Merry Christmas

To all my blogging friends

I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.

You have all been in my thoughts even though I have not posted much recently.  I hope to be back on a more regular basis in 2013.

Night Thoughts

I'm normally a good sleeper - a very good sleeper.  Bed at 10.30-ish, read for a while and then settle down.  I usually have to get up to go to the bathroom a couple of times but get straight back into sleep and wake up around 7 am.  Occasionally though there is a night when suddenly I am awake and thoughts begin to filter in which keep me awake. 

This summer I have had family problems occupying my thoughts causing a few restless nights but  tonight (it is now 4 am and I have been awake for about an hour) suddenly my mind was filled with the children's cartoon character Pocoyo!  For goodness sake, where did that come from?  And then I remembered his friends Patou and Ellie.  A charming enough programme for small children ( I believe it is Spanish or maybe Portuguese) narrated by Stephen Fry.  My grandaughter Imogen, now 8 years old, always loved it and was always enthralled by it - well I did say it was charming. 

So I then remembered a holiday at Centre Parks Bob and I had with my daughter and grandaughter when she was 2 years old.  We had taken some DVDs with us for her entertainment whilst tea was being prepared.  Her choice was always Pocoyo so one day, feeling we really had seen enough of the dear little boy, we named some of the other choices.

Adults -  what about "Percy the Park Keeper"

Imogen - Pocoyo

Adults - or "Hairy McClary"

Imogen - Pocoyo

Adults - or "Winnie the Pooh"

Imogen - Pocoyo

Adults (desperately) - or (whatever else we had for her to choose from - I really can't remember now)

Imogen gave us a steady look and said "or Pocoyo". 

We laughed, we gave in and we watched Pocoyo for the umpteenth time.  But it was charming and I can still quite see why she loved it.

I have just sent my daughter an email to remind her of the incident which we do mention occasionally.  I do hope she isn't awake at this time of the morning though.

ABC Wednesday - J

J is for:

JACOB, my grandson who will be 12 years old on Thursday. He is still at JUNIOR school and will go to High school next year. After school he JUST likes to wear JEANS and JERSEYS or JACKETS. He writes stories in his JOTTER and loves to tell JOKES which means we all have a JOLLY time. He is a JOY and I love him. Happy Birthday JACOB.




Thanks to Mrs Denise Nesbitt and the ABC Wednesday team. For more looks at the letter J, please click here.

ABC Wednesday - I

I am not usually INTERESTED IN sport of any ILK, almost completely INDIFFERENT to IT, but I have been so IMPRESSED by each INDIVIDUAL who took part in the Olympics and Paralympics. The Paralympians, IN spite of whatever INCAPACITY they had, perhaps because of IT, have INSPIRED this nation, INDEED, I IMAGINE, the INTERNATIONAL audience.

My grandaughter, IMOGEN IS keen on sport and fully INTENDS to work INTENSELY enough to be able to take part in future Olympics (she is 8 years old).

So, the 2012 Games have been very IMPORTANT in having such an IMPACT on the young, so bravo to each and everyone.



Thanks to Mrs Denise Nesbitt and the ABC Wednesday team. For more looks at the letter I, please click here.

ABC Wednesday - H

H is for Hedgehog

HERE are some photos I was sent via email a couple of years ago.









It was part of an appeal to prevent HARM coming to the babies from the HAZARDS of cars. HOW tiny they are, especialy seen in someone's HAND.

Thanks to Mrs Denise Nesbitt and the ABC Wednesday team. For more looks at the letter H, please click here.

ABC Wednesday - G

Very late with the letter G simply because I had to GO away. I went to stay at my daughter's house, whilst she and my GRANDAUGHTER went on holiday, to take care of the GOLDFISH and the GUINEA PIGS, also two cats and some hamsters. Actually the hamsters were GUESTS as their owners were also on holiday. I expect you can GUESS that I had a lovely time. The weather wasn't too GOOD but I did manage at the end of the week to cut the GRASS for my daughter thus GIVING her one less task on her return.

It also GAVE me the opportunity to travel across to see my GRANDSONS and my other GRANDAUGHTER.

I GOT back home last night.

Thanks to Mrs Denise Nesbitt and the ABC Wednesday team. For more looks at the letter G, please click here.

ABC Wednesday - F

F is for Friends

Where would we be without them. The Following picture is of me with my First Friends



I think we were 2 - 3 years old at the time and lived quite close to each other. The Four of us used to ride and round on our tricycles for many an hour, our Feet going Faster and Faster. Fate took a hand and, sadly, I have no idea what became of them as my Family moved away from the area when I was quite small. The boy was called Roger and his Father was a Farmer. I am next to him and the other girls, Pam and Diane, were twins. Perhaps we should have been called the "Fab Four".


Thanks to Mrs Denise Nesbitt and the ABC Wednesday team. For more looks at the letter F, please click here.

A Tragic Event

Tragedy hit our little town yesterday evening.

It had been a lovely, sunny, summer day and there were lots of people still about at 6 pm. At the beach a little 4 year old boy was on the slipway, with his parents when he slipped into the sea. At that time the water was about 5 feet deep but the tide was rising and the currents here are very fast (we have the 2nd highest rising tide in the world). We are situated at the end of the Bristol Channel and the water is muddy and murky. His parents jumped in immediately to try to save him but they couldn't find him. The emergency services were called within a couple of minutes and from about 6.15 onwards there were helicopters circling, the lifeboats were out from this town and the surrounding areas and our local hovercrafts also joined in the search. It carried on through the night and most of today but the latest news is that the search has been called off; it feels as though the town is cloaked in sadness.

Three of our grandchildren are going through a traumatic family time at the moment and I sometimes have difficulty sleeping. Last night I got up around 1.30 and looked out of our front windows, which overlook the beach. I could see the lights of the boats that were still patrolling, looking for the little boy. I felt terribly sad as I gazed out into the blackness but at least I knew that my grandchildren were safe in their beds.

Poor little Dylan never stood a chance.

ABC Wednesday - E

We were Excited that our 3 Exhuberant grandchildren were Expected for a visit. They have plenty of Energy and Enthusiasm so Each day, quite Early we took them out until Evening to Expend that Energy and hopefully Educate them along the way. They all had different appetites for Eating so a variety of meals was Essential. Being Elderly, we were glad to Escape to our bed at the End of the day.

The time didn't seem Endless and we did not Experience Exhaustion. Eventually they left to return home and now our home is Empty and I am Eager for the next visit.


Thanks to Mrs Denise Nesbitt and the ABC Wednesday team. For more looks at the letter E, please click here.

ABC Wednesday - D

D is for Donkey


Delightful creatures - they have such lovely faces. This first picture was taken whilst we were visiting Dundees in Adelaide, Australia.





and this one of Donkeys' Dinner was taken on our local beach. For the past two decades husband has run a local Donkey Derby during the summer holidays to raise money for charity. Depending on the weather they usually raise about £1500 on each of the six weeks.






Thanks to Mrs Denise Nesbitt and the ABC Wednesday team. For more looks at the letter D, please click here.

ABC Wednesday - C

C is for coasters.




These are some that we have collected over the years. The top square one is of a set of 4 given to us by friends. The white round set on the right we bought in Nelson, New Zealand and the wooden Australia shape in the centre came from Adelaide. The veteran car coasters are plastic and quite old themselves but it is the curious orange one that has the story.

As well as having a late night chat show, Graham Norton hosts a radio show on Saturday mornings and part of the show is "Tune with a Tale" - the clue is in the title! To take part in the show you have to suggest a tune that has a story to tell. I decided to apply and to my surprise, within a few days, was asked to take part on a particular week. The programme was live and I was able to chat to Graham Norton for a few minutes before my chosen tune was played. I was very nervous but he was very friendly and put me at my ease. For my trouble I received a set of coasters. He jokes about the quality of the coasters and once I received them I wrote to say that I was lost for words when I saw them. He read my comment out on the radio and chuckled and said "I hear what you are saying Anne".

My choice of song was Country and Western - "Rock and Roll I gave you the best years of my Life".



Thanks to Mrs Denise Nesbitt and the ABC Wednesday team. For more looks at the letter C, please click here.

ABC Wednesday - B

B is for:

Boy (my Beloved, brilliant grandson) on a Beach with a Big Bouncing Ball. Behind him the Blue sea with Breakers Bubbling on the shore and a Boat on the Blue horizon.





Thanks to Mrs Denise Nesbitt and the ABC Wednesday team. For more looks at the letter B, please click here.

An Evening at the Theatre

On Wednesday evening husband and I went to the theatre to see Miriam Margolyes in her one woman stage show "Dickens' Women". She is reprising her Olivier-nominated show in a year-long world tour. Our daughter saw it in New Zealand in the Spring.

We have always enjoyed seeing her in her various roles in film and on TV and when we realised that she would be appearing at the Taunton theatre we immediately booked our seats. We were thoroughly entertained. Miss Margolyes was on stage for two hours with only a 20 minute interval and held us enthralled by her performances of some of Dickens' various fictional characters, mostly the female roles but she did include her interpretation of the Beadle in Oliver Twist. We also heard of the women in Dickens' life and his treatment of them.

We both love to watch the TV and film adaptations of Dicken's stories but somehow her performance of the chosen characters, delivered with so much depth and obvious enjoyment, has made me want to begin reading the stories for myself. (I did read some at school but not since I am almost ashamed to admit).

It was a wonderful evening, so if you are fans of the lady and of Dickens and get the chance to see this show, I can highly recommend it.

ABC Wednesday - A

A is for me - I am Anne and for April - the month I was born



(this picture is copied from a page in "The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady", a favourite of mine)


Here I am with my twin Aunts. This photo was taken around 1948 when I was 4 and they were 20. Aren't they attractive!



Together again in 2007



and here they are at their 80th birthday party in 2008. Both are still active, happy and healthy.




Thanks to Mrs Denise Nesbitt and the ABC Wednesday team. For more looks at the letter A, please click here.

An update

I telephoned a recommended "computer man" and told him my sad tale. He said it certainly sounds as though my computer needs to be cleaned and arranged to call tomorrow morning. He may have to take it away but I don't mind being without it for a few days if it means that it is trouble free.

Hope to be back with you all soon.

Problems

It's been a while since my last post and now that I have decided to really get back into it I am experiencing problems. I have been able to post a comment on some sites but when I try to look at others my computer just closes the internet connection, even when I am negotiating my own site.

I've known for a while that I need some help so I really must adddress the situation. I will keep trying and hopefully will be up and running properly soon.

Please bear with me.

ABC Wednesday - N

N is for Nesting Box

We don't have a garden anymore but I took these photos and the very short video during the Spring before we moved to our new home, three years ago. It was the only year that we saw it used. The new owners of the house had the tree cut down!











Thanks to Mrs Denise Nesbitt and the ABC Wednesday team. For more looks at the letter N, please click here.

ABC Wednesday - M

M is for Marlborough Maze

Last week whilst spending time with my family we all went to visit Blenheim Palace (birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill). We had a lovely day in spite of the weather being very cold.

The Maze was a must.













The letter M of Blenheim is bottom right.



Thanks to Mrs Denise Nesbitt and the ABC Wednesday team. For more looks at the letter M, please click here.

Time to Relax

It will soon be my birthday. Last year one of my presents was a voucher for a facial, to be used before the end of April this year. I hadn't forgotten it I just didn't seem to have the time (or much inclination) to make use of it, although it probably would have done me good to have done so!

However, a few days ago I made the appropriate appointment and yesterday afternoon I actually went to the salon and gave myself up to having a relaxing and pampering facial. My skin felt wonderful afterwards (and looked pretty good too, if I do say so).

I walked back home in warm spring sunshine, made myself a cup of coffee, sat on the sofa, put my feet up and fell asleep for an hour. Marvellous.

Tomorrow I am going to stay with my daughter who lives in Stratford on Avon, for about a week.

I will be in touch.

Back at last!

Last week we celebrated my mother's 90th birthday. A very happy day indeed. Until recently, mum has been unhappy. I believe it all began at Christmas 2009 but I failed to recognise the signs as a problem. Mum had health problems during 2010 (bowel cancer) but came through an operation relatively easily and without the need for further treatment. However, 2011 was a very stressful year for her and therefore for me also. She was resisting residential care but in November 2011 declared that was indeed what she wanted. As soon as we got her into her home of choice she became a different person and so it has continued and Mum is "as happy as a sandboy"!

Such a relief all round! Everyone who knows her say they can see the difference in her and recognise the lady they used to know. The home is pleasant and bright with lovely gardens and the staff are very caring. Mum has a fairly large, sunny room with her own furniture and decorative belongings and enjoys going to the dining room twice a day, preferring to stay in her room from lunchtime onwards. There are no pressures on her and she has no worries. The home is a 5 minute walk from where I live! Not sure yet if this is a good or bad thing!! Only joking!

We had a family time to celebrate her birthday and I made her a cake and she also had one provided by the home. Her room is still full of flowers.



Because of time pressures on me last year and until the end of last month when I finally disposed of my mother's home, I haven't had the inclination to do any posts or to visit blogging friends very much. I have definitely missed it and do hope to be able to continue with it now. I will certainly enjoying "catching up" with some old friends.

A Happy New Year

So another New Year begins and as usual I have feelings of trepidation about what this year has in store for me and my family. Christmas Day was very quiet for us but on Boxing Day our children and grandchildren decended on us and we had a lovely family day - 7 adults and 6 grandchildren. The only one missing is Leah who lives in New Zealand. Photo below of me with the 6.



Last year was fairly hectic. I had to spend a lot of time dealing with my Mother and that is still ongoing. I am hoping something will be resolved quite soon now. Our family returned to the UK from Australia and so we have been able to invite three of our grandchildren (ages 11, 8 and 7) to come and stay. The first time, a long weekend was such a success we had them come again for the October break and took the opportunity to get all three of them swimming (only 1 of them could swim before that). We had a great time but we were all shattered at the end of that week.

Bob had his 70th birthday but we kept it fairly low key and just had several small parties with various groups of friends. We had some lovely holidays - Scotland in June, Spain in October and in early December we flew with a friend and her daughter to spend 6 nights in New York! We had a fantastic time, it was a wonderful experience and I really would like to return.

Here, from Battery Park, is my first glimpse of the Statue of Liberty - such a thrill!



and here we are a little closer



A wonderful statue, she is beautiful and I felt very emotional to be there and to see her for myself. Probably one of the best experiences of 2011 for me.

So here's to 2012 - it is going to be a special year for us here in the UK with the Olympics and our Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Bring it on!

Happy New Year to you all.