continued.....

It's a lovely bright, cold morning, I've just been out in my down jacket, having been inspired by the number of people who wear them in Denmark.
It is as light as a few feathers & amazingly warm. Over 50's should get them on the NHS!
On reflection, no age limit, as this would mark you out.
I can't bear to take it off.
I've been to Coleshill in the volvo.
I love it. It defrosts in seconds & the seat heater is delightful & it is so nice to drive.
G is looking after Thomas, I'll catch him up later, for an aj coffee in M&S.
The ironing beckons...

Observations.

W has a fantastic, new slim figure - better than ever.
MK, of course has her usual fantastic figure; she & J are almost at the stage where they can share T-shirts. Whether "Spiderman" would be seen as a fashion statement is another issue.
J's English is really good & spoken with great confidence - "I don't understand, Grandma", when necessary.
DK will be a match for T & KP - he has a large "vocabulary" of sounds (allowing for both languages), which he practises whenever awake.
Denmark was no colder or darker than home, in fact, this morning is probably the coldest that I've experienced for a while. So saying, the new windows at W & MK's are very effective.
There were puddles under the old pantry window here this morning - a rare sight, thank goodness, as I felt compelled to clean the window, which is awkward as it has bars.

E tells me that T was a star in his Christmas production.
Well done T!
All that speech practice paying off!
KP should be a star!

G tells me that Jessie's reading is now even more fantastic - I shall see her (& Thomas) later.
Clothes to iron, jobs to do, aj to talk to...........

Home again.

Up early this morning to get to CPH by 8.00am - thanks to W for the lift & seeing me safely on my way.
The flight was 50min late due to "technical problems", which gave me the opportunity to
1. go to the loo
2.start reading "The White Tiger", one of the books that W sent home with me.
It is brilliant - e-mails from an Indian entrepreneur to a Chinese diplomat, explaining life in India, as far as I have read - half way through by the time I landed.
G met me at BHX.
I have since washed everything washable, changed the bed & been to KS to Awards Evening.
This last venture was a bit cheapskate really as I came home after having a chat & attending the reception for the guests (I am always invited as I awarded "The Noble Peace Prize" for the pupil offering most support to others, on my retirement)

It looks like 11.14pm here, my body thinks that it's 12.15, so I'm off to bed with my hotty.
Question Time is on - Charles Faulkener (smug Tonyite) & Melanie Phillips (Daily mail - global warming denier), taken on by Marcus Brigstocke.
Not good enough to lose sleep over!

The penultimate day.

This morning I went for a run, well a run with a bit of walking included, to be honest.
It was wet & windy & muddy in places.
J went to Nursery & MK, DK & I went to the outlet, had a good browse, a excellent lunch & then we visited Nike & Reebok looking for a pair of trainers for me that would double as walking/gym shoes on holiday.
Finding a pair was time consuming, then MK pointed out that there was a special offer on which demanded that you bought two things of similar value, as the second "thing" was only 49Kr.
As they had little to fit a size 14, 50 year old of indifferent athletic talent (OK, I lied there somewhere), I eventually found a second pair of trainers - white leather with gold writing that J tells me says that I am a "winner".
This took so long that DK was all but walking by the time we left.
Well!

WE collected J & have enjoyed a nice dinner of marinaded pork chops.
The highlight had to be DK throwing his head back, playing dead when "shot" by J during the meal, copying mum, dad & J.

Home tomorrow, arriving BHX at 10.00am.
Thanks to the all of the family for an entertaining week & excellent Danish cuisine.

Rain, rain go away....

Today has been quite wet.
The rain started this morning as I left the house to go for a run.
I ran for half an hour, around the park, which was pleasant, if rather muddy in places. Any of you would have done it in half the time, I´m sure, but, so what?
I did it.
J & I have played all sorts of games, including making plasticine fish & watching "Finding Nemo" to see if our fish were any good.
J´s favorite game is to chase each other around the house at high speed - I´m not sure that this is appreciated by anyone else but J & me.
Later DK & I played trains & did a lot of walking around the house whilst MK & J went to gym.
We have had a hearty meal of home-made soup & bagels, the boys are asleep & all's well with the world.
Perhaps we'll watch Star Trek again & see if we understand it this time around.
The young Spock has a certain charm, the old Spock looks so old - dentures which affect his speech somewhat. They do appear together, which is confusing.
Is it possible to converse with yourself in a previous age?
I thought that James Bond was diffficult to follow.
On balance "Nemo" is an infinitely better film than "Star Trek".

I am reading W's copy of "The Lost Symbol", which I aim to finish before I go home.
Some feat!
I think that it is a very good story & better written than The D C or As & Ds.
I did get waylayed reading "Manhood" by S Biddulph, explaining the problems facing men .
It's worth reading & makes some very salient points.

Sunday & not a sermon in sight.

I have had a lazy day, playing with J & DK, writing Christmas cards & eating. It has been wet.
It being10.00pm here, W & MK have gone to bed.
W did a bike race in the forest near Cph this morning, arriving home very muddy from the neck up & mid-thighs down. J had a birthday party, I played with DK & MK did everything else.
W cooked some excellent meatballs & spaghetti for dinner & we have just watched the new Star Trek film, which W explained to us as it proceeded, not without a good deal of candour, I may add.

The last two days have been mild & bright, so MK & I have been out with the boys, J on his bike.
He goes like the wind & takes pleasure in going up steep hills - a weird trait.
Yesterday we met K & L with baby A, in the forest, then went on to T & B's for a great dinner.
This all sounds very Hansel & Gretel, but there is a lovely shop which sells Christmas foods & decorations, alongside a coffee & cake/pancake shop.
It's not far into the forest, but there are nice walks & a lake.

G tells me that it is very wet at home.
He didn't say a great deal more as he was at P & A's, watching TV & Jordan was featuring, largely.
What do men see in that woman????

I hope to go for another run in the morning, to keep in training for chasing J around the house.
I'm not sure that everyone appreciates this as much as J!

Many congratulations to J for the swimming - inherited her Mum's talents?

And the biggest animal was......

an elephant.
The smallest was probably a stripey beetle (not the scientific name) A number of these were feasting on two white mice (dead), in a small china dish.
Today we went to the zoo in Copenhagen. It is a lovely zoo, we had a scrummy picnic on arrival, spent a couple of hours perusing the wildlife & finished the day in the cafe, which, unlike the cafe at Twycross, does not give the impression that the food is prepared alongside the animals' rations.
We had coffee & chocolate whist J & DK devoured large smartie cookies.
MK, J, & DK behaved brilliantly, the only downside was that it p... down from the moment we arrived.
G says that it is "rough up North" (no change there then!) & they are due a month's rain tomorrow.
We had a month's rain in 2 hours here!
W had prepared a "very adequate" dinner, when we returned, the children are in bed & we have a glass of red wine & Top Gear on TV (you can't win them all!)

W's computer has this strange little mouse contraption, on a lead, which takes a bit of getting used to.

I've travelled all this way to find something interesting to put on my blog, will somebody bother to comment, even if it's only a "Hello".

I retract some of the mouse comment, the one with a lead isn't attached to this computer at all - that's where I was going wrong.
This mouse is not tethered at all!

All aboard the Skylark!

I`'m not sure about the title, but I am in Denmark, having flown out this morning - SAS, not the broomstick, in this weather.
I had a lot of things to bring. I packed my usual case, found I had no room for clothes & so re-packed in G's big red one (!), weighed it, then re-packed with all of the books plus the jar of mincemeat in my rucksack.
The case was still 24kg, the rucksack, 9kg.
They charged for the 4kg excess baggage, which seemed a bit mean in retrospect, as mine was the only checked baggage. I stood at belt 5, at CPH, on my own, thinking that I must have got it wrong, when G's big red case sailed round,completely alone.
At security, I was allowed through in my boots, then had to remove them was then searched manually & then with the metal detecting wand.
They brought my rucksack to be searched, but relented when I told them I had a jar of mincemeat for my son & I always took him one.
They checked the bag again & said that I could take the mincemeat through as it was firm. Jam would not have gone through.
They have not seen my damson!

I sat with a charming Indian man & the time just flew.
W,MK & DK met me at Kastrup, although DK was unaware of my presence until we arrived home at which point he woke up.
His operation has been postponed as he has a sniffle so I shall just enjoy a week's holiday & be of no use to anyone.

We have had a lovely dinner & the boys are in bed & it's still only 7.18 GMT.
I have a glass of wine to finish - shame!

Monday 16.

Which means that Friday was the 13th, & I didn't realise.
Wow.
I could have stressed all day.
Anyway, thanks for the advice re the sermon - I always give the minimum' wanting to leave them wanting more rather than less.
It all went well.
We had a light lunch - soup - & then went for a walk whilst the sun was shining. We spotted a fine crop of sloes down Moat House lane, so G went to pick some whilst I swept up leaves.
The garden looks pretty good - green, tidy & with all of the borders nicely planted up with winter pansies.

This morning I played tennis for a couple of hours, the low sun causing us more of a problem than the threat of rain. Apart from enjoying the game, you benefit from a scamp around in the fresh air & working on the hand /eye co-ordination.
We had a healthy lunch, apart from the cream doughnuts which I found irresistible in Somerfield/Co-op.
I haven't eaten a cream doughnut for at least 20 years.
I had an appointment with the nurse this afternoon, then shopped for gin & sugar......
I have since packed ready for my trip to Denmark tomorrow.
Finding that I couldn't get all of the presents from the family in my beloved emerald green case, & close the lid,I resorted to transferring everything to G's large red case & putting all of the books in my rucksack.
The case is still 22.5kg, but closed, & my rucksack, 7kg.
I'll have to play the dotty granny & keep the rucksack on my back, without wincing, at the check-in.
Fish & chips with a cheeky little white Burgundy, for dinner - bugger the diet!

Hedgehog day.

Fridays have taken on a pattern of late; go to the doctors' for injections before catching up with G to play with Thomas.
This morning's injection was preceded by an hour's maths invigilation at KS, sitting with one student as prompter. I did manage the hour without talking - some feat!
I met the dynamic duo in Borders bookshop in Solihull where T was having great fun playing with the animated toy dinosaurs. Borders is closing down so has a sale on. Presumably another victim of the recession - there are a lot of empty shops , two in Coleshill High Street alone.
We lunched at MacDonalds; I didn't realise that a "Big Tasty" was going to be so big, I think that I thought that the implication was that it had a lot of taste.
It was enormous, even allowing for the stuff that escaped & slid down my trouser leg.
I bought a fleece in BHS, half price, a real bargain, then toiletries in Poundland.
I had to spend £25 in Morrisons to pay for the car park!

We drove home, separately, in the dark, wind & rain. Vile.
We settled for dinner by a big fire, with a bottle of pear cider, inspired by Hugh Fearnly Whittingstall, last night.
Ours was Swedish.
The wind is booming down the chimney but not enough to keep G awake.

There are weather warnings out for a lot of the country, Bournemouth/Christchurch in particular. Tomorrow is set to be rough.

We have just watched Jonathon Woss doesn't David Haye (boxing champ) look like George Bryan?
Arctic Monkeys are rubbish.

I let G open my post, which included a CD of Jamie McCullum, that I had bought for G's Christmas present.
This was a double whammy as it should have been Paulo Natini(?).
He was on JW recently & was impressive - Amazon didn't send the wrong CD, I ordered the wrong one.
They do look alike!

Sunday's sermon looks like hard work, something to do with time.
I'll sleep on it.

I plan to sponsor something for assembly at KS for Children in Need, inspired by watching Peter Kay on TV.
Any bright ideas?

Home again.

This is habit becoming forming.
Home from Bicester, where I had a lovely morning with T & KP.
T got into bed with me at about 6.30am, assuring me that he had been awake for 3 hours, thinking.
His conversation is far ranging & fascinating.

After the school amble (with Baby Annabel), Geoff came to clean the windows, inspiring KP, cloth in hand, to carry her chair around & clean the insides, declaring it to be "great fun".
We then walked into Bicester in warm sunshine & bought a toy tractor for Oscar, "my cousin", then home for lunch.

The weather changed very much for the worse this afternoon & it was dark shortly after 3.00pm. I popped into Solihull on the way home as I was early for the hairdresser & got soaked.
I parked at Morrisons, which necessitated going in to spend £5 - they have Dove things at £1 & Philip Berio olive oil for £2 (I couldn't find it).
I'm sure that there were other bargains there somewhere.

I was looking forward to Question Time, with Will Self, but G has put on a DVD of the war that was free in the paper at the weekend.
Shucks!
Apparently, D Dimbleby is out of action ,having been injured by a farm animal of some sort - this news came from aj & G, not the BBC version!

I am at school tomorrow morning, then on to the doctors' for hap A & B, 2, then on to P's to play with Thomas & G.
Superdrug were out on the street today in Bicester, offering flu jabs for £9.99.
I declined, wondering if it was a market researcher giving the jabs.
Must check if aj has been offered that one - she's not good with needles!

The Maginot Line is being bombarded, I think that it may be time for a retreat, to bed.

Gloves on.

I detected a note of criticism in some comments that my blog was a little short on interest.
Well, there is a basic problem here if life is not as exciting as some others.
We can't all have demanding jobs to go to from nine till five & do exciting internet shopping.
I did have a bit of a lie in, breakfast with G then sort out Christmas presents this morning.
I was just thinking of getting some lunch on when W phoned, on his way home from work!
Later I went to Coleshill, in the newly repaired volvo (looks brill) to buy bread, milk, humus, with sun dried tomatoes & take a bag of bits to the charity shop.
We were going to the pictures, but the new Michael Caine sounded horrific & it is a cold night so we brought in a basket of logs, lit a big fire in the lounge & had a nice meal in front of the fire.
Almost time for bed.
Tomorrow may be more exciting - tennis, Christmas shopping in Solihull then on to Bicester, with my sleeping bag.

I'll add some contentious comments to raise the interest level, based on my TV viewing this evening - Ant & Dec seem to be advertising "Weightwatchers" - whatever next?
I marked up the programmes to watch, as a joke, as Dad always did this in his dotage.
We didn't watch any of them as G had the remote.
No change there!
Rod Stewart has a new album out - must be old recordings!
When I'm really bored I'll go on "confused .com"

Home again

We have just returned from visiting JR in Cambs - a good journey despite heavy traffic.
We went down yesterday afternoon, stopping for lunch at The George in Huntingdon (not recommended).
We had tea with JR, a cosy evening in front of the new log burner & a good nights sleep.
Today we went to Bury St Edmunds, pottered around then had lunch at The Angel - a rather nice hotel on the square where JR stayed in his wild youth.
The meal was brilliant - the best meal out that I have had in ages.
Do go there if you are about - prices are very reasonable.
We went back for tea & then came home.
G wants the computer to do some work.

Comments please or I will sulk into oblivion.

Remember, remember....

Actually, I forgot.
I had an hour long interview with the market research guy about TDA/AIG as an assistant head.
I had done 3 hours research into the material on T'internet the previous evening (in York!) so that I could comment on it's usefulness & how it might be used to best effect in schools.
The first thing I needed to know was what the initials stood for.
Guess. (answers at bottom of page)
I then left for home, stopping at Judith's for coffee en route, reckoning on about two hours to get there.
To use W terminology, yesterday was not a navigational day.
For reasons that I may have been a little vague about, I went down the A1 rather than the M18.
I think that I should have got off earlier but I don't really know much about the meanderings of the A1, apart from that it goes from Stamford to London; I realised that I would end up in one or the other.
The little tin box doesn't have a cigar lighter so the Sat Nav has to work on the battery.
G told me to put it on when I was near to Judith's as the battery would not last.
Eventually, I stopped for fuel, put on the Sat Nav & then drove across rural Nottinghamshire & Leicestershire, living in fear of battery meltdown.
I eventually reached Judith's just before 3.00pm - 3 hours after leaving York & had a lovely salmon sandwich & a natter.
I had completely forgotten that I was meant to be at the doctor's for inoculations.
What a twit!
The surgery fitted me in this morning at 8.30am, so I now have only three more sessions to be protected for life from most letters in the alphabet.
I am going to P's to catch up with G, who is in the park with Thomas.
Fitting the baby seat in the car may be a challenge as I think that the baby seat may be bigger than the rear seats in the little tinny box.
Enjoy your day.

Teachers' Development Agency.
Advice, Information & Guidance.

Aygo, wego!

Aj offered me the first cup of tea of the day at 4.15am.
I pointed out the error of her body clock & went back to sleep; aj had tea & biscuits in bed, then slept until morning.
We eventually went to Wetherby & did the shops before buying food for lunch & dinner, in M&S & coming home for lunch.
After a prawn cocktail lunch we went to Acomb's foremost charity shop (no sale) we went to the designer outlet to search for out of season clothing. Apparently it was sold off in January.
That must have been last year's stuff.
Never mind, we bagged a few bargains, were warned that the lights went out in the changing rooms 3 minutes after we went in & were thrown out onto the street into the rain at 6.00pm.
We have recuperated with a cup of tea. checked the shopping & are waiting for the moussaka to cook.
I have some web-sites to check out in preparation for an interview with a market research guy tomorrow morning, before setting off for home.
I think that this evening's pub quiz may be one decision too far!

E by gum!

Apparently this is how they get high in Yorkshire - injected into the mouth.
I have come to check this out & see aj whilst here. I can't actually see her at this moment as she has gone to a focus group, but should be back soon to whisk up some local cullinary delicacy (cook/chill from JS, just down the road!)
I drove up this morning in the small tinny petrol free ka.
This necessitated a trip to Coleshill for fuel then Dunton, M42, A42. It all went downhill from there with 20 miles of roadworks on the M1 followed by torrential rain for the rest of the journey. All of this in a small tinny ka with seats that only go back or forward. Still, to be positive, it does have a radio that gets radio 4, is waterproof & doesn,t have a big dent in the rear end.

Aj & I used our bus passes (first time for mine) to go into York, coffee & a scone/teacake in M&S(only 70p, thanks to M&S premier vouchers) & a tootle around the shops.
Not a swimsuit to be had anywhere, apart from the Speedo Olympic T bar - unflattering for the more mature figure & guaranteed to give a ridiculous tan.
I did buy some bamboo socks, which have remarkable properties, allegedly - twice as absorbent as cotton, kills bacteria & enables the wearer to do amazing feats.
If they work, that,s my Christmas presents sorted.

We plan a trip to Wetherby tomorrow - aj favours the car rather than the bus - then the Outlet centre in search of out-of-season clothing then home.
I have a focus group in the evening. Jamie has just popped in & forsees a pub quiz to round off the evening.

Untitled.

I can't think of a snappy title for today's blog.
I gave the family the opportunity to say "no change there then!"

We went to DMP yesterday evening for the fireworks/60th anniversary celebration.
The fireworks were excellent, as they always are, interspersed with a laser show of the Bryan family & progress across the years.
B did not feature.
We then had a meal in the Hamilton suite - a pleasure to use the loo without checking that the other occupants did not have bottles of vodka in their underwear - usual practice at the school proms.
J,G & the children were all there & came to see us this lunchtime.

I played tennis this morning in bright sunshine, which was great & does my shoulder the world of good.
I did a quick shop in Coleshill then made some tiny chocolate fairy cakes & prepared lunch for J, G & co.
They couldn't stay long so, after tidying up, I did some gardening - clearing borders & planting four more trays of pansies, until dark (5.20pm)
At this exact point, it started to rain.
Since dinner I have taken in a couple of pairs of G's shorts, ready for his travels.

It has been a nice day weatherwise, but turned cold this afternoon.
I suppose that we should expect cold weather in November & lots of leaves.

G took the volvo into the volvo hospital this morning & came back with a black ka.
It's a bit small & tinny, reinforcing my belief in the superiority of volvos.
I am planning to visit aj tomorrow - not a fast lane journey.
I would go by train, but the fare is £60, with my railcard!!!

There is a lovely photo of J, celebrating his birthday, on W,s blog.
One that makes you smile back.

11.00pm, G is asleep, time for bed.