Grandad and Nanny (Mum’s side), taken, we think, in 1961. It’s the only photo of them we’ve got! Mum’s with us for the week, returning home next Sunday. She brought with her, ‘the briefcase’, that apparently contains lots of important family stuff that I’d promised to help her sort out. She’s often talked about it, …
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TV: First HD recording
In years to come, this will all seem very mainstream or even superseded by something even whizzier; but for now, this is a great facility. I was able to set up the timer on the TV to record an HD transmission to hard disk. No prizes for guessing which programme: Doctor Who, (Series 5, Episode …
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Dish Dilemma and Cracking Concert
Ann left at the crack-of-dawn to scoop up Lee from Avondale Mews and then onwards to Mum’s in Biggin Hill. We’re all off to an outdoor concert tonight with David and Val and Mum is staying for the week. Skyforce. a TV installation company I found in Yellow Pages arrived just before lunch to give …
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TV Times
Panasonic 42” Plasma TV TH42PX70 Panasonic 46” Plasma TV TX46P20B The new TV arrived just before 1.30 today. It’s a big bugger! and the packaging made it even bigger!!! Even the Courier driver couldn’t manage it on his own – so I helped him. Luckily David was home and he helped me get it …
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Boys and their Toys (Part 87)
Not content with our excellent three-year-old, Panasonic 42 inch Plasma, we’ve just bought a Panasonic 46 inch Plasma. As they say, size matters! …but in this case, it didn’t! The reason? Well, this is the next step in TV evolution. Just as mobile phones evolved to perform lots of additional functions, TVs are going …
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Fancy some Speed?
I love speed, especially if its internet connection speed! 🙂 Those of us here in Tynan Close know what it’s like to NOT have a fast connection. Most of us are languishing at around 0.5-1.5 Mb – and that’s after fourteen years and three upgrades at the Exchange later! From what I’ve read, there’s not …
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Techy Day
A rare day-off from the day-job that allowed me to don my anorak and become Mr PC-Doctor for the day! First stop: To check whether Lee’s internet connection is up-and-running. It is… but it’s not the 13Mb speed suggested by BT – more like 1Mb!! Still, let’s see how it works out once it’s had …
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Two for tea
Jo and Janet popped round for a catch-up, having just returned (a week ago) from their honeymoon.
Bank Holiday with Nick and Celina
SUNDAY We caught up with Nick and Celina today and decided to spend some time at the annual Stamford Game and Country Fair at Burghley House. Fortunately, the weather was drier than yesterday, but there was a vicious wind. All the time the sun was out, it was a beautiful day, but when it wasn’t, …
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Mews Flash: Almost sorted…
Ann and Lee drove over to John Lewis in Leicester to pick up a few final bits and pieces for Lee’s new place in Avondale Mews and also to return the damaged roller-blind that was delivered last week. They were out for most of the day having incorporated B and Q into their day out! …
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Still Not Net!
This is peculiar! PlusNet sent me a new router to replace Lee’s to see if that was the problem with why she can’t connect to the ‘net at her place. I wired it all up and connected it and it made NO difference at all! Bah!! Talk about ‘Plan B’! we must be up to …
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Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho…
It’s off to Lee’s new place to unpack a few more things, finish off some important jobs and get Lee generally sorted for the week. – Fridge shelves sorted – Washing machine installed and test wash completed – Oil fired heaters unpacked, checked and working – Internet router unplugged and plugged in downstairs (to see …
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Blog, Blog, Blog
It’s exactly six years since I started blogging – pre-dating FaceBook and Twitter by a few years – a total of 1500 entries. Phew!!!
TV: Ashes to Ashes – Series 3, Episode 8 (Final Episode)
Worth the wait? Well, I think so! A very satisfying ending to the series where the whole Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes world was explained. Just a pity that they didn’t…. (feel free to complete the sentence!) ”Pub anyone..?” There’s a really good entry on Wikipedia HERE detailing the series.
Roger, Jane and Oliver stopover
We woke late – that’s good! Oliver’s on the prowl – that’s bad! 🙂 I got up and made a drink just as the calmness and stillness of the morning was interrupted by Oliver jumping into bed with Ann and playing ‘Mr Wriggler’ where, apparently, the game is to move about as much as possible …
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Family get together
It’s the big weekend! Ann’s family arrived at various times culminating in ‘afternoon tea’, errr this afternoon. Prior to that, it was mega-cleanup around the house (how can two people create so much mess?!) and then into the garden for a quick ‘once-over’ – lawns mowed, tables cleaned, patios swept, and armpits cooled – job …
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Meal with David and Val
We ate-in tonight, round at David and Val’s. Val made shepherd’s pie and Ann supplied the puddings. We also watched Sherlock Holmes on DVD. Initially, I thought that the DVD contained a NON Blu-Ray version too (so we could play it on David’s player), but no such luck. So, it was back round to ours! …
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Matt and Mel’s Wedding
Mel invited me to be the ‘official photographer’ for their wedding. It was a gorgeous day, absolutely perfect, and one of the hottest of the year. The ceremony took place at Warwick Registry Office and then afterwards at the very scenic Ettington Park. Mel, you looked fantastic! Hope you both have a great honeymoon. See …
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Net Not!
Popped down to Lee’s to try and determine why she’s not able to connect to the ‘net in spite of a shiny new BT socket being installed. Tried all the obvious stuff like swapping out the micro-filters and disconnecting other devices from the line. No luck – the router refuses to switch-on those last two …
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Bon-Bon
Image by Steve Palmer (UK) via Flickr We’ve noticed over the past few weeks that a number of cuts and scabs have been appearing on Bon-Bon’s ears and surrounding area. The strange thing is that they don’t appear to be healing-up – in fact they seem to be getting worse! So we popped her down …
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Latest Mews
Nicki stayed over, and after taking on one of our traditional full-english breakfasts (and winning), and sorting out a date for our next get-together, headed home. Ann and Lee then went shopping for a few bits for Avondale Mews. We met up at Lee’s just before lunch and finished off most of the remaining boxes …
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Jo and Janet get hitched!
So, finally, they decided to tie-the-knot – great stuff – there’s hope for us two yet!!! The weather was just perfect – blue sky and plenty of sun and no rain forecast (famous last words!) The Civil Partnership service took place at 1pm, at Kettering Park Hotel – we’d not been there before, and we …
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One Year On…
It’s hard to believe that it’s now a year since Ann ‘moved-on’ 🙂 from the mighty Sainsbury’s. Twelve months on…a new job…new responsibilities and a new car! – Phew!!!!! ”Time flies like an arrow…but fruit flies like a banana!”
Film: Robin Hood
We’d both had a really busy and stressful week. So what better way to chill-out, than to go to the cinema! We saw the new Robin Hood film starring Russell Crowe. All-in-all, not a bad film, it felt very gritty and realistic (apart from the scenes of the landing craft on the beaches!!) – but …
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A Flat – Major!
Sometimes you just get days when nothing goes right. I left the house this morning at stupid-o’clock to get the 5.51am train to London. I’d got about half-way up the road when I heard a strange sound coming from outside the car. Yep, as I suspected – a flat front off-side tyre – a major …
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Getting there – Slowly!
I spent the morning at Lee’s new place helping her to unpack and generally get sorted. I’d quite forgotten how long it takes for all this! Anyway, we had a good productive morning and called it a day just before lunch. There is more to do, but I think we’ve got the worst out-of-the-way!
The Prime Minister resigns…
I’m not particularly interested in politics, but the last few days since the General Election have been intriguing, to say the least. After days of political-wrangling, finally Gordon Brown resigned and we’re going to get a some sort of alliance between the Lib-Dems and the Conservatives. Significantly, Gordon Brown chose to resign before the official …
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Lee moves in…
I dropped Lee round to her new place this morning before travelling down London for work. I’m going to spend the whole day at Lee’s tomorrow to help her get straight.
Humberto’s Funeral
I was working, so Ann took Lee there, having travelled over to Cromer yesterday afternoon. David was a star, stepping into the limelight and taking charge of the event when some awkward silences arose – thanks David!!! I got home from London a little earlier than planned and sorted out Lee’s Sky installation – she’ll …
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Incoming…!
I’m down at Lee’s new place helping to unload all her stuff. I’ve set up time switches on the radiators to warm the place up in time for her official moving-in day on Tuesday.