November 17th 2007

Wow has it really been that long since I wrote my last blog. To tell the truth I haven't had much to say, so what's the use of wasting mine and your time by writing something very uninteresting. Well I still don't have much to write about. As I have said too many times before I lead a very boring, very dull life. I did go to Robs for about six days recently which as always is very nice. I am waited on hand and foot, not even allowed to wash up after being treated to lovely meals and its a pleasure being able to spend time with Rob and Lucy. As I have already said Stu and I were taking Lucy to see Slava Snow show for her birthday treat. The Friday before we were going she was quite unwell with a sore throat and totally losing her voice but although her voice was still noticeably absent the day of the show, she was feeling better and so off we went. Needless to say she had a great time and she came home with a carrier bag full of "snow". It's only strips of silver and white paper, but it comes with such a force over all the audience it does seem like snow. Lucy told us later, when her voice finally reappeared, that she quite liked the cobweb, which started out as a little bit hanging on the stage but the more the clown tried to clear it away, the larger it grew until it spread out all over the auditorium and completely covered the audience. It really is the greatest show, so unique, unfortunately it has now gone for a season in China and Hong Kong but hopefully it will return to the U.K. next year, when I shall again, God willing, go again.
Stu and Denise are in the throes of moving house. He has a lot of good friends who are helping him as he doesn't drive himself he is very dependent on them but I think most of the large things are now at the new home although he still has a lot of stuff at the old place which has to be transported there in the next couple of weeks.
TOADS now have to perform our panto three more times so hopefully if anyone can get along to see us we would be very grateful as we really need to get our own lighting equipment instead of having to rely on hireing some. I will get dates and venue as soon as possible and put it on my next blog. Bye for now.

Sunday 28th October

Well it's been a long time coming - this blog, but as anyone who has been reading "me and mine" will know it's panto season. Well it was until last night when our last show finished. It has been great although we do have to find a way of selling more tickets. The show itself has been lovely with everyone pulling to make it great. If you would like to see a few photos go to my flikr site and log onto my friend Angela Melia. she has only put a few on but hopefully when she has more time she will put on the rest. We shall be having a dvd and photos of the show soon and maybe Giles (our TOADS website manager) will put some more pictures on the official web. This morning we were again at the school to clear away the chairs and costumes and tidy up the rooms that we had used for changing in. Charlotte, Lucy, Val and Mary came to see the show on friday and I think they all liked it. Charlotte and Lucy stayed at my house friday night as it was rather late for Lucy and it was nice having breakfast with them although they had to rush off as Lucy was due to go to yet another birthday party, she seems to have one to go to nearly every other week. It will be Lucy's birthday on the 6th of November so I suppose that will be yet another party. Stuart and I are taking her to see Slavas Snow Show at the Hippodrome Birmingham for her birthday treat. Stu and I went to see it last year and it was absolutely amazing, so when I said I was taking Lucy, Stuart asked to come along as well. I think Lucy will like it. She has seen the dvd teaser and was very excited and she showed it to her mother on Saturday morning and I think she liked to idea of it also. If anyone can get to see this show, I'm not sure how many tickets are still available as it's so popular, they won't be disappointed as the only word to describe it is "wonderful" Its back to normal again now for a while, we are having next tuesday off from TOADS as a rest but I'm sure they will have something else planned for when we go back. We still have to do another performance of Snow White for some club or other and an evening of singing for another group. So one with the motley again soon.

Monday 15th October.

Well another week ! Friday, as I said in my last blog, I met Lucy from school club and she came home with me for the night. We didn't get much time together as it was quite late and after teatime we had to think about bath time and bed, but we did spend it having fun and reading a story. Well we started one a Roald Dahl called George's marvellous medicine, but Lucy didn't like George's grandmother character and so we read another called Back-to-front Benjy which was very funny and we both had a lot of laughs. I'm sure she will love the Roald Dahl one another time but I think my interpretation of the grandmother's voice was a bit too scary. Perhaps her dad will read it to her sometime. Any how Saturday morning we had to make our way back into Birmingham to meet Charlotte and for Lucy to go to her dance class at the Hippodrome. It was lovely to see all the children getting ready for their classes and others getting dressed to go home as there were shoes, socks, coats and bags everywhere, and what with all the parents sitting around this very small space very crowded - but so nice. Charlotte and I and Lucy's "very best" friend's mother, whose name I can't remember had a really interesting talk about religion, Doesn't it sound interesting? but it really was. Later we met up with Laura and her latest, the most darling baby Nancy (gorgeous name) for coffee. Then someone said how hungry they were and so we all went off to Cafe Soya for lunch. I had the nicest meal of Lemon grass chicken salad I can't tell you what the others had because I was too busy eating mine, except that they bought Lucy a very large chocolate milkshake. They love her to death in there, as her mom and dad have been taking her to Cafe Soya since she was a few weeks old, she is quite a seasoned Chinese foodie what with Chun cooking delicious meals as well. I enjoyed myself so much that I quite forgot that I had been invited to another party Saturday afternoon, but I'm sure they won't have missed me as it was an open invite and there were lots going. I must go and give my apologies in the next day or so. I went to the gym today where there is a week of various goings on. Today the were doing foot spa detox. You should have seen what ended up in mine. Well maybe not, it was horrendous, thick brown mud. So I think it must have done me some good getting all those toxins out of me and to tell the truth I went round the circuit afterwards like a 23 year old ( if only )

Thursday 11th October 2007

It doesn't seem nearly a week since my last blog, but it must have been since last Saturday was my last one. The week has been mainly mundane things, such as going to the gym and Toads on Tuesday. We were supposed to go Wednesday as well, but at the last minute Yvonne phoned to say she couldn't go and Val was other wise engaged so of course that ruled out my going. I think I must get a bike as I am totally dependent on people giving me lifts to places such as Toads and swimming. That brings me to the fact that I won't be going there on Saturday either, as Joy of Joys, Charlotte has asked me to have Lucy tomorrow afternoon until Saturday morning when I shall be taking her back into Birmingham to meet Char so that Lucy can go to her dance class. Anyone reading this will now know that having my granddaughter, if only for a little while, means more to me than a thousand swimming sessions. Rob has had to go to Sweden this week, from his texts, it appears that he had quite a journey to get to his destination, but I'm sure he made it safely. He's a big boy and a seasoned traveller. It looks as if Stuart will be looking for a new flat shortly, as his landlord has decided to sell the flat that Stu rents from him. He did think about buying it, but unfortunately his funds are like many others, not big enough. I hope he doesn't have too much trouble finding the right place as he really wants to stay near where he lives now, I keep praying that a miracle would occur and the premium bond that I bought Eric way back at Christmas 1961 would come up. All these years and not a sniff of a prize, not even a tenner. I suppose the winners are all people who have the funds to buy blocks of thousands of pounds. In fact I think I have only ever heard of a few people winning anything, perhaps it's all a con !

Saturday 6th October

October is here again. I doesn't seem that long since the last one. When we were getting ready for Cinderella, and today we have been getting all the costumes ready for Snow White, which is only a couple of weeks away. Some of us went to the school to get things down out of the loft area and sorted out props and costumes, while Yvonne, who works so hard fitting everyone up with their outfits, was putting the costumes and other items for each player into order and I helped hang them up and generally made myself useful clearing and carrying rubbish out to the bins. Not a clean job !. I have just got home, and after a very large drink of squash, whipped off my clothes to wash them. They were black, they are now spinning around in the washer as I couldn't rinse them enough in the sink. So here I am, another week over, when I have done all the usual things, gym, cleaning (not a lot of that) and swimming again this morning. Please note I have said swimming - well my teacher tells me I am, so who am I to argue. I am doing quite well, now all I need is larger lungs, so that I can reach the other side of the pool without running out of breath. I haven't yet got the strength to lift my head out of the water to take another one half way across, but I'm hoping that that will come. I am only too pleased with what I have achieved in such a little while.
Tomorrow Stuart and Denise are coming over for lunch and so it will be nice to have someone to chat to, Val came thursday as I had got her a Bette Midler cd that she has been after for some time, but she didn't stay late as she has not been too well. I treated myself to one of those new style dresses, which look a bit like an overgrown jumper, on friday. I'm sure Lucy will like it as it's her favourite colour, purple. I just hope I don't look like mutton dressed as lamb in it, if so I shall have to give it to someone, but I'm hoping I don't as I really like this new fashion. We shall have to see.

Saturday 29/09/2007

Four widths ! Thats what I swam this morning. Granted it wasn't as spectacular as I have probably made out. I did it on my back, such a pity I don't seem to be able to swim on my front - yet, but I'm determined to do it. I never thought after just ten lessons I would ever be able to do this. All the years that I have tried so hard to learn to swim and that wonderful Roger, my teacher, has created a dolphin. Not really, but that said, the others this morning all clapped me and I was so pleased with myself. Yvonne has said in the past, for quite a number of her lessons she just stood on the side a cried when she first started, so I must be doing something right. Never the less I am determined to carry on, and who knows, maybe I might even be brave enough to get out of my depth one day, but that will be another story.
I have heard from Rob, who flys home tonight. I am surprised to hear that it has rained all the time they have been in Paris. It hasn't been that bad here apart from the cold.
Yesterday I went to the gym to help with the Macmillan nurses coffee morning, and it turned out that I was doing the drinks and also managing the bring and buy stall. Val came, as she had promised and of course both of us ended up buying more stuff to bring home, but it was a great day with us making a lot of money for the nurses, and to top it all, mine and Karen, the other helper, are going to have our photo in local paper. I hope it's not too awful !

Thursday27/09/2007

I haven't long got up but just thought I would jot down a few mindless words.
Stu and Denise came on Sunday and after lunch, Stu decided to fetch out the movie projector and the old films. We sat for a few hours watching I think most of the super 8 movies that Eric and I had taken since 1970 when he had his first super 8 camera.
It was lovely, although I shed many tears, watching and remembering what we were doing back then. There was quite a lot of both Robert's and Stuarts birthdays and when we had our lovely little cruiser down on the canal. There was Val and Sid's wedding and of the time when Stuart was born. Not his actual birth but a few days after when I got home. I suppose people these days have different thoughts about recording their child's birth but NO, there is nothing pretty about childbirth, even a straight forward one, but it's nice to see your child when it is very young. I don't think there's much film of Robert's very early days, but we shall have to find out the old standard eight projector, heaven knows where it is, and take a look at those times before Eric and I were married all those years ago. It was really lovely, seeing all them all. Although we had never really forgotten them but they had just been filed into the back of our minds under "sweet memories". Of course there was lots of Eric, mom and dad and also auntie Lil,( the sweetheart), and also uncle Horace, auntie Lucy, and Sid, Val's lovely husband. Who have all gone, hopefully to heaven. We had some of the Queen's silver jubilee, back in 1977 when all the children around were dressed in fancy dress, at that point we had to just fetch Joyce (from next door) round to see her three boys back then. She was thrilled also. Stuart kept saying that he couldn't believe thos pictures of that little baby was himself, but I assured him they certainly were. !

Saturday 22/09/2007

I haven't written anything for so long and every day I feel that although I really aught to write I find that my life seems so boring that there is never anything interesting to say. So why bother.
It isn't that bad but I do get very depressed sometimes, I even didn't bother to go to my swimming class this morning. Yvonne, my pal, who I go with, was not back from her Spanish holiday, and although Val kindly takes me whenever I need a lift, I just couldn't be bothered. I have been going to my gym sessions, they don't seem to be doing anything for me, except making me more tired than ever, but maybe, when I get my first assessment I shall have a surprise if I've lost any inches.
I went to pick up Lucy from school last thursday and stayed over for the evening. Chun made a lovely meal, Chinese curry, and it was nice to be with Lucy and Robert and her. Lucy was going to have a pyjama party at school on friday and she was excited about that as she was taking her Kung Fu pyjamas that Robert had brought back from Hong Kong. When I took her to school friday morning the first thing I heard her telling her friends was about them.
We are now very busy with rehearsals for Snow White it's only four weeks to the show. It's at Alexandra school, Tipton, if anyone wants to come and have a fun filled evening, on 23rd to 27th of October, tickets £6.50.
I really must start writing about my younger days again but at the moment everything seems an effort. Perhaps next week I will shake myself up and start again.
Stu is coming tomorrow and perhaps Denise, but they have both had awful colds and Stu said how poorly she was last week. Her gran died recently and she is still very distressed, which is to be expected, but I hope she can make it. We have a lot of catching up to do.

September 12th 2007

Today would have been Eric's 72nd birthday. I was a bit down this morning thinking about him and the last time when we celebrated his birthday together, but I soon started thinking about the fun and laughs we had and I knew that's how he would like me to remember him.
I went to the gym as usual, I think I've put on a pound or two, but I don't really care too much, and then Val phoned me and took me off to the flicks,which was really kind of her. We saw Atonement with James Macavoy and Kiera Knightly. It was amazing. The direction and cinematography was excellent and I'm sure it will be in the Oscar nominations next time around. I'd better not say any more as probably not too many have seen it yet, as it's only just come out on release.
I have watched Heroes again tonight. I'm really into this series. So much so, that I watch the one to be screened next wednesday after todays episode on Bbc 3, so I actually watch each one twice. You still can't make out if some of the characters are goodies or baddies, but I'm sure it will all come out as the series progresses. I do hope it doesn't finish in some strange way that we have to wait for the next one, in a year or so, to find out what its all about.

Monday September 3rd

Its been a week since my last blog. I have been doing things but since last weekend nothing very interesting, until last saturday when I went to Kings heath Garden show. It's always a good event and as I love flowers, enjoyable. Robert, Lucy, Charlotte and Chun all came along, a proper family affair, only poor Stu not there as he was working. The best part for Rob etc is always the French market. There are so many good things, to buy, so we got lots of bread, olives and cheeses and made a picnic, which we ate in the sunshine. Of course all except Chun had been quite a few times before, but she was so pleased that there were so many things to photograph, which you can see on her flikr site, soon, I'm sure. I love to look at the vegetable and flower exhibitions in the large tents so Chun and I went in as many as we could. Lucy of course wanted to go on the bouncy castles and various stalls which although they all had a serious theme they also had interesting things for children to do. I think she most liked the pond life where she could dip and see what she caught in her net. Mayfly, little beetles etc and mosquito larvae (Ugh) I stayed at Robs overnight and yesterday we went into town for lunch and then off to the museum, where there is always something new and interesting. Then I brought Lucy back home with me for the evening and so that she could spend the last day of her holiday with me before going to school tomorrow. We have had a lovely day, asfter breakfast we caught the bus to Vals, unfortunately they were just on the way out as Mary had an appointment btu it was good for her to see Lucy as she had not seen her since she was a baby. The we went into Dudley where we looked in all the shops especially the jewellers where Lucy admired the sparkley rings and things, she says she is having a very special ring when she gets married, (Take note mom and dad ) Then we went for lunch in Le Cafe after which we went to the museum where there should have been a dinosaur exhibition, but unfortunately they had had to put it back till later in September, but the ancient Greeks and the Lace exhibition was on and we both really enjoyed it. We have been trying to find something which Stuart needs for a fancy dress next week but no luck. Lucy is playing with her witch dolls and she suggests that I join in, So bye for now !

Sunday 26th August 2007

Today is the anniversary of the birth and death of my lovely daughter she would have been 42. Not a day goes by when I don't think of her. I only hope she is in heaven with her dad.
It had been a nice few days since Lucy came with her dad and Chun on thursday, Stu also joined us and we had a nice family meal together, well I hope it was, as I cooked it. The Lucy stayed on as the others went off to do their own things. Friday Lucy and I went into Dudley to have croissants at one of my favourite cafes, the only really good one in Dudley, but unfortunately when we got there it was closed for holidays. So after a little walk around the farmers market and an ice cream for Lucy we caught the bus and went to Haden Hill park. It was a lovely day and after a little walk around the park we went inside Haden Hall. In all the years that I have been going to this park, nearly 66, I don't ever remember going inside the house. I do remember many years ago when I was courting Eric, his sister Betty used to work there on a saturday morning, serving teas, but most of the time the hall was usually shut up. It was really interesting the rooms were all set out in the furniture of the times around 1900 and there were a few rooms with very excellent wax work figures in costumes relating to their positions in the house. One room was made to look like a hospital with a wounded soldier, blood and all, and a nurse and a model would could have represented Florence Nightingale looking over him. Another was a bedroom with a serving girl knealing at the bedside as if in prayer. All the rooms were beautifully furnished and china cabinets filled with the most lovely porcelain. All in all it was really worth while, the only drawback was the tea rooms were not open due to lack of staff so we could not get anything to eat, therefore after an hour in the playground we had to come home for a late lunch. We made coconut pyramids later, well Lucy made them I only supervised, which she and the children from next door ate at one of Lucy's "tea parties"
Yesterday I arranged to meet Rob and Chun in town to collect Lucy from me, but I was encouraged to stay with them as Rob wanted to take me to Bourneville to a tour of the school building with the Carillon. We were fortunate to go on a day when there was a concert by a famous Belgium carilloner playing. The tour and talk was very interesting and the guide told us how the carillon came to be put in the tower of the school by George Cadbury and how the number of bells were increased after his death, in his memory, by his wife. The bells can be seen from the road, as the are in an open area only covered by an ornate roof. We went right up to the top of the tower where the Belgium gent was playing and we had a very close look at the machinery, the keys and also the bells. What a great thing. Just on our doorsteps and something you hardly notice when you go by on the bus. I stayed overnight at Robs and today we went into town and met up with Stu for lunch at the lovely burger bar on the canal side in Brindley place. I got a free glass of wine for being a little cheeky to a waiter, maybe a bit flirty, I'm not sure if a 66 year old should be like that with a young man, but I do like a little fun. I shall have to finish her as I'm very tired, but will continue tomorrow.

Thursday 22 August 2007

I was thinking I should write something but I haven't a clue what to put down. Well here goes. Since the last time I have started a gym, called Gymophobics, it's for people who are not keen on gyms but who want to get fit, lose weight or inches. I want the LOT. Its a very pleasant place in Dudley and has only been opened since April. My friend Yvonne put me on to it, she went after being immobilized by a foot operation in January and she wanted to get fit. She has lost inches, not a few, and pounds, so I thought I would give it a go. They are a very pleasant lot, the girls who run the place are very informed as to what you need to achieve the goals that you want. They supervise you all the way and are there all the time to encourage and advise. Most of the ladies are like me FAT and want to do something about it. We have a laugh and some of the girls are passing around a very erotic book, there's a waiting list apparently for it. Its all fun but you have to keep up the programme or they soon pounce on you. I am finding it really great and are determined to lose inches especially but we shall have to wait, I will keep you informed and I won't tell fibs. We have an assessment every eight weeks so it will be a little while before I know anything.
Toads was last night and we shall be starting to do two days a week soon, as the panto isn't too long now.
I am looking forward to the next few days, as Robert is bringing Lucy over, she wants to stay so we can do some baking, I have a few things in mind and I hope she will enjoy it as much as me.
I don't know what I shall be doing on bank holiday, probably not much as the local transport is almost non existent, they say use buses and trains but when you get a holiday, they do too. When Eric was alive he loved to go to the Severn Valley Railway on his days off, but he found it extremely difficult as what buses were running never started till nearly lunchtime and then he had to catch a train to Kidderminster and by the time he arrived the day was nearly over. Then when he got back to Cradley Heath there was only one bus every hour which he normally had just missed so many a holiday he just stayed at home, spent time in the garden and went next door, we have a pub there, and had a pint. I shan't be having the pint but I shall probably be in the garden.

Saturday evening

Well I went into the Dudley Guest hospital on November 3rd 1952 if, as you remember from my last blog, to have my tonsils out. I think if I remember rightly there were four other children in the ward, all seemed much younger than me. As soon as we got to the ward we had to get undressed and into bed and our mothers had to leave. There wasn't much to do I think there were a few books to look at but as I have already said the other children were much younger and did nothing much except cry understandably but it was very miserable for me. The next morning the nurses came round and gave us a pot will pills in. Now up to this time I had always had trouble swallowing tablets, although I must say I never really had taken many, but one by one they went to each child and if they didn't swallow the pills, with the tiniest drink of water they were offered, the nurse shouted at them. So when it came to my turn I was determined not to get a telling off so I pushed all the pills in together and drank the water down so fast that I thought I would choke but they were gone, what a relief. I'm sure there were only a couple of tablets in the pot the nurse gave us but at the time there seemed to be far more. The other children seemed to go to sleep quite quickly but I lay awake for what seemed like hours and one by one they came for them and one by one they were brought back still asleep. I was the last and by this time I was getting myself into a panic, so when they came for me I pretended to be asleep as they put me on a trolley and wheeled me out of the ward. I do remember them putting a mask across my face but nothing until I woke up with a very sore throat a few hours later. The other children all seemed to be awake, most of them crying again, but I suppose like me their throats were hurting. We all slept on and off through till the next morning when we were given cornflakes of all things, but eventually things improved and we got jelly later. That night was November 5th, bonfire night and the hospital had arranged a firework display for a little child who apparently had been in hospital for a long time and so we were able to watch through the windows at the show. I think we were allowed home the next day, what a blessing, I think I was even glad to think I would soon be able to go back to school. Still a few days later we had a bonfire and fireworks at home, as dad had said they would wait for me to get home before having our own November 5th.

Wednesday July 15th

Well I'm here again but haven't a clue what to write as the last few days have been so what boring except for last evening when I went, as usual, to Toads. We were rehearsing again but last night we started at the beginning and went straight through, lines, songs and dances, the first half. It's getting there. There seemed to be quite a few away last night as holidays seemed to have all come together, but we soldiered on and it was very satisfying. I've decided. although I have known for some time, that I'm very unhealthy and so I am going, tomorrow, to the gym to have a talk with someone with a view to getting a bit fit, and hopefully, lose some weight. I have been getting a few palpitations lately so now's that time to do something constructive about it. I keep thinking that I must start writing about my childhood again so I will start where I left off last time, when I had said that I had passed my eleven plus and had to start at the grammar school. It was two but rides away and I had never really gone too far one my own but the first day it seemed alright as we did not have to start till ten o'clock and by the time I had to catch the bus the early morning rush had finished, no flexi time in those days. But the next day and all the days after, it was really hectic and sometimes one or two buses passed us by full up. Remember in the early fifties only a few people travelled to work by car, so the bus was the only way of getting to and from. I think from the first day I hated it. The only two people I knew, as the school was quite away out of my district, were put in another class, and I was quite shy back then and very nervous. I struggled on for a bout six weeks, when one saturday Val and I were at the cinema when she suddenly mentioned that I still had not been called to have my tonsils out. I must tell you that the school doctors in those days used to look at all the childrens tonsils and were quite eager to get them removed. I think my mom had been told that mine had to come out when I had been about eight. I didn't think much about it at the time, but on the monday morning I was told by my mom that I wasn't going to school but was expected at the hospital, later that day and was due to have my tonsils out the next. Do you know I think I was quite relieved in some way, thats how much I disliked Rowley regis grammar.

Very late Sunday/ early monday morning 12/13th

I know I know I haven't written anything for days, but I really haven't done a thing worth writing about. Unless you call washing, and cleaning the windows and the house worth it. Today though, the community thing in the park did eventually go ahead with, not as forecast, good sunny weather. Not a spot of rain, in fact it was a lovely afternoon. At one point the sun on my back was positively HOT ! The park was very nice, I had not been there before and it looked great although as Val was having a tiring time just getting to where the action was, we couldn't look too much at the beauty of it. Although I did see a very nice lake further on from where the show was staged. There was a good fair and lots of difference stalls. Val got a head, neck and hand massage and we looked at the stalls. I did get some samosas and onion bahgis (not sure how thats spelt) which we ate on the park. Our little bit of entertainment was due at 3.30pm and we all met up, those who came, at 3 pm. We were ready and were introduced but unfortunately someone who was working the machine for our backing music seemed to have some difficulty. Then Craig and Carl had to go and have a look, and after quite a long while during which we were standing on the stage with the man from one of the local radio stations keeping up some banter, they announced the machine was Kaput. So they had a chin wag and decided to try and play our tape on the tape machine in the radio van, which although wasn't good, it was better than nothing. We sang some Beach boys, Abba and music from a selection that we did in our Musicality show. I think it went down well although Val said that it was hard to hear us, and she was at the front, so I don't know if those further back could hear anything. At any rate I think we enjoyed it, It was a good laugh, well I thought so, as I have said before I always enjoy being with the others from Toads.

Tuesday

I've had the last two days at home, not doing much. Except of course a bit of housework, I did cut the lawn this morning and then went to the shops for a few things. Other than that no much until TOADS tonight for more rehearsing. We are supposed to be doing the event in Victoria park, Tipton on Sunday,which was cancelled from a few weeks ago due to the rain. I hope there will be enough of us, as it seems that quite a few seem to have other arrangements, still I'm sure those of us who do turn up will sing their hearts out. Rob sent me a text earlier saying something interesting about the new IMacs, so I suppose there are some new ones out. I'm too scared to look as I really want another computer,although I love this strawberry Mac that I have now . I know I'm going to look anyway but I can't afford one. Still I can dream.

Sunday evening

I've just been too busy since my lat blog to do any writing. Friday I had a phone call from Val saying a trip to the vineyard was planned. So ofcourse I wasup for that. We had a god day, the sun was shining and it was a pleasant ride to Halfpenny Green. The craft shops were busy and again I went to my favourite and got more Christmas presents. I am very good at getting my shopping early as my funds do not allow me to go and buy lots all together. We looked in the glass engraving shop. Lovely things, some not too expensive, when Val spied a beautiful glass lamp. It was very heavy, not at all fussy but very nice. We were surprised when the engraver told us the price and that was that, with a little help from me, she bought it. It holds either and tall thin candle or a short stubby one and although I wasn't there when she lit it I'm sure it looks fabulous. It really was a bargain. We then had a look around the other shops there, and I of course found my way to the garden centre, but it seems as if it was too late for ordinary garden plants although they did have lots of insect eaters which although they are interesting are not for me. and there was also lots of herbs, which I am ashamed to admit I don't really know how to use, except of course, the usuals like parsley, sage, etc. But most of these were things that I wouldn't know how to use, like pineapple sage and clemetine sage, myrtle and such like. Still it was nice to enjoy the smells. I'm always happy among plants. Saturday I had a text from Rob asking if I wanted to join him and Chun on a trip to Wolverhampton. We had said a few says ago that it would be good to have a look around that art gallery there, as Rob had been a little while ago and had seen that a new extension was being opened. So again I escaped the house work and met then in town where we spent a lovely time in the art gallery. I was really impressed. The pop art section was so interesting with clothes to try on from the sixties, I think I've still got some similar at the back of my wardrobe ! The young girls there seemed eager to try them on and Rob had a go at a fur trimmed mock sheepskin. The when we went into the georgian rooms Chun put on a beautiful dress.( Photos will all be on flikr shortly ) and a hat that nearly broke her neck it was so large and heavy. We also tried the new cafe in there. The food was good although it would have been nice if they had used the dumb waiter to transport food up the stairs instead of having us carry the trays. Not because they were heavy but because the stairs were not really easy to negotiate carrying them. I might make a mention of this on their web site if I can. Today has been another good one with Stu coming and spending it with me. He went and had a pint with Rob Hadley and then came back to a delicious, although I say it myself, dinner. We then had a little after lunch aperitif, some whisky liqueur that I bought back from my Scottish holiday, and a good time was had by us both.

Thursday

Today did not start well. I made my usual coffee and found the milk and 'gone orf'. So although I wasn't planning on going out, my hair was a mess and I really didn't feel like it, I grabbed my bag to go to the shops. As it wasn't a bad sort of day really, I was alive and well, I decided to catch a bus and go to Dudley. I did need some fruit and I thought, "why not". There was only the ironing waiting at home. So the bus duly came and as it was passing my sister's house, I phoned her from the bus to ask what she had planned for the day. She was just leaving her place to go to Bridgenorth to get something for a friend, so I asked if I could tag along. Bit of a journey for fruit and milk, but what a nice day we had. We called at a farm on the way and bought strawberries, raspberries, melons and milk and went on to Bridgenorth where we had to get a tee shirt printed. Then we had a mooch around the shops after lunching at a lovely fish and chip shop. Val seemed as if she was a regular as the little man, who didn't look much fatter than a chip, made she and I very welcome and served us himself, although they were very busy. Then as I have just said we looked around the shops, mainly charity ones where we both got a couple of bargains. If you never bother with these shops, you should as there are some real gems to be had if you are lucky. I bought a brand new skirt for £2.99 and Val got a lovely blouse and a beautiful cushion. Then we headed home calling at another farm shop for more more strawberries and fresh cream, flowers and green gages, one of my favorites, which you don't get very often. Then we really did come home in time for Val to go to her slimming group. Heaven knows why she's as thin as a chip, and so home for me and a gigantic bowl of strawberries and raspberries, grapes and greengages finished off with just a little cream, (believe that if you will).

Tuesday 31 July 2007

I have had a lovely weekend, spending time at Robert's home, with him, Lucy and Chun. It was a short time as I had other commitments, but really nice. Sunday we met in town and went to a new Burger bar (it used to be the Pit Stop) on Brindley Place at the side of the canal. They cook proper burgers with real beef and have a lot of variations. The meal was so good, I had been hankering for a burger for a few weeks and kept putting it off as I couldn't be bothered to get meat and make one so this was a nice surprise. I am now happy for a few months. The last really good burger I had was last year, about this time, in Hereford, where Stu and I had and Aberdeen Angus beef burger with stilton. I can't believe I'm talking about beef burgers. What a sad life I lead. Yesterday, Rob, Stu, Lucy, Chun and I went to Coventry. We had a lovely day looking at the Cathedrals, new and old and the church nearby. We also went to the excavated Priory and then on to one of Lucy's favourite places, the motor museum, where there are some really interesting sorts of transport from the early days of the motor car up to the present day. But the most important car that I mustn't miss telling you about is the Barbie car which is the reason it's a favourite of Lucy. The two cars which excited me were the ones that broke the land speed record. We went into a simulator and supposedly reached 800 miles per hour. The engines for these two were enormous. If I remember rightly they were as big if not bigger than that of a Jet aeroplane engine. Its really a smashing day out for both adults and children, and the best part is that its free entry. There is a very good shop there though if you really want to spend money and also a cafe. I came home this lunch time after being taken to the lovely French cafe for croissants and cakes by my lovely boy. I stopped off in town to buy fruit and some vegs before finally returning to get ready for Toads tonight. Another new dance to learn and apparently more next week. I really love it. even though it's hard work and the folks are lovely. Must go now night night x x

Tuesday 31 July 2007

Wednesday 18th July 2007

Well here I am again, I've been watching the first two episodes of Heroes. Stuart told me about this series quite a while ago and said that I must not miss it. I am not disappointed. Bbc 2 showed the first two back to back and I can't wait for the next one. If you like some thing strange sort of D.C. comics stuff, you'll like this. Of course the first programme always have to introduce the characters and I am sure they will develop as the series gets going, but tonight was good and there were some gorgeous men in it too. If you missed it I'm sure it will be on replay. I was talking about my childhood years before and about the end of the war when all the country were celebrating. There was a bonfire on what we called the Clamitt. It used to be where there was a mine, but later it was a short cut to Gornal and where my school was. It was very pretty in the summer as the wild flowers had taken it over. But at the time I'm talking about the folks from our area built a gigantic fire and, no Guy Fawkes instead we burnt an effigy of Hitler. It was a time of merriment, but also sadness, as lots of husbands, fathers and grandfathers did not return home. I remember on one special night my mother took me into Dudley just to hear the church bells as they had been silent through the war, and on another occasion they shone searchlights all across the sky and fireworks were let off. There was dancing in the streets and flags every where. We had the biggest Union Jack, which we hung out of our bedroom window the pole was so long it stretched almost the length of mine and Val's little bedroom. It was all great fun to us, ofcourse being young we didn't realise the amount of suffering there had been by both allies and enemies.
p.s. The clamitt is now a large housing estate, so no more wild flowers.

Sunday 22 July 2007

Hello again. I've been busy the last few days so haven't got around to doing any writing. But I must tell you about a couple of books I've been reading.The first was Lollipop Shoes by Joanne Harris, the one who wrote Chocolat. It is the sequel to it and is really worth spending £9.99 (Asda) to buy it as I was hooked. I loved Chocolat but it left a lot unanswered, this book continues and some how finishs the story. But I could be wrong. The only thing is that it has taken her a long time to write this one so I might not be around if she does decide to write a third.
Of course after friday evening the book I started a couple of days ago had to be put aside as I got my seventh Harry Potter saturday morning and although I was pleased to get an unexpected visitor it meant that I couldn't start it till late yesterday. I stayed up till about 3 am. reading it and I have continued today although I have had to put it down as I have given myself eye strain. I only have about another 150 pages to read but I think in the back of my mind I shall be sorry to finish, as I know it is the last one. Never mind I can read them all again. The only thing is that there are so many good books to read I don't know when. While I was standing in the queue at Waterstones to get my reserved book I was looking at a few more new ones that had caught my eye. I suppose I shall be in there later on this week to see what I can get as they have a three for two offer on and I think I know what I shall buy already.

Wednesday 18th July 2007

Just around the end of the war (1939 - 45) we had quite a number of prisoners around where I lived. Mostly Italians but also some Polish and a few Germans. The Italians especially were really nice as some of the could speak English, they were set to mending the roads. When we went to school they would be there along the main road and when we came back home on the afternoon they seemed as though they had just moved a little further. It was rather strange, looking back on it, as I am sure that when they had finished their section that they ripped it up and started again. Or maybe my memory after 60 years is playing tricks, but I'm sure its not. We didn't have many German prisoners but I remember an incident when a young man came to our door and asked for a drink of water, these prisoners were working just along our road, and my grandma told my mother to make him a cup of tea. He was only about 16. He had the tea and went back to work, whereupon my mother said to my grandma, "he was a German". Up till that time my grandma used to say that if she met any German she would run him through , presumably with her carving knife. When mother told her this she cried. She realised then how the young men of the enemy had been taken into service, just as ours had. At the same time there were American forces stationed on the main road at the top of our street. They were billeted in what were called Nissen huts. My godmother, Auntie Annie, who lived next door to us used to take me walks and when we went past they used to come out and make quite a fuss of me, giving me chocolate, which we couldn't get. I think most of them were missing their own children back in the states. It was always very nice to see them and they were so kind. It was sad when they left. They seemed just to vanish, as did the POWs, overnight. I suppose the war was nearly at an end. When V.E. day was declared (victory over Europe) we had a street party, all our mothers made sandwiches and jelly and we kids had games and on the evening someone brought a piano into the street and we all danced and sang songs. A little later on that year V.J. (victory over Japan) day was announced then we had another party. At this time there was a farm next to our street, its now a large housing estate, and Mr. Taylor who was the farmer let us use his field to have the party in. We had games again and food, and a fancy dress parade. I was dressed as an old fashioned lady complete with bonnet and basket and my sister Val who as I have said before couldn't walk, was dressed in a big Union flag in her pram. As is usual on party days, it rained on the afternoon, and mother took us home. The next day someone came and brought two very runny chocolate bars that we had won in the fancy dress competition. I don't know where they had been kept overnight , of course there were no refrigerators for ordinary folks in those days so I suppose they had just been left on someones kitchen table probably near the fire. We still ate it though. I'll tell more next time.

sunday

Well what a day. Our singing in the park was cancelled due to the terrible weather, heaven knows when this rain is ever going to stop, the forecast for the forseeable is rain rain and more rain. This morning I had just cooked myself a lovely breakfast when I had a message to say the do was off so I stuck for something to do with my day. I certainly wasn't going to find work to do on my day of rest ( all my days are days of rest really). So I chose a film to watch from the cable list, well what do you know it didn't want to work so after I had phoned Virgin to tell them about the trouble they gave me another for free so I chose The pursuit of Happiness, well what do you know that one was playing up all through, but I stuck with it because from what I could see and hear it was a great film. I will go out and hire the dvd to watch it properly. In the meantime the repair man is coming tuesday to have a look at my cable box.
People seem interested in my childhood from comments so here I go with a bit more.
School was nothing like it is today. When you went into class you had to sit at desks, they were usually made of what was known as pig iron with a two seats and two lift up lids made of wood fixed to it. Sometimes the desk was fixed with a little shelf underneath and not a lift up lid. The desks were in rows of about six or eight and there would be anything up to eight or so rows. There you sat, no getting up and walking around, you stayed there unless, horror of horrors you were called out to the front of the class. Usually for a telling off or worse THE RULER. Teachers were not worried about hitting in those days. You would get it across your hands or sometimes the backs of your legs if you had really done something wrong. Some teachers hardly ever hit but quite a number seemed to relish it. It wasn't so bad really, perhaps I'm making it out to sound as though it was the dark ages, but we were taught to behave and have respect, and if you did you could get through school okay. The only thing I got in trouble for, and quite often, was talking too much, I really loved school until I passed for the grammar and then my troubles seemed to all come at once. At junior school I excelled but when I got to Rowley regis grammar I found that things got very hard. I hated all the travelling, it was a long way, and in those days very few people had cars so everyone had to bus it there. I had to get two buses and I had quite a wait in between them. Then just after I started I was sent for to have my tonsils out. I'll tell you about that another time.

Saturday evening

I have not been in the mood to write but I suppose I'd better or I shan't start again. Stuart and I went to see the new Harry Potter film yesterday. It was, I think, the best so far. Much darker than the rest, very well directed and acted. I am sorry that there will only be another two films and of course the last book is out in the next week or so and so we will all know the end of the story very soon. We have reserved our books and Waterstones is opening at midnight so we may be there to get ours then, so that we will have the weekend to read it. I have just finished the second book in the Philip Pullman trilogy I liked it better than the first and I am looking forward to the film although I really don't know how they will do it. I'm not sure if they are making just one film or more. I have seen a trailer which looks very good. Of course with actors like Daniel Craig, Oh he's so lovely, and Sam Elliott. Notice I haven't mentioned the girls, It should be okay. Not up to Harry Potter though, although I may have to eat my words when the film comes out. I am still trying to get to see another of my favourites, Die Hard number 4, I don't think two and three were up to the first but some of Stu's friends who have seen it say its the best. We shall have to wait and see about that.
Rob texted me tonight to say he has bought a new computer, Mac of course, no doubt about that. I am looking forward to seeing it, as even though I don't really understand the ins and outs it sounds rather nice. I went to Dudley today, just for a ride really but I needed to get some fruit, and I always think the market is the best place for it, but I also got some things for my beautiful granddaughter Lucy. She is into the Witch dolls at the moment and I know she needed a couple more to complete her set, but surprise surprise I found a third. I'll bet she knows about it though and so it won't be a surprise when she sees it. She's lovely and I adore her. We are performing tomorrow at a park in Tipton, the forecast is rain so I suppose we shall all get soaked but we shall all sing our hearts out and hopefully everyone will enjoy it. I think it's some sort of Asian festival. I went to Kings Heath park last year and some of the Asian ladies there were selling delicious food so I hope there will be some at this one. Got to get to bed soon so I will finish for tonight.

Tuesday July 10th

I have been away for a few days at Roberts to spend some time with him and Lucy and to celebrate Charlotte's birthday.
Stu stayed over at Robs on saturday night and we all went to cafe soya for lunch on sunday. Stu is not well and so after ordering his meal he couldn't eat anything. I am really worried about him as he is having a bad time at the moment, the doctor, who he has seen today, has said he is suffering from stress but I think it's more likely to be depression. I wish things could be better for him, all we, his family, can do is support and love him through his problems and hopefully he will pull through, as long as certain people don't cause him any more upset. He has three people who love him very much and would never hurt him.
I have been to TOADS tonight and we have been rehersing like mad as October doesn't seem that far away and especially as lots of us are taking holidays so we really have to work hard for the next few weeks. We have a show at Tipton park on sunday and hopefully the weather will be kind. It should be fun.
I'm not in the mood for remonissing about the old times so I will leave it here for tonight and maybe do some more writing tomorrow.

Thursday

I had a full day yesterday so I didn't have any time to write. After doing a few jobs around the house I needed to get a couple of things from the local shop so decided to pop and see Mary, a dear friend, as I hadn't seen her since I came back from Scotland, and I had a little gift for her. She was as usual always pleased to see me, and she showed my the renovations that the council were in the process of doing to her kitchen. As always with council workers they had put in her new kitchen cupboards and sink unit also fitting a new floor and then decided to remove tiles from the ceiling wich had been put in years ago by the then tenant, so she is still waiting for it all to be finished. I supposed they will turn up sometime in the next twelve months. What they have done though is very nice and Mary is pleased as her old units were in a state since she had moved into this flat about 14 years ago. While I was there Val phoned and asked me if I would like to have a ride somewhere in her lovely new Corsa so off we went, Mary didn't want to come, and we drove out as far as Bridgenorth and on to Highley where her friend has a caravan. I had a little walk in the woods around the river and Severn valley steam railway while Val stayed in the car because as I have said before Val is not good on her legs needing to walk with elbow crutches. Her friend has been asking Val if she would ask me to name the plants around the caravan and so I went around with pencil and paper writing them all down for her. Now she wants me to go and tidy it up for her, the garden I mean not the caravan which is beautiful. We then drove over to Halfpenny green vineyard for clotted cream and strawberry jam scones and tea. - Yummy. Its a lovely place sitting in the tea room looking out on the vines where you can just see the little grapes starting to swell. We shall be back there later as there are some nice little shops and a garden centre. It really is worth a visit. And I can recommend the wines.
Today Stu and I were going to see Die Hard 4 as it was his day off, but he really wasn't well so I left him to have a rest, and I went to Val's to spend a bit of time with her as it had been nearly three weeks,till yesterday since I had seen her, and we had a lot to catch up on. I came home for tea as she was going to her slimming club. Heaven knows why as she can hardly be called fat at size 12. but thats her affair. I shall have to try and get back to my early years next time, but I might be going to Robert's for a few days, so I don't know when that will be.

Tuesday July 3rd

I have just got back from TOADS exhausted. We have been rehersing as usual and learning new numbers and dance routines. It is a great night out and I really enjoy going. The weekend was a bit traumatic but things are now a little better. I went to Erdington today to see Stu's new shop. It has a very impressive frontage right in the middle of the town, I've never been to this town before but I think I might go back and have a better look as I didn't have much time today.
Shall I talk a bit more about the early years ?
Well as I have already said my sister Val was born rather early and rather tiny, and when she was about two she still couldn't walk. So my grandmother paid £5. a very large sum of money in those days, probably about a weeks wages, for Val to see a orthopaedic specialist, who promptly had her into hospital for the first of about twelve operations and she was put into plaster and when that came off into leg irons. These she had to wear, in between operations, for the next twelve years of her life. She started school but was very often away due to all the hospital visits. I liked school when I first started. I had always wanted to read and write and couldn't wait to get my reading books. Not like todays we weren't given books to bring home. I think it was because there were never enough to go round, we had to share. When I went into the junior school and was allowed to pick a book to read and bring home I picked the biggest one on the shelf. It happened to be Heidi which today is still one of my all time childrens favorite book. In fact thinking about it I shall find it out - oh yes I still have a copy - and give it to my lovely grand daughter Lucy for when she is able to read it. Then it was scholarship time when I was ten. We were taken to another school a long way from mine, well a bus ride, and we all had to sit in a school hall with other children from other schools, I can't remember how many there were, as time has dimmed my memory but it must have been about a hundred, and were given lots of exam papers to do one after the other. Then they gave us lunch and then we had to go back and do some more. All in one day. I passed. So it was off to Grammar school for me. tomorrow I will write so more.So goodnight for now.

Sunday

Disturbing things have been happening which I would love to write about but I do not think they are appropriate. Needless to say I haven't written since Thursday. All I will say is that I am appalled as to the extent some people will go to to hurt and upset peoples lives. People who have tried to help and be kind to them. I hope these people will realise they have not only destroyed our faith in them but have lost themselves good friends. This comment is in no way anything to do with the attempted terrorist activities that have gone on in the last few days in this country.
I have been watching Jekyll again and it gets more complex and exciting as the series goes on. I can't say much more about this or Dr. Who, which finished it's present run last night, in case some viewers have not yet seen these programmes. Except to say Dr. Who, wow wow, please hurry back and that I hope there will be another series of Jekyll.
I went to the hospital on Friday about my vocal chords, it was just a preliminary chat with advice before my first one to one with another therapist. It was interesting but there wasn't much that I did not already know. Yesterday was the last swimming lesson for this term. Roger, the instructor, was very pleased with me as I swan half a width on my front, thats my weakest as I don't seem to be able to breathe properly to get any further. I don't have any trouble swimming on my back but I do find it very tiring.
I have been quite lazy today as I did not get much sleep last night the only important thing I have done today is make a few phone calls and prepared myself a little food if you can call these things important. I did speak to Stu a few times which I think is important. I am going to watch Kill Bill 2 a little later as I saw the first film a few months ago and really want to find out what happens as it must carry on from the first - I hope.
I will try and get back to my childhood tomorrow, but I have to be in the mood.
On thing I want to say about today is that it would have been our, mine and Erics, 46th wedding anniversary. Oh how I miss him. Love you my darling.

Thursday

I have just spent a very enjoyable evening at the theatre with Stuart and Denise. We went to see The Rat Pack, for anyone who doesn't know what that is, it is three very fine actor/singers re-enacting a night at the Sands hotel in Las Vegas in which Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jnr, sang and joked around. I have been before to see this show, then it was at the Hippodrome in Birmingham, but this time it was at the Grand theatre in Wolverhampton. It was well worth going again, the only sad thing was this time my darling husband was not with us. How he loved it when we went before, he wasn't really a theatre going person but when Stu got us tickets for this he was thrilled as Frank was his hero. He had I think every song he had ever recorded and most of the videos of his shows, as well as numerous books about him and the Rat pack. I'm sure he was with us in spirit.
I have been to the hair dressers today to have some highlights put in as I'm very grey and I hate it. Now I'm not sure about this colour, last time I had it done the colour was so subtle I could hardly see it, now..you can see me from ten miles away. Oh well it will soon fade - I hope.
I have a hospital appointment tomorrow as I have got problems with my vocal chords and as I try to sing at T O A D S it can be a bit of a bother. They have told me not to use my voice unnecessarily but tonight I have cheered and yelled so I suppose I shall get a telling off when I see the consultant, But what else could I do when I was having such a good time.

Wednesday 27th June

Well here I am again. I went to my drama society last night its call T O A D S. and had a really great time. we are rehersing for Snow White and the seven dwarfs which we shall be putting on in October. Its good fun and all the members are such nice people. I haven't been out today - too lazy, and there was a really interesting programme last night on Bbc 2 about my favorite city - Paris which I had recorded and had to watch. Its a three parter so I must remember to record the next ones. I have made a list of some interesting places which I shall try and visit next time I get the opportunity. I said I was going to write about some of my childhood and I'm thinking just where to start as my memory flits around a lot so I will just put down things that spring to mind. I started school in 1946 at Robert Street primary school in Lower Gornal, near Dudley. It was a daunting time as the war although officially over was far from normal. We had little plots of garden at the side of the school where we grew radishes and a few flowers. I don't really remember doing much digging but I think it was to encourage us to keep up the slogan "dig for victory" which was one of the things that we used to see on posters and of course as things were in such short supply during, and after the war, the more we grew ourselves the more we had to eat. Rationing went on till the 1950s and I think most people today would be shocked at what little we could get on ration. When you think that about 25 grams of cheese was one weeks allowance and about the same of butter and heaven knows how little meat we were allowed its a wonder that any of us grew up to be fat. Our mothers and grandmothers were very canny though and they seemed to make meals out of nothing, so if we grew vegetables in our gardens it supplimented what we could put on the table. Some of our neighbours kept pigs and others chickens. I was lucky as one side of us had chickens, so I always had an egg on sundays, and the neighbour the other side kept pigs. This was wonderful as sometimes she would have sides of pork and would cut me a thick slice and tell me to take it for my granny or mom to cook for a treat. You weren't allowed to keep all the pigs, after they were slaughtered the government took their share, so as to suppliment the amount of meat for the butchery trade. Things were tough but folks seemed to help each other. Sometimes a neighbour wouldn't have any coal and they would borrow a bucketful until theirs arrived, and another time they would lend us some till ours came. About this time our dads were being demobbed from the forces and hopefully returning to their old jobs. My dad went back to T.W. Lenches in Blackheath where he had been working before he was called up. More next time.

Monday

I had a lovely day yesterday with the family coming around we always have a pleasant time when Lucy comes as she keeps us on our toes. She is growing up very quickly but she is so lovely anyone who meets her cannot help but love her as we all do. She is a credit to her parents. I watched Dr. Who and Jekyll on saturday evening but I suppose I musn't say too much in case there are some of you out there that have not yet watched them. Suffice to say both were brilliant, I am only sorry that next weeks episode of Dr. Who is the last in this series. I read on the net that they have decided not to make any more after the fourth series of the Dr. but I for one will be petitioning the beeb if this turns out to be true. Today I have been on a visit to Webbs Garden centre, somewhere near Droitwich. It was an awful morning but the sun did come out for a bit later. It really didn't worry us as a lot of the place was inside and there was lots to see, but too expensive to buy. Still it was a pleasant outing.
I have just watched Jack & Sarah for about the third time, silly really watching films over again but I really enjoyed it and I think Richard E Grant is lovely. My son Stu met him once and he says he is really charming.
I suppose I shall have to go back to writing about my early years very soon as my son Stuart and someone calling themselves moggy seem interested. You will have to be patient with me as it was a long time ago, but I promise I really will get down to it. If anyone reads this and know the whereabouts of someone named Carole Horne I would be very grateful if they could let me know how to get in touch. We last saw each other on my wedding day 46 years ago, we grew up and went to school together and were always good friends but lost touch. I have posted messages on Friends reunited and such like but to no avail.
I remember the first day we went to our primary school and we had to stand outside in a row by the school wall until they called our names, I think if I remember rightly, it was 62 years ago, we were split up and went into different classrooms at first but we were soon back together and we went through primary, secondary and grammar school together afterwards. It would be wonderful if anyone knows her whereabouts, PLEASE. I remember her birthday was in December and she was born in 1940.

Saturday evening

It wasn't convenient to write any more while I was in Scotland. For one thing Stu wanted to upload photos and we didn't want to sit in a very pleasant pub computing all evening. So here I am back home and already missing those wonderful places and especially the mountains the majesty and grandeur of which can only be experienced. I never expected to be over whelmed by the feeling I got when seeing them for the first, and for me every time, I did see them. In fact to tell the truth they had me crying just thinking about the awesome power by which they were created. Wednesday did bring the rain but it didn't stop us walking in the forest. It was like the clock had been turned back a few hundred years. Again another experience which I shall not forget.
Such magnificent trees with little rivers of water everywhere, we really enjoyed ourselves, even though we were very wet when we eventually got back to the village. Thursday dawned bright and sunny and it was a journey through the Cairngorm mountains and on past Lochs towards firstly the Commando memorial. High in the cairngorms where commandos rehersed and trained for war in the 1940s. Here was a magnificent memorial, which I would like to show you, when I get one of my clever sons to show me how, and also a circle where family members can put reminders of lost loved ones. There were even two lots of cremated remains (Ashes) . Some memorials were from the second world war but many were from recent fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was another very moving experience which will be hard to forget. We then went on to Loch Ness where the heavens opened and it poured. So much so that no one except Stu and I were brave enough to get out of the coach to view and photograph the scene. We didn't see any monsters though ! We then went back to the hotel for a "Highland Banquet" an evening of food and entertainment with dancers and music. The "banquet" was amazing so much food, and later another lot of food. I don't know how some people ate it all, but many did and went back for seconds and thirds. More tomorrow as its late !

Tuesday 19th June

My first blog from bonnie Scotland.
I have to apologise to all those people who read my last blog regarding Dr Who. To all those people who had not seen it before I am told I should have warned them that I had said things about the ending I AM SORRY !
The Cairngorms are the most amazing sight one could ever want to see. They loom up and out of the clouds,and it certainly makes you realize how insignificant we are on this earth. They are without doubt magnificent. There is just a little snow on the tops of some but the colours and the scenery up here is lovely. We are a little tipsy tonight as we have been to lots of whisky shops including the world famous whisky castle in Tomintoul, which is the highest village in the Highlands, where they ply you with not one but lots of various sorts in the hope of you spending lots of money. Which you do ! We are now in pub near our hotel, the only one where you can get wi-fi,Stu is happy as his computer is his third eye but obviously I'm using it at the moment while he has a pint, beer I may add! We are hoping to go on a couple of woodland walks tomorrow, but we have just seen the weather forecast and it doesn't look very promising. Never mind I shall let you know tomorrow how we get on. Bye for now.

Saturday evening

I'm here again. I've more or less packed my suitcase except for things that I shall need tomorrow and all I want now is for a bit of sunshine over the next week. I don't think it will happen though as the weather forecast isn't good. Still it will be lovely whatever the weather.
I've just watched episode 11 of Dr Who, only another two to go but what an episode. Captain Jack and the Master were in it. John Barrowman as Jack is so good. He and the Dr. compliment each other so well I do hope that the writers keep bringing them back together, not all the time, that would get monotonous but sometimes. The great Derek Jacobi played the master but at the end he morphed into another fabulous actor John Sim and I'm already waiting to see what next week brings as he left the Dr., Martha and Jack exiled on some far off place with hungry,carnivorous others and took himself off in the Tardis.
I have also watched the first part of Jekyll, brilliantly played by James Nesbitt. A totally new working of the Robert L. Stevenson story. Again this is another "can't wait for the next episode" The writing acting and direction was superb and I'm sure that come the awards, this one will be up for a few if not a lot. When I get back off my jollys I think I might get back to writing of my early years, so look out.

Friday evening

Well what a day ! It has rained continually since yesterday and most of England has been flooded. I know Stuart and Geoff had quite a scarey journey home last night when the road turned into a river and today has been no better for anyone who has had to travel. Stuart had quite a delay before arriving at work and when I phoned this evening he said that although the trains were running there were a great many delays, hopefully he's at home now as it's eleven o'clock. The street where I live also turned into a river and the trafic was gridlocked for about two hours this afternoon. I had to go to the shops this morning but fortunately it had eased off and I made it back as quickly as I could so I was okay. I went to Dudley yesterday primarily to get my hair done in anticipation of next weeks holiday but there was a european market on and I had a quick look. in the rain, around it. It was interesting to say the least, I saw some freshly baked bread which looked very tasty and thought I would get a loaf, well it wasn't really a loaf more a large cob, £2.80 ! can you believe it ! I was too embarrassed to tell them where to stick it, but I could have bought a larger one in the nearby bakery for 60p, and it would have been just as nice. If I had had any sense I would have told them to keep it, but thats pride for you. What an idiot I am, and I suppose a good many others did exactly the same as me. Hopefully a good many others told them what to do with their £2.80 loaves.

Wednesday 13th June

Well I think I'm back to normal, if you could ever call me that. I went to T.O.A.D.S last night and even though I wasn't feeling much in the mood, I really enjoyed myself. We did a bit of dancing and then when some of the characters rehersed we went outside and carried on dancing. I think I've really got the steps to the first dance - Reach for the Stars- Its quite interesting and although the song seems somewhere in the back of my memory I'm not really into pop and so Stuart sang it to me a few weeks ago and I have picked it up quite well now. Then Dan and I had a run/jog around the school and I think it did me good it certainly got a bit of blood racing around this old body. I think I shall have to start doing a bit more exercise as I am a very lazy person. I.m really looking forward to our little holiday in Scotland next week. It can't come soon enough, the only trouble with holidays is that I always want another when the last one finishes. Oh for a bit of money !
Yvonne, my swimming partner is still on holiday, somewhere in the Med. but I shall certainly go this saturday if I can get a lift from my little sister Val. Its the only way to get there as its a bit out of the way. She and Mary went to her friends caravan for a few days and she has come back very brown and looking well, but I am worried about her as she had a nasty fall about a month ago and she is in a lot of pain in her back, but as usual she hasn't been to have it looked at. I phoned her today and expressed my concerns but she only laughed at me for being a worrier. She is waiting for her new car to arrive and can't be bothered to pop into the doctors, which is only five minutes from her flat, but she can drive around to the garage to look for her car so she can get it as soon as possible.

Sunday morning

Well I'm up and about although not in tip top form. I went to town (Dudley) yesterday to do a bit of shopping and to collect our holiday tickets. The weather has suddenly become very warm and so I had to do a spot of watering when I go back and Joyce phoned as she hadn't seen me for days and was not pleased that I hadn't let her know I had been ill so I went round to hers and we spent about four hours talking about this and that, mainly Eric and Tony and it was nice. Then we had a tramp around her garden, which is lovely, if anyone has a green thumb its her, before I came home. I had missed Dr Who by then as it was about 8.45pm and so I watched the end of Joseph, I knew who was going to win, Lee, and then I watched the Dr on replay. Again it was good. These last two programmes have been very good I'm not sure who has written them but I'm sure it's a new person. They have been totally different to the others and so interesting. I am now going to prepare lunch as I have some of the family coming over and also dry my hair as I have just got out of the shower.

Friday evening

I said I thought I was coming down with something Tuesday, and by golly did I. Tuesday night and Wednesday morning I was alternately shivering and sweating, and pains - I don't know where I hadn't got them. Consequently I was in bed all of wednesday and half of thursday. Feeling a bit better b y the afternoon I got up and wasn't too bad, and this morning I felt much better and even had a little food. Now this evening I find I am absolutely covered head to foot in a rash. What on earth is the matter I don't know. I have taken an antihistamine and covered as much of myself as is possible with cream and hopefully it will help. It better, as I am supposed to be going on holiday in a weeks time to Scotland and nothing is going to stop me if I can help it. I was going to write more about my younger days during and just after the war but it will have to wait as the itching is quite anoying. I hope it won't be too long before I can get back to writing as I have a lot to put down. I should be going to my swimming lesson tomorrow but of course that is out of the question with this rash I should hate anyone to think I was going to infect them. Not much else to say tonight so bye till next time.

Tuesday evening

I've not been feeling too good today. I think I've have a cold or something as one minute I have been sweating and then next shivering. Hope it doesn't last too long. Hooray the men came this morning and filled in the hole at the front of my house. It has been there since the beginning of February when they were putting in cable for some electrical system. Not a little hole I can tell you about ten feet long by three feet deep and about two feet wide. We have had nothing but trouble since it was dug as most weekends some clever so and so has removed the barriers and dragged them across the road, blocking it off and throwing the cones down the street. I have had to call an emergency number on two occasions to get it cleared up and last week Joyce my neighbour complained, but hopefully its finished now. All I hope is that someone will come and collect the barriers which the men who filled in the hole left behind. I have been to T.O.A.D.S tonight, we have been running through a couple of dances for the pantomime which we are putting on in October and rehersing the songs. It should be good, lovely Jessica is Snow White I'm not sure how old she is only about 12 but I know she is going to be great. I never cut the lawn yesterday but as long as I feel okay I will try and do it tomorrow, so I had better get to bed and get some rest.

Monday morning

Bored Bored Bored. I have lots of things to do but I don't feel in the mood to do anything. I have had a phone call from my mother's cousin Sheila who lives in Birmingham. One of the family over there is doing a family tree and she has been asking me lots of questions about the Hampshires and also mine and Vals marriages and children. We keep saying we shall meet up but like the rest of us we never seem to get motivated to do anything about it. I think the last time I saw her and George was at their wedding which was in 1960 I think. We have such an extended family from my mothers side as my grandfather and his brother, uncle Alf married two sisters, my grandmother and Sheila's grandmother auntie Elizabeth (Lizzie). Her mother Dolly died when she was only four and her brother Alan was just a few years older so she was brought up by aunt Lizzie and at that time when we were both much younger than we are now we saw each other lots of times. But like everything as the older people have died off we seem to lose touch or else just see or hear from each other at funerals, no weddings as that seems a bit of a none entity these days. I enjoyed my film again last night, I didn't say the title but it was Bryan Brown in FX Murder by Illusion, as I said before I have seen it a number of times and I really enjoy it. I think I might cut the lawn as my neighbour Joyce has just done hers and it makes mine look a bit of a mess and then I can feel as if I have made an effort today. I really aught to get down to doing something in the house as the kitchen and bathroom both need decorating and there is a bit of wall under the stairs where the cat scratched it which needs doing. She's been dead nearly three years so perhaps it's time that was done. Oh well I think I'll have some lunch before I go and do the lawn perhaps I'll feel more like mowing it with some bubble and squeek inside me. Bye bye.

Sunday

I've had a busy day. I tried to tidy some of the garden up this morning. The forget me knots have all seeded now and so I had to clear them out. There were so many in the front and back garden. They seed and spread everywhere but they look so pretty when they flower that I have tried to let them run riot, but now was the time to clear them away. I hope that they come back next year and that I'm around to see them. I don't take anything for granted after last year I just thank God that I wake up each morning. Stuart and Denise came round this afternoon for lunch and for Denise to print off her C.V. also Stu showed me how to use a blue tooth device that Rob had given me. I don't think I can remember everything he told me but at least my stuff from my phone is now on my computer. We had a lovely lunch, watched Deal or no Deal, I applied to go on that last year but I don't think they want me as I haven't heard anything from them, .and then later watched Dr Who AGAIN I still say it has been the best episode to date. I'm now going to watch T.V as there's a good film I have seen at least three times but it's worth watching again. night night

Saturday evening

I was talking a few days ago about the awful weather. Well all of a sudden it's summer. The last two days have been glorious and so I have tried to take advantage (in case it changes again) and have been swimming. Well I say swimming, I really mean floating, which I'm very good at but I think the actual swimming will come, sooner rather than later. Denise and I went to the leisure centre at Haden Hill. I hadn't been there for years, in fact not since I took my two boys for lessons, which they both failed abismally. It was good, Denise is a great swimmer, she dives and does handstands under water and she actually got me standing up from off my back, which until today I could no way accomplish, and so I shall certainly be going again a.s.a.p.
I had a visit from someone special this morning, he is really Stu and Erics friend but he has been like a third son to me since Eric died, he is another Rob. We usually have a laugh and I talk him to death, which he doesn't seem to mind, for a couple of hours. He bought me a little cactus plant a few months ago and I was able to show him two tiny flowers just coming into bud on it today. I have had lots of cactus plants over the years but never had one flower, so I am expecting great things from this one. If it doesn't it will go the same way as all the others, in the bin. No I don't mean that as this one was a present. I only hope I don't kill it with kindness as I think I have done with all the others I have had. I watched the second part of the Dr. Who two parter that started last week. I think it was definately the best to date, but I love all the episodes but maybe this one was just that little bit better as it was so different from the others in this series. I read on the net the other day that there would be no more after the fourth series and I am really sad abot that. I hope that they have so many letters complaining that they change their minds and carry on making them. Love for now Rob (my boy) as I know you read all my blogs on your phone. x x

Friday evening

I have been to my sister Vals flat this afternoon, which was nice. She has had someone fix her up with a computer, not a Mac, (silly girl), and it seems to want to do it's own thing. I think the person who built it thought she only wanted to play games on it. I'm not sure what goes on with it. but it sure is weird. We have had a good time though as I showed her how to blog and we had a bit of a laugh over what I have put on mine. I don't suppose she will do one though but she should as she has had a lot of episodes in her life which would make interesting reading. I have just had a visit from my neighbour with her son Kyle who is mad on football. I should know as most of them seem to end up in my garden. But he has had an award tonight for it. A most impressive piece and he really wanted me to see it. He's very excited as it's the first award of any kind he has had and of course I was suitably impressed although if I never saw another football or football match in my life it wouldn't bother me.

Thursday

I returned home this morning after a lovely week at Robs. I met up with Stu and Denise at Merry Hill to go to the fair, but the weather was quite bad at first and as the price of admission, even though we only wanted to have a look, was ridiculous we decided to go and have a look around the shops instead. Glad we didn't go to the fair as later the weather turned foul with thunder included but it was nice and Stu treated us to chocolate bombes, yummy.
I got two new books which I am looking forward to reading and we booked the final Harry Potter book from Waterstones. Stu has booked that weekend off so that he can go to the midnight opening to get his book and spend the rest of the weekend reading it. Hope he finishs it quickly so I can read it afterwards.

Wednesday

I had lots of texts and messages from friends yesterday. It was good to know that lots of people had remembered Eric, me and the boys, and knew we would all be thinking about him. Although never a day goes by when he is not thought about.
I had lots of fun today with Lucy my granddaughter aged 6 going on 16. We did lots of games, reading and painting. Plus play doh and the hated (by me) Barbie dolls, which she always seems to make up stories of the being in hospital, dying or getting married. I love her dearly and I am really pleased as I have finally convinced her to have her hair brushed 100 times every day !
She is going to be with her mum tomorrow for a few days so I shall go home and leave Rob in peace, so he can finally get down to work without interuption.

Tuesday 29th May

This day will never be the same for me. On this day last year (2006) the love of my life, my husband Eric, died.
We had been married 45 years. What else can I say. I cry every day for him and although as I have said before I have two wonderful sons I cannot help missing him SO badly. We were in love.

Monday, Bank Holiday

Still raining. What a day. Still we decided to go into town for a bit of shopping and perhaps coffee and cake, which we did in Starbucks. There were plenty of people around as I suppose no one wanted to go far in this weather but it was nice to get out of the house.
I think it's time to say a bit more about my early days on earth - 1941 a few months after I was born mom found she was expecting another child. She had been married for five years before I was born now another baby in less than a year. My sister Valerie was born in March 1942 just 12months and 28 days after me, on my grandad's 70th birthday. She was premature as mother had been drawing blackout curtains, remember it was war time, and she fell bringing about the early arrival of "Titch" as dad called her. At only 2 pounds 4 ounces it was a bit touch and go at first whether she would survive. She was put in one of grandad's boot boxes lined with cotton wool, no incubators or high dependency units, but survive she did and to date at 65years of age she is still going not altogether a picture of health but not so bad for someone who wasn't given much of a hope back then. I am tole I thought she was a doll and kept trying to pick her up and dress her up in some dolls clothes, which would have been much too big for her.
By this time dad had been called up to join the forces. He was put into the army and into the Royal signals where he went on to train other men in morse code. He was always interested in anything to do with electronics I can never remember a time when he wasn't fiddling with bits of wire, soldering irons or valves. He was in the D. Day landings and became lost from his group only to be found later in no man's land between our army and the Germans. Needless to say he was shipped back to England quite badly shell shocked and spent some time in hospital in Manchester, but he still went back into service when he was well enough till the end of the war.

Sunday

We got up to an awful day, talk about rain, it was more like a cloudburst which lasted twenty four hours. I was reading my book most of the morning but although it was still coming down heavens hard Rob and I decided to go out for some fresh air and ended up in Moseley where we went for lunch a the Fighting Cocks, Very nice. Still raining we walked back to grange road, quite a puff but exillarating. Didn't do much else, I watched Dr. Who, the first part of a two parter. I think, although I love all the episodes, that this was extremely good and an looking forward to the second part.

Saturday evening

This very enjoyable, first we went to the Fox in Hurst st to meet up with a few of Stu's old mates. Faye was a little late but her gorgeous husband came first which was nice. The place was very smokey and Rob and I had trouble breathing in there,so we made our excuses and went for a coffee after wandering around Selfridges for a while. I love that store, so many interesting things especially the Alessi counter, very expensive and some of the thingsare lovely but sometimes not altogether useful.We were supposed to meet up with Jay and Helen at eight so we wandered down to All bar one in New Hall st. Of course no one except us were on time but they eventually joined us and then later Stu and Denise. We talked and laughed and it was altogether a really good evening. The rain was stupendous so we all had to get taxis to our various destinations, late,tired but still smiling.

saturday afternoon

Here in Birmingham Apple store just thought I would have a go on the lovely Apple imac, wondering whether I should buy one!Here is me with my lovely boys and Denise Stu's girlfriend.

The Book I'm Reading

This book was raved about by Judy Finnegan of Richard and Judy fame so I thought I would give it a try when my dear friend Mary gave me a book token as a birthday present. Its about the first visit by Sigmund Freud to New York in 1909. It might not sound interesting but I can assure you it's a brilliant read.

saturday

This is my first attempt I never realised blogging could be interesting until my clever son showed me what I could do on it.
Now I shall bore everyone with my life story which began during an air raid in March 1941,weighing in at a healthy 6lbs 7ozs, I was the first child of Sidney Cooke and Queenie Victoria (yes that was really her name) Cooke.
The family lived in Dudley, Worcestershire, now the West Midlands Mother, father and maternal grandparents Lydia and Charles Benjamin Hampshire. The war had started in 1939 and dad was expecting call up soon but by the time he was mom was expecting again.

To be continued....