One for Ruth.. hee hee

Mozart on skates

sorry 'bout that

Problem caused by some changes my end. I'll leave the change to the new blogger until they've ironed out any blips and I have time to fix it if it all goes *its up.

test

we're having trouble posting?

Today I've been mostly...

doing painting in ahem my new 'studio'

Dad's 80th

We have been invited to Josie's Ruby wedding DO on 27th in Eynsham, and I expect we will be going.
As to the 29th, it doesn't look as if either Nic or Pete will be present as Nic has plans for a trip to USA and Pete will be visiting Chinnor later in the year. I could not expect anyone to make two trips to UK in the same year. What Super Steve has suggested is that we have lunch at the Manoir on 29th and anyone else who can come will be welcomed. I will e-mail Sue and Keith,(for Auntie Lenny), Katy and Chad, June and family and Auntie Joan and family, (as my two sisters and brother's widow with their families).
It goes without saying that Steve and family and Cathy and family and Julian and Ruth will be invited and will hopefully come if they can. Perhaps I can have some feedback. Those of you who came to the Manoir last time will know what a super place it is. If the day is not suitable we could move it to the Saturday or Sunday following. It is only a date on the calendar. I have had rain, snow and fog on 29th so it is not critical! The only thing that is critical (to some) will be the cost, which will need to be considered.We will let you know the possible cost later. DAD

Benidorm

Yes my lovlies, it is upon us.

As Dad has rightly pointed out the series 'Benidorm' starts this week on Thursday night (Feb 1st) on ITV 1 at 10pm, I believe. We don't have ITV over here ourselves, and those that do might not welcome a family of interloping tele-watchers at 11pm our time to share the experience. By all accounts the show is funny but crass. Perhaps it will become a classic to rank alongside Tom and Jerry, Dad's Army, Fawlty Towers and Ripping Yarns, but somehow I doubt it. Mind you, it should be a pretty fair reflection of what can be seen in the worst parts of our lovely Costa Blanca!

Jess, Beth and Amy are in episodes 3, 4 and 6 we understand, so perhaps do yourselves a favour and avoid it for a couple more weeks!! Unless you just cannot keep yourselves away from Johnny Vegas, of course. There are pupils from our school in all the epoisodes, so I have a personal interest in watching all six episodes...More to follow in a couple of days' time!

Friday 27th January 2007 5pm

We went to the Day clinics cente this morning, at 0945 as instructed. Mum was getting a bit anxious by the time the nurse came to her. Mum had to get undressed and lay on a bed, while the nurse explained what was going to happen. First comes the enema (is you ma fren or ma enema). After that she is subjected to an internal air pipe which blows up the intestine, ready for the insertion of a camera. Smile says the nurse but it was not funny as Mum was subjected to excrutiating wind pains which she could not disperse. All this took two hours and Mum was only too ready to get home and sit comfortably. In time, of course, the wind eventually disperses and she felt a lot better. Next embarrassment will be on 12th Feb as she will be having a CT scan to see if there is anything causing her discomfort. She is not looking forward to that either.

Thanks, Pete for phoning so soon after we got home, describing in detail all that Mum had been through. It was truly her own experience. I can't think when that was, but we know now how you, too, must have suffered. Thanks also to Nic for phoning after she had got over her pains. It is lovely to see her smiling again. She so loves to hear from you all.

Thursday 1st February, 2007 10pm ITV1

Benidorm. Holiday from Hell; a new comedy set in the tawdry Spanish resort, which is popular with some Brits. A new 6-part comedy drama that is almost too painfully accurate in its depiction of British tourists abroad to be funny. Johnny Vegas stars as just one of the ghastly guests at the holiday resort from hell. It's crude stuff. "Daily Mail future TV programmes 27th January, 2007"
Who cares! We love Benidorm, as do thousands of Brits who go there every year. I don't think the word 'tawdry' can apply.
Watch and see if you can spot Jessica or Bethany (or both) in the crowd scenes.
Grandad.LOL

greetings from where?

from a sunny and balmy Edinburgh that's where. What an I doing back up there you ask? I'm on a mercy mission sorting out a flooded flat. Yes that's right the flat we stayed in over new year! I half feared that a tap was left running but no, fortunately. The culprit was the flat above and the alarm was raised by the tenants below who received the brunt of it. So I've been organising repairs and what-not just like the old days with ServiceMaster when I had my little yellow 'Pat' van. Luckily the damage is confined to the hallway and now that the heating is back on we're almost not quite but nearly there. We've also had some good news from Gemma and William's Auntie Mandy that another cousin is on the way. Fingers crossed and everything else too for John and Mandy so we're looking forward to August and wish them all the best. Other finger-crossing duties please for William who is hard at it learning how to do snow-boarding at the artificial slope at Milton Keynes in preparation for his trip to the Alps next month. I can't help thinking of Peter Crouch, (got to be Will's lookee likee) fastenened to a plank with elbows arms legs and knees all a'kimbo arriving at the apres-ski covered in snow with a pint of Guiness in one hand and a fag in the other. I'll get him a Union Jack parachute for his birthday so he can do a James Bond style escape if it all goes pear-shaped. LOL. Anyway . . I'll be back after the weekend so will call in at KS on the way down. Thinking of you Mum and Dad with all your troubles but keep cheerful. What's happening about the BIG "EIGHT ZERO"?

Mum's Health

Mum had an appointment with the Horton hospital consultant Surgeon, yesterday afternoon, including an UYB internal. One does not know the results of this examination, but she has again to attend tomorrow morning at 0945 for another session which will include an internal examination by camera. She is a bit distressed but I try and keep her mind focussed. I'll keep you all informed. Keep praying for her speedy recovery to the Mum we all know and love. DAD

Morning walks

The last three Saturdays I've been out with a pal called Dave walking up mountainsides, usually following in the footsteps of the Moors. Those Africans really knew how to make castle building difficult! Fortaleza Bernia, Benifato Castle and Bolulla Castle have all come under attack.

Bolulla is about 20 minutes away, Benifato about the same, and Fortaleza is about 15 minutes away from us. We live in a bowl with mountains all round and there are plenty more forts that I have yet to see in the area.

Yesterday Jess went off to Alicante to see some Goya and Velazquez paintings on loan from the Prado. She loved that. Amy was also out watching the Musicians of Brenan in Alicante, though it was too windy to visit the castle there (we have yet to go visit it en famille). Tomorrow Beth is off to Villajoiosa to visit the Valor chocolate factory...yum yum.

We are considering taking up membership of La Nucia's new Olympic style indoor pool and Sauna facilities to help save on electricity and water at home. It opens at 7am and closes at midnight, so we should have enough time to do exercise and get a shower in!

Jan will be back in the UK next month for a few days and so, all in all, we are getting up and about.

Glad everyone seems to have recovered from their whatevers! Love to all

Pete, Jan, Jess, Beth and Amy Jo.

Enjoyable weekend

We set off for "home territory" on Friday and decided to go to Aylesbury as Mum wanted to buy herself some lingerie. We enjoyed looking round old haunts. Bought myself a new Blazer in M&S and Mum found her slip. After a quick look round the Marche ouvert, in the town square, we sallied off into one of Aylesbury's best shop, Beatties, who still had a "January sale" in full swing. We could have spent 000's, as the stock is of a very high quality. After a light lunch (we were very grateful for a sit down) we went along to my old bank, but of course - I knew nobody so we continued to look round, before struggling back to the car park, and driving off to Thame to book into the Spread Eagle. After dinner we were glad to get to bed and on Saturday we were up early for a super breakfast and drove to Chinnor. We visited some old friends (Lyn Mumford was in the middle of sorting out the Parish Pump for delivery), we met Derek Nixey who told us it looks as if the old Cement Works is finally to be turned into a giant housing estate. We spent some time with Judy and Stan and their two monster cats. It was the day before Judy's Birthday, and they were expecting Jan's two sisters plus children on the Sunday. In my clumsy way I did not see Mum standing behind me during the farewells. I stepped back on to her foot and as she tried to get out of my way, she fell over backwards, luckily missing the stair post poor dear - why do I always do the wrong thing? Nothing was broken, but she was shaken so we popped along to the Catherine Wheel for a glass of wine before setting off again for Thame. where we again met Lyn. with Pat Pribyl, in a little teashop in the alleyway to Waitrose. Back to the hotel for a rest, before once more eating a lovely dinner. The hotel was very comfortable and we slept like logs. We went along to Church where we met lots of old friends, but we decided we were all too tuckered out to keep up the 'friends visits' and arranged to meet Steve at K/S so we went home to cook a lunch for the three of us. Everywhere we went people were happy to see us, despite our advancing years, but it was nice to rekindle old 'flames'. Sadly we were bound to hear of deaths and illnesses. The worst was of Janet and John Williams' daughter who mysteriously died on Christmas morning. Nice to be in our own little home, again

Happy Birthday Ruth

love from Gem & Clive

Happy Birthday Ruth

and it's all done it the best possible taste!

Johnny's Bottom...

Grandma & Grandad, very pleased that you enjoyed watching the
Shakespeare Retold dvd. I'm sure you will enjoy it too Pete. Although the Macbeth episode Grandad mentioned is obviously dark (Macbeth is reinvented as a chef so there are plenty of knives to hand) but it is only a 12 rating so its not explicit! My favourite episode is 'Much Ado about Nothing' where Benedict (the lovely Damian Lewis) & Beatrice (fantastic Sarah Parish) are local news presenters on Wessex Today who are/aren't in love with each other. G & G Have you watched the other dvd yet - the Ed Sulivan one? Thank you for my present too - lovely.

lv G xx

Joyeux anniversaire to Nicand Jen Hwei

1998 in Singapore seems a long time ago, but you have had a fruitful marriage. We both remember the occasion so well, with the Sng family and the Pecks from all over the world. Then our trip to Bali, which we don't talk about now. Proper spoiled your honeymoon, didn't we eh? Good luck to you both for the future.
Dumela to Pete and Jan, also. We don't forget 10th September 1988, either.
Gemma and Clive sent us a 'Shakespeare retold' dvd for Christmas and guess who plays the ass in Midsummer Nights Dream? Your old pal Johnny Vegas. I will put it in the post for you to laugh at. I won't send you Hamlet, as that is a bit bloody, but I will also send you a book, Botswana TIME, written by an ex school teacher named William Randle. If you have read it, let me know and I will save the postage. He writes of his experiences in Botswana and in particular, at school in Kasane. Shades of the Chobe River and the National Park. Brought back a lot of memories of elephants to us both. Mum is reading it at the moment. Love to all from a much better MUM and DAD. We have not forgotten other anniversaries on 24th September 1977 and 29th October 2001 - is that right?? (and the wedding on 1st June 2002 in Sussex. What a day that was!)

Mum's Health

Woke up at 4.45am on Monday with terrible gripey pains and rushed to the bathroom where she was violently sick and had the most awful diorrhea. This went on and off for an hour so I called our doctor in Brackley who has a clinic in K/S on Mondays and Fridays.. I also phoned our lovely Steve, who waited until after the doc had been. Shades of other sicknesses, going right back to 1998 in Bali and repeating from time to time in Chinnor and Wootton. I was afraid she was going to faint, but I steered her around the bed so that if she did she would only fall on the bed. Even at only 7 stone, it would be difficult for me to lift her from the floor. I thought if I called the para-medics she may have to go into the hosp, as she did when this happened at Southampton, on our way to the airport ans Alicante, a couple of years ago. Luckily, as on that occasion she felt better after the doc and then Steve, had been. Steve was able to go to collect the prescription from the chemist plus other useful things, which was a great help to me as I was still suffering from the efffects of my fall, and I could not leave Mum on her own. Thankfully she is feeling much more chipper his morning, although the fear of being ill is still with her. Perhaps we will have some food later on. Mum still feels that she would like to go to Thame for the weekend so I will look into that a bit.
Note for Edmund and Jess. Did you like the sound of those wonderful Top Secret Drummers?. The fantastic part is about half way through where they throw the sticks to each other while still playing. I hope you will be able to see them doing it. As Steve says, it is better than knives and forks on the meal table!!

Top Secret Drum Corps Edinburgh Tattoo 2006

Is this what we could hear in our heads when we lads used to beat on the dining table-mats with knives and forks?

Hope Mum is feeling better now.

Hello..

And a happy and preposterous New Year to All.. Sorry bin so quiet but lots to do and haven't had much of a break, missing you all, and we both feel we would have liked to have spent time with our family/ies over the holidays so I suppose we'll just have to get the house ship shape so you can spend time here.

An entertaining piece on painting blogs on the Telly in Las Vegas, I get a credit though not a mention in the TV piece (though they show my work) watch the video:

http://www.ktnv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5575966

and then for those of you with the same skills as kurt try this:

http://jacksonpollock.org/

see you can do it too!!!!!!

Hi Julian

What's with the new style Blogger. My sign-in works OK Have you got to do something? Sorry about your toothache, Ruth is so descriptive of your ills. Keep Smiling, but not through the top of your head LOL Dad

Immediate Plans

Mum has yearnings for Chinnor, so I thought we could spend a weekend, or longer, at the Spread in Thame. I'll phone for a brochure. Incidentally it is Ruth's birthday on the Sunday, 21st - also it is Jan's mother, Judy's, so it is Happy Birthdays all round. If anyone would like to join us we would love to see you!

Oooo..

That's very good news Dad on your medical. You ought to be very pleased with yourself if the doctor doesn't need to see you for another year.
Perhaps some sort of celebration is required.
Have you made any plans to get away over the next few months?
It sounds like your trip to Wales was very successful,
Thanks for the information about the blog, yes it appears that Julian will need to instigate the changes with the new version.

Old bloggers take note

What happens when team blogs switch to the new version of Blogger?
A team blog will only switch to the new version of Blogger when the original owner moves his or her account over.

Team members who have not yet switched to the new version will still see the blog on their dashboards, but it will be grayed out and inaccessible. Once those members move their own accounts to the new version of Blogger, they will be able to access the blog as before. If they can't yet switch, or don't wish to, they can ask the owner of the blog for a new invitation to join the blog on the new version. They can then accept that invitation by logging in to or creating a Google Account to post to that blog. (Later on, when they do switch their Blogger account to the new version, they'll have an option to merge it with this account.)

If a team member of a blog switches their account to the new version of Blogger before the blog owner does, then the team blog is not converted. It will appear on the team member's converted dashboard, but clicking on it will lead back to the old version of Blogger. Thus, the blog will still be usable, but without the new features of Blogger (e.g. Labels, Layouts, etc.).

Special case for blogs that have been moved to different accounts: In the previous version of Blogger, the team member who originally created a blog could be removed from the team. This is not possible in the new version of Blogger, where each blog must have an owner who cannot be removed. Thus, a new owner is assigned to these blogs.

Where there is only one admin member on the blog, that person becomes the new owner of the blog after they switch to the new version of Blogger. If there are multiple admins, then the last person to switch becomes the new owner. The other members will still have admin rights, but the new owner will be the permanent member and owner of the blog. So if you have a team blog that fits this description (i.e. the original creator is no longer part of the blog) you can coordinate among your members to decide who will take ownership of it.

Visit to Prostate Clinic

After the usual internal investagtion (UYB) the Urologist said that things were ok and if there is no alteration in 6 months we can change to annual visits, which I was pleased about. Now I have only my coughing and arterial troubles to worry about.
We hope you are all keeping well! love from M&D

For Brummies only

Here is a laugh from a Brummie friend of mine. I was walking along the canal and a young boy was fishing and crying - I said to him don't cry lad, what is the matter and he said I am very sad as I lost my mate in the canal. I asked him if he reported the matter to anyone and he said - no, it's only just fallen out of my sandwich. Boom! Boom!

Hello to Everyone

I have an appointment at the Urology (prostate) clinic at 2.20pm today so if you have planned to contact me - be aware.Dad

I am on the new BLOGGER ACCOUNT

I don't know what difference there is but I expect it will all become apparent soon

Heigh-land Laddie

Heigh-land Laddie
Originally uploaded by ezappy.

Och.. ah haad te wend me we oop the moont'n, wan Ah seen'ah snow inna dast'nce. ye na'ah min there Jimmie?. Yon's a photygraph of ma newly converted gas poowered motah kah. 50p a litre fe LPG nay bad eh?

Good Morning to you all

Thank you to Cathy and John for our lovely stay with you and for all your kindnesses. We took our time coming home as the mist on the mountains was quite heavy until we arrived at Beulah. Where is the loo which we are accustomed to visiting, opposite the garage there? The lady in the shop saw Mum's distress and allowed her to use the one at the back of the shop.
We went to Newbridge-on-Wye, before joining the A44 at Pen-y-Bont as far as Worcester and then we tried the motorway route, north before joining the M40 for the last lap. We had to stop at the Warwick service station to buy bread and milk, which was my undoing as, leaving the entrance, I fell A overT down the steep kerb and spread myself on the ground, grazing both knees and cutting holes in my hands. Thankfully I was seen by everyone there and I was soon grabbed and pulled up to my feet - good job I was not seriously hurt !
It was great to be safely home as the motorway was very busy and the rain was pelting down. The house was most welcoming and warm as we had left the heating on. After bandaging up my hurts we were soon in bed and asleep.
Yesterday, after filling up our fridge we tidied up and read the mail and Steve rang up from Carlisle to say he would drop in to say hello, which he thankfully did as that too is a long journey. We have been invited to lunch at Hertford St today so we will be off in a little while. Lovely to read all your blogs and see the skating girls. Cath's boys all look forward to renewing acquaintences in France later in the year. How about it??. Perhaps we will all meet on my birthday??
Ruth's birthday is on 21st and Jan's Mum on the same day, I think. Have a nice day LOL Dad and MUM.

Back to the grind

Happy New year all.

Claire (7) and Daniel (4) have returned to school this week to start their new year in Primary 2 and Kinderkarden 1 respectively. Daniel has this year plus one more year of Kindergarden before going to Primary school. Jen and I are also back after a long break. Mary, our domestic help has returned to Emerald Hill (our home) after getting married on Boxing Day, and the christmas tree has come down. We are discussing next winter already and figure it's time for a bit of snow, so we make look at going to Whistler or somewhere in December as Jen has her conference in San Antonio to attend inearly December.

We hope you are all well and looking forward to a prosperous and exciting 2007. For us, we are going to sit tight, year of the Fire Pig doesn't bode well for the Metal Rat (Nic) and Snake (Jen) and watch the property market boom and plan for 2008.

Take care all,

Love Nic

Happy holidays...

Happy birthday John for yesterday...we'll put that one in the diary for next year! Thanks for breaking my new year's resolution to be organised and get cards to everyone!

Hope, mum and dad, that you have all had a lovely time. The holidays are great when things go as pleasantly as ours have done, though we have missed you all tremendously. We had friends round for Christmas day, though of course it's not quite the same.

This week we've been to the temporary open air ice rink under the Ayuntamiento in Benidorm. A good time was had, with chocolate con chorros to follow! Ah, winter is a lovely time really. Though it has been sunny and warm, we miss those cold winter evenings huddled up in your thickest jumper in front of a big log fire in your favourite tavern...

Next week we're back to school but hopefully I am well prepared. Love to all and hope the Kings Sutton is all pleasantly as you left it.

Homeward bound!!!

9.30 Friday morning...We've just waved goodbye with moist eye and trembling chin, to Mum and Dad,I hope the journey goes well for them sad to see them go, but we'll be glad to return to normal life. I hope they find Kings Sutton in good order no leaks etc.. and not too quiet, January can seem very bleak. I hope everyone has had a good Christmas and New Year we've not heard from anyone this last week so I hope you're all well, Lots of love Cathy

Happy Birthday John & HNY Everybody!

Sounds like everyone had a great time even us in windy Edinburgh. From the news you think everyone stayed in sober on Hogmany night..tsk & rubbish. I know as I had the hangover to prove it. What a lovely city. We want to go back.

By the way R & J bad news about the favourite show The OC. BBC news says it has been cancelled by Fox and we can expect last episode in Uk in February. NNNooooo! Just as well Celebrity Big Brother has started. Ken Russell, Jermaine Jackson & Leo Sayer to name three of the Z list personalities sharing a house for 3 weeks. Oh it gonna be a long January...now where are those chocs off the xmas tree.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JOHN

Today, John is 51 and we are all going out to a lunch in Llandeilo. Cathy's friend Nicky Cook has fixed up for us all to lunch in a posh hotel in her little town on the A 40. For a change, it seems to be fairly dry after a whole week of 'Welsh' weather. We were awakened at about 9am by a flight of very fast jets doing a practice run up the valley. We are accustomed to this, but not so early in the day or so early in the year. We have started packing up our cases for our return to Kings Sutton tomorrow. Cathy has really spoiled us with her constant attention, but it will be nice to be in our own house again, as we have appointments next week and also the children start their term on Monday. It has ben lovely here with the family, they are all so lovely. See you again soon, Steve - we hope you enjoyed your trip to Scotland. Love to all from Mum and Dad

Happy New Year

I forgot to wish everyone a wonderful 2007!!

Keep blogging Dad, we are there...it's just that our internet went down over Christmas and so we only got back up and running two days ago. Thanks for everything and for helping things run so smoothly. The girls really enjoyed themselves and got some nice presents. We had a great dinner on Christmas day and Jan's Christmas cake is all but gone now. We finished our second pudding today when Amy's friend Lara came over from Alicante for lunch before we went out ice-skating.

I hope everyone else has had as good a time as we have. Now though it is prime preparation time for the term ahead, so I don't expect to enjoy many more festivities! Mind you, for the Spanish the big day is Three Kings (Epiphany) when Santa brings the presents. Its best to avoid Carrefore around that time!

Love to all,

Pete, Jan and the girls

Alfofrar Castle

Hello all

Yesterday the weather continued to be marvellous and since most of the family were feeling home based I decided to go out and make the best of the afternoon sunshine. It was a beautiful blue sky day with no wind at all. Even up on the snowy ground the air temperature was seven degrees and I had to strip down to my shirt sleeves.

So here is what I went up into the mountains to look at - Alfofrar Castle - also called Confrides Castle or Benifato Castle, depending on which village you align yourself with. The views towards the Sierra Bernia were gorgeous.

In the evening we decided to light a nice log fire and stayed up to take in La Nucia's New Year Celebrations. The town centre was really hotting up by twenty past eleven as crowds decended on the town square to hear a superb blues band concert. Party bags containing hats and streamers, floral necklaces, hooters and balloons were all dished out free. The bag also contained some plastic maracas which were great entertainment for those of us with rhythmn as we danced around enjoying the free champagne!! Each person was also given a bag of twelve grapes since here it is a tradition to eat one grape for every toll of the bell as midnight approaches. You are not supposed to chew them until they are all in but I think I only managed five and fell behind as I was trying to help Amy. That's my excuse anyway...

At five minutes to midnight the town band played a superb rendition of Fanfare for the Common Man before hurriedly clearing the patio in front of the church before midnight. This was quite important as once again we were immersed in cordite smoke on the last stroke of twelve as fireworks burst from the church roof and from all around its base. This, together with huge 'indoor' fireworks covering us in confetti from all the balconies in the square, and national TV coverage, made a great atmosphere. There was another simultaneous pyrotechnic display in the town carpark but all the bangs and crashed were aimed to explode over our heads in the town square. It was all very loud! These Valencians really know how to party!

Today, as it was also lovely, we went to the temporary ice rink in Benidorm, a small outdoor rink set up underneath the Ayuntamiento building in the town park. It was great fun and brought back memories of trips to Richmond and Queens. Jess and Beth mastered it quickly but Amy was wobbly for most of her hour and needed the crash barrier and a holding hand...but unlike me she didn't fall over and was enjoying it all by the time we had to leave!