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Life outside Ambridge
Life outside Ambridge
Life outside Ambridge
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Life in Ambridge
THIS POST IS CLOSED "longer off topic comments" - Episode 14 Life Outside Ambridge Have a seat and let's chat.
Hope everyone has as good a week as I am going to have!
ReplyDeleteOh, Gary, what a beautiful, uplifting video to wake up to this morning ! No wonder you keep returning to the Cairngorms.
ReplyDeleteArcherphile, I hope you wake up to this, too. Beyond appalling, what you & Mr AP had to endure yesterday. You were anticipating diversions, but the behaviour on that flight ! Flight attendants are supposed to take care of customer safety & comfort, & they should have insisted the boorish couple got their seats to upright, & washed their mouths out. OR, moved them to other seats, in front of people who weren't as tall as Mr AP, or as movement restricted as yourself. Also horrifying - I couldn't have lasted that long a flight without a trip to the look, in fact, who could ?!
As for the disgraceful abandonment at Heathrow,....this picture of you both waiting in a vast, empty space is haunting. I do hope you are speedily, lavishly compensated, grovellingly apologized to( as far as one can be after such a nightmarish experiense)
Meantime, here's to as much rest as you need, & a smooth operation next week, in a hospital where you will be taken great care of !
I have mentioned before that we used to go to different parts of Scotland twice a year for holidays and I loved it.
ReplyDeleteWe once went by motor rail to Inverness from Crewe before driving on to Elgin.
This week Michael Portillo has been along the east coast of Scotland.
I was so envious.
On my bucket list ,when I'm an old lady is to journey for 2weeks by train on a Rover ticket (first class) round Scotland stopping at various 5 star hotels on the way .
🤗👏👍🏻
DeleteOh GG how spectacular, thank you. Have a wonderful time.
ReplyDeleteAP - truly the nightmare journey to cap them all...hope you're recovering at home ready for your next trip, hospital! 😉Fingers crossed all goes well.
AP - Mrs P and I (&Gary) commiserated re your journey immediately after your post on the old blog.
ReplyDeletePamper yourselves 🥰this weekend if you can between the unpacking etc
Thank you all, on this blog and the last, for your commiserations about the nightmare journey.
ReplyDeleteAm a bit rested this am and about to tackle the mountain of washing - though who is going to iron it afterwards is a mystery. Sainsburys just delivered the online shop I arranged when abroad - very useful but they forgot to send tomorrow’s lunch, a large whole chicken for roasting!
Very co-incidentally, this morning I had an email from the ‘customer care team’ at Heathrow asking for my feedback on the assistance given for our outward flight! (which actually wasn’t too bad).
But boy, am I going to enjoy telling them about last nights fiasco, with knobs on, and shall be demanding some answers. There were two other disabled passengers on our flight - one missed a flight connection to Inverness due to the delay and the other, a fairly young lady, entirely on her own, who was abandoned just as we were. I don’t know what happened to her. Mr A would have gladly pushed 2 wheelchairs if he could and I was embarrassed at having to leave her on her own.
Gary, thanks for your thoughts and I hope your secluded break is wonderful, relaxing, peaceful and all you want it to be.
Have a nice relaxing weekend Archerphile.
ReplyDeleteYou deserve it.
You will be able to watch the 3rd Test Match between South Africa and England from next Thursday.
Hope it will be as exciting as the Capetown one was.
We were able to follow the 2nd Test Match in Dubai (the BBC live reporting) and Mr A commandeered my iPad for hours each day while I lay on the sofa!
DeleteCan’t watch, as we don’t have Sky but will certainly be logged on to the BBC again.
No chicken delivered for Sunday lunch AP - how about popping out and treating yourselves to a Sunday Roast. (Although physically it could be a bit too much for you with your bad knee and post traumatic journey yesterday)
ReplyDeleteHeathrow quick with survey request- pity not so with their service but great opportunity to let them have it, we will all wait with bated breath for their reply....
How is the skin on your legs now?
Improved a lot, thanks Lady R, and itches almost gone. Should be OK for Tuesday I hope.
Delete👍🤞🙏🏼
DeleteIf Archerphile is anything like me, she will give her very valid + truthful thoughts, without being too antagonistic. This gives far better results. As I always say when am "complaining" or just commenting on services, I say exactly how I felt and how it affected me personally. This always gives good results.
ReplyDeletePS I bet there is something "tasty" in the freezer - not quite the Sunday Roast - but will still provide a lovely meal.
Yes Miriam, that is the best approach. Tell the truth, don’t embroider the facts but impress on the company where they are failing and how they could do better.
DeleteApparently it is a new company who have taken on the customer care contract at Heathrow, so they must been keen to do well and get good reviews.
Oh, and I think it’s going to be Roast Sausages for Sunday dinner tomorrow! 😂
It was haddock and chips from Ubereats for me this evening.
ReplyDeleteI didn’t want to miss any of the Spurs/ Liverpool match .
Braised red cabbage & pork for us.
DeleteSatisfactory result, LJ 👍
Let's see if Ian Holloway can work wonders with the Mariners.
Late to the blog today, and Gary will not read this, but what a wonderful travelogue the Cairngorms video is.
ReplyDeleteHe really is giving us treats isn't he.
Archerphile, by the end of the day now, I hope you feel a little more at home and a little further away from your very poor experience at the end of your journey.
I am sure you will give considerable thought to filling in the survey.
✔️✔️ You bet!
DeleteGood luck with Ian Holloway Parsley 16 .
ReplyDeleteAt least he has had plenty of experience.
Hope Grimsby can climb up the Division this year with his help.
There is always hope.
When I first supported Liverpool they were in what was then the Second Division.
Creeping upwards, away from the drop zone.. 🤞
DeleteJust popped in to tell the news about, my latest "grand nieces" appearance.
ReplyDeleteIt was earlier today, 7lb 2oz but no name yet.
Mother + Babe are doing well.
Not bad as only 4 days after due date. 😀
Hope GG has a great break away, and the snow forecast for that area, is not true. ❄❄⛄⛄
Delete🤱 Congrats all round Miriam 🤗
DeleteThe weather forecast for the coming days forecast very heavy snow for Scotland from west to east.
ReplyDeleteI hope Mr and Mr GG are prepared, like good Boy Scouts.
They will be fine...as must know the area and property well, so logs for the fire etc.
DeleteIt is just hope they don't get snowed in...
All happening in my family today/tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteA new lovely baby girl welcomed today. Tomorrow but now "today" OZ time, Another niece is starting a new job. She is a fashion designer, with a lot of expertice + experience in high quality accesories, eg leather bags, gloves hats etc. Her new job is for an OZ national "hat" design firm, now expanding into the USA She is now not only the chief designer, but is also in charge of all the production involved.
It is her dream job, in a wonderful "dream" beach location in Queensland, As her 2 sons are still only 2yrs + 6 months old, her "hubbie" is now a house husband, for the short-term.
Congratulations on the new arrival in your family Miriam. Lovely news for the start of a new year! 👶
DeleteHow are you getting on Archerphile, with your "survey"?
ReplyDeleteIf you know the name of the company, responsible for care + help at Heathrow, may I suggest you write (ink on paper and sent "recorded" delivery) independantly to the CEO or Managing Director of that company.
This letter will then land on a different desk, and will be seen by others, rather than the normal customer service department.
It's worth it, as I have done this, whith great results...but that's another story.🤔
I imagine you are still jet lagged after your journey Archerphile and the last thing you feel like doing is sitting down to compose and write a letter to someone and then having to go out and post it.
ReplyDeleteIf you use registered post you will need a post office too.
I too enjoy writing letters using fountain pen and ink but realise that in this day an age it is often as good to email a CEO of a Company .
The last one I sent was in praise of an employee of the Health Club I decided to join after being shown around by a young lady and being impressed by the facilities which I am convinced are helping the sciatica
(Whether or not that is so ,it is great lounging in the jacuzzi )
I had areply by email from the CEO the following morning.
When I did the same some years ago to the CEO of John Lewis,I had a telephone call back within an hour.
The other thing about letter writing ,if one makes a mistake it means starting again.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do though.
I only gave my thoughts to Archerphile, as thought might just help her. It often helps going to "the top"
DeleteI did this to a holiday firm, and my total cost was refunded.
It was worth the postal charges and effort to go to a Post Office, to do so.
It worked for me. I am sure Archerphile will do what she wants, and will suit her.
I was only giving the benefit of a bad experience, I had.
😣😣😣
To add, that holiday, was immediatly removed from web-site.
DeleteBut it was not just down to me, so it helps with comments and thoughts
Anyone see monty dons American gardens last Friday. Caught it yesterday. Marvellous. Looking at these wonderful gardens whilst it’s so miserable outside, gives you something to aspire to later in the year.
ReplyDeleteI was elsewhere ptby but Mr R also said it was a superb programme 🤗
DeleteLanJan and Miriam
ReplyDeleteThank you for your advice. I have not written to Heathrow yet - spent most of the morning filling in an 8 page questionnaire about every aspect of my heath, operations, drugs taken, how many stairs I can climb etc etc to take to my pre-op assessment tomorrow.
Goodness, they even want to know if I have been to an Ebola area recently! Took ages to look things up and fill in the form🙄
But Mr A had an email with a questionnaire about what he thought of the BA service we had received on our recent flights.
He didn’t fail to describe, in detail, what happened on our return flight. Don’t worry, I shall be writing my letter when I return from my appointment tomorrow!
Good luck on both counts AP 🤞
DeleteAppointment am or pm? We are out to lunch which we are looking forward too but I believe the weather is going to be atrocious from early afternoon 😱 so a very wet and windy drive home around mostly country roads! (Although for once we are being picked up it is very rare for me not to drive!)
Just back from assessment Lady R - two and a half hours of being questioned, over and over again, signing umpteen forms, being poked and prodded and having every second of my proposed stay in the Clinic detailed in advance. Having an ECG, blood (lots of it) and urine taken, swabs from all sorts of places (don’t ask!) and a painful session with the physiotherapist who also gave me crutches to practice with.
DeleteI honestly never went through all these procedures and forms at Basingstoke Hospital before my hip op........so either the Hampshire Clinic are much more careful or they have to justify their high charges somehow ! AND I have to go back for another blood test the day before the operation, anyone would think I was going in for a heart transplant or something really serious!!
Hope you enjoyed your lunch outing and have not been affected but the dreadful weather we have today. 💨💨💦💦
🙋🏻♀️ Wow Archerphile that was some going over! As you say the HC no doubt want you to feel you are getting your moneys worth 😂 certainly lots of safety criteria going on but that’s no bad thing. (Sounds like you can go ahead re skin post mossie bites so hooray to that)
DeleteWhat a day weather wise we have just “blown” in and got pretty wet just from our friends car. A tasty lunch sat by a lovely 🔥 👏🏻 As soon as we got our rain gear off I looked to see if you had posted. Thank you for taking the time to tell us all about your day.
Archerphile.
ReplyDeleteYou do right to wait a day or two before writing a letter of complaint in MHO. It is then much more measured and not just an angry response, one that is likely to have a much better response.
Good luck with the letter.
Hope all goes well with the op when it happens.
I hope you pass all the pre op.tests today, AP, so there's no barrier to the operation going ahead . You ate becoming an old hand ( or should I say ''knee') at this process !
ReplyDeleteThe letter will.happen in good time, all the appalling facts being fresh in your mind, painfully so, & Me A has started the process.
Ouch Archerphile.
ReplyDeleteThink positive. All these tests + swabs, are as a much for your benefit as the hospital. It is the "infection" risk, which is so important, esp. at this time of year.
🤞🤞all will be OK 😍
Keep us posted.
DeleteOh, AP, that sounds quite enough prodding & testing for one day ! Still, I suppose there's the reassurance of every eventuality being covered. Also, have heard that knees are trickier than hips to do, the latter having larger bones etc. to work with. However, the success rate is high, & the recovery time about the same as hips usually.
ReplyDeleteMy ex Bro-in-Law had a knee replacement in November. 5 weeks later, when I met up with him at Christmas, he was walking 3 miles a day, without a stick or any support.
DeleteExpect the same progress Archerphile 😁
I know hospital physios who would say that wasn't wise because the soft tissue around the joint takes much longer to heal than the operation site. They also say that male patients tend to be too impatient with the healing process. Good luck to him, but I hope his post-op exuberance doesn't come back to bite him.
DeleteNo, Archerphile, don't expect the same progress, I'm sure you'll be much more cautious.
Dont worry Sarnia, there is no way I would want to go for a 3 mile walk on any day - much less after a knee op. I have never been keen on ‘going for walks’, much to Mr A’s disappointment. He walked right across France from the English Channel coast to the Mediterranean a few years ago and I had no interest whatsoever in doing the same.
DeleteAs long as I can toddle around Sainsburys, do things with the grandchildren and use my excercise bike again I shall be perfectly happy!
Think you might be right about that Sarnia.
DeleteAt five weeks after my knee operation I was still sleeping through at least half the day. But at three months I had resumed normal activities including tai chi and was walking a couple of miles easily without any support.
Itis not always wise to rush recovery.
Just a quick extra before starting the evening meal cooking.
ReplyDeleteI don't care what Joy calls her kitten.
All here know how wonderful our pets are, be they a dog/s or a cat. They often fill an empty space and give a focus in a home. Wish Joy has much happiness with her kitten, as we all have with our respective pets.
On that note, must go, as my "pusscat" is wanting food + cuddles. 😹😻
Friends here might be interested to hear I have just sent my complaint missive to Heathrow.
ReplyDeleteThey made it fairly easy because I got an email from them last night, with initial apologies and asking for specific and detailed information so they can have an internal review.
I guess they picked up on it from Mr A’s reply to the customer feedback survey they sent a few days ago.
Anyway, I provided all info they wanted, went through the entire situation step by step with no embroidering, in calm and professional language. I did say the service outbound was OK and described how I was treated at Dubai airport too as a contrast.
Oh, and I mentioned that we had to pay more than expected for our taxi home, because the driver had had to wait so long in the car park. Be interesting to see if they offer any compensation.
I’ll let you know the outcome!
Sounds as if you've covered everything, very clearly.
DeleteThey certainly should offer considerable compensation - glad you remembered the taxi too ! Just hope you don't have to wait long for all their checks & get a good result, AP.
With regards to recovery times from knee ops, I think that everyone heals at their own pace. I was feeding my cattle and walking the dogs the day after I came home from mine, admittedly not very far to their disgust. Friends did suggest that I was doing too much, I discussed this with my GP and he told me my body would tell me when to stop, thus I carried on, with no adverse effects
ReplyDeleteYes, the superior beings who get going more quickly than others always say that.
DeleteI think that sometimes having to do things like feeding cattle pushes you to extremes that maybe in ordinary circumstances you wouldn't attempt. My brother has needed at least one knee replacement for years ( broke his leg in 5 places playing football when 17 which probably left a weakness) but hasn't had it done yet because the doctor told him he would not be able to do any farmwork for a couple of months afterwards. He is going to retire this year and rent out the farm ( his son has never wanted to farm) simply because he doesn't think his knee will hold out any longer.
DeleteYes, indeed. I was always at the mercy of others who only had to get in a car once the six weeks were up and could then go anywhere they wanted. As I live in a very hilly area and do not drive, I had to be able to walk a total of 1 1/2 miles to and from bus stops and cope with 2 crowded buses both ways before I could go anywhere at all. Even 3 months after a knee replacement I found this quite tiring to start with, and 2 hours' organ practice on top of that was almost a non-starter, so church people volunteered to fetch me.
DeleteThe earlier hip-replacements were worse because the consultant wouldn't permit his patients to travel by bus for at least the first 2 months after surgery, and I wasn't allowed to use the organ pedals for six months afterwards. As it was, I was back at the organ (manuals only) 9-10 weeks after each hip and 5 weeks after the knees, but it was heavy going to start and I found it exhausting.This puzzled a lot of people, who thought my progress very slow compared with 'other people they knew'.
Why doesn't Archerphile, contact the "Rip-Off:Britain" Holiday team, at Media City, Salford Quays in Manchester, This could well be an experience of interest, for this BBC programm.
ReplyDeleteJust a thought 😂😂
Hope GG + husband, are safe, sound + well in the Cairngorms, and are "snuggled" up.
ReplyDeleteLuckily, yet again, although had heavy rain and was windy, I escaped the really bad weather.
DeleteWish all those who experienced it, have survived without any damage or destruction. Lovely sunny day today, and bedding dried outside!
The main trunk of my lovely bay tree has been blown over and broken off. I have started drying the leaves overnight in the Rayburn warming oven. Hope some of your sunshine heads our way soon!
DeleteSo sorry to hear about your Bay tree Janice. Will it regrow ?
DeleteBut perhaps the shape will be lost even if it does.
My daughters house at Seaview on the Isle of Wight had two lovely Bay trees on the terrace overlooking the road.
But the new owners have felled them. Seems such a shame as they were the only trees that were in existence close to the front on that stretch.
Philistines! Bet they didn't even know the leaves can be used in cooking.
DeleteWe have a large bay tree in the garden , little seedlings spring up everywhere..
ReplyDeleteThe Brookfied Wedding Reception Venue - sounds very idyllic. I have already mentioned basic toilet + catering concerns. To this I would add, is there a suitable outside space, where guests can go and relax, sit and enjoy the outside. Also will there be, and dare I say this (😣) a designated "smoking/vaping" area. Also will the yard at Brookfield, will have to be pristine to cope with wedding outfits + shoes.
ReplyDeleteIt is a wonderful idea, but I can forsee problems - such as where is Josh's business based + located, in that will rusty farm equipment be in evidence (and in photos?).
To add - car parking facilities?
DeletePosted on wrong page - sorry 😭😭
DeleteOh dear! Just seen that my greenhouse has lost several panes of glass (smashed on the floor and outside) in the recent storm. Don’t suppose my over-wintering plants will last long now!
ReplyDeleteIt is a very old greenhouse, inherited from my mother-in-law, and moved from garden to garden three times. Being so old, it doesn’t have standard size panes of glass so each missing pane will have to be measured and cut specially. More expense!
Sounds like my old shed, which is no more! I had it demolished, but have not yet replaced it - as to not sure what I want, and the cost! The area needs to be flattened, paved etc...
DeleteWhat was a minor project, is now turning into a major one, as the side-gates could also have to be reknewn.
Oh Well, a project for 2020.
I am sorry to hear about your bay tree ,Janice .
ReplyDeleteWe have two splendid ones in pur front garden which are from cuttings I took some years ago.
Cuttings root easily.
However they are bay bushes really and not a narrow trunk with the bush part at the top.
Talking of which ,I was given a lavender “tree “ for Christmas which is the same idea. as the very bay trees one can buy.
Never seen that before
There are some other smaller shoots that grew up around the main bit so I will let them grow on now. I especially liked this bay because it is particularly aromatic, and I was given it at a funeral where there were little trees and plants in pots and mourners could choose one to take home. My daughter chose a beech and I chose the bay.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteREPLYDELETE
Lanjan.January 16, 2020 at 7:33 PM
Following on from your comment at 4:27 pm today which you said you had put on the wrong blog, Miriam ,I am pleased that you did because I would like to pose a question to bloggers (although perhaps folk are sick of the sound of weddings and so I will understand if none of you wish to answer it.)
I decided to check what the cost of my first wedding was, allowing for inflation.
At today’s prices.
My beautiful wedding dress worn for but a few hours would have cost £258 .
The wedding breakfast (local pub with outside toilet only!) would have cost only £10:75 per person but we did not have wine and we drank tea from big metal teapots.
My future parents in law paid for the Evening Do but we had left for our honeymoon *I don’t know what that cost.
(Not Blackpool but the Isle of Man -went upmarket )*
My question is
When young people today are saying they can’t afford to buy homes ,would they not be better saving the cost of a big wedding in order to put the money towards a home of their own?
So how did you work it out allowing for inflation?
DeleteThere are several different sites but when I googled it ,a £ when I first got married would be worth about £21:00 or thereabouts today.
ReplyDeleteIn answer to your final question LJ.....
ReplyDeleteYes they would.
Any sensible youngsters would have a nice day, spending less than ' lavish' ( define ?) and put the rest of what they might have spent on - lavish- and put towards home.
But then most of those of us contributing here would have had sensible weddings and very little towards a home, if any home at all.
Ours was a rented basement flat in Worlds End ( Chelsea) with a prostitute upstairs.
Our first furniture was pharmaceutical packing cases from Russia, collected weekly from an alley in Earls Court, arranged as a window seat, ranged against an abutting wall and a cosy coffee table arrangement in the middle of the room. I covered them in green hessian with a green and yellow patterned hessian in the rebated sections.
Today's young people appear to expect a fully formed home as soon as they are married, if not before, as well as the complete works of a wedding.
Too right, Mrs P. Wedding dress made myself, 32/- ; posy of freesias bought straight from nursery, stems wrapped in foil, poked through a lace doily and bound with ribbon. Carnation buttonholes for Main guests, with sliver of fern, 'shorts', 1d each (same nursery) and reception self-catered in my mother's flat. No honeymoon, as there was no money left after the above extravaganza, and we were both 3rd year students about to sit our finals next term.
ReplyDeleteOur first home was a draughty bed-sit, furnished from the Muswell Hill branch of the exclusive emporium favoured by you and Mr P!
Our wedding had to be held at a register office because I was not allowed to marry in a synagogue and also was marrying a ‘goy’ (non-Jewish man) anyway, who had no religious commitment.
ReplyDeleteSo we married at Slough Register Office which was based in a typical between-the-wars bungalow with double fronted bay windows - in a small road next to the Granada Cinema!
Definitely not the most glamorous of locations and not at all photogenic for the post ceremony photographs. (Some of the photos have the bungalow drainpipe growing out of Mr A’s head 😂)
My father gave us a small amount of cash to spend on everything (having already lost a hell of a lot of money on my proposed big London wedding to my Jewish fiancé who dumped me just before the day) and we paid for the rest from our savings.
So I made my wedding dress from a lovely slubbed-silk fabric (called Kafka, I think), my Mum made her outfit too. We held the reception at a pub in Slough, now long-since demolished and had a 3 course lunch for about 30 family and friends. There was no evening do, we just set off to the LakeDistrict on honeymoon after the lunch.
The lovely thing, that made a rather budget day special, was that we were marrying on my parents Golden Wedding anniversary so it was a sort of double celebration and all the flowers, table decorations (made by friends) etc were in shades of gold.
The amazing thing, I have just realised, is that when we celebrate our Golden Wedding in April it will be 100 years since my parents married and I still have their photos and religious marriage certificate which is a beautifully decorated document all written in Hebrew.
Archerphile, what an uplifting story and how everything worked out for the best.
DeleteMany good thoughts for the upcoming celebration of your lives together.
What wonderful memories Archerphile from funny (drainpipe) to emotional - your parents celebrating their Golden WA on your wedding day! The flowers in shades of gold sound beautiful and a wonderful touch.
DeleteYours was a marriage that took place for the right reason “the marriage itself” and not just a day to impress others as many are now, and over in a very short time whereas yourself and Mr A are about to celebrate 50 years of love 👩❤️💋👨 and commitment throughout good and bad times and I hope you will share memories of your own Golden day with us here on the blog 🥰
(Did you marry on the 1st by any chance ....😏 )
Riveting wedding stories, & so vividly recalled ! Certainly not all the same, but saying so much about how things have changed between now & then.
ReplyDeleteThese days, I'd say, without any data to prove it, the extremes are startling : some couples choose not to marry, others go for registry office, grabbing strangers as witnesses, i.e, total minimalism, then right through all.levels to the extreme, vulgarly emulating celeb. weddings in exotic locations, lasting for days, often, & creating massive debt for parents or the couples themselves !
I doubt there are many self catering weddings these days, as some of you describe, but there can be modest ones held in interesting locations, such as an (English) beach, or some country area, which can be hired out, & which hold specific memories for the couples & their families.
I haven't rung bells for over a year now, but when I did I always enjoyed ringing for weddings. There was so much variety from the simple to the elaborate, and many beautiful dresses and flowers to look at. One father of the bride I remember was dressed in a pink suit and tie and had dyed his beard pink.
ReplyDeleteWow that last comment must have been a sight to see Janice 🤗
DeleteIt was indeed!
DeleteJust to let you know, my latest grand-niece has finally gone home today.
ReplyDeleteThe birth was an emergency C-section. Both Mum + Babe then had an infection (over 48hrs on IV antibiotics for both), Babe then not feeding properly so led to complications, and lost a lot of her birth weight.
Finally discharged today, so they can now begin their proper family life together.
To add Babe's Dad, is the ex-alcoholic/gambler, who this year has gained his 5 year Sobriety Award. He has been asked to become an "alcoholic" counsellor, but as is now a Grade 3 professional cricket coach, his focus is elsewhere, esp. with his new daughter.
Does she have a name yet, Miriam, and were there any concerns over the dreadful bush fires, like being able to get to the hospital or breathing difficulties? It must have been a very worrying time for Mums about to give birth in case they were held up.
DeleteI hear there has been rain in Aus today, so hopefully that will ease the emergencies.
This one was in here in the UK, were in Addenbrookes in Cambridge.My OZ family are very safe, and are now (after their move last November) away from the fire-zone.It's awful though.
DeleteI owe Lanjan an apology.
ReplyDeleteThis is from a short while ago, as to Kirsty's home. I thought LJ had confused me with another. She was so right, as Kirsty does come from my area, as she is from The Wirral, not that far away from me, as live on the Cheshire/N.Wales border. Thought Kirsty was from Birmingham, hence the post I made.
Sorry, LJ. 😀
No problem Miriam .
ReplyDeleteIt was when you mentioned not living far away from Chester Zoo and the North Wales border that I assumed you lived in that area.
Do you think Mrs Miller’s accent was authentic?
To my untutored ear it sounded quite good.
Another former resident of the Wirral was the late David Sheppard who was the Bishop of Liverpool and who chose to remain in the area (rather than return to Sussex where he played County cricket ) because he and his wife loved the area so much.
I have just learnt about the death of Derek Fowlds. How sad 😭
ReplyDeleteHe was great in Yes Minister, but I just loved him as Oscar Blaketon, in Heartbeat.
He will be missed, and another great british actor, is now no more.
I came across a wonderful + enjoyable listen, on R4ex yesterday.
ReplyDelete"Letters to Miss Lucie" from 2002.
I enjoyed it, and think others might also do so, or perhaps not 🤣
I was also sad to hear about Derek Fowlds. We have just been watching the early episodes of Heartbeat on dvd. He made a great sergeant and was in pretty much every episode. I also loved him as Mr Derek with Basil Brush when I was a child.
ReplyDelete😪 We watched the very 1st two episodes of Yes Minister last night, so good!
DeleteOh they don't make them like that anymore.
DeleteRIP Mr Derek.. boom boom!😢
The only comic duo I have ever felt attracted to or by.
ReplyDeleteMr Derek - you have given us much entertainment throughout your career.
Thank you
RIP Derek Fowlds
What a glorious and vibrant sunset, I am having tonight.
ReplyDeleteFrost + ice, is already starting to appear, but it is still only January, so is quite normal.
Stay Warm + Safe All.
At least it is getting lighter, in the evenings.
Just wish, the mornings would do the same.
Was awake at 6.00am (a loo stop) but when went back to bed, was wide awake.
DeleteIt was dark + cold, and my "pusscat" was curled up close by. 😻 Listened to "Theo"- the story of a teddy bear, which I had heard before. It was lovely to listen to again and enjoyed as much as I did previously, esp. as snuggled down under the duvet.
I always welcome January because we have turned a corner. Every day is gradually getting longer and we are marching towards spring🌱🌱🌷🌷🌷🌸🌸🌸🌹🌹🌼🌼
DeleteA glorious day here in Gloucestershire too.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant sunshine, ( though I didn't wake until almost 2pm having finally fallen asleep somewhere around five am ) a late walk on the common with Lady, but rewarded by a fantastic and very long sunset.
A dry day.... to be treasured.
It was sunny here but cold and crisp. Took the dogs to Quarr Abbey for walkies. Gyp managed a longer walk than any since her op but needed a carry for the last little bit! She is doing well and had every other stitch removed on Friday, the rest in ten days. Donal the vet is pleased with her and reckons no scar due to his expert embroidery. He said he even does neat stitching internally where no one can see them! Gyp was shaved from behind her eyebrows to the shoulder but now has a fine down of new hair. She looks like Dennis Healey as the eyebrows have grown!
ReplyDeleteMiriam, I now have the new door and delighted with it!
I am very sad. I have just learned that one of my favourite authors, M.C.Beaton (Marion Chesney Gibbons) died at the end of last year at the age of 83.
ReplyDeleteShe wrote the Hamish Macbeth stories, about the policeman of Lochdubh, on the west coast of Scotland. They were televised about 20 years ago and starred a very young Robert Carlyle. I have every single one of those books, and also her Agatha Raisin series too.
The Agatha stories were produced as plays on Radio4, starring Penelope Keith and (much less successfully in my opinion) as a television series recently with an actress much too young for the part and the stories altered beyond recognition.
I have always looked out for the latest M C Beaton and am so sorry there will be no more.
I felt the same way when P. D. James died , although she was was well on in her nineties. No more wonderful Adam Dalgleish books.
ReplyDeleteShe wrote one every 3 or 4 years because of the research she put into them.
When a new one came out I was first in the queue for a copy.
She was a master
I'm familiar with the above from television, what they have in common is that in spite of their skill they were persuaded to pretend to be men and I'm not a feminist. Even JK Rowling agreed to it because she was in financial dire straits. You may remember her on DIDs saying how she sent her first Harry Potter in a nice folder which cost £5 which the publisher didn't return with her manuscript because it took too much space. I'm not an HP fan but credit where it's due.
ReplyDeleteDidn't know about the death of MC Beaton. I am reading the entire Agatha Raisin books, in order, and am about 2/3 through the series. I like them, as they are such short, silly stories, an easily light-hearted read, in between other books. I loathed the TV series, as not representative to the books. The radio programmes with Penelope Keith, were much more true to the books.
ReplyDeleteA grand-nephew, the eldest OZ one, was 2 today. His birthday party had to be changed, as due to the torrential rain + storms, the play-ground where it was meant to be held, was under water. They are in South Queensland.
They are safe + dry, thankfully.
I was glad to read, that Ev now has a new front door.
ReplyDeleteMy new one, has made such a difference with the warmth of my house, this winter.
I wonder if this will be reflected in my heating bill, due soon.
It's wait + see + 🤞🤞
Another lovely + sunny day, today, after a severe frost today. My back lawn is still white.
ReplyDeleteIt is starting to freeze again, but also fog is now forming!
Luckily, I do not need to venture out tomorrow, so can stay warm + cosy. 😁😁
...but that means housework + ironing.😭
DeleteOr feet up & reading a book 😂😂😂
DeleteHuge wash today so I can get all Mr A’s shirts and our bed linen ironed Mon/Tue prior to knee op. Finding it almost impossible to iron sitting down (can’t get right pressure) so having to do it in short bursts standing up. I really must teach my other half how to iron his own shirts! 👔 🤨
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good idea, AP, or just wear them unironed !!
DeleteSo, your op. Is going to happen on Wednesday ? All the best, will be thinking of you.
Glad to hear some-else, also irons the bedding, which I do.
DeleteThis is what will do tomorrow.
Agree-can only iron standing up. 😊
Carolyn, 6.59.
ReplyDeleteYes, as far as I know it will be on Wed afternoon. Have to go for another blood test tomorrow - apparently it is now national policy to do two test before a planned operation to double check that they give you the right blood if it’s needed. Bit of a pain as it’s over a 20 mile round trip, but better that than getting it wrong!
Getting in early with our best wishes for your knee replacement op on Wednesday Archerphile (we will look forward to you sharing your “journey” ) won’t be so easy at first I’m sure but just go at your own pace 🛌 💊 🩺 💐 and by your Golden Wedding 🎊 you will be waltzing around with Mr A! (Unless he has two left feet 😂)
ReplyDelete😂🤣 the thought of Mr A waltzing !! Not something he is known for! 😄😆
DeleteLovely sunny day today here in Kent. Yesterday the same. I was taken out by two sisters to Bedgebury Pinetum, near Tunbridge Wells. I managed to walk around the small lake, about 500 yards, with only one stop and sit down! But felt ridiculously pleased with myself!
ReplyDeleteToday at last tried to get tax records done as HMRC are now sending me reminders almost every hour 🙂 then computer wouldn't charge so it's back to the shop tomorrow 😠. Anyway bored with the characters appearing at the moment. Hopefully a new tranche will come along soon. Best wishes to all.
Spicy, that’s good news. Glad you enjoyed the sunshine.
ReplyDeleteAP wishing you all the best for this week and your post op recovery. Maybe Mr AP learning to waltz with you could be a way to celebrate your new knee.
Hope you, Spicy and all our convalescents continue to improve with the coming of the new year light.
Good luck for Wednesday and the blood test tomorrow AP.
ReplyDeleteYou have such confidence in your surgical team which is the best way to approach your procedure.
We will all be looking forward to your return, hopefully within a week.
And so pleased for you Spiceycushion to have been out in today's glorious sun.
I'm sure you have felt the benefits.