Porridge for me too!

Steve

I'm in

Prison grub sounds great!

So the move to the new blogger has taken place hope it all goes smoothly, if anyone needs a Google account let me know

Thanks, Gem for the lovely addition you made to my blog

My blog was a bit boring, but with your pics and additional comments it is now readable
I agree that the best bet is inside the prisn, Gem Who else has anything to say?? love from grandad

Spring

The blossom has arrived in Oxford city as you can see from the tree outside University Church of St. Mary the Virgin. The church is on our walk to work, and you can just see the tourists up the viewing tower braving the wind and rain!

Grandad's birthday: I vote for prison food!!

lv G

Alternative menu

In the grounds of the hotel are 1, caffe Carluccio's with a variety of Italian meals-- stuzzichini from £1.30 - £3.50
Primi with Zuppe and pasta fagiole at 3.95 each. Antipasti from 4.15 - 9.95, Insalate 3.95 - 6.95 Pasta 5.95 - 7.25
Secondi from focaccia 4.95 to bistecca de bue (Roast beef) 12.95 and lamb stew 10.95 contorni (all at £1.95).
Sweets, cheese and ice cream £2.50 - 4.75

and 2 the Ha Ha Buffet offersa stand-up taster of fish fingers chicken satays, tzatziki, 5.95 per head etc or
Nibbling- a stand-up finger buffet 8.95 per head with things like tiger prawns smoked salmon and prawn bruschetta, crostinis and frittata. chicken satay, teryacki
or an informal dining in a VIP section of more substantial meals at 11.95 per head.
eat and pay what you like,

Birthday changes

old date 29th March new date 1st April Reason is that some invitees prefer the weekend to Thursday
old venue Manoir aux Quat'r Saisons, new venue Hotel Malmaison, New Road, Oxford (see below)
Reason is that the cost per person for lunch at le Manoir at £62.50 sans drinks could put it out of reach for some people (especially with children) see below for alternative charges. Also - this is our old home (see below)
old time not decided new time 1300hrs a la bar. Reason more conveniently situated.(next to County Court in New Road)











Menu at Malmaison for Sunday Brunch
STARTERS
eggs benedict £5,95
roast parsnip and honey soup 4.50
Oxford blue cheese fondue (with selection of toasted bread) 5.95
smoked salmon classic 6.50
pate de campagne (gherkin and sour dough) 5.95
SALADS
feta cheese 5.50
Oxford blue (watercress and pear salad) starter 5.50 main 10.50
salad gormaunde -confit rabbit leg, smoked duck breast, truffle, fois gras and crisp potato 8.00
MAINS
field mushroom and caramelised onion suet pudding 10.95
free range eggs with back bacon and fries 8.25
the Mal burger 225 gram burger made from a ground beef served on a floured bap with bacon and gruyere with homemade relish and fries 10.95
the Mal Sunday roast ooh the Sunday best, with traditional roast potatoes, cauliflowerand buttered spinach. Mal style 13.95
the Big Mal beakfast- la toute ensemble, sweet cured bacon, black pudding, vine tomato, mushroom and eggs Mal style with
pork and leek sausage 9.50
goujons of plaice with fat cut chips and sauce tartare 12.50
grilled baby sea bass with rustic potatoes, garlic and herb butter 12.50
gruyere and soft herb omelette served with homemade fries. 8.75
braised squid served with black olives, tomatoes and warm sour dough 11.50
DESSERTS
creme brulee 5.95
the famous Mal cheese trolley 8.50
glazed rice pudding, apricot compote 5.95
iced grande marnier parfait 5.95
red wine poached pear, winter fruit compote 5.95
OVER THE PAGE
Mal eggs benedict £5,95
"parmentier" soup ( onion foccacia) 4.50
Oysters @ £1.50 each
smoked salmon classic 6.50
chicken liver parfait toasted brioche 6.50
leek and gruyere tart with hollandaise sauce 5.95
SALAD
Malmaison house salad haricot vert, fennel and feta cheese (starter 5.50, mains 10.50)
MAINS
courgette and gorgonzola risotto (Starter 5.95 main 11.95)
free range eggs with back bacon and fries 8.25
corn fed chicken. pomme fondant and spinach 12.95
The Mal Sunday roast served with roast potatoes carrots and parsnips 12.95
the Big Mal beakfast- la toute ensemble, sweet cured bacon, black pudding, vine tomato, mushroom and eggs Mal style with pork and leek sausage 9.50
seared tuna, saffron potatoes, tomato pesto 13.25
goujons of plaice, fat cut chips and tartare sauce 12.50
sauteed wild mushrooms, poached and polenta 12.50
DESSERTS
iced banana parfait 5.95, mal cheese trolley, 8.50, fresh fruit salad 5.95, bitter chocolate tart 5.95

Oxford Prison (1, Tower Crescent) is the house that June and I used to live in, following my father's promotion from Chief 2nd Class at Wandsworth Prison to Chief 1st Class at Oxford Prison in 1949. It was a big rambling old house with a large living room, a smaller lounge, kitchen(scullery) , three bedrooms and a bathroom (the first one we had in prison quarters). When we moved in we had no electricity; (very sad for me as I had just been given a lovely Sobell radiogram for my 22nd birthday in 1948). Gas lights with odd little globes that had be lit. A regular trip down to a local garage with an accumulater ( a heavy re-chargeable battery) which operated our radio. Not long afterwards, the Prison Commissioners supplied us with electricity and we all went mad, buying electrical goods (oven, radio, light shades etc.) and I was able to listen to my LP's on the Sobell!
We didn't live here for long as my father retired in 1952 and we moved up to the Banbury Road. Oxford Prison is no longer in use as a prison. It had been used in the past as a film set for productions such Spy Game (2001) and for the television series, Bad Girls. More recently, it has been converted into a 5 star hotel by the Mal Maison group.

Ryan Giggs

Another thing I forgot Cathy is when you get Ryan Giggs in the google window, click on IMAGES and hundreds of fotos of RG will be shown - Edmund will show you what to do if you get too many pictures. Dad

Dear Billy the Rabbit,

(here's Herriot the Vitinry so get some hot towels and boiling water)
from..
The Buzz on Bunnies


Ear, Eye and Nose maintenance
Check your ears weekly for cleanliness. If you notice debris, you can get Kate to clean the ear with an ear cleaner (see your pet store or your vet - propylene glycol based preparations are best) and a cotton ball. If the debris persists, it could be ear mites. See your owner first or you can get Kate to call the vet for some bunny medicine.

Runny eyes and nose can be caused by a variety of problems, from dusty litter/hay to allergies and infections. If your eyes are reddened or swollen, or if the discharge is any color but clear, you could have an infection and may need antibiotic drops or oitment.

Warning: biting Mummy's legs and ankles won't help in the long run otherwise you could get the 'boil in the bag' treatment!

And just who is Ryan Giggs?

Congrations, Julian

I have just logged into your new Auction site and feel I must congratulate you on all the hard work you have put in to get it going, Well done! Can you lend me a few euros? Mum has bought some new water colours on the strength of starting her own site!!

Cathy - sorry about the rabbit, I didn't know there was any connections between eyes and teeth. Noses and throats - yes
I don't like to offer the other obvious suggestion. Does he still bite your ankles - well then !!

About Ryan Giggs - Have you asked google? All you do is click on Safari, which will open a google box in the top right hand corner. Then all you do is type in Ryan Giggs, click the return and lots of info will show up. Try it love from Dad

also

Do anyone of you have any advice on rabbit dental care,Billy(rabbit) has a popping out eye which I have discovered is probably due to a bad tooth and I can't see me having an opportunity to take him to the vets(Oh don't let me think of the money)or a few days as the brakes have gone on the Peugiot and its up the hill being looked at by a man that lives in a caravan next to a pile of stones that he's doing up as his home. any thoughs on the rabbit and not that one Dad about the two bricks!
Kate is doing a project about famous 'Welsh' people and she has chosen Ryan Giggs so if anyone has any interasting info and more espiecaly good photo's they would be appreciated. Thank you Cathy xxxxxxxxxxxxx
spelling comment still applies!

Happy Birthday Little Brother

I thought that it was the 24th today, so I have just been lying in bed being annoyed with myself (I have been thinking of you and your birthday for the last two weeks, as I run my personal taxi service ferrying pubecent girls to ballet classes, orchester rehearsals and waterslide fun sessions at the pool, sad boy to the dentist for his weeky brace fitting and teeth out and trips to the pet shop to try to stem the tide of the dying in his fish tank yuk!) for not having done something proper for you only to find that I missed the day!! typical!! I hope that you had a lovely day yesterday and another great one today much love from the bumbling idiot that is your sister,Cathyxxxxxxxxx

I could weep with frustration every time I go to use this machine something is different about it gaaaaaaaaaaaah teenage boys!!!!!!!! so you will have to have my spelling as it comes and Mum and Stephen can have a laugh!!!

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday -

We're having a glass of wine here toasting your birthday - did you catch the Six nations drumming we got off Ireland? Oh dear...

Lv Gem & Clive

Happy birthday Julian

Hope you are having a lovely time up there and hope the house is coming along well. What did you get for a present? A new range cooker?. A flushing toilet? A couple of hundered weight of yeso?

I'm off to Valencia to pick up Jan from the airport so she'll be passing over you shortly!

Love to Ruth and the cats.

Pete

ps Any plans to come back here Ruth?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JULIAN

Happy Birthday today Happy Birthday today, Happy Birthday to JULIAN, Happy Birthday today.
48 today 48 today I'm the King of the Castle, 48 today. Love to you from Mum and Dad

Thanks for a lovely day

We went to Brackley clinic for Mum to have a blood test, filled up with petrol at Tesco's then went by motorway down to Aston Rowant and on to Chinnor - 35 miles. As we were in plenty of time we visited one or two of our friends, prior to joining Stan and Judy for lunch. There we met the reason for our trip, our lovely Jan and it was so nice to see her again, looking lovely as usual. We chatted for an hour or so and Judy served up a super lunch, which we all enjoyed. Jan brought us up to date with all the happenings in La Nucia and we read the girls' school reports which (of course) were highly complimentary to all three and made us feel very proud. I say of course as it has become something we have grown to expect from our lovely grandchildren, just as we love to read reports from Wales and Singapore. We are so fortunate to have such beautiful and talented grandchildren. At about 4pm we decided to make a move while it was still light and we set off along the M40 on our return to K/S. We had a lovely day, thanks to all at no.37

Out and about...

Here is the little hamlet of Gines, on the mountain route between Xirles (Polop) and Guadalest as we walkers see it. The house on the far end is for sale at €95 000 but you'd best get in quick before it falls into the road! It's very nice, but there are no foundations and it has flags laid straight onto an earth floor, and there are a few cracks in the yeso that holds the stonework together. It's great inside though (the upper floor floors are a bit spongy so watch your step!). You'd never get someone to design anything so pretty nowadays. Shame it needs to be razed first before it can really be made into anything. C'est la vie. You can't just raze a building round here - you must leave some of the original walls in tact, so I'm told, so I don't suppose it will sell for a while!

Jan, I've put some research re the USB flash drive on the Rowe site and hope this is useful.

Mum, Dad - enjoy dinner with Jan and the family tomorrow. If you still have that copy of Don Quixote in English and Spanish but no longer have shelf space for it, take it with you and Jan can bring it home for us to work on our Spanish with!

Love to all of you in Chinnor and its environs.

Julian, Ruth - it's a bold but great decision you've taken. May God bless in your deliberations!...but if you should happen to want three kids to practice with over the summer just drop us a line! Honestly, they are a joy, a blessing and a constant source of fun, wonder and inspiration...and frustration and heartache and dirty washing and unwashed-up glasses and messy bedrooms, etc...

Talking of celebrities, as Gemma has been doing of late, has anyone dared to watch the Benidorm series on ITV? The girls were in episode three and I think are in the fifth one (next week) and the last one on the following Thursday. Not anything to write home about I'm told, but we'll see them with the sound off once some friends have copied all the episodes to a DVD.

Love to all

Celebrity spotting

Funny old place Oxford. Nipped into Boots after work this evening, I left Clive and headed off to the moisturiser aisle (not very interesting Gem). Well...whilst debating the difference between two potions, I noticed out of the corner of my eye a man standing next to me, assuming it was Clive I straightened up turned and realised it wasn't our Clive, it was Christopher Timothy (how do vet'ninary'). He said I looked like an intelligent woman (always a good opening line), and could I help him find the eye make-up remover pads (I think he must be at the Playhouse hence the makeup issue). Slightly stunned but I found them for him. He was ever so grateful for help and was very nice. He said to Clive who had joined me 'when in doubt always ask a woman'. Couple of years ago we saw Clive Owen in there. (Less impressive Clive walked past Michael Portillo yesterday on St Giles). Ok its not A list like Hugh Grant (who was probably debating breaking up with Jemima Kahn when you saw him Ruth hence the stressed demenour) or Vincent Landon but I loved All Creatures Great & Small as a kid

Gem xx

Happy New Year

Dear all from Singapore,

First of all to Ruth and Julian, we're thinking of you both and will be with you ('in our thoughts and prayers') as you both go through the adoption process. I've friends who have adopted from China and their lives have certainly been much blessed.

As for us, both Nic and I are back at work after four days of non-stop feasting and festivities. Life has been really hectic since I last blogged, we are pretty much due a holiday... probably in June. We're trying to take it easy this year as the Year of the metal Pig doesn't look very favourably on the wood Snakes (me) and Rats (Nic) - so say the Chinese thingy. Of course, we don't believe in it but 'tis good to be on our toes :) The kids are very well and happy, we have our ups and downs, mostly ups. Claire's in Primary 2, very happy with school and friends. Daniel's a right tearaway but he knows how to butter everyone up so we forgive him. I'll try and get some pictures posted up asap.

Nic's pretty busy with work and seems to be travelling a bit more. I, on the other hand, have to work more and try to quench the guilt which stems from me working and not spending enough time with the children. Anyway, enough of us both, I hope you're all fine and had a good year so far. We hope to get a chance to meet up with anyone of you all......... does anyone intend to visit the Far East soon? :)

Pictures to come shortly.... take care

Love from Nic and Jen

Message to Jan in Chinnor

Lovely to hear you on the phone, Jan and thank Judy for inviting us to lunch on Friday. Looking forward to seeing you - DAD

Your Adoption news

Julian & Ruth, exciting news. We also send you both love & luck with your plans. Go for it.

See you next month.

love Gem & Clive

to Julian and Ruth - Adoption decision

Hello darlings. Got your lovely blog, but have not had time to write to say how happy we are at your decision to increase the M/s gang. I am sure Nic will also be pleased. I don't know many Asian French, but I am sure you will choose wisely. I wish we could have helped, but those days are well past!! We do, of course wish you lots of luck in fulfilling your decision, even though the day may be long. Love you. your affectionate Daad and Mum

news

A word from the Café de Flore in Paris, where I am, yet again, sitting across from Vincent Landon. What a face! It definitely beats sitting across form Hugh Grant (who is small and grey and does not have nice hands) last week!

Margaret, I so hope your health is getting better. We are both looking forward to seeing you for Hugh’s birthday lunch, and seeing your new home too. It sounds lovely to be catching up with old friends. I reckon there is nothing like people who have known us in all our incarnations!

We both want to share with you a decision we have come to. Partly it sprang from a feeling of profound sadness we both had at Christmas not being with our families, and realising the importance of you all in our lives. And partly, I suppose, because we have both, after a period of mourning (losing a baby and 3 failed IVF’s take their toll), arrived at a place of fulfilment and financial security, a place which we thought might be the answer to all our questions. This place, however, has only served to bring one big question back into the foreground, and that is the question of children. The answer, for once, seems clear, and we have decided to go ahead and try to adopt a child.

We are thinking Chinese (so many daughters abandoned and Julian likes the idea of the family connection in Singapore), or Nepali or Thai …we are thinking whomsoever presents themselves to us. It is a long and complicated process, and there are, at our age and in our situation as French residents and English Nationals, absolutely no guarantees. However, we have opened a door and it feels good. We hope, Hugh and Margaret, that we will one day be able to offer you yet another grandchild!

Wish us luck along what will probably the long and winding (and possibly bumpy) way!

When's Easter?

..or more like.. when's Lent so I can give up Chocolates!
I'm all fat and horrible from the Winter blues! Calculator
Thanks Mum for all the biscuits .. I know it's my own fault
(mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.)

So Pancake Day is next Tuesday on the 20th February, then NO biscuits or sweeties for me until
Easter Sunday on the 8th of April.

Thanks Dad for all the news. It's great that you're getting about and re-kindling old friendships. Hopefully Mum can manage better and be more comfortable knowing what foods to avoid and which she can have so fingers crossed.
As for 'tubby' over here, I'll be following the advice of "Dr" Gillian McKeith from TV's You Are What You Eat !

Valentines Day

A happy valentines day to you all. lol dad

Memories

Yesterday we spent a large part of it in the Horton Hospital in Banbury in the Radiology department as Mum had a CT scan to try and get to the cause of her bowel complaint. A long time waiting and an uncomfortable scan on one of those massive round scanning devices, made her feel dizzy. Once it was all over we went along to the hospital restaurant for lunch. Again Pork, but very nice. Good job we are not Jewish!
We rested in the afternonn and watched a very long double sided DVD of the film GIANT, which we enjoyed. Liz Taylor, a very young Rock Hudson and wonderboy James Dean brought back memories of my seeing it way back.
In the evening, I was invited to accompany a Catenian friend of mine to a meeting of the Aylesbury Circle which I joined 50 years ago in our Haddenham days and left when we moved to Chinnor and distances and lack of funds did not stretch to a monthly journey to Wendover. Only this time the venue was the Rose & Crown in Tring, the new meeting place. Shades of our Sunday lunches when we used to visit Ivinghoe, Nic.
It was lovely to meet old friends, although many of my original friends have died over the years. Just to hear their names on the Roll of Honour brought back memories. Of course, I was only 30 in those days and now old friends are 80, like me.
John Minogue, who used to work with me at Bucks County Council and retired as Assistant County Treasurer, was very pleased to see me and the 40 year old son of my old pal Ted Pullen welcomed me with 'so you are the famous Hugh Merrow-Smith my sister keeps talking about.' (I used to work at Lloyds Bank with Helen in 1961 before I was transferred to Thame). Sad to hear that old friends from the Couny Offices had died, and even one of Julian's godparents, Mick Phelps is seriously ill with Cancer.
Mum had stayed in while I was out visiting and was fast asleep when I returned, but I was very grateful to her for letting me go out.. What a lovely pal I have. LOL Dad

Can't be true but funny!

Proof of what can happen if a wife or girlfriend drags her husband or boyfriend along shopping

This letter was recently sent by Tescos Head Office to a customer in Oxford:
Dear Mrs. Murray,

While we thank you for your valued custom and use of the Tesco Loyalty Card, the Manager of our store in Banbury is considering banning you and your family from shopping with us, unless your husband stops his antics. Below is a list of offences over the past few months all verified by our surveillance cameras:

1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in people's trolleys when they weren't looking.
2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals.

3. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official tone, "Code 3" in housewares..... and watched what happened.
4. August 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.
5. September 15: Set up a tent in the outdoor clothing department and told shoppers he'd invite them in if they would bring sausages and a Calor gas stove.
6. September 23: When the Deputy Manager asked if she could help him, he began to cry and asked, "Why can't you people just leave me alone?"
7. October 4: Looked right into the security camera; used it as a mirror, picked his nose, and ate it.
8. December 3: Darted around the store suspiciously, loudly humming the "Mission Impossible" theme.
9. December 6: In the kitchenware aisle, practised the "Madonna look" using different size funnels.
10. December 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed, yelled "PICK ME!" "PICK ME!"
11. December 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, assumed the foetal position and screamed "NO! NO! It's those voices again.

And; last, but not least:
12. December 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited a while; then yelled, very loudly, "There is no toilet paper in here."

Yours sincerely,

Charles Brown
Store Manager

winter pictures from landdewi!

can only get 1 up so well try again later

Looking forward to seeing you

Chipping Norton is not far away and neither is Woodstock, where all the best food is. Sorry to read of your missed 'seating' Ruth. As one gets older one has to make sure that the seat is there before sitting down. I dread missing the seat. Luckily you did not sit on your cello - that would have been a 'costly' miss!
The 29th of March, was virtually a holly day for me as a child. A day that everyone else should revere, but now it is only another day. The exitement of presents no longer hold me enthralled. What I want is something nobody can give me (Rolls Royce, Jaguar, Merc) and what people can give me, I no longer need. All I want is a healthy wife and loving children, and that I have. A message has just come up on the bottom of the pager saying 'message could not be accepted on the blog so take care in saving it until later'. It has disappeared now but I will save it as a draft.

One for Clive

Very funny derivations from a made up starting point - Apocaplectic - eg. Aposcatology - the end of the world is shite.

If you need cheering up go read

Manoir etc.

Happy birthday Jen and Will (sorry a bit slow). Ruth and I will be there the weekend of the 31st of March probably stay in Chipping Norton so ideal date would be the 1st for lunch yum yum. Ruth is in Cadiz till 31st but I can make it earlier and she's on a diet anyway.

ps. changes afoot with the postcards but keep it under your hat for now: auction.shiftinglight.com

Julian - When were you at Banbury School of Art

There is a lovely exibition of landscape photography in the Banbury Museum this month, by an ex B.S.A student named Michael Kenna who went there in the 70's. Was he there during your time? Just a thought.

Hi Nic

Thanks for your blog. I hope Jen received our birthday card as I thought we sent it in good time. If she did not receive it, a
belated Happy Birthday to you, Jen. We have you down safely on our list. As to 29th March, Nic, I can hardly expect you to come all the way to UK just for lunch, even in the Manoir! We would of course, love to see you at any time - we can put up a spare double bed in our conservatory. Cathy says it is very comfortable. Otherwise we could arrange B&B in one of the three pubs in the village. Mum sends her love to you, Jen and the children. Bye now love from DAD

A Happy birthday to William from Singapore too, and a happy one for my lovely Jen-Hwei also born on Feb 3.

Dad, if we go to the USA it will be Christmas time, this summmer we are probably going to hiliday nearer home. My kids are in school in March, but for me, I have an empty diary on March 29 at the moment.

Hope Mum is feeling better and you also take care on the winter pavments,

Love Nic

To write a wrong

Sorry, Pete, the writing was so neat I thought it was from Jan, but the sentiments are the same.
We hope you got your birthday card, Will and you were able to enjoy your birthday with you pals in Rymers Lane. It was a lovely day for it.
It is very cold this morning - I hope they have warmed up the Parish church, or we will freeze. What is he doing up at this time of the morning, I hear you cry? Well I mistook the time on my watch, getting mixed up with the minute and second hands. "Quick, I said to Mum, the alarum has not gorn orf and it is 5 to 8." So up we get and here I am, at 0645. Mum said I must phone Pete to thank him for his letter as we haven't had a letter from him since Orapa days. (I thought the letter was from Jan - sorry Pete) I used to wonder why Mrs Orpin was so nice to me - I didn't know that my son was corresponding with her daughter !! . I hope it is not too early to wake the house in La Nucia, as Mum wants to phone you, Pete. Love to you all from a cold South Northamptonshire. DAD

Happy birthday Will

Happy Birthday Bro'

Have a great time! Get some practice in for the apres ski next month eh! love you - Gem & Clivos

Weekly update - Feb 3rd

Thank you Jan for cheering up Mum. She had a welcome laugh while reading your snail mail. Rather good, as she was just saying that she has never felt so rotten since we came here. I was very sorry to hear her say that as I felt that she was feeling better. I know she is worried at the thought of a CT scan, but it can be nothing like her enema/.....oscopy. She is lookig forward to seeing something of you, if you have time, on ?? 16th. I know that your parents can hardly wait to see you, as it seems so long since this happened.
She enjoyed our trip 'down south' in and around Thame and she is already looking forward to our next trip!, meanwhile we have had our first 'free bus trip' to Banbury. Very enjoyable, with no car to park. It only takes 14 minutes to get into town and there is much chatter and laughter among the regular 'locals'. The bus stop is only 500 paces from our house and only takes us about 7 minutes!.
The car is all frosted up this morning so perhaps a walk to the village shop is in order, as we are short of green veggies. It is a well stocked Co-op shop, so it should not take long. Must take care if the footpaths are icy.
We have had no replies from our 'invitees' to the Manoir, yet. I expect M.Raymond Blanc is getting worried!! I can't think many of my relations will want to spend £62.50 just to eat with me on my 80th birthday. You never know, though.
Love your latest postcards, Julian. We both join with your fans in enjoying each and every one. I keep saying "I've been there!", when I see local views. Did any of you see 'Benidorm' on the telly. We have never experienced anything like that, even when we stayed in an hotel on our first visit 15 years ago. Pictorially though it is super and just to stroll along the lovely prom in the sunshine is well the visit. See y'all soon. LOL Dad

Little Miss Sunshine

Clive & I went to see this film a couple of weeks ago at the Ultimate Picture Palace on Cowley Road. We sat there for two hours in the cold with our coats on in those old cinema seats and had the best time. You are still laughing at the last scene while the film has moved on. The little girl Olive is amazing and a fantastic performance by Alan Arkin as the Grandad. So impresssed we bought it on dvd this week.

Little Miss Sunshine trailer