Just got in after a lovely day in Thame

About 6 years ago a very dear friend from the Chinnor Operatic Society, Jonathan Goffin, died of altzeimers decease and for the past year or two, his widow, Brenda Goffin has been promoting a concert with professional musicians and singers, plus a nucleus of the chorus from the COS. Tonight we went to the 2007 concert, featuring another friend of ours, an internationally known tenor, named Adrian Thompson. We stayed all day with our old neighbours from Chinnor, KEN AND JEAN MASON who accompanied us to the concert and who had fed and watered us all day. It was a super concert and I rekindled many of my old friendships. Many of them also knew Pete and Jan, among them Pete's old school teacher Mrs Brenda Chubb who was thrilled that Pete and Jan had returned to the area and especially as P & J both work in P. Risborough school. They want P&J to contact them, as they live in PR. Just off to bed and we will be happy to see any one tomorrow. Love from Dad.

Millie

Wot a little beauty

Millie

Happy Holidays

Feeling rather flushed with my success in getting pictures onto an album in face book,I thought that I would try with the blog, but of course by now I have forgotten how to do it but luckily the boys have just come in from school and have taken over the task.

Congratulations Julian and Ruth on being approved as suitable parents, a task on a par with circumnavigating the globe on a skateboard, Good luck with the next bit !!! much love Cathy and the others

Our shower unit has arrived

It was delivered at 11.30am today and we have put it in the conservatory, until the installers come on 9th October to fit it. Then we can have a "shower Party" Dad

Ok so I finally caved in and joined facebook...

and did a search on Merrow-Smith, and it resulted in my lovely Papa and Will but also the 'The Julian Merrow-Smith Appreciation Society' (or those who think onions and lemons have been brought to life by big Jules) their words not mine. Latest topic of conversation is that Julian could take Picasso in a fight... Julian I guess you know about this as they are eagerly awaiting a response but respectfully know you are busy. Isn't the internet fascinating and frightening at the same time.

Clive and I went to see Mandy, John, Ruby and little Millie last weekend. All are well and I took some photos of M (she smiles in her sleep). Grandad and Aunty June will be pleased to know John got hold of a copy of Millie-Molly-Mandy.

love Gemsi xxx

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What a welcome blog from dear Ruth

Congratulations, at last it is going to happen. I saw from your own blog that your plans were gathering pace and we were so excited to see that things were at last going to work out happily for you both. Hip, Hip, Hip, Hurrah!!
In your 'meanwhile' blog you were not too impressed by your 'cement' layer and we were afraid that you were again going to be disappointed. However we have pictorial proof that the patio has been successfully laid and we look forward to sitting on it in the sunshine next month (if there is any sunshine?) Love from us both- Hgh and Margaret.

success!

Just wanted to let you all know that, unofficially, we have been approved for adoption!

The social worker was wonderful (she LOVED Julian!) but the psychologist (called 'psy' here but 'psycho' by us) was very tense, and the sessions, IN FRENCH!!!!, were rather unpleasant, albeit in the extraordinary Roman town of Vaison. It seemed he wanted to trip us up at every step, and put us into the psycho-packages that fitted his rather narrow training. His hands were tense as he scribbled many words on his pad (after we had uttered only one or two). He did not use them to shake our hands or make us feel comfortable in any way and, as a trained therapist myself, and between us, I found him very unprofessional.

It seems we charmed him despite everything (and you all were in there in the charming process), and he told Julian he saw no reason why we should not have the 'avis favorable' (the thumbs up).

We are looking at Mali and Togo. We have a very good chance of having a baby or at least a one or two year old! We are beginning to allow ourselves to get excited about our potential family. So here we are, after all that STUFF, an ectopic and 3 IVF's and the time it took to heal, being 'expectant parents' at last!

ps the terrace is at last finished!!!

message for nic

Hazel said "Andy says he doesn't remember Nic looking that old...but he's one to talk. Next time you speak to Nic, remember Andy to him. No doubt he'll get in touch and then he can type his own bloody emails!!! Had a look at the photos, cute kids...We want to know how old. We have two ....Cameron is 8 and Rose is 2....There was life in that old dog after all..I mean him!!!"

SPOOKY - OR WHAT?

It is now 0430 and I have been awake for hours, so got up and made myself a cuppa.
Hello-oooooo. can anybody hear me? Hello-oo Is there anybody out there? Hello0oooo I'd like to come out now - Actually. My favourite radio advert, but only for National Savings! Spoookie!
Talking of spooky, We had said goodnight, but I wanted to cough and as it was so hot and I had no pyjam top on and therefore no hanky in my pocket, I started to search around in the dark on my bedside cabinet. Mum awoke and said, "Shall I put the light on?" but I said no as I did not want to wake her any further and continued to search - trying not to make any noise, when my wrist was suddenly held in a grip and I said "Don't worry darling I am only trying to find a hanky", but she was asleep and the hand on my wrist got tighter and I was getting worried as if it wasn't Mum, Who was it - Then I thought perhaps Steve had come in (As he has a key) and was trying to wake me, without making a noise, and the grip tightened - I was now getting panicky and I couldn't make out any figure. I tried to get up but the grip on my wrist was making it impossible. Spooky or what? Then it came to me in a flash, the hand which was holding my wrist could only be a man's hand as Mum was now asleep. Whose was it? You are right - it was my own!! My trigger finger had locked and I could not undo it! Spooky, or what?? I did manage to undo it but couldn't get back to sleep. It was 0320, so I got up as above.

As to Facebox, I thought it must be Andy - who else? Not a Gomme!, not a Pullen? Must be a Bell! Did you get that Nic?

Yes you're right.. Full Marks!

Andy Bell's wife Hazel popped up on Facebook and asked if I had a younger brother in Singapore!

Medical-wise I thought it maybe interesting and perhaps helpful to know that there are others out there with the same trouble, but of course each case is different, which is why we need GP's to advise.

Spend 20 mins reading about IBS

Dr Porter's column in the Health series i very interesting - but which applies to Mum with her trouble of Diverticulosis?

My birthday treat in Oxford has raised its ugly head again as I had an e-mail from 92, Station Road, Wootton saying that I had a parking fine but she had lost my address. Parking fine, I said - I sold J363 boo six weeks ago. I asked her to send on the vitriol and lo & behold it was for 0820 on 2nd April in Castle Street Oxford when I must have been waiting for Mum to come out of Malmaison and been spotted by a wideawake t/warden. I had to pay £90 + court fees of £5 so there goes something I cannnot afford - no more iPods.
Went to Daventry yesterday to have a look at Waitrose, but spent most of the time and money in Aldi, which is the biggest I have seen. No cafes or restaurants and as I was getting tired we headed home and stopped in a village called Badby where we had a jacket and a pint.
Did you see the football? good old Heskie and Owen - they seem to gel very well still. Have we ever won an international with Rooney playing?? Yours in poverty DAD

Facebook photo could be Andy Bell

Alright, I give in DAD

Greetings from an old friend..(via Facebook)

Who's this and his family from Chinnor days?
What is Facebook?

Mum you're not alone..

Radio 4 Case Notes is a BBC Radio 4 programme which discusses common medical problems including one you may be interested in.
Here's a transcript of the relevant programme. IBS
It may be helpful to know that a lot of other people suffer from this condition, and that although the cause is unknown, some helpful strategies to cope have been developed.
The programme mentions which probiotics to use, the effect of stress, being worried about travel and eating out, and using hypnotherapy to ease the symptoms.
Interestingly, weight-loss is not part of the problem so your doctor really ought to be helping you with that!
Here's a quote from the transcript..
"Dr Mark PORTER
Robin, we had someone call the BBC about the use of the antidepressant Amitriptyline in low dose, she has IBS had been put on amitriptyline and it's worked very well but she's wondering whether it can be used in the long term. How's this drug working?
SPILLER
Okay so this is a drug that's been around a long time, it's safe and cheap in low dose, it's not actually used that much now as an antidepressant, the SSRIs have taken over - the newer drugs. It's a complicated action but one of its actions is to block histamine and I think most people will be familiar with antihistamines, they do relax you as well, and that may be part of the benefit if particularly taken at night in a low dose.
PORTER
So although it might be acting on the nerves and all sorts of different things you think the effects are probably that of a mild tranquilliser?
SPILLER
Yes and it makes people relaxed, it makes them sleep better and they feel better for the day the next day.

Download the programme for iTunes

Happy Birthday Jessica and Amy!

Happy Birthday love from Gem, Clive and Will (and Charlie and Lola).
Will is visiting and we've all settled down to watch England v Israel although the waiter today was bit upset as Clive said he'd rather watch the football than the rugby (fnarr USA). Clive's birthday surprise was a trip to see Oxford United (v Exeter City) at the Kassam stadium. He hadn't been to see The Yellows play for over 15 years and Tuesday night was an exciting yet typical Oxford performance - two penalties meant Oxford was 2-0 up with 20 minutes to go, and the midfield decided to stop playing and hang out with the back three. Exeter City deserved the draw by scoring twice in the last 10 minutes, the second with the last kick of the match. I've never been surrounded by so many disappointed people (4,560 minus 60 Exeter City fans). Here are some pics I managed to take before I became too self-concious by having the camera out. We sat in the South stand which is the equivalent to the Manor's Beech Rd, wasn't feeling brave enough to sit in the East stand (the London Road end - ooh the robust language and the saucy songs!) Peter "Oxford Legend" Rhoades-Brown came on at half-time for the 'Hit the Crossbar competion' as the East terrace chanted 'Chelsea reject' - tough crowd. The two lads that came out the crowd couldn't do it but went home with some consolatory Oxford United stickers (the prize was a football signed by the team).




We may go again if the team's fortunes pick up...hep hem as we can't deal with the stress & fear of Oxford's failure.

love Gemsi x

...and Will

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO AMY JO

We both wish you to have a very happy birthday. We have bought some books for you to colour and we hope you get some fun out of colouring them. love from your Grandma and Grand dad. We hope you had a good week at your new school.

The happiest days of your life

Good luck to all you school children - to Ed going into 6th form, to Thomas, up to the next class, to Kate in the new BIG school, Jess and Beth in their new English school and to Amy in her first English school. Not forgetting Claire and Dan in Singapore. I am sure you will all soon get used to it. Have fun and enjoy it. Who is going to be 16 tomorrow?? - and to Amy, who will be 6 on Sunday HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JESS !! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO AMY!!
love from G&G

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLIVE!

I usually do my blog-watching at 0630, so did not see your blog Gem until just now. Last year we were all tied up with house sales, moving and all that so any attempt to cast my mind back to 2006 fell by the wayside. Anyway, Clive do enjoy your 31st. Best wishes and good luck from Hugh and Margaret.
I tried to put a comment on to your blog Gem, but like all I seem to do with computers, it fell by the wayside - sorry!!

Happy Birthday Clive!

Happy Birthday Darling

Clive's birthday today and we've both taken the day off work. The birthday boy is having a birthday lie-in. I've been busy wrapping presents, baking chocolate cake (topped with minstrels and choccie buttons), and I have a secret surprise trip organised for this evening (tee hee).

Good luck for the new term/school everyone!

lv Gem xx

Hear Hear! and so say all of us. Best Wishes from Hughand Margaret

Haircut complete

As usual I have cut off too much for Edmunds liking, but as I pointed out he hasn't seen anyone from school for two months, so only he will know!! Good luck everyone for tomorrow. much love Cath xxxxx

School tomorow . . .

Hi, Edmund here.
Err . . .
Haven't been here for a while, but my thoughts strayed here when I got board waiting for mum to cut my hair (should fill 2 pillows).

School tomorow . . . yeah, nothing much esle to say.


OH-YEAH!
I've started doodling.
See http://lordedy.deviantart.com/

Found one of me...

... I'm so small!!

Volleyball?

Volleyball
Originally uploaded by Old tamensians.

It looks like someone has been very busy at the OldTamensians in uploading old photos to Flickr.