Bournemouth for a late elevenses

Mum & Dad, aka James & Gina. G walked backwards most of the time, without incident!

Oscar, a gorgeous little hunk, who loves to be cuddled - taking the air along the prom, with his monkey.

Boscombe pier, undergoing refurbishment ready for the planned new surfing reef.

This is "new" sand, pumped from Poole harbour, to where it will wash back, given time.

I had a lovely run from here to the funicular railway & back, followed by a paddle, on Sunday am. G thought I was lost!

There was a Harley Davidson convention in B'mouth on Saturday - all shapes & sizes, & then there were the bikes!

KP. Tim tells me that she loves me now. This is greatly welcomed as she now no longer cries every time I hold her. Tim escaped G's camera by taking me to see CBBs.

Well, what a weekend.
4/6 grandchildren cuddled in two days. We were aiming to make it 5/6, by visiting P & A on the way home from Bournemouth, but they were out.

A posting from foreign parts.

Which would you chose?

A bit worrying, really, isn't it.

The last posting away from home was in Luang Prabang, Laos.
This one is from Bicester,UK.
I am being a granny, drying out from Tim's bath & awaiting G's arrival for dinner.
I didn't bath with Tim, he doesn't like the hair rinsing bit!
B & E have gone out to dinner.
Thomas kept me company today.
We watched the mole make another carbuncle on the lawn, discussed the present standing of the labour & tory parties, with particular reference to the popularity of the party leaders, & I gave some basic instruction in blogging.
I've an inkling that Thomas merely sees this as being cuddled & having silly noises made at him.
I think that G regards much of my conversation in a similar light.
I went for a run first thing, Moat House Lane, so as not to upset the traffic,did lots of washing & played.
A good day.
I don't think that I can do pictures on B & Es computer.
Sad, but probably true.

Another exciting day on the farm

Blackberries - bumper crop again this year.

Kingsbury return - a bit chilly today. Gloves would have been a good idea.

This is a haiku that won a competition, printed across a very old photo of David Hasselhoff

G off at 5.00am to fly to Paris.
I lay awake composing a haiku - couldn't get the last syllable in line 2.
Perhaps you can improve it for me:

My poem's rubbish
lacking in shape and form
no rhyme or reason.

William has confirmed that line 1 is accurate & that I never make any sense anymore.
(This haiku refers to my ladder poem on "A whey with words")

I cycled into school this am to support Jamie, who was running his first "Citizenship Day"
Three year groups were having a Japanese Day & a "Haiku Class" was running all day.
I didn't join in for fear of further criticism of my language skills.
I cycled home at break, picked a big bowl of blackberries in Castle Lane, went to the hairdressers, joined the library in Coleshill & on to Kenilworth to complete the shopping for dinner tonight - salad
- coq au vin
- blackberry sponge pud & cream
Peter & Judith coming to dinner & to see the holiday photos.
No, we did not pay them, they know the areas well, recommended that we visit & wanted to see our photos.
Thankfully G had removed the surprise ones that scared B & E.
Thomas to keep me company tomorrow, babysitting in Bicester in the evening, then off to Bournemouth for the weekend.

Just two more queries:
Why do you only spot the errors after publishing a blog?
Why are my blog instructions in german?

Another day at the funny farm.

The funny farm - it used to look bigger.

No pictures of The Ki Ban, this is Ban Ki, UN Secretary general.

This on for MK. yum yum.

A man on a ladder - no-oneI know!

It was "break" rather than "elevenses" again today, another fun day at the funny farm aka Kingsbury school.
Came home via Sutton Coldfield, in a failed attempt to buy a bulb for the microwave so that I can have the pleasure of watching my cakes rise & our dinner cook - much better than ITV!
Saw the mural of man on ladder (good) & that "The Ki Ban", a favorite restaurant, had closed (bad).
It is now "The Wok & Roll", a Chinese restaurant & take-away, if you hadn't guessed.
Perhaps I'll write a poem about this.
Came home & fell asleep.
Too much energy used in keeping warm.
3 new molehills, if you are concerned. Any ideas of humane removal (removal that won't hurt any humans, that is. B...... the moles)?
You must all buy Euro lottery tickets on Friday as aj tells me that the prize is 88 million euros.
That sounds a lot. Perhaps I mis-heard.
Anyway, enough to treat us all, especially retirees!

Home at eleven for a nice cup of decaf.

First, I went on the blogs & wrote a poem about a ladder. No doubt this will be shredded by the critics.
Then, I went for a bike ride.
I went for two really; round the Maxstoke circuit, back to the bottom of Castle Lane. I realised that I hadn't done enough, so did the Fillongly circuit. The long hill was a struggle.


I had a nice cup of decaf & a piece (the last, thank goodness) of M&S carrot cake when I got home & then "hit" the garden for 4 hours.

I planted 60 of these a few weeks ago. They are lovely.

To make them look even better, I tidied all of the borders & then.........

I moved 6 mole hills from the lawn & put the soil on the garden.

G likes this done.

I am concerned that one day someone (perhaps me) will walk across that lawn & just disappear into an abyss. We will then have the paparazzi in the garden whilst Jack Russell terriers are sent into the subterranean tunnels trying to pick up a scent.

I should not enjoy being invaded by paparazzi, peering in through the windows & trampling on my pansies!

I have some housework to do - it's started to rain now anyway.

William wins the prize for spotting yesterday's stupid mistake.

Of course, Nuneaton was hit by tornadoes & not typhoons as stated.

Just testing!

I would really appreciate a few more comments, if you have the time or inclination.

That reminds me of a joke about putting a clock on the tower at Pisa.

Money for old rope!

Phillip, the Roman centurian

A typhoon

Nuneaton. This was not touched by the typhoon.

Trees, rooves, wendy houses, trampolines & garden furniture was.

Money for ..........

And for good measure, as Gordon addressed the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth today...............

We are going at the week-end, when they have all left.

I believe that they are all left, anyway.

"Money for old rope"
Where does that saying come from?
A register & a full day's teaching today - most enjoyable & satisfying.
Away by 3.30pm for a trip to Ventura Park to buy fuel & check out the breakfast cereals.
I'm not needed tomorrow so suggestions as to how to enjoy myself on an unexpected free day will be welcome.
Typhoons today, Nuneaton caught up.(not picked up wholesale, just bits of it)
God moves in mysterious ways!
Interviews on the news had teenagers in school uniform gesticulating, rudely, in the background.
Great.
Looking forward to my dinner & a lazy evening - G may be away. I've forgotten where he is.

Stop-press: A roman centurion, still with his boots on, circa AD 50, has been found in Worcestershire. He was alone. Not a big invasion then. He has been christened "Philip".

Never on a Sunday - elevenses that is.

Over Whitacre Church, photographed through binoculars, backwards - it's really quite big!

Uttoxeter racecourse - the venue.

The 15.50 race, £5 each way on two very tired horses, in no great hurry.

A busy Sunday.

Two Morning Prayer Services to take, Shustoke then Over Whitacre, then a dash to Uttoxeter racecourse to celebrate J & P's 40th wedding anniversary.

Champagne & buffet lunch in The Paddock Room & mad bets on horses chosen for their names or colours ("Thunder pants" for T, Anything in pink for J etc) on all of the 7 races.

Two "each way" bets on each race.

We did pick winners of two races; unfortunately, the 12 rather steadier beasts which were not winners meant that we were gross losers on the day, financially.

Socially, it was great. A brilliant idea.

I know how to place a bet.

I might do this again, when I can afford to - please talk me out of this.

Whoops, the witching hour & the photos for Fri are on Sat!

prawn puree

chicken biryani

A very small pashwari naan

Yet another "break" - Thank God it's Friday!

This supply lark is great so far- like being on holiday. You only have to do one thing at a time, most of the time i.e. teach a class of children.
It was so good that I stayed & taught this pm, despite only being employed / paid for the morning.
We had M&S carrot cake at elevenses, with our coffee. On special offer, bogohp.
Scrummy.
Rubbish TV on Friday nights, thankfully we were busy until 9.30pm so haven't been exposed to too much & had a take-away to distract us (prawn puree, chicken biryani, paswari naan)
Jonathan Ross looks a twat with the facial hair & had an appalling group called Hive.
I have prepared Sunday's sermon (Luke 16, 1-13) so all's well with the world.
Goodnight.

Another "break" today.

Why penguins have short lives!

Here it is - no change here.
-

This is it - a rhapsody of speed & style!

Where is "the Man?"

No invitation, yet.

With a nice Yorkshire Tea biscuit.

A second day at Kingsbury school, elevenses at 10.55 am, after lesson 2 - a nice cup of decaf tea. The good news is that R92BAW spent the day at Kingsbury garage & came home with an MOT.
I went to M&S, Ventura Park, for a cup of coffee with friends, after school.
I haven't seen any desirable cars, been to the NEC, taken any photos or been invited to Buckingham Palace today. Sorry.
I'll look for some entertaining images to make up for this.

Good news. Yorkshire Tea now make cakes & biscuits.
I'll export some to Denmark in November.
I may take some to Bicester & Solihull at the weekend.
I think that the young men in the family do not get sufficient biscuits!
I may write a poem about biscuits.

I'm having trouble posting pictures today - I don't think that I've forgotten to do anything.
My blog instructions are in german, although it says it's english.
I don't think that these two facts are connected in any way.

I called it "Break" today (and was paid for it)

An Asian toilet

A 4x4 gas guzzler vehicle

A large, hairy primate

calories

Called into school today to cover Karl's paternity leave for 4 days. (baby Oliver, doing well)
Martin was away as well as his wife was in labour.
A cup of decaf in the science office at break for elevenses.
I wasn't needed for the last hour (an economy) so I went to Solihull to buy food.
We shall have roast chicken, jacket potatoes, runner beans & root vegetables for dinner. I'm starving!
As this might be perceived as boring by my younger readers, I will include a selection of things that I do not want for Christmas.

We saw "Atonement" on Monday evening, based on the novel by Ian McEwan, not Ian Rankin, as I informed G.
It was very good, G did not sleep once!
We bought fish & chips on the way home. Scrummy.
We are invited to Silverstone on Saturday (I'm hoping to see B & E) & on to Bicester for dinner.
We are going to a party at Uttoxeter races on Sunday
We are not boring!
I shall now research Christmas possibilities as you are not coming up with the goods.

Just made it to Shardelows by elevenses.

Wimpole Hall

Gardens

!!!!!

Couldn't find the horses/oaties (perhaps I got the name wrong)- watch ITV

A visit to cousin JR in Horseheath.
I think that I prefer speed cameras to those "measured journey time" things on the A14.
I presume that it calculates my speed for the journey & will punish me accordingly if I have averaged over 70mph.
Please someone tell me if I have got this wrong as keeping to exactly 70mph is stressful as I have to watch the speedo all the time, hence missing interesting sights en route, & take a racing line on all of the bends, it being the only way to get there more quickly.
Anyway, using these tactics, I arrived at 11.00am & had a nice cup of tea. We then caught up on the news before lunching at "The Dog & Duck" in Linton & a visit to Wimpole Hall, the "finest house in Cambridgeshire", courtesy of the National Trust membership.
It is certainly a beautiful house with wonderful pictures (including one of a boy next to a large vase of flowers, intended to be hung 20 ft above the ground. Apparently the boy & vase would then look like a boy & a vase) & superb gardens by Capability Brown.

Regarding Christmas, I don't fancy the ice hotel (cold) & have never fancied skiing (cold).
I'm probably wrong on both counts. One of the failings of age is that you believe things because you always have.

When I arrived home there was an advertisement on the TV for "Cadbury's Oaties" -
2 thoroughbred horses, discussing their "elevenses".
Great.
Do you think they have read my blog?

A quiet day down on the farm &.....no elevenses.

G said my blog is boring, so I dare not outline my day today.
I enjoyed it anyway & finished painting the kitchen window.
To return to the Christmas question, we shall certainly celebrate Christmas, but we have the option of celebrating away from home, in a different way.
Turkey & tinsel is not an option!

Happy Birthday, Jessica - 4 today.

But it's magnolia!

Great paint!

No time for elevenses - to Solihull to return P's camera, buy paint (Homebase), buy vegetables (M&S) Yes, a good reason for yet another visit.
Promised "brunch" became "lunch". Six hours hard labour to appease G.
Now planning Christmas. Ideas welcome.

A cup of coffee with Thomas

Today we considered the wisdom of Maggie Thatcher taking tea at no 10.
I thought that it was a brilliant ploy of Gordon's, radio 4 commentators have not been so convinced, but what do I know?
Thomas had his elevenses (the usual) did a little training & fell asleep for the remainder of the day, in his pram, in the garden.
I suspect that he feigns sleep at times to avoid further consideration about topical issues.
Northern Rock will have to wait until next week.

At the dentist at 11.00am!

Baddesley Clinton - thanks to Kingsbury School Natioal Trust gift membership.

Imagine this with a chunk missing, now replaced & worth a smile!

I should have been there at 10.40am, but when I sat in the car I couldn't remember how to get to Fox Hollies rd. I had to look at the A-Z, & then fell at the final hurdle & drove around for another ten minutes, lost.
I just didn't deserve any elevenses.
Since I was feeling pretty presentable, having put on my second best dress, had my tooth mended & the sun was shining, I decided to have a National Trust day rather than go home & rub down the paintwork on the outside of the kitchen window (not much of a competition really)
I went to Baddesley Clinton, a moated Elizabethan manor house, just outside Knowle.
I stopped at the butchers in Knowle on the way home & bought a nice piece of pork for Sunday lunch (always a firm favorite at the week-end), & a pound of Lashford's prize-winning sausage.
Did you really think that I would be bored?
I have to start making your Christmas presents when the weather turns.
That will be a challenge for the Danish wish-list!

Back at Kingsbury School for elevenses

I decided that I really must put my pastoral contact numbers into the Address book bought at the weekend & pass it to Karen, who is doing that part of the job.
I made a batch of rock cakes to take & arrived at school just before break, as a fire drill was taking place, so had free entry.
I was made very welcome & had a cup of tea in the science office for elevenses.
I have since shopped & gardened, planting 60 winter pansies to brighten up the borders.
I have dirty knees, nettle stings on my arms & am tired. We had fresh pasta, mushrooms & a bottle of tempranillo to aid recovery. It worked!

M & S again.....sssshhhhhh

I think that it's actually even worse than this one. I hope it's bigger!

I found myself in Solihull around 11.00am, Cafe Revive had opened again this very morning (a bit Starbucks, but a more mature clientele) it would have seemed churlish to have ignored their efforts, so I succumbed to a decaf & small cake - I won't do this again as I have a medical in 4weeks 2 days & they have a machine that shines light through your hand & lists exactly what you have eaten in the last 4 weeks, right down to the last piece of cake!

I originally went to Knowle to look at Bonham's sale & then went to Solihull to buy Jessie's birthday present, in Argos. Quite a shopping experience, not at all like M&S!
I gardened frantically, later, to make up for this dereliction of duty, & made carrot & ginger soup.

A cup of Taylor's fine italian, at home.

This is the photo from Friday - it took 3 days to load! Thomas having a siesta.

Elaine arrived at eleven, we had coffee, Tim had water & Katie had a cuddle.

Tim helped to ice the fairy cakes, licking the spoon at the end (I promise)

Watch out Jamie Oliver!