OK, a straightforward Saturday then. Drive to Kettering station, park the car, grab the train to London, get a cab to the Royal Opera House, see The Nutcracker. Job done! Err, no! We got the station in good time, to see around 200 people waiting for a train to London on platform 3! Something was …
Read More
Category:Family
Christmas Pressies – 2011
We weren’t in the UK for Christmas, this year. So in a way, it was good to open my pressies in January. Lucky me! Bev – Food Hamper Carol – Whisky Liqueur Denis – Bottle of Baileys Jo and Janet – Body Sanctuary voucher/Chocolate Lee – Bottle of Port/the loudest shirt you’ve ever seen (perfect!)/Rum …
Read More
A Great Meal with the Family
We don’t do this as often as perhaps we should, but after my super-hectic day running the Old Croydonians’ Association Centenary Lunch at the Selsdon Park Hotel – the meal out was the perfect tonic! Neil, Debbie, Alfie, Frankie, Mum and of course, us two, descended on Frankie and Benny’s along the A21 for 6.30. …
Read More
It’s almost Christmas! :)
Now that the business Christmas cards have arrived, we can put those with the personal ones and next week, continue the writing marathon. It all seems a bit rushed this year with the wedding coming up as well. So, the sooner we get …
Read More
Happy Birthday – to me!
We’re at home for my birthday this year. That wasn’t the plan – see yesterday’s blog! Cards Ann (obviously!) Angela Antoinette Bev Carol David and Val Carey H Denis Ian H and Sharon Ian McL and Ann Lee Mum Nick and Celina Margaret and Alan Neil, Debbie, Alfie and Frankie Paul and Karen Paul, Sue …
Read More
Weekend with Roger, Jane and Oliver – Sunday
As planned, we had a lazy morning. After breakfast, we caught up with the newspapers and I helped Roger understand the extra functions of his new Panasonic LCD TV and Humax Fox T2 box. After a rather full-on roast chicken lunch we did very little afterwards – apart from nearly fall asleep! It’s been a …
Read More
Weekend with Roger, Jane and Oliver – Saturday
We left ours around 10.30 and arrived at theirs just after 12. After a light lunch of sandwiches and soft drinks, we set off for Hatfield House. It’s one we’ve never actually been to, and it was definitely worth the short drive. The place is massive, and unusually, these days, in private hands. We had …
Read More
Lunch with Denis and Bev
We picked up Lee around 9.30 and headed for Denis’. Bev is cooking, so that’s bound to be a treat – I’m hungry already! Food, as expected, was excellent. We all tucked into shepherd’s pie, swede and cabbage – yummy! Dessert was Christmas pudding and cheesecake – double yummy!! We dropped into Downtown on the …
Read More
Roger, Jane and Oliver
Roger, Jane and Oliver popped in on their way back from their holiday in Wales. It was a good opportunity to catch-up with all of their news and ours. They left around 4 o‘clock, giving us some time to grab a sandwich before heading over to Stratford-upon-Avon to see Cider with Rosie. Steve PalmerI got …
Read More
Family Holiday – Photographs
Photographs from our slightly rainy family holiday in Derbyshire. I wasn’t able to get a reliable internet connection during our stay, so I had to wait until we got home to post these… Holiday Blog Family Holiday – Day 1 Family Holiday – Day 2 Family Holiday – Day 3 Family Holiday – Day …
Read More
Family Holiday – Day 6
Today was quite an unusual day – especially as we’re on holiday! Up with the lark at 6 followed by driving Ann over to Derby station for 7.30am. Why? Ann needs to pop into work – their Leicester office – to help with a minor crisis. Ironically, it’s probably the best day weather-wise so far …
Read More
Family Holiday – Day 5
Now that’s what I call rain – could it possibly be a Bank Holiday? We’re down to just eight for breakfast this morning, and on today’s menu: a full English fry-up! Ralph and Karen arrived just before 11.30. After introductions all round, plus teas and coffees, we headed off to the local National Trust property: …
Read More
Family Holiday – Day 4
Hurrah, we woke up to DRY weather! That’s a first this week!!! I popped to the loo and upon my return, Oliver had taken my place in my bed – there goes my lay-in! I had a shower and headed downstairs where Lee and Denis were chatting. Not long after everyone else was up and …
Read More
Family Holiday – Day 3
Roger, Jane and Oliver arrived last night around 9pm. Like us, their vehicle was laden down with foodstuffs for the days ahead. Looking at it all together with our provisions in the utility room, I calculate that we can stand a siege for around 60 days! A good night’s sleep. Oh, and what a surprise! …
Read More
Family Holiday – Day 2
Typical! After virtually no rain at home for what seems like months, we’re on holiday and we wake up to RAIN – the very wet kind that’s also cold! Brrrr! We’re not sure what to do with ourselves today. The weather isn’t brilliant, although hopefully, it’ll brighten up later. Actually the weather did brighten up …
Read More
Family Holiday – Day 1
So, here we are in Ticknall, close to Calke Abbey in Derbyshire. We’re in an enormous property courtesy of the National Trust, and the reason it’s so large is that this is THE family holiday, where we’ve attempted to pull in as many of us as possible over the next seven days. The grand plan …
Read More
Bank Holiday Weekend with Ian and Sharon
Image by Steve Palmer (UK) via Flickr The day began early – earlier than planned – Neil rang to say that the M11 was closed in both directions, so we left around 7.30. Lee is cat-sitting for us and looking after the numerous ironing duties – thanks Lee! The plan was to drop into Mum’s, …
Read More
Easter Day (2011)
After dropping into Central Garage to have the locking wheel nuts changed on Ann’s Fiesta, we headed up to Denis’ for lunch. It was another fine day here and even hotter there – 27 degrees – another scorcher! After a full-scale roast chicken lunch followed by Ann’s ‘plums cooked in red wine and served with …
Read More
‘The George’ – Buckden
We met up with Roger, Jane and Oliver at The George in Buckden today for lunch. It was our first visit and the fact that Buckden is about half-way between us, made the journey a lot easier. The food and service was fantastic, and we had a good time – we’ll certainly be going back …
Read More
Steve vs The Cottage Pie
We drove up to Denis’ today, placing some flowers on Mae’s grave along the way. Bev had created a legendary-sized Cottage Pie – not for the faint-hearted nor the short-of-stomach, it was a veritable feast and I won’t need to eat until August!!!!! She followed it up (for Denis and me, at least) with a …
Read More
Lashing it down in Lincoln!
We drove up to Lincoln with Lee today to meet up with Denis, Bev, Roger, Jane and Oliver. – a sort of family get-together, mainly to give Oliver his birthday pressys and to sort out some residual finances as a result of Mae’s Will. We left around 9am and had a fast run north, even …
Read More
Mae’s Funeral
It’s not one of the happiest days of our lives, as we travelled up to Lincoln today for the funeral. The Service was at 11.30 followed by the burial, and then we all went back to Denis’ for a bite to eat. Ann had made a wreath from cream and red roses which looked amazing! …
Read More
Mum travels home
Mum travelled home today, courtesy of John, our taxi-driver. A good journey GOING, but almost twice-as-long coming back! Well, at least it wasn’t snowing! 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 its …
Read More
Boxing Day 2010: Darth Vader 13 – Me, 0
It’s very cold outside – another severe frost here registering –6C on the thermometer. We’re going to make the trip ‘dahn sarff’ to visit Ann’s brother and his family. We set off around 10.30 and as Mum wasn’t feeling too well during the journey, we took a little longer to get there, arriving just after …
Read More
Christmas Day 2010
I was up earlier than I thought – around 6am. It’s a white Christmas, but it’s ‘old’ white as there hasn’t been any new stuff for a few days. It’s cold though – the temperature gauge is showing ‘-7C’. We had a a lazy breakfast and prepared for the main event – presents! 10.00am: Pressy …
Read More
A Tasty Bird…
Thanks to John, our driver, who battled through the elements to pick Mum up from Biggin Hill this morning, we’re (mostly) all here. Lee joined us at 11 and Ann’s Dad and step-Sister, Bev, will be with us for Christmas day – perfect, just perfect! All that was left to do was to secure a …
Read More
RIP – Mae Gambles
Ann’s step-mother, Mae lost her battle against cancer today – Thursday, December 16th, 2010. She had been moved to the Hospice just a week prior, and we’d all been to see her last Saturday. Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! …
Read More
Ooh err Missus (literally!)
I read this in the Daily Telegraph, so it MUST be true! 🥰😀 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 its forms), together with a fondness for the art of writing seemed …
Read More
Visiting Mae at the Hospice
This has been one of the less-cheerful Saturdays of the year as we headed towards Lincoln to visit Mae at the Hospice. When we were advised a few days ago, to visit her ‘sooner rather than later’, we knew it was serious. So, as the Gambles clan – Denis, Roger, Ann and Bev…and me, gathered …
Read More
Visiting Mae
We drove up to the Pilgrim Hospital in Boston today for our first visit to see Mae, Ann’s Step-mum. We met Denis (Ann’s dad) and Bev (Ann’s step-sister) there and as we were all a bit early for visiting hours, we headed for lunch in the hospital restaurant. Mae was admitted a few weeks ago …
Read More