day in the life of Syb's

Africa revisited...

2012-02-10T19:23:00.000Z

I am glad that you enjoyed the trip to the Game reserve when we were in South Africa. Mary and I do enjoy South Africa very much and another holiday we had was one when we stayed in Cape Town. This really is a lovely city which is dominated by the famous Table Mountain, take the cable car to the top, where there are stunning 360degree views across Table Bay, the Cape Flats and back across the chain of mountains making up Table Mountain. We then descended and drove through city, the tour guide pointing sites of historical and architectural significance, including the oldest building in South Africa, built in 1666, the Castle of Good Hope. We then continue to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens which are famous for winning flower shows around the world. These gardens are especially lovely and they also had a very good place to eat....most important !!.... as usual there was a very tempting shop as well !

Later we head down to Hout Bay for a boat trip to view Cape Fur seals on Duiker Island. The seals I must say are a rather smelly bunch !! we had an opportunity to visit Robin Island where Nelson Mandela was help prisoner for so many years but we decided to give that a miss.

No visit to Cape Town is complete without a visit to the Cape of Good Hope Reserve down the Peninsula, which the famous navigator Drake said it was "the most beautiful Cape in whole circumference of the world", stopping at the Penguin colony in False Bay and also at Cape Point in the reserve, where we take a funicular ride to the Old Lighthouse, built in 1860. We return via the famous Chapman's Peak Drive, which curves around the edge of the mountain carved out where granite and sandstone meet. This is a breathtaking experience of mountain and sea-scape's. There are many wild goats, sheep etc in the reserve as well as the baboons...they are a real pest if anyone gives them half a chance they are off with your handbag, wallet, whatever ...I did not stop long enough to be accosted by them !!!.

Another day a visit to the winelands area of Stellenbosch which is synonymous with South African wine industry, was on our "to do list" Franschhoek and Paarl were the first two areas we stopped at for a wine taste then it was on to. Stellenbosch it houses the largest Uni. in the Cape being the second area to be established after Cape Town, back in 1679. It has saved most of its original architecture and we visit the Period House museum with antiques of each period and style of house dating from 1690 - 1850's. We stopped again for wine tastings as well in each town/village... It was a VERY MERRY trip !!!

So there you have it two different views of South Africa...

We have had a good week here in Box. The snow came last weekend and although it kept us in over the weekend by Monday it had all gone and my pal Pam was able to get over for her usual weekly visit. and in the afternoon we had our Wesley Guild meeting and despite the cold we had a good many members turn up. This week we had an elderly couple come to give us an update on charity work that their daughter does on the small island of Dominica (not to be confused with the other Dominica the large island in the Caribbean)

with the help of some of our guild members and many more people they are able to send much needed things over there by ship. The gueest Banana boat company have been very good at transporting things for us for many years now..

Wednesday Mary and I went into Bath to the theatre we had vouchers and money gifts at Xmas and we used them to book a few shows. This week it was The Calender Girls...perhaps my US friends might not know of the Calender Girls they were a group of ladies belonging to an organisation called The Woman's Institute who had to think up ways of raising money for charity,,,they came up with the ...for them...shocking idea of doing a nude calender. Of course it had to be all done with the utmost discretion...and despite a great deal of opposition they did it. Having written that down it gives no real clue to the hilarious play that it was, the acting was wonderful I had tears running down my cheeks with laughter !!! (The actual Calender Girls has been made into a film as well as the stage play if you ever get the chance to see it please do)

Now this morning we awoke to another fall of snow, again it is not lying to thickly indeed by this afternoon it has almost gone and certainly the roads are clear, our only fear now is if we get the hard frost forecast any wet on the roads will freeze so it will be icy in the morning. We will wait and see...

So there we are friends another glance at what Mary and I get up to both here and abroad !!

Remember to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

New Year, old Holiday thoughts..

2012-01-21T20:23:00.000Z

Hello Friends,
I am so sorry to have kept you all so long awaiting news from this end. Thank you for the various e mails asking that all was well.    It has been it just seems that 2012 has already started to rush along at breakneck speed. Perhaps also I should blame FB. I just knew I should never have become involved with it....( I soon may not as there are things going on that I do not like...we will see) Then I began to think about what I could actually write and tell you that might be new and fresh for a fresh new year and my old brain was blank..I could say my excuse is down to being another year older !! Mary and I have had quite a few meals out with various friends celebrating said birthday...nothing new about that... I have been visiting my sister MMargaret who unfortunetly is still very very poorly...nothing new about that...then tonight I have been tryng to clear out some documents etc. and started to read some of the diaries I have kept from our various holidays and thought....well that might be "new news" to some of my friends so that is what I am going to do so you can stop right here if you like....you now know that I am alive and kicking...or you can read on about the first day of a holiday in South Africa...

After landing in South Africa there followed a 3 hour coach drive up to Bushlands Lodge Game Reserve, where the first 5 nights of our holiday was spent. We were a great group only 8 of us and we all got on so well. We were all very like-minded and so that was a bonus. Bushlands Lodge was WONDERFUL It is centrally situated in Zululand and surrounded by over 300,000 acres of national park that is rich in wildlife. It had it's own viewing hide close to a waterhole where we could go at any time The comfortable wooden lodges are set on stilts and connected by elevated walkways above a sand forest .This was the only thing that had worried me about the holiday as I hadn't a clue as to how the wheelchair could be got "up there" !! Never fear Saga here..the walkway leading to our room instead of being up steps was actually ramped the first little bit was on the steep side but only for a yard or so and I hopped out of the chair and then jumped in again and drove it up the rest of the way. I can't adequately describe Bushlands it was in such a wonderful spot. We were surrounded by bush..lots of monkeys, deer, other animals to many to mention. We had only a short walk/trundle to the restaurant and the bar. The Chef prepared succulent meals every day, the bar GREAT...prices fantastic a martini and lemonade for £1 !!   The bar was further enhanced when the fire was lit beneath the starry sky and drinks were served by the boma (bonfire)

On the way up from Durban Charmaine our young guide (who was lovely nothing was ever any trouble to her) had said she had good news and bad news for us...we asked for the good news first she said our first Safari had been organised for next day...GREAT WE ALL SAID...bad news...we had to start at 5.30AM !!!! we all groaned and she said..... well...we could make it 5.45am !! we voted for the 5.45am start !! We slept like logs that first night but all were up and ready for our early safari. We met our guide a great guy called Anton. He insisted that Mary got in the front up by him ( it was easier for her to get in the jeep that way) I was right behind, higher up and all the others were behind me, we all had a side seat..no windows..it took aprox. 35mins. to arrive at the Hluhuwe National Park....there the fun started. Anton had told us that sometimes nothing is seen other times a few animals all depended so we were not to be too disappointed if we didn't see much.   We were in the park about 5mins and turned a corner and we were confronted by a whole herd of GIRAFFE (Mary's fav.) and ZEBRA (my fav.) words cannot describe the feelings at being so near to these magnificent creatures it was AWESOME as you can imagine the camera was hard at work..oh I do hope I can share some of them with you...after a wee while we went on and passed many many animals deer of all sorts/ I am afraid I will never remember which was which !! buffalo's Eland, Duiker, Impala, kudu and Nyala then around another corner...and...What should be right in front of us.... a HUGE bull elephant. He got quite a surprise....as we did...started taking photo's at once the suddenly this big beast started to swing his trunk wave his ears and paw the ground...our driver Anton very quickly got into reverse and we reversed back round the corner by which time the elephant had started to walk rather quickly towards us !!! he rounded the corner..Anton reversed again...the Whew...old Nellie, or maybe as it was a male he should be called old Bill !!! decided we were not a threat and he shook his trunk at us, turned into the bush grabbing a branch on his way and disappeared into the bush...how an animal that size can disappear so quickly is a mystery. but disappear he did.    Shortly afterwards Anton stopped and served us all tea/coffee and biscuits before we eventually after about 3 hours returned back to the lodge for breakfast. What a start to the holiday... The food at the lodge was wonderful, well cooked, plain and plentiful. At breakfast we could help ourselves to all kinds of juices, cereals, yogurt (best we have ever tasted!) the waiters produced whatever cooked food we might want. Even cheese sausages !! yes cheese sausages we just had to try them they were ok. but a bit on the salty side as indeed was the ordinary sausages, eggs of any description, bacon etc. etc. plenty tea/coffee.    It was a very lazy breakfast no hurry so it was almost lunch time by the time we were finished !! the afternoon was spent unpacking and getting our breath back. Mary and I had a wander along the walkways to get the lay of the land, and arrived at the viewing hide. As it was mid afternoon there wasn't much to be seen. It is best there early morning or evening.   We had all arranged to meet up in the bar at 6.45. Again it was easy for us to get there it was just behind the restaurant really and to get there we crossed an open area where the Boma (bonfire) was lit under the starry skies, it had the most wonderful atmosphere...and smoke !! (by the end of our 5 days visiting the bar! we were almost pickled !! by SMOKE !!!!) The drinks were great and so cheap it was almost ridicules only a £1 for Martini and Lemonade...in fact all the drinks I think were £1 and the glasses of wine were huge..No fiddling about with measures in that bar. When our dinner was ready we all trooped round and first three of nights sat outside (4th 5th nights the Germans arrived and grabbed OUR table !!!) Dinner was again delicious at least 4/ 5 starters, Then as many different kinds of salads as you could imagine. Also every night there was a roast, beef, pork, ham, chicken, with all the hot vegetables. We never managed to get to the puds. but the others did and said they were great again a huge variety. So we certainly never went hungry.    After dinner some of our party went back to the bar and watched the TV there as the rugby matches were on. We usually didn't. As we were actually quite tired by that time. So strolled back to our cabin surrounded by all the sounds of the bush. During the night we could hear squabbling monkeys sometimes !! And the sound of the bullfrogs went on and on. Thankfully I am a bit deaf so didn't bother me...occasionally Mary threatened to do them an mischief .....
So there you are something different to read as a start to my new year....
Again thank you for your letters, e cards phone calls, etc. You are all the bestest friends one could ask for and I thank God for you all each and every night.
Remember to thank God for your friends as well and to tell them that YOU LOVE THEM

Christmas/ New Year 2011/2012

2011-12-31T16:41:00.000Z

Hello Friends,
I know from reading all your lovely blogs that most of you have had lovely Christmas celebrations and I am sure you realised that I was not looking forward to Christmas with my usual passion, however we had a very pleasant weekend. Beth and Max came over Christmas Eve and we all went out for supper which was lovely. Christmas day started for me around 5.30am !! could not sleep so decided that I was as well up and getting on with preparing the turkey that our local butcher had kindly delivered at lunch time on SSaturday. As I stood there rubbing the garlic butter under it's skin etc. I had a sudden thought that it was actually the first time....ever....that I had done a turkey !! well Mum had always done it, and for the last 35 years at least Sarah and John had done all the Christmas dinner preps !! anyway I soon had it basted to perfection....I hoped !!........Mary came over at her usual time and we were soon on our way up to the early morning Christmas service, It is always such a lovely service to be able to greet our friends etc on such a special morning. It is a short service as our minister Rachel has to go to one of her other churches shortly after being out at Box.. Nice we were back home Peter came along and we allowed ourselves to open a few presents which is always exciting....the bulk of them we left till after dinner..........this was a real change for me as it must have been the first Christmas ever that I had not opened our presents around midnight..ever since I was a child Mum and Dad had got me up and allowed me to open gifts and go back to ~~bed~~ with a fav. probably knowing that then I would sleep long into the morning !!! Anyway lunch turned out to be very good and enjoyed by the three of us. We had Melon to start then the Turkey with roast potato and roast parsnips (that Peter had done) sprouts, carrots, and swede and beetroot, then we had the usual Christmas Pud. with double cream/single cream and brandy butter....mmmmmmmm
Once things had been cleared away we got down to the serious business of opening all the exciting parcels..Mary and I are so very lucky and have such kind loving friends. Our gifts are to numerous to mention but I have to say that my gift from Mary has been a real winner...it was a lovely "kindle! reading "book" I just love it already, Thankfully Peter is good at getting all our "teccy" things working for us and before long I was able to start having books downloaded....he also got Mary's new mobile from me all set up for her. The days between Christmas and New Year I always think of as funny days it is difficult to settle at anything. I have been over a few times to see Margaret my sister who has been quite poorly over this period....and now we have only a few hours left of 2011. Mary is sitting knitting and the TV is on in the corner we are watching the surfers and life guards on Bondi Beach in Australia. I will not be staying up this year as has been done most times,....I expect we will have a few wee drinks before Mary goes over home though.... And so dear friends I just have to say a very BIG thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the support that you have given me during what has been a very difficult year. What better words can I leave you with than the words said by our late King George V1's

I said to the man who stood at the Gate of the Year, 'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.' And he replied, 'Go out into the darkness, and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be better than light, and safer than a known way.'"

God Bless you all and remember to take every opportunity to LOVE EVERYBODY each and every day throughout 2012

2011-12-21T19:45:00.000Z

Hello Friends,

Thank you so much for all the lovely letters e.mails and phone calls regarding the death of my poor wee Dee. I have to admit that the last couple of weeks have not been easy but life goes on and with Christmas fast approaching I have just got to let go and get over his death....Indeed today I was perhaps able to help by writing a few words to a near neighbour who has just had to have her little dog put to sleep.

On Friday 9th Dec. We had a Christmas Celebration Evening at church.This took the form of singing carols, which were intercepted by readings, poem etc. Pam my friend and I were both involved I did a reading of a poem about Christmas Eve and the reindeer's...It was well attended and we had a closing collection and managed to raise over £250 for the homeless charity in Bath. That set me to thinking about poems and ones that we liked best etc... for me the John Betjmen poem "Christmas" has always been a fav. a friend of mine actually added an extra verse...we hope Mr Benjemen would not object. As this will be my last blog before Christmas I think I will leave you with the poem including Bronwyn's last verse...

May you all have a very Blessed Christmas, and may each day bring Joy your way in the year to follow..

Christmas by John Betjeman

The bells of waiting Advent ring,

The Tortoise stove is lit again

And lamp-oil light across the night

Has caught the streaks of winter rain

In many a stained-glass window sheen

From Crimson Lake to Hookers Green.

The holly in the windy hedge

And round the Manor House the yew

Will soon be stripped to deck the ledge,

The altar, font and arch and pew,

So that the villagers can say

'The church looks nice' on Christmas Day.

Provincial Public Houses blaze,

Corporation tramcars clang,

On lighted tenements I gaze,

Where paper decorations hang,

And bunting in the red Town Hall

Says 'Merry Christmas to you all'.

And London shops on Christmas Eve

Are strung with silver bells and flowers

As hurrying clerks the City leave

To pigeon-haunted classic towers,

And marbled clouds go scudding by

The many-steepled London sky.

And girls in slacks remember Dad,

And oafish louts remember Mum,

And sleepless children's hearts are glad.

And Christmas-morning bells say 'Come!'

Even to shining ones who dwell

Safe in the Dorchester Hotel.

And is it true,

This most tremendous tale of all,

Seen in a stained-glass window's hue,

A Baby in an ox's stall ?

The Maker of the stars and sea

Become a Child on earth for me ?

And is it true ? For if it is,

No loving fingers tying strings

Around those tissued fripperies,

The sweet and silly Christmas things,

Bath salts and inexpensive scent

And hideous tie so kindly meant,

No love that in a family dwells,

No carolling in frosty air,

Nor all the steeple-shaking bells

Can with this single Truth compare -

That God was man in Palestine

And lives today in Bread and Wine.

But is it all? No, there is more

In compassion and love for us, God came himself

To earth; forsaking heaven’s glory

For suffering, injustice and death itself.

That same God still reigns supreme

And lives today in you and me.

LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

2011-12-08T19:26:00.000Z

Hello Friends,

This will just be a brief posting as I know one or two of my readers are wondering what has been happening in my neck of the woods.

I think it is with Christmas fast approaching that I am feeling a bit "blue" This will be the first Christmas in over 30+ years that we have not all been celebrating together at my sister Sarah's....Oh what fun over the years we have had...so many fabulous dinners etc etc. including one very memorable one when there was I think 23 of us crammed into the dining room including friends from New Zealand. I have never seen so much food eaten in all my life !!...and laughs...what wonderful remembrances.. This year I have said to Beth my niece that I think we should try to start our own new traditions...and to that end I will stay here at home with just Mary and of course Peter our neighbour who although he has a Father down south he prefers to to stay home..it will certainly be different....To cap all last week my wee dog Dee started to take fits during the night of last Sunday. I took him to the vet Mon. and again for blood tests wed. the upshot was that he was diagnosed with a serious liver problem that really could not be treated as well as the fits..and so I decided as I loved him so much that it would be kind to have him put to sleep...It was even harder that I had imagined as he deteriorated so fast I had to call the out of hours vet and take him to be put to sleep after midnight on Thurs/Frid. I even had to call Peter out of bed to come with me....Those who have lost a loved pet will understand just how empty I am feeling and so not really up to doing a longer post.

I promise I will be in before Christmas..

Till then remember to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

2011-11-22T20:06:00.000Z

Hello Friends,

I do hope that you have all had a good week and that you have been able to get out and about to enjoy it. We have been blessed with warm days not at all like November, when I think back to last year we had deep snow and Mary and I were marooned !!!....The forecaster tells us that perhaps the mild spell will end this weekend and it will become more winter like....we will wait and see...I for one would be quite happy if it stayed this way till spring came !!!

Two weeks ago on Thursday we had a lovely day as my sister Margaret felt well enough to come over to me for our usual Thursday visit and then the 4 of us went out for lunch. we went to a very old Inn called The George set right beside the Kennett and Avon canal as it meanders into Bath some 4 miles away. It was some time since we had been there and it is now under new management. It was excellent. Even more so as I had a voucher and Mitch and I were able to have two wonderful sirloin steaks with all the trimmings at 2 for price of one...yummy....It was all the more special as Margaret got quite unwell the day after and has not been able to get out at all since....

I collected my new glasses last Wednesday, They are varifocals and glad to say I have got used to them very quickly there are only occasional times whon I have to move my head up and down to get things into focus. Such as at our church quiz night, I kept getting the question master out of focus LOL. Pam and I were doing a raffle st the quiz and everyone was very kind to want to have a go, we did have some nice presents so that helps. I think that we made almost £97 and altogether the evening made just over £300 for church funds. Pam Henry, Mary Peter and I I am afraid did not do as well as we have in previous quizzes coming 7th out of 12 boo hoo, although Peter did win some biscuits in the raffle !!!

I am going to change my header picture tonight and will keep it up for a few days. It is a very old picture...the reason I am putting it up is to let you see what my dear Mother looked like at around age 6 tomorrow my Mother would have been celebrating her 100th birthday. what celebrations we would have had...She is the only one with a ribbon in her hair...she hated that ribbon as none of the other children had to wear one. Mum was brought up by her spinster Aunt who always insisted in the ribbon....little did she know that it was removed as soon as Mum got out of sight...but the day of the photographs of course she knew better than have it removed. I actually think it is an amazing thing to think that 94/5 years ago a school photographs was taken especially as it was a very small single class primary school the headmistress must have been well beyond her years to think of such a thing....

To all my friends in America may I wish you all a Very very Happy Thanksgiving weekend whatever you are doing I hope that you are surrounded by love and friendship.and take that opportunity to tell everyone that means anything to you that YOU LOVE THEM....

2011-11-15T19:46:00.000Z

Hello friends,
How are you all this week. i can hardly believe that we are half way through November already. Christmas will be here before we realise it. I will have to get my Christmas hat on and try somehow or other to get into the mood. I know that this year is going to be particularly hard with out my dearest sister but for the sake of other people I will put that smile on the face and get going...just that it is taking a bit longer this year ..
i have a friend Marie who writes a daily blog....ayearfromoakcottage.org....it always amazes me that she can write such interesting stories every day...now me...it takes me all my time to wrote to you all once a week...and even then I never think that it is very interesting. On a Tuesday Marie writes each week what she calls a simple woman's page...or similar ! so i thought that maybe this one week I will give you a taste of what she writes by doing a simple page of my own...

Outside my Window.
It is all dark with just a few orange glows that indicate some street lighting in the village. up near the top of a far hill I see a white light travelling along that must be a car bringing someone home from work perhaps. I hope he/she has had a good day.
I am Thinking.
How lucky I am to have such a lovely warm house. Mary has just gone home and tells me that the temp. outside is now 3deg.c. quite cold as we have not had real cold for some nights now..actually the weather forecast tells us that the clouds will soon be covering us and that will bring the temps up again.
I am Thankful For.
All my wonderful friends and family and all the encouragement the give to me.
I am wearing.
Black trousers, and a short sleeve pink top. I did have on a navy cardigan a wee while ago but the heating has come on now and it isn't needed.
I am creating.
I have started to knit a few scarfs some will hopefully sell at the church table top sale in December perhaps others will be for extra Christmas presents. I am also sewing up blanket squares that Mary has been knitting, it is a lovely child's blanket this time in lovely colours of yellow green and a brilliant orange and will have a white border all round when finished...
I am going.
After I finish this to do the drying up of the dinner dishes. Tonight we have had some ham that I roasted at the weekend with new potato's and some mixed veg. Peter our other neighbour joined us tonight direct from his work...Mary always washes up but is not so keen to dry up and put away !!
I am reading.
Running out of Tears. it is the moving personal stories of Childline's children over 25 years by Esther Rantzen. My sister Sarah was quite involved with childline right from the start and indeed was partly responsible for making childline available worldwide in particular in India. It is quite a hard book to read it is so disturbing to read of the effects adults treatment has been to young people.
I am hoping.
That tomorrow when I go to Bath to collect my new lenses that they will be good varifocals and that I very soon get used to them. Also that when I see my dear Sister Margaret she will be a bit better. She has been very poorly this week.
I am looking forward to.
the quiz night at church on Friday evening..not exactly for the quiz ! but for the good company and laughs that we all share not forgetting the great ploughman's supper !!

and so there we are, that is almost as much as I can think of to write tonight. Oh I nearly forgot Mary and I had a great Saturday afternoon at the theatre. The play was all about the last few months of Judy Garlands life. I can't remember who played Judy Garland but she was brilliant. She even looked like her and sang like her. there was a long standing ovation at the end. we were so glad we went even although we had great problems finding a parking place !!...

Have a great week ahead, hope the days are sunny for you. LOVE ONE ANOTHER xxx

Guy Fawkes.

2011-11-04T19:22:00.000Z

Hello Friends,

Another week has flown past and we now find ourselves in November. I can hardly believe it, we have been blessed with such mild weather. I still have my sandals on I don't think that has ever happened...

Trick and treat has been and gone and as always I have not had anyone knocking at my door. where I live in the village we do not have street lighting so I imagine the wee ones would not like that !! so all is quiet. Our next event is on 5th. November when it will be anything but quiet....

For 400 years, bonfires have burned on November 5th to mark the failed Gunpowder Plot.

The tradition of Guy Fawkes-related bonfires actually began the very same year as the failed coup. The Plot was foiled in the night between the 4th and 5th of November 1605. Already on the 5th, agitated Londoners who knew little more than that their King had been saved, joyfully lit bonfires in thanksgiving. As years progressed, however, the ritual became more elaborate.

Soon, people began placing effigies onto bonfires, and fireworks were added to the celebrations. Effigies of Guy Fawkes, and sometimes those of the Pope, graced the pyres. Still today, some communities throw dummies of both Guy Fawkes and the Pope on the bonfire (and even those of a contemporary politician or two), although the gesture is seen by most as a quirky tradition, rather than an expression of hostility towards the Pope.(not so sure of the politicians though !!)

Preparations for Bonfire Night celebrations include making a dummy of Guy Fawkes, which is called "the Guy". Some children even keep up an old tradition of walking in the streets, carrying "the Guy" they have just made, and beg passersby for "a penny for the Guy." The kids use the money to buy fireworks for the evening festivities.

On the night itself, Guy is placed on top of the bonfire, which is then set alight; and fireworks displays fill the sky. when I was young my Dad was always in charge of the bonfire and fireworks. We usually had baked potatoes in the bonfire and when it died down we were able to grab those black half cooked potatoes and ate them with glee !! today we would probably die before we ate them and certainly health and security folks would probably be at our door LOL I do enjoy the wonderful display that the fireworks make but these days it is difficult as Dee and most wee dogs I know are terrified of the whizz, and bangs of the fireworks and so I have to keep indoors with the radio or Tv on at high blast to try to counteract the sound of the fireworks etc..It is bad enough on the actualy 5th. Nov. but it seems to go on for a week nowadays, although to be truthful this year it has been much quieter...thank goodness. But come tomorrow night I know I will have one wee cowering dog....

The extent of the celebrations and the size of the bonfire varies from one community to the next. Lewes, in the South East of England, is famous for its Bonfire Night festivities and consistently attracts thousands of people each year to participate.

Bonfire Night is not only celebrated in Britain. The tradition crossed the oceans and established itself in the British colonies during the centuries. It was actively celebrated in New England as "Pope Day" as late as the 18th century. Today, November 5th bonfires still light up in far out places like New Zealand and Newfoundland in Canada.

Please take great care if you are having fireworks or bonfire. There are so many accidents it is usually safer to go to an organised party.

Goodnight friends God Bless and remember to..... LOVE ONE ANOTHER...

weather, friends,

2011-10-26T08:36:00.000+01:00

Good morning Friends,

This has been a quiet week so sorry not a lot to report on. The weather has been certainly getting colder and there has been a lot of rain very close to us here in Box with terrible flooding. It is hard to believe that only about 15/20 miles away they have had such flooding. We have actually had it quite nice although certainly getting colder. Yesterday Mary and I went into Bath as I was taking my glasses back. I only got them about 10 days ago but they were not as good as my old ones !! at least they didn't seem to be when I was on the computer the print was not as clear as it should be..Anyway after another check and various questions it was decided that I would be better with varifocals..so now I have to wait another couple of weeks or so for them to be ready. Thankfully they did agree that although I have had to pay extra for the new lenses they would deduct what I had paid for the ones I had just bought...

Pam was over on sunday for church. Henry brought her over and as he is not a church goer he came down here whilst we were at church and made himself a cuppa ! after church we all met up for Sunday Lunch at the Bear our fav. hotel in the village. Pam and Henry had never had a meal there but enjoyed it. Pam was also over on Monday again Henry brought her over. That was great as we do enjoy our Monday together. It was actually the first time I have had time to really hear the news about her new shoulder joint. She is getting on ok with it but will be gald when she gets the sling removed as she is finding it very hard to find a sleeping position..We had guild in the aftrenoon and this week our speaker had made up a quizz for us ! there were 50 questions, it was made a bit easier in that all the answers were either a,b,or c.. you would never believe it but Pam and I got the exact same number correct 42/50 !! and as the winners we were given a big box of chocolates !! we of course shared them with everyone at the meeting and so they all enjoyed them...

Well friends I'm sorry if this has been a wee bit short on real news but hopefully nesx time teher will be more. I did have a "send" this week that I think is too good to keep to myself so I am actually going to pass it on to you all with my love...

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready. As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window. I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy. Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.' 'That doesn't have anything to do with it,' he replied.

Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time.

Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged ... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. 'It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.

Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away.. Just for this time in my life.

Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.

So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories!

Thank you for your part in filling my Memory Bank. I am still depositing.

'Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred.

2. Free your mind from worries.

3. Live simply.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less.

Have a nice day, unless you already have other plans.

2011-10-17T20:22:00.000+01:00

Hi Friends,

I wrote an update last night only to have it “go AWOL” so I try again. Although this time I am doing it in Openoffice..and will paste when finished so fingers crossed all will go well..

It has been another nice week here in Box, the weather has become much more Autumnal as the temps. Have dropped quite a bit especially over the weekend.

Last Tuesday after bible study here Mary and I went to my wheelchair supplier as I had read about a new lighter wheelchair that seemed just what I was looking for..They had the model in and I was soon whizzing about in it until Andy came of the telephone..we then started to go into the pros. and cons. of it viz The one I have. It was certainly a bit lighter however once it was dismantled it would actually have taken up more space for instance on a coach etc. It would not have been as good at going over rougher ground etc. I think it was mainly designed for indoor use or flat pavements/malls etc. so all in all I decided against it but I was bitterly disappointed as I was sure this was going to be the answer to a more light weight chair...never mind one day something will turn up... On Thursday it was a nice day and we went to Longleat Estate I have described Longleat before so won't go into it again. We did not go to see the lions etc. but visited the gardens, and even part of the house. It was to be the last of the warmish days and it was great to be sitting out there without even a cardi. on...unbelievable in mid October... Saturday was another good day as we went into Bath to the theatre. I love the theatre but don't often go as it can be expensive. However we were very lucky last Christmas !! and had vouchers we had not used them so decided now was the time as quite a few things were coming up that we liked the look of, we have another three visits booked between now and Dec. Saturday's play was actually more of a monologue or should I say two..the first was called Mr. Chips and the second Dr. Marigold. They were both short stories written by Charles Dickens...indeed Charles Dickens himself had read those stories to his contemporaries way back in the 1800's. An actor called Simon Callow told us the stories. He was marvelous and we were all swept up in the emotions. Mr. Chips was actually a freak man (dwarf)in a traveling circus all he ever wanted was to be “normal” and able to take part in “Society” one day he won £200 and so asked to be freed from the circus and this was granted and off he went to join “society”. He was fete'd by one and all and he had a great time ...until he ran out of money...then he realized that “society” had not really accepted him but ad made use of him...and so he returned to the circus where he was happy ever after !!!! The second story was called Dr. Marigold a traveling salesman, to make it as short as possible it was all about a young girl he found being abused by her Father she was deaf and dumb and Dr Marigold asked if he could adopt her and did so...at some cost...and tried to educate her as much as he could until one day he met a Scottish schoolteacher who offered to take her and teach her for him. He allowed her to go and didn't see her for 2 years by which time she had grown up into a lovely young woman who now had a boyfriend. The boyfriend wanted to marry her and take her away to China. Dr. Marigold's heart was almost broken but as he loved her so much he could not stand in her way and so permission was given and of she went...a few years later she returned and brought with her a lovely daughter, who immediately seeing Dr. Marigold ran into his arms calling “Hello Grandpa “ so making the old mans later days very happy. They were both very sloppy plays but told with such feeling that many of us were near to tears ourselves !!

Today has been our Guild day and Pam and I were the “speakers” and we decided to take them all on a “Cruise” they seemed to enjoy all of our experiences. I am glad to say that Pam was looking not to bad considering it is only almost 2 weeks since she had her shoulder joint replaced, she still has the stitches in will have them removed on Thurs. and then will have to have some physio to get the shoulder moveing again, but knowing Pam it won't be long before she gets back to moving the new joint.

And so another week has past all to quickly. I just can't believe that we are well into October perhaps now that the colder weather has arrived it will begin to feel more like late Autumn.

Xxxx Love One Another. xxxx

Last Cruise news...

2011-10-08T21:03:00.000+01:00

Hi Friends,

Well how are you all tonight ? Hope that all is well with you and that you have had a good week. Our nice late summer has just about kept going this week only last two days has it really cooled down and we have tried to enjoy every minute of it...Last Monday we had our 2 Guild meeting in the aftrenoon this week we had a lady come to tell us all about the Salvation Army how it strated and where it was now etc. It was such a intersting afternoon, everyone enjoyed it very much. Afterwards we had our Church Council Meeting, this is a wee bit like an AGM when members and friends get together and are informed of all that is going on and that has perhaps been done in their name by the Leadership team. It is held twice a year and for the first time we held it in the afternoon hoping that perhpas more members could attend. It seemed to work well and we certainly had a few more attend than previously.

Tuesday was a very emotional day for me as I went up to New Malden which is near London to a dear friends funeral service. Revd. Dr. Angie Sheir Jones was our minister at Box nearly 4 years ago and was the most wonderful person anyone could ever hope to meet. She has had cancer for almost two years and died when I was away. She and I had a rather special affinity and it was particularily hard to hear whenever I got back about her death. Although I am happy that she is at last free from all the pain it is hard to believe I will never hear her laugh or see her infectious smile again. It is especially hard for dear Brian her husband, they had no children and at the funeral Brian looked so ...alone...it was so so sad. I am sure though he must have been overwhelmed to see over 300 in the church..... I was very grateful to Peter who took a day off work to come with me and do the driving.

Wednesday,Mary and I had some shopping to do before we were able to sit out for a while. As always on a Thursday my sister Margaret and Mitch her husband come to me and I make lunch for us.. Friday they said might be our last warm day so Mary and I went to the Courts Gardens that I have told you about before. It was lovely there and very peaceful, a lot of the plants had been cut down ready fo winter but there was quite a lot of autumn colour in the borders. So thats been our week friends and now on with the last few days of our wonderful cruise.

Cruise part 3 I think !!

Well our days on board the ship seem to pass so quickly it is our 11th whole day and this morning we docked in Portugal's Capital Lisbon. We had arranged to have a panorama coach tour of the city and as soon as we were allowed we were down the gangplank and joining our tour. It was explained that his was to be a no shopping trip ! But that stops would be made at various famous tourist places. As we had sailed up Tagus River into Lisbon we saw quite clearly on the far side the statue of “Christ the King” a monument built after the war to celebrate Portugal' s neutrality during World war 11...and this was the first stop we made once we had crossed the 25th.April Bridge built in the 1960s it is the third longest suspension bridge in the world. Once we were back over the bridge we were in a suburb called Balem. There was a tower there built between 1515-1521 was built to protect the river entrance from Pirates and later functioned as a prison...Quite near there was a wonderful monument called the "Monument to the Discoveries". It is a modern sculpture by the riverside of a caravel and comprises various historic figures who were involved in the discovery of “new Lands” Prince Henry the Navigator is at the prow. There is an elevator inside that give some wonderful panoramic views...however we were not allowed to have time to do this. Thankfully Henry got of the coach and was able to take lots of photo's at each of the”monument shots” ! It took around 4 hours to do the panorama of Lisbon and it was very very interesting.. I have a wonderful painting that a friend of mine Pat did for me of the rooftops of Lisbon and whilst there it was so easy to see just these same rooftops....

Next day our stop was in Spain in Vigo. It was a very hilly place and although we all disembarked it wasn't long before we had to admit defeat at getting the chair up the streets. Anyway we soon found the usual coffee shops and it was here that we had another laugh when we asked for tea for me and a coffee black for Mary. When they came I had a very large cup for my tea and Mary's coffee came in the tiniest wee cup you could imagine and boy oh boy was it strong..Mary never takes sugar but to try to drink it she emptied in about 3 packets of sugar!!! it was more like syrup by the time she finished ...we did laugh... We also met at the same cafe a couple of people from our ship who had with them another couple. They asked me to take their picture and explained that it was a sister and brother in law who had arrived by another cruise ship the Oceano and so they were able to meet up, wasn't that nice but odd at the same time to think they had had to come all that way to meet up !! All to soon it was ALL ABOARD...for our last day at sea. What an adventure it was. Certainly one to be done again and again. Mary and I are now we think quite addicted to cruising..we find it so very easy to get around, with enough to do to keep us both occupied and also plenty time just to laze around...

If you ever get a chance to have a cruise I would advise you to give it a try..Think how many more people that you could greet with a " LOVE ONE ANOTHER."..

Late summer heat, and cruise part 3 !!

2011-10-01T19:42:00.000+01:00

Hello Friends,

What a beautiful week we have had here, the sun has shone and the heat has built up and up...a real Indian Summer...I hear that it is soon to come to an end early next week so we are making the most of it until is does. Tonight I have all the doors and windows open to catch any breeze that might float past..It is getting quite dark now and I don;t want to switch on the lights as I am sure they generate more heat. On Wednesday Mary and I went to the Courts Gardens I have previously told you about only to find they closed on a Wednesday however on the gate was an invitation to go to another garden and house called Chalfont Manor. I am so pleased that we went, again it is only about 10 miles away and I had never even heard of it !! The Manor dates way back to the early 1400's and has hardly changed throughout the years..the gardens are lovely and there is even a moat surrounding it all..It is still a “lived in house” and only open certain days in the week by the National Trust. I was chatting to the lady of the house in the garden she was picking something up on the lawn and I thought it might be chestnuts (although I hadn't seen chestnut trees so I was being a bit daft.....nothing changes LOL) anyway what she was picking up were lovely walnuts I can't remember ever seeing anyone pick walnuts.. There were beautiful herbaceous borders full of lovely autumn coloured flowers. It was a truly lovely day out. Yesterday I had an appointment for an eye test so had to be in Bath quite early we left at 8.40 for a usual 20/25 min journey.....well the traffic was awful an dit took almost an hour to get in and parked. When I did I left Mary to walk herslef slowly down town and I took to my heals...metaphorically speaking....wheelchair at top speed...to make my appointed time...I got there...just....Turns out I needed new prescription and I have a small cataract developing, hopefully it will take a long time before I need to have it seen to...I will collect the new lenses in about 10 days..

Now back to cruise mode :

After Florence our next port stop was Citivechia this is where most people got off to go on to Rome by coach a two hour journey in Rome the heat had been terrific and they mostly came back exhausted so we were glad we had not gone.anyway we had heard that it was not really suitable for wheelchair so once the rush to get away was over we slowly left the ship and had a lovely morning in the town. The streets were rather steep//to say the least ! But as usual I found a way around and we had a lovely time just mainly window shopping. There seemed to be an abundance of gorgeous bridal wear shops...and of course coffee shops... Next day was Ajaccio on the Island of Corsica. Here we had booked a coach trip and very nice it was. Renowned as the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, Ajaccio's many squares and streets pay homage to the conqueror. We went inland and up into the mountains it was very beautiful ad we had an excellent guide who gave us so many facts and figures that I would have to have had an encyclopedic memory to remember even a 10th if the info she gave us...Suffice to say that I enjoyed the visit very very much and would like to go again some day...13th Sept was Pam's 70th birthday and we had decided we would not stray far from the ship ( I had arranged various surprises for her) but we did get off for a short walk into Seville Spain. It was an easy flat walk but I think Pam and Henry were a bit tired so after a while we left them behind to go back on baord and Mary and I walked a bit further into the town which if we had had longer to explore I think would have been a very interesting town. ...but.....birthday lunch called and we were soon back on board to visit Pam and Henry in their cabin. I had arranged for it to be all decorated and it was such a surprise for Pam. Their room attendant had done it beautifully with streamers and paper bells, etc etc and Happy Birthday Banner on the door... After lunch Pam decided to go for her one and only swim (she thinks she is overweight and didn't like to be seen in a swimsuit) It was great fun sitting by the pool encouraging her to stay in the water she also enjoyed it very much !! That evevning at dinner there was even more celebrating Henry had kept her present till evening and gave it to her at dinner it was a beautiful diamond ring...she was needless to say thrilled...even though it was a wee bit big and she has had to take it to be made smaller since we got home....at the end of the meal all the waiters around arrived with the cake we had ordered and sang Happy Birthday to her....what fun it was...To end the evening we all went to the Theatre to be entertained by a piano player called Bobby Crush who was way back in the early 60's a British “star” he was still very very good and we had a lovely end to the birthday day .....

Only 4 more days of the cruise to go before you can all relax and imagine you have travelled with us !!!! If you are not bored out of your minds by now.....

Good Night Friends.......... Love One Another....

smilebox might be here !!!

2011-09-26T08:00:00.000+01:00

Scrapbook design customized with Smilebox

Click on the above...This should, might !! take you to a smilebox of a few photographs.....fingers crossed...

cruise update 2

2011-09-25T19:08:00.000+01:00

Our first port of call on our Med. Cruise was Gibraltar. It actually attached to Spain and there have been many times I the past when the Spanish have wanted to get back this small piece of land from the British and although the British Government would be happy to make such arrangements, there was a referendum in the late 1960's when the people of Gibraltar....voted very strongly against it.

We did not go to the hill tops as that is where there are loads of monkeys who are very mischievous and not at all nice to tourists. Pam does not like them at all !! so we stayed in town. It was the first time I had visited Gibraltar and found it quite a pleasant place. Lots of lovely shops in particular jewelery shops that I can't resist !! I don't quite know how it happened but I found myself actually in one of these delightful shops and within a few mins was very easily persuaded that a new pair of diamond earrings might just prove the best buy of the holidays particularly as they were tax and vat free and I managed to get a 60% discount......in yet another jewelery shop Mary discovered herself walking out with a lovely gold bangle...again vat and tax free and 60% discount.....no wonder we had to find Pam and Henry and a tea shop to sit and recover !!!

Second port of call was Toulon in Provence, France.. There were many museums in and around Toulon, however we did not have very long ashore and although the cruise company had laid on courtesy coaches to take us into town we did not have very long so other than a quick look around we did not see very much. A rather disappointing town altogether..

Florence in Italy...was our next day ashore. We had pre booked a tour to Florence and once we disembarked around 9.30 we soon found our coach. The driver was very helpful and got the chair into the hold without any grumbles !..our very nice lady guide was called Loretta she had a good way of describing the various places that we passed through on the hour drive. The coach was parked outside the City and it was a good walk into town. Mary walked with Loretta and so everyone walked at her pace. All went well with the exception of Pam and I !!! we were confronted by lots of steps down pavements....now wheelchairs and scooters don't really like drops on pavements and the Romans had not heard of drop kerbs LOL ( it would have been great for their chariots if they had....mind you maybe they didn't even have pavements in these days LOL.).. however the other folks on the tour could not have been kinder and we were soon masters at the art of me jumping out of chair and others pushing and pulling said chair into the road !! actually in the end I gave up getting back on the pavements and decided to take my life in my hands and stay on the road. We arrived on the Palazzo Della Signoria ( Palazzo Vechio) dominates the Piazza, with a copy of Michelangelo's statue of David adorning the stairway it was completed in 1314, what a wonderful sight David is. We were all but dead beat by the time we got there as the temp was in the high 80s so after an examination of David and some of the other magnificent statues Lunch and shade was the attraction. I soon found a nice cafe on the square and Mary and I enjoyed a cool drink and as we were in Italy an Italian Pittza was ordered between us !! very nice it was...Pam and Henry soon appeared as well and were soon relaxing at an adjoining table. I had remembered from a previous visit the story of a bronze pig at a market quite near the square so I asked the waiter exactly where it was and Mary and I were soon of in search.of it....now the story is if you rub the pigs nose you will return one day...as I never thought I would return, although I had rubbed his nose previously.....maybe it does work so I had Mary give him a good old rub....one day maybe we will return we both liked Florence very much....despite the pavements !!! The only sad part was that as on my previous visit I did not have time to visit the Ponte Vecchio Bridge this is the oldest bridge 'remaining in Florence and is now lined with Goldsmiths.....maybe be a good job I didn't get there !!!

(In Bath we have a lovely bridge called Pultney Bridge that was inspired by the Ponte Vecchio in as far as there are shops on either side ) Actually the bridge was not far from where we were but it would have been a few steps too much for Mary...After an hour and a half we met up again with Loretta and were marched back to the coach. It really was a lovely day and enjoyed by everyone I think.

So there you are the first of our off the ship trips... None of the tours were very long, in fact all were a bit rushed but it gave us a taster for the places and you can never tell we may be able to go again one day...

Getting of and on the ship was really quite a military operation. when we boarded for the first time we were photographed and given a credit size shape card...this card was all we used all the time on board, it was a "cashless ship" if we bought anything from any of the shops, bars etc. we just showed our card and by the time we got back to our Cabins we could check our account on the TV and see exactly how much we had used. When I first booked I managed to get us all $200 spending money !! (free !!) and so we were well into our second week before we actually began to "spend" any money....This same card was used as we went off the ship and so they could check we were out and again on our return so that the ship would not leave without you it was also our room "key" and had our room number on it also the deck number of our dining room in other words a "magic card" Tonight I might try and get some photographs downloaded...watch this space...

Goodnight, God Bless, Love one Another xxx

Cruise of the Med.

2011-09-23T18:01:00.000+01:00

Hi Friends, I will try again to get news to you of our holiday. I made an entry last night only for it to go AWOL between me and the “blog” Grrrrrrrr.

Anyway what I was saying was that Mary, Pam Henry and I had a wonderful cruise in the Med. The taxi arrived on time and we were soon loaded and on our way to Southampton to board the Royal Caribbean's “Independent of the seas.” Once all the formalities were over it was all systems go...At first I was rather shocked by the size of the ship and the number of people who were milling around. I knew that Pam and Henry would not be liking it at all....We made first for the Windjammer Cafe as I remembered from last year that that was the best thing to do first....again it was packed, however we were soon tucking into some food which all agreed was good...then it was down to our cabins. Mary and I were on deck 9 Pam and Henry deck 6. We had by then discovered where the main dining room was and when we were booked in to have dinner, so we agreed to meet up at 6pm. The dining room was lovely and our waiters just excellent...The food throughout the cruise was delicious and served so promptly never a wrong step was made. ... After dinner we just had a further stroll around the ship trying to familiarize ourselves. As I say it was so big it was a lot to take in.

Day 1 at sea started with breakfast at 8.30. Now there were around 5/6 places we could have eaten from the Windjammer cafeteria, to street cafe's, dining room restaurant self service, or dining room full service...we opted to be served each morning...it is so nice to “come to and relax” first thing, before the onslaught of the day LOL By now we had began to get used to the size of the ship and people had started to find their own “places” and were not all milling around on the main street. Deck 5 was where we could be found if we wanted a bit of shopping extra coffee, food,. ...on the ship one could have eaten from 6am till the early hours of next day if one liked. I have never seen to much food being eaten....after the first day we decided not to have lunch served as we had had such a big breakfast. Mary and I could be found in one of our fav. Cafe's around 1ok. Having a croissant and cofee/tea, we were always helped by one of the lovely waiters who seemed to be waiting just for us to come along !! There was so much to do on board it was sometimes hard to decided where we should be !! Pam and I did three classes on jewelery making. I managed a lovely necklace, bracelet, and earrings for Beth, we tried our hand at scrapbooking, and napkin folding, but missed out on the towel folding as we were a bit late !!

If we had been energetic LOL we could have tried our hand at windsurfing !!, ice skating !!, wall climbing !!, even a game of golf or football or basketball...all on deck 13. of course there were the swimming pools I think about 4 large ones and a couple of childrens as well as various hot tubs. We spent lots of time just sitting people watching. If all that seems to be a bit hectic we could always find a quiet corner, Perhaps in the very large library where there were lovely deep leather chairs to snuggle down into, or there was always somewhere on deck that other people hadn't quite found...we were blessed with the most wonderful calm sunny hot weather. In the evening after dinner we tried out the various Theater's The Alhambra where there was a new show every night, The ice rink where there was spectacular ice shows...a few “bars” where you could always find some of the ships musicians playing for ballroom dancing, or classical or modern music, It was no wonder that we all found ourselves heading for bed quite early most nights !! I am glad to say that when we docked at all the ports we were able to go ashore which was a bonus as we had thought we might not be accessible for the chair. However the cruise company provded courtesy coaches every time to take us into the nearest town...usually just outside the port. I will stop now and next edition will tell about the various ports we visited and what we did there.

So for now. Goodnight, God Bless and Love One Another...

Just before I go.....

2011-09-03T07:10:00.000+01:00

Good Morning Friends,

This is just a short message before Mary and I head away to the hopefully sunny Mediterranean for our 14 day cruise...The taxi is coming to take us down to Southampton to join the cruise we will leave in about 31/2 hours, packing is mostly all done just last min. bits and pieces found lying around.

This has been a busy week. Pam was over on Monday and as it was a Bank Holiday over here our plan to go out and about was abandoned ....the roads, attractions, cafes, etc are always so busy..so we stayed at home which was just as well as we had another three visitors that day...felt a bit like a busy railway station !!

Tuesday not so bad Mary and I just went to Chippenham to get some shopping as Sheila my friend was arriving Wed. Wed. at 12.30 Sheila duly arrived. We collected her at Bath Coach Station and all was well. When Sheila is here it is always a busy chatty time !! Thurs. Margaret and Mitch arrived but I had already said we would go out for lunch which is just what we did, In the late afternoon Peter brought over Mary's case and I went through it and decided what could be left behind and then repacked into the one big case we use between us....Yesterday another busy day. I got us early and started to look out my clothes and get packing them....hopefully everything is there. I have taken the new dresses !! well left one behind !!!!

then Beth and Max arrived,....so....we went out for lunch again !!! Afterwards had to do a bit more shopping for fruit, vegs. etc. to keep sheila going for a few days. I am so lucky to have Sheila stay here with Dee. Otherwise I could not have gone. Dee is a funny wee dog and does not take to people easily but Sheila is one who he took to instantly...very very rare that is....so I have no worries about leaving him. Only hope that Sheila does not find it to quiet all on her own, although I know a few of my Friends are going to come visit and Peter will pop in each day as usual.

Has anyone ever used Quinoa ? I had not heard about it till about a week ago when I saw a lovely salad that used it, I have cut it out and plan to make it when I come home. I managed to find a box of Quinoa yesterday and how to use it, but I was wondering if anyone out there had any recipes that used it....

Well dear friends, I must leave you for at least 14 days...probably a bit more as when we get back Sheila is staying another 4/5 days ...Till I get back always remember that being out of sight does not mean that you are out of my mind and in my prayers....

Love One Another .

Red Letter Day's

2011-08-18T19:07:00.000+01:00

At last I am back again. Things have been so quiet here of late there has not been much news. I don't think that it would be of much interest to repeat what we get up to each week as each week more or less follows the same pattern !!

However today was a bit of a red letter day. It was the day when our youngsters at around the age of 18 get the results of the A levels exams which enable them to get into university/college/or perhpas an apprenticeship..

It is always a very anxious wait. ..... why was it an anxious wait for me?.... and then a Red Letter day ? well my great Niece Samantha had sat her exmas and like 1000's of others had had a sleepless night before the post arrived and then the telephone calls started...The best news was that she had passed all the exams needed to get her into University, and, as she already had a place...depending on results...she will be off in a few short weeks to Plymouth University to study Music...Samantha has had diabetes since she was 6 and has and indeed still has a great deal of difficulty getting it under control although these last few months it has been slightly better since she had a pump fitted.....as if the diabetes was not bad enough she was also diagnosed a Celiac and so her diet has been very restricted...She had lots of time out of school during these years and it is really a wonderful tribute to have been able to get her place in Uni. So yes I am one very happy and proud Great Aunt...I only wish the Sarah my sister had been here to help her celebrate as she was very very supportive of Samantha and many times kept her going with her wise advice..

Now other news have I to share.....Oh Yes...my dresses !! I was telling you a few weeks ago that a friend Helen had offered to make me a dress..or two or three !! Now I have a great deal of difficulty buying any clothes and certainly can never buy a dress "of the peg" so to speak.. So for Helen to offer to make me one was a real wonderful thing. This she has done and she came on Tuesday with her two wee ones Scarlet and James and a rather "large bag" what was in the bag I wondered !! yes not one but 4 yes 4 new dresses. How she can have done them I do not know she had even hemmed them and all...she really is a genius and a wonderful dressmaker so I now have not one or two but 6 new dresses for the cruise (today I put out for recycling 6 old dresses that I have had for so many years one at least 25 years old !!) I will photograph them some time and share them with you... Helen was saying that the wee girl Scarlet was watching her Mum make the dresses and asked her " Mummy why are you making dresses for Sybil ? does she not have a Mummy to make them for her ".....LOL we did smile at the idea.....

Last week Tuesday, Mary and I had a day visit to Dyrham Park a lovely National Estate Home and Park near Bath Dyrham Park was a treasure to enjoy; set in a dramatic deer park on the edge of the stunning Cotswold escarpment, we saw the beautiful late 17th-century home of William Blathwayt, a hard-working civil servant who thrived during the political upheaval of three monarchs. We explored how fashions changed over the centuries, from the original 17th-century Dutch-inspired interiors and formal gardens, to the very different style of Victorian country squire Colonel Blathwayt. The elegant garden is a more recent restoration, recreating the spirit of what had been lost, and was wonderful. We enjoyed the visit very much and will go again later in the year the autumn colours shoudl be lovely and hopefully we will be able to see some deer as there are apparently many 100s around the estate...we did manage to glance a small group from the coach window.....It is a long 15/16 min walk from the car park to the house but they supply a wheelchair friendly shuttle coach down the long driveway... we were also able to have a vey enjoyable lunch in the old coach house...

Well after this day of excitment and an almost sleepless night....you would think it was me who was waiting for exam results.....I think I will have an early night.

Remember always to LOVE ONE ANOTHER

another week races past...

2011-08-05T19:24:00.000+01:00

Hello Friends,
It's a wonder anyone reads my blog it is so sparse at times...I won't apologise again as I keep repeating that I will come on more regularly and I DO MEAN IT..but what happens after wards...I fail yet again..SORRY.
Since Mary got back from Edinburgh things have been fairly quiet ...gadding about wise at least !!... so not much to report at all.......Chippenham and a visit to Bath last Tuesday we have not been very far at all. The weather has been very heat and humid and so really I have been at a full stop most of the time LOL...We had quite a wet day yesterday and the humidity has gone down somewhat so I am thankful for that. Today Mary had her chiropodist and you may remember that Helen had said she would try and make me a dress or two last time she was here....well this morning she brought one that was a prototype she said !! It fitted exactly just as I thought it might...perfectly...and it only cost £2 !!! the cost of the material she said !! she was almost as pleased as I was....she could not have been more pleased...and this afternoon she phoned to ask if I was truly happy with it...if I was she was away to cut out another 2 or maybe even 3 dresses !!! considering that I don't think in all my life I have bought more than one dress at a time...and then usually years in between....the thought of having 3/4 of Helen's lovely style of dress is wonderful. Muriel my very kind old neighbour is also making me 2 dresses with material I bought, she has done a couple of dresses for me a long time ago and can only do the one style.... that is why it is so exciting that Helen can make different styles...So on the high seas I will be fully dressed not just my usual jeans and tops !!!! I forgot to say that when Mary and I were in Chippenham I was able to buy a full length dress for Pam my friend, (when we were sitting in the gardens we had been talking about the cruise and she said her Son had said she should have a black dress....Pam was not so sure)...however there on sale in a nice shop was a long dress very plain in a lovely turquoise colour with a lace shrug type top and I was sure she would like that I was not sure about the right size so had to take a chance....luckily it fitted and she liked it so now she has another dress for our evening with the captain ROFL.... I do think we are all going to have a grand time on this cruise...not long to go now.... will be back soon....

Love to you all and remember to .....pass on your love to Everyone....

weekend news

2011-07-26T08:14:00.000+01:00

I spent some time last night trying to put on a smilebox photo show for you all....However failed...what is it about me and getting photo's on this blog. I have never manage to get any where I want them other than the header...most odd. Never mind I am going to send you all one individually where I have an e address..
I have had a very nice weekend. Last Friday my neighbour Muriel took me out for lunch..so long as I would drive...never any problem for me to drive anywhere....We went to a local Farm Shop she had always wanted to go to but had never found it. it is called Allington Farm Shop and has won awards for the last two years as the best Farm shop in the South West...It is very good, a bit pricey which I can never understand as it actually belongs to the farm and although I know they have had to build a beautiful building they should not have the same overheads as a town shop for instance...anyway they have a very nice cafe attachment and we had a nice meal. The Muriel in particular spent quite a bit in the shop.. Saturday was a quiet day trying to get through all the books Pam brought over, I am getting through them almost one a day !! my friend Cait came down for a while in the afternoon. Sunday was another day without church. I really don;t enjoy the month of July very much...church wise I mean...the two local C 0f E churches have their patronal services and they are always joint services so it means that I miss out on 2 Sundays in July. I could get to the other two churches but they are difficult to get to with no parking... However as it happened on Sunday I went over to Margaret's Mitch had gone to their church and she didn't feel up to it. I went over earlier than I would have done as I was having lunch with them....which I did and had a nice meal... Home early to get on with the latest book !! Yesterday was a gloriously sunny warm day and Pam and I took ourselves of to the Court Gardens that I have just discovered. Pam brought filled rolls with her and I took some juice so at lunch time we were able to find a nice seat there and enjoy a panoramic view of the beautiful gardens. Pam has fallen in love with them as well...and is going to join the National Trust... I had a very late night last night as I went to Bristol Airport to collect Mary. The flight was in time for which I was grateful...but it was still just after midnight by the time we got home. From what I could see of her she looked well and will be over very shortly to give me a blow by blow account of her three weeks away...

Take care of each other and never forget to tell your loved ones that you love them.

quiet lazy days..

2011-07-22T19:23:00.000+01:00

Well where do the days go...does anyone know the answer ? I cannot believe that it is a week since I last wrote. I do hope that you have all kept well,
My dear friend Lura has had another operation I am pleased to hear that she has come through ok although it will take some time for her to get back to her blogging.... Mind you my days this past week have been fairly quiet so there has not been much news to pass on to you all. Peter came home from his holiday to Panama on Thursday and we have had lots to talk of about his adventure...lots of photographs to be downloaded and enjoyed. The weekend was quiet. Beth and Max are away on a narrow boat for a week. Many years ago Sarah John and friends combined together and had a narrow boat built and the divided the weeks between them. Sarah had a bad fall from the boat a few years ago and that put her off for life ! however Beth took over her week but later sold it. Now there are not many of the original owners left it is mostly the younger families who have it now. However Colin offered Beth one of his weeks. I hope that they have enjoyed themselves, They were sailing around the Birmingham Canals I think. They will be back tonight. As they were not around last Sunday Peter and I decided to go for lunch together. we tried out a new venue for us it is a Farm Shop locally that has added a restaurant. It was quite nice but nothing out of the ordinary so don't think we will go there again very soon. I think it might be better for an ordinary lunch but not a Sunday Roast...Afterwards I took him to the local cottage Hospital, He had been bitten in Panama....in a few places !!...he saw the one on his hand and was able to get the wound clean, he then thought that he had one or maybe even two in his back...Anyway thankfully the Dr's. decided the "spots" were just ordinary spots and not lethal bites !!
On Monday Pam was over as usual, we had hoped for a nice dry sunny day as we had planned to go to the Gardens I found last week...however it was dull and heavy showers ..so we are now hoping it will be nice this week. Instead of going o Holt we went over to Mary's. She had a decorator in over the weekend and so we wanted to get the house back to "normal!" I am sure she will be happy with it when she gets home.
Pam brought me over a lot of books that she has been reading all by someone called Rebecca Shaw. There is a whole series of I think 14 all set around a village. They are a real good read and I get completely drawn into them....she had already brought over the first 4 ...so really since Monday I have had my nose in a book...just finished number three !!Before I start the next thought I should nip in and let you know that I am still around. Other than reading I have had a couple of "taxi" runs for friends. One of our old church members had a fall last Saturday and has broken her hip so a hospital visit to her was in order, another friend had an emergency Dr. appointment so needed transport !!
Well I am away now to start my 5th. book....it will be the 8th. in the series....

LOVE ONE ANOTHER

summer days and outings

2011-07-13T18:41:00.000+01:00

Hello Friends,

Here I am again, All alone at last ! well actually I have been since Ann left last Thursday and I am only now making time to update the "blog" I had lovely visit with Ann, although she is actually my sister Margaret's oldest friend, I include her as a friend of mine as well. She was staying with me and made visits to Margaret each day. On Wednesday she and I had the morning in Bath and although Ann has been here before she had never had the pleasure of coffee in the pump room......so.....yes you can guess where we went for coffee and crumpets whilst of course listening to the trio playing their lovely music. Ann also bought me a lovely present it is a "globe" not a world globe as is normal, but one that is actually a map of Bath in much detail...even where the parks are you can "see" people walking with their dogs etc. I might try and take a photograph and share it some time. Ann was not here long as she had to go home on Thursday as she is dog sitting this week. I have not done a lot since she left, did spend the afternoon with Margaret on Saturday as Mitch was away playing bowls, and I know he feels happier if someone is there with Margaret. It was a nice afternoon and she was able to get out to the summer house and sit awhile so that was good.

Yesterday I had a lovely day. I invited my friend Cait to join me for lunch at Holt .... I think I told you that I had taken Mary before she left...It was just as nice as first time for our lunch afterwards we went to explore as I knew there were gardens there in the village called "the Courts" I had always wanted to see them but as is often the case we never seem to get to places that are right on our doorstep...What a miss that was once we found the gardens I discovered just how fantastic they are, almost all on the level with easy wheelchair access. Actually they belong to the National Trust and after a few peaceful hours there I decided that I would actually join the N.T. for a year as I can see Mary and I going over to the Courts quite often and also there are at least another 6 or 7 National Trust properties within 15 miles of us here. What a find, I am so pleased that Cait and I went to investigate... On Monday when my friend Pam comes over if the weather is nice I will take her over to see it as well. ...The flowers, trees green areas and of course the Lillie ponds with red white and pink blooms floating around were just breathtaking...

Today I had to take the car to get new tyres fitted. On Monday the car had been in for a service and they decided that two tyres were needed both on the near side,,,,I am going to tell Mary that she will have to go on a diet as they are on her side of the car !!! This afternoon I have been reading all about the benefits of the National Trust membership and marking various places I would like to visit..

Mary is enjoying her holiday in Edinburgh. Today she will be on the Isle of Skye she has gone on a three day tour from Edinburgh I haven't heard from her from the Island but perhaps her mobile does not have a signal. She will be back at her friends late tomorrow and no doubt I will hear from her then. I do hope she has enjoyed herself and that perhaps she may have found some long lost cousins on the Island. (Her Mother was an islander)

Thank you for the many prayers for Max. He has had the op. on Monday morning and was allowed home late afternoon he will not know for sure what the results will be for another 10 days or so, we are just praying

that there is nothing to alarm us...any more than we are !!!.........

Will be back again in a few days. Till then remember to

LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

busy busy days...

2011-07-05T18:44:00.000+01:00

HI friends,
At last a wee while to try to get a few words down before I am interrupted again !!.......
When I closed last time I was about to have a visitor for the weekend. Julie did arrive and we had a lovely time. The only sad thing was that on the Saturday we all went to the Chinese for a meal, my fav. place..only to discover it had closed. I was very very disappointed as it has always been a fav. place of ours. So I had to make a quick change of plans. we ended up in another pub in Chippenham called the Pheasant and it was quite good..On Sunday Mary went off to her own church and I had a day off...It was a lovely morning and the night before we had been discussing where Julie had visited n previous visits and I discovered she had not been to Chew Valley Reservoir Lake. So that is where we headed. It is not very far from here about a 40min. drive through some nice countryside. At the reservoir there is plenty parking and as we were early we had the best choice ! once parked I got the chair out and we went for a lovely walk around the Lake to another car park, once there there was another two walks we could have gone on where there were hides where we could have watched out on the various water birds nesting, however it was a round 11/2 miles and my wheelchair was not fully charged so we decided to leave that for another day. Once back to where we had started it was coffee time so in we went to the lovely cafe there and indulged in a couple of delicious scones with clotted cream and jam...We didn't think that as it was almost 11.30 we wouldn't have any room left for lunch did we....consequently poor Julie went back to London early afternoon without our planned for lunch ! Still she said she was more than full with the scones.........Monday found me back at Chew again. This time it was the guild outing I had organised only 12 guilders were able to make the trip but all enjoyed it so much, I had pre booked lunch for us all and it was just as well as it was very busy. There is a nice gift shop attached to the cafe and they enjoyed buying little gifts etc. The rain stayed if long enough to allow us to sit out for a short time after lunch. Tuesday we had the last of our bible study classes as we are stopping for the summer months. we will miss meeting up with Rachel our minister weekly. She has a young son and it is only fair that she be allowed time to spend with him but we all look forward to Autumn. In the afternoon I had to attend a leadership meeting at church so it was a busy day. Wednesday was Mary's birthday and as our fav. Chinese had closed I had to think of another treat for her. We ended up going into Bath and having a very posh breakfast in the Pump room of the Roman Bath's...It is so lovely there sitting under the chandeliers at a table laid with crisp white linen tablecloths and napkins and lovely bright cutlery and china. all the time being entertained by the Pump Room Trio playing the piano, violin and double base...(If one closed ones eyes you could almost imagine we were back in the 18th. Century with the rustle of the ladies silk dresses and all hatted with parasols, parading around)...As we came out we just said the icing on the cake would be to come out and hear our fav. busker playing the Hedge Monkey....and there was Hang and his friend playing, it was so nice. Thursday Margaret and Mitch came over and took us out for lunch to celebrate Mary's birthday we again went to a fairly local pub called the hare and hounds and had a very nice lunch. Friday I think I called a stop and had a day doing very little..other than getting the house tidied up for this weeks visitor. Saturday we had a coffee morning at church and that went well after we had been to do some shopping in Chippenham. I had to go to the bank as Pam had given me a cheque as it is time to pay for our cruise...only about 8 weeks to go now. Sunday after church I met Beth for lunch. Max was not very well so unable to join us. I would like to ask you to please remember Max and Beth in your prayers as Max had now been diagnosed with nodules on his voice cords and has to go into hospital tomorrow for a pre op visit and be operated on next Monday. Beth needless to sat is beside herself with worry. One wonders when it will all stop... Mary left for her annual holiday to Edinburgh yesterday afternoon flying up on the same flight that brought a friend down from Edinburgh..So it worked out well that I dropped Mary and picked up Anne. Anne is firstly an old friend of Margaret's they have been friends for well over 50 years now and she was coming to see Margaret really but is staying with me as Margaret is really not able to entertain visitors now. So Anne stays with me and I will take her over each day to Margaret and Mitch will bring her back. I expected her to be back by now but I am still on my own. It is all very peaceful...I have just come back from feeding Mary's cat Amber and Peter's cat Ryan....Peter is also away on holiday he left on the coach at 4am yesterday to London Heathrow airport for his flight to Panama he will be back in 10 days. Thankfully in a way the rain us come on so I will not need to go and water...or Anne !!....to water Peter's and Mary's plants !!
So there you are all up to date with my life up to date again.
I will get back later in the week. Anne returns to Edinburgh on Thursday so I will the start to have my wee holiday all to myself....maybe I will have time for doing exactly what I want to do LOL
Love to you all, and remember to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Happy 4th July xx

2011-07-04T21:07:00.000+01:00

Just had to pop in and wish all my American friends a very happy July 4th. I have a visitor this week but will try to get in within next few days.

Love to you all

last of the weekend tales

2011-06-25T10:35:00.000+01:00

Sorry I didn't get back in yesterday. I was quite tired all day as I had a rather disturbed night...needlessly so, as it turned out....around 4am I woke to the sound of my fire alarm bleeping...indicates a new battery require..after 1/2 hour I could stand it no longer as I feared that it might go off altogether, then I would have to get a stick I keep handy to poke it with (it is up on the ceiling and to high for me to reach normally) anyway around 6.45 I figured that Peter would be up and getting ready for work so I called him and he came to take the battery out. At first he could not do this so took the whole thing down and went off with it...a few secs later I thought I heard it go again ! PETER...he came back and we stood in the kitchen looking around only to discover it was the carbon monoxcide alarm that was bleeping and in need of new batteries..It sits under the gas boiler and of course had I known it as that I could have taken action to silence it at 4.30am..... No wonder I felt tired all day !!!
Anyway back to the weekend. Once we left the castle we made our way to my friends house where we were staying till Monday. It was great to see Fiona again. we have been friends for over 40 years. we started our friendship when I baby sat for her and her Dr husband now the "bairns" are around 46 44 and 42 !!
We all went out for a nice meal in the evening. Sunday dawned a lovely sunny day and after breakfast we made our way over the Forth Road bridge and on into Fife. My dear friends Jane and Meme live in Elie a tiny fishing village...well it was once fishing now it is a holiday village. Jane has been very very ill for a while now and it may well be the last visit I will be seeing her. so it was very special. We did not stay to long as I could see that she was very tired after about 11/2 hours. Once we left we dove along the coast visiting a few of the tiny villages and ended up at the real fishing village of Anstruther. Here in Anstruther there is a Fish and Chip shop that has won the award of the best fish and chip shop in the UK for last 4 years...so we just had to stop there. The sitting area in the shop was full but as it was such lovely day we just sent Max in to Q. and Beth and I found a seat on the harbour wall and waited and waited it was at leats1/2 hour before he returned with our orders...I had the very best smoked haddock I have ever tasted in all my life. Beth had battered prawns and Max had lobster....all freshly caught that morning....All in all except for the sad part of seeing Jane look so poorly and Meme having aged so much it was a lovely day and we were so blessed to have brilliant even warm sunshine. Oh I forgot whilst we were sitting having our lunch we were entertained by a puppeteer who was one among around 7 Harley Davidson motor cycle enthusiasts.. There bikes were so beautiful There was even a three wheeler that I got quite envious of..I could just see Mary and I sitting astride that one going through the village !!!
Monday we left after breakfast for the long drive home. It is approx 400 miles from Edinburgh home to Box. Max drove all the way and we made good time and arrived in time for Mary getting the kettle on for tea at 3.30...
I will be back after the weekend with more news. I am soon leaving to collect a Friend from London who is coming for the weekend.

LOVE ONE ANOTHER

Edinburgh weekend

2011-06-23T08:33:00.000+01:00

Morning Friends,
Back once again from my short trip up north to Edinburgh. It was a really good visit and thankfully the horrendous weather forecast for Friday did not materialise. Max and Beth collected me around 8am. and Max made good time on the motorway. In fact I have rarely had such a good journey there are usually accidents and road works to contend with but this time both going up and coming home the M.ways were all clear. we arrived in Edinburgh around 3,.30pm. In the evening as it was still dry I suggested that we go up to Arthur's seat with John and Sarah's ashes before we did anything else.. I felt that that would be better for Beth...This we did. It was a beautiful evening. We stopped by a small lake and Beth went off by herself...at her request...she took the ashes to where her Dad had taken Jacqueline's ashes, and so once more Jacqueline, and her Mum and Dad were intermingled...if you know what I mean. It was as I say a beautiful evening and when she came back Max and Beth and I had a hugging session and enjoyed the sounds of the birds and the views of the loch and further away the river Forth and the coast of Fife.
Saturday dawned very wet...However we had planned for that and decided to visit a new exhibition area...at least new to us...Planet Earth..I think it was called. It was a good choice as we spent 21/2 hours there and were fascinated by all the facts and figures. The exhibition started with the big bang theory and continued in that vein as we were taken through ages. There were many interacive buttons to push etc etc and areas where we were enclosed and felt the effects of the ice age. earthquakes, volcanoes...at times quite scary !! towards the end we had a 4D film show. We had never seen a 4D show and it was truly magnificent with our glasses on we really felt part of the Astronauts flying through the air and visiting various planets etc etc. all in all a good morning. Afterwards we drove up the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle. There we had quite exceptional attendance. The esplanade was closed to general traffic so we asked where the nearest disabled parking was..the soldier on duty said no trouble Sir (to Max) and opened the barrier told us top drive right up the esplanade to the sentry box right At castle gate !! next a private hire limo arrived and took us including of course the wheelchair right to the top of the castle pointing out various places on our way up and dropped us of right at the top and said when we were ready to come down wherever we might be just to ask any guide and they would call them up and they would come.. and they did. I will stop here as the day has started and Mary will be over any moment now and I will have to get he breakfast toast ready. I will try to pop in tonight perhapss to share the rest of the weekend with you.

LOVE ONE ANOTHER

showers and Sunshine.

2011-06-16T18:52:00.000+01:00

Good Evening friends,
Just a quickie tonight before I leave in the morning. we didn't do much yesterday as there were lots of heavy showers. when Peter came home from work he came along as usual.....his excuse as usual.."why should I make my own coffee when you can make one for me !!" We decided that we should try to pick up some potatoes. It is the first year that I have grown them ( my garden in too small for a veg. patch) however in the springtime when I was in the garden centre they had on offer, potato bags and the compost and potatoes to put in them...so I thought I would have a try. Peter to the rescue once more as he planted and tended them..Last night we/he ! dug the first lot up. They were a fair size (Peter did say that if he had have watered them even more and they might have been bigger) but I was delighted. There was enough for a few dinners. Peter took home a few for last night and today I made them for lunch boiling them with some nice fresh garden mint....delicious...I could have just enjoyed them on their own but did have some chicken fillets and peas and carrots.. Margaret and Mitch were over today. It is very sad to see Margaret getting ever weaker she seems to spend most of her time sleeping or dozing...However she was quite cheerful ...when she was awake !! when Mary goes up to Edinburgh on the 4th July and Margaret's friend Anne is coming down for a few days. Anne's flight gets in...turns round...and will take Mary up to Edinburgh. So it will be a case of dropping one and picking up the other !! Margaret and I are looking forward to Anne's visit, she will be staying with me for a few nights and visiting Margaret during the day..
Today has been a day of sunshine and showers at the moment it is lovely. I am hoping that tomorrow will be good for driving. This will be the first time that I haven't done the driving myself. This time we are not taking my car and Max will do the driving...it will seem strange...

Till I get back...Look after yourselves and don't forget to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

New picture

2011-06-14T07:55:00.000+01:00

Morning Friends,
Just in for a quick change in the picture. On Saturday when Peter was along we were talking about our meeting with Rolf Harris and wondered if it would be possible to get a copy of the photograph that the official photographer took. The out come was that I called the art Gallery and asked where and if we could get a copy...They were so good and said that they had them and if I could wait she would see if she could find us !! apparently they were in a very large file and after a few mins. when we tried to remember what I was wearing....well it was a week ago LOL....It was found. Both Peter and I are pleased with it especially after a friend was able to adjust the picture a bit by removing some of the people who were standing behind me.
It is another lovely morning here and promises to be a warm day...last for the week the weather woman is saying there are to be rather heavy showers next few days...
we are off to Bible study this morning and afterwards we are going to a new ASDA store that has opened in Melksham a small town near us here in Wiltshire. It has been open now I think about 3/4 weeks so should be a bit quieter...
Thank you everyone for your prayers regarding the selling of the house. It has now gone up for sale I went up on Saturday for one last look round. It was a rather sad visit...
We, me niece Beth and Max are going up to Edinburgh on Friday for the weekend but will try to get back before we leave..

LOVE ONE ANOTHER

Busy Days

2011-06-10T19:43:00.000+01:00

Hello Friends, I hope that this finds you all well and happy... we have been having quite a busy time here what with one thing and another. at the end of my last "report" we were still having some gorgeous weather and n Friday the 3rd. when we woke we still couldn't decide exactly where we should go. It was the children's school holiday week and so the thought of hoards of children and trying to park ruled out quite a few destinations.. In the end we thought why don;t we just go into Bath and be "tourists" and that is just what we did. We went into Bath and were ever so lucky to find the perfect parking spot. we wandered into the Bath Abbey Churchyard where 100's of tourist congregate there Churchyard and once again found the perfect seat. There are many many buskers in Bath all of a high quality and especially in the yard directly by the entrance to the Roman Baths they seem to be extra good. Mary and I sat quite entranced listening to a young fellow called Hang playing an instrement that I have never heard of called a Hedge Monkey...yes a Hedge Monkey. you really have to hear it for yourself and if you would like to listen you can find it on U tube. I loved it and although we were surrounded by hoards and hoards of tourists speaking in every language imaginable and I found I could even cut out all the noise just to listen... He played for about an hour and sat chatting with Mary and I for a wee while afterwards explaining about the Hedge Monkey and telling us that it was developed in Switzerland and can only be obtained by going there to buy them. Mary and I bought one of his CD's After he left a trio stared to play and sing, they were very good as well but didn't grab our attention as much as Hang had. After a while we moved up the town and sat outside a cafe where I had an ice cream and Mary a cool drink still enjoying all the people passing by....some of the "styles" had to be seen to be believed.. I always think I am fat but when I see others I have to agree with Mary that I am actually quite slim, you are permitted to ROFL at that idea !! SSaturday was another exciting day as I had an invitation to meet Rolf Harris in a new art gallery in Bath. Actually I was taking Mary and Peter with me but Mary decided she would stay at home as we knew that there would be crowds of people and she dosn't do crowds very well..They just don't see her crutches and she either trips them up or they trip her up !! so it was Peter and me. when we arrived at the gallery there was already a big queue that we had to join even though we had a 1pm appointment. It was eventually just after 2 by the time we managed to get in and had a lovely chat with Rolf. Peter bought a limited edition book he had brought out that contained two prints of Rolf and signed. He also signed the book. I had taken with me the book that I had been given when I bought his painting of the Fishermen by Moonlight, just in the hope that he might sign it...There was a notice to the effect that he would only sign things bought in the gallery...however when the gallery owner saw me clutching it she took it and gave it to him..I said that I had bought the picture whilst on holiday and we chatted about that, he then kindly signed it. I have taken a photograph of the pages and will put it on as a header perhaps today just for a short time...
Sunday 5th. after church we met up with Max and Beth and Alex for lunch. It was a hard day really as it was 3 years to the day since Beth's sister, and my beloved Goddaughter Jacqueline died..so much has happened in these intervenening years. It is only 9 months since her Dad John died and 2 months sinse Sarah left us.
This week has been a week of Dr.s appointments...for Mary she has high BP and has been put on some extra tablets, however just before she went to the Dr. she was washing her hair and I checked the time of her appointment only to discover it was in 5 mins time!! I called over to her and she came rushing out hair still with shampoo on it rubbing as she came ! I drove her up so it was little wonder that it was up !! hopefully it will have settled by her next appointment.. Next day I had a hosp. appointment nothing to worry about, it was just that my leg needed a bit of "refurbishment" to make it a bit cleaner and fresher for the summer months !!...the day following that it was yet another hosp. appointment this time for Mary. she got on ok and will go back in 6 months..the Dr. there said that he thinks once they get a knee brace that actually works it may well help....
Now we are once more almost at the end of another week. we will go shopping in the morning to Chippenham and on our way back go up to Sarah and John's house for the last time. Beth and Max will be up there all weekend and then they think that will be all they can do to make it ready for sale. it should go into the newspapers next Thursday. Please pray that in this hard economic time that someone will find it their "dream home"...
Take care everyone and rememebr always to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Vallage affairs..

2011-06-02T11:22:00.000+01:00

Better late then never ! Perhaps that should be my new motto..
However here I am again, How are you all ? do hope that you are able to spend some time outdoors now tha the summer is supposed to have arrived.   Most of my days seem to pass fairly quietly when I look back on them before going to bed.....however when I look at the diary I see that in actual fact the weeks seem to be quite full.... wonder if it is the same with everyone.
Last week ended on with a nice surprise. Mary has a very nice choropodist Helen who comes here to do her feet and has for some years now. Amongs other things we were speaking about clothes and how hard it was for me to get anything. (My dear nighbour Muriel has made me a few dresses over the years and has offered to do another two for the cruise and I had got the materiel and Helen was looking at it)..I was saying that although Muriel can make me a dress it always has to be the same style as she usues a dress that fitted and I cut up as a pattern. Helen said but you can just change it Sybil...I said well some might be able to but not Muriel.... Then she delighted me by saying sh would try to make me one.......I know that she is wonderful with the sewing machine as I have witnessed on many occasions .....so she has also taken an old dress and is going to play around with it to make me something different.  I am so happy at the thought and only hope that she can manage. (I have had many many clothes made over the years and none have really ever realised how difficult it can by)...so fingers crossed. I have a feeling if anyone can do it Helen can.
Muriel came back from her Mum's on sunday after having been up with her for a week. It was "Grandma's" 100th birthday on Saturday. Muriel said she had a wonderful time surrounded by lots of family and friends and had a lovely card from the Queen which took pride of place. It was good to have her back again as we miss her when she is not around.    Sunday was what is called Rogation day in the village. It is the one day in the year when all the churches get togther and walk around the village stopping at various places to worship and pray for that particular place. i.e. the school. the housing estate, the sheltered housing complex,the market place and shops, and ending at a support housing area called Queens Square to pray for the Queen and country. This Sunday for I think only the second time I didn't join the walk (in my case the trundle!!) the weather wad not very bright with rain imminent..it didn't come to anything though...I did miss my Sunday service though. Monday was Revels day...now Revels day is a big day in the village callender and has been for many many years probably over 100 years (with a few interuptions)... I was for many years very involved as a committee member etc etc. The Revels is a chance for all the village organisations to raise money in whatever way the like by hiring a space on the Rec. and selling whatever. There are also commercial stands. and to aid the day the committe organises fun things like train rides, donkey rides, and usually on a main stage a band, singer or some kind of entertainment..it is always a themed day this year it was "all the fun of the fair" one year we even had a crane offering bungee jumps !!    ALAS ALAS Monday dawned WET every organisers dread...It was such a pity as it was the first really wet day we have had in weeks...and typically the sky broke up to let the sun shine at....around...4pm....just as everyone was closing up. It was too wet for even me to go over and probably end up helping at the church stand...some memebers were doing a few games I think... I havn't yet heard how they got on or indeed if they stayed the course..
I think that is the first time in 18 years that I have missed going over.....mind you looking on the good side I didn't spend any money buying things I didn't need or eating things that are not good for the waistline !!.. Pam and her husband Henry came over and we did go out for a nice lunch so it wasn't a completely wasted day. Henry was asking many quesions about our cruise in Spetember and we checked out the various ports that we stop at and the various shore trips we could do. As a consequece on Tuesday I was able to contact Royal Carriean to ask them to check out the feasability of the ones we think we could manage with my wheelchair and Pam's scooter...I wait a reply...
Yesterday we went back to hospital with Mary's knee brace that she got last week. It is not a good fit and keeps slipping down her leg!! so not much good.. The result is tha they are going to order another one of a different design..we will await the results if that..we also showed them that it was completely hopeless for Mary to get it on herself and I might not always be around to do it for her...fingers crossed that a new style will be easier to put on and off and stay on !!!      I am writing this unusually during the morning. Mary goes always up the village on a Thursday morning to a coffee morning and Margaret and Mitch are usually here. However M&M won't be over as Maragret has a friend visiting this am. and a Dr's appointment this afternoon so I have opened the laptop and do an update !!   It is lovely and warm today very little wind so it may even get a bit too hot sitting out...Tomorrow looking at the diary seems to be a free day so think as the forecast is to continue nice we will take the opportunity to take a wee trip somehwer nice. It would have been nice if our friend Cait had been around as we could have taken her to the sea, however she is looking after her daughters house and dog for a couple of days...Next time I write with news I will tell you where we ended up.

LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Books books and more books !!

2011-05-27T08:15:00.000+01:00

Morning friends....wonder how long I am going to keep up this new plan to write more frequently LOL

I hope that you like the new photograh it is one I took the other day of the beautiful clematis that we have on the fence which divides Mary's garden from mine. we both love clematis and this one is growing so well.

At last yesterday we had a rather wet day here in the South west of England. first in quite a while. The gardens are already looking much better and I am sure the farmers will be happy. It meant that Peter did not have to come and water all the pots etc. last night. On Wednesday I went up early to Sarah's to meet the man who was coming to collect the books. Thankfully Max, Beth's husband arrived just as I did so we were both here as well as a friend of Max's (they have been working hard on the property painting rooms etc and this week re flooring the deck and paniting the outside) The man duly arrived clutching I think maybe 6 or 7 plastic carrier bags.....LOL....I showed him some of the already bagged books and he was quite taken aback to say the least !! he said "OH, I see, I only have a small car, don;t think I will be able to get them all in" that's ok we said, just take what you can, Max and Simon (I think that's his name) will help you carry them I out. Much relieved he said "thank you" I can come back in a little while with a bigger car and collect the rest of the bags" good I said, by that time Max will have filled some more bags..there are still three bookcases to empty upstairs !!! By now that poor man was quite bewildered with all the many books and said " Think this was a library with house attached" LOL. still it was wonderful to get them all removed in all I think there was 18 large sacks and 4 big boxes of books !! It will be good for the charity to be able to sell them I am sure. After I left Max to pack the other sacks I cam back home and as it was a nice day Mary and I decided to go to Chippenham to do some shopping and have some lunch there. Yesterday it was again to Chippeham this time to the cottage hospital where Mary had an appointment with a physio who was fitting a knee brace. They think that it might relieve pain she has been having in her knee from arthritis..It is not too bulky although I am still not at all sure that it is going to be practical for Mary. She walks around a lot in the village and there is quite a hill from here up to the village in the afternoon yesterday when she went up to her meeting one of the "catches" came undone when she was going up so she had to stop and take it off altogether !! she will have another try today I will put it on for her when she comes over. When we got home Margaret and Mitch were already here so that was good. I had made a casserole for lunch and had it in the oven before we went away so it wasn't very long before I had everything on the table ! Yesterday the postman brought a nice parcel....it was materiel for two dresses that I had ordered. Muriel, bless her, is going to make me a couple of dresses for the cruise in September. Just hope she approves of the materiel that I got !! I can't sew so have really know idea what materiel's are best !!! also I realise I should have got cottons for sewing them up but didn't think about that. I w expect she may have some or I can buy that in Bath I expect.. Today we may go into Bath will wait and see how the weather goes.

Bye for now. God Bless and LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Sun and wind is it summer or spring ?

2011-05-25T08:37:00.000+01:00

Now there's a thing. I have not been ale to get into my own blog for last two day. I have just written to a friend to ask for HELP and come back to have yet another "try" and here I am...how odd is that...
Well as promised I am trying to write more often... we are still enjoying such lovely weather over here in the South west of England. Mary and I make the best of it by sitting out on my wee deck as much as we can. Monday was a bit too windy though more like the March winds that we missed out on !! However we are thankful that we were not up in Scotland where they were lashed with terrible gales, indeed two people were killed by fallen trees. All the ferries out to the islands were cancelled. and the Forth Road bridge was also closed. This is the main road bridge over from Edinburgh to the Fife side of the country. When it is closed it means a journey of around 30 miles around by way of a smaller bridge. Apparently it was absolute chaos..
Yesterday we had bible study in the morning. well it is more of a Christiann discussion I suppose...there are only 6 of us and as Muriel my neighbour was away yesterday only 5 of us. we meet in a friends house and always start with coffee and biscuits...yesterday though Jean had made us all drop scones....delicious...Where Jean comes from Zimbabwe they are called flapjacks..some people call them pancakes...isn't it odd how the same thing can be called so many different. names....
well Mary has just arrived it is almost 8.30am. I better go and get the toast on. Today I am going up to Sarah's as we have arranged for someone to come and try to collect all the books....poor thing I don't think he has any idea just how many there are !! Peter and I went up last night and Peter bagged up at least 9 sackfuls... I'm off now.

LOVE ONE ANOTHER

days out...

2011-05-22T20:12:00.000+01:00

Hello Friends,
I wouldn't wonder if I did not have any friends left I have been so bad at updating my blog...SORRY... I am going to try to make amends and start to write more regularly. I am always afraid that I am boring you as day by day I seem to follow the same old patren...mostly !! However since last time I wrote life had been interesting !! My friend Sheila arrived down from Edinburgh ( via Cardiff where she had been visiting her daughter) It is great when Sheila arrives. we have known each other now for over 40 years now. We are true friends as we were out of contact for quite a while and suddenly got re acquainted and it was as if we had met only a few days before, other than the fact that we had a whole lot of news to catch up with. (We had first met at a Spina Bifida Meeting. Sheila had a son Martin with Spina Bifida he was one of the older children when we started up the Ass. and Sheila was very involved right from the start.) Sheila is now on her own since Martin died ..and also Martin her husband...when she is down with me we have good times especially as we can get out and about in the car. Sheila does not drive so enjoys that. We paid a visit to our nearest Safari Park Longleat. It is a great place and not far from me here in Box, only takes about 40 mins to drive there. It is a beautiful estate owned by Lord Bath and was one of the first Safari Parks to open in the UK. It is quite fascinating being able to see so many wild animals at very close up ! The lions are my favs. but there are also beautiful Giraffes that are Mary's favs. This year we were able to admire quite a few new babies they look so cute. The one place I do not drive in is the monkey park...these monkeys are...well..monkeys and are all over your car in a second ripping of window wipers, trying to get the rubber off round doors and widows, really quite frightening and certainly not my idea of fun !! (when you go into the enclosure you do so at your own risk ) As well as many many animals this year they had a new one to show us and that was a very old elephant Rosie who is around 60years old.... it is only a few weeks ago that there was shown in the TV and in newspapers her being very cruelly treated by her owners at a circus. It caused quite an uproar and Lord Bath stepped in and has re homed her. She is settling in well and whilst we were there was enjoying the freedom of being able to give herself a dust bath and throwing dust all over herself, she new keeper watching from the distance. I read only on Friday that she is now so comfortable that they have even been able to take her out for short walks in the estate. It takes quite some time to get around the estate at least 2 hours slowly driving through and at the end after we have parked the car it is time for lunch and after that to see some more smaller animals at close range. The funniest of them must be thee Mere Cats..they are so cute and inquisitive, I think they are my fav small animal...We did not have time this time..or the energy ! to visit the beautiful gardens but plan to do so soon, as we got the kind of ticket that allows us entry as often as we like to the gardens especially... Another day when my other friend Pam was over from Bath we all went to a small town called Marlborough. It is most famous for having a very large and important School , Marlborough College..It is small enough to be able to walk along one side of the main street and cross over and walk along the other side admiring all the shops that are different from shops we find in most towns. There are also some lovey little alleyways to pop into to find yet more little shops. Lost of delightful cafes and pubs. Needless to say a stop at one of the pubs was a must for lunch..On our way back I drove over what is called the Marlborough downs. This is a range of hills above the town. Mostly chalk hills with some lovely panoramic views. quite a few horse racing stables are around and you can often see the horses out on their gallops. This road eventually passes Lynham Airfield some of you may know that most of the troops who have died in Afghanistan etc are brought home to Lyneham and then via the small town of Wooten Basset where every time they pass through the people of the village come out to line the streets, neither Pam or Sheila had been through the small town before so that was again something new for them. Of course a day shopping in Bath is always on the list of things to do !!
So you see that has kept me a wee bit busy....since Sheila went home Mary and I have had various Dr. and hospital appointments..nothing particularly wrong so no worries...also a friend of mine has had a daughter in hospital now Ann cannot drive as she had had to have two toes removed...one on each foot recently and one especially is proving difficult to heal...anyway she needed transport to and from the hospital so Sybil's Taxi was much in demand. I have visited the hospital so much in these last few months I swear the car knows it's own way there !! Thankfully Jane is home now so Ann only needs help to go some shopping..
My niece Beth is continuing to have a hard time trying to get the house ready for putting on sale. There is so much to clear out it can get a bit overwhelming at times. I have tried to help but am afraid I am not much help ...I did go up and removed about 5 books LOL my sister must have 100's at least ....5 bookcases full....see what I mean about me not being much help !! Beth and Max organised a come and collect whatever you want day last Saturday and although quite a lot was taken it still hardly made a dent in what is still to find places for. Max and a friend have made a start on decorating each room in turn and this week have been laying a new wood on the decking floor...It just seems to go on and on. It will be a relief to us all when it can be put on sale...and hopefully sell....It is not a good time to be selling at the moment as there is not much money going around especially for mortgages for younger folks...
My other sister Margaret is getting better, Her hands have healed amazingly. I can hardly believe it hardly a scar to be seen. I certainly had never heard of Sweets Disease..and it was a terrible worrying time. I only pray that she can regain a bit of stenghth as she is still very wobbly on her legs the result I suppose of the heart failure and it will just take a time for her to get back her oomph !!
Better go now. Promise to come back soon....promise ,

Till then remember to always LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

spring days, wedding days

2011-05-01T20:26:00.000+01:00

Hello Friends,

Wherever are the months going ? Here we are the 1st. May already.

I do hope that by now you are all enjoying the spring weather and that the terrible snow and ice and awful storms are over and that we can look forward to lovely spring/summer days.

There are quite a few things associated with May Day one of them I was thinking about before I got up this morning and that was the tradition of washing ones face in the morning dew...supposed to make us look beautiful !! Should I get up I thought to myself ? will my wrinkles disappear ?..after a few mins...no secs,,I decided I would stay in bed for an hour or so more !!

I have only once did such a daft thing and looking back it really was daft...I worked in Edinburgh at that time in the bank and some of us girl decided we should give it a try and we would take an early walk on Arthurs Seat and "wash our faces! !!! this meant that I had to get a very early bus 5.30am !! into town to meet up and have our walk...well to say we were mad might be an understatement..the only good thing I suppose was that at least it was a dry morning!! as for my complexion....not so sure...the wrinkles have still appeared LOL

This has been a rather special week I am sure you will agree...the reason.. A ROYAL WEDDING

I had a visitor overnight on Thurs. but we were both up around 7am watching the TV run up to the wedding. Cathy was supposed to be leaving by 8.30 but was rather reluctant to leave but had to move at 8.45 to get up to London to see her Mother. Once she left I got into the kitchen and started to make sandwiches...nice dainty ones !! cucumber, salmon and cheese ones. all the crusts removed naturally !! made up plates with union flag napkins, also plates of fancy cakes and biscuits...all had to be covered for lunch...Around 10.30 my friend Cait arrived and Mary Cait and I settled down to watch the proceedings evolving in front of our eyes, from the first glimpse of Prince William and Harry on their way to the Abbey to the arrival of Kate in her most beautiful dress. Our breath was quite taken away by her appearance and that of her lovely sister Pippa and the gorgeous little flower girls and page boys. How proud everyone was to be part of this spectacle..

Before the brides arrival we had seen many many people arrive some famous most not so the fashions were many and varied and the hats or in the main.. facinators!!.. were a creation to behold. It has to be said from the sublime to the outrageious !! The royal party themselves were all most beautifully dressed none more so than our beloved Queen in a gorgeous Yellow coat and dress..Had it been a dull wet drizzly April day she would certainly have been a bright light of sunshine... The wedding service was lovely and the music was just a delight. when the married couple and few friends went off to sign the register I dashed into the kitchen and brought through the early lunch... It was a bit of a surprise even to Mary as I hadn't even hinted to her I was doing it...Must say we were ready for it by that time.( I could almost have felt Mary wondering if I was going to ask if anyone wanted anything to eat !!! LOL ) It was so lovely to watch the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge walk all the way through the Abbey smiling and nodding to everyone as they made their way out on to the steps where they were met by a sea of people and noise...The posed for a moment and then were assisted into the open carriage for the ride back to Buckingham Palace...I am sure you have all seen the wonderful scene on the balcony when all the family came out to wave to the crowds and where the newly weds thrilled the crowd by giving each other a very speciall kiss.. That was almost he end of our TV viewing although throughout the day we were given re runs and endless still photographs. I do hope that you were able to enjoy the occasion with us. I feel so privileged to live in such a wonderful country who can put on such a spectacle to be enjoyed, by it is said many millions of people worldwide.

As if one wedding was not enough....on Saturday I had another wedding to go to...This time though I had an invitation !! It was to the wedding of one of our ex ministers at church. He kindly invited all at church...however only three of us decided to go to represent everyone else. The wedding was a little smaller that the one the previous day !! around 200 guests I think. It was a lovey day and we had such a nice time. we were invited to stay at the church for a Cornish Cream Tea...(John our ex minister and Pauline are Cornish) this was served by members of their church delicious scones with butter, strawberry jam and topped with thick Cornish cream...There was another reception later in the day but Clare the bride etc stayed with us all for a cream tea and for many photographs to be taken......guess what ? Sybil forgot to take her camera !! and I managed to buy a nice new one thinking it should be a good try out for it !!!

So there we are that has been my last few days of what has been a very up and down April..

This week I look forward to Wednesday when I have a dear friend come down from Edinburgh for a week holiday. I hope to be able to have lots of news about that next time.

The flowers at the top are called "bleeding hearts" and were some we saw when we had our walk in the botanic gardens..

LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Spring Days., New Life,

2011-04-20T08:10:00.000+01:00

Good Morning Friends,
Well it is now a week since the day of Sarah's funeral and what an odd time it seems to have been. I am so thankful to have been surrounded by your prayers and love.( I know there are many people who feel they have no faith and seem to manage through the days quite happily, but as they maybe can't understand ,my faith I equally do not understand their lack of faith..) I have found it strange the reaction of people. Most have been kind and clearly they don't know just what to say or do. I think they have found my acceptance of Sarah's death quite hard to understand and fully expect (and say so) that I will collapse in a heap...one of these days...However although I do feel empty I am also happy that Sarah, John and Jacqueline are all at peace and with our Lord. How can I be sad when I think of that. Sure sad and sorry for myself...but that is just something we as humans have to cope with. The funeral itself went as well as these things can do. There were so many people there to share their love and thoughts and memories of Sarah. Even one of her ex colleagues now retired and living in Spain flew all the way over in the morning hired a car at Gatwick and drove down ( a 3 hour drive) attended the funeral and was driving all the way back to catch the last night flight back home....
We have been blessed with the most wonderful weather these last two weeks. Every day sunshine and no sign of the April Showers...already though the water boards are warning us of water shortages later in the year ! Because the weather has been so wonderful it has brought all the spring blossom out at least two weeks early. The bluebells are out in the woods that are around us here but as it is so warm they won't last long but I do love them. Also the smell as we pass the woods is beautiful the wild garlic is gorgeous...well I think so !! Mary is not so sure,,,it reminds me of the woods we had near our home in Scotland where Mum used to take us for walks....might even be the first smell that I can actually recall.... On Friday we were in Bath and had a lovely walk/trundle through the Botanic Gardens again just ablaze with flowers and smells..and birds and bees..I will share some of the photographs taken over the next few weeks...
Beth Max and I have been meeting quite a few times up at the house trying to think what to do next...Before they do anything major Beth has to go to Probate and this will take a few weeks so there is no hurry but it is good to be able to take action as soon as the Probate is granted. It is going to e a very hard few months for them both especially as Max is not very well himself and off work at present. Beth went back to work yesterday.
Friends thank you once more for all the support that you have shown me. There have been times I actually felt your physical presence surrounding me.

LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Goodbye

2011-04-11T20:06:00.000+01:00

Sarah...1937-2011.

Ann is a good friend of Sarah and John and when John died she did a wonderful poem in his memory I used it on the page just before his funeral.(such a short 6 months ago) I have just received one that she has done in memory of Sarah, so I thought I would share it with you as well. It kind of describes her love of life. The picture I have put on is not a particularly good one but it shows her wonderful smile that captivated everyone.

SARAH.

Where shall we find her ?

The voice that is the morning breeze,

whispering through the pollen laden trees,

Soft as the hair on butterflies and bees

Yet firm as Edinburgh rock

Deep as a Caladonian Loch

Where shall we find her ?A mind to mediate and analyse

Is never still and never dies,

Multitudinous friendship ties

Leaves us with a wealth of memories

Enduring as the timeless seas.

Where shall we find her ?

In any face that saw her smile

"Come and stay a while,

Don't take an inch we'll give a mile,"

Such generosity of heart

Sets her apart

We'll never find her like again

Unless we look amongst the trees,

The meadows full of butterflies and bees

The birds that swoop and glide with ease

And peck the nuts and fruit and seeds.

Don't look for her that's where she'll be,

with John.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers tomorrow around 1.30pm.

Love one Another.

Broadband madness, love and death,

2011-04-03T18:50:00.000+01:00

My dear friends,
I am sorry for my long absense due in the main to the fact that I was changing from BT as my telephone supplier to the telephone being supplied by AOL as I was saving around £12 a month. However on the change over day something happened and I was left without a telephone line and no internt connection ! After 10 VERY stressful days and nights! I was eventually reconected yesterday at around 5.30pm. I will I am sure soon get through all you wonderful blogs as I have missed you all very much.
Thank you for all your prayers for my eldest sister Margaret. I am glad to say that she got home from hospital two weeks ago as theer is littel more can be done for her she has heart failure and so can only take things very easy gets very tired but is happy to be home with Mitch her husband who is dashing around her as if she were made of china !
Now I ask you for prayers for me...and my wonderful niece Beth...Last week my beloved sister Sarah was taken into hospital on Monday afternoon. She had had a chest infection that did not repond to antibiotics and they thought that the hospital coudl treat her more intensively. They tried there best but unfortunately on Thursday we were told that no more could be done. Sarah and Beth and I had all said we did not want any invasive treatment. She has been on a high pressure ogygen supply and it had not helped her lungs at all. She was so wonderful and asked ....what next....the Dr. explained they would stop the oxygen...but that she woudl have no pain....she asked what day it was and we said Thurs. she said then tomorrow will be Friday ? Yes I said the 1st. April...Aprils fols day, you don't want to be a fool do you !!...... YES she said with her usual broad irrisistable smile thast it we wil do it tomorrow....Beth and Max her husband sent. as ordered by Sarah, for Max's son Alex, who Sarah looked upon as her Grandson to coem on the first train from Lonodn on Friday morning, which he did and was able to have a few mins with his Granny on his own..which was lovely for them both I am sure. She was given some morphine around 12.45 and a relaxant and they disconected the oxygen at 1ok....(not before she had said when they gave her the injection why are you not taking of this mask ? I am ready to go now.... again said with her lovely smile...the nurse said well you will just have to wait another 10 mins with a smile...) They had explained to Beth and I that it woudl be easier for her if they did it that way...She was then free to speak to us whenever she coudl catch enough breath and she was able to do so even giving Beth and I orders ! and still her last thoughts was for others.. She died at 3.45. It was an easy death for her, very hard for Beth and I. However I am pleased that she is now at peace and I know happy to be reunited with her dear John ( It is only 6 months since he died and darling Jacqueline 18 months ago.) I can't help being just a wee bit sorry for myself as I feel that half of me has gone as well and with Maragret being so poorly it just seems a bit overwhelming.
I will be back soon with I hope much brighter news.
As we continually said to Sarah all week....We Love You....please pass on that message to all your loved ones

(In the photograph on my side bar of the three sisters Sarah is the one on the right)

Springtime..

2011-03-13T19:43:00.000Z

After the last blog writing of my friend Angie's thoughts on the Earthquake I began to wonder whatever could I write ...Things around here seem so trivial ..However perhaps a bit of trivia is what we need after all the hours of watching the developing disaster in Japan.

The week my wee village of Box has come alive..it is so full of colour..There are daffodils everywhere one looks. In gardens, and on the roadsides even some on the roundabouts..My willow buds have now turned fluffy and golden with pollen..just ready for the bees that have started to buzz around, they especially enjoy the bed of heather I have near the door...so I think you can say that I am HAPPY to see the spring arrive..   Something that I found out the other day and I am not sure if you will find it very interesting but if you are interested in history and history of our little village you will find some details here

1867 The Free Methodist Chapel was built by Box Methodists to attempt to combat the 'riotous' lifestyle enjoyed by many quarrymen living on Box Hill   (Now closed when it joined the village Methodist Church)

1870 Box Cricket Club was founded (and is still one of the best cricket grounds in the area I can see it from my small deck during the playing season, This week they have started rolling the grass etc.)

1875 Box Church of England School was built ( This is a wonderful school and gets excellent results)

1881 In the 1881 census, Ditteridge was listed as having a population of 101

1895 The new parish council takes over the operation of the Fire Brigade (no longer in use)

1896 The Methodist Chapel and Hall were built, mainly by members of the congregation (this is where I am a member)

Late 1800s By the end of the 19th century, there were nearly 700 quarry workers in the parish as the quarrying industry flourished

1907 The Roman Villa was excavated by Sir Harold Brakspeare. The findings were not unique, but showed a once extensive dwelling

1915 Ridge Quarry was temporarily converted into an arsenal for the duration of World War One

1951 The population of Box reached its peak at 4,581 residents

1920-1925 Restorations and enlargements were carried out at Hazelbury Manor for the owner,

G.J. Kidston, by Sir Harold Brakspear

1922 Box school became a mixed school of 212 pupils

1923 The village war memorial was erected following the First World War on Bear Green

1926 The recreation ground was built (this is the Rec. that I overlook and it is wonderful)

1943 The Cemetery was extended into an area that became known as the New Cemetery

C.1945 Following an urgent need for more housing after the Second World War, the 'Fete Field' (which was once used for outdoor social activities) was used to build the Bargates Estate

1957 The Rising Sun, a public house, was tragically destroyed in an explosion, killing the licensee and his family

1960 The public house 'The Lamb' was closed

1967-1968 Another excavation of the Roman Villa was carried out by Henry Hurst and revealed alterations made to the villa and its outbuildings

1968 Clift Mine was closed

1969 The remaining quarries were closed   (Now just a few months ago it was reopened)

1969 Selwyn Hall, the village hall, was built

1970 Bingham Hall, the building where indoor social activities used to place, was demolished (its function being replaced by Selwyn Hall)

1978 The parish council bought the land at the Box Common to manage it on behalf of the people

1986-1988 Peter Gabriel, formerly of the rock band Genesis, launched his own record label, 'Real World Studios' in a converted mill

1992 The organ at St. Christopher's Church, Ditteridge, was rebuilt

1998 The 'Lovar' water garden was built from former wasteland on the northern perimeter of the recreation ground (this is also the village dog walk and in the summer I sometimes take Dee along for a walk there is a lovely pond there where we can see the dragonflies, wonderful yellow Iris and water lilies)

2001 The 2001 census recorded Box's population as 3,439 people

2004 The people of Box could finally access the Internet through a broadband connection

I actually found details way back to almost neolithic days and some other time I may take you even further back in village times...

Today has been one of ups and downs. We had a good church service and afterwards Sarah felt well enough to come out for dinner. Peter went and collected her and we met at the Bear a very old village pub. They do a wonderful Sunday Roast. Sarah and I can only manage a child's portion ! but Peter makes up for us have a LARGE portion..and then also manages to finish what Sarah has left !! Peter and I had roast beef which is done to a turn it is served with all roasted vegetables, carrot, swede, sweet potato,beetroot, and also fresh spring beans of course Yorkshire pud. and roast potato It was a very delicious lunch. Sarah and I had a cherry and apple flan between us for afters and Peter had trifle..No wonder I fell asleep when I came home !!! That was certainly an UP part of the day next came the DOWN part my oldest sister Margaret had not been at all well for a few weeks now and has been waiting hospital appointments. Today she had one for her heart and unfortunately the results were not good and consequently they admitted her to the hospital. We do not yet know what the diagnoses is. she has CPOD like Sarah but her symptoms have always been different but although her breathing has not been as acute as Sarah's I think that perhapss the time has come for her to need oxygen as well.she has such a very very bad cough that I am sure that has put a strain on her heart. I am just waiting for Mitch my BIL to phone to give me an update..if he is not too tired when he gets back....I would sure appreciate your prayers for Margaret and Mitch at this time. Thank You.
I am praying that you are all enjoying some spring weather.
Love to you all..... and never forget to say to all your loved ones how much you love them. I know that we think they should know that without us having to say it, but is sounds all the better when you actually say it out loud....
Love Sybil x

Earthcquakes and Tsunamis

2011-03-13T08:25:00.000Z

I am just popping in for a few moments this morning as I want to share this poem that my friend has written with regards the terrible events in Japan. I will come back later today...promise...

A Psalm of Earthquakes and Tsunamis

O Lord, hear the cry of your people

as creation trembles and we are made small

The mountains are laid low and the seas rise

The planet shrugs its shoulders

The restless dirt groans and moans

under the weight of our living.

Crops and land are lost to the salt of the world's tears

Wave upon wave cascades over the face of your earth

Their weeping carries away

The witness of our living.

In one convulsive heave

pride and possessions, people and places

are shaken down by the land, thrown up by the sea

to be caught by the air:

tossed and turned, and returned

to the wave of anxiety

that crashes onward

An unstopable force of creation and destruction.

Though you called upon us to name the beasts of the field

And the birds of the air

Still the sea is yours

You made it - and its raging fury

The land is yours

You formed it - and its restless heavings

And we, moulded by your hands to hold your breath

are bound to this world by your will and your Word

So I will praise you God in the midst of the fury

From the depths of my grief, for the land and the sea and the lives that are lost

For the nurture and nature that shapes us and feeds us

Though its power astounds, and its might dismays us

Still your Word brings order out of chaos

And your mercies comfort and sustain us

Reminding us, even as we weep

of green pastures, beside still waters

written by my friend Revd.Angie Sheir Jones.

Break to Bournemouth,,,Earthquake in Christchurch New Zealand

2011-02-27T19:12:00.000Z

Hello Friends,

How have you all been this week. We had a very nice few days at Bournemouth starting last Saturday through to Wednesday. It was a cheap coach trip that I suggested to some friends in guild....we have always gone on a guild weekend at end of Feb. however this year it had been cancelled.........so this was just a thought for our own guild and in the end 10 of us booked and off we went. It was a real nice few days. The hotel was excellent, beautiful and clean and food excellent. It was on top of the cliffs looking out to sea...unfortunately none of us had sea views.We had trips our each day. on the Sunday we went a short morning trip to Poole. This is a very nice coastal town home of the famous Poole Pottery that sells for high cost in auctions. Also just a few mins. from the harbour is Brownsea Island where the Scout Movement was begun by Lord Baden Powell. On that island are lots of red squirrels, unfortunately we did not have time to go over to the island ( Although Mary and I have been over on other occasions) The sun did come out whilst we were there and we were even able to sit out and watch the beautiful sail ships bobbing about in the harbour. Next day was a full day tour to the Isle of Wight. We sailed from Southampton to East Cowes. Unfortunately the weather was very dull and grey and certainly not very photographic. It was a pity as one of the places we stopped for lunch was called Godshill and most of not all the houses had thatched roofs which come out nicely in photographs...but not this time !! sorry....Next day was a trip into the New Forrest. Again it was a dull grey day but quite pleasant. we saw many many New Forrest ponies but no foals as yet..

All to soon it was Wednesday and the day to come home...

As some of you may know one of my very favourite countries in the whole wide world is New Zealand. I have been fortunate enough to have been there 6 times now and each time I leave a little of myself behind. So it will come as know surprise to hear that the news of the horrific Earthquake in the south Island City of Christchurch has been much on my mind and in my prayers. It was actually the first place that Mary stayed in when we did the grand tour of the South and North Island...we stayed in a hotel called the Copthorne, well today another friend who lives down that way has written an article about what is happening...and what has happened to the hotel...I have asked her permission to reproduce it here for you all to have some up to date personal news. Can I ask you all to pray for all the people in that beautiful City. and in the surrounding countryside. By doing so it shows that we truly do:

Love One Another.

From New Zealand....

On Tuesday the 22nd of February 2011, Canterbury NZ, suffered it darkest day. There was an earthquake of great magnitude. To date there has been confirmed 146 deaths, 236 missing still, trapped under the rubble, in the inner city. Christchurch is the 2nd biggest city in NZ. It is the first time in our history that the govt has called a National Emergency, that is where they can commandeer anything from anyone. I shall start with the elderly, in NZ like most countries, we have rest homes, for the elderly, they have had to be vacated, some folk are in their 90s, and are being shipped away from family and friends because there is nowhere safe for them at the moment in ChCh. They are being taken by helicopter, plane and cars, and some are very very distressed. Next is the people with heart conditions, some have just died on the spot, others have had heart related problems 5 days on, and now the doctors are calling it "Heartbroken Syndrome". The main ChCh hospital was slightly damaged, and all patients were at first evacuated, those that had a home to go to and were well enough, were sent home. Then the injured came in, 100s of them, there are still over 150 in ICU. On that subject the Australians sent over a medic (MASH) team, and they have set up a huge special tent in one of the parks, where they can do operations and births, and anything in between. There are so many countries that have sent special teams of rescuers in I cant tell you how many have done so! But there are over 750 people from all over the world here, all bought their own equipment too. Buses full of people were crushed, the folk inside dead in an instant, people in shopping malls crushed, offices, lifts, homes, schools, kindergartens, you get my drift, not one person was not affected by this quake. There have been so many stories of heroics, many many sad ones too as you can imagine. The inner city has gone, buildings that have stood over a 100 years, (remember NZ is not that old) gone, the church Peter and used to work at , just a pile of rubble, and 3 men killed in there, they were trying to take out the pipe organ , rescue it from last years quake. The suburbs have literally sunk, its called liquefaction, where the ground, roads, cement paths turned to quicksand, one chap walked outside a moment after the quake to see if his elderly neighbour was ok, and sunk at the gutter to his waist. He is OK. Trucks cars, buses, you name it they sunk into sinkholes. A hotel called the Grand Chancellor, sunk 3 metres (8 foot) in 10 minutes, another hotel, a very large one, just disappeared. (The Copthorne). A building housing over 120 people just fell like a house of cards, with most trapped inside, (120 still inside), it housed a local TV company, and an English school where Asian kids went to learn English, also a doctors rooms, its flattened, 7 people got out of there. There is so much I could write, but I will put local NZ news site on here so if you want to you can see for yourself. http://www.stuff.co.nz/ tvnz.co.nz tv3.co.nz

and all this happened in 45 seconds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Awards and news

2011-02-11T20:08:00.000Z

I received this award from my dear friend Elizabeth ... Home musings...Thank you Elizabeth.

To Accept The Award Requirements: Thank and Link Back to the Blogger Who Awarded You With The Award and Share 7 Things About Yourself. Award 15 or as many as you like Recently Discovered Great Bloggers and contact the bloggers, inform them of the award.

I found it quite hard to think of 7 things about myself that perhaps you didn't know as I live quite an "open" life and I think most friends know most things about me !! But I will have a try !!

Seven things about me:
1      My favourite day of the week is Sunday.
2      I have had 4 dogs...Libbi, Red, Tamas, and Dee. Thre dashhounds and one Yorkie,
3      I once had a prize Silkie hen. I used to carry her around in my dolls parm.
4      The friend I have had longest is Phil we have know each other for just over 60 years.
5      My fav. food is a Sirlion Steak cooked rare...
6      I resisted having a computer for years and years.
7       I would not like to live without my computer !!

So there you are a few odds and ends about me.. Nothing very earth shattering !!

Now I will nominate some great bloggers that I follow
Joann's new journal
Geni in the Lakes
Dear diary
Buttercup counts her blessings
My Southern Home
Grammy's News
West side of straight
The Mellow Pages
Grandmayellowhair
Sixty is good
Home musings
with brush in hand
A year from Oak Cottage

I am not at all sure if I have done all this correctly...I am sure someone will let me know if I havn't and I will see if I can do better next time. I am sure you all know by now how.. expert !! I am on the computer LOL

I have a PS to my last mesage about my memories of the Queen. I forgot to tell you a sad thing that happened. It was just after the coronation that my Granny decided she would like to see the film "The Queen is Crowned"   she had never been in a cinema before....in fact belonged to quite a strict church that frowned upon such places...she asked permission of the church elders and was duly told she could go. So one day she went with my Aunt into Edinburgh an journey in itself as she rarely ever left the village...They arrived at the cinema and after buying the tickets and just before entering the auditorium....she dropped dead...It was a dreadful thing to happen, she had diabetis and was not a well lady and the feeling was that it was just all to much for her the excitment of the day. I remember as a child feeling sorry that she had paid to see the Queen and never saw her !! typical of me..never mind my poor Granny lying dead...
Yesterday I had good news that my Great Niece Samantha passed her driving test first time...We are so proud of her...She will now be able to drive herself wherever she wants to go. After her test she took her Mum into Bristol as she had a hospital appointment about her diabetis....driving in Bristol takes some nerve I can tell you. It is the last place on earth that I would drive in unless there was an emergency !!!
Goodnight All..             LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Queen Elizabeth.

2011-02-06T19:53:00.000Z

I was wondering what I would write about tonight and just as I thought I would give it a miss and write another day I came across the above lovely picture of our Queen and underneath was the following statement

The Queen will mark the 59th anniversary of her accession to the throne by attending a traditional Sunday church service.

So it is 59 years since she had to come home from holidaying to begin her reign as our Queen. what a responsibility it must have been for such a young woman and her husband. Of course the crowning of the Queen did not occur till quite a while later as lots of arrangements had to be made. I was only 7 at the time but can well remember the excitement of the coronation. at school we were all given a mug with the queen on it, and a tin pencil case similarly decorated and containing small bars of chocolate !! I wonder whatever happened to them, I expect the mug may have been broken but it seems strange not to have kept the pencil box... what else do I remember.....oh yes we had a magnificent bonfire in the village at night.. Also it was almost the first time I had seen a television. In Laws of the daughter of a friend of ours in the next village had a TV !! (they also had a small shop)and invited me to join them to watch the queen being crowned...to be honest I can't remember much about the actual crowning but what I do remember is that we had tea and sandwiches...and the sandwiches had tinned salmon in them .....well....(as we still had rationing after the war)... I certainly had never seen salmon let alone eat it !! we also had cucumber ones !!! To this day I can never each a salmon sandwich without recalling that day, I can almost "see" the interior of the house and the wee probably 10/12inch. television, black and white only of course, in the corner.. quite some time later the Queen was having her usual visit to Edinburgh and her car was due to pass through the village and all the children at school were lined along the main street, flags being carried and then......the car passed........what a disappointment...oh yes it was the Queen, but she didn't have her crown on...now to a child a Queen without a crown....was...well...not quite a Queen... Many many years have now passed and I have been fortunate to have met the Queen at a reception at Hollyrood House her Edinburgh home...and she still didn't have her crown on LOL..but she was lovely. I think the picture I have put on top today is a lovely one...

I hope you have enjoyed my little tale of nostalgia,,

I have had a very nice week, nothing dramatically has happened but it has been a quiet week weather wise and it is a delight to see the snowdrops nodding their little heads and even the odd yellow crocus, and even some tiny pink cyclamen showing themselves under the clematis that is also showing some buds. I only hope that the dreaded heavy frost does not return and nip everything, it is early yet..I think maybe that the bulbs etc thought that after the very early snow and ice we had that that was the end of winter....Ah well we can always hope,,,

Today has been lovely as we were able to welcome a new member into our church, Eric has been coming to church with his wife who joined last year and has been wonderful in the background doing many maintenance things throughout the church and only now did he feel that he was able to commit himself to the church. It was such a great service by our fairly new lady minster Rachel Borgar. I must write to our former minister (who came to us as a retired minister from Canada) to tell him as he was the one who encouraged Eric's wife Sandra to join us.. After church I came down and collected our neighbour Peter and we went to join Sarah, Beth, and Alex (Beth's stepson) for lunch at one of our favourite pubs the Quarrymans....why is it called the Quarrymans....that's a story for another day...

Goodnight to you all. Remember always to LOVE ONE ANOTHER

Burns supper...

2011-01-24T19:27:00.000Z

Good Evening friends,

Tomorrow will be a big occasion in Scotland and indeed in many other countries throughout the world it will be BURNS DAY. The day when some Scots celebrate the birth of Robert Burns. Suppers are help everywhere and most follow the same tradition that has been going on for many many years...Now as most of you know I am Scottish but I have a confession to make....I have never actually been to an oficial burns supper...I have had many many ordinary burns suppers...indeed I can hardly remember a year when we have not had the celebratory Haggis for lunch/dinner/supper....Tomorrow I will again be having my haggis. Sarah, Flick, (Sarah's friend) Mary and two or three other friends are joining me at a local pub for a burns lunch...Many of you will be already familiar with what goes on at a traditional supper but in case you are not I will write a bit about what actually goes on..and on ..and on...whilst usually the whisky flows !!!!

Piping in the guests

A big-time Burns Night calls for a piper to welcome guests. If you don't want all that baggage, some traditional music will do nicely. For more formal events, the audience should stand to welcome arriving guests: the piper plays until the high table is ready to be seated, at which point a round of applause is due. At a more egalitarian gathering - with no high table - the chair can simply bang on the table to draw attention to the start of the evening's proceedings.

Chairman's welcome

The Chair (host/organiser) warmly welcomes and introduces the assembled guests and the evening's entertainment.

The Selkirk Grace

A short but important prayer read to usher in the meal, The Selkirk Grace... Although the text is often printed in English, it is usually recited in Scots.

Some hae meat and canna eat,                               some have meat and cannot eat

And some wad eat that want it,                              and some would eat that want it

But we hae meat and we can eat,                          but we have meat and we can eat

And sae the Lord be thankit.                                 And so the Lord be thankful

                                           Piping in the haggis

Guests should normally stand to welcome the dinner's star attraction, which should be delivered on a silver platter by a procession comprising the chef, the piper and the person who will address the Haggis. A whisky-bearer should also arrive to ensure the toasts are well lubricated.

During the procession, guests clap in time to the music until the Haggis reaches its destination at the table. The music stops and everyone is seated in anticipation of the address To a Haggis.

Address to the haggis

The honoured reader now seizes their moment of glory by offering a fluent and entertaining rendition of To a Haggis. The reader should have his knife poised at the ready. On cue, he cuts the casing along its length, making sure to spill out some of the tasty haggis within.

Warning: it is wise to have a small cut made in the haggis skin before it is piped in. Instances are recorded of top table guests being scalded by flying pieces of haggis when enthusiastic reciters omitted this precaution! Alternatively, the distribution of bits of haggis about the assembled company is regarded in some quarters as a part of the fun...

The recital ends with the reader raising the haggis in triumph during the final line Gie her a haggis!, which the guests greet with rapturous applause.

Toast to the haggis

Prompted by the speaker, the audience now joins in the toast to the haggis. Raise a glass and shout: The haggis! Then it's time to serve the main course with its traditional companions, neeps and tatties. In larger events, the piper leads a procession carrying the opened haggis out to the kitchen for serving; audience members should clap as the procession departs.

The meal

Served with some suitable background music, the sumptuous Bill o' Fare includes:-

Starter

Traditional cock-a-leekie soup;

Main course

Haggis, neeps & tatties (Haggis wi' bashit neeps an' champit tatties);Haggis mashed turnip and mashed potato

Sweet

Clootie Dumpling (a pudding prepared in a linen cloth or cloot) or Typsy Laird (a Scottish sherry trifle);

Cheeseboard with bannocks (oatcakes) and tea/coffee.

I have been reading in the national paper over here that there are moves afoot to get the regulations forbidding the export of Haggis to the USA changed so perhaps one day soon you will all be able to join with me in raising a glass to the Haggis   LOL

I am quite sure tomorrow up at the Quarryman's Arms none of us will be addressing ..the haggis...indeed I fully expect it will arrive on our plates without us even seeing the Haggis as a whole !!!     however there are some things that we will enjoy. I am sure that Sarah will be reminding us of years long past when she and John used to make their own haggis...and of times they celebrated with the Flick and family and friends.

Goodnight Friends...... LOVE ONE ANOTHER

I had some great news this morning I have won a "give away" by my good friend Buttercup..do have a look at her wonderful blog    Buttercup Counts her Blessings...   you won't be diappointed

Outings, and new starts,,,

2011-01-12T19:54:00.000Z

At Last....here I am well into 2011 and only now beginning to get back to normal...whatever that may be..   I have been reading lots of blogs and see that you have all had a good time over the festive season and some have been making New Year resolutions...wonder how many are still sticking to them. I rarely ever make one as I know that within a few weeks I will be back into the old routine !!
Mary and I had a quiet start to the New Year..in fact after a drink or two early she went home and I actually went to bed just after 10pm. I did get up again about 11.45 mainly to phone Sarah as I knew that she would be feeling particularly alone by herself for the first time at the start of a New Year. I called her just before midnight and so we were "together" as the old year went and the New Year arrived. Afterwards as is the tradition I opened the doors to let the old year out and the new year in and then it was away to bed again !!    New Years day itself brought Margaret and Mitch over for the first meal of the year the usual steak pie etc . that went down well as always. They did not stay too long as they wanted to go up and have a quick visit with Sarah ( Mary Peter and I had gone up early morning) and so the year 2011 is now well on it's way.
    As the snow and ice have now gone I was able to get back to church and what a joy that was I had only missed three services but it seemed many more, it was great to see friends and exchange news.....Mary and I have been able to take a couple of trips into Bath...first time was a quick visit as I hadn't realised that the battery of my wheelchair was in need of a charge so we couldn't wander around as was the plan. However I did get to spend some vouchers in a lovely shop called Lakeland they sell mostly kitchen things and all things that are difficult to find in conventional shops nowadays. I got two enamel pie tins that I have wanted for ages but hadn't seen them on sale anywhere..they also had some of their Christmas things on sale..so I came out with more than I had gone in for !!   Also spent a voucher in Smiths where I again got a bargain 60% off a USB drive thing..we ended up having hot chocolate in a new up market shop that has recently opened..it was delicious as was the macaroon we had with it !!
The next day found us in Bath again this time with the battery fully charged !! and we made our way down town to M&S I managed to get three crew neck jumpers and a lightweight fleece and also for Sarah a pair of trousers and a fleece, she has lost a lot of weight and most of her clothes are too big for her now ! Mary also bought me a new pair of earphones for my birthday which I will enjoy using when I use my radio (I have such tiny ears that I can't use the usual in the ear phone things).   This week saw the start of the usual routine..Monday Pam my friend was over in the morning. we have such fun together and always have a laugh or two or three !! In the afternoon we had first meeting of Guild, again good for us all to meet up. This week we had a speaker tell us of a charity she set up after her 16 year old daughter died...at first she gave money raised to OXFAM to build a water well in a village in India later, a good few years later she went to see the village and the well..and said if she could help in any way to get in touch. About a year later she Had an e mail asking if she could provide a toilet !! she asked how many ? any number was the reply at the cost of £70 !! she thought of three..but where could she raise that amount of money..she thought and thought and then asked a friend who came up with the great idea of asking 210 people for just £1 that was much easier to raise...since then she has continued in the same vein and has provided 120 toilets and a building used to help teach village children from families to poor to let them attend the usual school it is also used as a workshop for the village folks to produce things with the sewing machines she has been able to donate...and so from one small well...what a change to a whole village...Later the guild will give a donation to this worth while charity... Yesterday morning we had our first bible study for the year only 5 of us at the moment but I am sure it will grow as we get going... Today we were in Chippenham where I had a hearing aid test as my hearing aid didn't seem to be working as well as it did. It was a new man and he was very good, all he had to do was change the setting by computer on my hearing aid and it seems to be much better.. so Mary won't complain that the TV is too loud !!!    And so what happens next ?   Tomorrow Margaret and Mitch will be over and we are all going out for lunch it will be someones birthday on Friday ! !so we are having a celebration lunch ! Sarah is also hoping to be able to come with us which will be a real treat. Friday think Mary intends to take that certain person out for a Chinese meal... I am always quite happy once the first half of January has gone ... maybe then ...except for the odd chocolate still to be cleared away...I can start watching what I eat...maybe LOL
It has been awful watching all the news footage of the flooding in Australia most of the places that they mention are all places that Mary and I have visited when we did a 10 day coach tour from Cairns in the North to Sydney we stopped in quite a few of the places overnight and can hardly believe our eyes...Please join me in prayers for all these poor people...

Good Night, God Bless,    and   remember to

                                       Love one Another

Christmas and New Year

2010-12-30T19:23:00.000Z

Good Evening friends,
I hope that you have all had a wonderful Christmas. I already see from various blogs that I have read that you all seemed to have had !! I am glad that Mary and I were able to get up to Sarah's. It had been doubtful right up to Christmas Eve as the snow and ice had prevented us from getting anywhere. Thankfully the slope down to the main road here was cleared mostly by Peter and a few other neighbours and up at Sarah's it was the same. Max and Beth had cleared all the ice from the driveway so that I could park so all was well. It was a very very cold day the temp was -11 in the early morning and never rose above-6 all day. However at Sarah's all was lovely and warm and cosy. Beth did the most wonderful Christmas lunch with all the many trimmings, her Dad would have been so proud of ...we all were...Sarah coped really well and even manged a good meal. we did not stay too long as we wanted back down before the big freeze came down again but the time spent with Sarah, Beth, Max..who was also great doing all the washing up etc...Margaret and Mitch and of course Mary was so very happy. How thankful I am to have such a loving family.
So now we are only two days from 2011... On Saturday the 1st. I always have Margaret and Mitch to me for the first meal of the year...a Scottish tradition of making a huge steak pie will be on the menu !! with the usual trimmings. I haven't yet decided on the starter but I have tomorrow to think something up...
Until next year I will leave this New Year greeting to you all...

Happy new year to friends, family. Thank you for your kind comments, delightful emails of support and friendship, and your continued visits throughout 2010. I am hoping for peace, Love, Health and happiness in 2011 for everyone. At times this last year has been tough, but with the kindness of regular and loyal friends, getting through the year has been tolerable. Thank you for your friendship. Thank you for your kindness. Thank you for being you.And throughout 2011 alwasy remember to
LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

God Bless you all, and a very Happy New Year!

Christmas Love top you all

2010-12-19T16:18:00.000Z

Greeting card generated with Smilebox

Hope that you can all "see" this greeting. If I don't get back please have a wonderful Christmas and a wonderful 2011 from Mary and me xxxx
Love One Another xxx

snow news, good news, turkey news !

2010-12-16T20:12:00.000Z

Hello Friends,
Well the days are going fast towards Christmas, I wonder if you are all almost ready. Mary and I are almost there I think, just perhaps a few odds and ends to buy. well at least we hope to be able to but however the weather forecasters keep warning us of snow and ice for the next week or so and if that happens we will be marooned !! so fingers crossed they are all wrong. My poor friends in Scotland have had it really bad. There was more snow in Edinburgh than they have had for over 40 years...They ended up getting the army lads to come and help clear the streets and pavements, to enable folks to get out and about. This weekend is the last weekend for the Christmas Shoppers and it is not looking very good...The poor shop keepers are going to be very worried indeed.
Mary and I had a nice morning shopping in Bath last week. It was not quite so cold and it we were in town just after 9am. so all was quiet. I managed to get Mary's Christmas for her, she has wanted a really good nativity for a long time and we had kept looking for just the right one to no avail...but on Wednesday, there it was waiting for us in the Wood Shop. It is really lovely the stable and all the animals etc etc are carved from English wood..she is delighted with it. Only wish our John had been here as he could have told us what each of figure was made from which type of wood..

Some better news of Sarah, she is definitely getting a little better. We have to admit that physically she is not ever going to be the same, however she seemed better mentally and has started making the odd decision so that is good news. Beth and Max are coming over to Mum's for Christmas and Beth and Max are making the Christmas dinner, for Mary, and me, and Margaret and Mitch. I think next Thurs. weather permitting I am going with Beth to do the food buying !! I have already ordered the Christmas Turkey from our local village butchers, to be collected Christmas Eve.

More good news. This is the very latest news as I just had a phone call about an hour ago from my Great Niece Barbara (Margaret's Granddaughter) She was so excited I could hardly make out what she was saying at first, but the news was GREAT she has been given a place at Plymouth University from next year. (unless she really flunks her next exams, and she will never do that!!) we are so very proud of her. Samantha has been a diabetic since she was 6 years old and just a few months after being diagnosed with the diabetes as if that was not enough she was diagnosed as being a Celiac. Her diet has been severely restricted all her life and she and her Mum and the rest of the family have been so good. I have never heard her complain, although like all teenagers there must be times when she wants to forget both the diabetes and the celiac....She has done well at school despite having had lots of time away. she will be studying Music at Plymouth Uni.

I found this poem the other day and thought that I would share it with you as a little light relief for Christmas (would also have bee a good poem for Thanksgiving !!)
Will be in to see you all before Christmas, till then Love one another...and watch the poor turkey.

Be nice to yu turkeys dis christmas

Cos' turkeys just wanna hav fun

Turkeys are cool, turkeys are wicked

An every turkey has a Mum.

Be nice to yu turkeys dis christmas,

Don't eat it, keep it alive,

It could be yu mate, an not on your plate

Say, Yo! Turkey I'm on your side.

I got lots of friends who are turkeys

An all of dem fear christmas time,

Dey wanna enjoy it, dey say humans destroyed it

An humans are out of dere mind,

Yeah, I got lots of friends who are turkeys

Dey all hav a right to a life,

Not to be caged up an genetically made up

By any farmer an his wife.

Turkeys just wanna play reggae

Turkeys just wanna hip-hop

Can yu imagine a nice young turkey saying,

'I cannot wait for de chop',

Turkeys like getting presents, dey wanna watch christmas TV,

Turkeys hav brains an turkeys feel pain

In many ways like yu an me.

I once knew a turkey called...Turkey

He said "Benji explain to me please,

Who put de turkey in christmas

An what happens to christmas trees?",

I said "I am not too sure turkey

But it's nothing to do wid Christ Mass

Humans get greedy an waste more dan need be

An business men mek loadsa cash'.

Be nice to yu turkey dis christmas

Invite dem indoors fe sum greens

Let dem eat cake an let dem partake

In a plate of organic grown beans,

Be nice to yu turkey dis christmas

An spare dem de cut of de knife,

Join Turkeys United an dey'll be delighted

An yu will mek new friends 'FOR LIFE'

Pultney Bridge Bath

2010-12-02T19:15:00.000Z

Just a very quick entry friends, it has been pointed out to me that some of you were unable to get into the last entry due to a problem with adobe...or something like that...The only changed I thought I had made was the picture that I realise was too big, so I changed it...still a problem, then I remembered that I had tried to add a "counter thing" so removed that and all now seems to be well....hope so anyway.
My friend Cait tells me I will have to change the blog as in the previous one I make reference to the nativity scene picture !! I sometimes wonder at the things that I get into !!! Now the picture at the top is one of the famous Pultney Bridge in Bath actually taken by my friend Cait last year (with all the snow we have had this week I know that it will be covered in even more snow) It is a lovely bridge that has many small shops on it and also a lovely tea shop where you can look at the river below and watch some of the many narrow boats passing along...
We are still having very cold weather. Even here in Box we had a few ins. of snow overnight and temps of -5 tonight they forecast that it may drop to -10...Thankfully I have a lovely wee cosy home. Some places in the UK are having their snow measured in Feet rather than Ins.
Take care friends wherever you are.
God Bless and Love one Another xx

The North/East Winds doth blow

2010-11-30T19:18:00.000Z

Hi Friends,

How are you all as the season of our festivities begin ? Thanksgiving has past and now Christmas looms ahead. Are you ready or like me just beginning to think about it. For our family it will be a very different one from our previous Christmas Day celebrations.. we all go to John and Sarah's where John is usually in charge..or so he liked to think ! Sarah having been ever present at his elbow giving various instructions LOL....This year Beth says she is going to try to give us all as near to normal a Christmas as possible and that will be different. However before all that happens a lot of days lie in between and no doubt they will pass just as quickly as the whole of this year has.

I have got all my cards written and stamped...also Mary's, so they will be posted fairly soon..maybe even at the weekend....weather permitting.....most of the overseas ones are now well on their way....Yesterday we spent a few hours wrapping up some gifts and finding out if any more needed to be bought...thankfully not much more. You may have noticed that I said that the cards might go at the weekend ...weather permitting....The reason for that statement is that we are having a very early start to our winter. We don't normally get very low temps. and snow much before January and even then not a great deal of snow....however this year it has all started far to early for my liking...Since Friday our temp. has not risen above 0 indeed yesterday morning it was at -7 and we have had snow. Thankfully for us here in Box not an awful lot but enough to me inconvenient as it froze on landing making the roads like ice rinks. I stay at the top of an incline and no way can I get the car out when it is like that and so I have been stuck indoors...until that is this afternoon when the temp rose to the dizzy heights of +2 !! frost melted and I got the car out and up to see Sarah. i was so pleased as I hadn't seen her since Friday. I knew she was ok as we keep in touch with phone calls and the carers have managed to get to her each day. They could not get their cars down the hill but parked on the main road and then walked up through the garden to get to her...(tonight the carer had to come to get her to bed at 4.30 !!! as they had been instructed not to attempt to get to her after it was too dark !) poor Sarah, however she is quite snug in bed and has the TV etc all on hand so will be ok. It just makes it a very long night and a short day...carer comes any time between 8.30 and 10am in the morning !! I am praying that perhaps when she is stronger ..soon ...she won't need the morning and evening carers.

You might have noticed that I have changed the photo on top to a new one for the Advent season..It is the nativity scene that I have had for many many years..around 50 years I should think as it is one Sarah sent to us when she lived in Germany as a Nanny..and that was in the mid 50s !! gosh can it be that long ago !!

Now I am going to TRY to add a URL for you so that you can perhaps listen to it. It is of a young man playing the accordion. He was a young lad at the school where Mary was a house mother he has cerebral palsy and use of only his left side...he has turned into an amazing musician and is much in demand in Scotland, he has even gone with another ex house mother to South Africa to help her in setting up a charity to help a village there he was teaching the children how to play music and recording it for them

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V-mQkleGQc

Good night all. remember to keep LOVING ONE ANOTHER.

Engagments...

2010-11-17T18:49:00.000Z

Hello Friends,

Oh my it's overcast today. Quite a grey and miserable looking morning outside. I don't feel miserable today though. I feel pretty good. I slept well, and have no aches and pains, so I was ready to face today.
It has actually been raining almost all day. So I have not been out at all and neither has Mary. Our kind neighbour brought down our morning paper so that saved Mary getting wet...how we are blessed with good neighbours. I decided to make a start on the Christmas cards today..and between Mary and I we got well down the list, perhaps Friday we will get Mary's list started...and finished !! Tomorrow Margaret and Mitch come over so it will be a busy day. Mary is going out to a local garden centre with one of the clubs she goes to so she won't be in for lunch, but will keep her some back for later.

Congratulations yesterday to our lovely Prince William on his engagement to Kate Middleton. I don't know about you all, but I think they look a lovley pair.I thought that is was so lovely of William to use his Mothers engangement ring. I just wish I could get some photographs included in the text as there have been some lovely ones in our press. However I expect they have been flashed across the worlds press and so therefore you will have been able to enjoy them as well. On tonights news we hear that a decision will be made before the end of the week as to the date and place that the wedding will take place. It appears that Westminster abbey is the most likely venue...

Thank you for remembering Sarah Mary, Beth and I in your prayers. Things are still very difficult for Sarah and as we love her so...difficult for us....However we continue to pray that one day soon she will come out of the deep depression that I think is holding her back...

Goodnight.....LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

October Days.

2010-11-05T08:06:00.000Z

Good Morning Friends,
I was not a happy bunny last night as for the first time in almost a month I got down to updating this blog...only to see it disappear into thin air after i had spent an age doing it !!!
However today is another day and before I get started properly I feel I must get back even if it might be a bit shorter than last nights edition...............you will never know LOL.........
Things here continue in much the same manner. My dear sister is home now from hospital and just trying to keep herself together. She is now on oxygen 16 hours a day and is finding things very hard to come to terms with. We keep saying that it is early days yet and to try to keep calm, but at the same time we are trying to encourage her to look forward even if it is only a day at a time..It is very difficult for us all, Sarah has always been the kind of person to take control over things and it is hard not to be able to ask her advise, she just feels so tired all the time.She cannot see a way forward that she wants...
Mid October saw Mary, my friend Pam and her husband Henry go away for a 4 day coach tour. We were staying in North Norfolk. ( If you look at a map of the UK you will find the county of Norfolk just above London it is the part that juts out into the north sea) that is a significant statement as I say it juts out into the North Sea and consequently it is the first place to be hit by the cold North winds travelling down from the far north !!! Yes it was blowing whilst we were there....I being an optimist said it was "bracing" others said it was bitterly cold !!   We were staying in a small village called Mundesley right on the coast there is a small complex of holiday cottages there actually it is called MundesleyHoliday Village and includes an entertainment centre etc. It was the first time we had been there and we were very impressed with the quality of the food and the accommodation especially as it was a very cheap short holiday..Each day the driver took us out around 9.45 and we would be taken a short drive o see the various small towns and villages around returning about 3pm. Just long enough for us to enjoy ourselves. We went to Cromer one day this is an old fishing town unfortunately I say old as there is very little fishing done from there nowadays...in it's hay days it was very famous for it's Crab and Cromer Crab is still enjoyed whilst there...the same day we went to Sherringham another lovely seaside town as it was lat October most of the "holiday shops" had closed down or were about to, still it was nice to imagine what it would be like at the hight of summer. The next day turned out to be a very special one for me...we stopped at a village called Holt, famous for lots and lots of art galleries and antique shops. As we entered the village I saw signs for a Rolf Harris Painting Exhibition. Now this eshibition is touring the country and I had wanted to see it very much and had been disappointed to see that the nearest place to Box that I could have seen it was Birmingham and therefore I had put it out of my head. so you can imagine my delight on seeing the sign, in fact I really couldn't quite believe that it was there in this small village...Just near where the coach driver set us down I saw a gallery and two people standing outside I said did they know where the Rolf Harris Exhibition was being shown....yes it was that very gallery, once I had found out that it was accessible I was pulling Mary in like a shot.. I was not disappointed as he had some very spectacular paintings and some sculpture on display. Then as I turned a corner there in front of me was a picture that took my breath away...I immediately "saw" it hanging on my sitting room wall... it was one of only 195 and so was actually out of my usual purchase price !!!! However Mary said she would give me money towards it for Xmas and I called my Brother in law and asked if he and Margaret would like to make a donation as well....and before I could change my mind I was whipping out the credit card and saw "my" painting come off the wall to be taken downstairs to be wrapped and sent to me the following week.   The painting is called "Fishermen by moonlight" and although I love it, I realise that art is very much in the eyes of the beholder and it may not be to every ones taste. The main colours are dark blues, pinks, and greens just as the sky can be like just as the moon is shining down reflecting on the water.. So really that was a most exciting day...Other than when I bought a diamond ring in South Africa I have never spent so much money on myself.. as Mary said I rarely buy anything but when I do.....well credit card, look out LOL
Since we got home the cold I developed when we were away is refusing to go away and I think that is making me feel to lethargic and that is why I haven't been around very much. Please forgive me I haven't even been making comments on your blogs, but many days it is reading them that has raised my spirits so thank you.   I have been enjoying the wonderful weather we have had this early in November we have only had one really cold frosty morning so far and I can't remember the last time we have had such a wonderful colour in the Autumn leaves it has been breathtaking.
     Last Monday at our Wesley Guild meeting Pam my friend had us all making coasters.   she brought lots of cork mats, and paints, stamps, and other "bits" that we could all use. None of our members had ever done anything like that and I think most of them enjoyed the change, It was amazing to see the deigns and colours that they came up with. Pam has taken them all home now and Henry is going to varnish them for everyone.
Thank you all once more of all your encouraging words these last few awful months.

Please never ever forget to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

New Day's

2010-10-08T19:34:00.000+01:00

Hello Friends,
I am back again after a difficult week or two after the funeral which went as well as they can do. There were over 150 people there and many fine tributes were paid to John. So now we must try to pick ourselves up again and start a new phase in our lives.

These three weeks inbetween have been busy ones as my dear Sister Sarah, John's wife, became increasingly poorly after the funeral and the following week was admitted into hospital where she still is. However the good news is that she will be home on Monday and we will all be so happy. Sarah has a breathing condition called CPOD and her breathing became much worse, this resulted in her becoming so unwell that she hardly had any strength however she is on the mend now and after a few weeks recovering at home with extra oxygen and some help I am sure she will slowly recover.

As I say these last three weeks or so have been busy...mainly visiting hospital, shopping, etc. so I have no "real" news. Just wanted to pop in to let ou know that soon I hope to be back to more regular blogging.
Thank you all for understanding....love Sybil
LOVE ONE ANOTHER

2010-09-15T19:32:00.002+01:00

Hello Friends,
I have not a lot to write tonight but just wanted you all to know that my dear Brother in law John died this morning peacefully at home surrounded by his loved ones just as he would have wanted. He had a very quiet weekend and was pain free. We want you to know how much we have appreciated all your prayers, thoughts and good wishes during these past 10 weeks. John was a very much loved gentleman much more then he could have ever realised as has been shown by all the visits, flowers,cards, and telephone calls from all over the country. I am glad that he was able to know fully how much we all loved him. I will miss him so very much, it is hard at this time to imagine our lives without him. whatever was needing done, ask John, John will know what to do, was always the first thing we would say. When John retired almost 10 years ago it gave him more time to enjoy his hobby of woodworking. One of his friends wrote a poem to him that I am glad to say he was able to read and it says more about him than I could ever say, I have asked my sister Sarah if I can print it here and so I end my tribute to John with the following words,

MY FRIEND JOHN.

The tree stands steady, through autumn mists

The biting cold of winter and summer droughts.

Birds, insects squirrels and dormice are his friends.

His spirit is strong

Until he becomes the chosen one,

The perfect plank. Cold, spiritless, waiting.

The man stands steady through toil and turmoil,

Stress and bereavement.

The people he meets are his friends.

They tell him their troubles

He holds their hands and comforts them.

His spirit is strong.

He takes the wood from the dead tree.

And lovingly breathes life

Into the perfect shape his hands create.

The tree's spirit wakens and remembers

The man and the tree are one

Their spirits intertwine

For ever.

I know that John would always join me in reminding you all to never forget to

LOVE ONE ANOTHER

Quiet days.

2010-09-07T07:33:00.003+01:00

Good Morning Friends,

I am sorry that I have not been around much these past couple of weeks. However I have not been out and about very much as I like to be as near home as possible certainly within phone range and as I have had problems with my mobile reception from Vodaphone this has made things even more difficult...I hope though to go into Chippenham at some point this week and get into the shop to complain...yet again.... So what have we been up to...in a word NOTHING !!

I had a very welcome e mail from my dear friends in New Zealand to say that they were safe after the awful earthquake that they have had..although Bob and Mary are in the north Island and the quake hit the south it is not such big country that it was nor felt "up north"

Just wanted to keep you all up to date especially with John news. We have had a real roller coaster time these past two weeks. There have been days when we have thought that the end was very near...even the nurses have not given us much encouragement on these days....Then a couple of days later he has perked up...indeed last week he was so well he was even got out of bed helped by dear Beth and into the wheelchair able to get out on the deck in the sunshine for an hour or so...they were able to have great chat together which was wonderful...at the weekend he again went down quite badly especially on Saturday. Beth arranged to stay overnight and Max came over as well...by Sunday he once again came "back to himself" so as I say it is all a bit of a roller coaster..I promise I will try to keep in touch as and when I can. Thank you all for all your prayers E.mails and thoughts that I have felt travelling over all the miles between us....
I am going to try to add a new picture..it is a bit of a nuisance that I still have not managed to get pictures in between my printed work....never mind just another thing to try my patience...or what I have of that it is in short supply at the moment LOL

Love to you all and remember always to LOVE ONE ANOTHER

Vistits, Balloon Trips,

2010-08-20T19:08:00.002+01:00

Hi Friends,

Sorry for long silence however things have been quite hectic around here this last week or two. I last wrote the day my dear BIL John came home from hospital, such a happy day for us all as it is all we had prayed for that he could get home amongst us and as well as possible for as long as possible. I am glad to say that it has been such a delight to have him home, he has slowly got a little more poorly but still retains his old humour and has us laugh at times. He is now very tired and sleeps a lot but that to is good for us, as we are just happy to have him here amongst us.

Just before the news that John would be home I was saying that my friend Sheila had visited from Edinburgh. she was here for a week and we did enjoy her visit. On the Saturday I had another visitor this time the lady who originally owned this home. it was a long time since she had been here and it was so good to see her again. Also was nice to be able to share with her the alterations that have been done over the years. As it was a nice sunny afternoon we all managed a walk along the dog walk (in my case a trundle!!) Janet hadn't seen the new walk and the lovely pond at the end of the walk she was most impressed, we ended with a walk through the rec. and along the main road, it was so lovely to be sharing the village.When it was time to go back to her friends I drove her to Warminster with Mary and Sheila, it was a very wet drive down and back but I was more than delighted just to have had a few hours with her company. Thank you Janet..come again soon...

Monday saw us saying a sad farewell to Sheila, she was off to visit her daughter in Cardiff . Next day Mary had to do her packing for her trip up to Edinburgh. she had been very hesitant about going as she did not want to leave with John being so poorly but I am glad in the end she did as she missed her annual visit last year. I have heard daily from her and she has enjoyed herself. she will be home on Tuesday late.

Friday 13th. saw Peter and I and my friend Pam om our way to Bristol the to annual Balloon Fiesta. we have gone each year for the last three years. The weather this year was not bad...at least it was better than last year as we had only one brief rain shower, however there was a very gusty wind that prevented the balloons from getting blown up. It also curtailed the hoped for mass assent. still we had an enjoyable say as there are lots of other things going on and many many people for us to be looking at !!

This week I have had yet more visitors. This time a friend that Mary and I made on the cruise who is English but is married to an American (dear Skip who so much helped us on the cruise) she was over visiting her Mum and called to say she would come and visit and bring her Mum. I hadn't met her Mum, but Oh what a delight I was in for, she is so so lovely. They came down from London by coach Tues. am. and returned Wed. late afternoon Wed. so we had plenty time to do the tourist visit of Bath and surrounding area. They loved Bath and I am sure it won't be long now till "Mum" comes back down to visit. Yesterday my sister Margaret and husband Mitch were over as it was Thursday and they come that day. we went out for a nice lunch in Chippenham and I had to go and buy a new vacum cleaner. It was good to get it when they were here as Mitch got the job of carrying it and when we got home putting it all together !!

Today after the visit to see Sarah and John I have had a very lazy day, I did clean my cutlery drawer !! other than that I have read a book for a while and now watching, whilst writing this...Coronation street...

Thank you all for your prayers and love. It is very much appreciated.

LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Hospital news

2010-08-10T16:17:00.003+01:00

RED LETTER DAY................

My Darling Brother in Law has come home from hospital

Thanks to everyone in the great National Health service and all my dear friends for your prayers and encouragement..

Remember always to: Love one another...

more news later

Visits and visiting

2010-08-06T19:42:00.002+01:00

Good Evening Friends,
Sorry for long silence however things have been fairly busy this end and really not that much news to report...First my darling Brother In Law is still in hospital after various ups and downs...He has been on a special antibiotic this week and thankfully it is working and today I have to say was the first day that he has been looking better and indeed was almost like his own self, laughing and teasing..Probably I know the results of the antibiotics working and the correct dose of painkillers....however it was just a delight to see him. We are hoping that he will be home by Tuesday. but will not get our hopes up to high as we have thought he might be home various days this week. everything is on hand and planned for his return home. A special hospital type bed was delivered this morning and our local Dr. and nurses are all primed to care for him and my dear Sister...So please just keep praying that we have the strength to keep going in the days to come. My niece Beth has come home to stay with her Mum, and Dad when he gets home. (She lives in Bristol and should be away to France on holiday with Max and Alex but has insisted that they go and of course they will be keeping in touch daily.) what a wonder to live in such an age that although many miles away we can be so close..
I have had visitors these last two weeks. Week one saw an old friend, the Father of one of the children I baby sat for some 48 years ago !! he is now very deaf and almost blind. He always tries to come down from Edinburgh once a year however the last time he was due to visit was the time that Jacqueline died (for new friends, Jacqueline was my Goddaughter Sarah and John's eldest daughter she died very suddenly and unexpectedly at age 47) then last year he discovered he was going blind but he did manage this years visit. He had only been gone over the weekend when another friend arrived from Edinburgh. Sheila and I have known each other for around 45 years. It has been lovely having her as she is a very easy visitor and just settles in so well. I have been visiting the hospital most days so we have not gone perhaps as far as we might have but she has just delighted in being in our lovely village.. I have also set her to work whilst she has been here !! she has re planted the window boxes as the dry weather has left the plants sadly dried up...also re did Mary's raised bed for her. Last night we three went out to dinner and as it was such a lovely evening we went for a little drive afterwords...Sheila has only visited here once before so the countryside around is all new to her. we went on roads that even I had never driven on before, taking little narrow lanes no wider than 8ft they were so little used that the grass was growing up the middle...I was praying that no car was coming the other way or someone.....who might it have been?? would have had to reverse a long long way !! thankfully all was well. Although a bit scary at times. when we were nearly home we passed a field full of rabbits and round a corner were delighted to see roe deer... Tomorrow I am having another visitor this time only for the day. It is the lady who lived here before Mum and I moved in 17 years ago..we have only met a couple of times since then as she now lives up in the Lake District, we will have so ouch to chat about and I will have so much to show her that has changed...Thankfully Sheila is still here so she will be helping me with the entertainment and getting the food ready. We went this morning to Chippenham and bought salad things also some strawberries that I will make into a pudding !!
Keep happy friends, and always remember to LOVE ONE ANOTHER,

Chippenham market

2010-07-25T21:03:00.000+01:00

AT LAST...

http://smilebox.com/snap/4d5467774f5445304f54633d0d0a.jpg

Enjoy.... I hope

Chppenham Market

2010-07-25T19:26:00.006+01:00

Good Evening Friends, tonight I thought I would take you with Mary and I on a walk around our nearest Market town called Chippenham. It lies aprox 7 miles west of us here in Box and is where we mostly go to do local shopping as it is easier to park there than it is in Bath. About three weeks ago the usual Saturday market was moved from the very top of the town down into the centre and the main road through town pedestrianised. It gives the market much more space and seems to have much improved everyones view of it. I hope that gradually it will grow to include many more stalls. I don't think it will cause much hardship to the shops in fact it may even bring them more cutomers. So here we go....

Well sorry that was a failure !!

I was trying to put the pictures under the text but first one appeared above and the second one above that !! not what I wanted at all. I always seem to have had this problem....anyway I will perhaps do a smilebox and add that.

We are still enjoying some lovely summer weather and whenever I can I am sitting out on our deck just enjoying the feel of the sun on my face. I do hope that you have been able to do so as well.

Thank you all very much for all the kind words, prayers and e.mails regarding my dear Brother in law John. We did get news on Friday and although it was not all together unexpected it was still very hard when we heard the Dr. say that unforunately there were very few options available. The one that might have been was sessions of chemo. this was discussed however John and Sarah agreed that they would much rather live every day of the life they have left together in as good health as possible and if John had chosen Chemo it might have given him a couple of more months but at what cost... We now just want him home as soon as possible. He will have to have the external drain out and replace it with one internally and we hope that they will do that this week as soon as possible and then we can get him home.

As I write this I am looking out of the window and can see three hot air balloons slowly drifting overhead. They look so beautiful and colourful. There is a red one a black and white striped one and a blue one with white bands round it. Having been up in one of these beautiful balloons I can just imagine how exciting it will be for "them up there"...wish it were me !!

Goodnight God Bless. and always remember to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

(Sorry even my smilebox has let me down tonight so I will have to try another time)

News and non news !!

2010-07-21T07:38:00.003+01:00

Good Morning Friends,
Another glorious morning here in Wiltshire. We have been so blessed with our Summer this year, after what seemed like a never ending winter and very short cold spring !!
There is not a lot of news from this end so this is really just a short update as all of you have been so kind in E mailing and phoning to ask for news of John and Sarah. I have not been giving updates as really we are in a kind of a void at the moment it is just a waiting game. Last Friday John had an external drain put in and that is still there. It has certainly helped to reduce both the itch and the jaundice so that alone is an improvement. He has had some trouble in so far as his blood count dropped just before they put in the drain so he had 3 units given overnight and then again on Sunday night.l Monday they did another 'scope and it showed he had a bleed in is lower intestine which they have managed to stop.. so fingers crossed that has sorted that out. When we saw him yesterday he was much brighter and had been out f bed all day so we felt happier ourselves. Our next news should come on Friday after a meeting of the senior Drs. Regionally which is held in Bristol. They hopefully will be able to tell us what will be able to be done next.
Other than visiting hospital almost every day I have not been doing very much at all.... Mary and I did do a wee visit to Chippenham our nearest Market Town. It was again a lovely day and it was nice just to wander around. Mary treated herself to a new mobile phone ( I had treated myself to one the week before) Good old Peter to the rescue as he set them up for us. Unfortunately since then neither of us have been able to get a signal. I have e mailed Vodaphone to ask for help but none has come so far....It works perfectly well anywhere else but here in Box ! Mary especially needs one to work here as if she has a fall when out and no one around she can always call for help...so we are not very happy with Vadaphone....at one time it was only that provider that we could get a signal from and we have been happy with them for a long time...
Today is Wednesday and we have a bible study this morning....not that it should be called that, as since our minister left us on our own, we continue to meet we should rename it the chat show !! with Christian content !!!! I seem to have been elected leader and it sure aint one my "forte" !! If the weather remains as it is at the moment I think I will "walk" up the village for a change, I always usually use the car !! I am having a day off visiting John, Sarah's friend is taking her this afternoon and my other sister Margaret and a friend are visiting this evening.
So that's it from this end for now. Take care everyone...Thank you all for prayers. It does help to feel everyone so near.
LOVE ONE ANOTHER....

Good and not so good news

2010-07-11T14:33:00.002+01:00

Well friends here I am for the second time. My last attempt this morning, after I had checked it etc., decided to fly away into thin air...so I am now hoping that this will go in the right direction.
We have been having such wonderful weather these last three weeks here in Box, it is amazing to think we have actually had summer time this year.......

Well at the end of my last posting I was saying that Mary had a birthday coming up the following week, and as usual birthdays won't wait...So on Monday June 28th my friend Pam came over from Bath and took us out for lunch. we went to a new place in Chippenham a very nice pub where we had good attention and an excellent meal. Tuesday her Official 64th.birthday we went out for another lunch to the Chinese, again we went to a new place to us, it was very good although we didn't think it had as much atmosphere as the one we usually go to. Wednesday we didn't actually go out, Mary brought down a lovely piece of quiche for us. We have a new shop in the village that is serving sandwiches, tea coffee etc. one can either eat in or take away. by the taste of the quiche she should do very well. Thursday once again she was out for a lunch this time with some friends that she meets at a coffee morning....well come Friday it just didn't seem right for me to start cooking !! so out we went once more...So you can imagine we have had a good week and probably put on a few pounds to boot !!!

After that great week I am afraid things went rather downhill. You will have remembered that in my last posting I said that my dear Brother in Law John had jaundice and it was suspected that he might have Hepatitis, well, he was taken into hospital on Tuesday after it was decided he did not have hepatitis and they needed to do further tests...Unfortunately on Thursday we were told that he had cancer of the pancreas it is one of the cancers that is very difficult to detect and equally difficult to treat. At the moment he is waiting to have an external drain put in that would relieve the itch and the jaundice and once that has remained in for a couple of days they may be able to replace it with one internally, then we would expect he can come home. Meanwhile I drive Sarah to hospital twice a day, it is funny that neither of my sisters have ever learnt to drive. I love driving so it is a pleasure for me to be able to go into Bath.....just stop me I say ....when she feels I should be getting tired !
So there we are friends a letter of good and bad news. It would be nice if those of you believe in prayer could keep us in mind...
Always remember to Love one Another..

4th July

2010-07-03T21:10:00.003+01:00

With love to you all for a happy peaceful perfect

lazy June days

2010-06-27T08:15:00.003+01:00

Good Morning Friends, Sorry for delay in writing howev June has been a very quiet month.I hope that you like the new lay out. I was not happy with the Edinburgh picture that I had as my topper so thought that the June rose was much better....... On the 31st. May my friend Pam and of course Mary and I went to a wonderful craft fair. It was held in a beautiful old mansion house in a village which is actually quite near where I live but one that I had never heard of let alone visited...What a delight it was. When we drove in I found parking right in front of the house..good point...get out of car chair and all....STEPS..to entrance..oh oh..fear not a very nice young lass by the door, said no trouble, I will get someone to bring a ramp, and within a few mins a ramp was produced and it was with that welcome we entered and what a great craft show it was..very small..but such delightful things. Mary spent some money buying a few pieces of jewlery and I bought a magnificent Cockerel/hen that is a door stop actually and that will be a Christmas present for a friend who loves hens...as I do...it is a bit of a sacrifice to give it away !! We had a lovely cuppa and home made cake before starting back home. As it is an old mansion house there were steps in other areas and without us even asking a ramp magically appeared.. Such kindness without any fuss was greatly apprecated.. if you type in Cleeve House I think you may be able to view the house. ...
Otherwise the month as I say has been very quiet. Since we came home from Edinburgh by dear BIL John has been quite poorly. He has developed Jaundice that the hospital think is a form of Hepatitis ut as yet after about 6 different sets of blood tests nothing positve has turned up. It has bee a great worry as John is never ill and we all have come to depend on him so much. we just pray that the jaundice will go down soon and that he will be back to his usual bouncy self..
It is Mary's birthday this coming Tuesday so I expect we will go out for a meal a chinese I expect. We were in Bath yesterday and I got her a new purse that she admired, whilst we were looking at the purses I picked on up and opened it and found it full of notes ....yes about £35 I think...I said to the assistant about it and she was at first quite puzzled, then remembered someone had brought a purse back saying could she exchange it for a bigger one..and had...she thinks it must have been the lady so I hope she discovered her loss !!!
we have been blessed with the most wonderful weather this last week or so. I am just listning to the weather forecast and she tells me that today will be the hottest day of the year with temps up to 30+deg think that is around mid 80f which for us is hot !! I will have the fan on all day for sure. how blessed we all are. This afternoon I think there will be lots of BBQs burning and lots of parties and TV watching as England play Germany in South Africa... I am not much of a football fan but even I, I expect. will have the TV on in the background and will be shouting for England...but secretly wishing it could have been Scotland !!!
Remember during these lovely summer days to LOVE ONE ANOTHER

Edinurgh weekend...BP....

2010-06-18T07:31:00.005+01:00

Hi Friends, How are you all this lovely sunny and dare I say it even warm day! over here in Wiltshire. I am glad to say that our trip up north to Edinburgh went well. We all had such a wonderful weekend. I met cousins that I had not seen for many years so it was lovely to catch up on their news. My sister Sarah and John had booked us all into a wonderful restaurant for lunch. It is called "the Kitchin" and has a wonderful young chef called Tom Kitchin. He has been on some of the BBC Food Programmes and in fact it was there that Sarah first saw him and decided it was a place that would serve interesting and exciting food. He did..it did... The area in Edinburgh where we stayed has been redeveloped out of all recognition to us. The area called Leith was always at the heart of the docks and you might guess as to what it was like, also it had long long streets full of Whisky Bonds. The Whisky has long been gone and these same buildings transformed into smart very up market shops, restaurants etc. They have built a lovely new building called Oceanterminal. It is from there one can now go on cruise ships and docked there permanently is the Royal Yacht Brittania where one can tour all the ship (that is the one that the Queen used before it was moth balled) We did not have time to do that but maybe another time we go north we can. we didn't get many photographs taken other than family ones but I will look some out sometime to share.
Now I might be going to be a bit political ! I don't usually say much on internation matters but I have become more and more disturbed about the what has been reported ...on both sides of the atlantic...about BP and the oil situation. So here goes !!.

BP was indeed called British Petroleum but this was when it was
a British company. Some 10 years or so it joined with an
American company called AMOCO and changed its name to BP. This
was because around 40% of the ownership was American. Of the
remaining shares, 40% are British and the remainder from other
countries including Russia. This means that BP is equally as
much American as it is British.

I would also ask you to think on this. The oil rig was owned by
an American company who moved to Switzerland to avoid taxes.
The company who ran the rig was a wholly owned American
company. BP only owns the site, so why is it their fault?

If you consider that the American companies involved in Torrey
Canyon, Amoco Cadiz, Piper Alpha and Exxon Valdez did all they
could to avoid their responsibilities, is it fair to berate a
company that did not actually cause the problem yet is still
committed to clearing up at whatever expense that which was
caused in their name?

I am not even going to think in detail about how the American
bosses behaved when thousands died at the American-owned
facility in Bhopal! You might like to note that the American
company Transocean has been in the Texan courts trying to limit
their liability. However, the Judge refused. BP has not tried to
limit their liability in any way.

I am not a fan of oil companies in general; but as a Christian,
false witness is just not right, and the way people have behaved
in your country is no less than that. Your president seems bent
on trying to destroy BP. Just what would that do?

If BP was to take Chapter 11 then it would be the people of
America who pay for the cleanup. Are the dividends that
important? They are to the hundreds of thousands of pensioners
whose income comes from these shares held by their pension
companies.

There is no doubt this is a disaster but muck slinging is not
the way to solve it. Working together is.

Love Sybil x

Always remember to Love one another.

2010-06-03T04:27:00.002+01:00

Good Morning Friends,
well for sure I have never ever been sitting at my computer writing to you all at this time it is only 4.30am over here in the UK. I have just phoned over to Mary to wake her up as we are leaving for a short trip to Scotland around 6am... The reason being that it is my sister and brother in laws Golden Wedding tomorrow when they will have been married 50 years. At that time of course we lived in a small village near Edinburgh and although Sarah had left home long before that (she was a Nannie and traveled all over Europe) she had ended up in Bath where she met John and so of course came home to get married. It was a great day I remember as I was one of the two bridesmaids actually it turned out to be the hottest day of the year...and for Scotland that was a big thing especially as a lot of the guests were not exactly dressed for summer heat !! And so we all return home for the weekend. Tomorrow we are having a special lunch with friends and a few cousins. We are all looking forward to It very much. It will be interesting I think for Beth's (my niece) husband Max as he has yet to go up to Scotland so Beth is going to be showing him our old home and the haunts she and her sister went to on their visit up to Grannie and Papa's. Our visit will also be touched with sadness as we visit Arthurs Seat (you may remember I told you that my God daughter asked that her ashes be taken there) We will be visiting Arthurs seet on Saturday and it will be exactly 2 years since that awful day of her death...
The last time I wrote we were just back from our cruise and expecting our great friends from NZ. They duly arrived and we had a wonderful few days with them much to short a visit but we managed to pack quite a lot into these few days. Including a visit to a beautiful garden quite near here that is gardened is that a word!!..by a coulee well know as the Naked Gardeners!! yes they garden mainly in the nude !! my friend said "what even in the rose bushes" LOL fortunately/unfortunately we did not see them at work the day we went...well I did see Mr. but he had a T shirt on and a thong !!... We were also able to take them so see other friends they had made some years ago in a place called Blanford Forum which is quite near Salisbury. Salisbury is famous for having the Cathedral with the highest steeple in Britian.
After Bob and Mary left it gave Mary and I time to come down to earth for a week or so and now we are away again...Till we get back look after one another and always remember to say I LOVE YOU to all your loved ones and friends.. Take Care xx

Photographs of our cruise..

2010-05-22T07:55:00.001+01:00

This free picture slideshow personalized with Smilebox

Hope that you can view and that it dos'nt take to long to download.

Cruise ships, holidays

2010-05-20T20:05:00.004+01:00

Hello Friends, At last I am getting down to writing after our travels on the cruise ship Enchantment of the Seas..to the Caribbean. We left the UK on a cold frosty morning and after a very good flight to New York and onward to Norfolk Virginia we were basking in +70 deg. We had such a great time on the cruise..the sea was such a beautiful colour..ice blue through to the dark indigo and every shade in between...and on the various Islands the sands were so white ..almost too white as we had to keep our eyes half closed !! we had such a wonderful holiday. The ship was beautiful much bigger than I could have imagined, we were thankful to have met a very kind couple whilst waiting to have our passports examined (the wife had a British passport although she has lived in Virginia for 31 years with Skip her husband) we were in a separate queue...They had been cruising before so showed us the way and kept looking after us. we were amazed with our stateroom...as the cabins are called!!...it was very large and had every convenience for the wheelchair the shower room was best I have EVER had and I have stayed in an awful lot of hotels etc... There was so much to do on board that there was never a dull moment. As for the food....well out of this world would be the description...everything one could ever wish for and more was to be had and we chose to use the restaurant where we were served at every meal and the waiters were just XXXXXXXXXXXXX I could have run away with one or two of them !!! The Captain was to die for...such a young man to be in charge of such a large ship. We had an official photo taken with him at the Captains champagne reception...no less !! but I will enclose one now that was taken a bit later when he was around on the ship deck a new friend Karen just went up and asked him to come and be photographed with us !! What I mean to say was that once I am organised I will do a smilebox and you will see our handsome captain !! I still have not discovered how to put photographs in between the paragraphs. anyway as you can guess I didn't have much time to miss you all, although I did mention one or two of you to my new found friends. The family and friends here all had asked that we bring some warm sunshine home with us and I am glad to say that we have been sucessful in doing just that, we have had a very good week since we got home on Sunday just a few hours ahead of Heathrow Airport being closed due to the volcanic ash !!

Well think I will go now, it has been a mad mad week since we got back Sunday afternoon. Our friends Bob and Mary arrived Monday at 10.20am from New Zealand they leave us again on Saturday but it has been great having them but still trying to gather my wits as they say !! so till next time don't forget to
LOVE ONE ANOTHER. xx

walk in Box

2010-04-26T19:50:00.002+01:00

Hi Friends, back again this time I thought that I might take you a litle walk through the village. I have added some photographs so I decided I would add a little about each of them.
Number 1 Box Tunnel is perhaps the most famous view in Box. It is always being photographed especially by the many train spotters who stand in wait on the bridge that runs over the railway, for the trains rushing through the tunnel. especially if it is a steam train which comes through on special trips or the Orient Express that does special trips....very expensive...from London to Bristol

Number 2.. Is a slightly more modern house that would have been used as a Toll House when the main road was but a lane and the traffic...horse and coaches.. had to pay a toll at that point.

Number 3,.. The school it is a Church of England school for children from age 4-12 it has been in constant use sinse it was built in 1875 The clock in the tower chimes each hour from 7am till 10pm. when we have a silent night !!

Number 4. The Pound. This is a small oasis in the centre of the village. When it was first built it's purpose was to impound any stray animals pending collection by their owners who were then charged for their return...

Number 5 The Manor House was originally 17c. although additions have been made in latter years. It was once the Home of the Northey Family who were considerable landowners

Number 6 The Fountain. This is a delightful little area in the middle of the village and is of Gothic/Victorian design

The other houses I just thought you might like to see the various styles that can be seen throughout my lovely little village.

I hope you have enjoyed your little wander round Box in lovely Wiltshire, I have only lived here 17 years but fell in love with it almost as soon as I arrived. We are surrounded by beautiful green hillsides and meandering lanes with fields full of sheep and at this time lambs and also cows.. I always wish I could walk these lovely fields etc however I am blessed with lovely friends who go on the walks and always take photographs to share with me.

I wonder what your surroundings are like ?

Mary and I are away on our cruise next week but I will try to come back before we leave, if not we come home on 16th May and will hopefully have many a tale to tell of our Caribbean Cruise.
Good Night, Bless you all and remember always to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Walk through the village of Box

2010-04-26T19:41:00.001+01:00

This picture slideshow made with Smilebox

2010-04-02T21:05:00.000+01:00

Hopefully this will bring you all Easter Greetings xx

A digital greeting card by Smilebox

Maundy Thursday, April Fool, Concerts,

2010-04-01T19:08:00.004+01:00

Hello Friends,
At last I am back and I can hardly believe that we are now into April....I wonder if anyone was caught out with an April fool before noon today ? I certainly was at 7.45am actually when my BIL called and told me some daft story that I believed...hook line and sinker !! before it dawned on me that it was April 1st. what a way to start my day LOL... As well as All fools day it is also here in the UK Maundy Thursday, a dear friend of mine a few years ago was very proud and honoured to be presented with the Maundy money from the Queen, I think that year the gifts were given out in Gloucester Cathedral. I found this about the Maundy Money that you might like to read about
The Maundy Thursday celebrations in the United Kingdom today involve the Monarch (since 1952, Queen Elizabeth II) offering "alms" to deserving senior citizens (one man and one woman for each year of the sovereign's age). These coins, known as Maundy money or Royal Maundy, are distributed in red and white purses. This custom dates back to King Edward I. The red purse contains regular currency and is given in place of food and clothing. The white purse contains currency in the amount of one penny for each year of the Sovereign's age. Since 1822, rather than ordinary money, the Sovereign gives out Maundy coins.[38] which are specially minted 1, 2, 3 and 4 penny pieces, and are legal tender. The service at which this takes place rotates around English and Welsh churches, though in 2008 it took place for the first time in Northern Ireland at Armagh Cathedral. Until the death of King James II, the Monarch would also wash the feet of the selected poor people. No wonder my friend felt privildged to be receiving the Maundy Gifts.
And so Maundy Thurs leads us on to Good Friday and then Easter Sunday...what an array of emotions one goes through in these short 4 days... The Easter Weekend is usually the first holiday weekend for people who are fortunate enough to be working, at one time in the not to distant past all the shops etc would be closed for Good Friday and Easter Monday but nowadays they don't and in most places these days pass as any other day.
Thankfully the weather has mostly changed to real springtime and all the various spring flowers are fighting to see which ones can come out into bloom first...Having said that poor Scotland has been in the middle of another winter period with blizzards and people caught in their cars etc for hours in snow drifts even a train on it's way to Inverness was caught in a snowdrift and the passengers were faced with an 8 hour journey as opposed to the one they thought would take 2 hours !!
March was quite a quiet month for me here so not much to report...We did have a great evening concert at church when we had a group from the village called Collerne up the hill, the group is called CAOS.!!..(Collerne Amatuer Operatic Soc.) The have been going for 25 years so they sang for us songs from all the performances that they have done...It was a great evening and everyone enjoyed themselves. Our next occasion at church will be next Friday when we are having a chinese Supper evening It is a sell out already so we are all looking forward to that very much. Chinese is my fav. food, other than good old Britsh food !!
Also this month I will be making a quick visit to Scotland to see a friend, my sister and BIL come as well and we always have a nice time together...
So there we are, always something to look forward to. I hope that you also have a great month ahead. And a wonderful Easter in particular...
I will enjoy reading all your journals as the month passes.
Whatever you do always remember to LOVE ONE ANOTHER....

2010-03-08T19:21:00.002Z

Well I have made yet another start ! I have changed my header as all our snow has now gone....we hope for a long long time ! it was time for a change the flowers that are everywhere in our garden centres at the moment are the beautiful primroses. These primroses are actually one that will be appearing in my garden..hopefully..in a few weeks (these are last years) everything is behind this spring by at least 3 weeks I think. Usually when it is our Mothering Sunday which is next Sunday here in the UK all my daffodils are in full bloom..some years we even pray that they will still be in bloom! we make small posies up for all the ladies in the church, however this year there is not even one out so we will have to go and buy some for Sunday which is rather sad..not the buying..just the fact that there are none blooming as yet...

So what have I been up to lately. well to be honest not a lot ! The week before last I had a full week of knitting. Now knitting used to be my greatest pleasure and over the years I must have knitted 100s of jumpers etc etc., but for some time now I have had arthritis in my hands and they become quite sore when I knit so I had more or less given it up, however when my best pal came over couple of weeks ago and was knitting a jumper for her Grandson..I looked at it and said I thought it was a bit on the big side as her Grandson is only just 10...the jumper she was knitting almost fitted me !! the upshot was that I took it from her and promptly ripped it down and said leave it with me and I will try to knit it up again for her in the correct size ( we later discovered her daughter in law had given her sizes in cm and as Pam and I are "ancient" we are still in ins.and Pam was duly doing the said jumper in ins not cm.!!) anyway I set to and in 4 days or so had the jumper finished and ready for Fin. (He needed to wear it to a school book reading club it had to be made to represent one of his fav. book characters he had chosen Horrid Henry so the jumper had to be in blue with a yellow band on it !!)

Last weekend we had a few days away to Weston Super Mare a Victorian sea side town on the west coast under 2 hours from us here in Box. we were attending the Bristol District Wesley Guild Annual Meeting. we took 12 of our members with us and we all had the most wonderul time. The forecast had been wild and rather wet but thankfully the forecasters got it wrong and we had a lovely if somewhat cold few days. we were able to take a nice walk along the front and to view the new pier that is growing by the day ..they say that it will be fully rebuilt for the summer season and having seen it I am sure it will be.

These last few days we really seem to have seen the back of winter, as we have enjoyed lovely sunny days. It has still be very frosty first thing in the mornings yesterday I even thought maybe we had had snow overnight! but the sun soon gets to work and melts it by 9.30ish. Mary and I havn't gone far but most days we have made just a short drive just to experience the warm sun shining through the car windows... On Saturday a good friend Julie was down from London and we all enjoyed a great supper out at one of our Local Pubs. She had not been down for a wee while so it was as always great to see her. (It was Julie who went with me as my buddy when we went sailing on the Tall Ship we had such fun and lasughter together as well as hard work !!)
So there you are not much news but just enough to keep us all in touch.
Till the next time. Keep smiling and remember to LOVE ONE ANOTHER. x

snowy days..and sunshine,,

2010-02-22T20:08:00.004Z

Hello Friends, Sorry for such a long time between last blog and this....No real excuse other than that each day passes in much the same way so there has not been a lot to write about...
Mary and I had a 5 day coach trip two weeks ago to the East Coast Town of Margate...when we told people we were going to Margate they all looked at us as if we were mad...having been now in February !! I can understand why. As we approached Margate on the afternoon of Monday it began to snow...just a little...no worry says I... As we got out of the coach I thought that perhops I had landed in the North Pole. The wind for certain was comming from there without a stop...it was freeeeeezzzzzzzzing...Thankfully the hotel was warm and comfortable and very welcoming and we had a good room that was also nice and warm...The first nights dinner was a time to really meet the other folks on the trip. They were mostly all very nice. One elderly gentleman who was travelling for the first time on his own since his wife died attatched himself to us, and that was ok. He was very attentive at meal time always arranging Mary's chair for her and putting her crutches safe out of the way, also making sure we both had all that we wanted ! Bless Him..we could have done it ourselves however it is always good to let someone think they are helping...Tuesday there was a morning trip to an aircraft museum so we decided to give that a miss and have a wee walk/trundle around the town. Were only out about 10mins when we had to give in and get back into the warmth of the hotel and to order their Special hot chocolate Toddy...hot chocolate with a dash of whisky cream and hazelnut...I never drink whisky but we were so cold we thought anything that would heat us up was to be recommended....it was delicious....Wednesday was a day visit to Canterbury with a short stop at a small village called Whitstable, thankfully for us the driver stopped in the High Street directly opposite a church that was having it's weekly coffee morning. I don't think the ladies had ever had an invasion such as they saw that morning when almost 90% of us piled in !! then it was on to Canterbury. Mary and I went there last year with the same coach company so we did not want to go and visit the Cathedral again so decided on a wander round the lovely lanes....well that was the plan...however less then 10 mins into our stoll the snow started and boy did it snow !! it was a complete white out we were glad to see a M&S store so dashed in there and after spending almost 2 and 1/2 hours there !! It was time to make our way back to the coach Mary having to go very carefully in case her crutches went one way and she the other LOL I have never spent so long in any shop in all my life !! Thursday we awoke to a lot of snow and the driver decided that there was no way he could take us out for the arranged trip to some open air market and so we spent the day in the hotel. I had taken, for the first time, my little notebook computer and there was free internet access so I was quite happy to spend time playing and Mary got to chat to other new made friends.. Thankfully by the time Friday came and time for us to leave the snow on the roads had been cleared and we were able to make our way home..so although it was an exceedingly cold it was a very pleasant few days..
Glad to say that there are signs of spring in the garden the snowdrops are such brave wee flowers It amazes me how such tiny thin leaves can force themselves through the hard frozen ground, also Mary has crocus flowers purple and yellow blooming...The sun actually shone for quite a few hours on Saturday it is such a blessing when it appears, and I was able to go out into the yard and cut back the clematis and various other climbers I wasn't out long but every few mins. helps. My sister and Brother in law recently bought me an evergreen clematis and Peter our nice neighbour has gone and got us a very large pot to transplant it into, so that will be the next thing that will get done..
I expect like us all you will be waiting for these first signs of spring and I pray that you will see the signs very soon..
till the remember to..........Love one Another

Spring, Lambs, Snowdrops,

2010-01-30T17:01:00.002Z

Hi Friends,
Well we are almost at the end of January, the first month of the year gone I can hardly believe it. Although there have been days when I felt that perhaps winter would never end. We have cerainly had a very hard January weatherwise. I could not believe that we had below freezing Temps. for over a week, one morning getting down to below -11...............but...............this past week I see real signs of spring, on Monday I saw my very first little lambs they were springing about on their wee legs full of the joy of the moment not a thought in their heads that only half an hour later they would be being pelted by heavy rain.. I was so sorry for them and hope their Mums would keep them close tucked in. (It seemed strange to see the signs of the new life when I was on my way to prepare for the funeral of a friend from church)Then in the garden I saw the winter jasmine coming into bloom and the trailing willow at the gate showing it's little white furry buds. A bit later in the week as Iwent into a friends garden what did I see....yes ..the first snowdrops their little heads bobbing in the wind.. so spring IS on it's way...
Then this morning what did I see when I woke up....SNOW....not a lot but snow just the same it was a bit icy underfoot I actually had a laugh when our postman wasn't looking where he was going and slid on an iced over puddle....I know it is cruel to laugh at anothers misfortune but...well...I coudn't help it..he was ok of course ... As the day has passed most of the snow has gone but it is still white where the sun has not reached and the forecast is for below freezing tonight...(just hope these wee lambs are ok)....
Yesterday Mary and I were in Bath to meet up with a cousin I had not seen for about 32 years ! she came from Rhodesia to South Africa and we lost contact for some years but due to the internet are back in contact. She was over visiting her son who has moved to the UK and joined the Army his wife was having their second baby and that was what brought Ina over ( it was a boy born on Sunday) We had a nice lunch together and did a lot of catching up on family etc.
So all in all it has been a lovely week. I sure hope that you have had just as good a week.

Love One Another..

2010-01-25T07:45:00.002Z

Good Morning, Today is January 25th traditionally Burns Day to many Scots people throughout the world. There are Burns suppers by the 1000 I expect. Burns suppers are particularily popular in Russia where Robert Burns is well regarded. I actually had a burns meal with the family on Saturday evening as we had a freidn who had never tasted haggis so we all met together to encourage her !! she did enjoy it and actually had seconds ....If you do not know how a traditional Burns supper goes I will add what would be done and said at a trad. dinner.
If you have never tried haggis and can get your hands on one I would say go ongive it a try...it is delicious...

Burns Suppers have been part of Scottish culture for about 200 years as a means of commemorating our best loved bard. And when Burns immortalised haggis in verse he created a central link that is maintained to this day.

The ritual was started by close friends of Burns a few years after his death in 1796 as a tribute to his memory. The basic format for the evening has remained unchanged since that time and begins when the chairman invites the company to receive the haggis.

THE FORMAT FOR A BURNS SUPPER

Chairperson's opening address A few welcoming words start the evening and the meal commences with the Selkirk GraceThe company are asked to stand to receive the haggis. A piper then leads the chef, carrying the haggis to the top table, while the guests accompany them with a slow handclap. The chairman or invited guest then recites Burns' famous poem To A Haggis, with great enthusiasm. When he reaches the line 'an cut you up wi' ready slight', he cuts open the haggis with a sharp knife.It's customary for the company to applaud the speaker then stand and toast the haggis with a glass of whisky. The company will then dine. A typical Bill o' Fare would be:
Cock-a-leekie soup*Haggis warm reeking, rich wi' Champit Tatties,Bashed Neeps*Tyspy Laird (sherry trifle)*A Tassie o' Coffee (Mashed potato, mashed swede)
The Immortal MemoryOne of the central features of the evening. An invited guest is asked to give a short speech on Burns. There are many different types of Immortal Memory speeches, from light-hearted to literary, but the aim is the same - to outline the greatness and relevance of the poet today.Toast To The LassesThe main speech is followed by a more light-hearted address to the women in the audience. Originally this was a thank you to the ladies for preparing the food and a time to toast the 'lasses' in Burns' life. The tone should be witty, but never offensive, and should always end on a concilliatory note.ResponseThe turn of the lasses to detail men's foibles. Again, should be humorous but not insulting.Poem and SongsOnce the speeches are complete the evening continues with songs and poems. These should be a good variety to fully show the different moods of Burns muse. Favourites for recitations are Tam O' Shanter, Address to the Unco Guid, To A Mouse and Holy Willie's Prayer.The evening will culminate with the company standing, linking hands and singing Auld Lang Syne to conclude the programme

Friends enjoy the day. I have a very busy one ahead as I am just about to go food shopping as my friend and I are catering at shurch for the funeral of one of our members...it is only 7.50am.
I sure am up before I know it this morning

LOVE ONE ANOTHER

Sunshine, snow and ice

2010-01-09T15:20:00.002Z

Hello Friends,
What a beautiful day it is here in Wiltshire. I could amost believe that it is summer time...except...that the temp. has not risen above freezing all day !! The sky is so blue and not a cloud to be seen....I expect that means that tonight we will have another sharp frost, this morning at 9.15am. I checked the temp.outside on the thermometer and it was still at -9 so summer it is not....but I can dream....
I am so pleased that you were able to look at the previous posting. No one was more surprised than me when I was able to post the "smilebox" so that is something else I have discovered how to do....now just find a way to get photo's in the middle of text and I might really have conquered blogspot !!!
I hope that you are all keeping well and keeping warm, it seems that most of you have got the winter weather where ever you are with more, or less, snow. It is a long while since we had as much as we have had these past few weeks. We have even cancelled our church service tomorrow as we don't want any accidents on the way there. I have also cancelled Guild on Monday.
Mary is keeping herself occupied today by doing a jigsaw and I am getting on with a few letters that I should have done a week or two ago...
keep warm and safe friends,
Love Sybil
LOVE ONE ANOTHER...

snow in Box

2010-01-07T19:58:00.001Z

Make a Smilebox slideshow

do hope that this works....

Christmas 21009.

2009-12-31T07:47:00.004Z

Good Morning Friends,
As I have been browsing all my friends blogs I can see that most of us have had a lovely Christmas and that sure is something to be thankful for. I was especially excited this Christmas morning as Mary and I had been houseound all week due to the local roads being what are regarded as secondary roads not being gritted or salted consequently they were like an ice rink. Now I may be brave..sometimes...but foolhardy I am not so we just stayed put. Thanks to friends and family who braved the icy conditions we were never without the necessities of life. However Christmas morning I woke around 6.30am and peeped out to see NO FROST...well I was so excited I got up at once, If you could have seen me dancing around you would have thought I had lost my marbles altogether....I even rang Mary at 7.30 to tell her to get up !! We had only got to bed around 1am. as we have a tradition in the Wilson household of opening our gifts around midnight and this is year we did'nt get finished until about 12.20am !! It was the first year that Peter our neighbour joined us in this mass present opening....mainly as he wanted to see our faces when we opened his present to us.... He has lived alone for many years and it was actually the first time for a long long time that he saw what is the true meaning of Christmas, ... no, not Mary and I surrounded by lovely colourful gifts,....But Mary and I surrounded by so many loving friends....We had some wonderful gifts, and Peters gift ? We both had a painted portrait of our beloved pets. Mary had Amber and I had Dee. He is wonderful at thinking up all sorts of wonderful surprises and I woudl never ever have thought if that, he sure kept us guessing. They are beautifully painted and after today I will get Dee hung on the wall !! As we were frost free we were able to get up to Church for the early morning service that is always a nice service. After we came home and had another look at some of our presents it was soon time to go to Sarah and John's for Christmas Dinner. This year as well as Mary and I we had Peter with us and also Muriel another neighbour who had been unable to drive up to her Mother for her usual Christmas due to the bad roads. What a wonderful meal we all had. I started with something I had never had that was smoked mussels a bit salty but delicious, this was followed by the usual Turkey, stuffing, roast potato,carrots, brussels, parsnips, swede,cranberry sauce..that is all I can remember !! sure there was more though ! after we had enjoyed that, we all retired to the sitting room whilst Beth(my niece and her husband Max) and John cleared the table and relaid it for the "sweets" This gives time for the first two courses to "go down" before we start again !! we all had some champagne as opened fun presents that Sarah always has for everyone under the tree, then it wae back to the dining room for the next course... Sarah got there first and had the Christmas pudding lit and blazing away merrily....the choice of puds..was the usual Christmas pud, Trifle, and a yummy chocolate tart. I started with a small portion of Christmas pud. which was soon surrounded in ..single cream...the lake, then dusted with sugar..the snow, ...then a few dollops of thick creams brandy and also bransy butter...the islands !! see how daft we all are !! I followed all that by a small slice of the Chocolate tart with a few layers of various thick creams on top !! as someone who really does not "do" puds as a rule I think I did very well..... We did not stay to late as I was afraid that it might freeze again and the damp roads would become skating rinks again. What a lovely family day we had full of love and warmth...How blessed I am to have such a wonderful family. Boxing day found Mary and I over at Maragret and Mitch's...my other sisters home is lovely and so beautifully decorated it is just a delight to be there and enjoy yet another meal. This time we had roast beef and all the trimmings and during the afternoon we played the new Susan Boyle (is that her name ? ) CD that she had as one of her presents from Mitch. It is a great CD and Susan is a great ambassador for anyone who has had a label around there necks for years of being " a slow learner" the politically correct words !! I hope any Mother who has a child with that label will give thought to what can happen if only they believe....
And so here we are the last day of 2009 I just cannot believe we have had 10 years since we had all the celebrations for the Millinnium. what changes we have had in these ten short years.
I will end here with my new year wish for you all.
May each and every day of 2010 be one of contentment, good health and someone to love.
If we have these three things we will be blessed indeed. God Bless you all

NEVER FORGET TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER

Christmas Love

2009-12-24T19:04:00.006Z

This comes to wish you all a very very happy Christmas and every blessing in the days ahead.

2009-12-21T18:13:00.003Z

Hi Friends,
I have been so lax in writing I am almost ashamed...However there has not been a lot happening so not much news. We are having a real cold winter spell with lots of snow mainly in the South East of the country,.... a friend of mine has been cut of in her village for 4 days now.....Thankfully we have not had so much snow until now...Mary has just gone home and reports heavy snow at the moment. I am praying that it will all have gone by Christmas day, so that we can drive safely up to my sisters for Christmas dinner.... I was wondering what I was going to say about Christmas today and just as I was awondering I had the following story from a friend. So I copy it now as my Christmas gift to you all
.

The Truth About Santa Claus
I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!" My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her "world-famous" cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true. Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus?" She snorted... "Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor Has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad! Now, put on your coat, and let's go." "Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my second world-famous cinnamon bun. "Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything.. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's. I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a Few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for. I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my Friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, and the people who went to my church. I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class. Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough; he didn't have a good coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat! I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that. "Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked Kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. "Yes, ma'am," I replied shyly. "It's for Bobby." The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed a Good winter coat. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas. That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) in Christmas paper and ribbons and wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" on it. Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy.. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa's Helpers. Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going." I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby. Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were: “Ridiculous..” Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team. I still have The Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside: $19.95

May you all in the comming days find that you are in Santa Claus's team.
Blessing to you all and all those whom you love.... Sybil xx
REMEMBER
Loving one another....is not just for Christmas

Bath Christmas Market,

2009-12-05T19:30:00.002Z

Hello Friends, This has been a very wet couple of weeks here in Box and the surrounding area so as Mary and I have not been out very much there has not been a lot to write about, but just in case you have forgotten me thought I had better make an effort to pop in and write a few lines. Thanks to "Ma" I have been able to change the top picture (and even maybe how to include some photographs in between the print!!) The picture is of Bath Abbey in the background with the Christmas Market in the foreground. It was a picture taken by my friend when she went into Bath last week in the evening. This is about the 6th year that Bath has hosted a Christmas fair and what begun with about 25 stalls has now increased to well over 100. They are clustered all around the Abbey courtyards and the surrounding square and narrow streets. They are really quite magical at night when all lit up. Of course Mary and I can't get there at night as there are so many people there and many hazzards for crutches and wheelchair !! However last Tuesday when we awoke it was to the first sharp frost of the year and also SUNSHINE...as soon as we had breakfast we got in the car and drove to Bath and we were lucky to find a place to park the car not to far from where the action was taking place. Although it was very cold we did manage a good look round in all the stalls...again it was difficult getting around with the wheelchair as most had a little step around them so preventing me from getting a really good view of all their goods....maybe it was just as well as there were many tempting things from all over the West Country and beyond...but the prices.....a bit out of my purse strings...however as there were quite a few craft type stalls I did collect some good ideas !! Bythe time we had wandered along I began to freeze ! so we popped into the Bath Pump Rooms for hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows...also a Bath bun with cinnimon butter....yum yum...it is so grand in the pump room sitting there whilst the quartet play lovely music in the background. The room was also decorated with Christmas Garlands and a lovely tree...I will have downloaded some photogrphs taken there for next time to share with you. Once we were suitably warmed up off we went again for a second round and ended up buying between us a lovely wooden advent calander..It was expensive however we decided to buy it between us as it was 1/2 price !! .again photo's will be added if and when !!
Today I had a busy morning as it was our last table top sale of the year at church and like last month my friend Pam and I were selling on the "new goods" stall. We did not to badly making almost £50 towards church funds. everything we had left on our table plus some extra things that were donated from the WI stall..are taken over to Bath as Christmas Gifts for those folks with very little over christmas in an area of Bath the church always tries to help out especially at this time of the year.There was a beautiful Christmas Hamper the best I have ever seen worth about £60 one of our members won the prize and she promptly donated it to the Soutdown Project in Bath...so that will go a long way to help some poor family. ALso another member had a stall with many many soft toys and dolls all that were left over are also going over to Bath. My friend Pam (who lives quite near the area that is in need) will have her car full to the brim tomorrow when it is all loaded up after church for her to take over to Southdown.
Well I am going to stop now as one of my favourite programmes are being repeated and I want to sit and TRY to concentrate on them. They are all stories written by Alan Bennet. Good night Friends....
LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Baseball, thanksgiving, flowers,

2009-11-26T18:50:00.003Z

Good evening Friends,
I do hope that you are all sitting back tonight having had a wonderful Thanksgiving day. If you have had family and friends visit I hope that they have all enjoyed the hard work you have put into making them welcome and feeding them well....
Isn't it funny how an innocent conversation can lead one in all sorts of directions. My friend Beth over at Nutwood Junction often writes about baseball matches she has or is watching and I have not a clue what she is writing about and so I thought I would ask a few friends over here if they could explain the game to me, with not much luck I can tell you....I looked in google but didn't get far there either untill today when quite out the blue on a website I came across the rules....goody goody I thought then I read, and reread, and reread, and have decided that I should put it on here as I think perhpas I will stop now before I go any futher !!! Sorry Beth !! enjoy the game x

A Simple Explanation of Baseball
This is a game played by two teams, one out the other in. The one that's in, sends players out one at a time, to see if they can get in before they get out. If they get out before they get in, they come in, but it doesn't count. If they get in before they get out it does count. When the ones out get three outs from the ones in before they get in without being out, the team that's out comes in and the team in goes out to get those going in out before they get in without being out. When both teams have been in and out nine times the game is over. The team with the most in without being out before coming in wins unless the ones in are equal. In which case, the last ones in go out to get the ones in out before they get in without being out. The game will end when each team has the same number of ins out but one team has more in without being out before coming in.

Today Mary was out at one of the clubs she belongs to and the theme of the meeting was Flower Arranging and at the end of the meeting the arrangments were given out as raffle prizes...Yes, she won one of them and has brought it down to me, it is very lovely done in a narrow necked carafe with holder on top in the oasis is the arrangment of small yellow daisy like flowers, some lovely bright orange chinese lanterns all filled in with variagated greenery...This being Thursday my sister was also over and had brought me some lovely white carnations so I am sitting here surrounded by lovely flowers....I feel very lucky...
We are still having heavy rain showers and even stronger winds, indeed gales is the better word. I am still hoping to go out and do some shopping if it gets a bit better tomorrow...fingers crossed.

LOVE ONE ANOTHER...

Thanksgiving wishes

2009-11-26T14:36:00.002Z

So once in every year we throngUpon a day apart,To praise the Lord with feast and song In thankfulness of heart.~Arthur Guiterman, The First Thanksgiving

May I take this opportunity to thank everyone who reads my "blog" May God continue to bless you all.
To all my American friends - have a very Happy Thanksgiving Day!

LOve One Another Always.

Rescue, Royalty, last meal,

2009-11-19T19:11:00.003Z

Recently Sheria one of my favourite bloggers had a reqest to do a "Kreative Blogger" and as I have very little to say tonight I thought I might follow her, and give away a few things that you may or may not know about me.

1... when I was born my Mother was told not to expect me to live very long !! ... I like to suprise people....

2....Most of you may well know that my favourite country is New Zealand, but you may not know that one day in Auckland Mary and I decided to go to the top of Sky Tower (one of the highest towers in the world) It was getting towards evening by the time we got to the top and had stood admiring the views when we decided we had better go down to dinner 5 floors below,....As we approached the elevators we hear a ringing sound..there were quite a few of us milling around looking at one another....YES the elevators had stopped...broken down...capoot...whatever you like to call it we were trapped ! soon afterwards men appeared and said we would all have to walk down !! WALK DOWN..ME...not me..and so there was Mary and I marooned.... All the others had been led down the internal stairs. We had to stand/sit around till we could be rescued...It took some time ,and although the elevator engineers were getting a bit alarmed, I must say we bagan to think it quite funny...my only worry was our dinner date !! we made sure that our dinner booking would be honoured ..it was about 1 and 1/2 hours late

3. The two most famous people that I have ever met were The Queen...that was as I was introduced in a line of many people who had been asked to a reception at Hollyrood House in Edinburgh the home of the Queen when she is in Edinburgh. The other was HRH Princess Diana. She visited my Mother and me in our flat in Bath. She was a delightful person and very interested in everything. She even suggested the best place for a photo shoot for the attending photographer (she perched on the edge of our settee she was so tall and Mum and I so small !!)

4. I was Senior Steward at our church and was partly responsible for seeing through the project of restructuring our church at the cost of aprox £88.000..

5. I once crashed my car and never told my Mother. I told her it had a fault in it...when the engineer brought it back my Mother said to the young man, I hope you have repaired it properly this time....poor thing didn't know what she was talking about ( had I told my Mother about the accident she would have been afraid for me ever to drive again!!)

6. I once helped with Pam my friend, make Christmas dinner for 35 elderly tennants where we worked and I Lived...This was done without a kitchen ! We enrolled the help of various tennants and used their cookers. How we got everything all made and on time ! was a miracle...Can you imagine the two of us dashing between flats between floors with pots of vegetables, roast potato, turkey etc etc..and then serving up in our common room. Thankfully another warden had helped lay the tables whilst we were dashing around..

7. If I had to order my last ever meal.....it would be.. a delicious Steak rare cooked, with all vegetables in season followed by Baked Alaska (with choc ice in the centre)...

8. To enjoy my last meal I would have to be surrounded by my family, extended family and best friends...

So there you are.. As I said earlier it has been a fairly quiet week with me here, The weather has been very very stormy and although not cold it has not been very nice to get out and about. We are hoping that we might get out tomorrow to go and do a bit of shopping.
Good Night......and...
LOVE ONE ANOTHER...

Christmas. choirs, sales,

2009-11-11T20:49:00.002Z

Hi friends, sorry for the delay in writing. I truly do not know where the days go. It is already almost the middle of November and it is hard to believe that Christmas will be with us in only 6 yes 6 weeks !! I really will have to get my skates on as they say and get myself up a gear.... what about you ? are you all ready !! I have made one effort and that was to make a start on some Christmas cards I was horrified to discover that I had already missed the last posting date for my overseas mail to go by land/sea so now they will all have to go air mail and of course that is much more expensive...As Mary is not very good at writing she gets her secretary..me..to do her cards as well ah well only around 100 more to be done. There are other things that I must get organised as well it will be our Guild Christmas tea when we try to put on a little entertainment guess who is the entertainer !! Then there is the Christmas Carol service..goodness gratious me..do you think anyone would notice if, like the tortoise, I went into hibernation.
This last week has been really very nice if somewhat hectic.. My lovely neighbour Muriel has gone away for a month to Australia we miss her already she comes in every morning for a chat with her corgi dog. We are taking in her mail and I must pop over to check the house perhaps tomorrow...Mary had an exciting thing happen to her last week, she had a new television delivered and the gentleman who delivered it was very kind and managed to put on an extension to her arial so that she can now get a few extra programmes. We are all going "digital" in march so we are having to change our TVs. or buy something called a "didgi Box" so she chose a new TV. she is delighted with it. Last Friday we had a great evening at church when we had the "lifted gospel choir" from Bath Uni. come to give us what turned out to be a wonderful nights singing. I know that in the US there are many many gospel choirs but over here there are not that many. They were all lovely young girls and it is rare that 2 and a 1/2 hours have flown so quickly. We gave them all a standing ovation and have already booked them again for next year. That was the starat of a really great weekend. My friend Pam came out from Bath to spend it with me (her husband had gone with their two sons to France for remembrance weekend) To start both of us had to man a stall at our church table top sale on Saturday morning. We had organised a "new" stall meaning that we only sold things that could be sold/given as new, perhaps for christmas gifts.(even if all the goods had at one time been given as a gift to someone they gladly gave them to us to raise funds) Happy to say that we raised £45, and we will do another table next month of Christmas goodies. If I have time I will try to do a game or two...such as name the doll..but then I will have to buy a doll !! maybe I could find a teddy...I will have to think. The rest of the weekend Pam and I had a great time as Pam had brought her new lap top computer. Pam is fairly new at computing and wanted to know how to do quite a few things and so our weekend developed into a Computer Weekend. and what fun we had. not saying that Mary was very happy watching us fool around !! Sunday morning we didn't have a service at church as it was Remembrance Sunday when the villagers meet at the war memorial at 10.45 when there is a short service. After the service the Methodist welcome everyone back for hot tea/coffee biscuits etc. Pam and I were up at church by 10am to get organised and await the invasion. We have done this for quite a few years now so have got it down to a fairly good system...however when we are invaded by over 100 folks to be served tea/coffee all within about 10mins. it is a bit of a blur. It was the first time Pam had done it and was absolutely astounded at how many people arrive in such numbers. It really is amazing we have another two members in the kitchen who serve the children juice etc. and make a start at the washing up...it is amazing that by 12 noon everyone has gone and we have got everything washed up and put away....not bad just over 1/2 hour this year 115 served..a record number. And so began another week. On a Monday it is always Guild afternoon. This week we had a speaker who came to tell us all about the talking newspaper for the blind..or indeed for anyone not able to read the paper for whatever reason. It was a facinating talk and everyone left having learnt so much.
So there you are that's my last 10 days or so.
There was a lot of much more serious things that I could have and perhops should have written about in this week of remembrance but I have left to it some of my other friends to do just that. Good night, bless you all and remember
LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Halloween

2009-10-31T14:27:00.003Z

Halloween customs in Scotland in my childhood days !! consist chiefly of children going door to door "guising" dressing up and offering entertainment of various sorts in return for gifts. Mainly apples and some small coins (which I used to buy fireworks for Guy Fawks Night Nov.5th.) We would practice for days before hand whatever we had decided to sing, recite

We children were invariably dressed up as something supernatural or spooky or whatever the "fad" of the year might be !! as I said we had to do some entertainment usually consisting of singing, telling a poem or joke etc. My costume would always be home made and very easy.. we always only went to neighbours doors where we were known, although we were sure and certain that they did not reconise us !!!

We don't 'trick' you if you do not give, as in America. (However, after the showing of ET in the early 80s, the influence of American "trick or treating" seems to have become more prevelant at least in England.) I alwasy caried a hollowed out turnip with candle in it I can still remember the smell of thse turnips with the burning candle inside. I had never heard about Pumpkins.... ever.......

At church we always had a Halloween party often consisted of various games, for instance 'Dooking fur aiples' where we had to bite apples floating in a basin of water, once we had one by the teeth we could retreive and obtain it.

For younger children an easier game was 'Forkin fur aiples', an easier task, where the children stood on a chair and held a fork handle in their teeth, taking aim, they would release it into the basin of apples and water and retreive and keep any apple they so skewered. Another game was 'treacle scones' where children had to eat a scone covered in treacle hanging on a piece of string. This one we all loved...I can just imagine my Mothers face when we went home covered in sticky treacle !!

Today many if not all churches seem to be trying to stop the halloween celebrations...apparently it was supposed to be all about black magic whatever is that I would have been asking ??? Oh for the innocent days of long ago...

So there you are that is my memories of Halloween...

So Long as we LOVE ONE ANOTHER....we will all be safe xxx

change clocks, netbooks,

2009-10-28T19:39:00.002Z

Hello Friends,
TodayI was thinking about changing our clocks...we did it last weekend and I know my friends in the US do it this week and I wondered if you ever forget to adjust your clock?
How many of you wondered why we have to adjust our clocks forward one hour near the start of spring and backwards one hour in autumn? It’s not because we have to synchronize with any astronomical time or calendar (as it is the case with leap years), it’s simply because someone thought that more daylight would significantly improve many aspects of our lives.

An early goal of summertime was to reduce evening usage of incandescent lighting (formerly a primary use of electricity) by cutting one hour from the early morning, when most of the people were sleeping and adding it to the evening. Because modern electricity uses different patterns, adding daylight to afternoons is considered nowadays to be more beneficial for retailing, sports, and other activities that exploit sunlight after working hours. Traffic fatalities and crime are supposed to reduce when there is extra afternoon daylight, as well.
Even if saving daylight could be indeed beneficial, it is also sometimes confusing for all of us busy people out there. Did you ever forget to adjust your clock and found yourself running late or getting somewhere one hour ahead of schedule?
Last Sunday one of our older members arrived....and hour early...went home thinking that something was wrong....with everybody else !!!

I have had a busy two weeks, mostly driving friends to various hospital appointments etc. When not doing that Mary and I have had a wonderful time ...eating out...we had friends here for lunch on Tuesday which was lovely, they were actually Mary's friends but had not visited here before. It was a great pleasure to have them. Wednesday we were out for lunch with Sarah, John and another friend we had a nice meal in a lovely pub by the set by the canal unfortunatly the weather was not good enough for a little walk along to admire the many canal boats that are moored along the tow path. Friday we had our hair cut. My niece does Mary our neighbour Muriel and me all on the some morning, afterwards Mary and I did a supermarket shopping which included stopping for yet anoter lunch !! Today we went into Bath quite early so that we could park. Bath like most large towns in very difficult when it comes to parking, but we were quite lucky and managed to find the ideal spot. Before we came home Mary bought me a very early Christmas Present...a new notebook or netbook some people call it. It is really lovely. a bit different in size from my usual laptop but it will be wonderful when we go on holiday as it is so lightwight. I am very lucky.. to have such a friend...
Goodnight friends, never forget to
LOVE ONE ANOTHER....

2009-10-20T18:48:00.005+01:00

Hello Friends, I am back again from my travels. I expect it will have been the last away time for this year. My eldest sister Margaret and I went over to Wales for a few days. It was Margaret who chose to go there as it is a particular favourite area of hers. The area we went to is called the Gower Coast and must be one of the least visisted tourist area, a real secret for those of us who know it. To get there involves a drive of aprox. 2 hours along the M4 from Bath to Swansea and then on to smaller and smaller roads until we arrive at a place called Llanmadoc. There we booked into a hotel for our 3 nights. Many many years ago my Mother and I bought a holiday caravan over there and we visited almost every week for about 6 years really whilst I was working, then we sold the caravan to my elsdest sister (when we moved out here from Bath) and in latter years she gave it to my my niece and her children. It was eventually sold about 3 years ago after very very happy times. I think the Gower is mostly unexplored as the lanes are very narrow and the hedges quite high and folks are not keen to drive if every wee while one comes across another car comming in the other direction...one sits there looking at each other wondering who is going to reverse first, to find a passing place. I don't think there are many roads in the US like our lanes..!! When we first went there on holiday there was one small village shop and a PO but they closed some time ago. It was lovely to see a new shop open up and having a chat to the people in it we discovered that it was actually a Village Store..people in the village had all subscribed to buying and opening the new shop and also to volunteer to serve in the shop. They did tea/coffees and had home made cakes..It was great as we sat outside the shop on the village green having our "coffe break" I do wish them every success. We visited the largest town in the area Swansea and had a window shopping time, also visited the famous indoor market which had been there for over 100 years. Not sure if they have them abroad either. It is a very very large building that is divided into fairly small sections and local people rent a table to sell their wares. There are two wonderful fish stalls with the moast amazing looking fish for sale, one or two butchers who had some gorgeous welsh lamb for sale...lots of fresh veg. stalls. One would wonder how they all pay, but I expect that each has it's own following of customers. there are plant stalls, and cake stalls,places to stop and have tea or even lunches. and many cheap clothes stalls, gift stalls, jewlery stalls,pet food stalls,and ones selling graft making things wool, sewing kits etc etc. some selling books new and second hand, and even a bible stall. It really is a fasinating place to visit full of unusual sights and smells. Along the coast from Swansea is an area called Mumbles. We stopped there and had a lovely walk along the sea front again amazed that the weather was warm enough for us to be sitting admiring the commings and goings of many little yachts and the occasion wind surfer.. All in all we had a lovey few days. So there you are a little it of Wales for you to enjoy.

LOVE ONE ANOTHER

what do I see...

2009-10-13T07:55:00.002+01:00

A friend regularily writes a shortish type of "daybook" most days and suggexted I might do the same so here goes.
Outside my window...It is quite frosty so roofs are all white it is also fairly misty but will soon lift as the sun gets to work.
I am thinking.... What should I pack to go with my sister for a few days away in Wales
I am thankful for....the fact that me wee dog Dee came in beside me this morning in bed around 5am..maybe he was feeling cold in his bed !
I am wearing....Navy trainers and trousers and wine coloured short sleeve jumper (the heating is on!!)
I am watching....Morning News on the TV and the weather which tells me we are going to have it nice today
I am going.....to pack a bag for three days in Wales
I am hoping....that my Sister will be in a happy mood next few days...
A favourite thing....my camera which hopefully will be in action over in Wales.
And so there you are that's me this early morning in the lovely village of Box.

2009-10-11T19:50:00.003+01:00

Hello Friends,
I am sorry that I have been missing lately but I seem to have been having a rather busy period. I really will have to try and perhaps add something every day. I feel my life seems to be very repetitive and not really of much interest.. When I see how wonderfully my friends write their blogs I'm afraid I get a bit ashamed of my rather boring news....
I think last time I wrote I was about to go on a visit to Scotland. My sister Sarah, John and I drove up with only one stop for lunch and a couple of fuel stops. We left around 8am and arrived at my friends Graham and Fiona around 4pm not bad for around 350 miles. Thankfully the roads although busy had no hold ups at all which is a bit of a miracle in it's self !! I have known Graham and Fiona for for I suppose around 45 years sinse I started baby sitting for them and the three children. A lifelong friendship developed from that small beginning. The "children" are now of course all grown up the eldest 2 married with children of their own and the youngest not married...we still have hope for her !!..she works as a world ambassador for the Scotish Whisky Industry and is always on the go. I love her dearly unfortunately she was in Japan so we missed seeing her. We spent two nights with Graham and Fiona and we hardly stopped for breath as we caught up on all the news. From there we drove over to Elie a small seaside village in Fife near St. Andrews famous for the golf course and the University of course that Prince William attended. I have two very dear friends there both who are getting on in years. Jane the younger of the two has been very very ill for some time and her older Sister Meme is her main carer so it is good that we are able to go up and relieve Meme even if only for a few days. Meme was able with her nephew to go and visit her brother who lives near Oban on the West Coast of Scotland and also to have a day over on the isle of Mull where she had a house that she has now given over to her nephew, he is having it renovated and she was pleased to be able to see what was happening. On the Saturday afternoon Jane Sarah John and I went into St. Andrews to a very small theatre there called the "Byre" we saw a wonderful amatuer production of "Annie" It was great to be able to take Jane to see this, she was very tired afterwards but was happy to have been out of the house. We left Elie very early on Sunday morning just after 6.15am !! it was a good time to leave as the roads were nice and almost empty for the first few hours. Once again we managed to drive all the way home this time in record speed..
Mary was glad to see me back as was of course Dee.
Sinse we got back we have had some rater sad days as a two of our neighbours have died. Harry was 93 and had been in a nursing home for last 3 years but his dear wife Bridget still lives only three doors from us. His funeral was on Wednesday. Tomorrow we have yet another funeral. Brian a very dear neighbour who has brought our daily paper into us every day and had a wee chat, was diagnosed with cancer only 5 weeks ago. He and Marjory his wife only recently celebrated their 62nd. wedding anniversary. She will miss him so much, but she knows that we are just across the street and she can pop in any time. Can I also ask any who can to say a prayer from another dear friend Angie and her husband Brian, Angie also has cancer and seems to be very poorly. Angie was our minister for about a year two years ago, and today she was supposed to be back with us to help celebrate our chuches 175th.birthday anniversary. She was sadly missed.
Thats about it friends....sorry for the gloom and doom !!

LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Appearances, Perfect, Imperfect,

2009-09-26T08:11:00.003+01:00

Good morning friends, thank you for popping into read my latest blog !and thank you to those of you who have added a comment. It is always nice to see that whatever you are wrting is being read !!

I was reading lately that the Bible is still the world best selling book - what did surprise me was the claim that it is also the most shoplifted book. It seems odd to think of someone stealing a bible - what do they do when they come to the 10 commandments and read 'You shall not steal'? Do they take it back?
Bookstores say that the most common reason people give if they are caught is that they believe the Bible ought to be free to whoever wants to read it - but those who steal it seldom take the cheap paper-back version, it's usually the leather bound, red-letter, gold leaf edition that goes missing.
The packaging doesn't change the message, each Bible still has only four gospels, but the appearance, the binding, the type-face, the cost, all seem to affect how people look at it. It's just one more illustration of how we have been 'sold' false values. The more 'expensive' the product, the greater its value, and the more we should desire it - after all we are 'worth it' - aren't we?
But its all just packaging..
We know it, but seem helpless to resist it, in every area of life..
As part of their campaign to lure shoppers back, for example, many supermarkets are introducing a 'basics' range. This includes items like fresh fruit and veg which might not LOOK perfect, but which are just as nutritious. Carrots have kinks, marrows are curved, tomatoes have bulges, apples have marked skins.. the taste and the calories are the same as their more 'perfect' cousins. But even when we KNOW that there is no health or financial advantage to buying the more pleasing looking product we insist that if it looks better, it must be better.
But its all just packaging
I was wondering if we see people in the same way? If they look a bit rough, not particularly clean, perhaps dare we say it of a different colour , maybe they have a limb missing or have a blemish on their face, use a wheelchair, It would be a good idea if we were all to remember that everybody is quite unique, special, different and good - regardless of how we are packaged
LOVE ONE ANOTHER!

Agraphobia, Panic Attacks, Bath Visit

2009-09-21T20:41:00.003+01:00

I have a friend who now lives here in the village and when I was away in Canada she had a wonderful day in Bath with a young friend....nothing unusual about that I can hear you say....However my friend has suffered from Agrophobia and Panic attacks for many many many years and this outing was a real challenge for her. She wrote such a lovely account that I thought you might like to read it as well, and so asked her if she would mind if I used extracts from her letter to me and she has given me permission to share this with you all. I know that quite a few of us may know people who also have panic attacks and perhaps even suffer from Agrophobia and I hope that by printing this it may in some small way help them.

I did the day in Bath with Justi, can't really express what an achievement that was for me after so many years (with no mention of agoraphobia or panic).
Hello, I am writing this whilst the day is fresh in my mind. It is probably the most amazing thing I have done for decades and decades, taking Justi to Bath and having a long and successful day. I went into Chippenham on the earliest bus I can use my pass, and that one gets held up by the dustbin lorries in Park Lane but it did not matter, as the one we wanted to go back on was behind me. Justi was waiting with her cap on and looking very sweet with tiny plaits. We went down to Bath. I then took her to the Pump Room for coffee and a croissant and there was music on the piano, violin and cello. The chandelier was lovely and the whole atmosphere very impressive. We had a small glass of the warm spring water and looked at the fountain and the King’s bath. Then we went on the city bus tour sitting on the upstairs top front seat with our little headphones plugged in, she to Polish and me to English. After that we went to Hands for lunch which was so slow, but the sun had come out by then, so it was not so bad to rest awhile. We then walked up to the Costume Museum where I had never been before and Justi chose that rather than the Roman Baths as, like any girl she likes clothes. There just is not enough time to do it all. We did several other things like looking around the market, Corridor, and university outfitters which is lovely but really, really expensive, and posing with the various buskers in the Abbey courtyard. I’ll send some photos. We ended up at Sally Lunns for tea and I had a really delicious Sally Lunn tea-cake, actually they serve half they are so big, with cinnamon butter and cream and a pot of tea. Justi had jam and cream. We went down into the kitchen exhibition in the basement and,also saw the layers of excavation exposed from medieval times. The person at the desk asked where we came from and was lovely to Justi saying - Welcome. We would have gone again on the other bus trip as the ticket is valid for 24 hours, but it was too late and the boat wasn’t going either so we wandered through The Podium and sat in there until the bus home.
You can't imagine how happy I am for my friend it is something that she did not know that I had been praying about for such a long time.

We have had another two lovely days here in Box. The sun still shines although it is a bit colder in the early morning and the days are certainly getting shorter. We will soon be changing our clocks and dark nights will be the order of the day....I do not look forward to winter at all....Today was the start of the new Wesley Guild sessions which will be held each week now till April. Although there were a few who were unable to attend we had 14 so I was quite pleased. They were all given their new programme and seemed to be happy with what we have organised for them I hope that perhaps in the weeks to come we may attract more members.
Thats all the news for tonight so don't foget to ....
LOVE ONE ANOTHER..

Photographs, Jane Austen, Bath,

2009-09-19T19:36:00.002+01:00

This is a bit of an experiment...I think that you may be able to view all of the photographs that we took whilst we were in and around Toronto. Rather than me trying to put one or two on at a time. You can choose to look at them....or not ...

http://static.pbsrc.com/flash/rss_slideshow.swf?rssFeed=http%3A%2F%2Ffeed843.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fzz353%2Fsybil_05%2Ffeed.rss" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" />

I think perhaps you will only have to click on the blue area ? please let me know if you do manage to see anything !! Mind you there are some odd pictures amongs them and some that are fairly good. I have not edited them in any way...as yet...

Now that that is over !! I can start again, How has your Saturday been. It has been a glorious day here in Wiltshire with lovely warm sunshine, we are certainly having an Indian Summer, long may it continue.
As you know on a Saturday we always go to Sarah and John's for our coffee, they had a visitor this weekend who is very much into Jane Austen ( I expect most of you know of Jane Austens books ?) anyway she (Jane Austen) stayed in Bath at one time and there is a Jane Austen Ass. etc etc. Once a year they have a Jane Austen Weekend and this weekend was..it...They tried, and I would think succeed, to have more couples dressed in costume than have ever gathered together for a parade from the Pump Rooms through the centre of town and up to the Assembly Rooms. It would have been a lovely thing to have seen but we did not go into Bath in the morning. However Sarah and John took Sheala into town and dropped her off and this afternoon Mary, Sarah, John and I drove into Bath and met up with Sheala in the Pump room for a Jane Austen theme afternoon tea. It was really delightful to be sitting there under the beautiful chandeliers, piano playing in the background, surrounded by many ladies and gentlemen dressed in the finery of the day. I managed to get a couple of photographs but have not downloaded them as yet..you will see them one day I am sure. Whilst we were waiting for tea...there was a HUGE queue and about a 30min wait.. we left John and Sheala in the queue...Sarah Mary and I sat out in the Abbey Church Yard people watching,when there we were entertained by a very good sounding busker and suddenly there were cries of "make way, make way" and comming along were around 8 very very old style bicycles with riders in suitable attire !! no brakes on these old things !! it was such fun though to see them, and all the people jumping out the way !!
Once we returned home it was still pleasant enough for Mary and I to sit out on the deck and enjoy the last of the sunshine, Peter appeared having been at a football match this afternoon and so he stood and had a chat, then another neighbour Rob appeared and joined in the chat so almost an hour passed before we realised it and it was almost time for Mary to go on her merry way back to her own home !! Since then I have been playing about with the photographs ! and I am now going to watch one of my favourite TV programmes called "Casualty" it has just returned for the Autumn/winter season.
So it is good night from me xx

LOVE ONE ANOTHER..

Holidays, Toronto

2009-09-17T20:11:00.003+01:00

Hi Friends,
Well Mary and I have returned after our lovely 10 days in and around Toronto. we have had a really lovely break. we were blessed with some wonderful warm..no, not warm...HOT sunshine every day. The hotel we had chosen proved to be a winner and we have seldom had such helpful and friendly staff, not one grumpy face in the place, in fact we had wonderful service from everyone we met. we discovered that our hotel was the biggest in Toronto and it certainly was the busiest!! never a dull moment. We were very lucky to be able to stay one night down at Niagara in the Sheridan Hotel, where we had a room that looked directly over onto the Falls which was every bit as spectacular as everyone had said it would be. It would be hard to say when the falls looked their best, in the clear afternoon, or early morning when the mist hung around, or in the evening when they were lit up in many colours just like a giant curtain.

I can hardly believe it !! I have managed to get a photograph to appear. Thank you Jeanette.
Now that I have done it once hopefully I will be able to do it again.
Once we were back in Toronto we mainly walked and walked..or in my case trundled !! Poor Mary's legs were nearly down to stumps. we had thought there would be accessable transport as most of the public transport here is now wheelchair friendly, however we soon realise that was not to be. The first day we were there we had booked a "HIPPO" tour this was a city tour by a bus type vehicle that could also go on water what fun it was...however we had to get to the starting point and that meant a walk...by then we had not yet got our bearings..so we oredered a taxi to cost $10c the doorman asked if we would like a wheelchair access taxi and I said yes, only to discover that would cost $25c !!!! guess what I said to that, so an ordinary taxi was called and although the wheelchair I accept is very heavy, the taxi driver was quite ok about it. (That is something that would not be allowed in the UK as it would be classed as discrimination to cost more than double the normal costs). The costs of most things we found quite high. There were some lovely parks around and Mary and I did a good deal of sitting around them ! also in center of town was the lovely Nathan Square and people watching was fun there. Many weddings took place in the Civic Hall and it was fun watching them come and go...Another day we took a taxi down to the waterfront and managed to get a cruise round Toronto Islands and also visited a lovely shopping mall down that way and I was delighted to find a museum there that had an exhibition dedicated to Innuit Art. I am most interested in this lovely art so was doubly delighted to be able to see it. Next time I am on I will try to add some more photographs
Mary and I have had a touch of jet lag since we came home I had forgotten about that !!!
So this is just a quickie to say that we are back and say Hi to you all

LOVE ONE ANOTHER>