Re-This is tomorrow.

It's just me trying to work out how to publish pictures

This is Tomorrow

This is Tomorrow

belated wishes

Dear Steve and Nic,

We are very sorry to have missed the moment to wish you both birthday loveliness. There are lots of excuses (me stuck in Rome with the strikes, billions of guests etc) but the bottom line is we are not very good at catching dates and we surely are piggy rellies but we DO love you and send you lots of belated love and wishes for happiness and abundance in the coming year.

Fancy a pint?

Me, Clive and our Will fancy going along on the Saturday. Anyone else fancy coming?

White Horse Beer Festival 2010

love G xx

advert letter

Mr. P.H. Merrow-Smith
31, Arundel Close, Kings Sutton
Banbury, Oxon OX17 3QZ

November 2010



NO OBLIGATION

Dear…………………………………

I hope you have enjoyed seeing Julian’s beautiful Postcard from Provence book of his paintings, which I have been able to give to my friends and acquaintenances. The book also contains many appreciative comments and interviews.
.
Claire Reilka Wright, the art critic from The Fourshires local Countryside Magazine has seen the book and has made him Artist of the Month for October. Books are available at many art shops in the area of the Shires, at £22.50.

I have just returned from France where he sends out 4200 emails each day to his many admirers in the art world, from his daily website shiftinglight.com.
(Which please log on to )
The book has been a great success and he has sold over 1200, which he sends out by post from France to all his customers around the World. Books are also sent to Amazon,(UK) from here, where customers can buy his book at the full price, plus postage and packaging..
He is now working on book number two, which he hopes will be on sale next year.

If you would be interested in sending Christmas presents, you may like to consider one of the books for your friends and/or relations and for this purpose Julian has arranged for a supply of shrink-wrapped books to be sent to me from his printers in Somerset, to sell at a much reduced discount of £20 per book, sent direct to friends, inclusive of post and packaging. (UK addresses only please)

I would send out your order before 12th of December as I will be spending Christmas in Singapore with Julian’s brother and family and will be flying out on that day.

If you are interested, may I suggest that you send me a cheque to my address at the top of the page, for £20 ,made payable to me, together with a card showing the receiver’s address together with a greeting card and I will dispatch the book and greeting card directly and certainly before 12th December, to arrive by Christmas.

Yours very sincerely

What's the story?

Click on Ruth's blog link for a long story. Also there is a big art show in Aix-en-Provence at which Julian was invited to speak. He is a better painter than a speaker and Gary agreed to stand in for him. Gary and family have sold up in Calif. and have bought a house not too far from Bedoin. That is the story love from Dad

Nick now qualifies..

So I've posted him the T shirt

Incredible Sealegs Amphibious Boats

We thought we saw a boat up on blocks at Polzeath Beach yesterday, then the family came down the cliff path from their hotel,

climbed in their RIB (rigid inflatable boat)..
and drove off into the sea.. while we stood and watched open mouthed.
Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMR2Azr-NsI&feature=youtube_gdata_player

(Sent from my iPhone which is wonderful of course
But less so when fingers hit buttons by mistake)

Jon and Kelly's Excellent Wine & Truffle Adventure

Oops sorry butterfingers!

[http://theprovencepost.blogspot.com/2010/10/jon-and-kellys-excellent-wine-truffle.html]
Jon and Kelly's Excellent Wine & Truffle Adventure

--
Posted By ruth

Happy Woofday Uncle Nic

We've been playing with the frisbee but it got busted...
But it makes a half decent boomerang!
Lots of licky slobbery kisses
From the Dawgies
Ps we sent you a souvenir from Cornwall
so if you have a postman you might get it

What a fantastic week of Blogs

Looking back over the week's blogs, I am even more thrilled at Julian's original Idea, Keep it up, family. Love from Dad

P.S I love that Aussie lady's picture blog, Ruth. H

PPS How lovely of Gary to get Julian out of a speech. H

Happy birthday Nic

Hope you are having a good time. I guess you'll be calling it a night round about now. Sorry we couldn't all get over to celebrate it with you but we are there in spirit. Love you loads and love to all the family

Happy Birthday to baby brother Nic

I hope you have had a lovely Day, John Dad and I have just been out for lunch on your behalf, Johns drunk your share of the Old Hooky beer, and we have all raised a glass to you on your 5oth. lots of love to you from Cathy John and Dad in Kings Sutton. xxxxxx

I have sent you my booking confirmation

I have booked BUSINESS as you suggested Dad

Flight to Singapore

Dearest Dad,

Please make sure you book business class and call me if you have a problem with that.

SQ319 is the Boeing 777 flight leaving early evening and getting in mid afternoon, probably pretty good timing for you. The A380 offers more comfort in business class because there's alot more space, wider seats and subsequently a bit more privacy. The down side is the flight leaves around 10pm when you are on most days probably asleep and arrives in Singapore early evening after a good nights sleep and a few early morning movies and the like. This flight is more suited to business flyers. Either way you are sure to have a comfortable and enjoyable, possibly restful, flight.

Flying back, book the morning flight around 9am as the kids will all be back at school and we have an early start on school days anyway. This is a day flight (Boeig 777) and gets you in to England mid afteroon and is the flight I use when travelling on my own.

OK, let us know what you've done.

Love Nic

CHRISTMAS IN SINGAPORE

To Honoured Son
FATHER acknowledges with grateful thanks the invitation of son Nicholas to join him together with wife Jen-Hui and Grand-children Claire and Daniel to spend Christmas 2010 in Singapore.

FATHER also sends his love and GOOD WISHES for Nicholas to have a Happy Birthday on 27th October.

I have selected to fly by Singapore Airlines from London HR on Tuesday 14th December on flight SQ 319 leaving London HR at 18.15 and arriving in Singapore on 15th December 2010 at 14.45.

HAS HONOURED SON any comments to make before FATHER confirms booking

Dear Dad, here is your invitation for the World to see;

Dear Father

Your loving son, Nicholas, dedicated daughter in-law Jen-Hwei and beloved grand children Claire and Daniel

coordially invite you to Singapore to celebrate

"Christmas in Singapore"

from 14th December (or there abouts)through to the 4th January (or there abouts) and all related activities

We suggest you book early so as not to avoid dissappointment. Options on your flights are appended below; happy shopping.

Qantus International Business Class gets you a sky bed http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/international-business-class/global/en


Or fly Qantus First Class and get a 6"6" bed


http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/international-business-class/global/en


BA First class promises the follwoing; "First comfort
Introducing the new First suite and cabin, we invite you to discover an enhanced experience onboard British Airways.
Taking on our customers’ feedback, we’ve designed an elegant and stylish environment featuring thoughtful and practical touches, such as:
Unique personal windows, incorporating the first electronic blinds onboard a commercial aircraft that span two windows
Seats that are 60% wider at the shoulder
Your own wardrobe
A distinctive lighting system, designed to recreate the subtlety of natural light throughout the day to help you feel at home when working, dining or simply relaxing.
Drift off to sleep
Should you decide you’re ready to sleep, you can slip into wonderfully soft cotton pyjamas and request our Turndown Service at any time of the day. We’ll make up your fully flat bed with a specially designed single–piece quilted mattress, crisp white 400–thread Egyptian cotton duvet and pillow to help you to drift off in comfort more blissfully than ever.
Wake up refreshed
When it’s time to freshen up, you can use our range of well–being products from D.R. Harris & Co., one of London’s longest established traditional pharmacies that only uses the finest natural ingredients. Products include e.g. eye gel, lip balm and moisturiser, all enclosed in a stylish Anya Hindmarch bag, exclusively designed for First."


On BA Business Class you can book yourself a bed on certain flights, " Sleep soundly in our 180° flat bed in an intimate cabin with only 12 seats. Sip fine wines, savor freshly prepared meals and arrive fully rested to start your day. Experience more comfort, privacy and personalized service all for much less than typical business class fares.

Then if you don't mind travelling in real comfort and patriotism isn't your thing, you can fly Singapore Airlines. For a once in a life time experience check out the Cabins;

http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_UK/content/exp/new/suite/suite.jsp

Lots of love,

Nic

RAIN STOPPED PLAY

Four of us arrived at the Castle Inn at Edgehilll, to watch the famous battle of Edgehill, 2010 version, After some of us had lunch (some had none and some had two) we went out to view the battlefield and after we learned that the match was drawn, we set off home in the most horrific rainstorm which washed out all proceedings and it wasn't until we got near Banbury that the rain eased off. Rain stopped everything.

A lovely blog, Nic and we imagined you on your motorbike going like the clappers down to Aynho !! How about fixing up your old Dad to visit Singapore
A good day out, and Steve got himself a Landy cap and coat. Kind permission of Pete love from Dad
??Will I see you on Wednesday, Cath?

368 years ago- October 23rd 1642.

The Battle of Edgehill

Battle started at 2.00 all over by 4.30pm!

Peter and Amy arrived 9 minutes late!(for the battle) haha 

and P handed over his Land Rover Owners cap and bomber jacket

which doesn't go with the Fiat.

Much appreciated bro.

I'll look after it for yer.

We went for the Roundhead Cromwellian brew 

hmmmm... nectar!

Nearly 50

Dear all,

Nice to see I'm in your thoughts. No big family party planned I'm afraid. Once upon a time I had visions of meeting you all in Phuket or somewhere but we would have all needed to have been saving for two years. Tomorrow we will be having a birthday cake, sharing with Lee (Jen's sister) who's birthday is on 29th October. I am organising a beer evening on Wednesday 27th after 10pm, probably at Ice Cold Beer, Singapore. A great hang out at the bottom of our road which happens to sell Fuller's London Pride, so if you're in town?

I'm off to Hong Kong on Thursday morning to participate in a regional round table about the future of lighting of people's homes, sponsored by Philip's ("up the PSV") and back on Saturday to what I believe may be a bit of a poorly kept surprise. I'm in the blurr about the details so that's OK.

Edge Hill. I used to love that part on the ride to and from Banbury; visions of racing a hill climb on my C15 with the megaphone blurting away, throttle hard against the stop as I wound my way up the hill and around the hairpin and up through the glade with the stone wall on the left. Riding towards Banbury was equally spectacular with the landscape opening up before me, hurtling down towards Anyho on that long drag reaching speeds close to 80mph.

On the domstic front, Claire has finished her end of year exams and is now looking forward to one more year in Primary School before she can step up into the big time. She's grown all round this year, in part due to the experience of participating in the World finals for Odessy of the Mind and Pokemon which required her to open up more nad make new friends. Daniel has two weeks to go until the end of term and will be facing his first exams for real this year as they stream the boys in Primary 2.

Jen and I are fine, I speak to Dad regularly and yes Steve, you missed my "Happy Birthday" call from Beijing.

That's it for now, keep on Skyping!

Love Nic, Jen, Claire and Daniel.

October Magazine out now!

October Magazine out now!
(looks like someone's got to buy it)doh!

The Four Shires Monthly Magazine.

Artist of the Month is Julian Merrow-Smith, for October. Claire Railke Wright produces the Arts features.
Maggie Chapman also has an article on bees- Skeps and boles, honey and beeswax.

Next week

Sorry I have just reread the blog and realised that I had misread the Dad/Steve exchange, and now John is here and tells me the plan is for Wednesday, could I gatecrash, John has to go and pick up some furniture so won't be available for Lunch.

Windmills

There is a suggestion that all the windmills(wind turbines)should be painted purple.....The thinking being, insects are drawn to the white windmills, so birds and bats are drawn to the turbines to feed on the insect and get killed or mutilated by the turning sails..as insects don't see purple so the chain of death and destruction ends, sounds like someones making it up!!!

Dad are you about on Wednesday or Thursday...27th or 28th Oct..I have taken some time off and John and I are going to london to see some art exhibitions and stay with Jenny, then we thought to come up to see you for lunch and then back home. Thinking about it now I think John was thinking of Thursday. love Cathy xx

Windmill!

Castle Inn

I will be there at 12.30 on 23rd. Dad set em up joe!

Saturday-A pub with a view

I was looking for a pub in or with a Windmill for Nic's 50th, but a castle with a tower will have to do. 

(Remember dressing as knights in armour with nappies on our heads and making tabards out of pillowcases?)

I'll be at Castle Inn Edgehill
Edgehill
OxfordshireOX15 6DJ

 from 12.30 on Saturday 23rd October for lunch and a few Hookies.

The Castle Inn at Edgehill

"Can there be a more unusual pub in Britain? And can there be a pub with better views? The views from the Castle Inn's garden and terrace stretch out across several neighbouring counties. Some say that, on a clear day, it is possible to make out the Wrekin in Shropshire and the foothills of the Welsh mountains! However, the less distant hills of Broadway and Malvern are more obvious."

Sunday I'm working,

then off to Cornwall for a week so I'll be toasting the lad's half century with a pint of Doombar at the Maltsters in Chapel Amble, what is a world away from 'Beijing' (or Peking as we were brought up to pronounce it) whence I missed a call from Nic on his mobile on the 10th of the 10th of the 10th.

Here's the menu for the Castle Inn.

MENU

APPETISERS

Hearty soup of the day with crusty bread. £3.50

Country pate of the moment accompanied by salad, onion chutney
and warm toast. £4.50

Baked brie topped with almonds and served with cranberry relish
and crusty bread. £4.50

Fresh garlicky mushrooms presented in a pastry case. £4.50

Smoked salmon on a bed of mixed leaves with cucumber,
lemon and crusty brown bread on the side. £4.95

A bowl of nachos topped with salsa, jalapeños and mature
cheddar (big enough to share!) £4.95

PUB CLASSICS

Hand carved ham with 2 free range eggs and chips. £7.25

Golden whole-tail scampi with lemon, chips and peas. £8.25

A trio of local pork sausages with mash and gravy. £6.95

Goujons of breaded plaice with lemon, chips and peas. £7.50

Gammon steak with pineapple or free range egg,
served with chips and peas. £8.25

Homemade lasagne served with mixed salad and garlic bread. £7.75

HOMEMADE PIES

“Boozy Bullock” – Traditional beef steak with Hooky Dark ale
gravy under puff pastry. £8.25

“Tipsy Piggy” – Creamy pork, mushroom and cider with a
crumble topping. £7.50

“Chardonnay Chicken” - Free range chicken chunks, vegetables
and a creamy wine sauce with tarragon. £8.25

“Shepherds Pie” – Lean minced lamb in rich gravy with carrots
and celery under a potato topping. £8.25

“Allotment Pie” – A crop of vegetables in a fresh herb sauce
topped with wholemeal crumble. £7.25

Pies served with either chips and peas or potatoes and vegetables.
All our pies are made on the premises using
locally sourced meats and produce wherever possible.

Fifty Bloody Six

Steve, Just been watching Sir Cliff Richards - he is Seventy today.
Nic tells me HE will be 50 on the 27th
Did you get my Jackie Lawson card with Chudleigh celebrating his birthday. I sent it from France
Yes I would love to meet you for lunch I am also on my Tod now Love from DAD

50bloody6!

Who'd a thunk it?
Fancy meeting up for lunch Dad next week?

Thanks for the all cards from Steve and Elaine, Auntie June, Mandy and Val and families, Biggles and the Hayes', Gemma and Clive and Will, Cinders and Ginger and all the electronic Facebooky ones and phone calls from around the world too.

I've bought myself a hoist and Land Rover Discovery 200 turbo diesel engine and plan to spend the Christmas holidays putting it into the Lanny... wish me luck!

Four Counties Monthly Magazine.

In the October issue of this popular Magazine Julian has been declared the Artist of the Month and there is a short report for anyone to read. Love to all from Dad.

Morning All

Hi, Steve, What a lovely picture on the Downs. Did you get a summpns under the Dangerous Dogs Acts. Good story.
Did you get a Chudleigh for your birthday? Pop in if you have time. Love to see you. Dad

Up the Downs

where Cinders saw off a couple of harmless puffed up pooches with no holds barred.. one terrified pup wailing and whining even though she had him by the throat!

Needless to say she's house sitting tonight while Jeff Beck is on

with Trombone Shorty.. born in 1986!

Super trip home

Thanks, Cath, for your welcome. It was a sinch. Julian drove me down to Nimes and I was treated like the old man I am by being wheeled everywhere and by-passing all the queues. Last on to the plane, bag put up in the locker and treated so well by the staff. Same at Luton as I was last to leave the plane. Straight on to a little bus right back to the arrivals terminal, where I was again wheeled straight past all the queues to meet my taximan John Cannon, who then wheeled me right back to his car - quite a long way- into his Merc and back to K/S - 12 noon. Should have done this before. Love from Dad XXX

HOME AGAIN

Arrived in my home at 1200, after a simple journey, thanks to Julian, who had to get up early on two consecutive days to take his loved ones to different Airports miles apart. Ruth to Marseilles to catch the early morning plane to Rome for a visit to her Mum in southern Italy on Wednesday and me to catch the early morning plane from Nimes back to Luton, today. 0500 is no time to get up to drive across France, even their lovely motorways. Thank you so much Julian and to Ruth also for her support given to me during my stay. Much love to you all, your loving DAD

Happy Birthday Dad

Happy Birthday to Dad, hope you had a lovely day and have fun seeing Jeff Beck!

love G & C xx

Ooops

Hey sorry, our son really is handsome and witty like his dad;

Happy Birthday Steve

Dear Steve, a very hapy birthday to you from Nic. Jen Daniel and Claire

Traveling Man

Have a good journey home Dad, and don't worry about the badies, it's a lovely day here and everyone will be smiling....exept for me as I'm off to the dentist..Ahhhhh! love Cathy

Happy Birthday Steve

I hope you will be have a lovely day, Lots of love Cathy

Sorry, some pictures are for the last post.

And the Japanese must think I'm child smuggling as I've passed through Narrita airport twice this year with first Daniel, and then Claire. I also have here some pictures of Japan.

And I managed to get to two Formula 1 Grands Prix this year, one in Malaysia, the other in Singapore, and that's EJ and his mate in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpar have a great meal. The night shot is probably Daughtry or Adam Lambert at the Singapore Grandprix

Here's some more pictures of the month before when I was in Shanghai

This is our rather industrious "Seed Cathedral"

Been a busy year

Hi all, managed to hook up my phone to the Imac so thought I'd post some of the clearer pictures up on the blog having just returned from Beijing, we may as well start there.

Arty-Farty Olympic Stadium at 6.30am

Berry berry good year

IMG_0026.JPG
Originally uploaded by ezappy

Hi, Everybody this is what it is all about, sunshine, a nice place to be in the sunshine and being spoilt. Later in the day, Ruth and I went to find some veggie plants for the garden, but accidentally drove into her favourite wine store where we were welcomed by two ENORMOUS French men who looked as if they were weaned on wine from an early age and so as not to get whopped, we bought Ruth's favourite wine. That done we looked for the garden centre and were just in time to buy some cabbage plants and some other greens, plus a bay tree for future use. The day was still very warm and we enjoyed Mr Cooper's little Mini, and returned along well travelled routes to Bedoin and Home, Next day,we went to Julian's old haunt of Crillon Le Brave to the very POSH Hotel le Brave, which has been renamed from the Hostellerie, for lunch and we all had a lovely meal with views overlooking the Bedoin valley.Read my next chapter tomorrow.
Love fromDad

Catenians 500th Meeting

Dad having a good time in Banbury on the occasion of the Banbury Circle's 500th meeting

The 5th Sunday

Dear Hugh

It was so lovely to have you over with us for a time on Saturday and we hope that your travel to France goes without difficulty; hope the weather stays as lovely as it is now! You asked for information about the concert in St Andrews this 5th Sunday and here is an extract from the Parish Magazine about it:
"... we welcome the immensely gifted and exciting Grier Trio to play Beethoven's Archduke Trio and one of his less well known earlier trio movements.... It is almost two hundred years since Beethoven completed the marvelously expressive Op.97 piano trio dedicated to his sponsor and benefactor the Archduke Rudolf. Beautiful, lyrical, sensitive, humorous and virtuosic by turns, this is Beethoven at the height of his middle period powers reveling in the sheer joy of a society dedicated to the enjoyment and promotion of the arts..."
The Trio comprises Francis Grier (piano), and daughters Savitri and Indira (violin and cello, 17 and 15 years respectively) of whom "John Lubbock, conductor of the Orchestra of St John's, Smith Square wrote of 'the amazing performance which these two young musicians gave, incidentally, from memory'."
Looks like an exciting performance - you're more than welcome to spend some time with us beforehand if you would like.
Enjoy yourself in France, love to all, Jan

Thanks for the laughs Norman.

Mornings never get easier...there's more than a hint of Wallace & Gromit here I think.

Stuck in the Bath?

I've got myself an 'Oxford' lift off eBay.

useful as long as you tip the the scales maximum at 23 stone!
Built by FJPayne of Eynsham, (Uncle Dennis's old firm) and with a serial number of 73952 they obviously knocked out a few.

OLD YORKSHIRE SAYING

HEAR ALL, SEE ALL, SAY NOWT
ATE ALL SUP ALL, PAY NOWT
AND IF IVER THA DUS OUGHT FOR NOWT,
ALLUS DO IT FOR THEE SEN'

OFF TO FRANCE AGAIN

Dear Family,
My booking is as follows; flight res no. U4MIFB confirmed. Outward bound LTN to Nimes Wed 6th Oct Flight No 3256
Depart LTN 0945, arrive Nimes 1235
Return Nimes 0930 no 3257 on Thurs Oct 14 0930 arrive LTN 1025

I hope you don't tell El Kaieda. Love from DAD


STEVE Happy Birthday on 13th as I will be on my way back too late to send you a card. your loving DAD

Ermm hello?

... anybody there?

Egg cups

Having a boiled egg this morning and reminded of the rather rubbishy Ikea etc. egg cups we have I suddenly had one of those perfect memories of some beautiful chicken and basket(?) egg cups -- were they Grandpa Morgans? I've searched and found a few; here is a squirrel. I remember them being lovely pastel colours etc. with yellow beaks ahh perhaps a duck! Anybody help me here?



Ahh another Pinky and Perky