Welcome 2012!

Happy New Year to all family and friends scattered around the globe. Clive and I are having a quiet night in as we're packing for our week in Marrakech, but cheers to all, and may 2012 bring you happiness and health.

And a happy birthday to dear Elaine in Portugal as its her birthday today!

love Gem and Clive xx

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

nearly there.. unless you live in the future like Nic and Jen!!!

Happy New Year

For those in the east who's year begins in a hour!

Hi,Everybody - Happy New Year

Having a very restful time with Cathy, John,Edmund and Thomas, not forgetting Kate whose 16th Birthday it was on Tuesday (27th) She had five sleep over friends creating havoc and Cath took them all to Swansea to the new open-air ice rink.(not ice, but the new ersatz surfacing). Yesterday Cath's frind Nicki with partner Mark and their young two year old De-an, paid a visit and wish to be remembered to those who spent a Jolly Christmas on the Isls of Wight a few years ago. Probably only Steve.
I tried to phone you Pete on Tuesday but you must have been out visiting. Sorry about the confsion re my plans, but I hope you all had a lovely time. I will try to get over to see you before your girls depart
As the weather is quite good, I will be staying here for a few more days as Cathy has some days leave saved up. New Year's Eve on Saturday and John's birthday on 4th Jan will decide how long I stay, but Cathy aays my holiday time is open,so I will let the weather decide. I don't fancy a long drive in the snow!!
Lovely to hear that Steve and family,plus dogs spent Christmas in Sussex and that Nic and family enjoyed their Europe trip in the Snow and in Gay Paree. Lovely Photos, Nic
I hope Julian, Ruth and Louis enjoyed their Christmas. I will Skype you all when I get back. At the moment I am using Cathy's tiny computer, so forgive any mistakes.
Well, that's about it for now,so lovyou all from Wales. LOVE FROM DAD

Christmas Day Walkies

That must have been the warmest Christmas for years, t-shirts on and heating off for most of the day.
Biggles Ginger and Cinders had their Christmas lunch early (9.30 am) to give us time to prepare ours after a lovely walk in the woods.
Our Norfolk Bronze 15lb'er had been in the Aga from 01:00 hrs so was happily resting when we went out and G&C were quite content with an old-fashioned Grandma style Christmas dinner in contrast to last year in Sydney when Martin decided he had to pop out for ramekins on Christmas Morning; well why not when every-thing is open down-town.
I must admit that to me, the appeal of a Northern European Christmas is the gloom, and having to have everything in:- logs booze pressies and all the trimmings and a bit of ol'Morecambe and Wise on the telly ...loverly!

Washing up done now feet up and the wood fire on as the temperature begins to drop back to a seasonal normal.

Will Gemma and Clive have headed back to Oxford after a trip to Brighton.

Love to you all and a Happy New Year one and all

Merry Christmas

Hello Fellow Merrows,

Our christmas day celebrations are coming to an end and we have had an uncharacteristically quiet christmas day, not even getting up until late morning. Spag bol for lunch too, as we had the turkey night. We had cold cuts with champagne, cheeses, mince pies and other yule tide fare for dinner at the Sng residence. It's all very relaxed after a rather hectic year.

So we are wishing you all a lovely christmas and holiday over the next week, without incidence such as getting snowed in and the like.

Take care and my skype is on if you are able to skype me in Wales, France or England.

Love Nic, Jen, Claire and Daniel.

half an hour to go!

Then it's Christmas!
I still have to do the stockings!
Happy Christmas everybody.
Lots of Love from us all in Wales xxxxxx

Is it Christmas yet Daddy?

Is it Christmas yet Daddy?
No not yet!
Is it nearly Christmas?

Well it's not quite nearly Christmas!

Long long ago, before mobiles phones

Long long ago, before mobiles phones, flat screen tv, cars that started every time and pubs that stay open all day, when having central heating meant just one warm radiator, and buying a woman a pint was an insult. Back then would you believe, kids had to ask to have the tv on, and only grand-parents had the time to explain to them all the reasons why things happened the way they do.

It wasn't all bad - we did have Bugs Bunny tho innit

Happy Christmas-Eve-EVE where-ever you may be..mwah mwah

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

France Winter Photos

Some more pics;

France Winter Photos

Here we go hopefully;

Back from France

Dear All,
we are back, and very tired but very satisfied with our first winter experience as a family. Paris was a nice surprise with so many small shops and such a variety of goods to choose from. I dragged team Merrow around the Pompidou Centre and I said a prayer for Mum and you all in Notre Dame on Tuesday. We had a nice walk around Saint-Germain on Wednesday. We did a bit of shopping but didn't bump into julian on our travels. The fondest memory will always be knowing that Claire, Jen and Daniel were upon the mountain on the first day when the weather was so clear and you could see for miles across the snow caps.

K/B ancien on his way.

Woken up by the early morning MOON so, as I could not sleep any more got up had a shower, packed the stuff in the car and am off. Must buy some petrol on the way. Better empty my bladder as I am not too sure at this early hour. Think of me. Love to all, Dad.

John le taci!

Cardiff boy home! Swansea boy on his way!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO PETER ON WEDNESDAY/ LOVE FROM US ALL. DAD

Whose idea was it to bring you into the world at CHRISTMAS.

Hope you have a lovely BIRTHDAY On Wednesday. MWA MWA MWA DAD

IS IT STILL OK FOR MY TO COME ON TUESDAY

I am so sorry to read your blog. First of all I was worried for you all, then for me - Am I still Welcome??? I will start off probably on Wednesday as the weather forecast is quite good. I don't want to get stuck in the SNOW. Ring me if it is NOT OK. Love from Dad

All's well that ends well!

What a nightmare all Sunday with our wonderful electican; searching for the cause of our electicity failure. Pulling out cupboards and wardrobes, contents of kitchen cabinets, bookcases, fridges, feezers, washing machine, and dishwasher; moving the piles of stuff in my workroom, exploring the attic, the boiler room, everywhere, every socket had to be taken apart to check for the fault. But at last the fault is found; there will be a Christmas and John's worst fear(having to replace the boiler)is not to be realised. Hurrah! Tomorrow will be spent putting the house back together,Boo:-)

TO ALL MERROWS AND FRIENDS

AS TIMMY CRATCHETT SAYS MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL. Much love from Hugh

Wintertime in the Alps

Here we are, day 4 in Peisey Vallandry, France. It's been snowing and snowing. I renewed my acquaintance with crisp mountain air, stunning views, fairy tale moments and of course burning thighs. Unfortunately Jen took a tumble on the first day resulting in a ligament strain so her skiing experience was curtailed early. Claire is battling on, Daniel is in a club which looks after the under 12 and skiing two sessions a day. Anyway, not to bore you, it's magical.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DANIEL

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU DANIEL> I am very pleased with your school report. Daddy tells me that you passed your Chinese lessons - Well Done.
I hope you have a lovely holiday skiing in France
HAPPY CHRISTMAS also. Love from Grand Dad

A Ritual burning at les Couguieux..

...of almost two hundred canvases unfinished...

Paris dates 2

We'll be in Paris from the 18th lunchtime till the 20th mid afternoon, staying near Bastille so we'll see you there - start booking those resto's - we will of course mostly shopping for household items, having put all ours on a bonfire

Paris dates

We are in Paris 18th December to the 21st December. Staying at:
Citadines Prestige St. Germain des Pres
53ter Quai Des Grands Augustins
Paris
TeL: +33 1 4407 7000


Arriving at 5 pm from Bourg St Maurice. Leaving on the 21st at 9 am for Singapore.

Amazing it is that an early night saved the house.

"You can come out now it's March"

You may never receive this!!

Thank you for spending time to let us know how you are managing. What it is, to have friends who will open their doors to a couple (three) of friends who have fallen on bad times. Good old Mourchon. At least you will have a lovely Christmas with carols and lovely food.
Shades of Mum's last Christmas with you, when we had such lovely food at their Chateau, especially on Boxing Day with champagne and caviar and the "game`" of finding the escaped "prisoner" who I think was you, Julian. I think you escaped far into the vineyards of the marvellous estate. I will never forget that holiday, especialy the drive through the snow at Vaison Les Romanes. All in the past now but you will have to try to forget this awful year, except for lovely Louis - the best thing for you both. I hope all thoughts of your mysterious illness have now evaporated.
Do you see anything of Gary and Sylvie, after they so kindly looked after Louis while Ruth had other things on her mind. I am glad you have decided on your new car. I suppose it was that modern Megane, which you finally decided on. I hope it does everything you require of it. I am so sorry about all your lovely books etc which went up in smoke....Lives are more important than treasures, thank God.
I am going to Wales this year after my lovely visit to see Nic, Jen and her lovely family, last year. Good news about Claire and Daniel, with their marvellous school results. Love to you three from Dad.

After the fire

Just to let you all know the insurance company is going to deal with everything including the clean up. Everything is covered and we will have the house 'as new' back in March 2012. I have my new laptop so totally Skypable at julianmerrow-smith or via Ruth (who didn't leave her laptop plugged in to the telly in front of the fire) at ruthphillips. The cause of the fire remains a little mysterious though not suspicious! We left washing to dry in front of the fire that though yellowishbrown did not catch fire, the sofas likewise. TV and ikea tv table with laptop etc a write off as were all our thousands of books, which we'd moved downstairs in the summer. The main thing that burnt were logs next to the fire but why or how they were set alight remains inexplicable even for the CSI guys from AXA. The fire was contained in the living room which fortunately has a steel and terracotta brick ceiling (unlike the wooden beams elsewhere. Although the burning was contained the heat and smoke has destroyed everything in the main house -- it is astonishing -- all the walls are brown and where the heat was extreme the electrical boxes have melted and the plaster has exploded off the walls. The three bedrooms will need re-plastering the ceiling in Ruth's room will need to come down and all the beds/ bedding/clothes/furniture will have to be be thrown out. The studio smells and needs cleaning but is otherwise fine, I'll wait for the clean up next week before going back to work as just being in the atmosphere for an hour is like smoking 20 Players Navy Cut. So Christmas in holiday accomodation and more disruption in a year pretty full of disruption. Ironically this all happened on the day we went to collect the brand new Renault from a garage in Aix -- so at least with the mini, we have a nice car each to drive around in. We were out for about 4 hours in the evening arriving home before ten, if we'd come back at midnight the house would no longer be there!

End of Term in Singapore

Well folks, all the waiting of the last 6 weeks is over and today the 45,000 primary school children sitting the Singapore equivalent of the 11 +, including our lovely Claire, got back their leaving exam results. So diligently and by the grace of God, Claire achieved her goal, scoring enough marks to get directly back into the Methodist Girls School where she has enjoyed the last 6 years and will starts secondary school there in January. We are all delighted because getting into one of the most popular single sex schools on merit is no mean feat and the competition for places is really very fierce her, needing pretty much straight A's in English, Maths, Science and Chinese to secure a place. If you get a chance to visit her Facebook, give her a big pat on the back, she is very proud of her A* in Maths which is awarded for marks over 90%.

Not to be outdone, dear Daniel also has his end of school report and we are very proud of him too and very pleased to see him moving in the right direction, with a nice high average and high scores in Maths and Science. He showed us what he can achieve when he checks his work properly. His teachers were very complimentary particularly for his Chinese which he has struggled with from time to time. We have 3 years before has to sit the end of school exam so we can enjoy the lull.

I took Claire off to Sumatra 2 weeks ago as she had already finished school whilst Daniel was still finishing up. We had a great 4 days and below are some of the pics. She looks so relaxed in the pics. Today she is more or less the same but with the addition of a big grin; enjoy.

love Nic, Jen, Claire and Daniel.

Check Smoke Detectors

further news from Ruth's Facebook "thank you everyone so much for your kind thoughts. we will find out tomorrow when we meet with the insurance expert (trust it to happen on a weekend) about what is and isn't covered. we should be fine though it will of course take time. the saddest thing really is the books, old first editions signed, poetry, all the classics, art books ...all things we had hoped to pass on to louis. but by then perhaps the book won't even exist..who knows?f ...oh and that beautiful cardigan karen knitted for louis and he only wore once...it seems clothes may or may not be recoverable but right now everything is black and very stinky. the cats are very confused but we go every day and feed and cuddle and hopefully they will still be there when we go back. louis misses them a lot i think."

Whoops in France

Well, that doesn't look very good.

smoke damage at Bédoin

Not sure of the details apart from everyone being safe but Julian Ruth and Louis have had a fire. from facebook.. " a fire in our house on friday night destroyed almost everything. except, miraculously, three people, three cats, two cellos, a dogon stool and three beautiful still life paintings....julians studio still in tact amazingly. meanwhile thank god for wonderful friends in beautiful places as it may be a long time before we can go home again and above all a child's smile which makes even a fire that destroys your entire home feel like nothing." domaine de mourchon

Thanks, Cathy

Thank you for phoning me to say you had arrived home at 19.40
It was lovely to see you three. Thanks, John for changing my light bulb. Thanks Kate for my farewell kiss!!!! and most of all to my darling daughter for giving up her precious weekend. It was fun to Skype Edmund way over there in Austria. Glad your arm is healing. I hope to see you at Christmas, when I have arranged my travelling to Wales. Love from Grandad.

John Kate and I

will be in Kings Sutton with Dad if anyone is up for a jolly?

Hurrah! Thomas is home!!

For a couple of days:)

Facebooklinktester

Steve Merrow-Smith

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News from Auntie Val

I heard this afternooon that cousin Georgina took her practical driving test today and passed. Big congratulations to Georgina from us all xxxx

love G&C

Paris in December

Dear All,

We will be in Paris on the 18, 19, 20 December flying out 21st late morning to return to Singapore, this s after a week skiing in the Alps, hope to see someone in Paris,

Love Nic & Family

A day early?

Many Happy Returns Nic





is that special birthday lightning predicted above?

My holiday reading was an account of the first Overland run to Singapore by Land Rover. Do intrepid travellers still turn up by car?

NICE TO TALK TO YOU THIS MORNING

Tee, Hee What did you do with the remainder of the Black Aberdeen Angus?? Dad

A matter of grammar a picture of Daniel enjoying and a picture of ME enjoying........
Hence a picture of Daniel and Me enjoying - not Daniel and I.- sorry to be pedantic Mum could Never get it right!!

Birthday Update

Hello All,

Here's a recent picture of Daniel and I enjoying Marina Bay



Today is a Public Holiday in Singapore, only a day early but a very good excuse to celebrate my 51st Birthday. So Jen ordered in a Black Aberdeen Angus and we invited some family and a special guest around;



Then we ate; so sorry, so delicious our 4.5kg prime rib, we scoffed it before taking any pics, I also deglazed the roasting dish with an olde bottle of plonk we had laying around, roasted some potatoes, garlics, onions, (thanks to Jamie O for his words of wisdom), carrots and tossed it all down with wine; not forgetting my pint of Olde Speckled Hen before lunch.





Then Claire and I went on a Nature walk and scaled the Summit of Bukit Timah Hill, a wonderful trek through the jungle to the heady heights of 164m, where we were met by old men, India workers in flip flops and others who had walked the tarmac road to the summit. This is in preparation for our Sumatra jungle trek next month and of course our December alpine adventure. We are now considered to be "in training". Here's a picture on the trail;




So for all those who have birthdays coming up, a Happy Birthday from us all here, and for all those wishing me a happy birthday, thank you and you are welcome.

Keep you posted,

Love Nic and all.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO NIC

Thanks for your blog about your lovely children. Fancy Claire playing football. We all hope you have a HAPPY BIRTHDAY on Thursday, so from us all here we hope you get some lovely presents. We will all drink your health on Saturday as we are all meeting in Witney for a lunch at the Holly Bush. Cheers lovely boy from Dad

Birthdays coming up

Nic 27th October
Claire November 27th
Daniel 8th December
Kate 27th December

Ladies Soccer

Today I watched my first ever game of women's soccer. I was quite impressed with the game and the level of commitment from the two teams. Claire played in defense and enjoyed her game. They play again next week and I'II bring a camera along.

Nic

Update from Singapore

Hi all,
We will soon be entering the holiday season and as Claire has already finished her Primary School leaving exams she is very free. Today she has a soccer game with a women's youth team so we'll see whether she gets a game or sits it out on the bench. We are looking to fulfill our promise to her of getting a dog, so if any one has a Cocker Spaniel import export business, please get in touch. Daniel has exams over the next two weeks and breaks up from school later than Claire so I've booked Claire and I flights to Medan in Sumatra so we can trek into the jungle to see some wild life, Orang Utans. We fly out on 11-11-11. So that's all the news from here for now, love Nic

Ile au Cerf (eee low surf)

The boat picked us up from the jetty on the beach and set off towards the reef at a gentle rate.
Robin and Henrique the Mauritian drivers dressed in red with V&V Vicky embroidered uniform explained that the route inside the reef (calm) was closed today so it meant taking the twin engined 280hp 18ft craft out onto the Indian Ocean for about half an hour to get round to Ile au Cerf.

No problem man we all said..
'Don't tell my Mother'he grinned
'She don't know we go outside the reef!'
At All? we said as the boat bucked and rode the 4 metre swell and we screamed like girls on Battersea Park roller coaster drenched and gripping the stainless steel rails.

Shifting

Welcome home Julian

Mauritius

This way for the speedboat..





Lovely on the water!


“Fanatastic day out” says tripadvisor

30 Sep 2011 Veteran4630

If you stay at Belle Mare Plage a must during your stay is a day out on a boat owned and organized by V& V Vicky. The boat is yours for the whole day.It is a very fast speed boat with twin 140 Hp engines which makes a very exhilarating day. The boat picks your party up(or party of four but up to 15 persons can be accommadated) at Belle Mare Plage at 10am in the morning and travels down the coast with your two man crew to Ile de Cerf a beautiful island just off the east coast.During the trip down, the crew describe the different named hotels and wonderful sights. Before having lunch the boat travels inland on a river to the most beautiful waterfalls where you are encouraged to swim and then feed the monkeys in the surrouding trees. After the waterfall visit the boat travels out into the open sea again to Isle De cerf where upon a table is laid on the shoreline and you are served the most wondeful three course delicious meal, right there on the shore with all the beauty surrounding you. an hour and a half was spent enjoying our meal,had a swim then proceeded back along the shore to experience the delights of snorkelling with all the wonders of the coral and the beautiful fish. Finally arriving back at Belle mare Plage at 5pm having had the most memorable day . Vicky himself (The owner) can be seen every day walking along the beach at Belle mare Plage dressed in a red polo shirt and a mill booard. He is the most friendly person and very helpful and courteous. It is a definate must to enhance the whole experience of your stay on the wonderful island of Mauritius, and the fantastic Belle Mare Plage

AGED PLAYBOY FOUND ON BEACH

Date: 13 October 2011 22:08:07 GMT+04:00

Birthday Greetings from Mauritius

Sometimes you need to get away to make a proper start on that book!

Broken wrist in Gratz

It seems that Edmund made a wrong turning in the cycle lane and collided wih an oncoming cyclist, braking his left wrist and the front wheel of his bike, the other cyclist was hurt too but I don't know in what way. This means that Edmund will have to explain himself to a magestrate at some later date. So we are worrying about him but he assures us he is alright, but it has made life very difficult for him as he finds it hard to type, cook, and wash up, etc and of course his bike is out of action. So he's back to walking 16k a day. I never rains but it pores!

Happy Birthday Steve!

I hope you are having a lovely time wherever you are, lots of love from all the welsh and me...

Happy Birthdays!

Happy birthday today to little Louis on his first birthday. And happy birthday to Dad for tomorrow. much love kiss kiss.

Gem & Clive

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ON THURSDAY

Happy birthday to my handsome clever son, Steve. I would like to have sent you a birthday card, but I don't know your address. Cheers and HAPPY HOOKY!! From your ever loving Dad XXX

letter from Ruth

dear friends,

again excuse the round robin.

the good news is julian is healing well. the bad news, unfortunately, is that he has to spend a fourth week in hospital, though that's not how the day started...

this morning as louis and i were having our 'transition' morning at gary and sylvie's (just in case louis had to stay with them) the doctor rang and said all was well, that julian could go home tomorrow. yippee we shouted. daddy's coming home! louis and i got in the car with all our gunk and drove the two hours back to bedoin. the landscape in all its amber maplesyruppy colours had never looked lovelier!!! then, as we drove up outside the house julian called to say they were not willing to let him go quite yet to be on the safe side and that he had to spend another week in carpentras hospital. he is in no danger, the doctor said to me later, they just need to finish the treatment. i changed louis' nappy, we said hello to a cat, did an about turn and here we are back in the drome.

meanwhile louis has made great buddies with ninja the dog and is in expert and tender hands with julian's oldest friend. julian is philosophical as he approaches a month in hospital. my train to paris is cancelled due to sncf strikes so i have had to rebook from montelimar and i will try and enjoy my music making in paris and maybe catch up on some sleep.

the bad luck has been piling on but the worst news is that our newly found super baby sitter/cleaner brigitte called this morning to say her husband had been killed in a car accident last night. that put things in perspective.as i fought back the tears when i rocked louis to sleep tonight i thought of brigitte and remembered that we have lost no-one and that our little family WILL be together again on monday next and have a belated first birthday and indeed tenth wedding anniversary celebration.

thanks for all of you who have been so incredibly supportive and i take my hat off to every single mum out there.

much love,

ruth and louis

More pubs to visit...

Hi Grandad,

Good to hear you are well and getting out and keeping the britsh pubs going. Here is an article about some local award winnig pubs which may be worth a visit, inc. one I think Ruth had already recommended on her Garsington trip last year (The Mole Inn at Toots Baldon), and one that we've tried to eat in before but has been booked up, though Dad and Will have been (Magadalen Arms off Iffley Road, Oxford):

http://www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/news/9294979.City_pub_wins_coveted_Michelin_award/?ref=mr

love Gem xx

sossidge semmich

I cannot remember ever having a sossidge semmich, so I don't know wot sauce I would choose - I think HP sauce would be my choice. Signed PH (HP)_ Merrow-Smith, As they called me at school HP the saucy fella!! or Smudger Smith or smoodge in the Yorkshire dialect.
Been out to the Red Lion in Steeple Aston, today where they have two Lions - a White Lion and a Red Lion. Fish and Chips - not very good, but the company was good. Soon be 57!! Hope Julian is recovering. I am still breathing Love from, Parky!

Red sauce Brown sauce or No sauce at all

http://today.yougov.co.uk/life/red-or-brown-sauce

Passed on to you all via Ruth's email

Dear friends,

I am writing as so many of you have expressed concern for Julian. There is really no concrete news as they have still not found out what the virus is, if indeed there is a virus, that caused the worrying symptoms just over two weeks ago. Apparently in three quarters of such cases they never find it. Anyway, Julian was transferred yesterday to Carpentras hospital, still under the supervision of the Marseille hospital. 20 minutes rather than two hours away. Although the latter has a marvellous reputation and he was under supervision of the best possible doctors, he was very uncomfortable in a run down building sharing a boiling room with a grumpy man who had the telly on all day and had tons of visitors. At least now he is in a much nicer environment, with a clean single room with a view of the Dentelles de Montmirail and his goose down pillows He feels fine and has done since the second episode over a week ago but has to be on a drip until they do a third lumbar punction on Monday to see if the mysterious virus has disappeared. If it has he will be let out on Tuesday, the day I am supposed to go to Paris and the day before Louis' first birthday. They feel hopeful as the second punction showed encouraging signs, but If it has not disappeared he will have to stay in hospital another week. AAArgh. Meanwhile after much agonizing we have, if that extra week is to be the case, decided to take up Gary and Sylvie's extraordinarily generous offer to take Louis in Dieulefit while I am away. We cannot think of anyone with whom Louis would be happier or safer and are of course incredibly grateful to them.

So, the good news is that julian is feeling healthy, reading a lot, mostly about food, probably benefiting from weeks of detox and enforced relaxation. His shoulder which has been bugging him for years feels easier. Let's all cross fingers that the results on Monday will be positive and that he will be back home next week. maybe in time to catch the last days of this extraordinary golden Autumn, maybe for Louis' first steps or word....

Today Louis and I will meet him on the 'deck' of the hospital and it will be the first time he will have seen his son in ten days.

Thanks for all your support and excuse this group email but I am sure you appreciate what single handed parenting entails....

Keep sending those good vibes.

Love, Ruth and Louis.

Julian and Louis reunite..

...and Louis finds a thrilling new toy.


Thanks for the Steve Jobs speech, Steve. My mum sent it to Julian too. There's that kind of stuff in the air right now. Feeling very thankful and hopeful Julian will be back home very soon.

Apple

Without Julian and his G3 iBook and endorsement of Mac, the worldwide web might well have remained a mystery- a lot of it still is and this blog would have been pretty poor fare.

Find what you love..

Steve Jobs' Stanford speech lives on, reading it will be best 5 mins you can spend today:



This is a prepared text of the Commencement address delivered by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, on June 12, 2005.

I am honored to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I've ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That's it. No big deal. Just three stories.

The first story is about connecting the dots.

I dropped out of Reed College after the first 6 months, but then stayed around as a drop-in for another 18 months or so before I really quit. So why did I drop out?

It started before I was born. My biological mother was a young, unwed college graduate student, and she decided to put me up for adoption. She felt very strongly that I should be adopted by college graduates, so everything was all set for me to be adopted at birth by a lawyer and his wife. Except that when I popped out they decided at the last minute that they really wanted a girl. So my parents, who were on a waiting list, got a call in the middle of the night asking: "We have an unexpected baby boy; do you want him?" They said: "Of course." My biological mother later found out that my mother had never graduated from college and that my father had never graduated from high school. She refused to sign the final adoption papers. She only relented a few months later when my parents promised that I would someday go to college.

And 17 years later I did go to college. But I naively chose a college that was almost as expensive as Stanford, and all of my working-class parents' savings were being spent on my college tuition. After six months, I couldn't see the value in it. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and no idea how college was going to help me figure it out. And here I was spending all of the money my parents had saved their entire life. So I decided to drop out and trust that it would all work out OK. It was pretty scary at the time, but looking back it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The minute I dropped out I could stop taking the required classes that didn't interest me, and begin dropping in on the ones that looked interesting.

It wasn't all romantic. I didn't have a dorm room, so I slept on the floor in friends' rooms, I returned coke bottles for the 5¢ deposits to buy food with, and I would walk the 7 miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna temple. I loved it. And much of what I stumbled into by following my curiosity and intuition turned out to be priceless later on. Let me give you one example:

Reed College at that time offered perhaps the best calligraphy instruction in the country. Throughout the campus every poster, every label on every drawer, was beautifully hand calligraphed. Because I had dropped out and didn't have to take the normal classes, I decided to take a calligraphy class to learn how to do this. I learned about serif and san serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, about what makes great typography great. It was beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can't capture, and I found it fascinating.

None of this had even a hope of any practical application in my life. But ten years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me. And we designed it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful typography. If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts. And since Windows just copied the Mac, it's likely that no personal computer would have them. If I had never dropped out, I would have never dropped in on this calligraphy class, and personal computers might not have the wonderful typography that they do. Of course it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backwards ten years later.

Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.

My second story is about love and loss.

I was lucky — I found what I loved to do early in life. Woz and I started Apple in my parents garage when I was 20. We worked hard, and in 10 years Apple had grown from just the two of us in a garage into a $2 billion company with over 4000 employees. We had just released our finest creation — the Macintosh — a year earlier, and I had just turned 30. And then I got fired. How can you get fired from a company you started? Well, as Apple grew we hired someone who I thought was very talented to run the company with me, and for the first year or so things went well. But then our visions of the future began to diverge and eventually we had a falling out. When we did, our Board of Directors sided with him. So at 30 I was out. And very publicly out. What had been the focus of my entire adult life was gone, and it was devastating.

I really didn't know what to do for a few months. I felt that I had let the previous generation of entrepreneurs down - that I had dropped the baton as it was being passed to me. I met with David Packard and Bob Noyce and tried to apologize for screwing up so badly. I was a very public failure, and I even thought about running away from the valley. But something slowly began to dawn on me — I still loved what I did. The turn of events at Apple had not changed that one bit. I had been rejected, but I was still in love. And so I decided to start over.

I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.

During the next five years, I started a company named NeXT, another company named Pixar, and fell in love with an amazing woman who would become my wife. Pixar went on to create the worlds first computer animated feature film, Toy Story, and is now the most successful animation studio in the world. In a remarkable turn of events, Apple bought NeXT, I returned to Apple, and the technology we developed at NeXT is at the heart of Apple's current renaissance. And Laurene and I have a wonderful family together.

I'm pretty sure none of this would have happened if I hadn't been fired from Apple. It was awful tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it. Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle.

My third story is about death.

When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer. I had a scan at 7:30 in the morning, and it clearly showed a tumor on my pancreas. I didn't even know what a pancreas was. The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that is incurable, and that I should expect to live no longer than three to six months. My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is doctor's code for prepare to die. It means to try to tell your kids everything you thought you'd have the next 10 years to tell them in just a few months. It means to make sure everything is buttoned up so that it will be as easy as possible for your family. It means to say your goodbyes.

I lived with that diagnosis all day. Later that evening I had a biopsy, where they stuck an endoscope down my throat, through my stomach and into my intestines, put a needle into my pancreas and got a few cells from the tumor. I was sedated, but my wife, who was there, told me that when they viewed the cells under a microscope the doctors started crying because it turned out to be a very rare form of pancreatic cancer that is curable with surgery. I had the surgery and I'm fine now.

This was the closest I've been to facing death, and I hope it's the closest I get for a few more decades. Having lived through it, I can now say this to you with a bit more certainty than when death was a useful but purely intellectual concept:

No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalog, which was one of the bibles of my generation. It was created by a fellow named Stewart Brand not far from here in Menlo Park, and he brought it to life with his poetic touch. This was in the late 1960's, before personal computers and desktop publishing, so it was all made with typewriters, scissors, and polaroid cameras. It was sort of like Google in paperback form, 35 years before Google came along: it was idealistic, and overflowing with neat tools and great notions.

Stewart and his team put out several issues of The Whole Earth Catalog, and then when it had run its course, they put out a final issue. It was the mid-1970s, and I was your age. On the back cover of their final issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, the kind you might find yourself hitchhiking on if you were so adventurous. Beneath it were the words: "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish." It was their farewell message as they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you.

Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

Thank you all very much.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

J

Dear friends,

I am writing as so many of you have expressed concern for Julian. There is really no concrete news as they have still not found out what the virus is, if indeed there is a virus, that caused the worrying symptoms just over two weeks ago. Apparently in three quarters of such cases they never find it. Anyway, Julian was transferred yesterday to Carpentras hospital, still under the supervision of the Marseille hospital. 20 minutes rather than two hours away. Although the latter has a marvellous reputation and he was under supervision of the best possible doctors, he was very uncomfortable in a run down building sharing a boiling room with a grumpy man who had the telly on all day and had tons of visitors. At least now he is in a much nicer environment, with a clean single room with a view of the Dentelles de Montmirail and his goose down pillows He feels fine and has done since the second episode over a week ago but has to be on a drip until they do a third lumbar punction on Monday to see if the mysterious virus has disappeared. If it has he will be let out on Tuesday, the day I am supposed to go to Paris and the day before Louis' first birthday. They feel hopeful as the second punction showed encouraging signs, but If it has not disappeared he will have to stay in hospital another week. AAArgh. Meanwhile after much agonizing we have, if that extra week is to be the case, decided to take up Gary and Sylvie's extraordinarily generous offer to take Louis in Dieulefit while I am away. We cannot think of anyone with whom Louis would be happier or safer and are of course incredibly grateful to them.

So, the good news is that julian is feeling healthy, reading a lot, mostly about food, probably benefiting from weeks of detox and enforced relaxation. His shoulder which has been bugging him for years feels easier. Let's all cross fingers that the results on Monday will be positive and that he will be back home next week. maybe in time to catch the last days of this extraordinary golden Autumn, maybe for Louis' first steps or word....

Today Louis and I will meet him on the 'deck' of the hospital and it will be the first time he will have seen his son in ten days.

Thanks for all your support and excuse this group email but I am sure you appreciate what single handed parenting entails....

Keep sending those good vibes.

Love, Ruth and Louis.



my website: www.ruthphillips.com
julian's website: http://shiftinglight.com
email: ruth@wintermane.com

Nice to see you - to see you, Pete Nice

Thank you for dropping in on your way to Manchester.
I am glad you all enjoyed the Rose & Crown, I certainly did, too
Today I have been invited out to tea with friends only a few doors away.
I hope Julian continues to improve, Love from Dad

Ploughing

today's show was a trip back in time, with the fields full of workers getting on with the job.


local character Nick

stillives

Dear Steve,

I am writing to explain the recent absence of your Postcards from Provence. I am afraid Julian is in hospital in Marseille having suffered what we believed at the time to be a minor stroke but which doctors now think is a virus. He is feeling fine now but still undergoing tests to identify the mystery beastie. He hopes to be home within ten to fourteen days, in time for Louis' first birthday. Since he has no internet access at the hospital please don't overwhelm him with emails although I am sure your thoughts will be with him.

Many thanks for your patience and support,

Ruth

-

Day out in Hurstpierpoint

We took the dogs to see some young and old ploughpersons and their tractors working the land just up the road. The ploughing match last year was preceded by 36 hours of rain.
This year saw the competitors in skimpy tops (photo) and a run in the beer tent on Darkstar Hophead!

Coping with long term troubles

Become your own PD expert patient online or Banbury Branch PD org

Dad's Health

Although I have suspected for some time that the tremors in my left hand could be the onset of Parkinson's Disease (PD), it was not until I was diagnosed on 26th September by the Neurologist at a clinic in the Horton Hospital that it became definite. I have been inspecting the PD downloads on my computer and am heartened by the news that I won't die yet. Old age could beat that!!
i am sorry that this news comes so soon after Julian's troubles. I am happy to read that Julian's medical troubles could be viral and that with proper medical advice and treatment, he will be cured.
I have not been forbidden to drive, but to advise the DPLA in Swansea and my motor insurance Co.
I have to keep my speed down within reason, so it will take a little longer to reach Nythfa.
The PD booklet advises that I do NOT keep this information to myself,but to tell everyone who may be affected. Hence this Blog. Don't worry too much c'est la vie. Dad

news from France

dear friends,

thank you all for your concern about julian and so sorry for this round robin. just to let you know that as of today all the major threats have been ruled out and he was feeling much better when i saw him this afternoon in marseille. after extensive tests and scans the doctors finally feel fairly confident that the illness isviral and they are now working out what kind of treatment he needs. the cure may take time but we are all happy to be through a pretty dark week. thank you all for your support and your loving thoughts.

ruth and louis

Any news yet?

Love to all..Cathy xxx

Singapore Revs, a weekend not to be missed.

Dear All, it's been a great weekend slotted into a very busy period as our kids prepare for exams. This is the fourth year we've attended the Singapore F1 and this year was a monumental plus for the organizers. I think it's the best racing we've seen with some great overtaking on a circuit that usually hasn't seen much of that. The music line up was pretty decent but we had to give Shakira and Linken Park the miss, staying within our section so we could get to see more of the racing. With that decision we were treated to three great performances, Charice, Boy George and Rick Astley. Later I'll upload some pic's and yes Gem, he did that hand crossing over his knees, he also took pictures of the audience to put up on you tube for his mum, he was a real laugh. Back to work this morning, Nic

Two go to Cardiff

Today Kate and I went down to Cardiff on a mission of mercy with posters to cover the hospital green walls of Thomas's room and to check out Thomas's accommodation for ourselves, he was in good spirts and has lovely flatmates and they are all getting on like a house on fire, there are two other boys Ryan and another Tom,and four girls Amy,Sarah,Lucy and Rachael so I think he has fallen on his feet. We took him out food shopping and then went in to the city centre to pizza express. He has a week of fun ahead of him and then I suppose college starts!!! Kate has taken photo's so I hope she will put them up for viewing.

Mother still reverberates

It seems like we have inherited the worst of our Mum sometimes doesn't it but maybe we don't see easily the best of her that others do see in us..(he said as he wipes the corner of his mouth!) (I almost nearly started this post with a 'Poor ol' J... ')

Julian and Louis

julian was promised a day out with his family at the Vieux Port in Marseille so i booked the train and almost booked the Michein star restaurant having enquired if they take eleven month olds,  only to find out Julian was not allowed out of the hospital. Fair enough since he is in their charge. (Julian has checked himself out on many occasions without informing them, once to the vieux port to look for guitar strings. As you know he is a man who likes to know best....)

Anyway it was a depressing picnic on the patch of grass surrounded by ambulance sirens and even Louis was terrified by the coloured cow. But father and son saw each other and a few tears were shed.

There is still no news till Monday when they get the results of the REM. Nothing shows up on the brain scan though Julian had a similar 'episode' tonight followed by the same headache. In the spinal tap they found something called 'meningite lymphocitaire' (don't worry it's not the awful meningitis) which comes from mouse poo though that does not explain the episode which could or could not have been a minor stroke. It is possibly something in the tropical diseases area and I have got my friend Dominique on the case who works high up in the medical profession in Mali. She has already called the doctors though not much can happen over the weekend. Anyway he is in the best hands, and if it is tropical diseases it is also the best place to be so PLEASE don't worry. It's just very boring for Julian and very tiring for us and of course he is missing the best weather of the whole year in Provence. And we are missing him terribly.

I'll keep y'all posted.

Ruthxx

News from Marseilles

Many thanks for your thoughts and concern everyone. Still awaitng results of tests, but initial thought that it was a mild stroke looking less likely but I have an abnormality in my spinal fluid so we'll just have t wait and see. The doctor just asked if i'd been anywhere exotic, I said Mali. Bali and Henley Regatta.The original crisis was a dead and tingly left side after I was woken by a brutal calf cramp in the wee hours of Tuesday morning and had what mum would have called a funny turn complete with wobbly lips and an inability to put me undies on

In safe hands!

I hope all is going well for Julian in the hospital. Tell him we love him.
I can't seem to open 'comments' at the moment so any news please email me.
love Cathy x

Julian is in hospital

Julian is being looked after very well and he hopes that he will soon be back to Ruth and louis. He is grateful for all our good wishes. Ruth, of course, is having to look after the house and Louis as well as traveling to Marseilles.
Love to you all and keep praying for his good health and return home. love from Dad

Julian is in hospital

Ruth rang me last night to tell me that your dear brother is in hospital in Marseilles. I have no details except to pass on Ruth's message that he is in good hands following a slight stroke. Thank God that she was back in Bedoin. More later. Please pray that Julian will soon recover. Love from Dad.

Freshers week here we come!

Thomas is now installed in the halls of residence, Cardiff. And is a happy bunny, love him.

Answers, Gem

Louis' birthday is day after Dad's 14th October.
Nic was in golfing park, near Singapore
Greg Davis is 6 feet 8 inches, yes 6'8! Head and shoulders taller than most of us.
Yes, he is a very funny man. I must watch the Inbetweeners.
I hope you are settling in by now. Love from Gdad

AOB

Hello,

1. Did Nic ever reveal the location in his vineyard photo?
2. When is Louis' birthday? Must be soon, October...?
3. This made me laugh with tears down my face (doesn't take much I can hear Gdad saying) but particular the first 13 mins, please watch. I am thinking it might appeal to ex Lord Wills. The comic is Greg Davies who was a drama teacher and now plays a headteacher on tv (The Inbetweeners), so his insight is pretty spot on:

love to all,

Gem xx

Twizzle

Ancestor of Thunderbirds and SUPERMARIONATION

Rember this anyone..

Love that golliwog's accent! ..more info from Wikipedia

A postcard from provence

Good to hear you have a pulse dad, that'll come in handy if you want to come out here later in the autumn. I've just ordered (ironically) a new Renault Grand Scenic which should arrive in October sometime, seats seven so we can cart Louis, Louis' things, painting gear, cello and luggage on trips and fit visitors in at home, (we are keeping the mini for it's go cart qualities). If it comes in time we will visit Jill in southern Italy—Ruth hasn't seen her for nearly two years and Jill doesn't have a passport so can't fly (Provence is a long way in a Smart car). Louis has his 4 front teeth and now stands all on his own, climbs the stairs (but not down) all on his own too (a bit scary). Ruth is in Paris playing with Opera Fuoco so I'm all on m' tod and Louis is being a bit clingy, he's asleep at the moment so please don't make any noise. Talking of noise, yes I went to Friars though have no memory of who I saw, and my girlfriend dumped me for the bassist in The Jam... probably a good thing.

Sun is out today

Anyone go to the Friars in the 70's?
I was usually out gigging but seem to have missed out on the fun.
Apparently Bowie and Steve Harley got started there as mentioned on the radio 40 years on from The Old Grey Whistle Test with Bob Harris.

Pleased about the loft/book thing. (Was dreading that)

More update.

Thanks for all your news re exams, dogs, Windy (Wot wind - none here!) acorns, Formula 1, etc. LOVE to you ALL. Dad XXX

Update

After a couple of days off-line I am back. Something to do with my 'sharing' with Crestwood. I did hear the phone ring once, when I was in the shower!!!
I have been out to dinner in Maidenhead and also to Rugby. I still go to keep fit in Brackley Leisure centre and I have joined a small singing group in the Baptist Church
When I went to the coffee morning in the V Hall last Friday, I found a note on Henry inviting me to join a Scooter Group to proceed down to the Baptist Chapel. Only four of us, but others (not scooters) joined later for a tea and a chat. Very sociable. I am considering entering for the K/S' Got talent show. Larf!!
I have agreed to donate some of my books (up in the loft) for a charity book sale in St Joseph's RC church in Banbury. Somebody is coming to collect them this arternoon, as I have been forbidden to climb up the loft ladder. Thanks for all your concerns but I still have a pulse!! Dad

F1

Brilliant race yesterday.. Looking forward to next one at Singapore

iPhone Blogger app

Just trying out the new app and hoping everyone is all right enduring the gales. Anyone have a use for half a ton of green acorns?
Everytime I sweep them up here in Sussex a new lot lot decides to rattle down onto the roof of the Lanny!

Cinders has got over her op very well, model patient, and her stitches come out tomorrow.
All the dogs have now been 'done' so no more heats and wariness with other dogs when out walking. I was cagey at the prospect but they all are fine and waggy tailed so a good job done.

Will's got Dougal through his MOT with no trouble at the big Volvo main dealer in Botley of all places for £30, and I see from Flickr that Louis is walking.

Pete and Jan appeared on Facebook via Graham Thomas at the Old Tamensians committee meeting; Ruth Warren is sporting a fractured ankle;
so get well soon missy..

What's everyone doing?
I notice Dad's been off-line for a couple of days.. man of mystery lol
Mwah
Mwah
Love to all
Steve
Ooh yes my news.. going to Mauritius for 10 days over the birthday next month as I've been doing a few extra weekends.

A years study in Austria

Edmund has email us to say he has arrived safely and is settle in his room in the student accommodation at Graz University. I think that was the most painful week I have had for a long time, so I'm very happy all is well.

I'm working on a Jenny and Nic Stuart's wedding video..

and this made me laugh


A White Rose without a Prick

by Neil Stuart(Gloria's brother-in-law)
(from Lancashire)
(a Northerner)
(also thoughly good egg)
(ahem)

I wanna be your air-freshener,
you can breathe me in.
I will be your baked bean,
You can be my tin.
I wanna be your debit card, put me in your slot
I'll be your carrot if you will be my plot
Because fish without chips is like Gladys Knight without The Pips,
Scotland without heather is like bondage without leather.
A key without a lock,
A bull without a cock,
A ball without a bat,
A wedding without a hat,
A bookie without a bet,
An adolescent dream that isn't wet.
A nail without a hammer,
Tequila without a slammer.
A bullseye without a hit,
A toilet without a shit.
Davidson without Harley,
Reggae without Marley,
Eggs without bacon,
A Barbie without a steak on.
A White Rose without a Prick is like Jenny without Nic

VIZ top tips!

Thinking of becoming a burglar?

Simply troll through the internet and hey presto
lots of names addresses email addresses to use for ill gotten gains!

NOT ON MY WATCH FLETCHER

Did you or did you not..
put my address on the internet GODBER?

DON'T SAY NUFFINK LEN

Gemma and Clive

Enjoy Witney at your new home.

Best wishes Clive for your birthday. Hugh

Ginger is 2 today

So he gets a lovely lovely bone to chew...

We said 'cake or bone?' and he said BONE.. (we think)
Mmm Happy Birthday Numpty!




Sent from my iPhone

East Hendred

Homeward bound!

Well home safe and sound to be truthful, and would you believe it the rain stopped at the Severn bridge....that must be a first.
On a separate note... well done Beth and Thomas with the 'A'level results.

More on the arrangements

Rachel has confirmed the Oxford Crem arrangements. She has caterers coming in to do the food so it will be hot food 'with a limp lettuce leaf' she says. I will be going and taking the family, so hopefully will see some of you there.

Auntie Joan

As you all probably know by now Auntie Joan passed away on the 4th August. The funeral is to be held on Thursday 18th August at 10.45am at the Oxford Crematorium after which the mourners will retire to Rachel's place for a get together. Hope to catch up with family there and swap a few stories over drinks and nibbles...

Your blog, Nic

Give in.
By the look of the hangman's rope it doesn't look too good,
It is a very good photo of you. Keep 'em coming, Love from Dad to you all.

Asia Update

Dear All,
catching up on the blog, I hope you all had wonderful birthday's, congrats Thomas for reaching a landmark 18. Sorry Rachel to learn about your Mum.
Today is National Day for Singapore. Happy birthday to Singapore too. As a picture can tell a thousand words. I'm posting this picture taken on Sunday and you all to guess where it was taken; and it's not in Singapore!
If you can guess I'll post some more stuff up. You're allowed 3 clues;

1. The vines are real
2. The Building is real
3. The blue T-shirt has nothing to do with it, I just happened to be wearing it.

Love nic

RIP

Auntie Joan 4th August 2011


from Rachel Busby Facebook
To my Family and Friends - Sadly Mum passed away on the 4th of August, now with her beloved 'Den' I shall of course contact you personally but as just returned from holiday today wanted to let you know. Rxx

I am off again.

June has invited me to join her in Kent for a few days. I will be driving down on Friday and may stay for a week - all depends..........
Her telephone number is 01959 524982 if any one needs to contact me.
I don't think her computer is working, so email is probably out of the question. We'll have to see!!
I hope you all get some sunshine on your holidays in Pembrokeshire, Cath.. Love from Dad

Thank goodness for the 'AA'

Pete phoned me in the middle of one of life's little crisis's sitting in the car waiting to be rescued. Having broken down at the Lovesgrove roundabout(A44?)15 mins from work, the lovely AA rescue chap eventually decided that the only way forward was to tow me to my local garage at Cellan, 29 miles of winding hilly country road with no power steering, it took two hours, but home safe and sound if a little tired. What an inconvenient week for it to happen! Camshaft sensor has gone AWAL. So home about 11.30 Pete!!! But as AA man said we don't come out to these very often.
Meanwhile at home the oven seems to have blown it element...doesn't bode well for birthday celebrations.

Hi Everyone.

What a lovely week it has been.
Julian, I have posted off that packet for Ruth. The Cherries arrived safely
John Thank you for finding my key and posting it back, I received it the following morning. There is no panic about the jacket, it can wait. I have other jackets.
Cath, thank you for everything The barbie was lovely. I was in Rhayadar in the hour. The journey back was pretty good the pretty way, via Stratford etc. Lovely meal at the Stag on the Alcester Road outside Stratford.
Kate I hope you enjoyed your trip to Cardiff.
Edmund - sorry to have rushed off without saying cheerio.
Thomas Have a lovely 18th birthday don't get too sloshed
Gemma and Clive Hope the move went OK. You will have to put your new address on the blog.
Will = I trust you and Dad are sorting things out. Happy in your new home?? ? Address??
Steve. I expect you deserve a rest after all that moving and getting settled.
Pete and Jan (and Jess and Amy) lovely to see you. Thanks for cooking the chicken, Pete. I enjoyed the meal you left for me.
NIC. love to you all in SG.

Finally the printer/scanner has been set up its been waiting a year in it's box.

So I thought I would post this photo of Thomas as he will be 18yrs later next week. He was charming but also a little demon at this age...come to think of it not much has changed.

What a week!

I had the most wonderful birthday, fabulous!
Dad, I hope you got home safely and you could get into the house when you got back.

Cathy's Birthday

I am setting off early to go to Wales tomorrow, to join John and Cath for lunch in Tresaith Dad

Good News all round

How nice to read such lovely blogs. Steve, why are all your blogs in Draft?
I had a lovely day with my friends (over 30 attendees), but got a bit squiffy driving my Henry back home at 6pm!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR TOMORROW CATH> Love you all from DAD

Welcome HOME to Jess. Ain't it good to be home. fondest love from Granddad

Great news all-round.

Goodbye to 'Crestwood' and all that..

Watching J&R struggling with the new baby, R facebooking for advice on baby in bed or in cot, I have had to resist putting in an oar on the comments section, (up to 60 now) and put my own house in order instead.
Life goes on.. anew!
I decided to let 'Crestwood' go when the option to renew the lease came up and face head-on the dreaded 'downsize' and now have an amazing new flat in Botley, which William and I share.

So for the last few weeks I have been battling with the physical remnants and dregs of family life
sifting through the useful items and coming to terms with that which must go. Life does go on.

Like Gem and Clive we are a week away from tinternet, and scouring for bargains in the bookcase department. My books have been in boxes for 24 months and I'm looking forward to seeing old friends again.
We have secured parking and Dougal looks more relaxed parked up under the window where we can keep and eye.

We are quite close to the bypass but it has a great holiday apartment feel, and the shower is superb.

So all change and 'well done'.

Happy Birthday to Jan today, happy with all her chicks home, and many happy returns to Cathy for tomorrow.

How did the barbeque go Dad? Lovely day for it wasn't it!