very sore and uncomfortable, but she is hopeful that all will be better when she has got over the effects of the anaesthetic. which her surgeon would take a little time. She has to go back in a couple of weeks just to make sure that everything is OK and we hope that will start a new more confident life for her. Steve has been wonderfully supportive and I am so grateful to him for his love and care. He has been busy in the garage with his new big painting job, which we will be hanging on the landing wall where we can see it to its best advantage. We have had a busy time on the old blogger lately, expecially from La Nucia where Pete and Jan have been doing some entertaining, and Jess has been sending text messages to Steve. No more about our birthday package - I will have to go down to our Post Office to see if there is any way that the package can be traced. Seems strange when all the other birthday cards etc arrived safely. Looks as if Nic and Jen are in for a spot of paella - one of my favourite dishes. There shouldn't be any difficulty in getting suitable oven to table paella dish. even in Singapore. I loved your recent Postcard from Provence, Julian - pity it is sold!! I hope you guys are enjoying being together again for a little while. Steve tells me he is coming down to La Cougieux next month to sample some Cote de Ventoux. Love to you all. We hope everything is ok with you Cath, we haven't heard much from you.

Auntie June's magnetism

Suggest June reads up on Canto-pop stars before her visit to Singapore, so we can also benefit from her star qualities and magnetism.

Congrats Will with the new job, you must have developed fantastic people skills exposed to the retail crowd, should be invaluable in years to come.

Hello Spain, two things to ask you over there; has Neil Mason got himself a job yet? and Jen wants to know the name of those clay shallow pots you use for cooking pealla etc. Pealla Dish?, can put ontop of the gas or sling in the oven, then where would we be able to buy one in Singapore, lets us know (is there a brand we can trace?).

Looking forward to an update on Mum, following our telephone conversation this morning Dad.

Love Nic

Paul Anka

Auntie June went to a BBC recording session called Saturday Swings (Should be on BBC 1 tonight) She travelled on a train with her friend to Wembly and sitting in the same compartment was a middle aged lady. June said to her are you going to the Andy Williams show recording? The lady said no, I am going to see my daughter. She was Mrs. Kaplinsky and Natasha was compering the show before she went to Africa. They got on very well. Having watched her favourite Andy Williams, June was not surprised when Paul Anka came over to her table, but was when he asked her to dance. Even more when after the dance he kissed her in the middle of the dance floor!! Dirty old man. June was naturally taken aback, but she hasn't washed since!!!!!

STOP PRESS

Even more good news...

Just heard from Will that he has been offered a new job so he's on his way out of retail, and just in time to escape the pre-Christmas buildup (but say goodbye to the Borders staff discount!). He's off to the Journals department at the Oxford University Press on Walton Street (carrying on the family connection there. Didn't Uncle Denis work at the OUP too?). Will's housemate Steve works there too and Clive of course in the O.E.D. so now he has a new matey for those liquid lunches at the 'Bookbinders' when the boss is off. Will starts the new job on 17th October and we're meeting him on Sunday afternoon at 'Far from the Madding Crowd' (more book refernces Gem - yawn)for a catch-up and to raise a glass to the regiment (er to have a drink).

Lovely photos of Grandma ezappy. Glad that all is well and that Grandad remembered the chocs. What a cheeky face Grandad..butter wouldn't melt..how old are you there? I'm guessing 7 years?

Here's one for you...Listening to Radio2 last Sunday and he played a swing bannd version of Oasis' track 'Wonderwall' and he challenged the listeners to guess who was covering it, well it was only Paul Anka! He's released an album of 'rock' songs and its hilarious (probably not supposed to be). He has also got quite a flashy website..check it out!

Anyone know if Freddie Flintoff's is over his hangover yet? Get in there Barmy Army..

love Gemsi x

Everything Including

fingers crossed!!!

Who's this Hugh?

Nipper and Grandma Smith with baby June and Beryl

Fab Mum

Looking forward to having Mum home so we can chat with her again. Would be wonderful for her to be free of these irritating problems and if it works for her, I am thinking of going for the same op' so I can drink 10 pints without having to leave me bar stool. Also rather fond of the Black Magic (chocolates that is).

While we are on the subject of digestion and things connected, I have given up 1. the whole meal bread that give me the shits ('cuse my french) in the morning, and 2. the hot milky drink that gives me the shits ('cuse my french) in the evening and if I'm not completely waste free, the morning too. So guys, give it up if your anything like me and stay away from all that horse food and nipple juice and stick to guiness stout and raw eggs.

Now cornflakes are OK, so does anyone have a recipe for those chocolate coated cornflake thingies you do in home economics, no better way to take cattle fodder.

Nic

Where is she...?

Steve and Mum had a look at the Soduku book but we're too easily distracted..

ah pretty flowers..

To Rent one Garage Painter

Another highly paid com- mission.. hep hem.. basically "let me work in your garage for nuffink and keep the painting".

Dad was out o'the door at 8:30 am with me shouting after him from the shower "I'll catch you up". I thought I heard the sound of Muttley "(ratten ratten ratten) Black Magic Chocolates (ratten ratten) Soccatash Catch You up"... but I was in bleary pre-java daze and I might be wrong.

Arrived at nine to find Mother cheerfully smiling from her bed and looking very elegant with hair all coiffed and looking happy. Father had remembered the Black Magic so he was in the good books and the talk was of coming home at the weekend.
We'll see what Mr Makunde the surgeon says about that!

Lol does not mean lol!

It has come to the Internet's attention that the acronym, "LOL" (Laughing Out Loud) has been overused and misused. People use "LOL" to simply state that something was slightly humorous, when it was originally intended to state that something was so funny as to literally cause out-loud laughter, hence "Laughing Out Loud."

"LOL" also does not allow for the expression of gradual degrees of humor. The Committee for Internet Acronyms have adopted a new standard that will allow not only for the conveying of the level of laughter, but for much easier-to-type acronyms. Note also that previous standards did not allow for the expression of non-humor, which L0 effortlessly does, which is also much easier than typing, "I don't think that was very funny, Scott."

Here are the new acronyms to be used when expressing humor level:

L0 = Not funny at all
L1 = I smiled - traditional smile :)
L2 = I chuckled
L3 = I laughed out loud - traditional LOL
L4 = I laughed pretty hard for more than just a few moments - traditional ROTFL - also, any L3 accompanied by clapping
L5 = No more, please, I can't stop the tears
(sightings include beverage of choice spewing from nose)
+ = Suffix. Indicates any degree of humor between those established above. Hence, a loud chuckle that did not reach full laughter status would rate an L2+. Situations invoking L5+ are considered dangerous and are to be avoided. Dreadful humor that commands an L0- generally results in a fist-fight.

Note that the L humor rating system has not yet reached 100% acceptance, so you may have to instruct new people from time to time. In the future, when people send you a LOL, please refer them to the above standards so that they won't continue to embarrass themselves.

ripped from ganns.com

Mum's Op

We have been to the hospital and were pleased to see her quite bright and cheery and anxious to get it all over and come home. She is being well looked after and the surgeon is to see her again this afternoon. Lol Dad and Steve

Mum's Op

You will all be pleased to know that Mum has come through her op OK and when I spoke to her an hour ago she was quite cheerful and had had a good night. Steve and I will be going along to see her in about an hour and will pass on to her your love. Thanks for your concern - will blog again when we get back. Love from Dad

confusion?!

We had Neil Mason over for late afternoon the other week....correct! lol. and last night we had Rolf Provan and his friend Andrew come round for the evening and we all went out for a lovely Spanish meal, all shared a large pan of paella! Then at about 10:30pm we went for a walk all the way from one end of Albir beachfront, (stopped to skim some stones in the sea!) to the other and back again! Lovely evening. I think the confusion is with the Neils! Rolf has a younger brother also called Neil. LOL.
All's still ok here, the car has broken down and is currently at the garage, but we managed to get to school and back again with friends. Apart from that, life is normal (getting chillier here too) and school is fine!
lots of love x

Dear All

Thanks Pete for your lovely message. It is 4 am and I am very restless, so have decided to get up from my bed. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers, they are a great help to me. Dad has told you all my itinerary ?is that right? I go into hospital today. I have much trouble in my life with anxiety, and try as I will it always makes me nervous - possibly something to do with thyroids.
We enjoyed a day at Seaview with Stephen who I am delighted to say has come to spend some time with us. Enjoyed a delicious lunch at the Seaview Hotel and spent most of the afternoon watching the passage of different craft on the ideal waters; very relaxing as it turned out to be a very warm day. It now shows signs of Autumn with misty mornings and earlier darkness in the evening, so I am sorry about that! We would love to stay with you again Pete, in sunny Spain and have fun with you all - I remember our last holiday in Alphaz and that was grand. As to your message I have no regrets. My dear Hugh and our wonderful children and partners and our delightful grandchildren are all so precious to me. I will be fine - don't worry. Perhaps we can all meet in Meze next summer to celebrate Cathy's 50th?? Your loving Mum

9 am. That was written by Mum early this morning, and put on the blog word for word by me. I have just read Nic's blog and looked at the Maglev web site. What a wonderful monorail. 30 miles in 8 minutes - amazing.
We have read Beth's blog and I mis-interpreted Jessica's message to Steve, thinking that you have had Rolf with you and his brother Neil. I have just realised that Pete's neighbour Neil must be old Mace. Neil Mason. Rolf's brother is not Neil is it? More later as breakfast calls. Love from Dad

Shanghai Blog

Hello all, this is an interim blog to say I got home safely and we hope and Mum's operation will have been a sucess.

Busy 3 days in Shanghai spent mainly in the back of taxis, however I did experince the MAGLEV train ride fromairport to the outskirts of town. Bit of a rush, bit like the glider flight in Botswana that I remember so well. Here's an overview off the web;

Construction began in April 2001 of the first commercial Transrapid system. Despite the fact that the maglev was the first revenue-producing point-to-point high-speed maglev in the world, the system was up and running by 2004. The 30-km line runs between Pudong Shanghai International Airport and the Shanghai Lujiazui financial district. An end-to-end ride takes about eight minutes. A world record for commercial maglev systems was set on November 12, 2003. A five-section train achieved the top speed of 501 km/h (311 mph) while another vehicle passed at 430 km/h on the adjacent track. The Transrapid in Shanghai has a design speed of over 500 km/h (310 mph) and a regular service speed of 430 km/h (267 mph). Shanghai Maglev is the fastest railway system in commercial operation in the world. Other maglev lines are under consideration in China.

I only seem to have taken two misserable pictures of Shanghai so I won't bother to up load them, but it's a grand place. Her's a few pic's of the MAGLEV which was the highlight of the trip. Really pulls the G's around that curve, woof! woof!

www.monorails.org/tMspages/MagShang.html

Hope the link works for the photos

Love Nic

Dear All

I must have posted it twice so I have deleted no 2.

Welcome home Nic

Got home from Seaview, where we had a lovely lunch, to hear your voice on our phone. Thanks for your good wishes. Mum goes in for her op tomorrow at 1500 gmt (10pm in Singapore) for a 1800 hours(6pm local time) operation, and I expect we (Steve and I) will be going in to see her on Friday. I'll let you all know on Friday how she is. Thanks for all your love and prayers - she is a bit apprehensive but I am sure everything will be OK Lots of love Dad and Mum

Sorry mum....

Darling mother, it has occurred to me that all this palavar is my fault. If you had only dug up the gooseberry bushes a few years earlier then all this operational stuff might have been avoided. Sorry my darling. You are in our prayers. We love you beyond measure and look forward to seeing you back to 100% in the very near future. Spain is a lovely place to chill out if you need calm, rest or light exercise. You are always welcome.

Pete

Overlap

Welsh and Singapore Skool holidays overlap last week of May next year so we could do something else in UK then as well? Picnic on Port Meadow? hmmm or chips and egg round our place in Oxford. The school opposite us No 32 will be available by then to Hertford Street residents for recreational activities, so what about a cricket match in the play ground.

Next year

Hi from Singapore again. Nic's away in Shanghai on a business trip at the moment. We've been reading the flurry of emails and the Continent holiday sounds good HOWEVER, sad to say that we're in a dilemma as Claire would be by then in primary school and July's not school holidays. We'd hope to be in the UK sometime between end of May and the 3rd week of June. Our Asia school terms unfortunately do not seem to coincide with the UK ones....I hope there's some way that we can get around this. Being in Singapore, it's not easy to pull a child out of school during term time especially when it's after the mid-year holidays. Our terms are stated below:

Year 2006 Semester 1:
Term 1 - Tuesday 3rd Jan to Friday 10th Mar
Term II - Monday 20th Mar to Friday 26th May
Year 2006 Semester 2:
Term III - Monday 26th June to Friday 1st Sept
Term IV - Monday 11th Sept to Friday 17th Nov

School Holidays Semester 1:
After Term I - Saturday 11th Mar to Sunday 19th Mar
After Term II - Saturday 27th May to Sunday 25th June
School Holidays Semester 2:
After Term III - Saturday 2nd Sept to Sunday 10th Sept
After Term IV - Saturday 18th Nov to Sunday 31st December

Other than that, all's well here. Having some superb electrical storms at the moment. Dan's still building up his immunity, he's laid up with fever, cough and a very nasty cold. Poor 'little' chap. Hope all goes well for your op on the 15th Margaret, have a good rest after that. We'll keep you in our prayers.

Love, Jen

Pensez-vous NOTRE vigne ressemblerez-vous à ceci ?

si tout va bien OUI mais avec une plage fabuleuse et une belle mer
chaude 'tantilise- ment' près. Pouvez vous me dire emploie un site Web de traduction? Hep hem! Il n'y a eu aucune nouvelles de Provence ou Singapour encore. Ca va Gemma?

Comme ca?

Dad, Whats the name of that translation website? Having trouble finding my school french dictionary...I've got beautifu; beach & warm sea then er...

gem x

If we HAD to go back...

..you know if you twisted my arm then we'd defintely go back to Paleokastrista. Clive & I were last in Corfu two years ago, we stayed in 'Paleo', and can't have been too far from where you stayed Grandma & Grandad. We took a 2 hour hike up the hill & found a cafe at the top with the most spectaular view. We could see then 5 coves that make up Paleo and as I was reading Homers Odyssey at the time was convinced I could hear Odysseus' long boat being rowed across the hazy horizon. We also hiked up to the same monastery that just out to the sea pointing toward Italy. Although we didn't swim through the famous arch. The sea has worn an arch out of of the cliff. 'Legend' has it that if you swim through the arch at midnight with your eyes cl0sed you'll see your true love. According to the rep only Germans bother!

Thanks Pete for the kind comments. Have you lost your nerve these days? I don't believe it. We'll have to put that right next summer. I remember you dangling Will and I from each shoulder socket, & you and Nic thrashing us at cricket in Oakley Rd back garden before Sunday lunch (not fair kids they were whacking the ball over the shop... 25 runs a ball..competitve Uncles...tisk). Is there beach provision for a Banana boat ride Dad? Who are we missing now for July 2006? Are we all in?

Gitales Gite-ales Getails...

The posts you wanted to see have dropped off the bottom of the page, which means you have to click "Archives" over on the right and down a bit. On a busy month like this, the blogger files the early stuff.
But, for instance if you click on 'September' in 'Archives', it all comes up..... pages and pages and pages of it.

I shall be going over to view the accommodation in October from Julian and Ruth's one day so questions of how thick the mattresses are etc I can find out without burbling in franglais.
Here are the gite-tales (details geddit) we know so far.
Imagine the best of both worlds.. a family get together by the sea, where you can come and go whenever you please, AND with your own space to escape to for the odd nap, and still be able to spend some pleasant evenings with your folks barbecuing by the pool and sipping the local vino.. CLICK to see website in English.

 


These Gites are absolutely ideal. Am I right or am I right?
They're about 5 minutes from the Etang de Thau and Sete (also known as the Venice of Languedoc), and it's magnificent beaches. The Gites are in a vineyard, consisting of 4 individual self-contained, fully equipped, spacious, comfortable houses.

Three minutes from the center of Meze, with it's numerous shops and restaurants, the gites are situated in a peaceful position amongst the pines & vines. After a day at the nearby beaches you can chill out by the pool or under the pines, light your barbecue and sip the local wines, listening to the cicadas. All along the coast, an enormous golden-sand beach stretches out for twelve long kilometres, uniting sea and sun ; a gentle slope of pale yellow sand against a blue sky.

There are 4 separate spacious gites to choose from :
The large one, consisting of living room / Kitchen : 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms with WC's, one with a bath and one with a big shower, sleeps 8 - 10 people.
There's a built-in kitchen, fully equipped with dishwasher, oven and hob, big fridge freezer and extractor hood.
There's also a washing machine, TV DVD player, air conditioning, and a wood burning stove for winter.

Outside is a terrace with barbecue, table chairs and parasol. Swimming pool covered and heated in winter.

( May to August ): that's 850 Euros per week or €85 per head per week if we fill it.

There are three other smaller ones, each consisting of living room / Kitchen : 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms with WC's, one with a bath and one with a big shower.

These gites sleep 6 - 8 people and also come with built-in kitchen fully equipped with dishwasher, oven and hob, big fridge freezer and extractor hood. Also a washing machine, TV DVD player, air conditioning, and a wood burning stove for winter. Outside terrace with barbecue, table chairs and parasol. Swimming pool covered and heated in winter.
.. in high season May to August these one's are 800 Euros per week each.

So the accommodation is not too expensive is it?

But we do need to get organised.

Greetings from China...

ezappy got this MMS from Nic today. Lots of love from Shanghai
Hopefully Jen and Claire and Dan and Nic will be able to come to France next year in July with the rest of us. I've made enquiries about taking all four cottages so Val and Mandy and their families will be able to join us as well and we'll get that football match replayed!

Sad but true..

Good blog Gemma (or should I call it a fine rendering of modern prose - blog sounds more like a monkey's elbow - something you'd find left in the toilet!). Shame though, it seems you went all the way to Corfu and missed the best view in the world for want of an Amstel fog! Now you'll just have to go back! I enjoyed the bit where you overcame your hidden fears of becoming the coat holder. Nail biting stuff. Don't bring to many coats to France as I'll probably be left behind holding them!..Sad, but true.

Memories of Corfu

1 The lovely beaches at Ayios Georgious, 2. the beautiful view of the Monastery and beach at Paleokastritsa from the overlooking hills. (for me the best view in the world- nothing I have seen has bettered it) 3. the taxi ride round the Island and the taxi driver who wanted to take us everywhere (for no extra cost) 4. the motor cycle I hired to drive on a variety of road surfaces up to Kassiopi in the the north of the Island (Grandma on the back) and the views of distant Albania. 5. Gerald Durrel's home and the lovely beach. 6. The sea trip to Corfu town (Kerkya) and the cricket ground in the centre built by the Brits who left it when they left the Island; and Ugh the poor plumbing installed by the said Brits. 8 the white cubic houses with iron rods sticking out of the top. 9 the columnar pointed trees which seemed to be everywhere. 10 The statue of Apollo - our "Greek night out", dancing like Anthony Quinn, Greek coffee and ladies in black leading their donkeys and finally the lovely tavernas on the said beach. Waiting on the beach for the coach to take us to the airport. In spite of everything, - It seems a long time ago, but I would love to go back. Grand dad

'XAIPETE' from Corfu!

Well back to work for Clive & I this week after a glorious week spent in Corfu. Days started with a lazy breakfast (greek honey & bread on the balcony looking over the mountains), off to the beach for few hours reading, breaking off for a lunch time to sit in the shade accompanied by a tall cool Amstel/Mythos (0.5 L for €2!). That Carlsberg Johnny Mills downed in 'Ice Cold in Alex' moment relived. Then back to the studio apt for a snooze, then back out for the evening in the myriad of local tavernas...'yamass'. Now that's more like it. There was only a slight touch of Shirley Valentine ( Dougie & Janette) about the week but thankfully it was limited to the coach transfer. Only a smatter of sunburnt brits (one couple looked like a couple of burnt BBQ sausages with fetching mossie bites to really top the look off).
We had an afternoon in Kerkyra town. As we sat in the plaza at the bottom on the Venetian Fortress the Corfu SWAT team equipped with automatic weapons, khaki uniforms & camouflage caps turned up in 3 Toyota Landcruisers and started banging on the door of the house opposite . The taverna owners were shouting to each other across the square & we were unsure whether to take cover or sit and watch along with the locals. We decided to sit where we were and watch the drama unfold (like on TV!). The police were v particluar about not letting cars pass but pedesterians were alllowed to walk through the crowd of police and one chap opened up his small pavement booth right next to the scene. Eventually 2 chaps were led out in handcuffs and put in the back of the 4x4 ( actually put in the boot where the dogs/shopping bags sit) and drama was over...
On the Friday we took a boat trip and first stop was where the submarines were hid during WW2, then we went onto a secluded white beach cove where part of the film 'The Blue Lagoon' was filmed. Swimming in crystal clear water with the fish swimming around your toes. When we anchored up (the rope was tied around a rocky outcrop) all the Dads rush to the sundeck and launched themselves in followed by all the kids..a few of us 'young ladies' who were game followed them in after a couple of minutes once the big boys had got out the way. I couldn't jump myself for a while till one particular girl had gone in. Her Dad was teasing her from the water 'its no that deep', 'Its not cold, it's as warm as bath water', 'your top won't come off' (that wasn't true). All the girls jumped with one arm flaying in the air the other strapped across their bikini tops. It took over 10 mins for her to get the guts up, her Dad was complaining about his arms aching as he was treading water all this time. I could me Dad teasing me too as a bit of flash back & wished she would just get on with it. Amazing what kids will fling themselve off for their Parents smile. My Dad wasn't even there and I did it! I actually tricked myself in jumping off the top of this boat. I was all up for going then something makes you grab the side bar and then you feel like a complete wimp as all these young lads who must weight about an ounce fling themselves head first into the water without any signs of fear followed in by their scuba masks. So when I open my eyes I was half way down shouted CLIVE (who was watching from the lower decks), hit the water and opened my eyes under the water to see bubbles and legs. I felt v proud of myself. It a bit like losing your nerve in the queue for the rollercoaster. Once you are 3 cars away from getting on, the doubt creeps in mixed with adrenalin & the thought well if i don't do this now i'll never do it again & I'll be reduced to being the one holding the coats. Nothing like the spilt second fear that you may actually die to waken the senses. Lunch was in Sivota on the greek mainland followed by another beach cove that is very popular for windsurfing. There was actaually a sandbank in the middle of the cove so we all swam out to it and waved back at the boat. Swallow & Amazons mixed with My Family & other animals!

Really looking forward to France next year with you all. Race you kids to the beach!

Cricket bit of wash out after an excellent fall of wickets this morning but fingers crossed for Mondays play. Freddie, Freddie, Freddie!

love Gem xxxx

Thanks Uncle Steve......

that had us all in stitches!! seriously! x

Vie la France!

Was all that detail about the Gites on the blog before? How come I didn't see it! It just stopped I guess,it all looks very exciting. And now I have stopped wriggling about long term planning, I'm getting excited. I now have school holiday dates,not that I'm against them having a few days of now and then.
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS Autumn half term Mon 24th Oct to Fri 28th Oct
Christmas Wed 21st (happy birthday Pete)to
wed 4th Jan(happy 5oth birthday John)2006
Spring half term Mon 20th Feb to Fri 24th feb(happy birthday Julian)
Easter Wed 12th April Tue 2nd May(happy birthday Edmund)
Summer half term Mon 29th May to Fri 2nd June
Summer Holidays begin on Friday 21st July
So it all looks good for France. I expect we will have to pay a deposit as soon as it's booked. So let us know.
We would rather have enough space and pay abit more than have to sleep anyone on a sofa bed, mostly as I sometimes go through sleepless times and need somewhere to go and read in the middle of the night,rather than keep John awake with my fidgeting.
Sad but true! lots of love Cathy

IOW for fifteen quid?

Hey, we have sunshine and sangria...and on Monarch you can get a flight to Alicante for a tenner! Check this out at Monarch.

Island deals

Wightlink Isle of Wight Ferries operates a round-the-clock service between the English mainland and the Isle of Wight. They run every day of the year on three routes across the Solent and sail up to 230 times a day. But they don't tell you about cheap deals unless you register your email address!!!

I'm off to the Island WITH CAR for £15 one way. Sign up to Wightlink website for news letter.

One for Jess

instructions... go to the loo FIRST

bufdies, bufdies!!

had a lovely day, but didn't actually get to see that much of amy, being a school day. but mum brought in a cake (like she did for me on tuesday!!) and all the kids had a little party i think! she's a sleepin now (or in the proccess) and i want to get an early(ish!) night 'cos i've been getting pretty tired lately. yesterday my frinds and I went to the mall together as a sort of birthday get-together cos i didnt really want anything big. we had alot of fun lol!
about the other get-together, next year... sounds great! i really enjoyed Le Manoire last year. it would be good to see you all again, especially all at once!!
well, looking forward to it..cya then xJx

Happy Birthday Amy

lots of love and see you next year from Uncle Steve

Holiday in France?

A holiday in France? What a lovely sounding smell, as Dad might say. We're very interested in getting up to France next summer. We had wondered if we might be welcome again at New Year Julian, as I have a friend's racing tobogan on my balcony but if you're not there then next summer will do...but of course we won't bring the tobogan. As for the gite? Cannot foresee finances yet but I guess if we can share by halving a house it might be feasible - overwise we'll be forced to camp I reckon. We'll only need two bedrooms, even though there are five of us. Any takers for the other half. We're not noisy, honest!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO AMY JO

LOVE AND BIRTHDAY WISHES TO AMY FROM ALL THE MERROWS

Arrêtez la pression !

Cathy John Edmund Thomas and Kate are driving or flying down too, so they're having one Gite. Margaret and Hugh and Gemma and Clive and Will and Steve in another.
Any more for any more?
To recap then, this Gite comprises 4 separate units which could sleep up to 34 of us altogether and it's slap bang in the middle of a vine yard near the sea about 80 minutes drive from the airport at Carcassonne or 50 mins from Nimes by hire car.
You can even fly to Montpellier from Bristol, Southampton Birmingham Stansted and Gatwick which is half an hour from Meze..
If we can fill all the beds, it's about €100 a head for the week.



This LUXURY GITE for a possible family get together next year in part II of "Now we are 50"!
I've emailed Michel for availability and we can have a choice at the moment.

If you'd like to extend your stay elsewhere, I can recommend KEYCAMP mobile homes for £449 for 6 nights or supertents for £315 (for 2 adults and three children) at Cap D'Adge including a mid-week ferry crossing if people would rather drive down. It's 1500 kms by the way.

ps Dad!.. I've booked the midnight car ferry at Lymington for £15 one way for 00:01 Saturday morning.

Oui, oui, oui...

...to the Merrow-Smith famille en vacances! Count the Hertford Street gang in and pretty positive young Master Will would be up for it!

Let's do it!

Gem x

£60 for a week on Walton's Mountain?

Imagine the best of both worlds.. a family get together by the sea, where you can come and go whenever you please, AND with your own space to escape to for the odd nap, and still be able to spend some pleasant evenings with your folks barbecuing by the pool and sipping the local vino.. CLICK to see website in English.

 


These Gites are absolutely ideal. Am I right or am I right?
They're about 5 minutes from the Etang de Thau and Sete (also known as the Venice of Languedoc), and it's magnificent beaches. The Gites are in a vineyard, consisting of 4 individual self-contained, fully equipped, spacious, comfortable houses.

Three minutes from the center of Meze, with it's numerous shops and restaurants, the gites are situated in a peaceful position amongst the pines & vines. After a day at the nearby beaches you can chill out by the pool or under the pines, light your barbecue and sip the local wines, listening to the cicadas. All along the coast, an enormous golden-sand beach stretches out for twelve long kilometres, uniting sea and sun ; a gentle slope of pale yellow sand against a blue sky.

There are 4 separate spacious gites to choose from :
The large one, consisting of living room / Kitchen : 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms with WC's, one with a bath and one with a big shower, sleeps 8 - 10 people.
There's a built-in kitchen, fully equipped with dishwasher, oven and hob, big fridge freezer and extractor hood.
There's also a washing machine, TV DVD player, air conditioning, and a wood burning stove for winter.

Outside is a terrace with barbecue, table chairs and parasol. Swimming pool covered and heated in winter.

( May to August ): that's 850 Euros per week or €85 per head per week if we fill it.

There are three other smaller ones, each consisting of living room / Kitchen : 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms with WC's, one with a bath and one with a big shower.

These gites sleep 6 - 8 people and also come with built-in kitchen fully equipped with dishwasher, oven and hob, big fridge freezer and extractor hood. Also a washing machine, TV DVD player, air conditioning, and a wood burning stove for winter. Outside terrace with barbecue, table chairs and parasol. Swimming pool covered and heated in winter.
.. in high season May to August these one's are 800 Euros per week each.

So the accommodation is not too expensive is it?

But we do need to get organised.

Who's up for it?

Sounds good to me

We are prepared to start saving - 800 euros = £560 - we could have a really good time. Dad Mum wonders what is included in the qoted figure.

michel he say yes!

I received an email this morning and there is availability for July 2006..

for all four cottages.

"We have dates indicated 4 lodgings:
=================================================================
a lodging of 130 m² with 5 parts: living room, cook, 4 rooms,
2 toilets and 2 bathrooms. Capacity of bed: 8 to 10 people.
Cook very equipped. TV and DVD, Washing machine, dishwasher.
Air-conditioning. External barbecue and terasse. Swimming pool.
Tariff high season (May - August): 850 Euros/ week

- a lodging of 100 m² with 4 parts: living room, cook, 3 rooms,
2 toilets and 2 bathrooms. Capacity of bed: 6 to 8 people.
Cook very equipped. TV and DVD, Washing machine, dishwasher.
Air-conditioning. External barbecue and terasse. Swimming pool.
Tariff high season (May - August): 800 Euros/ week

- a lodging of 100 m² with 4 parts: living room, cook, 3 rooms,
2 toilets and 1 bathrooms. Capacity of bed: 6 to 8 people.
Cook very equipped.TV and DVD, Washing machine, dishwasher. Air-conditioning.
External barbecue and terasse. Swimming pool.
Tariff high season: 800 Euros/ week

- a lodging of 100 m² with 4 parts: living room, cook, 3 rooms,
2 toilets and 1 bathrooms. Capacity of bed: 6 to 8 people.
Cook very equipped. TV and DVD, Washing machine, dishwasher.
Air-conditioning. External barbecue and terasse. Swimming pool.
Tariff high season (May - August): 800 Euros/ week -
==================================================================
Precisez your choice and so that we can establish
a leasing agreement, thank you for
us to communicate your postal address.
Cordially,

or..

there's THIS

Thanks for your blog, Jen

We are just waiting for 12 noon here as we are going out to lunch. I see it is 1825 with you in Sg so the children will not yet be in bed. What lovely photos and aren't they changing - especially Dan Nice ones of Claire also = presumably they were taken in Dublin Road garden. So glad to hear that Claire is doing so well at school. Dan seems to be a true boy 'mewling and puking' and 'Like snail, creeping unwillingly to school'. Shakespeare knew all about boys. I hope Dan will thank you one day. Sorry about his bronchitis - I know all about that also!
Love to be with you all in Cameron Highlands. Perhaps we will win the Lottery
Good luck with your symposium. See you in July for Cath's 50th next year >>>Love from Hugh and Margaret

Life and sorts.....

Hi everyone! Have been AWOL for some time..... no excuse for not blogging. We've been pretty busy here with both Claire and Daniel in school. We had a lovely time in Bali (too short really) but ever since then, both kids plus adults have been down and out with colds, sniffles, mycoplasma infections (!) and poor little Dan was even taken to the A &E (twice on the same day) for nebeulizer treatment.....turned out he'd come down with bronchitis! All's well at the moment.....I guess it's something that kids come down with when they start school! Builds up their immune system!

Claire's doing really well, we've enrolled her in 'big school' which begins on 3rd Jan 2006. She'll be fine. Dan the man is doing his utmost to unenrol himself from nursery.......... he goes through the usual crying and 'vomitting' routine........ Nic and I are immune to that now. We've had a rather hectic year and Nic's pretty snowed down with work and pokemon...hah. We're pretty much stuck in Singapore at the moment...trying to get everything done before the year's out. I've got a breast cancer symposium to attend in San Antonio in December after which, the entire Sng clan (grandparents, daughters, spouses, grandchildren plus helpers) will be going to the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia for a week just before Christmas. We're looking forward to seeing you next year......although it will have to be during Claire's mid-year school holidays (end May to end June!). I've attached some pictures of the kids, they've really grown this year.

Hope to talk to you soon and all the best for the op, Margaret. As Nic said, our offer still stands. Nic can probably testify for the healthcare here. Take care, you're in our prayers.

Love, Jen

Thanks Nic

Mum is having her op in the Island's only Private Hospital which has only been built about 15 years. The hospital is single storeyed, modern, airy and comfortable, with super facilities. The medical staff also do NHS work at St. Mary's Hospital in Newport. I think we have gone too far down the line to change things on this occasion, although of course we appreciate your offer. When I said that consultation fees are £70 a time, this is recoverable from the Lloyds Bank LTU Health scheme. The cost of the op is £3758 and this is also paid for out of the Health Fund. I pay £108 each month to belong to this scheme, which has increased as we get older as the incidence of bodily ailments increases. We are out to lunch today and may not be in when you ring. We are meeting a group of our friends at the Seaview Hotel and will not be home until after 4.pm. Always lovely to hear from you, but the time differences make it unlikely that we will be in when you phone. Once again, many thanks and we will bear your suggestion in mind if things alter. Love to you, to Jen, Claire and Daniel from us two and please don't worry!

Fantastic Singapore

Mums operation. Dad, can you give me an indication of the cost later? If Mum had the operation in Singapore, I think I can use my Medicare fund and have the operation done in a private hospital, also singapore is a much nicer place to have this sort of thing done, and of course to recouperate, then you also have the family here on your doorstep.
When I had my piles sorted, the worst part was the GA they put you under. Also these days we have key hole surgery and stuff like that which is quite invasive and really straight forward. If you don't have these sorts of facilities in IofW or where ever, then the revovery period will be much longer. I'II call you tonight to discuss.

Nic

Mum's Op

Actually, I was a bit dismissive about the reasons for Mum's Hospital visit. She has had a number of Consultations about her urethra (at £70 a time) and her inability to pass water easily. You may remember that she went into the Orchard Hospital last year for an operation to dilate the urethra, but after a while it reverted to the old trouble. Not only that but the Urologist had noted a diverticulum within her bladder which retained a certain amount of wee and without doing a handstand against the loo wall, she felt unable to empty it. This caused her some discomfort, both physical and mental (mostly the latter) as we could not venture very far from a Ladies Loo, and the thought of any long distance travel was very worrying for her. On our last visit to the Urologist I was able to suggest that he carry out three items of surgery - 1 Dilation of the ute. 2. lazer treatment to get rid of the divert===== and 3 attend to a bladder prolapse, which I think is the most important. You guys will have to enquire of your partners what this means. We are scheduled to see the medical team on Monday next to assess her requirements and to meet the medical and nursing staff for a chat. The op is scheduled for 3p.m on Thursday week (15th) and she will probably stay in for 15th and 16th.
Now comes the appeal. After these horrible sounding ops she is going to feel a bit sore and I have yet to enquire if a long car journey (eg to Wales) will be painful and whether it could be recommended. For her to stay at home could be stressful (look at all that dust etc) but it may be an option she is prepared to accept. I will let you all know the surgeon's opinion after Monday. I feel that Cathy would be the best option, but see above. It would also mean upsetting the Nythva household and it is a long way away. It is a long flight from Singapore/Spain/Provence, but perhaps Steve could spare a couple of days.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JESSICA - THANKS FOR YOUR BLOG - VERY GROWN-UP HAVE A LOVELY BIRTHDAY LOVE FROM G & G

Apologies

Sorry to have worried you by sending an e-mail, but I could not get through on the blogger

hi everybody!

long time since I even said hello! how are you all? pretty good I gather. I'm alright i spose. We went into Benidorm today after church to do some VERY last-minute shopping for school shoes, (we seem to be rather good at this last-minute business), and the real reason why I'm probably not 100% ok, is that school starts tomorrow and once we start, we don't stop until christmas. and then next year I start my GCSE course! i never really think about these things! lol. But oh well, apart from that I'm fine.
I'm awaiting my appointment at the doctor's to look into my tendonitis knee, which I'm fed up of having fo a year and decided to do something about!! It limits my sports ability a bit, which i don't like.
Our now new (ish) kittens are doing fine and are a lot happier with being with us now. They used to be extremely cautious of us but they are settling in pretty quickly.
All is well here, and i hope everybody else is too! I have to go now and be a bit of help around the house. See ya! Jess xxx

Hi Bloggers

Birthdays coming up in September. Amy Jo (4th birthday on 9th) Jessica (14th birthday on 6th), At least that is what my list says. Pete and Jan's Wedding Anniversary on ?10th. Also Rebecca's birthday on 23rd and Auntie Joan's on 25th. What a busy month. HAPPY BIRTHDAYS TO ALL OUR READERS.

Love the painting Steve Are you in business for a large colourful one for our bed head? We have Lions in one room, Sur le Pont in another and sunflowers in the small room. Nothing in ours - only a couple of cherubs (on the wall I mean) Space for a Cowes Week interpretation. I hope blog readers will not go to Rick Stein's!!

School back soon, I suppose Good luck to you all and keep smiling. Don't forget my litle message to you Edmund - did you deliberately leave it here. I meant what I said we all love you - keep that in mind.

Julian, we love the latest batch of autumn fruits they are reall stunning and as one of your admirers says You can almost taste the smell. (That it me)
What a lovely photo of the rainbow over Le Ventoux. Have you really lost your ipad, Ruth. Postcards from Bremen made me smile even if they did make you blub. I love reading your blogs. Now you know why Robin Hood could fire his arrows so far - he had a BIG BOW

Where are the Sg blogs these days. Are the children back at school?

Cathy's 50th (and also Jan's birthday) as you may remember Steve has suggested we all meet in the OC region, where he and his in-laws had such a lovely time a couple of years ago. Somewhere near Cap d'agde, Beziers, Perpignan, Carcassonne midway between Pete and Julian and also accessible from the Channel ports for both Cathy and us if we travel by car (as we have done before) p.s John is 50 on 4th Jan 2006. L.O.L from Mum and me,

P.S Forgot to tell you all Mum is going into the Orchard Hospital in Newport on the 15th for some amendments to the waterworks area. Poor darling she has had this trouble for many years. I can only hope that this is the cure-all (again)

Voila!

bedkelly
Originally uploaded by ezappy.

'Art by the Yard' is in business.....!

The Hayes's Picture's up!

kelly3
Originally uploaded by ezappy.

Pete and Fay approve of the painting which is a version of the huge 'Phil Kelly' in the Seafood Restaurant in Padstow.

echo zulu alpha papa papa yankee

(Steve's skype name)... have got my bluetooth headset working with it ..

(translation of police letters)... so I'm not confined to shouting into the laptop! Hurrah! Is anyone online?