Neil and I were lucky enough to secure a couple of tickets for an invite-only track day for the new Jaguar f-type at Millbrook. What fantastic day! Perfectly hosted by Jaguar with an opportunity to try-out all the variants of this gorgeous car! There were 25 of us – and rather spookily 25 cars. So, …
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Category:Family
Because We’re Worth(ing) It
Friday We left around 8.30 heading in the direction of Worthing, and our good friends Ian and Sharon. I say, ‘heading’ as the need for retail therapy kicked-in, and we dropped into Guildford – our first visit ever – for a quick punt around the local shops. We parked easily and were soon helping Guildford …
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And so, farewell Mum
It was a difficult day for the Palmer/Gambles clans today, as we said goodbye to Mum. We drove to the Flat, met up Neil, Debbie, Alfie and Frankie, and then our Celebrant, Richard Woolnough. We then went onto Beckenham Crematorium by car, for the Service at 1.30. I’d agreed to lead the tributes with a …
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Family Lunch
The Calm before the Starter! Who’s Who! Ann, together with Lee’s help pulled together a superb Easter Lunch for the family today. Even though Mum wouldn’t travel such a distance for these things, it did still feel a little odd that she wasn’t ‘around’.Let Battle Commence… Italian Meats & Fruit Bev’s TrifleGuess who’s washing up? …
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A Flat Day
It was a very surreal day yesterday. Ann and I, together with Neil and Debbie, met at Mum’s Flat, and began the task of working through everything. Thanks for your kind thoughts everyone, together with the cards – they mean a lot. All your suggestions about ‘trying to remember the good times’ was the philosophy …
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RIP – Eileen Mabel Palmer
b: 1 July 1927, d: 2 April 2014 Mum passed away in the early hours of this morning, after sustaining serious burns last Friday in an accident at her Flat. We visited her at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital on Sunday, where she had been admitted to the Specialist Burns Unit. Thankfully, due to the medication they’d …
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Family Meal: Fortescue Arms
As part of Ann’s Birthday celebrations, we headed up to The Fortescue Arms in Billingborough for a surprise pre-birthday lunch treat. Unknown to Ann, the rest of her family were going to be there too! – Roger, Jane, Oliver, Bev and of course, her Dad, Denis. We were first to arrive, followed by Denis and …
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Day Out in Oxford
A packed day of activities today! We picked-up David and Valerie and headed off in the direction of the Oxford’s Peartree Park and Ride for a day out in – you guessed it – Oxford. First stop was the Ashmolean Museum – a place we just can’t seem to get enough of, having been there …
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Theatre Trip – ‘Hello Sailor’
As part of their Christmas present, we took Lee and Denis to see HMS Pinafore at the Royal Auditorium at the Derngate. First stop though was ASK (the Italian restaurant chain), just round the corner. It was pretty busy when arrived just before 1pm, but as we’d pre-booked, we had no trouble getting a table. …
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Christmas 2013
Mum arrived on Christmas Eve (she’s here until Saturday) and Lee had stayed over from the weekend. So, this year was about a close as it gets to a family Christmas. With all the pressies under the tree and the three-bird-roast awaiting its fate, we were all set. Lee and Mum were in fine form …
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Family Boot Sale and Pressy Swap
Tempted? Me neither!We drove up to Denis’ today for lunch and the mega-pre-Christmas-present-swap. Those present: Bev, Roger, Oliver, and Ann. Jane was working and Lee didn’t feel too well (so she stayed at ours). We had a great journey there – where was everyone? – the A1 was deserted! We stopped-off at Mae’s grave in …
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Anniversary 2/29
So, here we are – our second wedding anniversary (or 29 years together in ‘old money’!) ..and we’re still talking! …and sometimes to each other! But seriously, some things just work well together, and I’d put us up there with other ‘perfect combos’ such as Morecambe & Wise, grated cheese & baked beans and Cameron …
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Keep Mum and Curry On!
If you are ever in the vicinity of Westerham in Kent and fancy a curry in very posh surroundings, look no further than the imaginatively titled ShamPan 4, cunningly located in what used to be the rather mediocre Spinning Wheel restaurant. We took Mum there tonight (thinking it was still the ‘old’ Spinning Wheel’). From …
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Job Done!
I wasn’t anticipating that after the difficulty of removing the cabinet front from the old fridge door a couple of days ago, that attaching it to the new fridge was going to be any easier! However, after some words of guidance from my brother, it all went very smoothly! The fitting kit was a doddle …
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Queen’s Greatest Hit?
Today, we’re heading for the capital to take a look round Buckingham Palace! It’s our second visit, but a first for Roger, Jane and Oliver. Roger has organised everything – food, taxis and rail tickets. So we just needed to take the short drive to Harlow Town railway station to get us to Liverpool Street. …
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The (Bank Holiday) Weekend Starts Here…
FridayDenis joined us in the afternoon. He’s staying until Sunday. He’d had a good trip down and was already at ours when I got back from Trish and John’s after sorting out a few bits & pieces with Trish’s phone and tablet. Ann was working from home and after a(nother) frantic week at work, we …
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The Clans are Stuffed!
Today was one of those rare family events – we got together the majority of the two clans around at ours for a communal lunch. With one eye on the weather forecast and the other on our stock of washing-up liquid, we prepared for the three-course meal – and ten hungry mouths. Unfortunately, Lee cried-off, …
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Weekend with Roger, Jane and Oliver
FridayRoger, Jane and Oliver arrived around 8.30. Lee joined us too, so we’re all set for a great weekend. The weather looks like it’s finally switched to ‘summer-mode’ and the only thing that’s tainting the enjoyment is the fact that Bon-Bon is still missing. SaturdayThe Sun came out as promised – big time! It looks …
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Trish and Chips
With the weather steadily improving, there was a really good chance that our fish & chip supper could be hosted outside! – Maybe Summer had finally arrived!!! So we set up chairs in the garden (and just to be safe, in the lounge too!) and then I drove over to Atlantis Fish Bar to pick …
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Bev’s 40th
Together with Lee, we travelled up to Lincoln FC’s VIP suite in err, Lincoln to celebrate Bev’s 40th. On a positive note, it was a great event – yummy buffet, good range of music and a spacious venue. There must have been over 50 people there, and everyone had a good time. On the …
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Easter Sunday – Mum’s
Together with Lee, we drove down to Mum’s to take her out for Lunch. It was a return to the now familiar Toby Carvery at Bromley Common, where we’d taken her a few months back. Being Easter Sunday, and the fact that they don’t take bookings, meant we had to time it just right if …
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Holiday in Rotterdam (Wednesday)
It’s our last full day here in the f-f-f-freezing weather until we return to the err, freezing weather of the UK. Although it looked a lot a lot warmer through the hotel bedroom window than previous days, we dressed-up as if we were heading for the North Pole! With our new found confidence mastering the …
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Holiday – Rotterdam by Train
18.30. Here we are then, we’ve just arrived at the Hilton Rotterdam. The journey here was interesting- when we arrived at Brussels Station, our connecting train was nonowhere to be seen on the departure boards – a worrying sign!!! A quick visit to the information desk revealed that the train itself didn’t exist anymore!!!! Apparently, …
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Family Meal – The George, Buckden
In spite of the rain, sleet and snow, we picked up Lee and headed for The George at Buckden for a family lunch (minus Bev and Mum!). It was great to get everyone together, and The George is an ideal halfway-house for all of us. It was very busy but food was great and so …
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Roger’s 50th – Tosca
Just occasionally we do ‘posh’ – and tonight was one of those occasions. With DJs and posh frocks on the outside and Sudafed and Strepsils (for Ann and me ) on the inside, we set off for the Royal Opera House to celebrate Roger’s 50th. After our quick change of clothes, we headed for Stevenage …
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Mother’s Day comes Early!
With Mum’s health on a slow decline and with us not being able to see her on the official Mother’s Day, we visited her today. On the way there, we dropped in to Neil and Debbie, caught up with all their news, saw the boys and left Neil with couple of knackered PCs. Then it …
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Denis’s – for lunch
Lee wasn’t feeling so well, so it was just Ann and I driving up to Denis’ for lunch. Bev and Ady were also there having done most of the food prep (I think we’re the last in the family to meet Ady – I can’t think why it’s taken us so long!) Bev had prepared …
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Family ‘Who’s Who’ and Technology Sunday
We drove down to my brother, Neil’s today. Partly to catch-up, and partly to take delivery of two new additions to the family! – a couple of Windows 7 PCs. With the business coming to an end on the 31st, it was a good opportunity to review the condition of the existing PCs (and peripherals) …
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Roger, Jane and Oliver for Lunch
Roger, Jane and Oliver joined us for lunch. Lee wasn’t able to make it as she was suffering with a bad back. The weather continued to be as atrocious as ever and it rained for most of the day. Taking the cats over to Patsy for their normal wash-and-brush took a little longer as the …
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Boxing Day 2012
Lee stayed overnight and today we drove down to Mum’s today to take her out for Christmas Lunch. Neil and Debbie had her over to theirs yesterday, and so today, it was our turn. When we left just before 9, the roads were pretty much deserted going down and we made good time arriving just …
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