Christmas is finally over....

....we went into town to see the sales/take back presents noone wants.  Charlotte returned a couple of tops she had bought for me that were not my favourites and so I am replacing those with some better vests and blouses and getting rid of my old stuff.   My woolly waistcoat went back, Selina thought it looked better on the hanger than it did on me-one very good reason to send it back-and I did agree with her.  Charlotte bought herself a beautiful Biba bag, even though she got a beauty from Sara, but that was her office bag you understand, the gold Biba bag definately isn't!
     Selina and Pete have had to go back to Bristol to go to work in the morning, it is very quiet now even  though Charlotte is still here and Joe is most certainly sulking-guess who his favourite sister is.  Now Che has arrived with Charlotte, sulk over- guess who is Joe's favourite guest....
     Played the new game you gave us for Christmas Sara, it didn't result in murder, but I think Pete was pretty close to suicide with Dad on his team.  There were no instructions in the box, but we made it up as we went along.

     Heading up to Charlotte's for New Year and then I guess it's back home to take down the decorations and face the mountains of washing that has built up over the holidays.

Queues waiting to get on the escalators

The bull in a jumper....

The Birmingham bull has got a new jumper for Christmas, not that he looks very happy about it.

       And the only snow so far is inside the Bullring, and very pretty it is too.  Darsh and I sat in Pret today, with a cup of soup each, just watching the people going by in Selfridges.

Santa doesn't come if you are still awake, but Joe simply couldn't keep his eyes open any longer tonight...

However he was pretty much on the ball when dad accidently dropped a board full of meat on the carpet tonight....

He really thought all his Christmases had come at once.

Quick quick...get writing...

.....before things go wrong again.  I haven't been able to sign into Doeythejog for days...so much for magic...it is just plain annoying..

     The girls have all been home over the last week.  Sara came over for Gemma's wedding and brought her friend Steph from her university days.  John was forced to stay back for an interview...WHICH WAS SUCCESSFUL...well done John!!!
Selina and Pete arrived Sunday evening, just in time for our first chrismas dinner...hmmm... and Charlotte appeared Tuesday night. 
     We have shopped, eaten, played board games, visited New Life (and bought 2 winter coats and the daftest winter hat ever-all for £20) been to see the new Sherlock Holmes film, admired the bull in his best Christmas jumper (no camera) and just enjoyed each others company.  Which I think is what Christmas is all about.
Poor Joe has been in a permenant haze with all these people coming and going,  he even suffered a haircut in the midst of all the chaos.  I think he looked very smart... until he licked out a yogurt pot and got a greasy face all over again.
    So now it's Christmas Eve and we plan a trip to the butcher to claim our Turkey, and a wander round the Bullring, for nothing in particular, just to watch the crowds.  Darsh wants to go to the supermarket for bargains, again nothing in particular, just anything that has a reduced sticker and he thinks is a bargain.  I hope it is nothing too big and will fit into the bin easily on Boxing Day.  I would like a bunch of flowers, some that are still alive, not like the ones in M&S yesterday, I think they must have caught a chill from been stood too close to the doors, they weren't even worth a reduced sticker.  Pete is heading to his Mum's this evening and we, of course, are going to celebrate with our traditional roast duck sauce and jacket potatoes.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE.

 

It's back!!!!!!

I haven't been able to sign in all week and was waiting til the tribe came home at Christmas to show me what I'd done wrong wrong.  Now I won't have to tell them... they will be lead to believe that I fixed things all by myself...when really it was magic.  But now I'm wondering if...I had just left my old washing machine alone for a few days...would the magic have fixed that?  I can see the poor thing stood in the garden... dripping...  Also where's that snow the weather man promised us today?  I was so disappointed when I looked out of the bedroom window this morning. 


     We went to Brugge on the Eurostar, [only a few hours ride away] and stayed in an appartment right in the city centre.  Had 3 days of wandering round, admiring and eating.  Loads of pics, but just a few of the city....
if this beautiful, but ancient computer will allow me.....
 

Ooooh magic, real Christmas magic, and the city was wonderful too.

     I am off into town for a few bits and bobs for under the Christmas tree.  Darsh has gone to London-again- so Joe and I are happily playing at home.  I want a few pretty plants for a couple of bare pots near the back door (thanks Joe.)  And some cocoa, I forgot to buy yesterday, and a chocolate cake without chocolate is always a bit of a disappointment...

It's raining, it's pouring.....

    ...and so I am sat in the conservatory looking at, and attempting to sort out holiday pics, and there is definately no sign of wet or rainy anything, apart from a few like this...

                                                                 ....and....

     The other pic I have just put here seems to have vanished into thin air.....it was one of John in his swimming suit...I think he may have vapourised it over in Ireland.  If I ever find it again I will post it, in as large a size as possible...

     This beautiful sunset was taken from the buffet window as we sailed away from Turkey, 2 weeks ago today.  No sign of any sunset here tonight then!

   I was aiming to go into Sutton or to the car boot sale at the bottom of the road today, as I still don't feel too brilliant, but do need a bit of fresh air, however seeing as it's raining...
     Not an entirely wasted day - a rack of ironing, hoovered through the house and washed my winter coat-again-I'd got grease or oil all down one sleeve-how?-it's been hanging in the cupboard since we went on holiday.  I got the wrapping paper out of the loft, so I could wrap a few presents, or make a few more Christmas tags in the chaos that was once my crafting room.  Darsh seems to have disappeared again, he went for a haircut yesterday lunchtime and hasn't returned or called since.  Joe is snoozing by my feet, he knows supper time is looming, and it's raining, so he doesn't want to go anywhere tonight.

     The dog seemed to have a brilliant time on his holidays, he had lots of doggy company, walks and attention.  Seems he even shared a bed with the resident cat and played nicely with a little girl.  He was really lost for the first few days at home, wandering sadly round his garden and staring thoughtfully into space.  He's been pining, but it wasn't for us!  We are off to Brugge on Saturday, on the Eurostar...so guess where Joe's going. 

What a difference a week makes.....

......if it includes a big boat and a plane.  This week  is cold wet and and very dull.

       Last week was bright and very sunny, we had a wander around in Katacolon in Greece (possibly spelt wrong, but I'm too lazy to run upstairs and get my map) And as we gradually went further south it got hotter and hotter, until we were having to cover up and even head for some shade.



                    Breakfast in the garden cafe, food was available 24 hours a day, and the only way for Darsh to stop eating was to go and lie down in the cabin and watch telly or sleep.  He had severe withdrawel symptons from his phone and computer- has been making up for it this week however.

                   Passing between the foot of Italy and Sicily on the very last day.

     Since we got home I have had a cold and constant headache, so haven't done a great deal.  We had to get a new washing machine and that has arrived and been plumbed in.  It takes 3 times as long as the old one and is very quiet, but it doesn't seem to wash any better.  The old one has taken up residence in the middle of the dining room floor and he plans to fix it and keep it forever, just in case the new one breaks down.  I've looked at it and given it a bit of a shove but I'm far too weak and wobbly to shove the darned thing over the doorstop and into the garden this week.
      It seems strange to be back home and every thing is so Christmassy after all that sun, I've got all my ideas for presents, but just haven't felt up to going into town yet.  Planning on getting the trimmings out of the loft and sorting them. Charlotte's tree is up there and she isn't likely to get it to her flat until after Christmas!  She is coming home next weekend, but we are going to Brugge on the train, and the last thing she will want to carry is a flashing Christmas tree.

Still struggling with photos.....

.....so just testing really, but this was the view from our bedroom window in Rome last week....

.....the most amazing thing was the colour of that sky, and the sunshine still had quite a bit of heat in it....

Now lets press "Publish", and see what happens....

...and more importantly, if it works, can I remember what I did ?

If this works.....

      ....it will be a miracle.I can't get any photos to download, so I am having a go at finding a video, direct from my camera, not from the mangled mess that is now my photograph collection.....

This looks as though it could take a long while...

Done it...blimey wonders never cease....this is the boat we were on last week-all 3500 'ish of us.  As you can see it was enormous all 14 floors of her and there was always some quiet little nook or cranny I could find when I was sick of all those people. 

Missing Links....

....every time I try and download a recent photograph it refuses, and refers me to a "missing link"

I thought I was married to that...after organising and taking over a funeral single handedly, he has now disappeared to London to arrange another "business".  We are supposed to be going away on Monday and as usual everything will be left to the very last minute.

  He was trying to arrange a doggy sitter today and I could hear Darsh on the phone telling her all about the dog...."He's a Llaso Lapsol, his name is Joe, and he's been mutered, so he doesn't get frisky any more"

"Mutered"- I thought that was a button on the telly remote, and "mute" is one word I could never use to describe loud-mouth Joe-just ask any post-man!

Goodness knows what the woman on the other end of the phone must have thought, I can't think why she wants to meet the dog before deciding if she will look after him or not.

Old photographs do not seem to be a problem, so here's a snap of Selina and Darsh in Oxford a few years ago.....

        ....and one from this weekend when Sara and I went into Sutton shopping and left John and Darsh in "the Bottle and Sack" reading the Sunday papers. 

Now if all this lot disappears again, when I press the "publish post" button I am going to be very very annoyed.....

This is just what I need....

...I'm stuck.  I can't download my photos, or find them or even get them to the size that I want.
Too many changes, all at once without me having chance to get the hang of them.

The tree outside the house is especially beautiful this year.....

....however you look at it....far away....

......close up or.....

.....from a doggy's favourite angle....

He is such a chicken, all these fireworks mean that he will only go out before it gets dark, but with all this lovely sunshine we have been out in the park every morning for the last few days...

.....We hardly found it crowded....

...and he couldn't decide whether to paddle, or walk round the wet bits, but he always goes home absolutely filthy.

Sara arrived early this morning for the weekend, poor John had to stay behind to work, as they decided he couldn't have the day off, even though he had booked and arranged it ages ago.  So he is flying in tomorrow morning instead- to East Midlands- Dad's favourite.  At the moment it is raining, looks as if it will spoil the fireworks we were going to see tonight.  Bet we go in the car and sit outside the fence watching them for free.

This afternoon we went to Doctors and Gloria was sat feeding baby Emma, Roy's new baby daughter....

Happy Halloween....

I've got a bag of Cadbury Twirls ready for "Trick or Treaters", which I can safely eat tomorrow, because we don't get "Trick or Treaters down our road, and it would be a shame to waste good chocolates!

We have had a wonderful afternoon.....

.....celebrating Anita and Cliff's wedding at the Moor Hall Hotel....

......there was quite a crowd of us, and it was certainly very cosy....

....but it was really lovely, I was sat next to the same couple I sat with at the Ruby wedding, 10 years ago.

     

Our park is just so beautiful.....

          .....and I think that a crisp bright Autumn morning is the best time to appreciate it....

     We had to keep a sharp lookout for the ponies as we were in their enclosure, in a bit of the park I've never walked before, and I don't think that I would if I were on my own, as it was very isolated and mine isn't the greatest guard dog you've ever seen.  However dad was with us yesterday so we were a bit braver.  We didn't see any ponies-the only time I've seen them is way over the other side by the water. 

      Joe was shattered afterwards and didn't hear much from him for the rest of the day, while I spent the afternoon sweeping and tidying the back yard, ready to plant a few pansies and bulbs in my now empty bedding plant pots today and so it rains- rethink my plans. 

     Have found us a good fire work display for next Friday Sara.  It is in the village, and so we can walk there via the Hardwick Arms, and enjoy their fireworks and BBQ.  Maybe a bag of chips on the way back?  Or another stop at the Hardwick all depending on how cold it is.  John's Wellies are under the stairs ready for him, and I've made space for us to sit out and let off fireworks in the garden on Saturday.  I just need to get some sausages for our hot-dogs.

     Selina and Pete should be busy this weekend, if they can dodge the raindrops.  When we went over last weekend dad helped them build a summer house...

...the planning....

  
                                                ....and the roofing.

      It looked really good when we finished, but now they need to fasten on all the trims and the edges to hold the felt tighter, draught excluders round the dooors and windows etc.   And then, possibly in the spring, plan what to do with that mud bath in front and around said shed!

I've started......

     .....my christmas shopping today.....

.....took a trip into Sutton to get someone's birthday present, and something new for me to wear at a special Sunday lunch this weekend.

But there was so much good Christmassy stuff....so I decided to make a start.

It was an absolutely beautiful morning, so Joe and I went for an early morning walk in the park beforehand.

.....so many crab apples sparkling with dew against a bright sky.

Joe barked himself stupid at the base of the trees....

...there was a couple of squirrels jumping about way up there...

I love the way he barks like fury and then glances over at me....what is he expecting?

  Am I supposed to join in...or just go up and get those squirrels for him?

Bringing a little bit of summer in from the cold...

....it seemed a shame to leave these pretty little Geraniums outside at the mercy of the weather....

.....and cold is certainly what it has been....

So my little teapot has also been very grateful for it's new cosy....

Alan gave it to me, it was one that belonged to his mother, a proper piece of vintage.

Thanks Alan.

The last of the....

....Carrots!

      ...A beautiful sunny morning, so headed into the greenhouse for a tidy and to bring the last bits indoors  There could be a frost any time now.

Set Darsh on - to get the last corriander seeds offthe plants to take inside to dry.

"No Joe no", I heard him shout, followed by "Oh he's ate the bloody lot"  Darsh pulled his seeds off and dropped them into a cereal bowl, on the floor.  Now Joe works on 2 theories-anything on the table is ours, anything on the floor- that's his.

If it happens to be in a human bowl, then you eat it first, (and work out what it actually was later) and be quick about it before someone has chance to stop you.

Faced with that doggy logic, those carefully picked seeds of Darsh's never really stood a chance.... 

Yet another good weekend....

       ...so Saturday morning we decided at the last minute to head out yet again.  Irene and Rob joined us for an impromptu supper last night, so we threw all the left-overs and a prime packet of chops in the caravan and headed off over to Hanbury Hall near Worcester.  They were celebrating a Golden wedding from 100 years ago.  The staff were dressed up in costumes of 1911, a string quartet was playing, the dining table was laid for the reception and there were flowers and ribbons everywhere.

  It was lovely, but very busy, and despite there been signs all over asking people not to use flash cameras, staff were struggling trying to stop flashes going off every few minutes-the bright lights damage the old fabrics, and beautiful painted ceilings.  "My flash is automatic and I can't turn it off, so what do you expect me to do?"  I could hear an aggresive lump telling one lady.  How about putting the darned camera in your pocket and just enjoy looking at whats around you?  Isn't it more important that we preserve these beautiful items for everyone, rather than an arrogant few having pictures to store on their computers?

     Afterwards we drove to a little campsite just outside Worcester for the night.  We cooked and ate a 3 course meal in the van and watched a DVD on our new player.  It was a really cold night and I nearly froze running across to the loo before bedtime.  Joe had his hair cut on Thursday and was shivering and shaking all night, but once in bed we were fine, we had loads of bedding and Joe had his own duvet and two pillows under the bed.  

 Sunday started misty, but cleared into a beautifully warm day, we didn't do a deal, lazed, read, walked through the fields and ate toasted sandwiches and potato salad in the sunshine.  People around us were packing up for the winter, and it grew quieter and quieter as they all started to drift home.  We finally left around 4 o'clock and after a walk in Worcester, we came home.    

Whatever could have caused.....

         .....this mad explosion of barking at 8.30 on a Monday morning?

           ......a rather fat wood pidgeon landing on the caravan roof.....

........that's what!