HIGH CHAPARRAL PARTYToday’s the day of our party! Pity our costumes didn’t turn up in the post though. Tom to the rescue with a spare hat for me!!! Everyone else dressed for the part. Paul was a very convincing Mexican and Tom on his inflatable horse made a welcome return!!! See a larger of the …
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Our Anniversary – 23 years
It’s our Anniversary today. 23 years this year!!! Wed decided to eat in as we have a lot of preparation to do for tomorrow’s party… Pressies this year: AnnTony Benn TapesHeart-shaped hot water bottleShrek III DVDPinky-red gemstone paperweight MeBulgari toiletries set …and as always some very romantic Anniversary Cards too…
Getting in the mood for Christmas
We took a drive up to Leicester this evening to see David and his choir (The Cecilian Singers) in concert. We went last year for the first time and as then, it really got us in the mood for Christmas. The choir was great but the guest artiste – Roger Beaujolais a ‘jazz vibraphone’ player …
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Mum’s for lunch
We drove to Mum’s to drop off the Christmas pressies. It’s the last time we’ll see her until we return from our holiday in the new year. We arrived just before 12.15 – it was a slow journey down because of the weather. Still, the food and service at The Crown was as good as …
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LNG Meeting/Mazza’s
Took the train to St Pancras International heading for Rick’s flat and the last LNG meeting for 2007. It’s the first time I’ve been there since it officially opened. After the meeting we chatted for ages and then headed for the Champagne Bar at St Pancras International after taking a tour round. What a fantastic …
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Meeting at the School
I drove down to Selhurst today for an OCA Committee meeting. A great run down – it took just under two-and-a-half hours. After the meeting finished, I went for lunch at ‘Joanna’s’ with Keith W in Crystal Palace. Met his friend Mascha’. I left there around 3.30 and got home at 7pm – yeesh!
A Lazy Sunday
I didn’t get up until 8! Ann was up at 8.30. Closely followed by Nick and Celina. I guess we all drank too much and ate too much last night!!! Excellent! A full-English breakfast all round and then a slooow read of the Sunday papers. N and C left around 11ish. I then spent an …
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Nick and Celina here/Cats in for grooming
Nick and Celina joined us for the weekend. They arrived just after 2 and are staying with us until mid-morning tomorrow. We took a trip to the Alexandra Arms – a real ale pub in the town centre. We took the cats to Brigstock for their regular ‘comb-out’. Apparently they were difficult to handle (so …
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Last meal of 2007 with David and Val
We went to the Falcon at Fotheringhay with David and Val together with Val’s Mum and Dad, Mike and Rose. The drive over there was atrocious – rain, rain and more rain… and it got worse once we were inside (not the rain!) The food was very good, although the service was a tad slow. …
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Bromley Court Hotel
Met up with Peter, Isabel, Pauline and Margaret from The Old Croydonians at Bromley Court Hotel today. Gosh, I haven’t been there since 197? when I helped run the Effective Teamwork Course for Chislehurst JS. It still looks shiny and new! We had a good meeting and a good lunch although the sight of Waiters …
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Visit John C/Meal with Ian and Mags
I took a drive down to Camberley to meet up John C who went self-employed a couple of years back. Hard to believe that we hadn’t caught up with each other before now! John took me to lunch and I left around 1.45. I came back via the A34 – M40 – A43 rather than …
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Wrapping good time!
Got up at 6 to set about clearing up the kitchen after last night’s ‘do’. As it tunred out, it wasn’t quite such a disaster area as we both thought and everything was cleared up in just over an hour. Caught up with a few Sky+ recordings and then spent a couple of hours wrapping …
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Friends for Dinner
We had Gill, Chris, Denise and Steve round for a Mexican evening. Lamb Chilli, Vegetarian Chilli, Fahijas, Mexican Stew, Cheese melted over Nachos. For dessert, we tried one of Ann’s new desserts – Pomegranete jelly. Everyone had a great time, although we were all falling asleep towards the end of the evening!! There was tons …
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£1527.78!!!!
Ouch! I took the Jaguar in for its annual service today. Last year it cost around 500 quid. Total bill this time round – 1527.78 quid. Yow!!! OK it did need four new tyres…and it did need the discs replacing on the front…but it all feels very expensive.
Children in Need – Norfolk, Day 3
I rose a little earlier this morning – 7.30, as we planned to leave by 10. We had a light breakfast, said our good-byes and were on the road just before 10. A quick-turn round once home as I had to then drive to Manchester in preparation for work tomorrow. Next year, I’ll ensure I …
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Children in Need – Norfolk, Day 2
We slept in as we were wrecked! Up at 8.30 to a beautiful morning and the sound of screaming kids! Down to breakfast for 9.30 – a ‘full English’ – lovely! We then cleared up and headed for a brisk walk along the beach. A mammoth walk (by our standards) as we were out for …
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Children in Need – Norfolk, Day 1
We popped in to Lee and Bertie’s on our way to the neighbours’ Children in Need weekend in Norfolk. This year (our first time), the theme is ‘Bollywood’. We arrived at L and B’s around 1.30, had a great lunch with them and generally chilled out. Just before we left, we handed over Lee’s birthday …
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In touch with my feminine side…
Ann and I popped round to Karen’s for a ‘Papmpered Chef’ party. We had a good time. Me and 30+ women all in the same room – plus food as well! It doesn’t get much better than that! :))
American Injection!
I visited the Health Centre today to get my initial jabs relating to our holiday in South America. Today it was Cholera and Yellow Fever. So far, six hours later, there hasn’t been any side-effects at all apart from a bruise on each arm.
Roy and Susan here for lunch
Yes, as expected, we are shattered this morning after our late night last night (or early morning, depending on which way you look at it!) Roy and Sue came for lunch. They arrived just at the point where the kitchen nearly caught fire due to over-heating of some oil in a saucepan. …real 2 foot …
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Nabucco/Party I/Party II
NabuccoI went into town to pick up my watch – Nabucco – it looks like they can’t mend it which seems ridiculous! I’m going to write to Raymond Weil to see if they can sort things out. Seems crazy that because they can’t fix the strap, the watch is useless. Party and Party We’re off …
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Paul and Sue for Dinner
We visited Paul and Sue in Rothwell for Dinner. Ann was flying back from Scotland, so it was a bit of a rush! Ann headed there from the A14, whilst i headed there from home.; We both arrived around the same time. We haven’t seen them since June, and it was good to catch up! …
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Roger, Jane and Oliver’s for lunch
We visited Roger, Jane and Oliver today. Oliver’s certainly growing and he seems more confident each time we see him. We stayed until around 3pm and then headed home. We’ll be be seeing them again before Chrsitmas at ours.
Leeds – Christmas Shopping
We drove to Peterborough and took the 8am train to Leeds. The journey passed quickly and we arrived at 9.30. Ann managed to get most of the outstanding presents and Nicki did well too. I managed to get a new ‘penguin suit’ in M and S for the cruise. We ate in a little sandwich …
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Stitches and Curry!
StitchesTook Bon-Bon to the vets to have the three stitches removed. The lump they found was just hardened flesh and nothing to worry about. It could have been caused by a bite from a tic, a flea…but we reckon it was the cat from opposite when they had the fight a few months back. Curry!Nicki …
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Business trip to Sweden
I’m spending three days in Gothhenberg for some business. I haven’t been to Sweden fdor a few years. Nice people, nice food. The weather I think was warmer than England!! I’m staying at the Elite Park Avenue Hotel. Very nice!!! This is the view from just outside my room on the 9th floor.
Sunday with Ralph and Karen
We had a short lie-in. Up and around at 8am! Blueberry pancakes for breakfast followed by a short walk in the pouring rain (but actually quite nice!) Then, a lazy morning catching up with music and newspapers – Perfect!!! Home-made chicken pie for lunch with pear and apricot crumble for afters…. Feet-up until Ralph and …
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Ralph and Karen here…
We met up with Ralph and Karen at Bicester and after a little shopping (little?), they’re staying with us until lunchtime Sunday. Lots to catch up with! Ann prepared a Mexican meal – superb! Afterwards we just chilled out over wine and chocolates. Ralph and I stayed up to watch one of hid DVDs called …
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The Mondeo returns…
Paul brought the car back today after carrying out extensive repairs to the front bumper area. Ann had run into the back of another car at very low speed a month-or-so back. Whilst it was away, I got Paul to deal with the other scratches and give the car a full valet and a professional …
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Rick Wakeman – The Grumpy Old Picture Tour
We went to see Rick in concert at The Derngate tonight. The show was a mixture of his normal humorous banter plus plenty of his back catalogue and some new stuff. He was on for nearly three hours and was excellent! He’s certainly lost none of his keyboard skills and we think he’s at …
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