Life outside Ambridge
Picturesque ruins on Monemvasia
Life in Ambridge
Following todays news
Popular posts from this blog
Life in Ambridge
Starter kit for Ed & Emma
Life in Ambridge
Nothing to do with the current story-line but rather cute
JaniceSeptember 11, 2024 at 8:47 AM
ReplyDeleteMistral I wasn't sure if you were asking permission for external or internal window shutters. If internal I would have a go at applying because they are a Georgian era thing. Personally I think you are a saint 😇 doing things by the book, but probably less worrying for you if you have the proper permissions.
If Evelyn was still with us I would have mentioned the Ryde Art Collective's exhibition at Quarr Abbey to her this next coming 12 days. I remember she used to walk her dogs in the Abbey's grounds.
My sister in law has an exhibit there ( her art is a sort of modern mix of sculpture and technology) using some of the small organ pipes from the very old too expensive to repair organ from the church here. ( I had been persuaded years ago to store the pipes, some huge, in a shed by the churchwarden who didn't have the heart to burn them. Some of the smallest pipes were turned into bird boxes.) She also has a recording, with her own background piano accompaniment, of the Quarr Abbey monks singing a Gregorian chant. Normally the "artwork" is part of the Escape Room which she was instrumental in organising/designing in Ryde.
REPLYDELETE
AmbridgesMrsPSeptember 11, 2024 at 12:20 PM
Janice
You have reminded us of Ev - think you - but you’ve also reminded me of The Island and my mother in laws house near to where Ev lived and also very close to Quarre Abbey where I used to walk with her, as well as my daughter’s beautiful Georgian house just outside Ryde and of course my fond memories of so many happy childhood Island holidays.
I hope it’s a successful exhibition for your SinL, and I must look up the escape room in Ryde.
I’ve spoken with Mistral at length this morning and urged her to pursue the issue of the shutters despite the telephone consultation with the ( ill informed IMO ) planning officer. It transpires that Mistral has the original interior shutters in her shed, pointed out to her by the previous owners of the flat, so in my opinion she has a good case to argue for the replacement of those shutters, backed up by the precedent of the neighbouring flat having theirs in situ. However it is a long term project into the future and her current concern is her privacy and the look of her new home.
I’m keeping an eye on her as Miriam is keeping an eye on me re DVLA and my insurance company.
Lady has gone off with the main dog walking friend for her first complete away day without me.
A huge step forward after four years !
JaniceSeptember 11, 2024 at 1:06 PM
ReplyDeleteIf you do look up the Escape room, you would need to look for The Lost Crypt escape room. It is in a real crypt in what used to be a church but is now a community centre called Aspire, and among other things it links people with problems to helping agencies.
DELETE
Lady RSeptember 11, 2024 at 3:03 PM
Mrs P now that a new series of “The Chase” has started I keep wondering if Ev’s Katy will be appearing. She did promise to let us know so hopefully she will when or if she gets told the airing date herself. Gather it can be anything up to 2 yrs until recorded shows are shown which seems quite bizarre to me considering how many repeats are shown….
I know it’s been mentioned on here Lady R but as I don’t have a television that programme is not on my radar
DeleteIs it a quiz with Paul Sinha ?
I do listen to him on the wireless, in fact on this evening before TA.
MiriamSeptember 11, 2024 at 3:32 PM
ReplyDelete"I cannot believe it!". Yes I do sound like Victor Meldrew, but I was astounded today that the seasonal ailse in the supermarket
was half filled with Christmas goods. No doubt in the next week or two, the other half will be Halloween rubbish.
Ooh I am getting grumpy these days...😂🥵
REPLYDELETE
Cheshire CheeseSeptember 11, 2024 at 4:56 PM
I noticed that too this morning Miriam, I walked past very quickly.
DELETE
Not in Lidle today, but now you mention it I do recall a whole section completely empty so it’s possible that the section is ready to fill with Christmas stuff.
DeleteAppals me as much as you Miriam.
You always get Christmas products starting to show in September☹️
ReplyDeleteThese are quite modern ruins, Byzantine (12th-14th century AD) tomorrow were going to Olympia, 600BC-400AD
Sounds like a really interesting holiday KP
DeleteSo thanks for keeping up with us even though your away.
Looks lovely KP. We could have done with those blue skies here today instead of two hailstorms. I decided to put my pelargonium cuttings in the greenhouse this morning because of the forecast low temperatures, I'm glad I did as I don't think that they would have appreciated the hailstones.
DeleteJanice, 11/9 , re shutters...
DeleteYes, it is a listed building. I was all set to order the very nice wooden blinds when the fitter/estimator commented about did I need permission? I didn't think I would because next door have solid panel ones, I wanted louvred, so really as a tick-box exercise contacted the planning dept. I was actually flabergasted when she said no, due to damaging the window frames with excessive weight which would impact on the walls. I can re-instate the original ones though, maybe old rotten wood is much lighter?
I have seen on Etsy some removable wooden panels which can be balanced on the window frame, so maybe that is a solution. I just want to block off the lower third for privacy, but still acess the bottom sash to open them and get the view when I want.
I can't get dressed in the bedroom atm unless I feel very rebellious/brave....
Lovely Photo KP. You do find some good ones for the headings of this blog.
ReplyDeleteJust had a severe hailstorm here and now the sun is out, making a rainbow which is superb.
Here too. Tremendous hail-storms over the last couple of day.
DeleteHave you seen any of the many videos on-line of Beluga XL no 6, landing at Heathrow? It's the 1st time one has landed there, and was delivering a part to repair a damaged plane.
Even though I see this wonderful aircraft many a time, I loved seeing this footage.
The BBC footage does it proud.
DeleteI saw it and thought it had a very endearing face.
DeleteI love everyone’s reaction to the Airbus Beluga!
DeleteCorrin gave us a conducted tour round the Airbus assembly plant last time we were in Toulouse and we saw one of the Belugas specially painted up with a proper face. It was quite endearing!
It is a very clever, if strange looking, design that enables parts of aircraft, including whole wings to be transported between the various assembly plants and airports around Europe.
Sorry, Janice, used your adjective again to describe Beluga’s face - but you are right, it is very endearing and makes people smile to see it!
DeleteKP. That looks like my type of holiday. So glad you are enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteOff to get some holiday brochures out now 😀 as appetite has been whetted again and feet are getting itchy.
I've had a very frustrating morning. Mr CC is away for a few days so I decided to go to M&S as I needed some new underwear. It's a large store and I came home having found nothing that was the right size and/or colour. I then arrived home to find the electricity off!
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes back on there will be the usual blinking displays. I will leave those for Mr CC to sort out as it drives him mad if the microwave and oven clocks in the stack don't display the same time. I can never get them to do that.
😆🤣 My cooker + microwave display time are always a minute out, no matter how I try. These are the only two appliances which I now have to be change manually.
DeletePS My bra's are always bought from M+S, as this is the only place I can get a small enough cup to fit me..🙅♀️
DeleteMy pants are Tu/Sainsbury's, as they have the style, fit, design I like. I always stock up when there is a 25% offer on. Underwear, as is nightwear, is so personal.
I stick to what I know.
Driving Licence Renewal is still ongoing..
ReplyDeleteI have now received yet another letter. I have had to book an appointment at an approved DVLA Specsavers for the official DVLA optical tests. This is to determine if my eye-sight meets the required standards...the results will then go to the DVLA who then decides whether to renew my licence.
This is getting so ridiculous + tedious now. I only wear glasses for reading/close work and when driving (but know I am still OK to drive without them).
I suppose these things have to be confirmed officially, which I do understand.
It is just so frustrating.
Still the guide-lines are there for a reason, and rightly so.
My appointment time, which I had no choice about, is 9.00am in E.Port. in 2 weeks time.
DeleteThis is great, as the huge M+S is so close by, along with the Cheshire Oaks Outlet site...😆
Treat time then Miriam just post your special day so quite right too ⭐️
DeleteMy existing driving licence expires soon, quite a few weeks before it gets renewed. I have checked and I am still OK to drive despite not actually having an actual driving licence.
DeleteIt is just so frustrating and tedious as it is over 9 weeks now, since this renewal process started.
It is very minor I know, but it is just going on so long.
It was my village fète today. Thank goodness it is dry, sunny + warm. I did wander up. The highlight was the Inflatable Pub, which was doing a very good trade.
ReplyDeleteI didn't stay long, as there were so many food vans and the stalls were artisan craft ones, run by outlets with smelly candles, fancy cards + sweets etc.
At least it was being very well supported.
I did watch a couple of the dog show classes, which were hilarious as to how some dogs misbehaved!
Nothing like the Ambridge fète, though..
So tonight there is The Strictly Launch Show and the Last Night of The Proms..how time has flown by that as one thing starts, another ends. This is true September and the onset of Autumn soon.
ReplyDeleteSo SCD is back in spite of all the Summer scandal. Wasn’t sure how I’d feel about it but actually just so glad to have something bursting with colour dance 💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼 and joy on screen when most of the time it is murder and tragedy or cooking, gardening, quizzes.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Strictly is concerned, the results of the investigation are still not yet known, as to justified or not. All that is known is speculation by reporters, be it on-line or in certain newspapers..
DeleteI thoroughly enjoyed tonight's show..such feel good factor, well to me. 💃🕺
To add, I personally think that things reported have been published totally out of context purely for sensationalism.
DeleteTalking about what's been happening with Strictly has got me wondering if The Repair Shop will be shown on Wednesday now that Jay Blades has been charged with coercive control.
ReplyDeleteWHAT! I’d no idea. Charles Hanson from the Antique programmes the same yet he seemed such a happy chap having come through Cancer and losing a baby. His case will not be heard until early 2025 yet charged some while back. His business is still ongoing but the BBC dropped him like a stone so regarding Jay we will see. His brother was murdered recently l believe or was it a friend?
DeleteI find it hard to believe, and hope the Repair Shop continues. I wonder if being in the public eye causes stress that spills over into home life.
DeleteThere's no reason why it shouldn't continue with other presenters. I believe that Jay Blades isn't in the series that they are currently filming for other reasons.
DeleteI really enjoyed strictly. Think they’ve had to up their game this year with more people that folk know. I thought that go compare man came across really well. I’ll be rooting for him. Ridiculous having Chris Mc on.
ReplyDeleteSee Craig’s been at the “just for men” packet on his beard! No way a man his age can have such a black beard.
On another note. I watched the last ever grand tour adventure yesterday. The end of an era. They travelled across Zimbabwe. The scenery was spectacular. I’ve watched these 3 for years and the camaraderie between them is palpable. I shall miss their adventures. At least we still have clarksons farm to look forward to.
Oh yippee pray another Claksons Farm to come. A combination of hilarious and high emotions and good old (young of course) Caleb just love their interactions. Plus a new series of “Gone Fishing” with Whitehouse and Mortimer a mixture of hilarity beautiful scenery and peace in equal measure. I cannot tell you how many times we have rewatched the previous 6 series. The Christmas episode with the works do and awards where off the cuff they “discuss the departments they work in” has me in stitches everytime.
DeleteI cannot watch Clarkson's Farm in any way..This is my personal preference only..🙈🙊
DeletePtbY.
DeleteThis is why I am loving the BBC2 Big Cats programme on a Sunday from the Okavango Delta.
It is somewhere I have been and love seeing the wild-life in it's natural environment, along with what is needed to survive, along with young off-spring to feed and nuture.
I was in a canoe alone with just a ranger on a waterway, as the flood was starting. I was suddenly told to stay very still and keep quiet, as there was a hippo just behind us...
DeleteIt was quite scary!
Some Feel Good TV programmes, well for me, which will be starting again soon are -
ReplyDeleteAll Creatures Great + Small, and GBBO...
Love them both.
My best is definitely Strictly though!!
New programmes etc: so pleased Amy is back, able to compete on Strictly again. She has had such an awful run of health problems and it was lovely to see how pleased her fellow dancers were to welcome her back.
ReplyDeleteDon’t see why Chris McCausland shouldn’t have a go at Strictly, it will be interesting to see how his partner choreographs dances so he can take part.
The programme as a whole was too long for me, I preferred the ways they used to match up the dancers, all that going to Kew Gardens etc just stretched the programme out too much.
Thought Craig was looking very smart with his new hairstyle and beard, I wonder if he will be as tough on the dancers as previously.
Like Miriam I am delighted to see All Creatures returning and there will be a new series of House of Games starting on Monday week. We record each nights quiz and watch it with our lunch the following day.
As for Jay Blades, I have read he has been in trouble before in the past and has a history of aggression. I think the Repair Shop can do perfectly well without him.
Miriam
ReplyDeleteI cannot watch nature progs any more. They are either ripping the sh1t out of each other or bonking for Britain. Really puts me off.
Lady R. Will check out the fishing prog. Sounds my cup of tea.
PTBY There are 6 series on iPlayer it started 2018 I think. “The Christmas Gone Fishing special” that I love is the last programme in the 2020 series 3 obviously they are filmed in the late Autumn but hey ho. Country cottages etc.
DeleteLady R. the only few fishing programmes I have actually watched and surprisingly liked, were those done by Robson Green, but then I always liked him in "Soldier, Soldier"..😍
DeletePtbY. I know what you mean. It can get quite stressful at times, but it is natural life so to continue the animal species on this planer of ours. I sat and watched a pride of lions at dawn, finishing off a buffalo carcass. I have great photos of young cubs with blood around their mouths, but they did at least eat so to then grow and hopefully survive..
DeleteIt is after all, the survival of the fittest in such situations and places.
To add, the male lions of the Pride were there as well, which was a massive bonus.
DeleteNext thing seen, was a massive pack of Wild Dogs with a kill, and again all the young pups were eating well..It after all is no different to us humans as to making sure our offspring + family have food and so nourishment, to live and survive.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteTee Hee..the deletion as somehow my post was shown twice, and in fairness, once was more than enough! 🤣
DeleteWe've watched all the Gone Fishing programmes and enjoyed them Lady R. As you say a lovely combination of relaxation, beautiful scenery, laughter and, above all friendship. Who needs an expensive, jet setting lifestyle to be happy?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely CC plus the fish are returned “and away” as they say 🤗
DeleteI've just watched one Lady R. I was wondering if I would have to watch fish being killed and was pleasantly surprised when they put them back in the water
Delete✔️ that is why I thought I would mention that fact as I would have felt the same.
DeleteAutumn is definitely early, despite the lovely and almost hot sunshine all day today.
ReplyDeleteMy washing was put out onto the rotary washing line at 10.30 am. this morning, but is still very damp. Suddenly my back garden is getting very little sun in it, which seems early for this to happen this year..
Next job is to bring it in and drape onto a folding "airer" in a spare bedroom.
A beautiful day here as well Miriam. I was lucky and my washing dried outdoors.
DeleteWe had a lovely walk at Alderley Edge this morning, the trees there are starting to look autumnal now but the sun is still warm. We walked in an area where not many people go and found lots of blackberries, fortunately I had a plastic bag in my backpack so we were able to collect some.
I am just so disappointed that my back garden is suddenly in shade again. Despite the lovely sun and warmth, my back lawn still has "dew" on it. Goodness knows how I am going to mow it in the next couple of days!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI’ve managed two washes out on the line today.
DeleteLovely sunshine and an east wind today.
I’ve also managed to change my bed linen entirely alone, but only a short walk with Lady into town with my legs still feeling very weak.
However a really lovely walk last night in the early evening sun and went to the Iron Age Fort.
Good news that you are starting to be able to do more MrsP🙂
DeleteRegarding fishing programmes, I do enjoy the Gone Fishing ones with Bob Mortimer but not for the fishing, for the comradeship, comedy stories and often beautiful scenery in the programmes.
ReplyDeleteI can never see the point of fishing as a hobby. Why yank a poor fish out of the water with a hook stuck in its lip only to pull it out and put the fish back in the water again. If the fish were genuinely needed for food, fair enough, but these poor fish are not to be eaten but used as entertainment.
T.v. shows...is anyone watching Nightsleeper on BBC1? I think it is fantastic, but am limiting myself to one programme a night because it is making me very tense - a real thriller. so many are called thrillers when they aren't, but this one really is.
ReplyDeleteWe haven't started watching it yet Mistral but are looking forward to it.
DeleteHope you enjoy it as much as I do :)
DeleteI see that Tupperware has filed for bankruptcy. I can remember when it was all the rage and going to Tupperware parties. We still have some from all those years ago.
ReplyDeleteI was never very keen on the parties, but like you CC and many others I suspect, I still have two basins in use, though regret the loss of the lid for one of them.
DeleteI hated tupperware and have never had any! My late Mum loved it though. After she and then Dad, sadly passed away within 18months, the amount that was found in various kitchen cupboards was very mind-boggling, and it couldn't be recycled. How I hated taking it all to the tip to then end up in landfill, where it will be for ever.
DeleteThe late Queen used it I believe!
DeleteBack home and first of several loads of washing in the machine. At least we returned to sunshine so not as bad as it could have been.
ReplyDeleteThe holiday was excellent, it was an escorted tour of several the main historical sites of Greece; Athens, Olympia, Mycenae, Delphi, Monmovasia, Mount Olympus… with time for wine tasting, truffle hunting & olive oil museum, a very full itinerary. We travelled with Cox & Kings and everyone in the group (only 9) was impressed by the organisation & general standards. The rest of our group were a bit older than us and have travelled extensively so MrNuts & I were taking notes as to which trips they recommended as this is the start of the next stage for MrNuts and I as he is now retired, I retired from my main career Xmas 2021, and have just been doing a few hours per week care/companionship for the elderly since then.
Make the most of every precious moment KP (& Mr Nuts) ⭐️
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lady R, KP. Having both been retired for some time it was only 3 or 4 years ago that we could afford more exciting holidays and began our cruising adventures……thinking this would be the future for us and looking forward to seeing new far away places the easy way - via a cruise ship.
ReplyDeleteSadly, unexpected ill health has crept up on both of us and it is unlikely we shall be able to continue. So, as Lady R said, make the most of every second - you don’t know what’s around the corner!
I agree completely with respect to not knowing what might happen next, my mother didn’t reach the ripe old age she was expecting to, that said she had made good use of the time she had.
ReplyDeleteMy father was eleven years older than my mother. The marriage was not a happy one but they stuck it out, with my mother always hoping for some time on her own eventually. She had eighteen years without him and certainly made the most of it. She never wanted to go abroad, her horizons being quite modest, but she had two Saga holidays in the UK each year.
ReplyDeleteIn her own way she enjoyed so much in her last years, before the final five years of her decline and death.
My problems with trying to book a holiday, be it in the UK or abroad is two-fold as an individual traveller.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, having to pay a single supplement which can be eye-watering on some trips.
Secondly, limited no.of single places available, which sell out quickly.
Thirdly, having paid the single supplement, the room/s are still inferior eg a room over the kitchen and so I could not open windows due to noise of the kitchen fans + associated "aromas" and not forgetting the one which literally looked over the rubbish bins!
PS I got this latter room changed ASAP so was basically upgraded.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTo add though, I have had some gorgeous hotel rooms with balcony, fantastic view, eg.Mt. Etna from my hotel balcony in Sicily, Gibraltar from Spain, but I certainly paid the supplements for these..
ReplyDeleteThese were a double room for single occupancy, but it was for a 50% single supplement extra cost.
ReplyDeleteI have today reported a TV advert to the appropriate authority. This was for a knife, reduced from 79.99 to 19.99.
ReplyDeleteMy objection is for any knife advertisement being shown on TV, with knife crime as it is now, along with giving a phone no. and e-mail address to order it.
It horrified me!!
I just had to object.
Note this post is 24hrs later than my last one.
ReplyDeleteOh what a storm is raging outside, torrential rain and constant thunder + lightning.
It's a cracker.
Looking forward to Strictly tonight 💃🕺
SARNIA so sorry to have missed your 🎂
ReplyDelete(Mr R has been in hospital since Tuesday his rash that has been a problem for many weeks along with a couple of (at times) other painful issues finally culminated in admission. He is currently feeling a lot better and I will for those interested post an update soon it has been a stressful time for us both, anyway that is why I defaulted 🙃
However I do hope your day was a very pleasant one 💐🤗
Please give my very best wishes to Mr R and say we both hope he will be fit enough to return home soon. In the meantime you need a good rest yourself Lady R, so make sure you take it easy and put your feet up.
DeleteFlowers for you Lady R 💐, and some 🍇 grapes and a joke for Lord R ( "Sometimes I stay up so late I have my morning coffee before I go to bed!" 😉)
DeleteWhich was yesterday of course!
ReplyDeleteDEAR Lady R, thank you for the good wishes but you do have more important calls on your attention!
ReplyDeleteIn fact, I've been struggling with tiredness and lack of energy for some time, but after a week or so at the end of August with an unusually high temperature a deep-seated chest infection was discovered which was quietly turning to bronchitis. A gnat's whisker away from hospital.
One course of antibiotics later, plus an operation to remove a from a shoulder muscle and I feel fitter at 79 than I did three days ago when I was only 78!
Spent my birthday using my renewed energy to indulge in an all-day LaundryFest, catching up with all the washing that's been too strenuous for me to deal with. After that, a hot date with the vacuum cleaner and Speedmop!
Welcome to the world of 79 yr olds dear Sarnia, but don’t worry - it’s not much different to that of 78 yr olds! But don’t overdo it, enjoy your renewed energy!
DeleteStrange - the cyst that was removed from my back has also been removed from my post. Now that's what I call skilful surgery.
ReplyDelete😂
DeleteHappy belated birthday Sarnia, and hope that your 79th year is a very happy and healthy one. 🎂🍇💐🎉
DeleteI have just been listening to an episode of The Healing Kitchen which said that research shows that people who have a greater intake of omega 3s have larger brains, so walnuts avocados and a supplement are definitely beckoning! Our modern way of farming is making for deficiencies in our diets. Grass fed animals have more omega 3s in their meat, cheese and milk than artificially fed indoor cattle. Apparently the cattle with the most omega 3s are Highland cattle that forage on mountain sides eating lots of herbs in with the grass.
Quite glad to be 79 as I'm no longer the same age as Trump. He gives 78 yr olds a bad name!
ReplyDelete✔️ ✔️✔️ (so glad you now have renewed good health Sarnia keep enjoying it)
DeleteMonty Don and the scarf.
ReplyDeleteI think it was AP who was irritated by Monty Don's scarf and saw it as a kind of affectation.
Apparently it's to aid continuity in filming! All the programmes are filmed out of sequence, so it can be difficult to make sure that he is wearing the same clothes coming out of the shed as when he went in. The scarf acts as a focus to draw attention away from any inadvertent slip-ups in wardrobe continuity.
If the beginning of a sequence is shot in the rain and can't be finished until later, they turn the hose on him so that he still looks wet.
Just thought you might like to know... ...
That’s very interesting Sarnia. Yes it was me and Mr A who were irritated by the casually draped scarf. Funnily enough we were watching a programme about his visits to gardens in the USA last night and there was no scarf. We both commented on how nice he looked.
DeleteIt must have been made some years ago as he looked much younger, with dark brown tidy hair. The scarf seemed to appear on later tours, Japan and Italy where I can imagine that continuity could be a problem
MIRIAM, wishing you a wonderful “special” birthday as you join a new / my decade 🎂 🤭 👏🏻 🥁
ReplyDeletePlans? Whatever they maybe enjoy and look forward to hearing about your day.
Belated birthday wishes to SARNIA and to MIRIAM if it’s today.
ReplyDeleteI should remember along with LadyR as yesterday was also my daughters Birthday.
Sarnia - I’m sorry that you have been so unwell but pleased that you at least got to see doctors and hopefully without several bus journeys to get to the surgery on this occasion.
Keep up with the smoked mackerel and salmon.
Thank you, Mrs P. David's cousin and her husband are looking after me very well and are taking turns at ferrying me to the surgery. He has also painted my garden bench (bought four years ago!) white to match the old table and chairs.
DeleteFunny thing is, although they live about 10 mins away by car, we saw neither hide nor hair of them while D was alive.
After taking me to have my stitches out this morning, P suggested coffee at the garden centre, after which he pushed the trolley as I spent a birthday token.
Lady spent a night having a sleepover with her new ‘go to’ friends without any problems at all. She apparently scratched at the bedroom door when Jan went to bed, but was pacified by Dave. She did the same when he went to bed, but settled very soon after and was as good as gold apparently and slept through the night. When I arrived to collect her yesterday afternoon she greeted me but without going overboard.
ReplyDeleteI now no longer have the concerns of yore about going into hospital again.
Happy, happy Birthday Miriam! I hope you special days goes exactly as you would like. 🥳 🎂
ReplyDeleteThanks for the Birthday Wishes 🤗😍
ReplyDeleteI hadn't planned anything as I just didn't want this change of decade.
Still it's happened anyway...😀😆
Big Sis invited me for a Sunday Roast lunch today, but yesterday this had to be cancelled as she tested Covid +ve.
She just woke up with a sore throat and throaty cough, and only did a test as a friend whose company she was in contact with a couple of days before, also was +ve.
With the torrential rain all day today, I didn't mind not having to drive anywhere....
What a storm last night!
My TV went off completely after a particularly loud bang, but luckily managed to sort it out.
I did wonder if my ariel had been hit, but doubt it as there was no other damage, probably just atmospheric.
I remember this particular decade change shocking me more than the one before Miriam now it won’t be too long before the next 😱 well 🤞🏼😂
DeleteHappy birthday Miriam, and hope you have a good year to follow. 🍰🎉🎁 and a four leaved clover🍀 for luck.
ReplyDeleteI hope all are well and affected by the torrential rain and floods.
ReplyDeleteIt hasn't been too bad here, but I believe things are awful elsewhere.
Niece in London has gone home early, whilst her trains are still running.
meant aren't affected...what a typo!
DeleteVery belated Happy Birthday to Sarnia and Miriam, Hope you both enjoyed your day, apart from the storms.
ReplyDeleteNo storms here on the day, Mistral, just a lot more energy than I've had for some time. But thanks anyway.
ReplyDeleteOne of the loudest, longest & most disturbing storms I have experienced in a lifetime - up here in our part of North Hampshire. The entire countryside around was lit up in the middle if the night, very eerie. The weather map showed us right on the edge of the area affected.
ReplyDeleteNot down here in the South, AP, just a very lot of rain and cloud too low to see my aeroplanes landing and taking off!
ReplyDeleteEndless rain for two days but no storms here on the edge of Exmoor.
ReplyDeleteBut bright light, though no sun today.
Big Sis and Hubbie are so jinxed.
ReplyDeleteI told you about they had to cancel their big trip to OZ + Bali, as to BIL having to have his pacemaker and classed unfit to fly. This was for their 10th wedding anniversary in a few days time (2nd time for them both).
They booked a few days away in a log cabin instead. Today this has also been cancelled as both are still poorly and Covid +ve. They are far from happy.
I am not going anywhere near, selfish as that sounds, but I have this very important DVLA approved optical sight test etc. on Monday for my driving licence renewal. I daren't risk being unfit to go, as if the results are not received in 2 weeks time, my licence will not be renewed and so cancelled!
I can't believe this threat is hanging over me, due to the length of time this has been going on for. I always put all forms back into the post by return and this started 12 weeks ago now.
I could not do it on-line for some reason, probably as I still had a paper licence (now expired) but still OK to drive.
It is so frustrating.
A wise decision from you Miriam, to stay away from your sister before your eye test.
DeleteI do hope it goes well for you and you can continue to drive.
I've been catching up with the blogs today after a visit to our daughter near Bath over the weekend.
ReplyDeleteIt was a hectic trip but enjoyable. We were treated to a visit to The Newt Garden in Somerset as my daughter had won a years membership to it in a raffle. What an amazing place, no expense spared right down to the luxury toilet roll! Whoever owns it isn't short of cash. I'd heard of it from seeing them sponsoring RHS flower shows, but didn't really know anything about it. We had a lovely day there.
Sunday was very wet, we spent the afternoon watching our 10yr old grandson playing football in the pouring rain!
On Monday we met up with a friend from university who we hadn't seen for over 40 years at NT Tyntesfield. it was so lovely to see her and the years just rolled away. We then drove home in the atrocious weather and awful traffic due to an accident on the M5. Thankfully Google maps saved us a bit of time by finding a work around.
Mrs R, I hope that Mr R is feeling more comfortable now that he is getting his treatment.
Sarnia it's nice to hear about your new found energy, long may it continue.
CC - do you remember that I had my 80th birthday treat there at The Newt two years ago.
DeleteLike you I found it to be a wonderful day out.
My daughter had membership for a year too, but don’t think she used it very much. I hope your daughter gets plenty of use from her raffle prize.
It’s certainly luxury, but with more than a natural air. I loved it.
A lovely place for a special birthday Mrs P.
DeleteMy daughter is making good use of her membership.
Short-lived, I'm afraid:
ReplyDeletea) V. complex daughter problems.
b) Stitches have been removed but clothing has rubbed and wound is bleeding. Can't reach it to put a plaster- so
1. Need to get through to the surgery to see if they can fit me into their busy schedule.
2. Find someone to take me there.
Sarnia, that sounds really uncomfortable, hope you can see someone tomorrow. If only we still had District Nurses......
DeleteHope your daughter gets whatever support she needs. Am I correct in thinking she lives in New Zealand? How difficult when family lives so far away.
SARNIA
DeleteSo sorry your new found energy was so short a time.
I do hope you can get the assistance that you need and that your wound heals properly very soon.
So frustrating and difficult for you Sarnia.
DeleteSarnia. Just ring your surgery first thing in the morning, explain your situation and they should act on this to sort.
DeleteMiriam, last time I rang my surgery first thing in the morning it took 1hr 10min to get from no 6 to no 4 in the queue, after which I gave up.
DeleteMy son has very kindly put a fresh plaster on it and all seems to have calmed down.
I have an appointment on October 8th for an asthma review, with transport arranged courtesy of D's cousin. I'll see if I can rattle their cage then
Thank you, much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteSarnia, it might be worth asking your surgery in case of future need if there are any volunteer drivers available in your area. I think you make a donation, but nothing unreasonable, just enough to cover the petrol. My daughter often took our neighbour ( his wife doesn't drive) to hospital for his checkups but times when she wasn't able to the hospital put him in touch with their volunteer drivers.
ReplyDeleteSarnia, do you get a parish magazine delivered, ours lists local volunteer services such as Janice mentioned, along its asking for volunteers, which is something I am thinking of getting involved with
DeleteThank you for all the helpful suggestions. I've tried the volunteer drivers; they require several days' notice and can't confirm driver availability until the day of the appointment. Worse still, this may turn out to be one way only and in the past I've found myself marooned on the far side of town with a £15 taxi fare home.
ReplyDeleteAnd no, the parish magazine is only circulated among the ranks of the faithful, and confines itself to reporting the deliberations of the PCC and the income from various churches activities.
I gave up trying to get a that day appointment via the early morning phone in system, hopeless. What I do now, partly because I am carless at present plus not back to driving yet, is to ask my son if he can give me a lift into the surgery. I then ask the receptionist to make me a prebookable appointment, which is usually for about a month's time, so that i know I definitely have that, and then in the meantime they are quite happy for me to go on trying to get an appointment via phone and if by some fluke I do manage to then they cancel the prebookable one. Also there are two sub branches of the main surgery, one is up at a quite isolated village on the moors and that is less busy and it is easier and quicker to get an appointment there. It is further to travel and I know I am lucky in having my son just down the road and self employed so he is able to take me.
ReplyDeleteSarnia after all that time playing the organ you are definitely one of the faithful! But it doesn't sound as if you are missing any exciting reading!
ReplyDeleteJust as the subject of church has been mentioned I will say to anyone who is connected to a church to be very careful about where the silver candlesticks etc are kept.
Tintagel church was targeted back in the summer (did we have one?!) by professional criminals that would seem to be travelling around the country doing this. The cctv camera opposite the entrance door was disabled and the lock on the incredibly thick safe door was drilled out. They knew exactly what they were doing, ignoring anything that was silverplated and just taking solid silver. I think people were saddest about the loss of a couple of the candlesticks that dated from the 1400s/1500's and a silver baptismall shell that had been donated by some local parents in memory of a little child who died. I am hopeful they will not have been melted down as the value of the actual silver would not be that valuable. It is probable they were taken abroad where there are private collectors who apparently will pay a lot of money for precious historic items.
So the communion cup and platter will be either brass or silver plate from now on!! Highly unlikely these things will be recovered, and of course there was the grumbling from the village
ReplyDeletewho feel protective of "their" church even if they only turn up at Christmas, or if they want wedding or burying , because the church has been kept unlocked at night. The vicar who came several years ago ( retiring this October at 70 and going to work part time at an ex pat church in France where she wanted to move to) decided that a church , being a church, should be open day and night for anyone who needed prayer or shelter. Sometimes people can get stranded on the cliffs at night,especially if the youth hostel is closed or they can't find it, no joke in a storm. Up until now this worked well just with a few hiccups. Last year a lady with mental health problems who moved around different churches and wouldn't stay in places the health authorities found for her, and I suspect didn't take her medication, set up home for a while in the church, and kept a bucket she used as a toilet under the altar. Then there was the young man that I varied between calling the Ethiopean prince and the Pied Piper ( musical and wore interesting coloured clothes) who seemed to be a back to nature, and intelligent, modern day traveller. The last couple of summers he seemed to make Tintagel his home. He was no bother at all, just sleeping in a pew and with everything tidied up and out by 9 am so that you wouldn't have known anyone had been there. Our very nice churchwarden who tends to go there early morning and evening did have a debate with him about the fact the church was really just meant to be open at night for temporary shelter for people lost or caught out in the weather. His reply to that was that God's house is for everyone, and there really is no answer to that because true.
Really I just meant to say to any church people here that it might be safest to take the silverware you use in church on Sundays back home with you afterwards, or keep at the vicarage/rectory. I doubt even if the church had been locked that it would have stopped professional criminals. It was unsettling to think that prior to the robbery they must have come into the church posing as visitors in order to locate the safe. A couple of days after this it would seem to have been the same people who used the same method at an Abbey (Sherborne?) and several churches last year. They must have felt like having a holuday in Cornwall!
Thanks for the warning Janice, but I work in the United Reformed Church and we don't do silver candlesticks! It's been decades since I was director of music in the local parish but can confirm that I'm still not missing anything.
ReplyDeleteMIRIAM, AIRPORT ALERT. I know you will be THRILLED to learn that one of 'my' aeroplanes will be paying you a visit today, due to arrive from Jersey at 12.15pm.
He is Blue Islands G-ISLM, and on googling the function of Chester airport I imagine it must be a business charter flight.
P.s they apparently did break through a door at Sherborne Abbey.
ReplyDeleteYour interesting story of the theft of the silver candlesticks reminds me of my local church in Putney which was on an unmade road - previously the service road to a large Georgian estate - where the ornate gates to the grounds of the church were restored and featured in a article in a local newspaper.
ReplyDeleteShortly afterwards those gates were dismantled and stolen, never to be recovered.
Theft of valuable items from churches has been going on since Tudor times.
How sad to hear of the passing today, of Dame Maggie Smith.
ReplyDeleteShe was one of those iconic British actresses, who seemed would just go on forever.
Definitely worthy of her national treasure status
DeleteVery sad indeed Miriam
DeleteSarnia. I am so sorry that I missed your post about one of your planes/flights landing at Hawarden. 😪
ReplyDeleteIt is a small provincial air-strip, but it is where the Aerospace Belugas land and take-off from. The Red Arrows also use it now + again. There are a lot of charter/private jets flying in + out and often these are international ones. They must have some sort of border control though.
PS Hawarden is the local name for the Chester/Broughton air strip.
DeleteIt is pronounced as "Harden" and is in Wales.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteHe was late arriving and didn't stay long before departing for London Stansted, where he is spending the night. He is due back in Jersey at midday tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteQuite an adventure for a modest turbo-prop who normally spends his days trundling back and forth between the Islands, Bristol, Southampton, Birmingham and Nottingham!
MAGGIE SMITH
ReplyDeleteTribute on Iplayer tonight - Alan Bennett’s - The Alcoholic Vicars Wife
Just to bring you up to date on our situation:
ReplyDeleteMr A finally got to see the specialist at Southampton Hospital after all the tests, echocardiogram,
Nuclear heart scan etc etc. The upshot is that he has the early stages of pulmonary hypertension which means he doesn’t get enough oxygen to his lungs . There are 2 possible causes and he will have to go down there again for a right-side heart catheterisation to find out which cause it is, so they can prescribe the correct medicine. Then he’ll have to keep going down for tests to see if the drugs are helping. Quite a long journey for us and £7 for the car park!
He also has a date for the op to remove his basal cell carcinoma , and one for the following week to have his second cataract operation. Both if these are in Basingstoke thank goodness.
As for me I managed to get a face to face appt with my GP to discuss all the unpleasant side effects I am having with my drugs (I take 8 different ones every day). I have been having a lot of pain in my chest so I have been referred to the Rapid Access Heart Pain clinic at Basingstoke, which is where Mr A went last year. They have to determine whether the pain is angina or just severe heartburn. I shall have to go on a treadmill, which should be fun, as I can only walk a few yards before getting breathless and dizzy. Hope I don’t fall off!
On the bright side, we are, hopefully, going to France next Friday to stay with the family, the first trip I shall have taken since the cruise when I fell ill with heart failure. I have booked wheelchair assistance at both airports. Our son has very generously paid for the flights, Heathrow to Toulouse, but I am nervous about staying in somebody else’s house with the side effects I get. But it will be wonderful to see the boys again & spend time with my lovely daughter in law.
Mr A and I are both keeping fingers crossed nothing goes wrong health-wise before the flight, or whilst we are in France.
I really hope that you do manage to get to Franve Archerfile, it's so lovely to see family.
DeleteWishing you the best on this much looked forward family trip to France AP and hoping that your health issues stay at bay while you are away.
ReplyDeleteI am in total awe of my neice who lives in OZ. Due to some health problems, which she now knows can be overcome, she is in serious training for a 50km walk for charity done in a group set up. She reckons this will take them 14 -16 hours and will be basically non-stop.
ReplyDeleteSolid rain all day here. I decided to stop putting it off and get my tax return out of the way this morning. I rewarded myself with a pain au chocolat from M&S.
ReplyDeleteThis afternoon was spent sorting out photos and making an album of our trip to Bath last weekend to share with the family.
Hopefully the weather will be better tomorrow and We'll be able to get out for some fresh air.
I had to go out for an appointment early this morning, and what a drive in the rain + wind. It was awful so I treated myself afterwards to a lovely cappuccino and Danish pastry, in the big M+S at Cheshire Oaks. My plans didn't quite go as planned, as I had left my £50 M+S gift card at home! I had to put the 4 pairs of trousers I was about to try on, back onto the racks (but not necessarily the right ones 🤣)
DeleteAn hour listen if anyone interested.
ReplyDeleteThis is on BBC sounds from Sunday:-
Past Refrain by Jill Hyem.
It is a nice story which I enjoyed.
Crossings was also an interesting listen
That should be Crossriggs
DeleteAuto correct 🤭
I’m off for my first check up of my pacemaker today.
ReplyDeleteAble to leave Lady without worrying as one of the dog walkers will pop in to give her a walk while I am away at the hospital in Taunton for much of the day.
Such a relief !
Hope that all goes well with your check up Mrs P.
DeleteYes, me too Mrs P. Will you have to go regularly or might you be given (or are able to buy) one of those devices that allows you to take readings at home and transfer the results to the hospital electronically?
ReplyDeleteMy bro-in-law was given one by his hospital, which has to be put by the bedside.
DeleteAll went well.
DeleteAll is well.
Two nurse/technicians and Bill, who kindly went off to fetch a pacemaker so that I could see what it is that’s secreted inside my chest.
It’s metal and very much smaller than it feels.
I had a number of questions, which I hoped to get answers for.
The two techs’ invited me to ask my questions, although I suspected they were not the appropriate persons to ask. They then told me in a most officious manner that they were there to do my readings and that I should ask my GP my questions, they were not qualified . ( me, rolling of eyes ! Why did you invite me to ask my questions then ? )
However they did explain what most of the readings were - downloaded from my bedside monitor ARCHERPHILE as MIRIAM explained. I don’t take the readings, the computer reads them M-F, uploading the data from the day while I am in bed and if anything is found to be amiss the cardiology department will call me in.
Otherwise if all is well I will be recalled in twelve months for another check up.
And Lady was fine, didn’t even bark when the dog walker turned up.
And I went a bit wild in TKMax, but I have now got a new hob kettle.
My wonderful Prestige whistling kettle bought in a charity shop about twenty years ago, started rusting up last year and Prestige don’t seem to manufacture them any longer. I’ve searched high and lo, including Lakeland to find a replacement without any luck and there were three different stylishly modern Italian ones available there today. I bought the nearest to traditional and I hope I like it in use.
So pleased all is going along nicely for you and Lady Mrs P. Only 20yrs use out of a Charity shop kettle things don’t last 5 minutes these days do they ? 😂🤣🤣
DeleteI had my DVLA approved optical sight appointment yesterday. It was so straight forward. This licence renewal process has been going on since July, and if this sight test had been done first, it would have been far less frustrating and tedious, rather than having to fill in medical report forms, which then took 6 weeks to be processed.
ReplyDeleteAt this moment I still do not have a valid driving licence but can I drive legally, as the renewal is still pending.
I was told that my vision with no glasses was well above DVLA standards and wearing my driving glasses I aced the sight chart, reading the entire bottom line!
To add there was more to the appointment than this, which took nearly 40mins.
DeleteWell done MIRIAM - hope you don’t have to repeat the process too often, if at all.
DeleteEnjoy your driving.
Mrs P. Glad all went well.
DeleteMe I am just waiting for my new licence to finally appear be it still a few weeks yet.
My car is in for a service + MOT tomorrow. I was able to arrange for it to be picked up from my house + then returned. This has a cost of £18 but this is cheaper than two taxi trips to + from the garage and saves me a lot of wasted time. I have to use the main dealer which is on the opposite side of town and there is no easy and quick way to get there.
ReplyDeleteCHESHIRE CHEESE long ago on the 25th September you kindly asked how Mr R was doing, thank you for that. Since mid July it has been a tough time for him. Weeks of steroid creams and moisturiser on his body literally filled with rash. Finally on a day I asked for a home visit and had the usual pre call to discuss i practically broke down on the phone the duty Dr said she would talk to his Dr and call me back. No waiting for that within half an hour his Dr was here and appalled at his condition and immediately did obs and then went back to the surgery to inform Basingstoke she was sending him in by ambulance and there he stayed for a week. Finally cracking the rash of a severe eczema flare up with more steroid cream and a much better oil type moisturiser. 2 steroid applications a day and 4 of the moisturiser which has been quite wearing to do now home as clothes on clothes off. Pill added /pill taken and other things on discharge report to discuss with Dr hopefully this morning. I had much driving to and from hospital and noticed the difference for me doing this now as against even a year ago. Apart from weekends the parking could take up to half of the time of the journey there!! He was pleased to be home and even had a short ride out at the weekend.
ReplyDeleteHowever this morning has developed a cough nar rains as they say…. Enough for now any other bits to add can wait for another time. Having the blog to read has been a great salvation for me I love to read about what you are all up to. Is anyone in touch with Lanjan at all I still think of her especially at this time of the year.
LadyR
DeleteI’m so sorry for you and your Lord. Such a difficult condition, the skin, to have to contend with in one’s older years.
I am so relieved to hear that your GPs responded so well and got him in to hospital so quickly when you appealed to them.
I don’t imagine that his condition is going to get any better than just managing to keep it under control, and I wish you all the very best in doing so.
As for LanJan, as far as I know PtbY is the only one of us that is in touch with her, and she seems to be posting less now.
Thank you for your reply Lady R. I'm sorry to hear that you and Mr R have been having such a difficult time, I hope that things improve soon
DeleteARCHERPHILE oh dear so sorry to read of both of your ongoing health issues this is not what we signed up for is it? I have everything crossed for you that your planned trip to France and family will go ahead and as smoothly as possible as it would definitely be a lift to the spirit for both of you.
ReplyDeleteLady R …… And we are so sorry to hear about your dear husband’s illness and your having to cope with all the difficulties. It must make life very difficult for you both.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, none of us signed up for this level of ill health in old age or the difficulties in caring for a loved one. We blithely promise ‘in sickness and in health’ at our weddings, never realising what this could eventually mean.
Ah well, we all have to get on with it and do our best. And as you say, the journeys to and from different hospitals, 3 for us, take up a lot of time and great expenditure on parking.
Now looking forward to a few days off the treadmill in France and hoping I don’t embarrass my grandsons with the side effects of my drugs! 🙃
Poor Lady R, always so ready to commiserate with others' misfortune yet so mired in it yourself.
ReplyDeleteArcherphile too, and Janice facing complex health issues; life is an uphill road for so many.
There's so little one can say that's any use.
Your “caring” in leaving us all a message of understanding helps a lot Sarnia and I thank you for mine 🙂 and I’m sure AP and Janice will feel the same.
DeleteI came across a little saying recently that I hadn't heard of before, and it seems relevant here:
Delete"A kind word is like a Spring day" and liked it so much had it printed on several pens ( more than one because they tend to vanish!) to keep by the phone.
My health hiccup is minor compared to others, and has been improving, plus the doc has given me something to take when dizzy.
Yes, I certainly find messages here a great help and appreciate them very much
DeleteThank you all for your kind wishes which I have passed on to Mr R he thinks you are a great bunch and loves to hear highlights from our blog!
ReplyDeleteI am having a lovely peaceful day as the others have all gone boating, and am catching up on some admin ( although unlike you Cheshire Cheese 😇 am putting off doing that boring old tax return! 😣). A Whatsapp message and picture has just arrived from daughter in law saying Sylvan has caught three large mackerel. Her brother a strict vegetarian stays up the other end of the boat when she is fishing; and daughter in law runs around endeavouring to prevent Max from his favourite boat pastime of leaning over the side. I don't understand how I produced two so different offspring, a gentle very sensible son and a warrior jump into anything daughter!
ReplyDeleteI just wish you all and loved ones, such big hugs and the most warmest of good wishes and thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThere's me wittering on about such minor, meaningless and trivial things..
I will keep looking in daily as usual, but perhaps will not join in as much.
M🐈⬛
I must though do a 🐈⬛ post.
ReplyDeleteLast night I was aware of an unsavoury smell, which means that I am now on a "body" hunt but nothing found yet. The smell is no worse today, so perhaps it is just my slippers!
As it is Autumn, I have started some knitting. Firstly the ball of yarn was attacked, the yarn clawed and chewed which I rescued. One row of knitting later there was a surprise attack over the side of the chair, a knitting needle was firmly grasped and yanked, resulting with stitches falling off!!
I gave up then. If this continues then goodness knows if the jumper will ever get done.
Until next time. M🐈⬛
I like minor everyday things. They help to balance out the eventful things.
ReplyDeleteMy two cats are staying in by the rayburn more lately, so I guess autumn if not winter has arrived.
I usually put any leftover food out by the compost bin in the evening for a Tomcat who wanders through here, but then I realised young foxes were often eating it. (They are in big disgrace at the moment with our neighbour who loves her chickens!) Not long back I was an hour late getting dinner and realised Tiger was sitting in the window with her ears pricked up on alert and looking out I saw a beautifully coloured young fox sitting close to the house obviously wondering why her scraps hadn't arrived.
Two lovely little tales of animals ….. thank you Janice and Miriam.
ReplyDeleteMinor everyday things as you say Janice.
And all the more precious for being shared.
That's why I enjoy your posts, Janice, because they're often about the kind of small things that lift my day.
ReplyDeleteMy winter bedding plants arrived today. I was going to cut down this year but got carried away when ordering them! That's my jobs sorted for the next couple of days, thankfully it looks as though the weather is going to be nice.
ReplyDeletePlant catalogues are my weakness too, and they are very seductive. My go-to mail order nursery has taken to having 25% off weekends, which helps to rein me in a bit.
ReplyDeleteA garden centre is one of my ideas of heaven, although I always finish up spending more than I intended.
Repeat after me: yes, it's very beautiful, but where would I put it?
Archerphile, I hope you and your husband have a safe trip and lovely holiday with your family
ReplyDeleteLady R, I really hope your husband responds well and quickly to his treatment.
Best wishes to all four of you.
Thank you Mistral. All packed now and ready for Heathrow tomorrow. I’ll try to keep in touch while away, depends on how well the WiFi is working!
DeleteGood luck to you both ARCHERPHILE
DeleteMorning everyone.
ReplyDeleteHaven’t looked at blog for a week or so. Been too busy but caught up last night.
With regards to Lanjan. She hasn’t been able to get on the blog. After a long phone call last night we managed to get her back on BUT she cannot post anything. It just tells her to log into google and when she presses the the next button it just takes her back to the picture at the top. We tried all sorts but nothing worked. Anyone have any suggestions as to solving her problem?
If so I said I would photo snap the post and send it to her.
She is keeping well although has a cough at the mo and is going for a cataract operation this month on the 20th.
Hope someone can solve her prob as she was wanting to get back to posting.
No idea, sorry, but it would be nice to hear from her.
ReplyDeleteI’ve sent a message to LanJan to get in touch. I think I may be able to help her, as I often lose my connection and I now seem to be able to get back on the blog successfully each time.
DeleteAlice is Brian & Jennifer's daughter.
ReplyDeleteCAROLYN ? ……… is that really you ?
DeleteIf it is, how lovely that you are still there ! …… MrsP
That was a surprise, and yes it is lovely. I wonder how many original contributors still read this or occasionally pop in to see what's happening.
DeleteI still read the blog every day but dont usually write any thing. I enjoy reading about your every day lives. I have had some health problems so havent been able to get back to the UK. Hopefully I will be able to travel soon.
ReplyDeleteLovely to hear from carolyn and Gianna.
ReplyDeleteSorry, my comment about Alice was on the wrong blog. I do hope someone can help with Lanjan's difficulty. Don't know how I got on - didn't really expect to - but then 'publish' appeared !
ReplyDeleteIt's a pity there are always so few comments on the TA blog. I get the impression they're just a desultory nod to the original purpose of the blog, whilst the real interest these days is with 'outside.
I agree with you Carolyn about the use of our original blog and feel as you do.
DeleteAs I think I may have recently said, of the group of us that met at Waterloo Station so long ago now, I seem to be the only person still contributing to that ‘Archers’ blog, although I sincerely hope that some of those others are still reading.
Spicycushion I think still reads and occasionally writes a post.
And it’s delightful to hear again from you. I’m afraid I’ve lost my original list of our email addresses from that meeting and having a new IPad with the old one still packed away somewhere i am sorry to say I don’t now have access to yours.
I shall send another message to LJ, offering to help her in re engaging with the blog.
And I hope that having broken through whatever barrier may have been there for you, you might now continue to be with us.
Having re read what I wrote above, I feel that I need to say, that I very much appreciate the ‘other’ side of our blog in the form of friendship it provides to me, and I suspect to a number of other contributors.
DeleteI should also make reference to KP Nuts who joined us for the second meet up at the Barbican ( sorry about my disappointing choice of venue folks ! )
and stepped into the void left by GG to enable us to continue to share our love of The Archers and our friendships that have developed alongside that love.
And it would seem that in recent months the rise of TA seems to have yet another resurgence amongst the public at large, helped by social media.
Lovely to see your name here again Carolyn. I hope both you and your husband are well.
ReplyDeleteI am in France at the mo visiting my family in Toulouse, but the journey here yesterday was a nightmare.
A taxi picked us up at 5.30 to take us to Heathrow. A very bad time to be travelling up the M3 and along the M25 which was blocked with rush hour traffic.
The driver dropped us off at Terminal 5 and we wheeled our baggage trolly into the departures area.
Mr A found me a seat and set off to find the Assistance area and the wheelchair I had booked.
A few moments later I realised I didn’t have my hand bag - it contained our money, passports, boarding passes and my phone! I’d left it On the floor in the back of the taxi!
What to do? To cut a long story short, a kind BA employee let us use his mobile phone to call the taxi firm in Basingstoke & tell them what happened. Hopefully they would manage to contact the driver, tell him to turn round on the M3 and return to Heathrow with my bag. Goodness knows what it would cost extra to the £80 we had already given him.
Very fortunately for us, the Driver had stayed at Heathrow, waiting to pick up in incoming passenger, so they were able to tell him to return to Terminal 5 and hand over my bag.
So half an hour of absolute panic stations worked out well in the end. But then our flight was delayed nearly an hour so we didn’t arrive in Toulouse until almost midnight to be met by our son.
Exhausted but very relieved.
Oh Archerphile what are we to do with you and your travelling adventures! What an absolute scare you gave yourself one of the longest half hours of your life I’m sure.
DeleteHowever you are now with your lovely family so relax and enjoy every moment making more special memories to treasure 🥰👏🏻⭐️
Goodness me ARCHERPHILE- with all your joint health issues and your combined ages, I have to say that you and MrAP are very brave to be going to France at all.
DeleteWell done to both of you for almost twenty hours of travel, never mind losing your handbag in the process.
What an experience Archerfile! I hope that you are able to enjoy the rest of your stay and have a more straightforward return journey 🤞
DeleteA very high scoring Strictly last night. Hats off to Diane for the way she's teaching a blind man to dance like that.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good show but having the judges dressed up like that really annoyed me. Pathetic. Diane and Chris are doing much better than I thought they would. I thought Toyah would be good being musical but she’s just dreadful.
DeleteI dislike a lot of the music they pair the dances with. I’m going to stick my neck out and say that Tasha (deaf one) will win the glitter ball. She’s very good.
Couldn't agree more about some of the music, sometimes I think it hinders the dancers because it's so unsuitable for the dance. Toyah has had quite a lot of surgery which probably doesn't help.
DeleteSorry to have missed last night, and will miss next Saturday, but it’s all recorded so I can catch up when we get back. But I’m very pleased to hear that Chris McCausland is doing well. It must be really difficult reaching a blind person to dance, much less learn a routine.
DeleteSCD I am in awe of Diane’s teaching skills regarding Chris and all credit to him for really wanting to seriously compete while also having fun. I agree Tasha is very good when I read she had been on Love Island I thought oh gawd a frightful bimbo then but no for once just a naturally beautiful, talented and pleasant young lady. I absolutely loved The Dr’s Indian dance such wonderful hand movements and she has such a slender and pliable body. There were others too but that’s it for now. Home tonight? I’m thinking Toyah or Paul Murton?
ReplyDeleteAP Have a great time with your family in France and thank goodness your "hiccup" at the start was so easily sorted.
ReplyDeleteI did similar, leaving my house-keys in a taxi on going to + from the hospital for an appointment. I had no idea which one, but rang taxi firm. The driver of the one I went to the hospital in was in the office, checked his taxi + found them and as he was finishing his shift, he brought them to me. He was paid for his kindness.
Strictly was great last night and the hair + make-up team certainly did a great job.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very close group of dancers, which bodes well for the rest of the series.
I agree with others that some are peaking early, whereas others are just improving and embracing the experience .
To add - I think Nick has to withdraw so to protect his injuries and further problems.
Eureka!
ReplyDeleteHello LanJan,
ReplyDeleteNew thread started, random photo of stuffed polar bears
Just checking again.
ReplyDeleteI came back to try again and it said I would have to sign in .
When I tried it kept going back to the top of the page.
I gave up then.
Then I decided to come back and it said I could comment .
I don't know if I will be able to get on tomorrow but in case I don't best wishes to you all and especially to those who have been ill and to Lady R who is always so thoughtful to others when she is obviously going through a difficult time of her own .
It is past my bedtime but Percy has jumped off my knee so I thought I would just add a few more words.
Still summer down here so not in winter woollies yet .
Had some welcome rain so garden looks better now than it did earlier in the summer.
I decided to have 6months of summer-mid April to mid October so am still in summer clothes.
My friend in Ramsbottom says she has hardly been out of winter clothes.
On the advice and more or less insistence of my sons I now have a cleaner ,-only once a fortnight - a "gardener " - whenever I need him and a window cleaner-once a month.
I gave up driving ,sold my car and now mainly use an Uber if I need to go somewhere.
It may seem extravagant but It is cheaper than keeping a car .
PtbY has been down here earlier this summer.and it was great to see her.She and her husband meet up with my younger son when he goes to North Yorkshire to do his stint as a signalman and last year my elder son and his wife who were over from Canada met them them too -and Cowgirl - when they came over from Canada .
I have therefore a lot to thank this blog for .
Thank you in particular for assisting me in trying to get me back onto the blog .Mrs P and P tbY
Yay Lanjan 👏🏻⭐️👏🏻 thank you for your kind wishes to us both, as many others here (yourself included) have had - and do have to do we battle on. Glad to hear you now have put the necessary help that you need into place it will ensure you can keep your energy level up for the nice things in life that you enjoy. Yes this blog has given much to us all over the years - comfort, advice, encouragement and some good laughs too.
DeleteLong may it continue and thank goodness for KP 🥇