Another day at the chalkface.

Are these mine?
Is this Lady Dracula?


School, before the building on the playground, centre front.


G, beware!

Jessie, to raise a smile!

Tim, looking cool.

Ben, looking severe, but matching stripes.

My last day at Kingsbury, unfortunately, as it has been fun.
The kids have been great & I've taught some very good lessons.
I came home (after a natter), to do some housework. I made the mistake of having a cup of tea & a scone, on the settee, & woke up at 6.00pm, in time for the news & to prepare a cottage pie for dinner. A fitting end to an excellent joint of danish pork which started it's culinary life as Sunday lunch, cold with jacket potatoes on Monday & sandwiches for G all week.
Peppers are poison to G, as close family may be aware. He suspects that the canteen at work smuggles peppers into his lunch on a regular basis, causing digestive irregularities. It may well be that I am the greatest victim in this sad tale.
G will have to have cheese tomorrow. I'll make the decision as tomorrow is Friday; apparel for "business casual" will be enough of a challenge for ane morning.

I didn't shop today but seem to have no withdrawl symptoms as yet.

A fantastic programme on BBC4 about India, by Michael Wood, tonight. Catch it if you can.
Ed Balls (education) is on the news, defending proposed closure of small rural primary schools.
He has a defective "r"!
Perhaps I could be a minister when the Tories get back in. I'll write a letter of introduction when I have a minute. Any ideas of what I should include?

Beckham has been dropped from the England squad. Ridiculous!
Would any other country not include such an icon?

Thomas tomorrow.

A full set of choppers.

An action packed day.

I ironed 13 of the 16 shirts in the laundry along with things requiring no skill, had a quick shower & drove to the dentist in Solihull to admit to my two broken teeth.

An upper premolar with a bit missing since Christmas & a back lower molar, 1/3 filling, 1/3 missing, since Saturday.

I had my mouth open & full of gear for nearly an hour; the top tooth was mended whilst the anaesthetic numbed the other half of my mouth. The molar was then rebuilt - a new white tooth.

None of this was painful, although it did take quite a while for the feeling to return. During this time I drove to Solihull & had a skinny decaf cappuccino & matching cake in Cafe Revive.

I was worth it!

Ben had a descale & polish only; he sounds as though he has had major surgery.

Go for a regular check up & avoid the misery/ brush your gums as well as your teeth.



I did a little light shopping, went to the gym & then home in time to go out for a meal at The Plough in Mancetter with past colleagues - plaice & a very few chips - having left G a tray laid up & an M & S ready meal.



I am looking for a post as a parliamentary researcher - well paid, short hours & you can work from home, apparently.

If only G had gone into politics you could all have been researchers & topped up you salaries.

Back at Kingsbury tomorrow - that wont even pay the dentist's bill, unfortunately.

I begin to sound like an expat in Denmark!

Knackered!

I have been at Kingsbury School today, covering science.
I really enjoyed the day; the kids were welcoming & worked really well.
It was a treat to catch up with friends & the news.
I return on Thursday.
Tomorrow I go to the dentist to have a rear molar repaired - not a lot left really, but I have every confidence in Mrs Hill, my dentist.
I shall combine this with a trip to the gym, a little light shopping for Copenhagen & a cup of coffee somewhere, whilst in Solihull.
What a life!

Thanks for the comment E.
Further comments would be much appreciated to give this pretty slow blogger the impression that someone, somewhere is marginally interested.

A day in Bicester.

A few photos from the New Year selection:

Seeing 2008 in in style.

A change from the sink.

He doesn't watch Jamie Oliver for nothing.

Ben, checking how to turn on the oven, to help G.

Senior & junior - both well known for dressing before breakfast!

I forgot to take photos today......again.

We walked in Derby shire on Saturday, with Judith & Peter, lunching at the "Hardwick Arms"after celebrating J's birthday with bubbly, transported secretly by G, along with glasses, at the highest point of the walk.
The weather was kind, although it was muddy underfoot. We should do such things more often.
G went cycling on Sunday whilst I was in church.
P, Jessie & Thomas came for lunch, which added to the fun. Grandad played enthusiastically, before nodding off.
We both spent most of the evening asleep on the settee, for a change.
I went to Tim & KP's gym with E this morning.
Tim was particularly interested in the cabinet containing the stereo equipment, the CD collection, the fridge & suspension mechanisms for the apparatus. Otherwise, he climbed, swung from the bar & walked along a beam, amongst other things.
KP rolled & crawled with enthusiasm.
We visited the library & Bicester village after lunch & then caught up on our "Captain Pugwash" viewing before dinner.
KP eats with gusto, wielding a spoon like a professional. Protective clothing is necessary for all in the vicinity!
Home by 9.15pm.
School tomorrow.

TGIF

Haggis.

Derby shire, Hatton Hall entrance (nearby)

Moral: wear pants when you eat.

A new word for Tim...

Borrowed from Swad public library.

Such a small book!

G finds this funny.

No, actually.
Fridays have much less significance to us retirees!
I have had a lovely day with Thomas, including a 3 hour walk in training for tomorrow's hike in Derby shire.Actually, Thomas slept for most of the trip, it was me that walked, in the main.
We have eaten our haggis, mashed swede, charlotte potatoes & mixed fresh green vegetables on the side, with a nice bottle of New Zealand pinot noir.
Happy Birthday Robbie Burns.
We may sing "Auld Lang Syne" later.
I have had a problem posting photos, so have a selection for you delectation, that I have tried to post, & failed so far.
Fingers crossed!

Home again

I returned from Horseheath last night after a pretty good 2 hour journey.
JR & I went out to lunch on Tuesday & then had a tour around the very pretty villages locally. Home for tea, a snooze & bed.
On Wed JR test drove a Kia Sedona 2.9L, & bought it. This was a good decision, I think, as the garage have difficulty getting the parts for his Frontera, although it is only 7/8 years old.
Peter drove over from Mistley & joined us for lunch, which was most enjoyable & a challenge to the kitchen with the various dietary restraints.
JR eats at a different local hostelry each day. They all look after him very well, with little concern as to whats on the menu.
We sorted out the new car insurance, had tea & a snooze & then I drove home.
Today I vacuumed up the Christmas tree needles, amongst other things.
Is this a record?
After a serious workout with the dyson until 2.00pm, I took 2 big bags to the charity shop, went to M & S for food & spent 2 hours at the gym.
The good news is that both G & I have lost weight (mass really) following loss of appetite after the weekend "yuk". I am down by 6lb, G by 3/4 lb (he never gives a straight answer).
I am at Paula's tomorrow, doing a workout with Thomas, then home to cook the haggis.
On Saturday we are walking in Derby shire & visiting Hatton Hall with J & P Talbot, to celebrate J's birthday. At last a chance to use the rucksack fitted with bottle holder & wine glasses, that seemed a good idea pressie for G at the time.
I am visiting E, Tim & KP on Mon. I must remember to find "Life of pi" & take to E.
William left his copy here ages ago.
I am working at Kingsbury school on Tues, Wed & Thurs next week, which I hope will be easy, fun, & money for............
Life is going very well

Yuk & poo!

Not one of the best weekends, as I went down with, or more correctly, threw up with the tummy bug on Sat evening & spent Sunday in bed, asleep, waking at 3 hourly intervals when G brought me a cup of boiled water.
G found someone to take the morning service & did all of the odd jobs that had been piling up.
I felt like the first Mrs Rochester, banged up in the attic.
G succumbed on Sunday evening. Sadly he had just devoured a healthy meal of lightly dusted, baked plaice, a mountain of vegetables, fruit & yoghurt.
He has slept it off & gone to work.
I have had a weak cup of decaf tea & am still in my dressing gown.
This cannot continue, as I have to drive into B'ham, which I hate doing, to go to the Tax Office, somewhere near the NIA, to tax my car. The tax ran out in September, which I had not noticed.
No reminder was sent because the tax office had not received the paperwork from the garage, although they say they sent it.
When did you last look at your tax disc?
Friends at school pointed out my failing when I parked nose in towards the library.
I suppose that I am lucky not to have been picked up before now - the joys of driving a volvo!
Do you know that "spellcheck" picks up "volvo" & "yoghurt".
Off to see JR tomorrow, so emergency rehab needed - any ideas?

Work, work, work, work work work, work we'll work the whole day long.

One for every day of the week.

This was a can of silver polish.

THis is.............

This is 124g of poo - a healthy days output.

I feel like a fat dwarf.
I've eaten 4 chocolate teacakes, 4 chocolates a quantity of fruit & nuts & a large toasted teacake during the day, between visiting the doctors for a bp check & prescription & cooking a healthy dinner.
This was my "reward" for spending the day cleaning the silver & brass, polishing & tidying.
Still a lot to do.......next week, the floors & windows.
I thought that I had blogged yesterday. Obviously not.
I did the gym after school on Monday, Ventura Park on Tuesday, where I bumped into 3 friends, had a coffee in M&S with one, caught up on the news, bought bargains in the sale & food from JS.
Last day at Swad tomorrow, for the moment anyway.
Retirement kicks in again next week. I'm looking forward to it.
I'm planning to clear up the christmas tree needles & visit John Rex for a start.
A visit to W & MK in Denmark & aj in York are on the cards during the next couple of weeks.
Jamie Oliver is on the TV, showing the prols why they should eat some vegetables & showing poo piles for the year (should be 124g a day) - really good programme.
I think that I may be a boring , fat dwarf.
I shall consider baby names, GB & Den - perhaps I could write a poem.

Cook along with Gordon, 9.00pm on Friday.
You will need to check the ingredients first.

You have to be awake to blog.

Fawsley Hall. We occupied the room on the second floor, above the arches, to the left.
This looked into an inaccessible, secret room above the bay window. Spooky!

Home from home!

Working towards the dog!

That's what I call a bin.

Congratulations to W & MK on the news of expected grandchild number 9, or 7.(& the new kitchen bin!)
Baby M is due 2 days after J & Gs twins. As Jeremy was 5 weeks early & the twins may well be early, especially if they are both of Oscar proportions, June will be a month on high alert.

I had two lovely days at Bicester last Wed & Thurs with E, Tim & KP. Ben was gallivanting again.
If anyone has an unmanageable project, Ben must surely be your man!
Thomas was his usual entertaining self on Friday - a bundle of fun.
G & I took the weekend off, staying at Fawsley Hall near Daventry on Sat night - a beautiful room with an enormous four poster bed, not a stones throw from the room occupied by Elizabeth 1 in 1575.
We toured Northhants on Sunday, pottered around Leamington & then had a wonderful dinner with P, A, J & T. (not chicken) Thomas didn't actually partake, but enjoyed watching us eat.
I've been at Swad today Two great science lessons, Citizenship with a class of bigoted, faschists & two Health & Social Care lessons. I left at 3.00pm & was in the gym in Solihull by 4.30pm.
A good day overall.
Ben sounds in need of cheering up, despite the new kitchen bin.
Perhaps he needs a project to manage - any ideas?

What would we do without Marks & Spencers?

A good weekend, despite the cold.

G at work on Sat so I shopped, cooked & we snuggled up in front of a big fire in the evening.

On Sunday I took an early service at Maxstoke Church - Epiphany - may the joy of Christmas last as long as the Christmas tree needles in the pile of the lounge carpet (not applicable in Denmark, of course)
As compensation for Sat, we went for a spin in the lotus, topless, having lunch in Bakewell, Derbyshire, at the "Duke of Rutland" (a hotel, not his ancestral home)
For fun, we battled with the Satnav, arriving home after dark.

Monday was fun. Sutton Coldfield to check out a viyella suit in Beatties (no sale!). Then on to Solihull & then the gym.
Great end of sale bargains in M&S.
G disappointed as dinner wasn't ready when he arrived home at the unbelievably early hour of 7.oopm. We made pear & parsnip soup - wonderful.

What snow?

New year diet!

Some snow for Tim!

Staying in by the fire.

My new year resolutions cannot hold a candle to William's - fat loss & gym usage only.
How does that score on the self-satisfaction scale?
I'm starting next week, by which time we shall have finished the festive food (apart from the cupboard full of chocolates), & shall have time to go to the gym.
Snow was predicted for Thursday. My visit to Bicester included an overnight bag, just in case I was snowed in.
No snow, but a lovely day with E, T & KP; all in good form despite KP's chest problem.
Both B & E make a better yorkshire pudding than me, which is a bit galling. I suppose
that T will outshine me as well by the time he's 4 & can read the Jamie Oliver cookbook!
Thomas is entertaining me today - I turned on the computer over 4 hours ago , Thomas was on my lap & entertained by my typing, but progress has been very slow. We have had far too much to do by way of feeding & playing.
The weather is bleak today, so we are confined to the lounge, with a good fire - another source of interest for Thomas.
I have been asked to take the service at Maxstoke on Sunday morning as there is a dearth of ministers, due to illness.Epiphany - bring on the Magi!
The new TV that I may have mentioned, is great & the DVD player works.
I have decided to decline the job in Currys technical dept. - it would deprive a more deserving candidate!

A very resolute new year.

AJ, less of a good thing than there was before the healthy eating regime - determined not to be a heavy burden on the state at 40!
A working Samsung DVD player. A rare find.

Lunch on 1 Jan. Cottage pie, fish pie beans & sugar snaps. Recipes from M & S.

Our fury "friend". He is still here. Many Christmas presents had a mole theme!

A great start to 2008 with 32 family & friends for lunch + 5 of our grandchildren. They were all very well behaved & the children were wonderful.
Thanks to A Jen & Peter for all of their help with the vegetables!
Is there anybody out there who would like some cheese?
The fridge has more blue veins than the waiting room at a varicose stripping unit & everyone is dieting!
A plant orientated dinner tonight - carrot soup, cauliflower cheese & jacket potatoes & pears in red wine (only left overs) for dinner.
Calculate the fibre content in that!
Peter went home this am, AJ & I went to Solihull to shop in the sales. Well, M&S anyway.
The new TV is great. The new DVD player is not. It did not work. G was driven to reading the instruction book in frustration, to no avail. He communicated with the Samsung Help Line & it was eventually decided that the scart lead terminal was duff.
We took this back to Currys this am & I passed on this gem. They exchanged the player without question & offered me a job in their technical dept.
I am considering this.
AJ advises against this, presumably because she feels that this would impinge on my new-found freedom.
I hope to spend tomorrow with E, T &KP.
Snow, snow stay away.

welcome to 2008

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of Gill's Elevenses readers from Gill, George aj & Peter.