Sad news

This lady was a student with my Department at Oxford Uni and as she was so closely linked with Lord Will's and Aston Rowant, I wondered whether you guys knew her perhaps? Her married name was Janet Undery, and she seemed very involved with music and singing in Thame - sad news.
Article on Oxford Mail

Happy birthday Uncle Nic

Dear Nic

Happy birthday from the Merrows in Forty Green. Hopefully you are out having a nice meal or something. Beth is working at the stables today and Jess, recently turned 18, is now out shopping. Amy is at home with us as we have half term to relax and clear out some of the clutter in the bedrooms in time for Mum and Dad coming over for dinner on Thursday. Then it'll be back to the grindstone for the remaining weeks up to Christmas...how the time flies when you're having fun! Ofsted has kept us all busy these last few weeks so now is a real time of relaxation and for recharging those run down batteries! Hope you are enjoying some quality time with the family too. Have a great day.

Pete and Jan

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO NIC

We hope you enjoy the day, Nic and treat yourself to some good food in one of your fabulous Hotels.

We are now 8 hours different from Singapore time, but we will be thinking of you this evening as you reach your 49th year.

Have a good day and perhaps we can Skype you tomorrow. Fondest love from Mum and Dad

Cousin Ruth @ 30

Happy Birthday Ruth from all the Merrows

For the Newlands of Wight

Well said, Teresa O. It was great fun - pity about the end of the week for Chrissie and family. Love from Hugh and Margaret

Well said, Cathy

Here Here!! We have forgotten all about babies - our eldest is 55, yes 55!

Hope you enjoyed the band rehearsal, Steve.

We have heard from Eddie that Bill Chacksfield died in the Horton Hospital on 18th, aged 90+.

Love from Hugh and Margaret.

Congratulations

One step nearer!Hurrah!Can I call you expectant parents and give you lots of annoying advice now!!! Sorry I can't do this as a comment as the blog won't accept my comments. Much love and joy to you both, Cathy xxx

Sunday Morning News

So, at last, some gear wheels have fallen into place and we will get our child sometime in the next 18 months (was that the phone?). We are now one of 125 sets of expectant parents who will be alloted infants by the Malian authorities over the coming year or so. Whilst I don't imagine anything will happen for at least 6 months, we will need to be ready to drop everything and go at a moments notice, and possibly spend some time in Bamako getting everything legalised and making sure all the health checks etc. are done.
It's been a funny week but we both finally slept well last night.

Mum and Dad are coming out to spend Christmas with us; 16th Dec-28th Dec. tickets are all booked so fingers crossed that it won't be too cold or if it is we have something fitting like snow.

Sorry not to have been able to attend Tina's last journey, would have liked to have been there to pay my respects.

And belated Happy birthday Steve, we'd love to see you out here again soon bro. The second bathroom is nearly completed and the studio complex, which is about the size of our old house is finished and only awaits fresh funds for shelves and office furniture.

Lot's of love to you all.

Julian

I'm sorry to have missed the sprinkling of Tina's ashes, I seem destined not to say good bye to her. What with being snow bound the week of her funeral. I didn't realize that it was to be this Friday! I seem to have mismanaged my week off, I should have done everything the other way around.
I'm glad Steve you enjoyed your cake, and I hope you had a fun time at the Reading festival.
Sorry I was a bit quiet and useless at the weekend, I have now decided that the food poisoning I had on Saturday night/Sunday morning must have been a bug.
My friend Liz had won a week in a holiday cottage near St David's. So on Tuesday afternoon I charged down to Pembroke shire to visit Liz(we have been trying to find a mutually suitable day to get together for two years now!) we had a nice chatty evening catching up with each others lives, the next day beautiful weather a cliff top walk to see the ruins of St Nons chapel, St Nons Well and St David's Cathedral, followed by lunch of soup and some light shopping, evensong again and then out to dinner. I thought, what a nice life you can have even if its just a day every so often. Unfortunately in the middle of the night the wretched bug came and got me again and I couldn't leave the bedroom with it's on-suite until friday. Liz had had to return home on Thursday for her children and a parents evening, but thank goodness I didn't have to go on Thursday, I surpose John would have to have come with another driver and got me and the car if I had!! But I'm back home now safe and sound. And amazingly the weather is beautiful here to this morning, so all is well.

Thank you all from Grandad Hugh

Considering the solemnity of the occasion, we all had a very good happy lunch. Thanks to all for contributing to the fun of the "apres". We all hope that the sudden dash of Chrissie, Richard and Jean to the Horton Hospital in Banbury. (Well known by the Merrow fraternity as Hugh spent three weeks there in June) was not too serious.
We all hope the Islanders, and Janners got home safely. It was lovely to meet you again so soon after Ricky an 'C's 50th.
Thanks to Steve for fixing up the lunch - wish I could have had another Fullers??
Thanks for the box of goodies Ed. I'll sort it out in the morning.
Just be aware that my blogger name is Patrick, but it is really me! Love to all from Hugh

No news is good news right?

Just a quick word to those of you who have been following
the recent crazy turn in our adoption story, to keep you up to date.

and if you haven't been following, the first part of the recent drama is on my blog here....
http://meanwhilehereinfrance.blogspot.com/2009/10/commission.html#comments

.....So next, I phone Agence Française de l'Adoption and they said 'No
you are NOT on the list. Not under Phillips, Poskie, Merrow-Manon. Not
no nothing.

So then I phone the lawyer in Mali again and he says. No you ARE on
the list. Just wait. The AFA will contact you in a few days. This
turned, at the end of a few days, into 'next week'.....

Well, apparently what was 'next week' has now come and gone, it being
Friday as far as I can see. Without word. So I called our lawyer and
demanded he explain exactly what was going on.

This is what he said.

Apparently at the moment of a commission in Bamako each lawyer gives
the 'Direction de l'Enfance et de la Famille' the list of his clients
to be selected. (This first part makes no sense to me as most people
don't even have a lawyer at this early stage and the selection has
nothing to do with the lawyer). So, when he gave his list he put Ruth
Phillips on it. The Direction couldn't find a Ruth Phillips (of
course, because our dossier is under Merrow-Smith) so the Direction
ignored that poor crazy woman on the other side of the world waiting
for her little Malian poppet, and sent the list off to Paris without
her. And of course her dear patient philosophical husband. When our lawyer got my email asking what had happened and why
weren't we on the list (his words in January having been 'If there is
ONE couple selected at the next commission it will be you') he went to
the Direction and sorted out the mistake. They said that's all well
and dandy because several people who were selected have refused their
place (found a kid somewhere else, died, agreement no longer valid,
decided they couldn't be bothered, whatever) and we are now sending
out a second list (the B list we all dread being on) to which we will
add your client. So I (and of course dear patient philosophical
Julian) should have been on the A list but this is my life and I
always somehow end up being on the B list, don't I? Even when I'm on
the bloody A list.

That B list left Bamako yesterday. It has to go to the consulate first
in Paris and then to the AFA. Then apparently, some time next week?
the AFA will contact us.

So as Julian says, a painting is not sold till the money is in the
bank, and we are not on that list till we are holding the official
letter from the AFA in our hands.

Meanwhile, because I do not stay in depression long, I finished the
third draft of my book, and my Indesign course and found a wonderful
kind and sympathetic lawyer in the Cöte d'Ivoire who called us up two
days ago, even though she has only seen our documents by email, saying
'I have an adorable little four and a half year old boy for you......'
so if Mali does not work, the Côte d'Ivoire is extremely promising

So I'm afriad you have to keep everything crossed still. Sorry about
the cramps, but you should try adopting a child!

Obviously I will keep you posted.

Much love and thanks each and every one for your support. It means the world.

Ruth (and of course dear patient philosophical Julian)

Auntie Tina

Thinking of you all today and wish we could be there to honour the memory of Auntie Tina. Lots of love from us. Julian and Ruth

Thank you one and all

Went for a walk today and happened upon Big-Ears' house, but no-one in, probably out skiing!
Thank you for all the greetings and cards ..bless and the birthday cake from Cathy mmmm delish
Looking forward to Friday evening Clive Gemma and Will.

It's Tina's ashes in Oxford on Friday so will be in Oxford.

Happy Birthday Papa

We hope you go our e-card and facebook msg. Looking forward to seeing you on Friday for some laughs. Shall we three meet you in Reading? Gig is at Reading Concert Hall...

Stewart Lee - If you Prefer A Milder Comedian, Please Ask For One
Friday 16 October, 8pm

Part of Reading Comedy Festival

"This guy makes more enemies in 30 minutes than most of us do in a lifetime" - The Times

Following his acclaimed BBC TV series STEWART LEE returns to live stand-up with a brand new show. The co-writer of Jerry Springer The Opera follows his award-winning UK tour '41st Best Stand-up Ever' with a provocative performance inspired by an altercation in a High Street coffee chain.

"Riotous fun" The Independent

"Lee proves himself, once again, to be the maestro" - The Guardian

"literate, edifying and funny all at the same time ...great stuff" - Chortle

"Surreally brilliant" - The Times

"The funniest, most cliché-free comedian on the circuit" - Ricky Gervais

kiss kiss

Gemsie, Clive and Wills

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR STEVE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO STEPHEN
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.
LOVE FROM MUM AND DAD

Hello Mum & Dad

I'm glad to hear you had a nice time in the IofW

An enjoyable weekend

We left K/S at 8.29 on 1st October and arrived in Lymington just in time to catch the 11.30 ferry to Yarmouth. After a rest and a lovely meal in the Wheatsheaf pub in Yarmouth we signed on in the hotel reception and settled in to our chalet. Dinner was at 6.30 and we started our period of our weekend, with lovely food. Next day 2nd we did a little sight seeing to remind us of our other journeys to the Isle of Wight.
Next morning, 3rd of October was the anniversary of the wedding of Celia and Richard,
50 years to the day and we went over to Eddie and Theresa's house in Lake, via a much extended drive all along the south coast of the Island. We were happily welcomed by Eddie and Theresa and were pleased to see that cousins Josie and Graham were already there, staying in the house. Also present were Eddie's son Darren (a champion Fisherman who has been tipped to "fish for England" in the forthcoming International Competition) and Eddie's older sister (another Teresa) with her current boy friend Greg with whom she lives in Budleigh Salterton. A very nice young man who gets on very well with his adoptive family. Teresa's son Jason and daughter Tara were also there as were Richard's brother Charlie and wife Mary from Kidlington. A very happy group with everyone welcoming us and making us happy. Eddie then went round to his parent's house in Godshill to collect them, without letting them know what they had in store. We then all proceeded to St Patrick's R.C. Church in Sandown where a thanksgivIng Mass for the happy lives of Celia and Richard was celebrated, with proper exchange of rings and renewing vows etc. After Mass, we were all to travel to East Cowes to a special dinner which Eddie and Theresa had laid on in Albert Cottage. One of the wonderful things that Eddie had done was to arrange for a beautifully reconditioned 1950 Triumph Renown to drive them to East Cowes. Albert Cottage is more than a cottage and was the home of Princess Beatrice at the time of Victoria and Albert, forming part of the Osborne House Estate. The house is now used as a place for carrying out civil marriages and is beautifully decorated for use as a dinner room, also. We had a lovely meal and during the meal Eddie showed a photographic film of the main episodes in the lives of the family. It was a lovely happy affair and as we had to drive 20 miles back to Yarmouth we had to take care how much wine we drunk. This did not apply to the others as Eddie had arranged for a small coach to return the revellers back to his house in Lake. What a lovely family they all made and we all had such a welcome and enjoyed everyone's company, joining in with our photograph's on the DVD which was being shown.
Sunday came round and we drove the 17 miles from Yarmouth to arrive just as lunch was being ordered from a very pretty waitress. Popular choice was Cottage pie and most of us has just one helping. Hugh could not let Margaret's dinner go to waist, but he didn't mind increasing his own waist as the food was super!!
16 of us squashed into a ding room built for 8 was great.
Next morning was time for us to leave the Island and we duly caught the 0935 ferry in a thick fog and heavy drizzle, following h spray from the heavy traffic, until by the time we reached Winchester, the rain had stopped and we were able to get back to K/S on the stroke of 1pm.
Steve had spent part of his weekend erecting our new wardrobe which had been delivered on Thursday and we were so thrilled to see how beautifully it fitted in to our bedroom. Many thanks Steve for yet another way of helping us. Lots of love to you all from your loving Mum and Dad

Which puppy for Mrs H

Biggles' sister Breeze (2yrs) was gotten together with Gary and Kevin's black and white springer Hobbit (7yrs) from the same breeder and she fell with 14 pups seven weeks ago today.
Unfortunately she wasn't big enough to push them all out in time, but survived the ordeal with these 4 remaining.
They are thriving and getting quite fat.
The lads get the pick of the litter which is the more marked bitch now named Puzzle.
So we are choosing names and having to decide on a pal for Biggs.
Darkstar Deaks is our preferred Kennel Club name.
What makes it more difficult is that there are in addition 2 litters of black labradors at the kennels, and you do see Springers and Labs together quite often.
Springers run off ahead more and labradors tend to linger at heel and are better at carrying papers and tins of beans from the shops etc... hmmm