Disaster!!!!!!

Dad's gmail account has been lost to phish ing.

I, (that is me Steve) have set up this account instead.

If you are a contact please click the link to say hello because all your addresses were on the old account!
D'Oh!

Dad's new email

What a game.

I will try to email youse on the new number Steve has achieved for me. Dad

Re email.

The numbers/figures you gave me bring up the family blog Dad

Spam Warning

Putting your email address in the public domain is verboten ie:banned, not approved, excluded, forbidden, prohibited, proscribed, unauthorized, forbidden and unwise because to do so opens you up to fraudsters and spammers asking for money to be sent to the Hilton in Valencia, as below..
"Hello,

I hope everything is fine?. I'm so sorry I did not inform you about my trip to Spain; it was urgent and personal. Presently, I will be glad if I could confide in you and I want this issue to be confidential between You and I because I don't want people to get worried about my situation. I'm in Valencia (Spain) to complete a project, but am having some difficulties. It has been a very sad moment for me over here and my present situation is very hard for me to explain.

I lost my belongings including wallet, mobile phone and some valuables on my way to the hotel. I am sending you this e-mail from the city Library (and I only have 15mins in every 2hours to access my email from here), I had to block my account and my bank cards immediately the incident happened., I am facing a hard time here because i have no money on me to clear my Hotel bill and other expenses. Please I will like you to assist me with a loan of €2,600 Euro ($3,700 USD) or any amount you could afford to sort-out my hotel bills first and to get myself back home. I have reported the case to the embassy here and they are going through the necessary procedures but I will appreciate whatever you can afford to assist me with and I'll refund you the money as soon as I return. You can locate a western union outlet (www.westernunion.com), click on find an agent) and complete transfer from there. The details below will be needed for the transfer at any western union office/outlet for fast transfer.

Name: Patrick Merrow-Smith
Address: Avenida Cortes Valencianas 52, 46015 Valencia, Spain

You will have to email me the money transfer control number [MTCN],The sender full name,The exact amount sent on the receipt after you made the transfer.

Thanks for your kindness. Please get back to me via email as soon as you can.My access to the internet is very limited.So i will appreciated if you can just send me the transfer details in your response.

Many Thanks in Advance.

--
Hugh Merrow-Smith

A message from the cold.

Dear All,
Cold again this morning, just been up to the shop on Henry, to draw out some cash for my cleaner lady.
Cathy has "invited" me to Wales for next weekend, so as Steve has a weekend off, we will go down early on Saturday and come back Sunday. I hope there is no snow to stop us.
Good telly last night as I watched Cosi Fan Tutte from Glyndebourne. Nice play with a few laughs and lovely singing. I have ordered my favourite Opera DVD from Crochet TV, Elixir d'amour, a play that does not end with someone dying, as I don't seem to get any luck from Amazon. They keep wanting my old Email from the IOW.! I have ordered Rolando Villazon and Annas Netrebko two of my favourites as they have such a sense of humour, as well as beautiful voices..
I like your Bali paintings Julian and was amused to see Alain's description of you sitting on top of your car painting the water buffaloes. Don't they know you have a beautiful camera?
Must be getting near the nd of of your Bali adventure. Much love to all from Dad

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Dad, I'm glad to see that your sky man must have turned up and you now you have Sky back.
Today the temperature got so low in my kitchen that I have had a relaps and feel like death and can't stop sneezing, it has taken hours to get warm again, I'm very bad at being unwell.
Thomas and Kate have just got back from their day trip to London, Thomas is too tired to speak but I think he was very inspired by the Turners at the National Gallery, and Kate is high as a kite from having so much fun and so little sleep. They had to get up at two in the morning to catch the bus in Lampeter at 4 o'clock. Lots of love Cathy

MY SKY TV

After a week without SKY and having to hop up and down to operate the Sony TV manually I have at last had the SKY Lite man today and Hooray, I am back to SKY+ again and all is right with the world. Love to you all from your happy DAD XXXXX

Dad;s Singapore Journey

I travelled from Heathrow airport on one of the large twin engined Boeing 777 giant planes, non stop to Singapore. Nic was kind enough to pay the extra cost of traveling in comfort in the Business class, where I was truly spoilt by the lovely Chinese cabin girls. The food was terrific and my every wish for other food and drinks, of all kinds was catered for. Filet steak for dinner !!
I had a wonderful time in this thoroughly modern City/State (an Island of 4.5 Million Chinese Indian and Malay people) about the size of the Isle of Wight. Nic is married to a Chinese lady (Jen-Hui) who is a research Doctor in the University; they have two children, Claire and Daniel (11 and 8)
Jen's parents are both Doctors although Bobby, Jen's father, now occupies his time by preaching the Christian faith in and around Singapore and the Far East. Nic is the President of the Singapore Society of Interior Designers and is now working on the design of the Orthopaedic Department of Changi Hospital. Jen's mother (Ivy) is the senior consultant in Pathology at Singapore's main hospital.
I won't bother to describe Singapore, except that is a wonderful place, on the Equator at the toe end of Malaysia. Everywhere there is building sky-scrapers and other beautiful modern buildings. The Marina Bay Sands hotel is a wonderful building.(See Flickr photos)
I am now back home and am trying to catch up on my responsibilities, like writing letters.
Steve lives only about a mile away in the next village and we meet for lunch most weekends. He has been amazingly helpful to me in the garden and in the house and he works driving 40-ton lorries on Sundays for Tesco. He has two children Gemma (Now married to Clive Holt) and Will.
Julian and his wife Ruth, have no children, but they live in France (Provence) and are hoping to adopt a four month old baby from Mali on the West coast of Africa, as Ruth cannot have children of her own. Julian is an artist and Ruth play cello in local orchestras. They are at present on holiday in BALI not Mali.
Cathy lives in Wales and has three children 2 boys 19, 17 and Kate aged 15. Cathy works as a chef in a hostel of mixed people near Aberystwith. Her partner John works from home.
Pete and Jan live in Forty Green, Bledlow, near Chinnor and Pete is a Biology teacher at the Aylesbury Girls High School. Jan is school secretary in Princes Risborough. They have three daughters Jessica, Bethany and Amy-Jo, 19, 17 and 8. Jessica plans to do charity work in India.

Well, there you are. I am keeping very well and I visited France three times in 2010, and of course Singapore. Good luck to you and may you all have a Peaceful and Happy 2011. Love and best wishes from HUGH. I hope to contact as many of you who use Email.
(email deleted), so get those fingers ticking.

Sent to me from Reg (IOW)

VICKS VapoRub - INTERESTING

During a lecture on Essential Oils, they told us how the foot soles can absorb oils. Their example: Put garlic on your feet and within 20 minutes you can 'taste' it.

Some of us have used Vicks VapoRub for years for everything from chapped lips to sore toes and many body parts in between. But I've never heard of this. And don't laugh, it works 100% of the time, although the scientists who discovered it aren't sure why.To stop night time coughing in a child (or adult as we found out personally), put Vicks VapoRub generously on the soles of your feet, cover with socks, and the heavy, deep coughing will stop in about 5 minutes and stay stopped for many, many hours of relief. Works 100% of the time and is more effective in children than even very strong prescription cough medicines. In addition it is extremely soothing and comforting and they will sleep soundly.

Just happened to tune in A.M. Radio and picked up this guy talking about why cough medicines in kids often do more harm than good, due to the chemicals in them. This method of using Vicks VapoRub on the soles of the feet was found to be more effective than prescribed medicines for children at bed time. In addition it seems to have a soothing and calming effect on sick children who then went on to sleep soundly.

My wife tried it on herself when she had a very deep constant and persistent cough a few weeks ago and it worked 100%! She said that it felt like a warm blanket had enveloped her, coughing stopped in a few minutes. So she went from; every few seconds uncontrollable coughing, she slept cough-free for hours every night she used it.

If you have grandchildren, pass this on. If you end up sick, try it yourself and you will be amazed at how it works.

DON'T SHUN THIS ONE.. TRY IT THE NEXT TIME YOU GET A BAD COLD. THE ONLY THING YOU CAN LOSE IS YOUR COUGH..





--
Sue G.

Bali pics

Julian's had too many bananas and is struggling with jetlag


The internet cafe


Rice terraces above Ubud


Yoga, Who'd a thunk it!


Looking for deadly snakes (we found two)

Ray Sloper

jaysis Ribicca Oi've goda bladdy lemp grawin ert the topper mihed.

Yes and we've got trees growing out the top of ours!

on the occasion of the visit of Princess Victoria Elizabeth

on the occasion of the visit of Princess Victoria Elizabeth
Originally uploaded by patrickhugh

Thunderbirds?

This might be a rendition or a photo, but either way I had lunch up here on the 57th floor...yikes!

New Year's Day

New Year's Day
Originally uploaded by patrickhugh

Had a long chat with Nic and we managed to share desktops and he took us through his photos of Japan and Hawaii and that.

Sunday lunch?

Hello,
Clive, Will and I are meeting up for a spot of lunch tomorrow. We thought we'd go to the 'Rose Revived' at Newbridge for around 12noon to get a table (as its always packed out and very popular due to their carvery lunches). Anyone fancy joining us?

Send us a txt if you do, and we can co-ordinate. Will is driving over to Wantage, then we'll go over to Newbridge.

http://www.rose-revived-inn-newbridge.co.uk/

love G xx

PS Photos of Sydney to follow...

Postcard from Provence

Local book sale.

Some time go, I asked a friend of mine (Nick Faulkner), if he would put a P/P book in his shop in Chipping Norton for sale as he was opening an art gallery above his shop (where he sells Persian carpets and Persian objets d'Art).

At our every monthly meeting I say "Any Sales Yet" and he laughingly says "no". But this morning he sent me an email, saying that he had sold a book and could he have some more.

So off I go to Chippy, after visiting my dentist in Banbury, where I go for my 6/monthly check-up and visited his lovely little shop next to the Wild Thyme restaurant in New Street (Remember, Julian) where we went with Kipper. He said he was asked if he had any more P/P so I took a few with me. We had quite a chat and afterwards I went to another little restaurant a few doors away and treated myself to the set lunch of large bowl of French Onion soup (Nearly burnt my tongue) some fried scampi and chips and a couple of cups of coffee (ten quid the lot). I hadn't any time for visiting as I required a sit down loo and you can't knock on a door and ask to use the loo, although it was a regular thing where we once lived in Wakefield, where ex-cons used it as an excuse for a free cuppa.

By the way Ruth, what is Kipper's address ? 5, Church Path/ Walk/Lane. C/N?? Luv from Hugh

It's that newly cleaned Air-Con

Dear Nic,

It is still very cold here and yesterday I had to scrape the frost from the car windscreen.

This morning is a bit warmer? but raining. For the next three days they promise us temperatures of between 12 and 13 degrees. Now THAT is HOT here.

I love picturing you having an early morning coffee. That new machine of yours makes a good early morning cup.

There were times in your flat when the air-con was a bit cool, so why not turn it down a bit.

On Sunday, Steve called for me and we drove into Chipping Norton to have Sunday roast at the Crown & Cushion, but it was packed and there was not ONE table vacant so we picked on a reserved table and ate our meal on it before the customers arrived, as it was a Carvery roast.

Yesterday morning the phone rang to tell me that a friend of mine from Chinnor Op had died on Christmas Eve, from bowel cancer (ugh) and was being cremated so I went along, as it was in Banbury, and met a lot of my old friends on a similar mission. I suppose that will be the only times when we meet up, except for the last one!!

I went out to dinner on Monday night, but my friend Nick, from round the corner (who usually calls for me to go in his car) was flying back from Dublin. The dinner went off very well and Nick got there in time for the pre-dinner meeting. He is a lovely man and when I got up after dinner to go home, he came with me and followed me all the way home to make sure that I was OK to drive after a few glasses of wine. What a pal !

Today I went into Brackley for my 3 monthly prostate hormone injection and popped into the butchers to buy some bacon and the butcher asked me if we all enjoyed the beef, I said 'YES'.

As it clashed with my six monthly dental check up I had to postpone it until Friday, but I do not anticipate any problems.

Tomorrow I MUST try to clear up all the post that litters the floor, before my cleaner lady comes on Thursday...

Well lovely boy, once again many thanks for treating me so well during my stay with you and thank all the SNGS for being so kind to me. Love to Claire and Daniel, and of course to Jen for putting up with an old man. Thanks also for your parting gift. LOVE FROM DAD

Cold & Frosty

Dear all,
Sitting at our usual spot having morning coffee before Jen and I go off to work, and I was just commenting on how cold I felt. Well, it's only 24 degrees here in Orchard Road this morning and people are walking round in hoodies and stuff. Kids are back in school and my PA at the office tells me I have 20 days leave this year after 10 years of service. How's the weather with you lot? Happy New Year all. Love Nic, Jen

Welcome Home Dad,

I hope you had a good journey and a lovely sleep in your own bed Ahhh!!!
Thankyou Nic and Steve for keeping us in the loop, love Cath xxx

EEzome, Hees home. 6.15 after a 12hour flight

Sorry guys, time for some shuteye. I will try to blog some more tomorrow. Loads of Post ! Love from Dad

Back off your holidays are you?

Oy!

Update

Steve Merrow-Smith 06 January at 10:03
All going to plan? Utter turmoil here with the builders in and making coffee Mongolian style in the garage!
What to do with your keys?
Sent via Facebook Mobile

Gemma Holt 06 January at 13:55 Report
oo eck. just arrived at HK. All is well, and was a good flight. Clive has his house keys so not urgent. Free this weekend?

Just called

Kings Sutton cars and he's sat there waiting at Heathrow for Dad. Flight due in in 20 mins

Welcome Home

Dear all,
Early this morning I fetched Dad to the airport for his flight home, He should've touched down in the last 30 minutes or so and I suppose will be weaving his way through immigration in his assisted wheelchair.

Welcome home Dad when you do get to read this.

The stay seemed to turn out quite well, missing the worst of the English weather and enjoying quite mild weather here. Unfortunately, I had burnt through my annual leave earlier in the year with trips to Hawaii and Tokyo so couldn't spend as much time as I wanted with Dad. With christmas and new years days also falling on saturday, there was no public holiday to extend the weekends so all a bit frustrating for me. Jen was kind enough to take some time off and Claire and aniel were at home so Dad had plenty of company and we met for lunch a couple of times beofre enjoying christmas and new years celebrations. The city and our family have matured since Dad's last visit and you certainly can be in awe of the achievements and rate of progress, particularly in Singapore. And I still have most of my hair.

So today we said our good byes and I whatched with some sadness, Dad wheel away to the departure area.

SO christmas has provided mixed fortunates with Janet falling and the news that Ruth and Julian are expecting!. Congratulations to the latter and I hope al goes well in your dealings wih the authroities and safe passage back to France in the coming months. And for Janet, we pray that yoy make a speedy recovering and through the grace of God, avoid such calamities for the rest of the year.

It's a boy!

Hello everyone! For now our son bears the name of our lawyer, Alassane, but though we may keep that as a middle name (lovely, I think) he will have another christaian name which we do not yet know for sure. (Suggestions welcome!!) He is only three months old which means, if all goes smoothly, we should get him at five months which is brilliant. From next week we will be able to ring up the orphanage to see how he's getting on on a regular basis. What else can I say? The news is exciting but has also put us into a bit of a spin, as we will almost certainly have to leave for Mali shortly after coming back from Bali. So TONS to do whilst a mixture of strong emotions run havoc with concentration!

Julian so wishes he could share the news with his mum.....

Congratulations to new Mum and 4 month old Mali babe

Just looked at the blog to read the good news.
I said I will be returning on 5th, but should read Thursday, 6th!!, I am hoping my taxi man John Cannon from Kings Sutton Taxis will remember to pick me up fron LHR. Perhaps someone will check for me as I have not got his fone number.
I am sitting here on my own as the children have gone back to school and Mary has just gone down to the shop.
The cricketers are at lunch but we seem to be in control.
Spent yesterday at the biggest hotel I have ever been to, or seen. Three sections which reach the sky and are joined at the top to produce the Sky Park where hundreds of people collect to see the fabulous views from the top. We all had tea and went along to the Sky Park to get the view from 57 storeys high, but as the weather was very cloudy, we were advised not to spend 20S$, so instead we went along to the ice-rink where all the children, Nic's and their Indian friends put on ice skates and enjoyed trying to stand up straight. I say Ice Rink but it is not strictly ice as it is some form of treated plastic, but it stiil hurts if you fall down. We all had drinks and food before coming back to Emerald Hill. Only two days to ge, the back to K/S. Love to all from the family here and from me too. Dad

Congratulation

Very excited to hear your news, does this mean it's 100% definate or is there always some uncertainty untill he's actualy in your arms, does he have a name yet, will there be photos. Many congratulations from everyone here, love Cathy xxxxx

Parenthood

We have just accepted a 4 month old boy from Mali, we will pick him up in early March... going to be one of those years!

Happy New Year to all my lovely people!

June would like to Wish Dad a happy New year, so I don't know if it would be possible to give her a ring Nic, as I don't think we can just ring you can we????
This is a quick massage 'cause we have to go and find some birthday gifts for John whilst he is only able to lie on the sofa.haha! much love Cathy