Life outside Ambridge
Lif in Ambridge
Archer Family tree up to 2000, (pre Helen, Pip & Tom’s off-spring)
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Life in Ambridge
An upcoming storyline methinks!
Life in Ambridge
Let’s hope Fallon’s plan is up to snuff.
My “baby” is 26 tomorrow, i had my art teacher do this in pastels for her, he is a moderately successful professional portrait artist. MrNuts commissioned him to do both daughters in oils for my birthday which we were thrilled with and he was rather taken with the chinchillas when he was at my daughters so I thought this would be a fun present .
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely present KP.
DeleteThey look adorable !
Is this the hermit daughter ?
Oh they are so sweet, and such a nice present.
DeleteThat's a wonderful present. It brings back to mind a painting we had done of their hens for our eldest daughter and her husband for a Christmas present. It's something that will last a lifetime.
DeleteArcherphileJuly 19, 2025 at 10:04 PM
ReplyDeleteQuick reply to Lady R - how kind of you to ask about us, when you have so much to cope with at home and with Mr R back in hospital again. I hope all will be revealed, and treated, very soon.
We are coping a bit better (well Mr A is) with the weekly gardener who is very helpful and takes on odd jobs as well as gardening. Mr A’s pulmonary hypertension is getting worse and he can’t do much work at all before getting breathless. So we are both in the same boat, very similar problems but different causes.
I no longer have help in the house, it just felt too awkward sitting in the lounge while two other women worked round me. Not used to it I suppose, plus I was tidying up and dusting before they came, so it was a bit pointless!
We are still strongly considering a move, have got several brochures about retirement villages which look beautiful but are extremely expensive. We would still prefer to find a bungalow and regularly check all the estate agent sites but nothing has come up yet. Another thing now, is that our next door neighbours have said they are moving, having inherited a house in Overton. I never ever thought they’d move, having spent a fortune on their end of our cottages and been there for over 40 years. So we could have new neighbours to get used to. Everything seems to be changing!
REPLYDELETE
GiannaJuly 21, 2025 at 7:14 AM
I felt the same as you Archerfile about having people doing my housework. However, after a fall when I was out walking I was unable to carry on doing the housework so my son found a very nice mother and daughter who originally came from Naples. They come once a week for 2 hours and I am very pleased to see them as we have a nice chat once they have finished.
What a lovely picture KP. It’ll be treasured forever.
ReplyDeleteHello Everyone l don't exactly know what l did correctly but it appears my days, nay, years of ' lurking ' are over, I feel l know so much about you all and have worried frequently about your various travails. I have been an Archer strict since 1981 Miriam, you and l are in the same age group. I was born the following February, l think you are a September baby. I genuinely hope that all of you who have been poorly start to improve. Oops. I meant addict, not strict. There is , sadly . a strong possibility that this could be my first and last posting as l am not 'techy'
ReplyDeleteHello Lizzie Dee, lovely to meet you! Here's hoping you remain able to post and not just lurk. I wonder how many other silent characters we have in here? (Very Ambridge!)
DeleteHaving managed to join us LIZZIE DEE we must hope that you will be able to stay, techie or not.
DeleteNew blood is always welcome.
Well done Lizzie Dee, long may it continue 🤞
DeleteLizzie Dee, you’re just like me - an avid follower but excluded for unknown technical reasons. I haven’t commented as I’ve been away but it feels good to be able to be part of the group again.
DeleteHello Lizzie Dee - how lovely that you have managed to find us. It really shouldn’t be so difficult to find your way onto a blog but many people seem to have trouble. I wonder if contacting Google direct would elicit some help?
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to hearing your thoughts and opinions, and thank you for your good wishes for those of us that are on the sick list!
How little things please me. I've got runner beans on the plants, tiny still but should grow quickly.
ReplyDeleteThe plants are covered in flowers (dark pinkish red/white ) which the bees and butterflies are loving.
Big Sis's house has now been on the market for 3 weeks and still no viewings. She's not that surprised, though. As she says, it only takes one person to see + love it.
I'll be off out watering tonight as garden is bone dry, yet again.
There hasn't been that much rain here and it certainly hasn't been enough, the grass hasn't really started growing again so still have brown patches.
No news as such.
Take care all.
Not a lot to report here. I'm behind with a lot of jobs in the garden after having our daughter and her family to stay last week, so I've been spending a lot of time out there as well as sorting the house out and catching up with the washing. I've also been sorting through the photos that we took while they were here and making an album to share with the family.
ReplyDeleteWe've got an old school friend and her husband coming to visit for a couple of days next week, so I will need to be straight by then. The garden is producing well at the moment, so at least there will be plenty of fresh veg to feed them on.
We’ve been having a new garage roof on this last week. The smell of fibreglass is flipping awful and is in all the rooms on one side of the house.
ReplyDeleteBorrowed a dog pushchair from a friend today for Mabel. She’s now 16 and to be honest is failing fast. It might give her a bit of pleasure getting out and about in her last months.
Husband had 2 hearing aids fitted this week so at least the tv volume is at a decent level now, 20 instead of 40. I keep getting told not to shout at him though. Got to be careful though cos he’ll be hearing what I’m muttering under my breath now!! 🤭
You'll have to do what I did for years and just think it very loudly.
DeleteOMiaS got hearing aids a few of years ago. What with running out of batteries, needing new ear plugs, cleaning, needing new wires, Covid masks, it being a Thursday, ..., the blessed things rarely get used! But he has promised me he'll get them sorted and fully functionning soon. (I think that promise was made about 2 years ago.)
DeleteHaha. Mr PtbY is wearing them all the time and doing quite well really. He does spend a lot of time turning them up and down though. Now it’s me saying turn the telly up!
DeleteAll busy here, my first cataract op was completely successful, and the other one should be done soon, which will mean that I can drive again. At the moment I can't see in the dusk/dark/sunshine/glare so it is restricting.
ReplyDeleteI have at last found a rescue Jack Russell young dog, getting him on Saturday, spent today lifting rugs, moving wicker baskets etc. and did a lovely big new dog shopping trip.
Just realised that I forgot both dinner and tea, past eating now though, nice to feel busy and purposeful.
Glad you have successfully had the cataract op done. I should have had mine done by now, but haven't. Had the preassessment done in a private centre the nhs are using here to try to cut the waiting list, but because of arthritis in my neck when they tried me out lying on their operating bed I couldn't keep my head flat back enough, and they said I would need to have it done in hospital where they have adjustable beds, so I am back to the usual longer waiting list. I don't mind though because I can still see colours well, and don't think I am too bad yet.
DeleteA new pet sounds exciting.
I am sleeping rather cramped at present. My daughter has gone out to join her brother and sister in law for a holiday in the Philippines, and Bella our cat who normally sleeps on her bed has taken to sleeping on mine as well as Tiger, and Tiger is a bit grumpy about it.
I've just seen that Cleo Laine has died. I remember meeting her and Johnnie Dankworth when they were performing in a Music Festival I was involved with. This obviously was about 35+yrs ago.
ReplyDeleteI was one of the staff that night, she was very demanding but the performance was great and oh boy, did she change in the bar afterwards!
Hello all I am still reading and will try to post soon. Mr R still in Basingstoke waiting for a place in our local Community Hospital for a rehabilitation. I said Andover not an option no way can I drive there everyday. Basingstoke is more than enough so far racked up 240 miles in 8 visits plus car park etc. Hark at me feeling sorry for myself 🫢 Mr R is understandably up and down!
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear of all the difficulties that you are experiencing Lady R. I hope that something gets sorted out soon to make things easier for you.
DeleteHope a local place is found for Mr R soon, as it must be very tiring for you.
DeleteAndover would be completely out of the question Lady R. We had to go there for one of Mr A’s lung X-rays and even from us, it was miles, difficult to find and limited parking. Basingstoke, as you say, works out very expensive for car parking and it’s a long way to walk from car park to Wards and back again. Perhaps you can press for a transfer to Alton as soon as possible, on the grounds that all this travel is wearing you out and they might have to find a place for you too! Love to you both, we are thinking of you.
DeleteThinking of you both Lady and Lord R. Hopefully things will get sorted out quickly and satisfactorily.🤗
DeleteI do hope Mr R is settled soon. It is so confusing when you don’t know where and when you are moving to next - for someone who is already unsure of his whereabouts the worry must be hugely magnified.
ReplyDeleteI was kept in a trauma ward for a long time because we live on a border of two counties and both of them held the other county responsible for me. So in the end I went to neither of them and was sent to a wonderful friendly cottage hospital in Rutland. I hope they find Mr R something similar.
Lots of naughty gliders about tonight, especially over Germany. There's a German-registered glider over France as well. He's called D-KAPH. I wonder if that's a joke in German as well
ReplyDeleteI think it was Maryellen who said you were beginning a new book of poetry called something like air water fire (?), so I hope to see a poem and illustration about the naughty glider pilots up in the air at night. Being up there in the dark would be so peaceful I think.
DeleteDaughter is doing a lot of travelling just now on the gradual return journey to this country from the Philippines, flying earlier from Masbate island to Cebu island, then probably about now catching a flight to Hongkong where she is going to spend a couple of days sightseeing, then to Dubai and from there to London.
DeleteI shall heave a sigh of relief when she is safely on the London flight. I am always happiest when she is in the company of her practical very together brother. She has the ability to completely forget there is such a thing as time.
Your post has put me in mind of the travels of my three daughters when they were younger, especially youngest daughter. She gave me the most concern as she travelled solo throughout Central and South America at various times including Columbia, which she said is a beautiful country.
DeleteWill do this in bits as just lost a comment!
DeleteMy daughter would agree with your daughter that Colombia is beautiful. She went there years ago with her then longterm boyfriend to visit his mother's original farmstead, but in the mountains there similarly to the mountains of the island of Ticao in the Philippines (where antigovernment rebels are based) Westerners can be abducted for ransom.
Daughter went off for a long evening walk by herself in Colombia and when back got a blazing row from her boyfriend's mother who was worried in case she had been abducted.
DeleteMy son has only ever been to the coastal area of Ticao even though Mabel's oldest brother farms up in the mountains. He would like to visit the farmstead but the family don't think it would be wise. Ditto little Max. The brother among other things, grows beautiful orchids in sort of flowerpots fixed up on wooden structures
I suppose present day time is a comparatively modern structure which evolved out of the industrial revolution and the set working hours, whereas when we were a more agrarian society we had a more natural rhythm aligned to the daylight hours and the changing seasons. Just musing.
ReplyDeleteGuess who has arrived in Hong Kong but her suitcase hasn't?! Not due to her scattiness this time ( she once grabbed a suitcase off the carousel arriving back at Exeter airport and opened it at home to find a lot of baby clothes! And as she had to work the next day muggins here had to drive to Exeter the next day to restore it to the rightful owners and retrieve hers from the airport ).
ReplyDeleteTwo other travellers from Masbate haven't got their suitcases either. So they've either been left behind at Masbate or Cebu airport.
Lots of forms had to be filled in and so she was late getting to her hotel and very hungry by then. If they manage to find it they will courier it to the hotel, but she doesn't have much time for them to find it in.
Janice: brilliant idea, consider it done!
ReplyDeleteNIGHT GLIDER is complete, except for the last line which continues to elude me.
Looking forward to reading it when the book is complete.
DeleteThat could be a very long wait! Do I have your email address? It would be helpful.
Deletejanicefrith@mail.com
DeleteI tend to use whatsapp more but email should reach me.
DeleteI hope it is a very long wait because that will mean you are still with us.
DeleteSarnia please could you send it again and to the email above, not to gmail which was a very old email address. Just leave out the g. Occasionally emails from America arrive at gmail because there are at least two, possibly three, people in America with exactly the same name! and very similar gmail addresses. A builders quote was one with plans attached for a rather nice extension, and another was an invite to a Church do, and yet another to say I had been accepted on a course and would I let them know if I was accepting the offer - replied to them all along the lines I'd love to accept/come but being in the U.K distance was rather a barrier! My brother still uses that address but other than that I don't use it now. I haven't been able to find a way to make the attachment bigger and readable, but know I will be able to on my usual email site.
DeleteSorry about that, Janice. I'd never seen one like that before and assumed it was an omission. Also, the first time I tried to send it, the message was deemed potentially offensive and was refused. I wasn't sure why, but deleted the word 'naughty' from the title! Just 'glider pilots' was acceptable.
Delete😀 Thanks.
DeleteOMiaS has the opposite problem, Janice. When he got his email address his name had been taken so he added his middle initial, 'r'. We have to specifically point it out to people or they miss it and the emails go across to America to annoy his namesake there!
DeleteJanice, I sent the message again to the address without the g in it, and it has been returned as failed due to bad destination mailbox address. Sorry!
ReplyDeleteHello Sarnia, don't know why that happened but it is okay because I found a different way to open the attachment in gmail.
DeleteI sometimes check the gmail to see if anything from my brother so I would eventually see anything sent there.
Love the poem, I think my favourite out of the two books I have read. I don't know how you can create a poem so quickly. Bet Mr A would like it.
My daughter is on EK383 just left Hong Kong for Dubai , and joy of joys they had her lost suitcase waiting for her at the airport!
DeleteJanice, this was a subject that particularly appealed to me. I was able to draw on my own experience of sitting in my Greek courtyard in the early hours watching those navigation light winking at 38,000ft, and lights in windows seen from a passing train. I've always loved moonlight (moonlight on the sea gives me shivers down my spine) and some of your own lyrical observations also fed into it.
DeleteThank you so much for the suggestion.
Archerfile, was it you who liked the Cooper and Fry books by Stephen Booth? I've just read that Channel 5 is going to do a 4 part series based on four of the early books.
ReplyDeleteI've read those as well, not that I can remember anything about them.
DeleteI remember them because of the setting in the Peak District, an area on our doorstep that I know so well.
DeleteYes indeed CC, it was me - I have every single one of them on my bookshelves. I subscribe to Stephen Booth’s Facebook page and he has been telling us about the series - he is really chuffed it’s to be televised.
DeleteBut I’m not sure I am going to like the actor they have chosen for the part of Cooper. It is Robert James-Collier who played a devious character in Coronation Street, then the part of the dodgy footman, James Barrow, in Downton Abbey. His face is too familiar and my brain associates it with unlikeable men……which PC Cooper definitely isn’t. They have chosen an Asian actress to play the part of Sgt Fry …..again, a change from the books.
I just hope it is filmed in the correct locations in the Peak District and has not been transferred out to Spain or somewhere!
As said I can't remember too much about the books as to plots etc. I've just looked up the actor abd he is just how I imagined Cooper.
DeleteThe series I haven't been able to watch is Grace, from the Peter James books. Although John Simmonds is good in the part, he is just too far from my image to enjoy.
Also one of the detectives has been changed far too much for my liking.
I agree about John Simm as Grace, he's not right for me. However, I agree with Archerfile about Robert James Collier as Ben Cooper, he's completely wrong for the part as I imagine Ben Cooper. I also agree about the locations, they are so integral to the stories for me.
DeletePusscat is being very active at the moment, she's bringing in tiny shrews. It's an average of one a day at the moment.
ReplyDeleteI was playing that fabulous game of hunting the dead mouse carcaas a few days ago. I came downstairs and got that smell, but could not find anything. I noticed a while later, a fly buzzing around in the porch/lobby (I'd left the door open) and hey presto! The body was behind my winter boots but it took ages for the smell to go, even after using a pet odour spray and leaving the front door open.
Oh well - until the next time! 🐁
We have just survived firstly a TB test, secondly a Little Red Tractor inspection successfully. The TB tests are twice yearly because there are other cases of TB in the area. It makes a lot of extra work as every cow on the farm has to be injected then checked 3 days later; so all the cows in outlying fields have to be held near the farm which, plus the milkers, takes a good deal of organisation. Little Red Tractor inspection is like an Ofsted inspection and anyone who’s been a teacher knows the stress that produces! Add to that the fact that most of the workers on the farm are 70 plus and you will understand that the last few weeks have been hectic.
ReplyDeleteThe good news is we passed both.
Well done Soz - for all the hard work involved and employing people in later years.
DeleteThat's brilliant news on both counts Soz! Do you raise your own animals rather than buying them in, which can help I think?
DeleteYes Janice, all our cows are born and raised on the farm - it’s what is called a ‘closed herd’. The farms around which have suffered are not and are bigger businesses. Most of our cows are British Friesians - they don’t give as much milk as the Friesian Holsteins but they are stronger and live longer ( and far better looking). Our policy is quality not quantity. Our milk goes to a local dairy to make Stilton cheese. Sounds as though we’re a perfect farm which we most definitely aren’t but the animals do come first.
DeleteI’ve had some quiet days.
ReplyDeleteMy dearest friend - we first met outside matrons office on our first day as student nurses - of sixty five years has been fighting skin cancer for the last year or so.
At Christmas she wrote that she had lost her battle but hoped to see the daffodils.
She saw the daffodils and the tulips, and last week her 83 rd birthday.
Her daughter contacted me on Monday saying she had deteriorated over the last two days.
She died yesterday morning.
Earlier this year I wanted to visit her, but she said no. She has also chosen not to have a funeral.
I’m finding this very difficult.
Direct cremations are becoming more common. I'm finding that the people left behind are finding it difficult to adjust to having no funeral to say their goodbyes. This presents me with a dilemma as I hate the thought of a formal funeral with people going through the ins and outs of my life, Mr CC feels the same. We've sorted out most things regarding what happens when we die but not that one, it's something that probably needs addressing.
DeleteCC - this subject is something I’ve considered although I’m still in my mid-60’s and hope my funeral will not be anytime soon. My mother’s eulogy (over 20 years ago) was given by a minister at her church because my brothers and I were too upset. The result - I was left with a feeling that it wasn’t the mother I knew and loved that he was talking about, which upset me. Therefore I have decided not to have a eulogy at my funeral. I have discussed this with my other half and written it down with my will. I hope my wishes will be carried out.
DeleteSome readings and songs are what I want at my funeral. No eulogy.
I too heard some not nice news this week. I'd noticed a nearby neighbour was not going off to work and after a few weeks thought she had been made redundant. However her car wasn't being used - well not when I was around. This person is just 50yrs, single and lives on her own. I began to get an uneasy feeling but didn't want to go and knock.
ReplyDeleteThe other day I'd just pulled onto my drive and saw her, so popped over for a chat.
She's got breast cancer, has had a mastectomy and it was also in some nodes. She seems very positive but who knows how things are behind closed doors.
I've told her not to hesitate to ask if she needs anything. I'm glad she told me.
I’m pleased you asked Miriam.
DeleteWe all need someone to notice when we aren’t around for a while.
CC - yes I am assuming that my dear friend has chosen a direct cremation.
I’m not sure how my friends daughters are feeling, but from the way that her eldest suggested that she and I could have a get together to mark our loss, I suspect she is, like me, unhappy about it.
Another old friend of over 50 years years friendship died a few years ago, very soon after Lady came into my life. At the time I had no backup to look after Lady and as the funeral was in Canterbury and I was in Gloucestershire I wasn’t able to go.
I am still grieving over what I feel was a lack of respect towards our friendship and it’s getting close to ten years now. I had been able to visit her in her nursing home as she was dying and we had a good farewell.
My ex husband who died in Australia 3 years ago also did not have a funeral, - as his mother had also chosen many years ago - his wife came over to the UK some time later, and a get together of friends was held at my younger daughters home.
I was not invited.
My eldest daughter and husband attended and her remark to me was “ it was weird mum, and I left as soon as I respectfully could “.
My youngest has never mentioned the occasion.
Both daughters were on zoom when their father died in hospital and they had spent his birthday with him on his 80th birthday a few weeks before, but as it was during the covid period they were not allowed to have any physical contact with him. I understand that they are both very angry still, but can’t yet talk about it.
My friend expressed the same feelings as you CC, but I feel that the funeral is for the living, to express their ( usually ) love and affection for the deceased, and in all the funerals I’ve ever attended I’ve never ever experienced anyone ‘ picking over the in and outs ‘ of the deceased life.
This attitude does make me question what goes on in the minds of those expressing such feelings, and I was shocked when my friend said those words to me.
Shocked and hurt !
As I’ve written before, I am planning my funeral and I’ve chosen the meadow where I will be planted for the sheep to eat the grass and flowers that I shall contribute towards growing.
And I hope my guests will have plenty to say about me, good and bad, joyous and sad.
Mrs P. on this topic, morbid as it is, I too will be in a natural coffin in a green burial ground with an ecumenical celebrant for those who want to attend, and for the same reasons.
DeletePleased to hear that Miriam- though I can’t agree that deaths and dying is morbid.
DeleteWe all came into this world and we all leave.
Some of us believe we leave and return for a better life.
I noticed that my neighbour's car, always parked in front of the building had been missing for a couple of weeks. I asked a neighbour who lives at the front if she'd gone away, he replied very seriously that it was a mystery. I went to her door, rang the doorbell, she didn't seem to mind and told me she had sold the car and is waiting for an operation on her arms. Mystery solved.
DeleteI think it's nice when people still look out for each other.
DeleteI think it’s imperative that we continue to look out for each other Janice.
DeleteThe human race is far too gone on the downward slide as it is.
I find the state of the world quite worrying at present. I know it is possibly just bluff and brinkmanship but the thought of nuclear subs being deployed as an open threat is not good.
DeleteI think I had better just focus on the flower festival next week. In the freezer so far I have:
69 sausage rolls ( ate one! Well you have to taste to make sure they are okay!)
30 sausage twists
63 cherry biscuits( hmm. 7 seem to have got eaten)
36 chocolate traybake slices - not bad though I say so myself. I added butter to the melted chocolate to make a slightly softer glaze. I expect Miriam knows all about that.
15 chocolate coconut and cherry slices.
I wish Mabel wasn't still in the Philippines as she is a good cake maker.
Daughter has arrived home with a terrible cold so doubt she will be able to
make her chocolate crispy cakes.
My goodness Janice you’ve been busy.
DeleteI’m sure they will all sell very well with the teas and coffees at the flower festival.
I’ve seen two butterflies this afternoon, neither of which am I able to identify.
ReplyDeleteOne in the garden - tiny, yellow with a brown patch on the outside, and the other at the edge of the woods, bright orange and tiny again, couldn’t see any markings.
Any ideas ?
Brimstones are yellow but I think they would be bigger than what you have seen. Some moths can fly by day. It would be interesting to know if you find out.
DeleteI’ve searched the butterfly charts again but still no clue.
ReplyDeleteOur family WattsApp group was busy last night and this morning.
ReplyDeleteMy eldest niece's partner was cutting the hedges + fell off the ladder, resulting in 2 broken bones in his back with a lot of tissue damage.
He went home last night and it's now just a question of letting it all heal.
They're flying to Mauritius for 3 weeks at the weekend and he's been told he can go, so they've booked wheelchair assistance at the airports.
At least when they arrive they'll be staying with his parents at their home, before deciding what they'll do next.
My niece is adamant that they will not be staying for the entire time at her in-laws! She's using the kids ( now 11 and 14yrs) as an excuse, in that it isn't fair to them.
Everyone is just grateful things weren't worse.
Gosh Miriam, that could have been so much worse.
DeleteWe cut our 3 small beech hedges yesterday, but won't be tackling the big leyladii and bay hedges which belong to our two neighbours. We've always cut our side of those but now get someone in to do that job.
I too had "my man" in this week to cut my hedges. He does a wonderful job and is very reasonable. It's money well spent, as hedge cutting is no longer on my to do list these days
DeleteI am having a lot of trouble logging onto the site these days. At a certain point I found the site which Gary used to be in charge of. That set me wondering how he is. Does anyone have any news of him?
ReplyDeleteI think he made a complete break Gianna, but it would have been nice to know he is okay.
DeleteThe only thing I can suggest re. logging on is something I mentioned here once before, and which my son did for me. If you can find any young, or otherwise!, person who is tech savvy ask them to put a link to the blog on your desktop/ tablet/whatever you use. Then after that all you have to do is click on it, with no more trying to sign in.
I'm not sure if this is how I did it, but look for the 3 vertical dots on the top of this page. Click on this and in the list which appears, there's Add to Homescreen. Click on this and an icon should appear on the home-scree , which as Janicd says, leads you straight here.
DeleteI too have access here in this way.
It's quite simple really, Janice. Once you've reached the site, tap on the three dots in the top, right hand corner of the screen.
DeleteThis brings down a menu which includes
Send to home page
Send to desk top
Tap on whichever you want.
Aha, didn't realise it was that simple! My 3 dots says add to home screen and that is bound to be the same thing. Hope Gianna sees these comments.
DeleteWe had a huge surprise, more of a shock really, this weekend. Our granddaughter Rosie - the one who graduated a year ago and is teaching near Leamington Spa and for whom we helped buy a little starter home - suddenly announced she is getting married, on 1st September *this year*!
ReplyDeleteWe didn’t even know she had a steady boyfriend. But she met this guy at a teachers conference at Christmas and they have apparently fallen in love. Reason for the huge rush is…..he is from Nigeria and his visa runs out soon! I know it sounds like a classic case in the news, getting married to secure an extension to a visa but we think this is genuine. He came to the UK 4 years ago to do a degree and got an MBa. He wants to carry on to do a doctorate but because of new visa rules set by Starmer and Co, he needs to earn a higher salary to stay. He won’t get that until he has the doctorate. So a very brief wedding ceremony in Warwick which our daughter, s.i.l and Rosie’s 2 brothers will attend and a planned bigger celebration for wider family and friends next summer.
To say I am disappointed is an understatement! We did meet the fellow this weekend, they specially came down to introduce him. He seemed very gentle, polite, quietly spoken. But the couple did seem fond of each other so we are accepting the situation. What else can we do?
What is the disappointment, AP?
ReplyDeleteThat we can’t go to the wedding. Will just have to rely on photos. My granddaughter is the only one I have and we have been very close since I looked after her as a baby and toddler. I saw her graduation ceremony and helped her move into her new home, so it’s just that I am going to miss her big day.
DeleteArcherphile would it be possible for you both to join in the wedding ceremony via zoom at all? I can imagine your disappointment!
DeleteMr R still in Basingstoke in the Overton Unit now waiting for transfer to our Community Hospital I keep pushing our case. He has been finding it very hard especially all the usual moves around the hospital which have had their usual effect on him and Alton will be move no 6!
Rehabilitation physio is what he is waiting for now. There has not been much of it at BS and a molift is currently being used whereas he needs to get back to using his frame for home and only a little of that was the case when in the main hospital….
Today was day 17 of visiting therefore 510 miles clocked up plus car parking and some Costa trips 😉 plus petrol must be at least a couple of hundred already, not that he isn’t worth every penny of course. At one late point an admin lady on E1 ward tried to set up free car parking for me as a regular and carer visitor but it never appeared to be actioned - hey ho onwards and upwards….
Keep on with the free parking as there must be a way to get it. I know our big hospital does this for stays over 14days but it's up to the visitor to sort. Is there a general office you can go to and ask?
DeleteYou must be tired tooing and froing all the time, it's quite draining both physically and mentally.
Hoping things progress for you both as soon as possible.
Take Care.
🙏🏼 🙃
DeleteJANICE: Have you received an email with some photos? I sent them to your proper address from my phone, which is also Google, in the hope that it might be more accepting than my snooty laptop. Well, I haven't had them back, which is a good sign, but they might also just be wandering aimlessly through the interverse for ever!
ReplyDeleteJust checking.
Sorry Sarnia but no. Was it long ago you sent it? Admittedly I have been busy and not checking emails, as I don't usually use them, but have had a good trawl through now and can't find anything.
DeleteYour first message got through to the g one so maybe stick with that. My brother uses that one.
Sent as directed
Delete👍
DeleteI saw the comment about the dog stroller. I have a two dog stroller that we have used for two Walk the Wights to raise money in memory of mum and this Sunday we did our first Park Run. I was last with a time of 56.06, but I couldn't have done 5 km at all a year ago and I could see the people in front of me so it wasn't embarassingly last especially as a couple of them had 100 run t-shirts on. I hope to go back and improve my time. Buddy and Dudley had a lovely walk on the beach afterwards. My legs have been fine but my arms sore from pushing the stroller up hill. It is a three wheeler cross country model with special adaption to allow you to push it on sand. Bought when my income was very much higher as a teacher. Glad to see you are all still here. All the best.
ReplyDeleteSo good to her from you Katy 🤗
DeletePleased to see you have not forgotten us too Katy
DeleteGood on you Katy!
DeleteWell done on completing a park run Kathy. Nice to see you on the blog.
DeleteGIANNA
ReplyDeleteHere is another way to get onto the blog if your still not having any luck.
If you find an old blog from Gary’s days, click on it and scroll through the posts until you reach one of KPnuts
Click on that post then go to her profile
Then click on ‘ my blogs ‘
You will see Archers Fan blogs
Click on that and it will take you to a current blog.
Good luck
Lady R - so sorry to hear that Mr R is still stuck in Basingstoke and I can understand why it is so confusing for him. I know you can only park free for 30min which is barely enough time if you are going for a blood test, much less visiting a patient. I do hope he can move to Alton soon.
ReplyDeleteAnd you sound as if you can do with a proper rest yourself. All that driving, especially around Basingstoke takes a toll, especially with some of the new road junctions.
Thank you for your excellent suggestion about the wedding. I’ll ask Rosie to find out if there are any facilities for a ‘live feed’ as they have in some crematoria these days. If not, I’ll ask one of the grandsons if they can record the ceremony on their mobile phone so I can see, and hear the proceedings.
Lady R.
DeleteI had a hosp. appointment today and whilst waiting to pay at the machine (the lady in front had a new car, couldn't remember the number plate correctly so took her time) I read the tariff board. Right at the bottom was a note, in very small writing, about how to get free parking for long stay patients!
Just thought I'd let you know as what a coincidence to see this, after you mentioning this earlier.
Exactly Miriam small print! Update below.
DeleteAP really hope you can get to share in your granddaughter’s wedding day 🙏🏼
DeleteMr R update below, so glad to have Basingstoke behind us now and hopefully for sometime
but….. 🥰 to you both.
Thanks very much for all your help. As suggested I got my 16 year old granddaughter to help me and she got me in straight away. Both my grandaughter and my 20 year old grandson speak perfect English with an English accent as my son and I have always spoken to them in English.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful thing to be bilingual.
DeleteLadyR, I've just seen your latest post, I really hope that things improve for you soon 🙏
ReplyDeleteThinking of you and your Lord LadyR.
DeleteYour another stoic I think.
Do pursue the free parking and insist on back dating too.
Hello everyone Mr /Lord R arrived back in our home town late this afternoon! Very done in right now and so I just popped in and unpacked his bag and said a very brief hello as very sleepy after his rattling ambulance journey. The nurse was already starting to address his bottom often a problem but always especially so after being in a main hospital. Sounds daft but they only seem to be for medical not general comfort nursing yet that alone can cause infection and off we go again.
ReplyDeleteAt least our little Community Hospital has free parking 😃👏🏻 is clean and bright with a pretty garden and is only a mile away 🎉🎉🎉
As ever thank you all so much for caring and all your support you are as Tina would sing “ Simply the best “ ⭐️
What wonderful news.
DeleteYou both must be delighted and feel the lessening of angst + concern already.
Lady R. Get a great night's sleep, which I bet you need.
Thanks for letting us know, and I'm sure I'm not the only one in feeling releaved for you. 🩷
Thank goodness you don't have to do that drive anymore.
DeleteAt last Lady R! Rest and comfort for both of you, and you are only a mile apart now. Alton is a lovely little hospital in pretty surroundings, as you say ….just what is needed.
DeleteHave a really good rest tonight , you deserve it. ☺️
Well done for your persistence LadyR. Now good basic nursing will get him better and soon home to you.
DeleteI'm so pleased for you LadyR.
DeleteLady R ….so much easier for you and nicer for your husband. Hope things keep improving.
DeleteWe went for a walk at Teggs Nose this morning and came back with 1.250Kg of blackberries. There are still loads more that aren't ripe yet so we'll be going back soon.
ReplyDeleteFor jam, or crumbles?
DeleteMostly just stewed with apples but crumbles and pies as well.
DeleteMy first two years here found the best blackberries in an abandoned garden, but last year that garden was fenced off.
DeleteNot yet found sufficient replacement.
But - first summer hear spied one Mirrabelle on the ground.
Watched the tree, nothing last year.
This year I’m foraging mirrabells daily.
The owl was back in my garden this evening.
At four minutes after midnight I logged in to Wordle and typed my word.
One letter in green two in yellow
Typed in second word…and at five minutes past midnight .. Bingo !
And my leading word was connected to the result.
….. two years HERE - not hear
DeleteI have just received my copy of Ships Passing and I am looking forward to reading it this afternoon.
ReplyDeleteI took my time over it, to savour each poem so to understand and feel, each and every wonderful entry.
DeleteIt's something of sheer beauty with both the writing and illustrations.
Goodness me!
DeleteI particularly loved the prose about Ephesus as I was suddenly transported back there. I visited with an archeogical group, arriving early and well before the cruise ship crowds arrived.
DeleteBig Sis has had a couple viewing her house who love it and the garden. After the 3rd viewing, they put in an offer, which was just laughable and instantly rejected. The offer was £40,000 less than the asking price!
ReplyDeleteThe reason was the current lay-out of the kitchen, dining room and utility which they want to knock into one, and also re-jig the big bathroom and airing cupboard, to create an en-suite for the 2nd large bedroom and this is what they think it'll cost them.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with how the things are now.
What a cheek!
Yes a cheek Miriam, but that’s the way of house selling now.
DeleteWhen I started as a house buyer, looking for potential was the objective. And as a buyer with vision I was able to buy cheaper properties and make my ideal home to suit me.
Now the potential of a property costs the buyer money and if a potential buyer wants to change the layout they expect the seller to pay for what the buyer sees as potential.
It’s all crazy and gets crazier as each year passes.
Her house is priced at market value if not below. She + hubbie are downsizing both in house size and garden, so things will be more manageable in future years. Hubbie as you know, now has a full pacemaker and his stamina/energy is so much lower than it was.
DeleteBig Sis is the sole owner of the property and she also wants to release some equity, to pass this onto her 3 daughters now, so to help reduce future inheritance tax. As she says the less the tax man gets, the better.
I know what she means.
I have to pay income tax on my state pension as mine is above the single person's allowance!
This greaves me...
This tax gets taken off another taxable pension, which means the monthly income from this, is now over a third less than it was three years ago!
Sadly that is how income tax works, more income, more tax 🤨 I don’t resent paying tax per se I just wish it was spent more effectively.
DeleteSadly I'm worse off now, but that's life. I was thrilled to buy a jar of Gold Blend on offer - just £7. I've stopped buying my chocolate treats and fish as too costly but thankfully
DeleteI am enjoying your book very much Sarnia. I lived in Guernsey for 2 years in the 60s where I was working for Barclays bank. I managed a trip to Jersey and also to Sark but unfortunately have not been back.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Gianna. I left the Island in 1964 for Teacher Training in England.
DeleteDuring the previous year I worked in the Farms and Gardens dept of Boots, at the bottom of Smith St.
Two exciting things today:-
ReplyDeleteI was in the garden at lunchtime, when the Red Arrows whizzed over for a matter of seconds.
I've just picked my first runner beans, all 3 of them so hardly a mouthful. I hoping they'll be some more tomorrow, as they'll be great with my Saturday night Roast Chicken dinner.
I always do my weekend roast on a Saturday evening as it's just an old habit. This stems back to pre- retirement days when I'd cook and leave all the mess in the kitchen, to then clean it all up listening to The Archers omnibus at 10.00am on the Sunday morning.
Old habits die hard..🤣
We still have quite a few habits from when the children were growing up Miriam.
DeleteRelaxing after a lovely family day with MrNuts’ siblings a couple of nieces and three great niblings, sitting outside, plenty to eat & drink & taking turns entertaining the two year old, what better way to spend a Sunday?
ReplyDeleteSounds lovely KP.
DeleteI made a start on my pelargonium cuttings today and got 36 done and am planning to do the other 36 tomorrow. I'll need a shady spot to do them as it looks it's going to be much hotter.
ReplyDeleteI’ve recently taken cuttings of my hydrangea petiolarus (?) sp
DeleteAnd a number of rose cuttings.
One hydrangea taken but it seems that all the roses have taken, so I’m very pleased.
Just lost a long comment so will try again but do it briefer and in smaller bits. My tablet is set to turn off about 9pm and it did it and seemed to wipe off the comment I was just finishing . Cheesed off. Have turned it on again now.
ReplyDeleteI have altered the picture to try to show a little bit of our flower, wedding dress and christening gown church festival. Can't do it justice because can only show a small section of the church.
There were 24 wedding dresses some exceptionally beautiful, two were over a 100 years old and others from the different decades, about 15 christening gowns with one framed behind glass that was first used in 1897, and a lot of stunning flower displays put together by different villages and organisations. One of my favourite dresses was from the Morris dancing group in the next village with the train made of white tatters, a bit swan like.
The church's own flower display was centred around Dan and Mabel's outfits. Her dress was a simple white lace mid calf one and Dan's was the only piece of male attire there. He wore a Barong Tagalog which is the traditional filipino formal shirt worn on special occasions. His was made in the traditional way from the fibres of pineapple leaves and with hand embroidered lacework on the front, and mainly done by the same family firm in the same area for the last 300 years.This type of long shirt predates the colonisation by the Spanish in the 1500s so have been around for a long time.
ReplyDeleteMost of the flower displays were in pastel colours to blend with the white of the dresses but the church flower lady decided to match the filipino theme with very brightly coloured flowers and whatever tropical ones, including birds of paradise, she could source. I borrowed my son's Calamansi ( in a hot climate and in the ground they will make a 20 foot tree) which had fruits on it. They are used a lot in filipino cooking, and taste like our lemons. Also managed to find a Calathea in the garden centre, known as the prayer plant in the Philippines because when it gets dark the leaves fold upwards like praying hands, and two pots of white orchids because one of Mabel's brothers grows orchids ( his main harvest is Copra from coconuts though).
DeleteI made explanatory labels for things and visitors seemed interested.
I spent most of my time helping on the refreshments stall. There were visitors from all over the world including a coachload of Italians who turned up in time for the lunchtime barbecue. I know "thank you" in several different languages now!
Dan and Mabel plus little Max arrived back from their 2 months in the Philippines late on Saturday and despite the jetlag managed to see the display on Sunday.
The festival ended last night with a nice music concert, and this morning I was helping the others dismantle things. Not helped by the fact someone seems to have nicked the hoover. Undoubtedly kids again and it will no doubt turn up in due course decorating a grave or on the cliff footpath somewhere.
Got home shattered and despite it being my 75th birthday ( only 5 minutes ago I was 35!) went to bed for most of the afternoon. Mabel made a lovely almond and raspberry cake, we had an ice cream and paddle at the beach, and are going out for the day tomorrow when Sylvie has the day off work. Happy birthday to any other Leos here!
What lovely descriptions LEO Janice - news from somewhere !
DeleteThank you.
I’ve received another book to edit.
My friend is dying but keeps on churning out books and new paintings.
It’s a distraction strategy IMO !
Janice - Thank you , merci etc - a lovely way to celebrate your time on this planet, with family, friends and strangers. I looked up a few things in place of your labels. This blog is a piece of social history, worthy of a place in the British Library.
ReplyDeleteI just want to add my thanks for the descriptions of the wedding Janice. It's fascinating to read about other peoples wedding rites.
ReplyDeleteI popped out early to pick up a prescription and get some milk (so I could have my cereal) and at 9.30am it was already 28C
ReplyDeleteI drove home down by the river, and it was lovely to see the small children's play area and paddling poo,l so full of kids having fun.
Our usual ice-cream van was already parked up and no doubt will do a roaring trade.
Roberto the said ice-cream man, always appears at about 6.30pm and I do love the sound of the van chimes! It's part of a summers evening.
It’s remarkably cool here today after yesterday’s heat.
DeleteI drove up to Bossington at about 8 o’clock last evening and walked with one crutch to Bury Castle an Iron Age fort. It’s a fairly flat walk over slightly bumpy ground ( my physio instruction yesterday was to start walking on uneven ground. One exercise is to march on a cushion ) it took me twenty five minutes on the return to the car, so was walking for almost an hour.
My stamina is improving I’m pleased to say.
It sounds like you are reaping the rewards of your hard work MrsP.
DeleteIt was 21 degrees when I went to the supermarket at 7.30 this morning, it's now 29 degrees in the shade on our patio. We've just had to rescue a young sparrow which had got into the conservatory, thankfully no damage done unlike when a woodpigeon got in!
I woke up and was hot so at about 2.00am I was sitting out in the garden
DeleteIt was bliss - perfectly calm and no traffic nor plane noise - just silence.
I felt like getting a lounger out and sleeping there...
I'd hoped to see some meteors but zilch.
One reason for my late walk last night was the hope of seeing some activity from Perseus but like you Miriam - absolutely nothing.
DeleteThank you CC.
DeleteMy 20 year old grandson and his girlfriend are in London staying with my daughter.
ReplyDeleteShe decided many years ago that she didn't want to live in Italy and spent a few years in Mexico. Her job was to arrange tours for British students to study in the jungle. She now does it from London and sends younger people to do the hard work in Mexico. She rents a flat in Forest Gate, London in what was the East End but is now quite expensive.
My youngest daughter lived in Mexico for a few years working in the oil and gas industry then came back to the UK to do a PhD in Edinburgh. She met her future husband while she was there and settled in the city deciding that she wanted to get out of oil and gas. Instead of processing seismic data she now works on processing satellite data for a company that measures biomass.
DeleteJust to let anyone who is interested know that grandson Griff, didn’t get enough A* A level results to go to Oxford. He was bitterly disappointed that he *only* got 4 A grades! We think that is magnificent anyway. He was immediately offered a place to do a Masters degree in Engineering at Warwick, which is where his sister went. Their Engineering dept has a very high reputation and we think he will do well and be happier there. Not so much pressure trying to keep up with the upper classes! As his sister lives nearby she’ll be able to offer support & advice if needed.
ReplyDelete4 A grades is a wonderful achievement and you must be very proud of him.
DeleteIt sounds Warwick will be very suitable for him and as you say, a perfectly suitable alternative.
4A grades is an amazing achievement and Warwick an excellent university.
DeleteMrCC did his masters degree at Warwick, although it has probably changed a lot since he was there in the 1970s
I think he did brilliantly.
DeleteGrandson Griffin has done well. Oxbridge isn’t the be all and end all ( despite what my father believed) I think for engineering Warwick may be a better choice.
DeleteMy interior designer niece has been totally transforming a ski lodge in Aspen, Colarado for a private client. She sent over a few photos which normally she can't do but had permission.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness - what a place and they completely redid it, floors, walls, kitchen, bathrooms etc. How the other half live and this is the clients 4th property!!
She had very little free time but as she said none of them could afford anything, as designer shops only and definitely no Primark or M+S 🤣
She's flying back tonight but as the client pays for her + her teams' travel, it's business class which helps!
ARCHERPHILE - sometimes the disappointments in life turn out to be silver linings. I suspect your pragmatic view of not having to compete with such high flyers in Oxford might well mean that he has a successful time at Warwick.
ReplyDeleteMy grandson deferred university for a year in order to travel, and is now in the process of reviewing his offers.
My middle, female G child has just returned from a period in Hastings doing research with the public and fishermen regarding local views on the fishing industry. Her research is prep for her dissertation next year. Like Mia she is at Newcastle.
Things happen for a reason. I failed my physics A level so couldn't get into any uni. or poly for pharmacy as physics was compulsory then.
DeleteI went to Aberdeen where the course was a year longer.
What a fantastic time I had - it was just meant to be. Things happen for a reason.
So agree Miriam !
DeleteYou may not know the reason at the time, but in due course the reason - or the alternative happening - is revealed.
DeleteI was at a small college/poly. which was right in the centre of Aberdeen then. There were only about 50 pharmacy students in my year. As I had A levels in Biology + Chemistry at high grades, plus a good understanding of maths, rather than the scottish highers, I found the work in the 1st year relatively straight forward. I also lived in digs with other college students from different courses.
DeleteAs such I suddenly had a massive amount of friends and aquaintances and as such I grew in confidence, stature and believed in myself. I was suddenly not shy in co.ing forward or speaking my mind.
The rest is history...
Village show today, fruit, flower & veg classes open to local horticultural club members only but open classes for craft, cookery and photography. MrNuts decided to put in a couple of photos, my daughter & I each put in a couple of cookery items, very gratified to get two first prizes, quiche & flapjacks, Daughter got first for muffins & third for flapjacks and MrNuts scored a first & a third. Admittedly the classes were very small but I’ll still bask in my victory. I did feel a bit Lynda Snell referencing Sunningdale comparing it to the village show we used to be involved with in our previous village.
ReplyDeleteWell done to you all KP 👏
DeleteWhat a lovely day for your family KP.
DeleteWell done with your successes.
I am at a local village event today.
Classic Car Day, I shall be taking the money for the teas.
My local community page had a message from the next village, where local bee keepers were saying that their honey was ready. Price wise this was good for locally produced honey, and who knows, their bees might just have visited my garden 🤣😆
ReplyDeleteI tried to reserve a couple of jars today, but all gone!!
Gardens. Is anyone else's already getting autumnal?.
No matter how much I water +,feed, everything is just withering.
My beech hedge is going copper already and nearby trees are getting yellow leaves and these are by the stream,which is full + flowing fine.
Only 3 of my new plants, planted at beginning of June have flowered and I haven't needed to mow the lawns for weeks now!
It's so disappointing
I lost Pusscat last night. It was only when I went to bed I realised she wasn't around but thought she was out on the prowl. Ist loo trip no cat, 2nd loo trip at 3 00am still no sign and started to worry. I got up, went out the back calling her + shaking biscuit bag, as food not eaten- nothing. I decided to go out the front to look for her, but as I opened the porch/lobby door, she shot out! I'd been out watering the front garden in the early evening and somehow must have shut her in, but I hadn't even seen her around then.
Bless her, she must have been there for over 8 hours, but no pees + poos.
Massive cuddles all round 🐈⬛
My garden definitely has a late summer feel to it. I think that the hot, dry weather has caused a lot of the plants to grow slowly or not at all. The bidens are going over now but the pelargoniums are very happy in these conditions and I do have rather a lot of those!
DeleteI have a cherry tree with its leaves drooping down despite hosing it, and I read today a warning to beware of branches suddenly dropping as trees jettison bits in order to survive. Apparently trees/shrubs can survive drought one year in 10, but this has been 3 years in succession. Lots of blackberries and apples earlier here than usual.
DeleteAnd I saw sloes on my walk early evening yesterday.
DeleteSeems very early to me.
I can’t say our crops are particularly early but what is noticeable is the abundance of fruit on our trees; I haven’t seen so many greengages and pears before. Two trees which have never produced much at all are full of pears - plum tree branches are breaking off laden with fruit. The mulberry is doing well - I love mulberries and you can always tell when I’ve been eating them by my blood red hands and frequently stained clothes.
DeleteMiriam, I hope you’ve been enjoying your runner beans; ours are cropping well and my squashes on a freshly made muck heap are running for miles!
We have our French family with us now and my goodness, how the two boys have grown! James, 17, is now 6’5” tall; “little Elliot”, 14, is now 6’1”……so they take up a lot of room and cant stand up straight in our kitchen! But they are very useful. They went down to the orchard yesterday and picked around 12 lbs of Victoria plums, the first crop for several years. So we are freezing them and I had to make plum jam just to use them up! We already have a freezer full of raspberries and no space for anything else!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations ARCHERPHILE on your fruit.
DeleteSuggestion : get onto Freecycle for a second hand fridge for your extras.
I keep mine in my garden shed, one drawer full of last years apples.
It's been a bumper year for plums this year. Big Sis also has a freezer full and a store cupboard full of plum jam. I'm going for lunch on Sunday so I'm expecting plum crumble for pud.
DeleteBotteling fruit doesn't seem to happen these days, but as a child I remember cupboards full of bottled fruit + veg all of which had been grown in the garden - damsons, blackcurrants, gooseberries, plums, runner beans, peas, carrots. These served us well during the winter months. Of course this was before freezers.
Me too Miriam. I think it was because Mum & Dad had lived through the war and preserved everything they could in big Kilner jars. Dad even tried pickling cucumbers to make ‘gerkins’ - they were horrid.
DeleteWe kept chickens and I remember there was always a galvanised bucket full of eggs in a liquid called ‘Isinglass’ ’ to preserve them.
Us girls job was washing all the killer jars after summer storage in the outhouse and then to help prepare the fruit. How I loathed sitting with a pair of scissors topping and tailing gooseberries and as for preparing the blackcurrants..
DeleteMind you I loved rice pudding with the said stewed blackcurrants on it and ending up with purple rice.
I remember as a pharmacy student, still selling isinglass as well as weighing out + packing up Senna pods, both tinnevelly + alexandrian.
How things have changed.
Autocorrect "killer" jars 🤣
DeleteThat brought back memories, my mother had a very big earthenware crock that she used for preserving eggs in isinglass. We had lots of eggs in the summer but then in the colder darker winter months the hens would go off the lay.
DeleteHello will be back soon with an update currently Mr R still in our Community Hospital but conversations and home visit about to take place. Still a long road the weeks are passing by…
ReplyDeleteAnyway popping by belatedly for PTBY who’s 🎂 is today 💐 20th
and a few hours IN ADVANCE for ARCHERPHILE’S 🎂 tomorrow 21st 🎉 I believe your family are visiting from France right now so it will be an especially special one - just a thought is it a big one and is that why family are here? or am I a year or 2 in advance if so apologies 🫢
What tall grandsons and one only 14yrs old wow….
Happy Birthday PTBY. Hope you had a nice day. 🎂🎉🎁
ReplyDeleteAnd Archerfile Happy Birthday for tomorrow. Lovely to have your family with you.💐🍒🍰
Thank you. Have had a lovely day. Lunch out at a tea rooms. Garden centre. Got some succulents to plant up in a pot. Bit of pottering in the garden and a late afternoon Prosecco before home for a bite to eat. Pj’s on early and an old midsomer murders to watch. Bliss. I really know how to live it up!
ReplyDeleteSorry PTBY missed your birthday by 24 hours.
DeleteHappy belated birthday
Did you go to a BETTYS ?
But not too late for Happy Birthday to ARCHERPHILE
No not Betty’s. Just a local garden tea room.
DeleteHappy birthday Archerphile. Hope you’ve had a lovely day.
Happy Birthday Archerfile, I hope that you have a lovely day.
ReplyDeleteBelated birthday greetings PtbY.
Happy Birthday Archerphile and a special one too, well done for having made it this far.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy time with family surrounded by love and attention.
To the two Birthday Girls. Hoping you both are having/have had, a wonderful day 💐💐
ReplyDeleteI have a very upset + extremely angry Big Sis tonight. Remember me saying about the couple who loved her house, wanted to buy it but only at a ridiculous £40,000 less than asking price - well they've messed her about big style.
ReplyDeleteSis + hubbie found a property they both loved + was ideal in every way. They were prepared to put in a full asking price cash offer on it, which was made known to hoth the owners an the selling agent.
As such their agent got in touch with their interested party with a counter offer of a reduction of £20,000 ie meeting them half way, which was extremely fair + generous.
The only communication was a total rejection but they just might consider raising the offer. This was a week ago!
Today she has learnt the house they so wanted has been sold, as she could not confirm their offer.
There's nothing else on the market which interests them. Her potential buyers have been basically told to pxxs off!
Last heard she was heading into the hot tub with a huge G+T...
Thank you everyone for your Birthday greetings, and yes, it was the big 8 -0!
ReplyDeleteHad a wonderful day, almost entirely arranged (secretly) by my daughter Michelle. She even ordered and wrapped presents for Gerald to give me because he hasn’t got a clue about using Amazon. Lunch for whole family at a very nice pub with superb food. Afternoon tea in garden with neighbours coming in too. A lovely cake, again made by Michelle, grandsons acting as waiters and a very happy atmosphere.
I have to say, not too smugly, I hope that everything was perfect ….as I hope it was for you too, PtbY!
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 just what I had hoped to hear AP. 🥰
DeleteHow lovely to be able to celebrate your big day with your family like that Archerfile 😊
DeleteI’m a bit late to the party but very many happy returns and congratulations to all Archerfans who are celebrating.
DeleteAP what a wonderful way to celebrate 80yrs young, and with what style along with your amazing family all around.
DeleteHope that plenty of photos were taken and these will now be made into a photo-book for you to keep.
It's worth a hint to someone 😉