I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue

After the sad news that Humphrey Lyttleton died this week, I had a right giggle at this article about the lovely Samantha's active social life!

lv Gem xxx

Discovery Channel: I love the World

Why do things make me so happy?

Dad,

The other day Mum and I were taking about her swollen ankles and I suggested that she try rotating them as I remembered that that was the advice given to expectant mums, this set me thinking and I thought that you might find it helpful too, I carried on thinking, (the heavens didn't fall in) as I have been wondering if you could find a friendly yoga class with a teacher who would adjust her program to older people. A bit of gentle exercise would warm Mum up get her circulation going and straighten her leg muscles, this could be very useful as it may make Mum steadier on her feet and eventually give her a bit more much needed confidence. It even occurs to me that perhaps you could have someone(a personal trainer) guide you through a routine remind you to do it and help make sure that no one is overdoing it.

Our new safety rails

And-this-is-how-it-is-done

Adderbury St Georges Day Fair

A Grand Day out at the Red Lion in Adderbury on asparagus day with Mum trying out a tiramisu,which we all liked.
Steve and Dad chanced a beef Wellington and a pint of IPA

Millie, Merrows and Mandy

Nipped

Out for haddock and chips at half-time and it's still light at quarter
to nine in Leith Walk

Double Success

William's Charity

Will and I have a blog about progress on our expedition at CLICK
Yesterday we did a bit of green-laning over Shotover Common then up to. Crowell Only.
There are barriers up now along the Ridgeway so we had to go round through Chinnor to the Rec, and went along to Donkey Lane and down to the Post Office over the railway crossing.
Those gates are a bit heavy
We called in at Forty Green to say hello.. 'Hello' and William confessed he doesn't care much for traffic. Hopefully there won't be too much of that where we are going.

The girls were talking about Diet Coke and Mentos, which are sweets that when dropped into fizzy drink cause the CO2 to vent off with amusing results.

This Week in Kings Sutton

Calor® Village of the Year......2007/2008

England

King’s Sutton is representing Northamptonshire in the national stage of the Calor® Village of the Year competition. The judges are looking at four main aspects of King’s Sutton: People, Business, Environment and Communications as well as all the ingredients that make King’s Sutton special, the main one being, of course, its PEOPLE.


On Thursday 24th April 2008 between 9.30and 11.30 a.m the Millennium Memorial Hall will be buzzing with activity.


Representatives from many village groups have organised an interesting welcome for the judges who are invited to view the exhibition in the Hall and discover exactly what makes King’s Sutton tick.


A tour of King’s Sutton in the Baptist Church mini bus will provide the opportunity for the judges to explore the village, its amenities and institutions such as the School. The minibus will return to the Hall for coffee served in the small hall by the WI.


Please, PEOPLE, come along to view the exhibition, enjoy a cup of coffee, and show how proud we all are of our lovely, happy village!


Everyone is welcome. Please tell your friends and neighbours.

CLICK for KingsSutton.net

and also reported on BBC Breakfast, Chinnor RFC have beaten Oxford Harlequins Click for Chinnor site.

Access

Tulip border

Back step

pure genius!

Terminal Five

Success

What a long way for a pair of shoes

Mum;s troubles were exacerbated by her difficulty in walking due to the pain in her feet caused by toes that insist on trying to cross each other and the resultant corns between her toes. Today we decided to pop over to the Bicester Village Clark;s outlet shop to see if we can get some wide fitting shoes, as recommended by her podiatrist and were successful in finding 2 pairs that both looked nice and felt nice, so all is happiness once again.
We stopped off for lunch at the Jersey Arms and were home in 15 mins from there. Sorry about the apostrophe, but I clicked on the apostrophe and I get a semi-colon. I also tried to type an e-mail AND (ampersand) but kept getting an upside down exclamation mark. Not only once, but every time. Like the pub which ran out of crisps - not a one! Now I cannot type in my e-mail as it always comes out as an ! Dad
ps I have just learned that somehow I had managed to convert the keyboard to Spanish - hence the upside down ? ! etc. Seems to be ok now @ hip hip hurrah, as I am once more a Brit!! Dad.

Looks like we'll need to get a piano..

The cement works that were gone

The cement works that were gone
Originally uploaded by ezappy.

good sky though

Saturday

My car is all gassed up and ready for collection so will collect it at noon and I will be visiting KS after lunch.
Also I will be able to spend some time on Monday on the way to Edinburgh too.

Sorry Mum is still in discomfort. She has got to persevere with the fibogel. She could have up to 3 or 4 a day and Nic says he was prescribed the same thing and it produces a nice soft doings...charming Matron

Hello Jane!

Saw Jane Merrow-Smith yesterday lunchtime as I popped into Sainsbury's on Magdalen St. to get my lunch. She said she checks in on the blogger and wanted me to pass on their thoughts and best wishes to Grandma. She also congratulated me and Clive on our engagement. 

Then on the way back to the office I recognised Neil Mason loading a van outside my building in Wellington Sq. I've seen him a couple of times near work. He is lucky enough to live in St Johns Street?

Amy, what did you name the Kangaroo, Skippy? And yes get well soon Julian.

Love Gemma

Holiday kangaroo

I like being on holiday...here's a kangaroo that Amy and I made earlier!

Nice day..

Jan's sister Pam came over today, bringing her three children Jethro, Isaac and Charlotte. Those are the ones walking with Beth in the photo. We had a huge tray of lasagne to wade our way through (sorry to talk of food, Julian - do hope you're feeling a little better!) and had a fresh fruit salad after a nice walk around the local area using the Phoenix trail.

For a few days we've been entertaining nextdoor's dog, or at least a dog owned by Harry's friend and co-worker Paul. Apparently it is his daughters' dog, but the two of them are in the cottage writing new comedy stuff most of the time so we have taken on a little dog minding. She always comes out to see the girls go round to the Austins' house to get some exercise on their trampoline. I also go there for some exercise from time to time. When you get off a trampoline and try jumping in the air from the ground one holds an incredibly acute memory of what it should feel like as if still on the trampoline, so it makes you feel like Clark Kent with a shed load of Kryptonite in your pocket. All a bit wierd. Bit like when you stand in a doorway and push on the door jamb with your arms and then walk into the room and feel your arms wanting to go into the air like a pair of wings. Remember doing that as kids?

Free Lucozade

Follow the link and print out a voucher for a FREE bottle of Lucozade! courtsey of the MoneySavingExpert.. the one off Radio2.

Rang Julian who was in the studio for the first time since Mali, trying to get inspired he said.
He's been in bed for a week and has lost a stone in weight but will ring KS his week when he feels a bit stronger.

Hurrah!

I couldn't make my password work, but it's all better now!
Mum I'm glad to hear that the Doc is so sure there' s nothing unexplained in your digestive system. But it's a shame there's no magic bullet for the discomfort.
Sounds like you had a nice day with Pete, Jan and the girls, I like the idea of a garden centre with lunch, and it's a good time of year to get inspired.

Visit to Mr. Cristaldi's clinic

He confirmed that there is nothing to worry about in the colon and showed us the electronic picture from the CT scan. Not that I knew what I was looking at but he said "If you want me to delve further into the colon, it would show that there is nothing to worry about, without some surgery and I would not recommend that (at your age)"
He said that the recent visit to the hospital had nothing to do with his diverticular inspection. It was an electrical highlight imbalance, which can easily be corrected. No, he said that if it can be controlled by Senna and fybogel for constipation, I should not worry. He would contact our GP and ask for a blood test to see what has happened. I said that Mum was worried about non bowell movements and he said she should not worry so much, as she can control it. He then said goodbye and gave Mum a discharge sheet. He was very nice about it.
We borrowed a porters chair (wheelchair) and went along to the restaurant, where we had roast beef, followed by apple pie. Think of us. Love from G&G

Sunday

Hi Grandma & Grandad

It was really good to see you out on Sunday, how fun to eat paella, chat and listening to Spanish music while the snow melted and sun shone outside. It gave us all a really hint that winter is nearly over and the warmer weather will soon be here. I know Will, Clive, Steve and Elaine enjoyed the day too.

At home we've had the last of the lemon drizzle cake from M&S - highly recommended Grandma for us sweet tooths! The coffee and walnut also good !!

love Gemma xxx

Skype

Hi Dad

Great to hear you had a nice day out and hopefully Mum will enjoy your selection of 'Cook' dinners!
Gloria uses them all the time for impromptu reserve catering and we all thought she had suddenly learned to shop prepare and cook beef bourgignon LOL!

Nic wants to be able to use Skype to keep in touch more easily and for that I propose we get the internet through to the conservatory.
I will install a mac mini behind the Panasonic TV using it as a wide screen monitor.
I think Mum will be happier to see her off-spring on the TV so to speak.

To facilitate this I have ordered online to be delivered to your house a pair of Powerline Ethernet Adapters.
One connects up to the router in the office and sends data down the ring main to be picked up by its twin, which connects to the Mac Mini.

I have a wireless mouse and keyboard so it can all be operated from the bed settee.
There is the issue of a web cam but I'll bring one over and we'll see how we get on.

So expect a delivery for me will you.

Delighted!

I'm pleased you're pleased!
How did Mum get on?

Wyevale Valley

Thanks for the idea, Steve. We met Pete and family for lunch - the girls had pizza and we had beef wellington. A bottle of Merlot to wash it all down and we were well happy. As it happened Pete met an old (86) ex COS member - Ron Hooper (The Gallopping Major) and his wife, Olive who used to be our make-up queen. Ron is very deaf now and Olive has a curvature from constant bending, but they are both cheerful and we had quite a chat of the "old days".
We bought quite a number of frozen COOK meals which we managed to squeeze into our deepy. We look forward to eating them, soon. Pete has got ideas of how to improve our king garden as we did quite a tour of the rear garden area. Good luck with the improvements to the car. Ta Ra see you soon ha! ha!. DAD

LPG

Having your car converted are you mate yeah?
...king looks like it and all!
Don't blame you mate, £1500 sounds like a bargain.
Good luck to you cos I wouldn't have the king nerve!
I'll let you get on...

(from http://www.moderntoss.com/drivebyclip.html)

Yes as it happens I am having my car gas converted this week so no breakfast for me today I'm afraid Dad!
In this way I can still afford to maintain visits as I have recently without resorting to the Seat Jalopy!

I'm collecting the BM on Saturday morning so will pop in on a trial run up the M40 from Wembley after lunch.

Let us know how you get on and put that Nokia in your pocket.
Have you entered the AA recovery number in the phone yet?
Why not get Jessica or Bethany to do it for you.
These youngsters are ace with modern gadgets.

Sunday is Milly Molly Mandy's Christening too which I'm committed to go to, bless her ahh!
That's why the lawn was done last weekend. I should fit in a visit though after..

see ya later yeah?

Mali

more PHOTOS of Mali

Suggestion for Tuesday

Why don't you all arrange to meet up with for breakfast with Mum and Dad at the best Garden Centre I've ever been to- Bicester Avenue where there is loads to see and lots of space to run around eh? You can help Mum and Dad choose some 'Cook'Frozen Ready Meals to try!



These meals are indistinguishable from homemade.
Beef Meals
Beef Bourguignon
Tender pieces of silverside beef braised in red wine and port with dry-cured bacon, onions and mushrooms,with loads of gravy too!

Plus they are all designed to be re-heated from FROZEN in the oven!

WHERE TO GO FOR BREAKFAST!
Top quality Newitt's Oxford sausage feature in this value for money breakfast - available in all Wyevale Centres!

What a Place!

I've just been looking at Julian and Ruth's photo, how wonderful I've never seen anything like it, I want to go, do you think they would pay for me to go and get acquainted with the birth place of my soon to be, newest nephew/niece. I wish! do photos mean they are back or is this some clever cross continent technology.

Holidays are here...

I have a two week break starting today. The landlords came to look over the house this morning so we spent some time getting the house in tip top condition. So now we have a couple of weeks to enjoy living in it before the clutter of daily work and routine spoils it all again!

We'll be at mum and dad's for lunch tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing the remarkable improvement over last week.

Here's what Sunday morning brought as seen from the bedroom window - difficult to believe it was warm and sunny in the afternoon with hardly an icicle in sight....and here's Amy in front of our latest bit of second hand furniture - an old pine dresser.

Looking forward to seeing all at KS tomorrow.

info: Regal Magdalen Road

Mum's medication.

I've just been on the phone to Boots the Chemist at Brackley to chivvy the new Medisure dosset box procedure for Mother.

I'll be prompting again on Wednesday, but as things stand they will deliver Mum's weekly tablets set out in a blister pack on Wednesday by Boots' own vehicle to number 31 direct.

Mum can then follow the days of the week on the packet and we can then be sure she is getting the correct and regular dose of what she needs.
Aspirin will be included (soluble) in the the pack which the pharmacist said most people just swallow whole.
I hope this new system will ease any anxiety about taking tablets and what day of the week it is etc.

Mum has enough tablets in the dosset box I prepared to last until the weekend.
Should the prescription change from the doctor, the new doses will then be picked up in the system ready for the beginning of the following week, with any adjustments in the meantime delivered separately.

I've emailed hewsappy about claiming for Mum too and will ring tonight after 7pm.
love Steve

Love to Julian

reading on the rooftop
Originally uploaded by meanwhilehereinfrance.

who is suffering from toilet testing disease. Get well soon. Get Ruth to get some wet-ones.. buy one get one free in KS co-op.
Sculpture ideas Cathy?

Fiancée

Snowy Sunday Bella

I'm in Kings Sutton at the moment as there was a surprise heavy snow
fall last night and I had visions of heroics outside, but as it
happens the snow is gone now. There were powercuts elsewhere in the
village as I heard when I did some shopping up at the Co-op,
but mercifully not here.

Waiting for Pharmacist

Hellllllllloooooooo

Cath, you can try www.craftaus.com.au

Love Nic

WHAT A NIGHT

April 4th was the night that our rehearsal pianist at the Chinnor Operatic Society, Judy Thompson, retired after playing for the Society for 25 years. Not only was she an excellent pianist with a special penchant for knowing every artist's idiosyncracies, she would also coax a singer into singing to time, etc. (and help with uncertain words!) She is someone who will be sadly missed by an amateur Society. I suppose there were about 30 members and ex-members (like me) crowded into Glen Ebbs large comfortable house (a place where we often held our end-of-show-parties) Not only was I welcomed back as a member from 10 years ago, but I was thrilled to meet again with members and ex-members who were pleased to see me (also Pete and Jan, who have been living abroad for twelve years and have just returned to their area).
Steve had kindly agreed to "mum sit" for me to drive to Pete and Jan's house and from there driven by Pete to the party. As time went on I realised that Mum may be getting anxious that I was out alone and at 10.pm, I left the party and set off home. After about 30 mins travel on the M40 towards home I came across a road traffic 'incident' and was stuck along with hundreds of other car drivers, for over an hour about half mile from junction 9. If only I could get to J9 I could go home via Bicester, but no such luck.
At about midnight the emergency services managed to get the traffic flowing and I was able to get home via Bicester. Steve was happy to see me as Pete had phoned him to say that I was on my way. Mum was comfortably tucked up in bed, thank goodness. I learned from Pete that the party finished at midnigt, so I could have stayed!!!. "all's well that ends well"
Love from DAD

Ideas from the Art world?

Thomas needs to look at ceramics for inspiration for a his ceramics piece for his G.S.E. Art(or whatever it is he's taking...bad mothers not quite sure now I come to write it down), has anyone any ideas where he can look? He needs to look at more art in general so if anyone has any bright ideas let me know

Welcome Home Mum!

Glad your back safe and sound, I hope you have a chance to to sit in the sunshine as we did on Sunday. All my love Cathy.

SHE ZOME

It is now 7.17 and we have just arrived home with Mum, after having to wait 2 hours for the supply of pills etc to be made up by the Hospital Pharmacy. A long wait and we were beginning to get fed up, when the young lady pharmacist turned up with a couple of bags full, to be taken by poor Mum. Needless to say, she is glad to be back in her own chair again. She still looks frail, but a few days at home will have her back to good health. I won't say normal, as what is normal? Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. Love from DAD