Happy Birthday Claire

Many Happy Returns of the day from all the gang at merrow-smith.org
and me!

Outnumbered - The best comedy on tv

BBC comedy about the daily rollercoaster of life with small children (Series 2 BBC1 Saturday nights).

Nice topiary J.

Have you got any chips

Poor kenny & louis - what a way to go, at least they died at home! RIP luv G&G

julian gets a new haircut

Bye bye Kenny and Louis

After a recent period of poor health, our sad news today is that its the end of the road for our goldfish Kenny & Louis. Clive had them for 15 years so goodness knows how old they were - a good innings we say. We'll miss em.

Gem xx

GREETINGS TO OUR VENICIANS

What lovely paintings by Julian and also the super photos by Ruth
on her 'Meanwhile' blog. Fantastic!! Love from H&M xxzzxx

Not that I remember

Doesn't ring a bell!!
Camembert - eaten on toast
Naan Bread - thrown to the starlings.
Wasn't it a lovely day! luv from G&G XXXX

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CLARE (Thursday - 27th)

I don't recall...

Grandad,

Have you checked your pockets lately for camembert and bread? Teehee.

love Gem xx

love from venice

Sorry to hear you have not been well margaret and also sorry we never got to talk before we left for Venice. Even though we started to prepare for our departure and our house sitter three days before, we had a series of unexpected mishaps last minute which had us panicking right up till the door of our rented apartment here, and that included a lost Babu, a screaming fridge, a broken key, a faulty camera lens and a terminally ill stuttering washing machine. Trips to Boulanger Electroménager were frequent and frustrating and they always wanted a document that was in the drawer at home...argh!

Anyway here we are and that all couldn't seem further away. we have had crystal clear days and now we have snow!! We are going to bed by nine and getting up at six to watch pink clouds and gondolas. We are cooking at home to avoid the expense of restaurants and to enjoy the marvellous local produce and fish, but loving the occasional wine bar for a glass of prosecco and some prosciutto on a bridge over a secret canal. Julian is finding his flow after an initial struggle, but obviously he has to take it day by day. Sometimes the muse just isn't anywhere to be found. meanwhile I am having a good stint on the book I am writing (yes I still am!) so it's a working break with the occasional foray into paradise!

Lots of love to you all. I know it doesn't look like it but we think about you every day.

Love to mum

Sorry to hear about this last episode, Dad. Sounds like you done good. Let Mum know she is in our prayers and I'll be in touch. Didn't get home till after 10.30pm and only picked up this post then on my new phone...

mum has a 'turn'

sorry to say that Mum had another of her fainting turns last evening. She had been having some toilet troubles in the day, but apart from feeling weak, nothing else was apparent, but just after she rang Cathy, I cleared away a few things and when I came back into the lounge she was standing against the radiator. I asked her if she was cold - no, but she had that strange look in her eye which told me she was going to faint I said, don't fall here, but it was too late and she sank to the floor. I made her comfortable, and considered what to do and decided to try and get her into the bathroom, where she recovered and tried to sit up straight. After cleaning her up we were able to struggle into bed on 'my' side. I made her comfortable and decided not to ask for help as she seemed to go to sleep immediately. As on previous occasions, she was ok, sleeping in bed and I left her until I felt that I could get into bed. She is bright and chirpy this morning so my decision not to call for help was justified, but I thought, oh,no, not again. But she is tough and seems ok now. Just felt that you were entitled to know, but don't worry unnecessarily.
Love from Dad

Deezer ist da endlich frei musik atlastlich!

Deezer.com

Love the look of the barns Steve, let me know if you need some help booking it, we are in, better still if the Cherwell or the Evenlode runs through the garden. We will do our usual and hire transport from the airport at 7am if we take our usual night flight and will hit KS late morning. 

See you there!!

How is everyone, not seen the old beings on Skype recently.

Lots of news for next year.. June 5th and 6th

We are hoping to revisit our successful cousin-friendly extended family Gite idea from 2006, for Gemma and Clive's celebration in the heart of England in 2009.

I shall be meeting Nic and Jen and Claire and Daniel at Heathrow when they fly in to the UK in the 'Nic' of time (chuckle) on 6th June and I thought it would be great if Edmund, Thomas, Kate, Jessica, Beth, Amy, Georgina, Jamie, Ruby and Millie could bring their Mums and Dads and Auntie Ruth and Uncle Julian along for a fun filled weekend!

I've provisionally booked a deal with all seven lets from Fiona Peace at Peace Haven Cottages in Honeybourne which is 3 miles from The Fleece at Bretforton, near Broadway for the 5th and 6th.





We shall have the cottages from Friday afternoon right through until Sunday afternoon unless there is general concensus to extend.

It would also be the ideal opportunity for a bit of a party for Grandmama Molly Morgan Merrow-Smith who will be 80 next year!

I'm delighted to report that Mother has regained her palour and is looking healthy and pink and is looking forward to seeing all of us together at last next year and no doubt will have a glowing tan from her trip to Mauritius in May.

Please let me know if you are interested so we can talk details and firm up the booking as soon as possible.
I shall be at Kings Sutton on Friday into the weekend laying ten railway sleepers to form a terrace at the rear of no.31 for bbq and family outside dining.. any offers of help accepted!

Vic & Bob as Otis & Marvin

Hey Will,

I found it on youtube. Otis and Marvin give a consumer report on a trip to the baths. Say shoebox....

SAVE THE DATE!

Dear Family,
We have a confirmed date for the UK reception so please keep Saturday 6th June 2009 free. The venue is about an hour from Oxford and formal invitations will go out soon....

love Gem and Clive