Saved by Sam

I have the best daughters in the world. As soon as Sam heard my camera was busted she sent me their old (her words) Cannon Powershot SD200. It arrived by Fedex this morning. Just to try it out, I quickly charged the battery and sneaked a picture of my mum relaxing and reading the paper.

All I have to do now is learn how to use all the settings. This is a 3.2 mega pixels my old one was 8.1 does that mean I won't get such a sharp picture-you can see I know nothing about cameras!
Thank you Sam and Fred xxxxx

Happy 14th Birthday Mollie

Happy Birthday to my granddaughter Mollie who is 14 today.
You might not be able to read what she is holding, but it's her present from her mum and dad which is a 'flying lesson'. She was delighted as she told me she didn't think she would get it! I had no idea you would be able to learn to fly before you are able to learn to drive. I clearly am behind the times!

This photo was snapped on Friday evening when Mollie and Beccy were ready to go out for dinner.

Mollie I hope you enjoy your birthday despite all the disruptions-the icecream cake your mum made looks fabulous. Love you lots Grandma x

Update on the 'ash cloud' I still don't know if I will be getting home today, so far the flight hasn't been cancelled but they are updating every hour so time will tell. Beccy is currently driving to the catch the ferry, so I wish her a safe journey.

There's an old mill by a steam.....

I took this view of an old mill on one of our family walks over the New Year.

Archives:
2009: Fun Monday-100 Diets
2008: I nearly didn't join the party. + Keeping Sam Company
2007: A huge thank you

Fun Monday # 152 Chores I love to hate

I had every intention of joining in the last three Fun Mondays, and if you could see my drafts I have half finished post languishing there but somehow I didn't get around to completing them. Now that Embee is home, having retired at Christmas, I haven't quite been able to get into a new routine but I guess that's another story!!
Anyway back to the task in hand which has been set by Jill aka Lil Mouse and this is what she wants us to do:

This week’s Fun Monday post will be about chores. What is your least favorite chore? Vacuum get you down? Dust bunnies saying, “oh yeah, you and what army?” Is there a chore that you neglect doing it until the absolute last minute when guests arrive? Do you just pray they won’t look ‘there’? Are you going green with your cleaning? Top tips? If you have any ideas for anyone on Monday, post them in their comment box, because we all know that we LOVE comments!

Where do I begin I'm not keen on any sort of house work. When I was younger I used to take a real pride in maintaining a very high standard. I used to practically Spring clean every room each month-I must have been mad! I foolishly thought I could keep this up even when I had children but I quickly learned it was not possible.

Working full time meant I had to cram housework into the weekends and evenings. Once I retired I imagined that I would soon have the house neat as a new pin; however, after an initial onslaught, somehow in the three years I've been home I've come to resent spending my life clearing up after other people so all my chores are hated.

Now don't get me wrong that doesn't mean I don't do them but it is often with a bad grace. Although having said that I love it when everything is clean and tidy, sadly by the time I've put the cleaning materials away and look around there are muddles everywhere. So beware it's not only children that make a mess, elderly people are equally messy ...well they are in this house!!!!

If I had to name one thing I really dislike that would be ironing. My mother likes a lot of things ironed that I wouldn't bother to iron if it was for me. However, all the cotton things, including cotton bedding do get ironed and I usually wait until I have a full basket before I get the ironing board out.

One exception... I refuse to iron Embee's white shirts.... he complained once so I said never again. For a while he did wash his own but for many years he's taken them to the laundry. I haven't actually asked him what he intends to do now he's retired. He certainly can't say he doesn't have time or he's too tired to do them himself can he!!!!!
I'm not really going to give any cleaning tips but I will say vinegar is a good natural cleaner. I did run a series of blogs on the uses of vinegar taken from a very useful little book I have!
The photo below is my laundry basket (actually I believe it was my mother's basket and it's positively ancient) as it looks today; only one item waiting to be ironed it would be better if it were empty but I can live with this as it will be several weeks before I fill the basket and need to get the iron out!!

I'm rather hoping to pick up some good tips from everyone else and then housework might not be such a chore!!

Archives:
2009: Unusual Playmates
2008: Surprize
2007: Gale Force Winds

The Day After!

We spent a very quiet Christmas Day, it did seem very strange sitting down to lunch without Beccy and the family. I had a text from Sam so I know she arrived safely in Fiji.

Now I have a new problem to concentrate on. For the past week I have been storing my vegetable down in my cellar which is fairly cool. I went down to get some today and noticed that the top of a cauliflower, the bottom of a parsnip and an aubergine had been nibbled. I can only think that a rat has somehow managed to get into the cellar.
I've removed everything, but now I'm worried it will creep into the house. I won't be able to get the rodent officer to call until after the holidays. It makes me feel very uncomfortable just thinking about it. I wonder if leaving the lights on would act as a deterrent! I must go and see if google can help me!

Archives:
2008: Sharing some Christmas Day Photos
2007: Boxing Day
2006: Boxing Day Traditions

Christmas Greetings to Family and Friends Across the World

I just want to wish everyone a very Happy and Peaceful Christmas. May your homes be filled with joy and laughter and I hope Father Christmas made it down all the chimneys!!
with love from
Chris and Embee xx

Archives:
2008: Christmas Greetings
2007: Christmas Day
2006: Happy Christmas

Christmas Eve I Spy

Like everyone else I had a very busy day doing bits of last minute shopping and getting the house ready for the big day. It was a lot warmer here today and most of the snow has melted, although there was still a lot of ice on some of the pavements. As we drove up a road called Backboy Hill I noticed a huge dog sitting in the back of a tiny car.
The poor thing was surrounded by luggage and parcels. You might have to look hard to see the dog because every time we got close it turned it's head away. I felt rather sorry for it and hoped that the driver of the car was close to her destination.


Today Sam is travelling to Fiji for her Christmas break and I hope she has a wonderful time. I was able to have a little chat to her as we won't be able to speak tomorrow.

Better get back to wrapping a few more presents.

Archives:
2008: Let Fun Begin
2007: Christmas Eve Police Spy
2006: Christmas Eve One day to go

Not exactly Turtle Doves

Saw these two sitting in the morning sun.

Archives:
2008: Forlorn Friday
2007: Witty Wednesday-30
2006: I'm losing the plot

What Happened to ' Rocky'.

Does anyone remember this post. Probably not as it was written back in 2008! The last picture I showed you was of Rocky and it was sponsored by Hydrock the company Embee has worked for during the past 13 years. Sadly, or not, depending how you view it, this pig along with a few others did not reach the reserve price when they were being auctioned for charity. So for the past year it has been sitting in one of the buildings on the work site. OK it's not one of the prettiest pigs but it's quite interesting and kind of cute, dressed in his miner safety helmet and with a Bath Stone Building on his back. The significance of this is the reason the company were working in the area

Back in 2007 we were taken down into the mines and this was the picture taken at the time. So guys you have been where no one else will ever walk again. The bats will be the only creatures to frequent the mines. All the tunnels are now filled with concrete making it safe for all the buildings above.

I was concerned that with everything closing down the pig would somehow vanish along the way when the site was being cleared and I wondered how much the boss would accept for us to buy the pig and give him a good home. I sort of knew it might be beyond our pocket especially as Embee was finally retiring. Anyway on Friday what arrived home in the back of his car...yes you're right the pig! The boss had very kindly given it to Embee.
Thank you very much Brian, we appreciate the gift and, as I'm sure you are aware, Embee has been very happy working for you and he's delighted to have been able to see the project successfully completed.

As for the pig at the moment it's living in the cellar but I'm hoping that my eldest grandson might use his artistic talent to add a little more decoration. If he does I'll let you know.

Archives:
2008: Three Ladies who Lunched
2007: Witty Wednesday-29
2006: Anxiety

Another Happy Birthday

Today my mother celebrates her 86th Birthday, she had a lovely lot of gifts to open and I was trying to get a picture of the pretty hair slide that Beccy sent. As you can see I didn't do a very good job! Beccy it was a perfect colour match for what she was wearing today.

Archives:
2008: Happy Birthday to my Mother on Fun Monday-94
2007: My Mother is Celebrating her Birthday
2006: Birthday Girl

Fun Monday # 144 Thankful

Our hostess this week is Wendishness and she says

I thought we could consider Thanksgiving Day which will be the following Thursday in the USA. Though I know a lot of us aren’t in the US so don’t celebrate this, it might be nice to share some of the things we are thankful for in our lives.

I haven't had much time to prepare a post this week, as I'm in Dublin, but I am thankful for many things in my life.
It will be of no surprise that the most important thing in my life is my family.
I'm so thankful to have a close and loving family who are willing to support each other. Many of you will know that Sam and Fred, flew all the way to Dublin from the USA just to be with us for the weekend. This was arranged by Beccy's husband. I'm very thankful he can cheerfully put with me as a mother-in-law! I'm also thankful to have three wonderful grandchildren who always seem pleased to see me.
I didn't really managed to take a family photo this weekend everything was so hectic but I did take one of the girls together.

I'll try and get round all your posts over the next week or so, but I don't go home until Saturday.

Archives:
2008: Did I do the wrong thing!
2007: Postcard from Stinson Beach
2006: OrganOrganic Recipes ' Little Red Goosberries' Daphne Lambertic recipes

Beccy's Big Birthday

HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY BECCY

LOTS OF LOVE XXXXXX

Archives:
2008: Happy Birthday to my baby
2007: Beccy's Birthday
2006: Hidden Talents

Surprise Surprise

This morning we were waiting in, supposedly, for a package that was arriving from Sam before 10.30am. When the doorbell rang at 10.42am, Beccy answered the door and shrieked "what are you doing here" and guess who was standing on the door step? It was Sam and Fred who had travelled all the way from San Francisco to spend the weekend with us. My son-in-law had done all the arranging and unbeknown to us had taken the day off work to collect them from the airport.

It was the best of surprises as you can imagine.

Archives:
2008: Am I the oldest swinger in town!
2007: San Francisco here I come!
2006: Goodbye Dublin

On my travels again!!

This evening I'm leaving this to spend about 9 days with Beccy and the family in Dublin. We will be celebrating a couple of birthdays while I'm there (more of that later).
I am taking my laptop so I might manage to write a couple of postcards to let Sam, Embee, my mother and you, my blog friends, know how we're doing.
The only problem being there is a weather warning for high winds, so hope this doesn't affect flights! I was in Dublin around this time last year and, if any of you remember, we were grounded by snow. So please keep your fingers crossed that I have a safe journey. Thank you x

Archives:
2007: Witty Wednesday-73
2007: Fun Monday-42
2007: None

Tunisia # 11 Desert Rose

A piece of Desert Rose

I carried this lump of mineral back from Tunisia.

Archives:
2008: Fun Monday-91 Jewellery
2007: New Office Junior
2006: Diabetic Food Blogs

The work of a fox maybe!!!

Now if you're squeamish don't look any further. Today we have found another decapitated hedgehog left on our front lawn. Last week I found one on our back lawn, and we are wondering if this is the work of an urban fox. There was also quite a large hole dug in the border under a bush. My friend (the one with the chickens) says that her neighbour had three ducks killed in a similar fashion and the bodies just left. I just hope that we don't find any more I rather like the hedgehogs even if they are flea ridden!

P.S. Talking to my brother he wondered if the culprit might be a rat; however I've seen no evidence of rats. What do you think!

Archives:
2008: None
2007: My plants don't know it's winter
2006: None

An afternoon sky

Taken last week during the afternoon

Archives:
2008: Thurday Thoughts
2007: Spicy Pumpkin Soup
2006: None

Fun Monday # 142 Another day in my life

When I saw the topic Grace chose for this week, I went back to look at the first time I wrote about my day. This was not long after Fun Monday started, week 9 to be precise. As I read through the post it made me laugh because today was very similar to my Monday way back on March 19th 2007 A day in my life or my life in a day. I lead a very dull, day-to-day existence....

For example, this morning I got up and showered really early, well that is if you call 6am early, remember I am supposed to be retired!

The reason I was getting up earlier than usual was because I had an appointment with my Doctor at 9am and I wasn't too sure how long it would take me to get there given the early morning traffic (if I'd been energetic I could actually have walked there and back as it's only about a 2 mile round trip but I'm lazy and the reason I was going is because I have a problem with my foot and it's painful to walk).

Also before I set out I had to do a few household chores, have breakfast, check my emails and check out my farm and cafe (on Facebook). I was home by 10am, walked to local shop to collect the daily newspaper and then it was coffee time as I listened to a music quiz on the radio.

I then had to drive to the Council Offices in Thornbury to make a delivery, this took me another hour (17 mile round trip), on the way back I went to the bank and Post office for Embee, and then on to the supermarket to do the grocery shop for my mother as well as ours.

Oh just remembered, I deposited some things for recycling in the containers at the supermarket.

I really don't like shopping over the lunch hour, it's far too busy, the queues at the deli and fresh produce counters are long and getting through the checkout takes ages. I finally got home just before 2pm, unpacked the groceries (not my favourite job), my mother likes to do her own and she is so slow, so by the time I made myself some lunch it was 3pm.

I ate my lunch at the computer, then did a bit of tidying up, vacuuming and mopping floors, sorting laundry and it was then time to think about dinner for Embee (actually knowing I had a busy day coming I prepared a pasta dish yesterday). He always comes home from work and is starving.

I try to sit down and watch a couple of 'soaps' on TV around 6pm and my evenings are taken up reading the paper, doing the crossword, a couple of on line quizzes, reading blogs, plurking and facebook. I usually read in bed before settling down and often don't turn the light off until around midnight.

Tomorrow will be a slight variation. I have to take my mother to the hairdressers and then I have to take her clothes shopping, that will be quite an ordeal! Oh and I have to fit in a visit to the local hospital to have an x-ray on my foot. And so it goes on and on...........

yesterday I put the tortoises into their boxes for their winter hibernation and they are now safely on a shelf, in the garage, where they will stay until around the end of February. I think I'd like to hibernate, or better still move to a warm climate until the spring. Instead I have 10 days in the Emerald Isle coming up soon and as I'll be with Beccy and the grandchildren the weather won't matter.

Well that's it for today folks. I'm now off to me bed to read, I'll catch up with you all tomorrow.

Archives:

2008: Armistice Day-Remembrance Sunday
2007: How to survive a heart attack alone
2006: Recycling

Look what I won!

I had a lovely surprise today when a parcel arrived from Karisma. You can see below that it was a T-shirt and I must confess I'd forgotten I'd won it in a draw for commenting on one of Karisma's posts.

I will be taking it to Dublin when I go in a couple of weeks time and I'm sure it will fit one of my grandsons. If necessary I'll have to toss a coin!

So thank you very much Karisma it will be going to a good home x

Archives:
2008: Witty Wednesday-71
2007: Fun Monday-40 Holiday Traditions
2006: Beautiful Sunset

Happy Halloween

Archives:
2008: Happy Halloween
2007: Witty Wednesday-25
2006: Halloween