Letter to a friend- 25 Wedding anniversary

Dearest,

I got your phone message, so you’re still in hospital, I guessed as much. You must allow them to get you as well as possible before you go home again. Least in hospital you’re well looked after and they feed you and strengthen you up and it’s warm and you don’t have to pay for the heating!

It’s half term this week- yes, it’s come round again- so I am not working this week. I am off to Norfolk tomorrow to spend time with my sister and the family.

I had a busy sociable weekend. On Saturday I met my old school friend Petra for lunch. She lives in London but was staying in Surrey for the weekend to see her horsey friends. So we met in Cranleigh, which is just down the road from me and only 10mins from the horse place. We had loads of coffee, tea and panninis over the 2 hour lunch time, lovely to catch up. Petra is a wonderful person I have known her since I was 11, but you can hardly get a word in edgeways, she can talk for England, though always very fascinating stuff so I don’t mind a bit!

Then Saturday evening we had friends round for supper, all my family were there too, so there were 12 for the meal, so we had to use the 2 tables- kitchen and dining room. I did a big roast chicken, with toad in the hole, and loads of veg. We had a great laugh. Next morning woke up and suddenly realised I had forgotten to serve the dish of roast veg, we had all the roast potatoes and steamed veg, but I forgot I had left the other veggies roasting in pan after I got the chicken out. Doh!

Sunday was church in morning. Then home for quick lunch, then some more friends came round and dropped off a car, tea and cakes were taken, then our friend Nina, who had been over Sat night came back round. She brought us an anniversary present, A Silver Wedding Rose, they forgot it on Saturday.
Yes, it is my Silver anniversary today, 25 years! Hard to believe it. Where did the last 25 years go? And I think hubby has 25 cars in the drive at the moment, they certainly go up year by year too!

Stan did remember -I did get some flowers without having to prompt him, that is an achievment in it's self! Our treat to ourselves is to have a big Conservatory built, waiting for the planning to go through, but will be worth it, may not get the Holiday of a lifetime - had wanted to go to Canada but Stan not keen. The conservatory really does make up for the lack of travel. To sit in the warmth of the sun in winter will be so good, this cottage is so cold and so dark in winter. It will be such a joy. Can't wait!

Did I tell you my daughter and partner with baby are getting married on 8 March, only 2 weeks away now. Not allowed to go though, just them and their 2 witnesses and a photographer. But I hope we’ll have a big party in the summer to celebrate. We have bought an amazing dress off ebay, only £99 but it has been hand made and is stunning, fits her perfectly. Apparently the woman it was made for has put on weight and doesn't believe she will get down toan 8 again!

Hope you’re getting stronger by the day and I continue to pray for your recovery.


Lots of love and gentle hug ( don’t want to hurt you)

xxx

October Road Trip

Well, it might never have happened! I spent all day Saturday packing the Camper, bedding, food, water, tea, coffee, toilet roll, clothes, torches, dog stuff, everything but the kitchen sink.

I was waiting for hubby to come home and say he was ready to go.

4pm He's ready for the off, goes out to start the camper. It won't start. We all go back indoors. Nige has to change into his work clothes again and jack up the van, it's the Starter motor apparently, something come undone. Wait half an hour and he comes back and says it's fixed.

All pile into the camper and off we go.

First stop is dinner, bed and breakfast with our good friends in Reading. Have a wonderful evening, drink too much, don't slepp too well, though we do have lovely room in their house, they have foxes running over the flat roof intermittently through the night, this keeps me awake but Nige sleeps through it all.Didn't help that A told us about a ghost that rolls a barrell across the upper floor. There house is over 400 years old, so entitled to a few ghosts, but K said this noise was the foxes!

Sunday morning, rather hung over weheaded for Lechlade, a lovely Cotwolds Village at the head of the Thames. Great for Antique shops and a delightful Christmas shop.
We had booked ahead for a camp site at rear of a pub in the village. We were the only ones there. That night was a sharp frost. We sepnt evening in the pub and made our way back to the camper. Made our beds, Georgie up high, Nige & I on the double bed and dogs on floor ( Well Molly on bed). No heater in the van, we were freezing. made hot water bottles and had thick duvets and sleeping bags but sticking nose out caught your breath. Woke to frost on inside and outside of windows and one very cold daughter. We agreed she shoudl sleep down with us rest of week to keep warmer.

Monday we were near Bath, frosty start to night but woke to rain and much milder, so easier to cope.

Tuesday:Driving in long queues to Bath kept over heating, had to keep stopping to top up water.

Arrived in Wales and found our friends shop in Ammanford.


To be continued

Camper trip Oct half term

We're preparing to take the camper for another trip over half term.

It's going to be cold, apparently the heater isn't working! So will have to take loads of duvets , blankets and hot water bottles!

The plan is to leave Saturday afternoon and head to see our friends in Reading for the night. Then on to Lechlade, we love this place has lots of antique shops and an amazing Christmas shop. We'll camp at the pub there. Then on to Bath for the next night. Eventually arriving in S Wales on Tuesday to meet up with more friends. This time we'll stay in Travelodge, i'll be glad of a bath by then and cahnce to watch some TV. Another night we'll camp in the Gower and then head back home. Should be good fun -you think??

Camping in Norfolk

Whilst staying with parents in Dilham, decided to have a couple of nights camping in North Norfolk. We went to a camp site at Weybourne, nr Holt. The photo by sea is at Sheringham, where we had a lovely Fish & Chip supper.
First night went smoothly, but second night baby was awake most of night in their tent (we had camper and children had tents), turned out baby was very poorly , developed Chicken Pox later that week.

Bluebells 2010

Easter Walk

The FSW Easter Walk went very well, we had a lovely day for it, the sun was out , it didn't rain though was a bit breezey especially at the top of hill. Over 125 people were walking and many dogs!

Stan, E, G & I got down to Alfriston, in East Sussex for 10am, signed in and got a map, met a group of walkers from my church as well as many people I know from FSW & the diocese.


The first 4 miles were hard going as slow but steady incline up the hill to the top where the Long man of Wilmington is sited.
It was very blustery up there! We stopped in Wilmington, where refreshments were available. Wilmington is a very old village, the church is beautiful and in the church yard is a Yew tree that is over 1600 yrs old apparently, it is huge and all chained and supported to stop it falling over!.


The last 3 miles were downhill and on the flat so it felt much easier. We got back to Alfriston just before 1pm, so that was pretty good going. The dogs did well, Molly kept going more than Beth! It was Beth who started to flag a bit on the final part.

Bit achey this morning, but not too bad.

Baby sitting

I had the joy of baby sitting my little grandaughter yesterday, whilst the family went to see Alice in Wonderland.

Emilyn is over 5 months now, can't get my head round how quickly the time has gone. She is a proper little person now, takes an interest in everything. She is very active, shuffles across the floor on her back using her legs, and is beginning to crawl backwards.

She was really good for nana, so I'm looking forward to doing it again!