Dad at last, birthday package arrived!

Thank you for the lovely words and bath goodies. I can't see a reasonable reason for it to have taken so long to get here, I thought that there was only one Llanddewi-Brefi, you had the address all correct, but you are two letters out on the post code, -Y----X.

I must say I have been heartily cheered up by your visit, Thank-you for driving all that way, it can be most tiring, I hope your shoulder isn't to sore.

Sorry if this seems abit disjointed I'm working hard, none stop cooking and long hours, it seems a very long week, cooking for loads of people and catering a lunch party for resident old and new on Saturday so I can't realy think straight, still they love my food, so the flattery keeps me going.

I hope all is going smoothly for our rally drivers, I'm not sure where to get news of them?

Much love Cathy

And...relax.

While the bigger girls are up at camp in North Wales (Benllech) we are looking to get out and about a bit. On Monday, Judy and Stan kindly looked after Amy for a sleepover while we went to an evening after wedding party. A colleague at work has married a nice Chinese lad whose parents are in the restaurant business. We enjoyed a fine spread at one of the family restaurants, the Wasungdan in Basingstoke, along with 200 or so other guests and partied into the early morning. A great time was had by us both and Amy appears to have had fun too making buscuits and entertaining Grandma's 'ladies' (friends, to you and me).

Yesterday we introduced Amy to the Lyde Garden in Bledlow and she insisted we go back in the afternoon for a picnic there too. We had a great big bonfire last night (a great way for a Merrow-Smith to relax!) and today we are off out with Amy, Judy and Stan for a pub luncheon at the Old Fisherman in Shabbington. We are probably going up to Kings Sutton on Friday...

Steve and Will continue to make great progress. I watched Charlie and Ewan last night going through Russia and Kazakhstan on basically the same route as the lads. Hope Steve and Will have just as entertaining a trip!

Thank goodness!

Thanks, Gem for straightening things out. What a lovely photo of Mother Russia at Volgograd. Looks really BIG, The photo was up with no text, until this morning. Now I understand things better. It is no relief to know that they are in Kazer as that is one big bitch of a country with no real roads, only beautiful views and, apparently beautiful people. I hope they hang out on good roads for as long as possible and don't try any mountain climbing in Bella. Love from G&G

Map error

The map is a bit confused so will need sorting upon their return so we know where they have really been. I do know that the boys haven't been to Finland or the North pole! They've been through France, Belguim, Germany, Poland, Czech, Ukraine and now Russia. Yesterday they were in Volgograd (Stalingrad) so they have seen 'Mother Russia Calling'.Today they cross the border to Kazhakstan so probably will be camping more. The car is running well and Will's russian is coming on so they are having a great time.

Gem xx

Our short repas in Wales

Thank you God for some nice weather. The best was on Wednesday, when we were in the car hurtling down the M 5/50 before we stopped at a garage for a p and p, though the pint was only cool orange juice, but the other p was welcome.
We arrived in LL/Brefi in record time though it is hard work to break the five hour run. The children had just broken up from school and on Thursday, a group of about a dozen boys and girls, accompanied by a mother started what has become an annual walk to some YHA's starting with that one about seven miles from Ll/B,up the valley and spending two nights stay in YHAs and quite a few miles walking. They arrived back in Nythfa on Saturday afternoon, tired and footsore; just in time to join in Cathy's birthday BBQ.
Going back a bit we went into Aber to get some grub for the planned BBQ and we were able to buy a super flat packed BBQ from Focus and spent the next hour fitting it all together
On Friday we were able to satisfy one of Cathy's long felt want/visits to Abergweslyn House and gardens, (near Llandeilo) where we spent a super day enjoying the delights of this lovely old house and gardens, in glorious weather. We had a drink to Jan's birthday (Thanks for your good wishes P&J) and on Saturday we (Some of us) spent all morning preparing for the garden feast, which started with a misty outlook, but developed into lovely hot sun. Cathy's garden looked super as she and John had planted many trees which were all in full leaf, since our last visit. The grass had been cut and it all looked lovely. Cathy and John's friends all turned up and when the children returned we tucked in to a beautiful BBQ meal. Sunday came and we had to say goodbye as we were running out of our tablets, and we headed Eastwards towards a rising sun and were home 5 hours later. Thanks Cath and John for putting up with us old codgers and making us so welcome.
It was a lovely visit (without the usual Welsh rain). Now it is Monday in K/s and the sun is still shining. Love to all from G&G

The long way round

Did anyone watch the programme last night where Ewen McGregor and his bike partner were travelling across Kazasakstan the long way round to New York?. They spent a day and a half driving out of their way as there was was some holdup when they could not get across a river. Seems to me that a journey to Mongolia via Finland and the Noth Pole is another long way round! Frightening, Man. Did you see the roads they had to negotiate? I know they were on motor bikes and so did not have to use the full width of the ?road. What road?? I hope Steve's hard work on Bella was worth it, as there were obstacles in the road every few yards. It must have been heaven when they could drive on metalled roads. One thing though the people were great. I only hope that the boys can stand it. G&G

Les Mongauloises

Having fun tracing Steve and Will's movements and placing map pins onto Google Earth. The map on their website seems pretty good only it doesn't seem to pick up the GPS coordinates so well from, I assume, Steve's phone. According to the map on the Mongauloises' site, the boys were in Finland when they crossed the Russian border...and prior to that they seem to have visited the north pole before crossing into the Ukraine. Sounds like they are having a great trip, though...a real eye opener. Keep it up lads!

с днем рождения cathy от Оксфорд и Волгоград!

Many happy returns returns

Had a lovely day at home entertaining Jan's ma and pa (and the duck), then took Jan out to Oxford to see a film. While we were watching Mama Mia, the girls did the bedtime routine and tried also to get themselves ready for camp.

Mama mia was a great fun, fell-good movie. Looks like they all had great fun making it and that rubs off on you. Only trouble is you end up driving home singing Abba hits all night!

It is now twenty to five in the morning and we hope to be driving up to Macclesfield shortly so Jess, Beth and their school friend Holly can catch the bus from Titherington Family Worship on to Benllech for the start of the camps later today.

Wishing you all well and happy birthday to you Cath. Enjoy the day, love from all down here in Forty Green.

Hey Janet!

Happy Birthday to you today! Many happy birthday wishes from me and Clive but also the travelling Mongauloises too.

love Gem
xx

Happy Birthday Jan

I hope you have lots of lovely sun and fun.

lots of love from all of us here in wales

Must be summer!!

Cathy has just telephoned to invite us to Wales, so when Mum has had her hair done at 11.30 this morning, we will pack up and go. Sorry to spring this on you, but it is Jan's birthday on Friday, Happy Birthday to Jan!, and we will be unable to join any celebrations, but Cathy is having a BBQ on Saturday. We will be coming home on Sunday, I expect. I've got a full tank so that is one problem I will not have to face. GO BOYS GO. G&G

Wacky racers head for Mongolia

More intrepid adventurers from Oxfordshire are geared up to set off today on a 10,000-mile charity challenge - at the wheels of old bangers.

Father and son Steve and Will Merrow-Smith, from Oxford, are hoping a 16-year-old Seat Marbella, bought on the Internet for £150, will carry them all the way to Mongolia.

And computer software developer Joe Steinhardt, from North Leigh, near Witney, will be joining three friends in a 1977 Hillman Avenger, while Team Swifty, from Bicester - Tom Chettle, 20, and Jeff Pepper, 21 - are driving a £500 Suzuki Swift.

The Merrow-Smiths will be armed with just a couple of old maps, a compass and a tool box to help them navigate through eight countries spanning two continents.

Will, of Rymers Lane, Cowley, said they were amazed to have been picked for the Mongol Rally, which saw more than 6,000 applications for just 300 places.

The event involves driving old bangers from London to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. Each team must raise at least £500 for Mercy Corps, a charity providing aid to people living in poverty and areas of conflict.

Will, 28, who works in the subscriptions department of Oxford University Press, said they hoped to reach Mongolia in about three weeks.

He said: "We have been quite apprehensive.

"We have had to make quite a lot of preparations, getting jabs and getting the car ready.

"Now we're in the final stretch, I can't wait."

He added: "The biggest problem will be the roads. Mongolia is a country the size of Europe but it only has 50 miles of paved roads.

"It is no surprise that only 60 per cent of cars finish the rally.

"There is no route, no support crew, no map - it should be fun. But we're determined to finish it, even if it means we ditch the car and hitch."

The rules say that participants must not use a car which cost them more than £500 or has an engine bigger than one litre.

Will's dad Steve, 53, a handyman and gardener from Hertford Street, East Oxford, said: "We bought the car off eBay for £150 six months ago. It has cart springs at the back, which although rugged make for a bouncy ride."

To sponsor the pair, who have called themselves Les Mongauloises, go online at www.justgiving.com/ lesmongauloises.

Mr Steinhardt, 26, of East End, North Leigh, is tackling the journey with team-mates Graeme Wicks, 26, Sam Vaughan, 20, and Harvey Manns, 20, all from Kettering. He said: "None of us are skilled mechanics, we've just got lots of information on our iPods and help along the way.

"We're told that in many of the countries we cross there are many people who depend on their cars for survival and are prepared to weld any bits together just to make them go again."

To sponsor them, see www.willwemakeit.com/ cartrekvoyagers Bicester's Team Swifty have so far raised £1,200 for charity. To sponsor them, see www.team-swifty.com Oxfordshire's other entrants are students James Anderson, 21, and Alex Hill, 20, in a Fiat Panda with an artificial turf roof.

6:05am Saturday 19th July 2008

http://www.oxfordmail.net/news/headlines/display.var.2403237.0.wacky_racers_head_for_mongolia.php

Last car to Mongolia is a loser!!

As you can see it was all smiles as the boys were very glad to be finally on their way at 1pm and get some miles under their belts. The gods were smiling as the organisers moved Will and Steve to the front so were fourth out of the park following the novelty entrants of a Routemaster bus and two 1970s ambulances!!

I'm steadily adding photos to their website and hopefully some video once I've worked out how to get it off my new phone.

Very glad you had nice time on the island G&G, as you can see it was such a proud moment to see the boys all packed up and raring to go and seeing them get to know some of the other teams. It really came home about how much preparation and effort had taken place. Go boys go!

Keep track of them as they report in via text on their website - they have had some adventures already!!

love to all

Gemsie xx

Two days on the Island

Up very early - could not sleep as I did not know how long it would take - and we were on the M40 bound South by 0630. Took the normal route via M 40 and A34 and only needed one stop - at Tot Hill, so we were in the queue for the Lymington ferry, (having enjoyed the New Forest, but did not enjoy the road widening on the M 27) at 0915 and thankfully did not have to wait for long before we were disembarking in Yarmouth. Went into the small town for a coffee, as the weather was bright and sunny.
Went to Warners, only to find that rooms would not be ready until 2.30pm. So we headed for Newport to shock Tina and sat chatting to her for a couple of hours. She sends her love to all her family and wished Steve and Will Godspeed for their massive journey. She is very well considering her age and disability (Breast cancer) and she made us very welcome. At about 5pm we said farewell and headed back to Yarmouth to book in to our chalet - not far from our last visit.
We were tired after our our early start and after a lovely dinner, we took it easy and turned in early.
Next morning after a gigantic 'English' we set off to Wootton Bridge to see our old neighbours and Reg had to go into hospital immediately as he suffered from shortage of breath while we were there, so after spending an enjoyable hour or two chatting (and listening) Reg had to visit the 'heart' man in St Mary's Hospital and we went off to Godshill to visit Celia and Richard. What a lovely welcome from Mum's younger sister (in a wheelchair) and her rural husband!! Richard has bought a new Skoda as he was able to sell his 'old' one to his daughter-in-law for the price that the Skoda firm offered him. He took us all to the Chequers for lunch and both Mum and I had massive plates full of mussels with a wonderful liquor - fair filled us up. We finished lunch at about 3.pm and spent another hour with them in their nice little bungalow, before setting off for Warners again. We were too full to entertain the thought of our evening meal and once again spent the evening quietly. Next morning, after another mammoth 'English' we set off for the ferry and were in Lymington at 10.30am. Good job we went early as we arrived at the road widening on the M27 and it took us over an hour before we could get up any speed. We called in to see Steve and to wish him and Will a good journey, but as they were all busy packing up and Steve had to go to the GPO in Oxford for his International Driving Licence, we continued home, arriving by about 7.pm. We were pleased to see our welcoming church steeple and after an evening of telly watching we turned in to our lovely bed. Love to all - Dad and Mum

Farewell for now!

Managed to phone Steve at Hyde Park yesterday morning to wish him and Will all the best. Sounded like they were having fun. I guess the fun continued today and hopefully they have made their quota of miles for the day by now.

Don't forget to keep an eye on their Mongauloises blog.

Duck

We have a duck! At school the science department hatched chickens last term and the chicks went off to the farm after about five weeks. This term we decided to try hatching ducks, so I asked my neighbour with a duck pond which kind of duck he'd like as a gift and he went for Khaki Campbells. Well, we managed only to get one Khaki Campbell to hatch (they are more temperamental with regard to humidity and temperature than chickens)and now he is living at Forty Green in our rabbit hutch (sin lapin) and getting daily swims in the brook. We'll have him for a few weeks before trying to reintegrate him into duck society next door. This may mean moving the hutch pondside for a few days...who knows? At the moment he thinks he is a lab technician since that is basically the only family he has ever known....but he is slowly coming round to the idea that he may be a Bethany. He whistles whenever he sees anybody and follows you round like a lap dog, sitting on or between your feet whenever you stop. No true feathers yet, he remains a fluffy duckling but has grown massively in his two short weeks! However, he is not yet a match for the local foxes so to stop himself advertising his presence to Mr Tod we have to throw a blanket over the hutch at night to shut him up!

I am also now the teacher running the bee keeping club. I have been down to the hives a few times and last week we harvested our first honey. I have yet to be stung but apparently this is just a matter of time. Is there any anaphalactic shock history in the family??

another great wikipedia page..

List of Seinfeld fictional films

IW Bound

It is now 0610 and we are off to catch the 11.15 from Lymington. See you on Friday. Love to you all from Mum and Dad

Mongolia here they come!!!

I can't believe it, it's almost time for you to go I wish I could have seen you both before departure but it's just not been possible. I'm thinking of you, I think the final preperations must be the worst, I watched the repeat of Ewan Mcgreggor and Charlie Borman packing to go around the world on their motor bikes as a sort of substitute for you intreped rally drivers. I hope to speak to you before you go but I suspect that you are up to your eyes in it. Much love Cathy


p.s. I'm sorry about the spelling this spellcheck seems only to tell me I can't spell which I know and not how to spell what I can't spell.

Have you got any old mobile phones or unwanted books?

This week inspired by our success at the carboot and the ching-ching of making cash, I have been mainly turning old unwanted possessions into pounds thanks in large measure to:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com

Tips this week!!
You can sell your old mobile phone. As we know networks commonly offer to upgrade phones, which means an estimated 80 million old phones in the UK. There is a step-by-step guide to recycling mobiles for hard cash, including a full comparison of the top 'old-mobile buying’ companies. As I have a brand new phone winging it way to me as I blog I've done the web search and for my 5yr old phone, one website will give me £11.70 or if I opt for M&S vouchers which are worth a bit more they'll send me £13. Nice. And I was just going to put it in a drawer...

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/mobile-recycling

And my other find is greenmetropolis.com which is a book recycling website. In 5 days I've sold three books for the good of Les Mongauloises = £9 just like that!!! Much better price that the scrooges at the carboot were willing to give! How much petrol is that boys or your dinner at a roadside cafe in Kazakhstan.

http://www.greenmetropolis.com/

lv Gem

The Mongol Rally 2008 Brave Teams :: The Launch Approaches

Hello Teams, I hope this finds you all well and in the mood for some serious adventure. Anyway here are some handy details about the London Launch for you. Things like how to get in and when to arrive. All terribly useful. ENTERING THE PARK You must enter Hyde Park via Victoria Gate (that's off Bayswater Road that runs along the north of the Park). The launch site will be along North Carriage Drive within Hyde Park. Cumberland Gate will be closed to all incoming vehicles. Only team vehicles registered on the Mongol Rally website will be able to enter the park, there is NO access or parking for any other cars. Once you get into the Park you will be furnished with T-shirts and stickers and information about your route and how to get to the Czechout party. WHEN STUFF IS HAPPENING 09:00 – 10:30 The Park is open for you guys to arrive, please arrive before 10:30 09:00 – 11:30 Registration in the admin tent for stickers, t-shirts, Czechout tickets etc 11.30 Admin tent will close, if you miss it you will have to wait until it re-opens after the departure 10.30 – 11.30 Entertainment and prize giving for such wonders as best pimp and least likely to make it. 11:30 Last minute announcements such as don't go you will all die 12:00 – 12.30 The rally begins and you set forth on the trail to Mongolia 01:00 – 01:30 Admin tent re-opens for teams who missed it in the morning FRIDAY NIGHT If you want to hook up for some beers the night before we will be meeting for some informal beers in café 1001. It's in the usual place on Brick lane. It will be a low key affaire as previous years have told us that you lot are usually desperately stuffing sleeping bags into your cars. However no doubt there will be a few wise folk who drink on into the night and turn up to the park hanging. That be all you need to know so we shall see you soon to kick off all this ridiculousness. TAKING YOUR CAR HOME FROM MONGOLIA? This is your very last chance saloon to tell us if you want to bring your car back out of Mongolia. This is not a decision you can make on the way neither can you change your mind once you get to Mongolia. We need to know 107% either way by FRIDAY NIGHT at 6pm. Think hard about this if you do plan on driving home because if you were get to Mongolia and find your car is really struggling and have said you will drive it back, you still have to. Lest ye be slapped with a massive import fine by the Mongolian Authorities. Formalities aside, it is going to be an absolutely awesome summer of wild adventure and I look forward to raising several glasses of Absinth with you all in the Czech republic. Cheers, Tom

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Is the sun gonna shine?

Nice to have a chat, yesterday, Nic - 4 O'clock for me 11.pm for you. I had planned to talk to Julian but could not find his Skype number and his other number kept ringing with no answer.
We are so dispirited by the rain, so after Mum finished talking to Tina on her 81st birthday, and after we had received a very good offer from Warners, I fixed up for us to spend two nights on 16th & 17th on the Island, at Norton Grange to visit Tina and Celia:
back to KB on 18th, prior to Steve's Great Escape on the 19th. Are there any big plans for flag waving 'Our Boys' off to the front?
(or is it the Back - of beyond?)
I had a job to find a suitable ferry as it is the beginnings of school holidays, but we got there in the end - at a price, of course and from Lymington.
Mum's knee is OK after a bit of massage with Ibubrofen - wish I could say the same about my shoulder - that'll teach me to stay on my feet more often, and for longer! Remember my falls off walls in Botswana, Pete? Love from Dad
p.s must go now as I want a whisper!

Amazing photos...

Good ol' Gene Smith....

As far as I am aware, this is only the third time I had been the subject of a photograph. There's the one of me in the pram (black and white, about four years earlier), the frog photo with all the siblings, (in colour, I think, about five years earlier), and now this one! Personally I don't recognise myself but then I haven't seen myself looking like that since I was six.

I want a whisper!

image0-3
Originally uploaded by ezappy.

Whisper in my ear then!

Graham Benn, Mike Gomme, the whisperer, Julian, Nicky

circle dance

circledance
Originally uploaded by ezappy.

was it the hokey cokey? Fay, ezappy, hewsappy, Andy Benn, Glor, Nicky.

The other photo is young master Peter with the football.
Dad is 43 years young in this photo!

Use your Time Clock next time.

Letter this morning from Aylesbury District Council ( Buckingham is in their area) and they have let me off the parking fine - THIS TIME. You are right Steve, I should use my time clock as I only have 3 hours on a double yellow line. Dad

Here's to your lovely blogs, Steve

Who is the boy with the knees and is that Fay? Nic had not changed much since he (aged 2) and I played football in the Aylesbury Park, when I ended up with my back in traction, and a long period off work.
Loved watching the little children trying to copy the belly-dancer and glad you had an evening out with Will, Steve.
I don't remember much about Pentangle, except that Nic had some LP's. Folksy music at that time could not match the Groups, which 'Fluff' used to play on Saturday afternoons, when I was supposed to be swatting for my Local Gov .exams!
We went to see the doctor about Mum's knee and it seems she must have strained a ligament, which could be eased with ibubrofen. He was right because a few massages with the gel has eased the situation. We had images of trips to the hospital for X-rays and knee surgery! It seems to be working on my right shoulder, as well, although I still have trouble holding a teapot or even a cuppa.
Came home last night about 11-ish a little the worst for wear after a heavy night at Catenians so I will have to clear up a bit this morning - Clothes are hanging on every chair-back. Thanks heavens for a good shower-room as there is nothing like a hot shower. I am much better now!!. Love from Dad
P.S I seem to have won my case with the Aylesbury District Council parking people. I must use my time clock in future. D

More Glor

1970 New Forest

he WAS there!

Sunday Washout

although salvaged by a wonderful evening.

The folk group Pentangle from the sixties are on tour and Will had a spare ticket so braving the rains we headed off into town yesterday evening. The Cowley Road Festival was on it's last knockings and we picked our way past the belly dancers and 'rrrrRRice and Pea' stalls.
It was a wonderful evening, the group on top form although without that willowy youth look that I recall. I remember listening to them at Chinnor in the Orange lounge, with my head and Dad's speakers wired up in a huge bass drum case to get the full stereo effect.

All topped off later by catching up with the recorded tennis final and Lewis' triumph in horrendous South Northamptonshire weather!

PENTANGLE Light Flight

this was the tune that propelled the group onto the telly all those years ago from 'Take Three Girls'

Cowley Road Carnival Festival (Oxford)

Where are the crusty jugglers?

Cold, Rainy day on Sunday.

So we split our tv viewing between Grand Prix and Wimbledon. Two fantastic results -Lewis Hamilton winning the GP in the rain and Madal & Federer playing tennis sometimes in the rain. Stayed up to watch the tennis re-run, to see who had won, crept into bed at 11pm, as Mum found she could not bend her knee without pain.
Mum woke up today to find that her knee wouldn't work. so I'll take her to the doc today. I expect she will be sent for an x-ray to see the 'why and wherefore'. I hope it is nothing serious as she has had such a bad press lately.
Thanks to Ibubrofen gel, I am keeping my shoulder pain to within reasonable dimensions, glad it does not keep me awake!,
But it stops me using my heavy 16lb hammer. Keep smiling. Luv from Mum and Dad

We've made a new path

put up a new shed, and installed a new rose arch with hand rails up the steps.!






The plan is to avail ourselves of some hardcore from next door neighbour Alex.



Lil wants this lot shifted to extend their patio for a garden bbq party, although I think Alex would appreciate a hand shifting it. The top soil they have a buyer for and Dad has plenty anyway, but the hardcore we will use to flatten out the top left corner in the niche where the old walls are, which will be then be paved for an outside dining area.

Bella avec les Poppies

Bella avec les Poppies
Originally uploaded by les_mongauloises

Early morning on the way to KS

Where is the Palace?

Went to a little village called Mixbury as there is a nice little garden centre there with many reasonably priced plants so we bought a few and as we were only a couple of miles from Buckingham, asked the man to save the plants for us as we did not want them all in the hot car all day. Went on to Buckingham . The following is what happened in Buckingham; I collected another £70 parking fine! I at once objected -
Dear Sir, My name is Mr. Patrick Hugh Merrow-Smith, of 31, Arundel Close, Kings Sutton, Banbury, OX17 3QZ., tel 01295811857
I am aged 81 and I am the owner of the Silver Renault vehicle OE52YTY, the subject of your enforcement officer’s PCN KY0080949, affixed to my vehicle on 1st July 2008 in Moreton Road, Buckingham, outside the public toilets.
I wish to register objections to your officer’s action as, presumably, he did not know that I am disabled although I was displaying the internationally recognizable Blue Badge on my windscreen.
In addition to this, my 79 year old wife is also seriously ill with diverticulosis and has difficulty in controlling her bladder and bowel movements. We had just arrived in Buckingham and enquired where the toilets were situated.
We were directed to the toilets in Moreton Road, where there was no parking vacancy and no ‘disabled’ parking reservation.

As luck would have it neither of us had the necessary coin to enter the toilet from the outside and we struggled back to Market Hill to obtain the necessary coin. By this time (11.45am) my wife and I were in some distress, but I parked outside the toilets safe in the knowledge that I had my disabled badge obviously displayed on my windscreen, as advised, even though I was parked on a double yellow line.
In view of the above information, I request that you cancel the PCN issued to me. P.H. Merrow-Smith

I have had an ack today and they will be looking into my objections!!

We have also been to B&Q to spend my 'Goldfish' coupons on tools and bamboo canes, plus some more plants - French lavender, a couple of dahlias and a patio display. One way of using my coupons as they look nice in our redesigned garden.

All roads around Silverstone have been closed to heavy traffic for the Grand Prix, so we will be staying in today.
Watched some tennis last night and Mum had a wine glass full of Baileys, promptly went to sleep and slept like a top. I made do with a Bud.
Nice to talk to you, Nic last night good to hear your news at first hand. Our Sonia has just arrived to clean up the house so I will go into the garden to give her a clear run. Love from Dad