from ruth and julian

We were so sorry to hear of Tina"s death. Julian and I are thinking about you Margaret, knowing you are surrounded by your family and hoping the funeral will be an uplifting one next week. You must have many memories of your sister after so many years.... Julian would love to call but we have had no phone or internet for a week now and it will be another week before we will be reconnected. Therefore I am writing from a cafe in Paris, just wanting you to know we are sending you lots of love.

Tina

Dear Family,
Thank you all for your messages of sympathy. Mum is very grateful for your support. She is very good really and bearing up very well. Cathy specifically asked for the funeral arrangements and Eddie has just rung to say that it will be at the IW Crematorium (Near where we used to live in Wootton Bridge.) 0n Thursday 5th Feb at 3.45pm, to allow anyone who wishes to get away, plenty of time to do so. We will be going down, perhaps in the car, but I suspect that Steve will do the goods for us from Oxford onwards. Bless you all. Your loving parents.

I'm sorry to hear of Tina's death

Let me know the moment that there is any news of her funeral.

Call me

if you're still up

Bad News, I'm afraid

Uncle Richard phoned me at 10pm to tell me that Grandma's Sister Auntie Tina has just past away in hospital. Mum is asleep so I haven't told her yet. Love to all from Dad

Happy Birthday

Happy birthday Ruth, have a lovely day.I hope there is a wonderful day planned for you. I wonder if you are still enjoying your winter wonderland or has it given way to another sort of weather.
We have ice and rain and the occasional gale force wind, so the wood pile is looking very sad...only about 15 logs left!!!
It was lovely to see and talk to everyone the other day, in person or by computer.
The boys have finished their exams for the time being, so I suppose that Jess and Beth must have finished as well. Kate has been unwell all week with an ear infection and has muffled hearing which the doctor says may go on for a few weeks. And tomorrows cooking job has been canceled, which is a bit disappointing.

Happy Birthday Ruth

Happy Birthday Wishes from all of us here.

love Gem xx

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ELEANOR

We all hope that you will enjoy today's Birthday, Ruth and find some lovely grub and vino.

Steve has found us a super organic shop in Deddington, not five miles from here which sells the most
wonderful foods; meats, fish, veggies. It is called Eagles and is known as the Harrods of North Oxfordshire!!

Lots of love from Patrick and Margaret

All together now....

As Dad & Grandad are well into Chas and Dave at the moment, thought I'd post this. If it wisnae fur yer wellies was running round my head all Sunday lunch after hearing it on BBC Radio 6 as a dedication to all things useful. Best to listen without the annoying youtube slideshow of Billy.

Clive and I went to a preview screening of 'Frost/Nixon' last night and really enjoyed it. Amazing what a shocking "memory" Nixon had at times. I don't recall eh Grandad!

G xx

Nice to see you Guys

I never knew that pub was called the Victoria.
Thanks for the ride Steve and good luck to Fay in the morning.Love G&G

I have an appointment with a consultant next week

Yes, I am meeting the consultant surgeon next Wednesday, 21st, to see what the next step is - my pal Reg on the IOW had his defunct gall bladder pulled out of a small hole in his stomach. Key-hole surgery!
I am at the present feeling great! and we have even started taking a daily short walk around the village. Keep smiling - Dad

Consultant Dads op

I think it might be a good idea, if you have not heard from your consultant Dad to give his secretary a ring and find out what's going on. I think we'd all appreciate as much notice as possible so we can plan and make sure Mother is looked after and you are at your best of health in time for Mauritius. It was great to see Cathy, and that Pete and Jan and theirs all got along at the weekend and Nic Jen and Julian all got through on Skype.
I'm in Amsterdam for a day or two as I told you but unfortunately the frozen canals have all melted in a mire of mid European mist and rain.

Lovely pictures.

Particularly nice to see Dan all dressed up for his first day at school I hope it went well for him. And you don't look so bad yourself little brother.(I have tried to add comments to posts but I can't remember anything about the password. Sometimes it can take weeks for the penny to drop, obviously not hard wired for technology).
The cars look nice too.... if you ever see a small engined car that is too good to miss and would be suitable for Edmund let me know. Although I can hear you shuddering at the very thought of suggesting a car for us. But the insurance is too expensive on the Peugeot even though the garage has just told us its not worth £100 and the engine on the Renault is too big to insure for a learner, they won't consider it.
Mind you Edmund shows no sign of wishing to drive unless he can do it as an intensive one off course(preferably in Finland!), and not until he has finished his exams...I of course think he is gravely mistaken and missing an unrepeatable window in time. How's Jess getting on?
The icy roads only really arrived on Johns birthday so you wouldn't have been stuck here, but I'm glad you were near home for the hospital doctor etc. Although I think our hospital is very good, but 45mins away.
We did have crispy duck, hosin sauce and pancakes with the left over duck and it was surprisingly successful, there was lots of skin to crisp up and quite abit of meat, Nic has told me before that the meat should be discarded but we didn't care. Thomas and I found out how to make the pancakes from the Internet(videojug)and we worked as a team kneading, rolling out, dry frying and separating the pancakes. The first few were a bit tough but by the end we had got the hang of it.
The children are back at school today, so I'm changeing beds, hoovering and washing, and searching out any forgotten christmas decorations.. best get back to it.. love Cathyxx

AstonMartin 009 24hr

Aston24hr
Originally uploaded by ezappy.

At the other end of the scale, here I am sat in that racer that won the LeMans 24hr last year.
In the foreground is Dr Bez CEO of Aston Martin.
The driver Darren Turner, is Hamster sized and with the roll cage to negotiate it was no picnic to climb into the cockpit with my Clarksonesque 6 feet and size 9 Dr Martin shoes on, for quick go behind the wheel.
Moreover the steering wheel is no more than 600mm from the back of the moulded seat giving rise to the fear I may have to be cut out of the car by the fire brigade!

Meet Mimi-le-Blanc

as Bella made such a fine effort taking us to Ulaan-Bataar, the chance to get another Seat Marbella could not be passed up and Gem Clive Will and I have formed our own car club to run her. She's called Mimi le Blanc.
My rear wheel drive estate (Helga) is not so great in the snow so new baby Bella 'Mimi' will guarantee us being able to get to KS whatever the weather or the state of the roads.

I'm told the roads in Wales are like glass so we could have all been trapped there had we gone to Llan-dewi..

It was a bit icy on Monday in Banbury when Pop had to see the quack to organise the next stage in his recovery, so I rolled up in Mimi to do the short taxi run to the village hall where the surgery is held a couple of times during the week.

Cathy has contacted me to offer support for Mother when Dad goes in for his key-hole gall bladder op, hopefully in the next week or so.

Keep the news coming folks..
love to all

Hello, orientation means go along, stand around for a long while, then eventually get shown to the areas of the school that aren't off limits and finally sit in the auditorium and listen to the address from the Principal. After his lengthy 2 hour school day (where as far as I could see they only got to see the classroom and canteen), we picked him up and walked him home.

The school has moved this year from a 1.2 hectacre site to a 3.5 hectacre site. Primary school is six levels here, 270 in each level so that's over 1600 boys. The site was a former secondary school so they have lots of space and it was obviously a huge challenge getting the place anywhere near ready as the library isn't ready and the sports hall isn't finished. On the plus side, they have an all weather soccer pitch and this amazing performing arts centre witha 500 plus seater concern hall (for six year olds!!). The school is strong in drama and the arts and boys games like rugby, cricket and stuff.

We'll have to wait and see how he gets on.

Claire is back also and this year we've suggested she goes solo and tries to plan her own schedule, when to do her home work etc. and we will just look at the results, ineresting idea, not sure it will work though.

So glad to see your home Dad and the pain has subsided. Love to see those snowy pictures in France too Ruth and Julian.

Love to all.

Nic, Jen, Claire and Daniel

What a lovely photo of our two boys

You must both be so proud of your two lovely children. Daniel is quite a smasher. What is orientation?
We are gradually getting back to normal after a disappointing Christmas. We are so warm in our little house and everyone is so supportive. Love to you all from Mum and Dad

Hi folks and a Happy New Year.

Today is Daniel's first day at school, he has a 500 metre walk each day but today we are all off together for the orientation. Thought this may cheer you all up so here's a picture of Daniel and me looking all dapper in new clothes;

Tesco delivery is coming on

Wednesday
07/01/2009
between 10am-12pm and they're bringing..

Qty Description Size Price Total
1 Tesco Value Flapjack Traybake Each £0.73 £0.73
1 Mcvities Jamaica Ginger Cake Each £1.07 £1.07
1 Warburtons Farmhouse White Bread 800g Each £1.24 £1.24
1 A Bag of White Seedless Grapes Class 1 Loose (approx. 500g - 650g per bag) Each £- £1.29
1 Fairtrade Bananas Pack Each £1.07 £1.07
1 Carrots 500g Pack Class 1 Each £0.49 £0.49
2 Baking Potatoes Tray 4 Pack Each £0.69 £1.38
1 Cravendale Semi Skimmed Milk 2 Litre Each £1.66 £1.66
1 Kerrygold Softer Butter 250g Each £1.07 £1.07
1 Cathedral City Mature Cheddar 200g Each £1.85 £1.85
1 T Fin Chicken Brsts With Roasted Onions Bac / Mascarpone 400g Each £3.99 £3.99
1 T.Finest Lamb Casserole And Dumplings 450g Each £4.99 £4.99
1 Tesco Malted Milk Biscuit 200g Each £0.35 £0.35
1 Kelloggs Crunchy Nut Cornflakes 750g Each £2.00 £2.00
1 Silver Spoon Granulated Sugarlight 750g Each £0.98 £0.98
1 Napolina Chopped Tomatoes4 X 400g Each £1.94 £1.94
1 Robertsons Bramble Jelly 340g Each £1.18 £1.18
1 Tesco Organic Petits Pois 750g Each £1.69 £1.69
1 Twinings 80 Tea Bags 250g Each £1.97 £1.97
1 Lavazza Qualita Rossa Coffee 2x250g Each £4.59 £4.59
1 Bass Traditionaldraught Ale 4x500ml Cans Each £3.04 £3.04
1 Andrex Toilet Tissue Quilts 4 Roll Each £2.33 £2.33

anything you don't want I'll bring home on Saturday!
Any further requirements can be added to the order so let me know.
Shove it all in the garage whatever don't fit in the fridge and at least it's on the premises if the snow comes!

Home Delivery??

Maybe during the current inclement icy weather..
click for 5 day forecast (Banbury) it might be an idea to get Tesco or Ocado/waitrose to do a delivery Dad..

Book a delivery slot first as this is the hardest bit of the job.
You've plenty of storage in your new Freezer (the garage).

Let us know when you get a date Dad.
Good to see Mum back in the kitchen eh?

What fun!

Smashing Photo.
Birthday celebration complete, although I'm so overtired that I was a little tearful...what's new there then!
We roasted the beautiful duck that we had planning to share with Mum, Dad, Pete and family. We had invited our friends from over the mountain, up above Ffarmers. But it had snowed all morning then rain for half an hour then frozen, the road was like glass, so they had very sensibly decided that it was not safe to come over. In the end we were just our little family(with a huge dinner) but it was very enjoyable if a little quite. (I think that it will be duck pancakes with hosin sauce tonight with an aside of roast parsnips and refired broccoli.) And then slumped around the fire and watched an exhausting western with Cate Blanchet and Tommy lee Jones....Girls taken hostage by an Indian chief cum witch and fellow renegades, heros nearly rescue girls, are defeated, try again, nearly rescue girls are defeated, try again, nearly resue girls, hero(Cate)is made sick with Indian magic gets better, they try again, hero(TLJ) left for dead due to Indian magic, uses magic to get back to other hero, they rescue girls, in doing so hero(TLJ)dies taking bad witch with him. Fue!!that was more tiring than going on holiday!!!!!!!!says John.

snow fun

Don't worry, Julian was down the hill making the terrine de je ne sais quoi! We had a very jolly new year's feast with friends, snow and sledging, truffles and gigondas, capon and tart...



Happy New Year to you all!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JOHN

We did not forget, John and we hope you are all sitting round your table in the Dining Room enjoying yourself with your friends.
I trust that Cathy has fed you suitably and that, like us you have a good supply of Laithwaites in the boggle Hole. Love to you all from a sick old man hic! Hugh and Margaret. Love to you all in a very cold 2009!!

Home sweet home.

There is nothing like your own bed when your feeling bad.
I'm glad the pain is finaly under control.
Isn't it cold,don't be temped out by the sunshine, it's very cold.
I finished my cooking marathon yesterday so normal life is back on the cards, or will be after the birthday celibrations today.Lots of love Cathy

Sitting at my lovely Imac

May I, from the safety, warmth and comfort of our little home thank all our lovely children and grandchildren, for the transportation, thoughts, telephone messages, love and consideration, shown to Mum and me during the past harrowing two weeks, commencing on 19th December and hopefully now in the past. I cannot mention you all individually, as you each gave out love more than I am due but you all know how much we both love you, in spite of our elderly efforts to say thank you. Last night was the first occasion on which I slept painlessly. Must be something in that. God Bless you all. Your loving Dad

Happy New Year Everybody

I had just slipped downstairs for a bit of supplementary clearing up after the open house New years eve drinks and nibbles(John had done the major work after I was away to my bed)and I thought that I would be the first 'virtual' first footing visitor....although I should be a redhead carrying bread(so you won't starve)and coal(so you will always be warm)so consider that I have arrived bearing these gifts.
Mount Ventoux looks fabulous, frolicking in the snow would be fun, I am reminded of the sledging escapades of our youth on Chinnor hill. For the last few days we have had the most perfect skies, sunrises and sunset, clear and crisp with star and sickle moon just like the story books of childhood. I have had to stop the car on the way to and from work just to take a long look.I think 2009 will be a good year despite the evidence to the contrary. Happy new year everyone health happiness and wealth to you all much love Cathy xxxxxxx