New Years Resolution suggestions?

from the Fischl&Weiss show at Tate Modern.

IMAGE_00092
Originally uploaded by ezappy.

Hello from sunny but soon to be blown away Edinburgh. It's warm at the moment but I checked the news this morning and there are no plans to cancel the fireworks despite forecasts of 80mph gusts.
They're tough up here.
I was checking my phone to post a picture for you but have managed to delete the ones I wanted of the fair and the Big Wheel.. (something to do with having a fortifying drink before we went out to Princes Street last night to check on the festive arrangements).
Anyway it all looks fab here in Edinburgh. We're booked in at Vittoria's in Leith Walk tonight so we'll be fed before the festivities begin. We passed through a little Scottish village yesterday about the size of Yarm or Princes Risborough and stacked up about 100 feet from the town hall was the biggest pile of timber and pallets and old furniture I ever saw.

VISIT TO ABERYSTWYTH

Although it was raining quite hard, it was agreed that we all go to Aberystwyth to watch the waves, to have a taste of the open air and to buy some small fish for Thomas's fish tank. We all set off in the Renault, including Cathy's friend Nicky and eight of us piled into the Varsity pub/milk bar, where we all had a hot drink - Super hot chocolate for the children, topped with lashings of cream, coffee for me and cappucino for the ladies, with a pint of the black stuff for John. John then suggested that we have meal at a Greek restaurant and we all sat down to a Greek meal. A variety of Greek dishes, including lamb casserole, meat balls, vine leaves and a jacket for Mum. Since we last went to Aber, the old small retail park has almost doubled in size and that is where we bought the fish (at a monster Pet Shop). At about 7.30pm, Cathy and John, with their three friends went round to the New Inn to say farewell to a special friend who is going to live in MANOSQUE, the town where Cathy and John and family spent some of their summer holiday, and not very far from Bedoin. He is an artist and specialises in portrait painting, so he should be in good company. Nicky and her friend Mark will be coming back to sleep, as they want to be together for New Year's Eve tomorrow. I expect we will be baby-sitting as we are not much for joining in such frivolities. More tomorrow, if you are still interested. Love from Dad and Mum
'

AND NOW - RAIN

First the cold, then the fog and now the rain. which is sweeping along the valley as we look towards 'our' mountain. We are eating FTB and Cathy is such a good host. I think we finished off the last of the turkey, except for gallons of soup cooking in a massive stock-pot. No wonder the children are growing so fast. John has stored up a few tons of wood logs, so there is no fear of any of us freezing - even Mum. No word from Steve, who we imagine to be visiting the fish restaurants of Padstow, prior to his visit to Auld Reekie, to join in the festivals of Hogmanay with all the other Sassenachs - watch out for those claymores, Steve. Well, I think we will have to get the Renault started this morning as the flattery went bat yesterday, just as John was going to take the boys to a neighbour's house. Keep smiling - love from Dad and family.

Kate's Birthday

27th December 2006 and Kate is 11 years old. Everyone sits round her at breakfast waiting for her to open her presents but, like grandad Morgan, she will do it in her own time, undoing each knot in the wrapping, gently prising sellotape away from the paper while the 'givers' get exasperated, waiting for their present to be opened. Everyone is in a good mood as she reveals presents from Aunties, Brothers, Mum and Dad,the people next door and us. She has almost doubled her wardrobe with lovely jumpers, jeans etc as well as books, and the surprise of an Executive Bingo set, which the boys gave her, and which, at the moment, they are all having a go at. John is trying to work out the intricacies of his new De Longhi coffee maker and Cathy is thrilled with our gift of a Jewellery Box with a supply of rings, earring, necklaces etc. We were also able, at the last minute to find a suitable jewellery box for Kate, with a supply of pretty things to please a young lady. A joyous day.
Thank all of you for your celebratory congratulations on our 53rd wedding anniversary. We are really enjoying our visit to Wales, particularly as the weather is improving and all signs of the fog have disappeared. The enormous turkey is gradually getting smaller and the Christmas cake was super. Thanks for the telephone calls from Spain, Singapore and a good try from Provence. The telephone number is 01974 298071, with the usual 00 33 in front.
I hear a call for coffee, so I will close, wishing you all good fortune for the New Year.
Your loving Dad and Mum.

Anniversaries and such

Happy Anniversary and congratulations Mum and Dad, tried to phone the welsh contingent but getting a wrong number call from the operator. Will try again later. I hope you are all having a fabulous time. We are out today with anglo/scottish friends (at their winery) playing games and doing other traditional boxing day stuff (not a french thing). Still very cold and bright here. Missing you all. Lots of love Julian

Merry Christmas everyone..

A brief but heartfelt vote of thanks to all our contributing bloggers and readers, family and friends and for all the cards texts emails and messages. A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all with lots of love from ezappy.. (sorry no web fireworks or fancy graphics today as our Cornwall hideaway is too far from the exchange for broadband and I'm online courtesy of my mobile phone!)

We are just about to sit down to Christmas Dinner

We set out at 0830 from home on 22nd and after a stay at the Severn Arms in Pen-y-bont, near Llandrindod Wells we set out on the last lap of our journey at about 10 am yesterday morning in thinning fog, heading for Rhayader and the mountain track down to Tregaron. We slowly drove in thick fog along the narrow track, through the sheep, which appeared out of the fog like rocks, following the white line in the centre of the road until we thankfully arrived in the woods at Hafod, where the fog was beginning to thin out. Then we had an ice warning - only just in time, as a waterfall had left the roads thick with ice. We went along side the Elan river and suddenly the skies cleared, we could see red kites in the sky and the sun came out, creating another hazard as the reflection of the sun on wet roads was as bad as the fog. We eventually came out into the open and from there to Tregaron we moved along fairly quickly, until we eventually arrived at Nythfa. to a lovely welcome from Cathy and family - My aren't those boys growing?
Spent the evening in front of a lovely log fire and turned in about 11pm. Great excitement next morning as Father Christmas had arrived and we could not wait until 11am for the distribution of presents. Everyone was catered for and we opened our presents and watched with pleasure as others opened presents from us. We then went to Cathy's neighbours where we drank Bucks fizzes, until it was time to see how the turkey was fairing in the oven. Thanks to all those who sent us preents and good wishes. Cathy has done a marvellous job of preparing our dinner and in an hour or so we will all be sitting down to turkey dinner with 'all the trimings' Phase II willfollow later. We hope you are all enjoying your Christmas, in Singapore, Provence or on the Costa Blanca and we hope our dear Steve is having fun in Padstow. Hope to see you soon, Steve, thanks for all the presents. LOL Mum and Dad

united birthday greatings from wales!

Sorry Pete, for missing your birthday but happy birthday anyway!
Edmund would send a flaming text but he's asleep right now.
Happy birthday!!!!!!!!!!
love from everyone here

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR READERS

TO ALL OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR WIVES/PARTNERS AND TO ALL OUR GRANDCHILDREN (AND CLIVE), WE WISH YOU A HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND GOOD HEALTH, GOOD FRIENDSHIP AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL FOR 2007. LOVE FROM HUGH AND MARGARET, MUM AND DAD AND GRANDMA AND GRANDAD.
WHICHEVER YOU SUPPORT

Happy Barkday Peter

click here for vocals

Dear Everyone, Especially Peter, as we celebrate your birthday with you today, a call to Spain is on the cards.

We are trying to have a bit of a Singapore holiday, but alas we have a lot of rain. On Tuesday we took the kids to "Snow City" -10 indoors, + 28 outdoors. So our kids experienced snow and making snow balls for the first time. We went down a pretty gentle safe slope on innertubes, made snowballs and tried to keep warm. Brought back memorys of thrashing down that amazing steep and dangerous ski run on Chinnor Hill, also the run down from the sheep pen and trying to make it all the way to Eggletons farm somehow. Reports of smashed sledges, broken arms etc. Mum must have been so pleased to see us all alive and well after, if not a little frozen though as we thawed out in front of the fire, avoiding chill blaines and eating crumpets. We are thinking of a big trip to OZ or New Zealand next year to experience the outdoor. Such moments remind me of Ian Cook too, I will always remember him for his big hugs, true friendship, patience and imagination. He is the last person I would expect to be taken from us so early, sending a message out to us all to take care of ourselves. Our prayers go out to his wife Alison and son Sam, and his family in England.

On a brighter note, Happy birthday Peter. Glad to see you received the package Dad, enjoy your Christmas in Wales, I need to get making a list of people to call over the weekend.

Got to go.

Nic

Happy Birthdays!

Not only is it my last day at work tomorrow, but it's birthday celebrations too! Now Ruby is two years old tomorrow and is having a birthday tea party with all her friends round. What's Uncle Pete up to? Will be thinking of you both when I have my first Christmas drink in 'The Royal Oak' on Woodstock Rd tomorrow afternoon!
Love to all

Gem xxx

NIC THANKS FOR SUPER PARCEL WOTALOTOFSTAMPS

Received parcel ok yesterday. Everything fits wot a lovely smell, too. we are both thrilled love from mum & dad

Hi, Cath and John, Edmund, Thomas and Kate

We are looking forward to spending Christmas with you and we hope to arrive at Nythfa on Sunday, after spending a night in the Severn Arms in Pen-y-Bont, so that we will be refreshed for the Welsh part of our journey along the Elan Valley. See you soon --love from Dad and Mum

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO PETER ON THURSDAY

I know what you mean, Pete - October, November and December birthdays seem to gallop round - Auntie C, Steve, Nic, Katy, Robert, Claire, Uncle Peter, Dan and now you. We have another Kate birthday on 27th, when we will be in Nythfa. We didn't sort things out very well 43 years ago, but winter 1962 was a very cold period with milk being deliverd in Haddenham by sledge and Haddenham cut off from Thame. I think the snow went on until March, when we started looking for houses in Chinnor. We knew you were on the way, so it was quite important for us to get settled before the big occasion. We loved you then and we still do. It was lovely to see you and your lovely girls in July, and we look forward to seeing you all next year.
We saw a film on telly called Twister, yesterday, which reminded us of a trip we had to Palopwe? when we were surrounded by lightning strikes and spent Christmas Eve huddled together in your lounge singing carols by candle light as all electricity was cut off, and then a lightning strike demolished the tree in next door garden. Heyho! We went down to the Limpopo on your birthday and did some cross-country 4x4 ing to look for elephants, which we never found. We hope you enjoy your birthday card - shades of Moremi! It may be a bit late as our post ofice letter box gets very full. Never mind - the thought is the thing. Have a super birthday. Love from Mum and Dad

Calling all cars...

Hello out there, Spain here...

Sorry to all those who have had birthdays since October the first. This includes my super bruvvers who I love dearly though I seldom seem to be in contact at the moment; And more recently nephews and neices who we all love to pieces too. It's not that we forget so much...it's just that the weeks with birthdays in seem to slip by faster than other weeks...and as we get older the number of birthdays increases as the family expands, so more weeks slip past like mercury and ultimately we find time itself slips by faster and faster - until one day we won't notice time going by any more. My new years resolution will be to take more affirmative action when the signs first appear on the horizon to stop the pressure building up. Unfortunately I have (once again) learnt the hard way, fighting fire since October and finding the time slipping by faster than I'd like. Still, as I noticed this I guess I'm still alive. Hopefully this revelation will allow me to make some provision next year.

Nic, I was really saddened to learn about Cookie. Of all your school mates he was perhaps the most engaging when I was a youngster foraging for conkers down Oakley Lane; he was always interested in anything I had to say which was pretty unusual considering how un-cool it was to talk to someone three years younger when you are fourteen or so! I'll always remember him for that. Very sad. Pass on my condolences to all your buddies; Toni, Guy, Tim, Simon and Adam I guess are the core of the gang...and of course the family.

We have played and sung four carol sing-a-longs in four days (two wet, two dry), plus a carol service this morning in church and our voices are now fair tattered! Three days of exams now follow (oh, bliss - no lessons to teach!) with a final day trip to the local bowling alley to finish the term. Then, a well-earned break for me (honest) and a season of feasting shall commence. And yes, we will be getting a jamon in!

Love to all, Pete

Asimo

I saw this amazing Honda Robot advert on tv last night and thought you may like to see it. It's quite touching!

If you want to see the Asimo robot without the glossy editing and attempting a flight of stairs in real time click here. Ouch!

Also had a bit of a bargain this week as WHSmith are selling Gordon Ramsay's new sunday lunch book for £7.99, down from £19.99 that's cheaper than the internet.

Off to hit the shops for those last minute christmas bits later. Wish me luck!

gem xx

Thanks, Julian

Whatever you did sems to have worked out fine as it is exactly the blog I started- I don't know what happened but everything is ok now thanks for the tweaking. LOL Dad

June has stayed with us

June came to K/S on Monday and we slept on the futon in the conservatory, very comfortably. June slept in our bedroom on our bed. She travelled by train from Otford, expecting to alight at K/S but the train times changed on 11th Dec and the train did not stop at K/S so I had to go to Banbury to meet her at 12.35pm. Home in 10 minutes to a salad meal, then we spent an afternoon with her, before Mum treated us all to a lovely beef stew, with the compulsory white Hock, which June loves.
Next day we were up early and on our way up the M40 to visit Auntie Lenny. Intead of going straight to her Care Home. Sue and Keith invited us to the bungalow, peviously the family home, in Bewdley, now occupied by Keith and Sue, and vey nicely too, as all their best furniture from their home in Wolverley, fitted just right in 'Beryl and Alan's' bungalow. Unfortunately Lenny was unable to join us and Sue put up a very nice light lunch and afterwards we three went to Prestwood Nursing Home to spend a couple of hours with Lenny. She looked remarkably well and we soon had her smiling and joining in with us in a very happy occasion. That was at 2.20pm and by about 4 o'clock the weather was looking unsettled and it was beginning to get dark, so we went off on the M42 back to Banbury at 5pm, via Bromsgrove, which we have done on many previous occasions. We tried to get into the " Bowling Green" , but they do not start meals until 7pm, so we tried the Butchers Arms in K/s with similar results so we rang up the Rose and Crown in nearby Charlton and we each had a lovely meal, before returning home for another night on the futon. This morning Mum had a 9am appoinment with the Podiatrist in Brackley and we all three went along where Mum had her 'first patient' appointment. We were away by 9.30am and after buying some necessaries in the Co-op we took June to the station in K/S for her to catch the train back to Marylebone. It seems to be a remarkably easy way of travelling out of the Village as it calls at Bicester, Haddenham and H/Wycombe aand gave us ideas for seeing old friends. Now we are home and getting back to normal after our interesting trip yesterday. We have sent off most of our CC's and today we will have a rest. lol Dad and Mum

First turkey dinner of the season.

I've just come back from christmas lunch with my old open university colleagues. We went to the Four Pillars at Sandford-On-Thames. It was very nice and we were looked after well. Perhaps a venue for someone's 80th next year?

Oxford Thames Four Pillars

lv Gem

By the way I saw Jane Merrow-Smith in Sainburys last week. Says hello to everyone!

Weekly update

I was anxious to send our sympathies to Audrey Cook, following the death of her son Ian in Oz, where he lives with an Australian wife and young son. The funeral will be in Oz and Audrey and Pauline have flown out there for the funeral. Ian was 46 and he died of a heart attack, while out camping with another of the gang, Tim Horner and his young son.
Nic's 'Best Friend', Ian, came over to England to attend Nic's wedding to Karen many years ago. Nic is talking about coming to UK if there is to be a memorial service in Chinnor Church. Ian's family were well known in Chinnor and his father, Malcolm died a few years ago and there was a memorial service in St Andrews Church. Audrey Cook is naturally heartbroken to lose first her husband and then her son. I must have talked to Jean Mason for 20 minutes, as her son Neil, who is about the same age. Nice to talk to her and I realised who she was following a "guess who this is" chat. I was trying to remember the voice and I cottoned on after a minute or so. So, Julian, now you know the cause of death so be careful. I expect Nic knew from his informant Tony Cozzi. Now I know, from Jean, Audrey's address but she asked me not to speak on the phone as Audrey is so cut up (and she is in Oz). Take you y'all Love from Dad

from JR

From Julian:

Happy Birthday Claire and Happy Birthday Daniel!!!!

Terribly sorry to hear about Ian. How did he die?

We are still toying with the idea of the Far East next year. If not, maybe we will see eachother in the UK in January. Let me know the dates. Or of course you have an open invitation to see us in our wreck any time.



From Ruth:

Hello everyone and here is Manon licking Claire and Daniel happy birthdays. Sorry we are so bad about dates but we do think about you all.

We are sitting in our cardboard cutout kitchen with the terra cotta tiles outside in the rain and no time to lay them! It is still amazing and we count our blessings every day. Hugh and Margaret you will be the first to visit when it is habitable! (strange how one goes through phases of thinking it is habitable before the next batch of work begins!)

I have been home for long enough to know that it is a very good place to be. Working like crazy on what i hope will be a book one day while julian works even crazier on a portrait or 3 kids due at christmas. Today he managed to get the baby looking more innocent and less menacing. Today was a triumph! He really is amazing! we meet for dinner which he cooks (is cooking which is why i am writing!) not a bad life ...until i have to go away again!

Tomorrow I have persuaded hub to go away for a day - to San Remo market to stock up with pasta and ham and parmesan and lunch in Italy. If we leave at 7 we should be there by 10 having a good cappucc. The Mister needs a break!

I do hope we see you here in Jan, Nic.

Thought y'all might like this pic of tatties in Avignon market, knowing you love and fight for those small brown tubers.



Love to everyone.

Happy Birthday Daniel

penbluwdd hapus i ti daniel
penblwydd happus i chi

Lots of love from the Welsh contingent
Aunty Cathy, Uncle John,
and big brothers Edmund and Thomas
and big sister Kate.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Oh Danny Boy

Oh Danny Boy
Originally uploaded by ezappy.

Here you can pick up your egreeting Daniel..CLICK GREETING

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DEMOLITION DAN

WE HOPE YOU WILL ALL ENJOY DAN'S BIRTHDAY. Today is 7th December and tomorrow is the BIG DAY for Dan. Four years old and never been kissed. Mum always blames our big family on my love of 4-year-old boys. They are so cute. They know nothing but do everything. Keep up the good work, Dan. We hope the collar bone has healed. Perhaps that will teach you to stay in your own bed.

Finding Neverland

Dad, if you have still got Finding Neverland, stick it back in the machine and see if you can find Neil Mason. When Mol was here last year we talked about his work on various films as an extra, one of which was Finding Neverland, He met Johhny Depp and was on first name terms with him during the shooting of it. If I remember rightly, Neil is in the scenes at the Opera House when there are quite a few posh nobs mingling on the stairs...

Back to the Christmas cards

We had a very pleasant evening at the Banbury House Hotel last night - getting a bit weary of turkey, though. June is coming by train to stay for a couple of nights next Monday/Tuesday and we will be travelling up to see Lenny on Tuesday.
We have cancelled our projected trip to Reading for this coming weekend, and instead we will try and get a free bus ride to Milton Keynes, as Mum is concerned that we are short of Christmas presents. Who wants What??. Dan's birthday on Friday 8th, so let Nick know what you would like to send Dan and he will do his best to buy locally in Singapore. Four is an awkward age for someone who lives so far away.
We hire DVD's and have just watched 'Finding Neverland', which we enjoyed very much. Next is Lawrence of Arabia.

From Singapore

Folks, sad to learn from my friends that my great buddy Ian Cook passed away in Australia in November, same day Daniel broke his collar. We may be having a tribute gathering of sorts in January, so I may be making a visit.

On a lighter note, I have exchanged contracts on my Ivinghoe property, with the sale set to complete on 7th December. So now is the time to call in any debts!!


Love Nic & family.

Kerching

Have just found out about these two websites. If you're doing some your Christmas shopping online and making the postman do the work like me (well I did spend four years working for HMV so you can understand my aversion to Christmas shoppers!). I've just used a couple of discount codes and magically the total price was discounted without a catch - worth checking outas major stores like Boots, HMV, M&S, John Lewis...

http://www.vouchercodes.com/

http://www.latestdiscountvouchers.co.uk/

Lv G

Flamin Nora

Image by FlamingText.com

From Edmund,
Aunti Cathy,
John,
Thomas,
and Kate!

Happy Birthday Claire

lv Gem & Clive xx

Claire says thank you all for your birthday wishes and the musical cards which we have just visited and enjoyed so much. Daddy says that the days of receiving lots of cards by post seems to have gone, but that's OK because we like the songs and the funny cards.

Today is my birthday and I am Seven years old. I share my birthday with Jimmy Hendrix, Bruce Lee and Sir Ralph Freeman who designed the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

I've had lots of lovely presents, best of all is "Hamee" who keeps our two goldfish company.

I love you all wherever you are.

Is not Rat is Hamster!

(click on photo for larger version)
Originally uploaded by ezappy.

Um it's a day early here but at your house it should be tomorrow soon so HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREETINGS
Grandad and Grandma and Uncle Steve toasted your very good health over a pint of Hooky at the Great Western Arms

near Aynho. lots of love from us all and to your brother as well.

Valvona&Crolla

ValvonaCrolla
Originally uploaded by ezappy.

Hi Barbara.. Gemma Clive and I will be popping in here for a coffee and Italian egg&bacon banjo after Christmas as we'll be up for the Hogmanay Princes Street Bash!

Urban Legend or Photoshop Job?

Clive's Mum Elaine emailed me these fascinating pics (from her friend Dee in the states). The photos were supposedly taken in a zoo in Bangkok and the keepers have dressed the piglets like cubs to treat Mama Tiger's depression (caused by losing her own litter). Others say it's a cynical tourist attraction....or a clever photoshop trick? Cute pyjamas though.

gem xx

SORRY BARBARA

I am sorry I said you had a restaurant - perhaps one day. Best wishes from Margaret & Me

Message for Pete

I am sending you the provisional layout of our bungalow. As you will see, we could not face throwing away our lovely G-plan table, chairs and matching sideboard, so the room scheduled for a second bedroom has been re-allocated as a dining room, which we use for all eating (except TV teatime). This is the room which Cathy and Steve floored for us with the 'new' flooring of laminated 'wood' - beech effect, which looks and feels lovely. In time I will get round to adding a mantelpiece of the wood which I saved from your old pine bed ( I could not throw away such heaven sent wood) and I will provide a bookcase to hold all the books I was persuaded to bring along. I have been down to the DIY store and bought some suitable shelving. All I want is some good weather and the inclination to get off my butt. You will see from previous blogs that we are getting out and about. It is nice to have a reserve so that we can eat out when we want to. There is something to be said for downsizing our accommodation. We both hope you have all benefitted from the girls' TV rehearsals. Should be fun to see, if ITV is still going in February. Don't forget Claire's birthday on 27th. A birthday blog would suit fine.

BARBARA RICH HAS A RESTAURANT IN AULD REEKIE

I don't know the name of it, Perhaps Cathy or Julian may help. Glad you are not wasting away, like us.
Last night we went to a Catenian 'do' with our new found friends in the village, Nic and Anna Frazer. (about the same age as Steve and Cathy) Not Scottish, even with a Scottish sounding name - they come from Deeside. Nic works for Deutsche Poste in Croydon and Anna teaches cello at Stowe School, once a week. It was strange as, in their car (They kindly shauffered us to the do) we learned that Anna knows Claire, Dominic and Paul Morgan from student days (especially Dominic, as I gathered). Is he still single? she says? Anyway the 'do' was at the Moon and Sixpence, a very old pub in the village of Hanwell off the B4100 (shades of author Somerset Maughan; and George Sanders in the film of the same name.) The 'reception' was a surprise as we had steak and kidney pudding - not for years have we had such a gargantuan meal, preceded by a beautiful wild mushroom soup. Mum enjoyed her S&K and we both had a lovely evening - depite the rain. Next 'do' is 4th December - Christmas party in the Banbury House Hotel - black tie dinner and dance. Sunshine this morning. Steve - Lilian, next door is 70 today - what a kitten!! LOL M&D

hoots mon!

greetings from Bornnie Scortland! Ay ye sassenachs!
Have just been to local Italian! restaurant and feeling very fine after Scaloppina alla Milanese
(Pan fried Veal in breadcrumbs, served with Spaghetti in Napoli sauce and French Beans) followed by Affogato al Amaretto (Vanilla ice cream, drenched with Amaretto liquer, biscuits & granules, fresh cream and wafers excellent italian cuisine.)
Am staying in East London Street which about 100 yards from John Lewis' in the city centre and going Christmas shopping in the morning. Any requests? Tartan Shortbread anyone?
I'd forgotten about the chill factor up here so it feels a bit cooler than it is. It's no wonder the scots have invented internal central heating hic!
love to all
greetings to JR.. have got email taa!

hi, Steve, up there in bonny Edinburgh

We hope you enjoyed the short flight - reminds me of the time we flew from Orapa to Jo'burg - only took 50 minutes or so, in a small aircraft. Are you enjoying auld reekie (as the Eds call it). We had a very good friend Major Bill Haynes stationed in the Barracks who was in the Royal Educational Corps and was the Chief Man there for many years. His father-in-law was my Godfather Cyril Tutton G.C. His widow, Joan lives in Dunoon, I think. She is usually the first Christmas Card sender (Now that Dot is no longer with us) She must be in her late 80's now - if still alive. Keep working and enjoy Princes Street - supposedly the most beautiful street in Scotland.
I have just received yet another BT phone for my Hub - very tiny - I am charging it up now for 16 hours. See you soon. Love from Mum and Dad

How lovely is Youth

Thanks Nic and Jen for the two lovely photos of Claire and Demolition Dan - have we not got some beautiful grandchildren,- from Gemma and Will, the Welsh contingent, and those three Spanish ladies (Sorry Jan - Four). I seem to have lost the photos which you put up yesterday, Nic. Perhaps it was something to do with the nasty Hacker on Julian's website.
Ten minutes later - the photos have come back. Love from Mum and Dad

Folks, here (I hope) are some of the photos I've been trying to post

Gill & Barbara

Gill&Barbara.jpg
Originally uploaded by hewzappy.

Who remembers these lovely babysitters from Haddenham days?
This is Gill Hawkins (as was) and Barbara Battista who is Julian's Godmother.
The photo arrived in the post with a 'welcome to your new home' card the other day.
We've been exchanging Christmas cards now for nearly 45 years! Don't they look well?

Singapore Update

Dear all, havn't posted a blog for yonks. We always read your bloggs and talk about your events, I really miss out on those authentic festivals Peter, we have all this stuff which is great too, but not the street Catherine Wheels.

So a bit of an update. The Botanic gardens have been upgraded and now there's a much better visitors centre, underground parking, a herbivarium or whatever they would call it for growing plants, a very authentic man made stream which runs through the gardens down to Holland Road which we followed to it's source (about 500 meters) only to discover tadpoles. We've been there twice recently, I took some ace pictures but I need to learn how to get them from the phone to the computer as I now have Jens old phone.

Claire has been kept busy off school, swimming lessons, art & craft etc. and Danial has been keeping us busy with periodic hospital visits. First transcient synovialitis, which was himknocking his knee triggering this lock jaw effect in his groin, so he spent the night in traction sometime in August, then last night he rolled off the sofa only to land on his collar bone and fracture that, so he's now a bit incapacitated.

With Claire's birthday coming up, she has been asking for a big fat smelly Guinea Pig, which we were not thrilled to have in our house. So after reading up on the pro's and con's of the short life of a Hamster, we have opted for a Saphire Dwarf Hamster, yet to be named. Here's a pic I think.

And Jen is fining, looking forward to here Ivinghoe payout, whatever that means!

pause

had a pause as j made a mock up of the kitchen to be and, tho walls by no means gobetied or plastered, or underfloor heating or tiles lain, or granite top cut...it suddenly felt right and we COOKED and ENTERTAINED for the first time in months! here is the host looking his wondrous best.

Just got back from cinema

and it was absolutely fantastic - go see. The best Bond ever...seriously.

night night

G x

Today I'm been mostly

crib
Originally uploaded by ezappy.

building a woodshed but heh look
..it's a Crimble Crib!
Where's the angels. I've got a 500watt star banging on...OY! Get those camels orf my lorn!

Message for Will - Genes re-united

Hi William John, You will have to blame your dad for this as he got me interested in seeing who my Arnell relatives are. I get very involved, so I am not bothering to extend my enquiries. My cousin's daughter sussed who I was and the fun goes out of it when you are talking to someone you have known from a baby. I have learned who my fifth cousin twice removed is and I don't want to be bovvard. Glad you are trying to find out who your relatives are - but why?? I don't think we have any b;ack sheep which would make it interesting - only ME. It was lovely to see you the other day - Grandma sends her love.

Weekly Update

Yes, we are both still alive, happier, now that we have a new floor to our dining room (with very many thanks to some very hard work by Cathy and Stephen). The floor is birch and I have today been able to bring in from the garage all our large books of Artists, Gardens, Cookery, Bobby Sngs Christian stamp books, and a variety of other large books which we were afraid may be getting damp. (in the event, they were all packed in strong cardboard boxes and were all in very good condition). I have stacked them on the top of the sideboard, above which I intend to fix some shelving. Other books have been stacked on the G plan Chest of drawers which took pride of place in our bedroom at 92. These, also I hope to re-site in some bookshelves. Yesterday was a visit to our doctors in Brackley, me to get a check on my chest troubles by means of a spyrometry test, (which I was very pleased with and Mum to discuss with the doctor her weight loss, which she was quite happy with, after which we popped in to the very large Co-Op supermarket, for some milk, bread and butter.
Underneath this large store is a similar large area, called the Brackley Antique Cellar, containing over 100 'antique' and collectors shops, each about the size of our bedroom. I was both fascinated and amazed that a small town, like Brackley could maintain such a super mass of old shops. Everything you could think of, most have 'collectors' items and some have fairly modern things. Next time we get a visitor, I hope to show them what a super place this is. Mum bought a small candy legged stool/ coffee table, which she is thrilled with. There is a 'modern' group of shops which sold kitchen equipment and another which sold mirrors. Some sold period or the older country cottage furniture. Mum hopes we can go again in the near future as she wants a very large bevel edged mirror to give extra light to the wall opposite the window in our lounge as this will give an impression of another window and an additional area of light. We then went into a little old-fashioned restaurant for lunch and we did not get home until nearly 6pm, having left home at 0840 to visit the Health Centre. Today we have been tidying up - me in my little office and mum doing mum things. Talk to you all again soon. I hope you and Clive enjoy your visit to see the new James Bond's Casino Royale, Gems. It has had some good reports.

Premium Bond

I've given in - the slick marketing, the repeated TV trailers annoucing the arrival of our new Bond (the rather lovely & buff Daniel Craig), the new Aston Martin DBS and a whole week of ITV showing the previous adventures (Live & Let Die was last night). Clive & I are booked in to see the new Bond film Casino Royale when it opens here on Thursday night.

I can't wait

what's with the false teeth?

Jpegs and DVD players

If we were to get a modern DVD player that can do slideshows of jpeg photographs from a CD, will this machine recognise my photos from iPhoto without the need to export them all first as jpegs? I say this because when I dumped a load of iPhotos onto CD and gave them to a friend who has a PC, the photos couldn't be read on their PC and I have a suspicion that modern DVD players might show similar idiosyncracies due to their Windows based application software. Who knows? Who has a DVD player that reads their iPhotos directly from a freshly burned CD?

working

here i am, having 'gobetied' myself by accident! Work goes on apace. We'll get there in the end!

Lovely African Videos

We hope you enjoyed your guests, Pete and Jan, We have, on accasions, looked at some of the Botswana footage on VHS and would like to change them to DVD, Even some of the still Photos are worth a re-look. This weekend we have both Cathy and Steve to help us do improvements to our litle house. Cathy is sleeping in our glass room and Steve is travelling from Oxford, Today we are going to lay a birch wood floor in our dining room. At least THEY are (with me trying to help where possible). Hava a good day. Y'all. We loved the Alphaz pictures!!

Old video footage...

Tonight Colin and Carol from next door are coming round for a bite to eat and as Colin is a Rhodesian I was spurred into reviewing some old video footage today of our trip to Chobe, Vic Falls, Hwange and Rhodes Grave in Matopos. Both Nic and I look frighteningly slim, the girls are both younger than Amy is today and Mum and Dad are much the same, only a little younger of course. How time flies. What a great piece of footage watching Dad going up in the glider and us all walking out over the salt pans of the Makgadikgadi. Have you still got the video, Dad? I'm going to try converting this one to DVD next time I get a minute.

Anywway, guests have just arrived, so I'm off now. Love to all!

Correfocs

The correfocs was a good evening. I went down to Alfas with Jessica and Bethany to get involved. It was the same group doing it that Jan and I saw two years ago and it was pretty impressive.

A band of drummers and pipe players preceeds the main party of flame throwing monks who set out to try to get everyone dancing by running at you like this...








Then they all start spraying catherine wheels about and you have to try to get underneath them, like this...














At various points, as you follow a route through the town, you get fireworks displays where the main objective it to take a shower of sparks













The guy who is dressed in jeans with a scarf on his head to the left on one of these pictures is actually the Mayor of Alfas!













Here we are getting involved (Jessica in red)













Occassionally they send the bulls in to chase and disperse the crowds!








and this is at the end when the monks do a finale on the stage amid a huge spread of roman candles...



Anyone want to come over for next year?

She's here

After driving alone for most of the day, Cathy eventually arrived here to a hero's welcome. We had been shopping in Banbury's lovely market and had bought lots of goodies, including some massive King Prawns and some lovely cod fillets which we soon disposed of by eating in our re-hashed dining room. We spent some time clearing the conservatory to enable us to put up the futon and make it look very cosy. I hope she sleeps well and warm, on this cold night Brrrrr. hope she is still with us in the morning!!!!!! Night all. Dad

New friends and old friends

The past couple of weeks have been amazing as, not only have we been contacted by old friends, but we have made some new ones. Last Sunday we had lunch wih Josie and Graham in their house in Eynsham, then midweek we had lovely photos and a welcome card from baby sitters of old. On Monday I went to the Banbury Catenians and met new friends there, especially Nick Frazer, who lives opposite the school in the village and who took me in his Ford MPV to Banbury to meet a host of other new friends - Catenians all. A very lovely evening with more food than I could manage and an inclusive wine dinner, which did not help my night cramps. Yesterday we tried out the journey from here to Bicester, in order to dump some stuff at the Council dump in Ardley and then had lunch in Bicester with a look round to see where the local Bicester Operatic Society were putting on Carousel in the Leisure Centre. Last night we went to the show, with old friends from the Chinnor Op. now renamed the Chinnor Musical Theatre, in Bicester. This was our third visit Kings Sutton - Bicester in the day and, of course we had to return for the fourth, after the show. To Pete and Jan - we met Chris Wright who was co-producing the show and played the part of Nettie Fowler. Her voice is as good and strong as ever. We also met Pam Lafferty, whose daughter Chloe is about to make her a grandma, Brenda Goffin, who has no intention of leaving Thame, despite now being a widow, Judy Thomson, who still runs a very busy piano school. (Ben is a school teacher and George drives a crane - I thought she said 'train') Adrien is still busy singing but he is worried over his weight gain, as he has over active thyroid troubles. Also we met the Daniels, Barbara and Brian who have put aside stage work and now sing in a choral Society in Aylesbury. They all send their love to you guys in Spain. Incidentialy, it only took us 30 minutes to get home last night on the B4100, Love from Dad and Mum. Incidentally, Pete we loved the B&W photos uf the Junior Welsh contingent.

Again, but not so incidentally, Cathy has just rung us to say she is on the way and will be here later. Lovely

What do teachers do on their holidays?

Pam's visit

Hi all. Sorry if we have been 'away' for a few days, but I always seem to miss what is happening after school breaks and I put my feet up for a day or two. It is half term at present and Alfas is having its fiestas rained out which is a real pity. Pam has also been here for a few days and the weather wasn't up to much for her either. She flew back this morning from Alicante and of course this afternoon the sun has come out.



Funny. While we were at the check in we ended up right behind Janine Duvitski and three other actors from the sit com the girls have been working in. We didn't embarass them or ourselves by blurting it out but we did chat to one of the backstage staff who worked quite closely with the girls when we saw her at another check-in.



Funny old world.

I wanna..

come too :-((

meet at Worcester

suits me. Except forM5 M42, M40 motorway section, this is the same route as I suggested

What about..

How about all meeting up at Worcester
for lunch or something?

ViaMichelin 3hrs 22mins

ANOTHER ROUTE FOR YOU

Take the road from Tregaron via Cwmystwyth, to either Rhayadar (A44) or Langurig (A470), follow A44 through Leominster and Bromyard, to Worcester, (a very nice road through 'black and white' villages,) then pick up the A422 towards Alcester, heading for Stratford-on-Avon (there is a small link road, the A46, between Alcester and Stratford) and pick up the A422 again from Stratford to Banbury, cross Junction 11 of the M40, and continue to follow A422 towards Brackley for a mile or two until you get to a five-junction roundabout - number four on the roundabout goes to Kings Sutton 4 miles and then you are here.
We used to follow that route as it is not a busy road = The worst bit is arriving at Worcester from Bromyard and trying to find the A422, as you have to go through the town streets until you find the road to ALCESTER.
Do not be afraid to ask if you think you may be in danger of getting lost in Worcester, as it is pretty straightforward. We are only at the end of a phone, also. From your loving Dad

Lovely to hear from you, Cath

Sorry you are feeling so wretched my darllng - of course it would be lovely to see you again. Why not try that route I sent you, via Ryadar and along the A44, Leominster and skirting Worcester, instead of the A40? Can't be any worse, surely.
I will look it up again. We have booked a visit to Bicester tmorrow to see CAROUSEL, produced by Chris Wright from Chinnor Ops, but other than that we are free until next week although we are visiting the dentist in Banbury on Thurs at 11am.which shouldn't take long. Keep your mobile open when you decide to come.

I'm here too,Dad!

Just at home doing Mum type things, it's been a busy week what with Halloween(it's always quite a big thing here as all the children are dressed up and are out around the village with their mums and you get told not to forget so an so as they will be expecting the children and not to forget the old people in the bungalows as they have bought sweet in),then a day in bed with another bout of illness, a chistening in the little Chapel on Saturday, and the village bonfire and fireworks last night the first time its been a dry night since we have been here!!!
What are you up to this week I thought I might come over and see you on my own and stay! I've been abit depressed about how far it is to you as I was hoping that the journey wouldn't be so long and that we would be able to pop over for a pub lunch with you quite regularly but it took me five and a quarter hours both ways the last week, or was it the week before, and I can't see how to make it quicker but perhaps I will be pleasantly surprised. Anyway I'll speak to you later as I have to go shopping now,we're out of milk butter and soap powder again!! Lots of love thinking of you all the time Cathy xxxxx

Home..

yes we're back, great fun.. on the way back saw the Pierro della Francesca frescos - ooh tongue twister - in Arrezo on our stopover, then had lunch with one of the jurors from Chimay - an American Opera singer that happened to live nearby, and then drove home leaving at 4pm passing Sienna, Florence, Pisa and Genoa at grande vitesse and arriving home at 11:30, we've put 4000kms on it already.... the great thing is the iPod plug in the glove box we took all our LP's in a thing the size of a mobile phone. More anon, got the water running in the kitchen yippeee!

JUST HOME FROM BRACKLEY

Travelling west from Brackley with a low sun in my eyes was a bit of a trial, but we are home now. The garage has to order a new middle box for my silencer before it can pass the MOT test.
I have had a thorough varbal going over by the Ashma nurse to get down all my symptons. More next week. I have also had a three-monthly hormonal implant and need not have another until Jan 007. Everyone else thinks I am fit. Wish I did! Where is everyone - are you due back today, Julian and did you enjoy your new toy Mini??

One thing I missed

In the post this morning was a very funny welcome to new home card from Gill, with photos of their recent meeting in London of both Gill and Barbara - our baby sitters when you were all small (incidentally, Barbara is Julian's God Mother). They are now, of course nearly 50 years older now, but look fantastic. I will try and get Steve to put the photos on the blog for you all to see. You will see why I chose them to baby sit for us, as they both worked in my office when I worked for the Bucks County Council in Aylebury. Gill lived in Pitstone and Barbara lived in Wendover, and time has been very kind to them, as you will see. We have just had the lady from next door (Lillian) in for cup of coffee and we are now off to see the doctor. Bye for now Love Dad and Mum

our latest

Went into Banbury as Mum wanted to have her hair cut and almost the first shop we saw was Achille, a ladies stylist hair dresser, who, if we were prepared to wait for 40 minutes could cut and set Mum's hair that morning. So, what is 40 minutes if it will please Mum, so while she waited in a comfy archair, drinking a cup of coffee, I went for a little stroll to see if there was any good restaurants pres d'ici. There was not, so I went back to Achille and read a paper, until Mum was ready. She looked fabulous with her new hair styling by Boss Lady Dominique. When I asked her what part of France she came from, She said Paree. I asked her if she knew Provence and she said only Aix was worth visiting. I asked her if she knew Meze and she said she had never heard of it. There is only the one place in France and that was Paree, she didn't like the countryside. We went searching for a place to eat and decided to head for home when we passed a big new pub with Buffaloes and a stagecoach on the roof - It was Buffalo Bill's so we pulled in and had a very hot meal on hot plates - scampi et ships for Mum and cod and ships pour moi. We could have had buffalo steaks and Indian pie, but we chose not to.
Sunday after Church we went to Eynsham as we had been invited to lunch with Mum's cousin Josie, husband Graham, daughter Nickie and husband, plus another cousin Chrissie and husband Richard. Very nice company in their lovely house (with hot tub in the rear garden, plus other sun houses and a beautiful large conservatory) Josie is the family archivist and is very family orientated. ( a sort of young Auntie Peg who knows all the family names, including children). Graham's mother of 86, a lively little lady who used to have a knickers and bra shop in Headington and usd to be a traveller for Marks and Spencer, like your friend, Julian from Mazan. After tea, we left for home and that only took 25 minutes. Took the Rover for MOT this morning and it was found to have a small hole in the centre exhaust box, so it was failed as I wanted the car to visit the Health Centre in Brackley where I have to have a chest exam and a prostate injection. I will take it back tomorrow for a Pass. LOL Dad

Tuscany.. visiting art, whoopee!

The Flying Carpet Fitter

What exciting lives we lead

What with our grandchildren rehearsing for an 'On the Box" and our eldest son doing a bit of roof jumping (Whose Roof) life is looking very dangerous.
No only, but also - our bed came yesterday. The man rang up to say he was on his way and half an hour later he had been - and gone. Never seen anyone handle such a large mattress so easily.
We started unpacking the yards and yards of plastic, and we soon were down to the last piece which contains the directions - typical! Two large halves of the base, which we tried unsucessfully to join, (so we have tied them together with string) and a beautiful headboard which we are afraid of touching and a lovely comfortable bed to sleep on- Quite a change from our two nights on the futon. We now have to dispose of the two old mattresses and the pine bed, which the Council will collect (for a fee). Thanks to Steve we have a lovely carpeted bedroom and a bed to be proud of. Our next magnum opus is to re-furnish our no 2 bedroom/dining room, so back to work boys. Hope you are enjoying the warm sunshine of Calabria, Ju. We hear that the mistral is blowing well in Provence. Trick or treat in Wales. Thank goodness, none here. Dad

Last day of shooting

Two weeks ago tomorrow the girls would have set foot on the set of the ITV sitcom 'Benidorm' for the first time, and today they did their last shoot. Having rubbed shoulders with some well known actors and actresses, met many very lovely back stage people and picked up considerable experience they return to the hum-drum world of classes and teachers tomorrow, out of bikinis and back in their school uniforms. Never the mind. Next week is half term and with sports on Friday afternoon they just have tonight to get over really...so we'll watch some behind the scenes footage of some film or other or some sitcom episode on the box and drown our post show blues in chocolate and ice cream.

Pam comes on Sunday (you're not planning a surprise sleep over are you folks?) and what with half term coinciding with the Alfas Fiestas (with it's now famous Corefocs!) we will soon be back into the swing of things in the run up to exams and Christmas.
These two parting photo on their last day of shooting show the girls rehearsing the hokey-kokey. Ah, those Chinnor Silver Band annual parties in the band room came in useful after all! Alas, Blogger won't let me upload it tonight so it will have to wait for another day.

Much love to all and sorry bros about your birthdays...I was thinking of you, honest.