My Word

My word is it that long since I wrote a blog entry. I think that it is a combination of being a Facebook user and having not picked up the camera for sometime. I suppose that my blog has become more of a photo journal than a wordy tome.

I shall now try to pick up where I left off to the best of my ability.

It has been a long, hard winter with few photo opportunities. However, there have been times when the snow has provides a picturesque covering.

Snow-capped teasels

Snow on Stapleford Hill

Snow on Bramcote Hill (Only blue and black are used)

Following complaints from most of the family, the 8th of January saw the arrival of a new modem and a new router, with four ports and a wireless point, from Virgin Media. This also included the installation of an attenuator. The system runs well now. During that same week I was to take an exercise test. (In May I get the results.)

On the 31st January I had a pleasant day giving Iona a birthday present from us. We gave her 4 pieces of 4x2 chip board, lengths of 2x1, an the Intercity train and track.

Iona Receives Intercity Carriage

The following Thursday I attended the funeral of Beryl who we have known for a long time. By the time of the funeral Irene and I had become much more a part of the Haven church and Beryl and her family have been known to us for almost 13 years.

On the 14th Jan we visited the Ilkeston Methodist Church that Lawrence and Jan had become a part of. We had lunch with them and a view of the new kitchen.

On Monday I spent the day with Tim and the girls in the construction of the railway. It was a happy and successful day.

Iona controls the Intercity

Decorating Joe's room got seriously under way.

On Tuesday and Wednesday I held my last ever parent's evenings.

On the 13th March we had a rare Saturday when we not able visit Nan and the weather was spring like. Purple crocuses and white snow drops made a carpet around the Attenborough rectory and a robin did its usual pose.

By the 16th March Joe's room was complete. The final touch was the new carpet and then we braved IKEA and bought a desk exactly the same as the one Sally bought for the room we used in Australia.

Even before mum completed her last day of teaching on 26th work on the allotment was in full swing by the 22nd. The beds had been organised and the work of preparing them was going on.

By this time I had dug the majority of the potato bed, but it remained too cold until after Easter to plant the three rows of earlies (Epicure).

During the cold weather there had been a good opportunity to develop the railway. This was to next wave was to be about setting boundaries and laying footpaths. The church is an exception where time was given to completing the grounds by adding graves and a wedding party.

At this time the Rector has a drive and a car. To the large house a garage cum workshop has been added and the wedding party can be seen posing between the lytch gate and the church. The minister's house keeper is standing by the gate between the rectory and the church yard, anxious that the dinner will not go cold.

The 26th March was the very end of our teaching careers. Mum came home loaded with cards, plants, chocolates and the gratitude of everyone at Jubilee House Christian School.

We celebrated the end by going to the dances on Friday night and Saturday night.

On Tuesday the audiologists decided that I should have a second hearing aid.

On good Friday it was the 'March of Witness' in Stapleford for us whilst our friend Lawrence played a Roman soldier in the Ilkeston event.

On Saturday we had a trip to York to bring Joe back for Easter. On Easter Sunday neither of the boys were up so the Easter table was left for later.

The church meeting was bitter-sweet as we were told of the death of Hugh. We have known them for 13 years and over the last two years mum has been a weekly help to Margaret and Hugh.

On Friday 9th April it was a sunny day and my friend Bob and I went for a walk and lunch at Attenborough. The pictures show two different aspects of the place.

On Saturday we took Joe back to York and bought a car load of things home.

Joni left for St Andrews on Sunday with Fiona. We expect a return an overnight stay very soon before he returns for his last few weeks in Keele.

Finally we return to Iona and Izzie's layout. I took more track down making it possible to have two loops to include a bridge taking one loop over another.

Before leaving Milton Keynes we had a brief walk, in the cold wind, to the local park with Iona and Izzie.

Back to the Oaks

I suppose that we have been from Australia for a little over 3 weeks. There has been so much to do to have time to blog and this weekend has produced the first photographs of our time back.

We visited nan a week ago and she is well; having moved back into her newly decorated room.

We have met with Jan and Lawrence a few times.

We visited are elderly friend Joy who went into a nursing home about the time that we left. She just about recognised us but kept thanking us for coming and saying that she was going now. There is nowhere for her to go. She keeps wanting to go home.

This weekend we had Iona and Izzie to stay for three nights while Tim and Isla had a break in the Lake District. The girls were very good and kept themselves occupied when we were busy. They spent time on the allotment picking carrots and clearing up the soil.

On Friday morning we went to buy models and accessories at the railway shop in Long Eaton. They spent hours carefully building the cardboard models and enjoyed working on the layout.

Iona and her model shops

Izzie and her terraced houses

On Saturday afternoon the Stapleford Carnival was on the recreation ground opposite. There was a pretty poor cowboy re-enactment. Both of them did the cycling to light up a low energy bulb. Iona enjoyed holding an owl. It was pretty cold and we came off quite early.

In the evening we played board games (Cluedo and Sunken Treasure).

Tim and Isla collected them quite early on Sunday morning but not before they had gone up to the allotment to collect more beans and rhubarb.

I think that we all had an enjoyable time.

Joni's Birthday and the £52,450.55 Meal

Yesterday mum and I set off to Stoke to celebrate Joni's 21st birthday a day early. We picked up Joni and Fionna from Bath Street and set off through Leek in the direction of Buxton. Once out of Leek you are in the spectacular countryside of the Peak District. We passed some amazing rock piles and then concluded that we had passed our destination. The road to Tittesworth Reservoir is poorly marked; as is the information that the visitors centre has a restuarant. It would have been good food for centre visitors, but we wanted something more birthday appropriate. So, back to the rocks or at least to 'Ye Olde Rock Inn'. It was a good pub meal in pleasant surroundings. But none of us thought that it was worth the £52,450.55 that the card machine billed us for.

We made a quick exit back to Bath Street, collected some of Joni's bits to bring home took him off to study at university. (Saturday!!!) On the way home collected compost at B and Q and home for our usual Saturday night.

Today we are selling plants, cards and framed photos at the Community Centre. We might make a little profit this time.

Then its off to St Helen's with Jan and Lawrence for the evening service.

Cluedo

Yesterday we made our usual trip to Milton Keynes, but the evening was different. We had invited Jan and Lawrence to a meal, to be followed by a game of Cluedo.

After the meal Jan, Lawrence and I did revisions to the wedding coffee table book.

Then we got down to business. I won the first game remarkably quickly. However, this allowed a second game to be played, giving Lawrence the opportunity to proclaim that he had won two out of three games. He did win decisively and I wondering how.

We had tea and a chat before they went home.

Today we are off to the Community Church Derby, were we will meet with our friend Sue Shuttleworth.

Blue Loo to You

Today I had a strange commision. Photograph a mini loo. First, clean the loo, but leave the _ _ _ . (Not real.) Next, set up blue screen, place loo on stand, set up camera and take picture (a number of times to be sure.)
Then process. First remove background, then change labels to read "Lawrence ","Plumber of the Year Award", "Woolley".
He really is the plumber of the year and my image will appear on the side of his van.

Not really a bue loo!

Anniversary - BBQ - Dine in Style

Sunday 24th August see the 40th wedding anniversary of Irene and myself. We started the day calmly with tea (ginger drink) in bed. Cards were exchanged. Irene now has a ruby (a small one). Would you believe that a morning on the allotment followed. Then the rush to preserve the pickings accompanied by a phone call from Jan to find out were we where.We did get to the Dales for our church BBQ. Would you credit the rain? The sun came out and we crept out of the shelter.Bob did a great job on the barbie.

It was a pity that we had to leave, but we had two hours to get home, do jobs and return to nearby Jan and Lawrence's.

While at home Jenny and Francis called in with a card and present. It was a great present for allotment holders with a greenhouse; an automatic window open and closer. It will be better than the old bent wire we currently use.

Back to Jan and Lawrence. They were taking us to Morley Hayes (posh golf club) for a meal (no expense spared). Lawrence was keen that I dressed smartly. I did and so did Irene. It was a great meal in a great atmosphere.

Jim'll Fix It

On Sunday it was another of Pioneers Church's 'Tea and Talk' event at Leicester House. The title was 'Jim'll Fix It'. The theme was the miraculous fixits of Jesus. Number were down. Jan and Lawrence were in Turkey, Pat and Arthur were at home on the ocassion of her birthday. But, most others were there. At tea time we ate half a birthday cake and took the rest to share with Pat.

On Monday Joni and I were back round to Jubilee House Christian School. A month ago we removed out of date computers from the ITC room. But, today we replaced these computers with even better ones including flat screens. The replaced computers are being distributed around the school. I have been asked to consider being a governor of the school. The main event of the day was my visit to potential wedding photography customers. After my twenty minute presentation I now wait until they have seen other photographers. I used the picture of Jan being confettied as my advertising picture.

On Tuesday I was able to complete my mission of producing a card for Francis to give to Evelyn (a neighbour) as a thank you for the work that she had done in judging a school gardening competition. I was only able to carry out the assignment by talking to her on her allotment. This is the result.

Tuesday evening was complicated. I had conflicting appointments. I decided to attend the Churches Forum meeting at the Methodist Church, stay for long enough to make my contribution, return to open up the Community Centre, go home, watch TV and then go to lock the Centre.

On Wednesday our main task was to go and baby sit in Milton Keynes. Before leaving I was able to water in the green house and lift a few more bricks from the path, weed under them and reline with polythene.

We had a good evening with the grandchildren who were easy to get to bed. Tim and Isla went out for a meal and then to the Theatre. (I would expect that this will appear in his blog.)
We arrived home just before midnight.

Keeping Up

Well, so much for keeping a daily blog!!!
So, starting where I left off.
Friday night was dance night. Dance night means sequence dancing. I thought we were doing well. We won two raffle prizes - not unusual. At the end of the evening the oldest man their: 92 year old Ernest came across to us. And, as old people do, gave us some encouraging words. He said that Irene had made great progress. He said that when we first started she was not going to make it - there was no way that she was going to master the square steps. I kept quiet.

On Saturday Irene was unwell so I drove us both down to nan's. She was quite well and beat us both at a game of Scrabble. When we returned home I picked strawberries while Irene watered in the green house. We had a quick tea, played Up Words. I won. We watched a CSI and went to bed.

On Sunday we stayed in bed very late. I bought breakfast up. We just got out by 10:15 to go to Jan and Lawrence for our Sunday meeting. It was good to see Bob Dale there when we arrived. He always encourages us. In the afternoon I did more picking while Irene rested. We went to the Hope 2008 meeting - taking Francis with us. We returned had super and went to bed.

On Monday I went over to Jubilee House Christian School. It seems that the computers donated to them are already out of date as the work they have to do requires Office 2003. Irene went to the doctors. She could find nothing wrong and had taken a blood test with the reults due next week. I returned over the allotments to the coffee morning; had a cake and locked up. In the afternoon I produce the leaflets for our 'Jim'll Fix It' tea and talk at Leicester House. I went back to the allotment to water and do more picking (strawberries, black currants, lettuce and radish. After tea I opened the Centre for a meeting of the National Child Minders' Association. I returned to watch the news, then I completed my tax return. Irene is downstairs playing the piano.