Having left Christmas behind at ours on the 27th (after a great day with Nicki), we headed off in the XKR, to spend a couple of very nice days with Roger, Jane and Oliver. We arrived just after 4.30 and spent the rest of the evening chilling-out – the big day was tomorrow, the 28th, …
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Category:Family
Christmas 2015
Christmas EvePretty much a lazy day here. Lee was with us and we spent time catching up with missed TV programmes and looking out for bargains on the ‘net.Ann cooked a rather delicious Chicken and Chestnut pie yesterday and we made light work of it for lunch together with almost a whole bottle of a …
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Lee’s 80th Birthday
Lee spent the week with us, and today was her Afternoon Tea Party (her birthday was last week). Lee invited a few people round and we laid on the banquet with Ann performing some culinary miracles in the kitchen. It’s fair to say, she had a really good time – Lee received some great presents, …
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Family Lunch in Billingborough
We drove to The Fortescue Arms in Billingborough today for lunch with Denis. He was in fine form and, as normal, did the menu justice! Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all …
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Gambles in The Feathers
A family day today, as Ann and I blew the dust of the XKR and drove down to Roger, Jane and Oliver’s for lunch and to catch-up with Denis, who had been staying over. A very reasonable 28.8mpg on the way down including some lead-footed ‘magic moments’ to check that the car still accelerated as …
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Eastbourne or Rust!
After the torrential rain on the south coast last week, it was good to learn that we wouldn’t end up rusting this weekend as the weather forecast predicted a heatwave! So, we left home just before 9am, in the direction of Eastbourne, with a plan to stop of along the way, somewhere, and enjoy a …
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Denis at 86
Lee had double-booked herself, so Ann and I drove up to Heckington for a celebratory lunch for Denis, who was 86 today! Happy Birthday Denis!!!! Bev had done all the hard work, and we tucked into a chicken salad – enough to feed the whole town – and it was all delicious! Ann sorted out …
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Life’s a Breach
Lee, Ann and I travelled up to Tolethorpe Hall today and met Jo, Janet and Carol there. Nothing like a bit of Shakespeare to send you to sleep stir the soul, and the ‘band of sisters’ bought tickets for a solid dose of culture – an ‘outdoor’ production of The Life of Henry V. Perfect …
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London – Scorchio!
With the media headlining: ‘country on meltdown’, it probably wasn’t the best day to have planned a visit to central London! Our reason for this madness was to catch-up with one of Mum and Dad’s best friends, Connie, and have lunch together. The added bonus was that with Ann between jobs, she was able to …
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Smart Nephews
Clearly when they were giving out the brain cells, I opted for the express queue, labelled ‘five or less’. Luckily our nephews demonstrated sound judgment, by taking advantage of a BOGOF, and doubled theirs! Seriously though, what a bright generation they’re becoming. Alfie James Palmer. Currently at City University, but lucky enough to have secured …
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Father’s Day – 2015
As it’s Father’s Day, Ann and I drove up to the oft-visited Fortescue Arms in Billingborough to meet-up with Denis and Bev for lunch. We took the XKR and it returned 23.5mpg for the round trip of 80-or-so miles. Not bad!Ann, Denis and, oh, the XKR!Denis was in good health, as was Bev who’s become …
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Cuba – Day 8
After yesterday’s disappointing BBQ, we’re hoping the dining experience will move up a few notches and we can try out some of the themed restaurants. But first, it was breakfast and we followed the hoards as they meerkatted their way to the communal trough, aka the Gran Terraza. In terms of seating, there were two …
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Birthday Bev
It was up to Denis’s today to celebrate Bev’s Birthday. We picked up Lee just after 10 and headed for Heckington! Roger, Jane and Oliver took the train and arrived just after 1. Birthday Girl Bev sorted out the finger buffet (yummy!) – and we all gave it a thorough good hiding, with Lee even …
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Early May Bank Holiday 2015
The forecast suggests that the weather is all over the place this weekend, but we’re hopeful it’ll be good for our trip to Roger, Jane and Oliver later today (Sunday) and our postponed visit (from last year) to Eltham Palace on Monday. SUNDAYWe left home around 11am and arrived just after noon. True to form, …
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Easter 2015
For us, Easter this year was about getting together with friends and family – and eating! After a mammoth shop in Thursday night (unfortunately, ASDA was out of mammoths!) and a follow-up on shop Friday morning, we were all set for the feeding of the five thousand (well, not quite, but it felt like it!!) …
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Family Visit
Ann and I drove up to see Denis today. It was the first time we’ve seen him since his three separate operations involving a pacemaker, two stents and finally a heart valve. He was in pretty good spirits, all things considered, but did look a bit frail. We took him to The Fortescue Arms in …
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Mega-Social
‘The Weekend…’ as they say, ‘starts here!’ This weekend was one of the busiest ‘socials’ for, us for a long while (ohh, the stress!). So, not a great time, to be trying to stick to my Lent regime – but I managed it! FridayThe weekend started early on Friday night, where we met up with …
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Weekend with Roger and Jane
With Oliver away on a skiing trip in France, it was the perfect weekend for Roger and Jane to spend the weekend with us. In fact, it was the first time they’d been away – just the two of them – for around 11 years! First port of call was Stamford. It was a trouble-free …
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Meals on Wheels
Lincoln Cathedral from Bev’s Lounge Window We drove up to Lincoln to see Bev today. The reason? My ever-so-slight ‘senior moment’ on Christmas Day at Ann’s Dad’s, where I unpacked all the presents and then somehow re-packed Bev’s back in the car – and took them home!! Doh! (Bev couldn’t join us on Christmas Day …
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Christmas 2014
It was our first Christmas without Mum and it did feel a little hollow. Christmas Eve A mild day weather-wise – no frost, no snow, no rain – just mild, although it did turn cold when we went for our afternoon walk around 2pm. The day began early, as I drove to M and S …
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Heaven Stent
Today, Denis went in for his scheduled NHS stop-over that included a two stents and the rather tongue-twisty rotablation procedure. All being well, he’ll be discharged on Christmas Eve, and so we’ll go to his for Christmas Day, having prepared him a full Christmas Lunch wrapped in foil! Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in …
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And the Beet Goes On!
We travelled to Heckington today to see Denis – probably our last visit before we see him again on Christmas Day. We took a slightly different route via the nearby villages to try and locate a suitable nearby Pub for lunch. We decided we wouldn’t go to the Fortescue Arms in Billingborough (our normal haunt …
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Car Roots
The rather odd-looking XJR – not sure about the colour either! That’s more like it! – a rather sexy looking XFRSNeil stayed over last night, as today, we’re heading for the spiritual home of many Jaguars – Castle Bromwich, home the XE, the XJ and of course my fave, the XK. The Spitfire and Lancaster …
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Jaguar
It’s fair to say, (and easy to spot) that we, the Palmers, love our Jaguars. We’ve both owned s-types, and today, Neil took delivery of his latest – a rather good-looking XF-S Portfolio. It’s a stunner with it’s ‘black pack’ option – and him being the more sensible one in the family, one that’s a …
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Family Weekend – August Bank Holiday 2014
Roger, Jane and Oliver joined us for the Bank Holiday weekend followed by Nicki C. I’d also picked up Lee earlier in the day, and David and Valerie joined us for the evening meal – so it was a proper ‘full-house’. It was also the first week where we ‘test drove’ the new (almost finished) …
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Sports, Soccer and Sausages!
Bev’s New Business Venture I took the XKR up to Lincoln to meet up with Bev and help her with a photo-shoot for her new Sports Massage business based at Lincoln City FC. I managed to take a variety of shots for Bev – some wide angle and some for Instagram, but all suitable for …
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Fortescue Family!
It was off to The Fortescue Arms in Billingborough today, to meet up with Denis and Bev. We didn’t need much of an excuse, but as it happened it was to celebrate Denis’ birthday earlier in the week. Feeding Time! Phew! What a scorcher! Boy, was it hot!! We sat outside (a first for us …
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Sentimental Journey
I travelled down to London today, to the rather splendid looking Grosvenor Hotel to meet Connie R, one of Mum’s long-standing friends. Mum had left her a Ring in her Will that just happened to sport Connie’s birthstone! Interestingly, Connie was pretty sure that although they’d known each other for nearly 50 years, Connie’s had …
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Father’s Day with Denis
The View form Denis’ Back Garden We drove up to Denis’ today – and what a gorgeously sunny day it was! We sat out and soaked up some rays – and the view – before tucking in to a ‘Father’s Day’ Lunch!! Bev sorted out the main course of Chicken with all the trimmings, whilst …
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Flat Day – My Final Visit
A bitter-sweet day today as I travelled down to my Brother’s at ‘silly o’clock’, and then onto Mum’s flat for the ‘final clear-out’. It was hard to believe that it’s highly likely I’ll never need to visit there again in the future – a poignant moment. Our day began with the obligatory : ) early-morning …
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