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