The Christmas Edition

Sunday 23 Dec.

Matt gave me a lift into town to collect the car.  I thought I'd just pop into Morrisons to get a couple of things - big mistake, it was full of people going mad.  I got what I wanted and then beat a hasty retreat!

In the evening I dropped Han down to Exeter, she was meeting up with Matt and his family, they were all going out for a family meal.

Mum spent most of the night cooking and baking stuff for Xmas.  I haven't got a clue what time she got to bed.

Christmas Eve.

Finished work at about 1pm.  Took the takings to the bank and then made the local delivery of festive cards.  Mum did a little bit of last minute shopping.  Then it was time  for me to go down the shed and wrap my pressures.  This is the third  Xmas since we took on Imprints. Hardly seems right but it is true.  Everything absolutely normal except a certain person was missing.  I went to bed at about 11pm and Mum did her normal trick of staying up most of the night.  The chance of snow is looking remote.  Lots of rain though.

I heard Mum come up at about 2.30am to get stuff out of her wardrobe but I don't think she got to bed before about 4 am, just like every year!

Christmas Day.

The sun streaming in (it didn't last long)

I think Han was a little disappointed that there was no one to open her Santa stocking presents with at silly o'clock in the morning.  If I remember right I think she may have txt'd.  She is getting better though, I don't think she woke up until 7am.  Absolutely normal Xmas, breakfast first then into the front room with a bottle of Buck's Fizz to open the presents.  Han did me and Mum a stocking.  We all got some really good stuff.  You'll have to wait til you get home to get all of yours, sorry!  Then it was in the kitchen for me to do the dinner whilst Mum and Han sat in the front room.  We had lunch at about 2.30 pm, would you believe it - I forgot to do Yorkshire Puds (yours was the only scratch card that won) and then just chilled in front of the box, which is where we were when you rang.  It was my intention to get loads of photos to put on here but in the end I didn't. But I did manage to get a couple.

Boxing Day.

Mum opening her stocking .

Set off for Kent at about 12.30.  The journey was going well until they closed at A303 at Mere.  We then set off on a rather large detour because Tom Tom kept trying to send us back to where we were diverted from and the diversion wasn't sign posted!  Found out later that the road was closed because of a serious accident.   Got to Chatham at about 5.00 and it rained all the way. 

Terry, Ann and Lisa were the first to arrive (they are usually the last), Kerry turned up on her own.  Margaret and Tom, Sharon, Sarah and Ben (Ben is Sarah's new boyfriend, he plays rugby for Medway, he's a big chap), Jan, Bern and Louise (not forgetting Mylo) and finally John and Cheryl with Tye.  So it wasn't a bad turn out and they all send their love.

Thursday 27 Dec.

Tried something different this year, instead of leaving early afternoon or late morning we didn't leave Nan's until 7pm, so Mum had the day with Nan (most of which was spent with them both snoozing in their chairs and talking to the cat).  The run home was good, the roads were dry and we got back about 1030.

Friday 28 Dec.

Weather lousy again with high winds and rain.  It was announced that this year is the wettest in the UK since records began - really!  Dropped Hannah into work and picked her up again when she finished.  Won £2.00 on an on-line scratch card.

Saturday 29 Dec.

Wet and windy outside again.  

Both me and Mum have managed to get sore throats and colds.  I reckon we brought them back from Chatham.  I don't feel great and Mum is feeling pretty bad too.  Walked round to Trull Stores to get some cough linctus but they didn't have any, at least I couldn't find any.  In fact they don't seem to have much of anything in there any more.  So I ended up going to Tesco after I picked Hannah up from work.

Made a chicken casserole/stew in my new slow cooker for tea.  I thought it was yummy but there was no comment from either Mum or Han.

 Looking forward to hearing about your Peruvian Christmas.  I hope they have managed to restore the fresh water supply at the lodge.  Wishing you a Very Happy Christmas from us all here back in England.  We miss you, sending you loads of love, 

Mum, Dad, Han and the rest of the family

The End of the World Edition

Sunday 16 Dec.

Becca's new blog arrived today and it was great to speak to her on the phone.  Note to self, put the country code in front of the number when you call someone abroad!

Managed to do most of my Christmas shopping today, just hope it all arrives in time.  At least I haven't done this year what I usually do and leave everything to Christmas Eve.  Mum still hasn't done a list, so I hope she enjoys the tool set and sports annual I've got her!

Monday 17 Dec.

Mum did a shopping marathon today.  She left work at 2pm and didn't call for a lift from Sainsbury's until after they closed at 8pm!  Is it any wonder I don't like going shopping?!
Louisa went home at lunchtime, said she didn't feel very well.

Tuesday 18 Dec.

The presents I ordered on Sunday have started to arrive.  

Louisa was not in work today.  She phoned Nev in the morning asking for a few hours off, then phoned again around lunch time saying she wouldn't be in at all.  If she is genuinely ill than it's all well and good, but it does leave us short handed in the run up to Xmas, which isn't helpful.

Wednesday 19 Dec.

Louisa was back in work today which made things a little easier for everyone.

Mum went to the Winch for a Xmas lunch.  I'm guessing it was with the aerobics ladies, but she didn't say.

Thursday 20 Dec.

Late night shopping in Taunton this evening.  Hannah didn't get out of work until 21:45 and she's back in tomorrow at 0900.

Friday 21 Dec.

According to the Mayan Calander, today the world ends.

Made the mistake of taking half an hour out of the shop to seek out a few more pressies.  What a mistake that was.  The town was manic.  Popped around to the card factory to see if  Han was there, the shop was full to bursting, they couldn't have got any more people in, it was so full that I decided not to seek out Han. 

Got the Xmas decorations down from the loft this evening.  The house is so full of clutter I have no idea where the Xmas tree is going, never mind the rest of the stuff.

Saturday 22 Dec.

Well, it looks like we all survived........or did we?  Are we all now just figments of our own imagination?

The last working Saturday of 2012.  Nev, Andrew and myself went for a couple of beers after work.  No really it was just a couple of beers, well maybe three.  Honour picked us up and brought us home so I will have to collect the car on Sunday.  In fact I got home before Mum and Han who were doing a bit of last minute shopping!

Mum and Han put the Xmas tree up this evening.  They put it in the usual place, in front of the window between the chairs.

Mum produced her Xmas wish list, which leaves us Sunday and Monday afternoon to get the stuff.  Better late than never I guess.

The Matt is bald edition

Sunday 9 Dec.

Hannah woke up feeling pretty grotty this morning.  She was supposed to be working but called in sick.

Last week Lisa and Kerry did a sponsored sky dive.  You can see the event on the following link.  Kerry didn't mind being video'd but Lisa didn't want to be on camera!  It looks really good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzS7LeWOP_8

Monday 10 Dec.

Hannah, although not feeling 100% went into work today.  She got told off for being late.  It was hardly her fault that the bus was late.

Tuesday 11 Dec.

Not much to say about today except that it was exceptionally cold.  The car said it was -5 C degrees this morning when I was scraping the windows free from frost. Stayed chilly all day.

I think Hannah is OK again, she was drinking cider when I got home so unless it's some kind of new medicine.......

Wednesday 12 Dec.

The only thing of note today is that Matt has shaved off his mohecan stripe.  He is now totally bald.

Thursday 13 Dec.

Wrote my Christmas list today, which reminds me we haven't received one from someone who is currently residing in Peru!  Santa does worldwide you know!

Friday 14 Dec.

The cold snap has ended, woke up this morning to heavy rain and a drip, drip, drip through our bedroom ceiling again.  I really must get that leak fixed.

Won £2.00 on a lottery scratch card.  It cost £2.00 so really I didn't win anything!
The heavy rain throughout the day has caused local flooding in the area and the Tone is getting high again.  We came home through Comeytrowe Lane this evening and there was quite a deep flood across the road.  Thankfully Nev was driving his big car and we got through it no problem.

Saturday 15 Dec.

It was Nev's turn for a Saturday off so it was just me and Sabrina in the shop today.  The town was really busy with people Christmas shopping and thankfully there were a few customers in our place.

This evening I put on a brew of the Belgian beer which hopefully should be ready to drink around March time.  It takes a while to mature but it is worth the wait.

The Run-up to Christmas has Started

Spot the nesting box

Sunday 2 Dec.

Crickey it's December already.  

Assembled Mum's new (Birthday presents) bird feeding station and bird table and placed them in the garden and screwed her new nesting box to a tree between the two sheds.

Spent the rest of the day chilling with the ipad before doing a bit of cooking with wine, making a small roast dinner for the two of us.  Hannah and Matt have been at Matt's place weekend.

Monday 3 Dec.

One of those get up, go to work, come home, watch tv, go to bed sort of days.

Tuesday 4 Dec.

Another wet day.  But on the positive side, the reservoirs should be about full by now!  Matt didn't come around this evening, Hannah said she was going to tidy the cupboard in her room.  A wise move by Matt, me thinks!

Wednesday 5 Dec.

The new bird restaurant

Because one of our suppliers got an order wrong I took a trip to Exeter this afternoon to pick up the correct garments.  It should have only taken an hour to get there and back.  It turned out that because of an accident between Collumpton and Exeter they closed the motorway in both directions.  At Collumpton we were forced to leave the motorway so I cut across country to Honiton and got to Exeter from there.  On the way back I got as far as Honiton before the queues started again and so cut across the Blackdowns to get back.  The whole journey took about 2 and a half hours.

Very good day in the shop, takings wise - perhaps I should go out more often!

Thursday 6 Dec.

Very heavy frost this morning.  -2 degrees C according to the car thermometer.  Had to scrape the car windows.
Because of  Thursday late night shopping, Hannah didn't finish work until 21:30.

Friday 7 Dec.

Suddenly dawned on me that we are now in the run-up to Christmas and I better start thinking about presents!  Is it time to start panicking yet? I really must try and get my Christmas shopping done before Christmas Eve this year!

Tool shed showing temporary repair.  The clock is wrong too.

Saturday 8 Dec.

Picked up Han from work at 6pm.  Made chicken chowder for tea.  Then as Saturday night TV is so dire I went down to the shed made a fire and sat outside looking at the stars, supping a glass or two of the red stuff, while listening to a few CDs.  I enjoyed it but I expect Mum thinks I'm crazy

Rain, Rain, Go Away......

Monday 26 Nov

Guess what?   Its been raining all day again!  There really can't be much more up there to come down.  Becky has started work in a clothes shop called Maze. It's just around the corner from us, along the lane beside Howard s Chip shop. I think its only part time but at least she is earning.  We picked her up from work last evening.  She was supposed to finish at 5.30 but they had her hoovering and mopping and so she didn't get out until after 6.  I think her employers are taking advantage.

Andrew doing his arty photo thing at Lynmouth

Tuesday 27 Nov.

Just for a change it was raining this morning but it eased off during the day leaving just the occasional shower to contend with.

Busy day in the shop.

Wednesday 28 Nov.

Hey what's occurring - no rain this morning, a dry day.  

Short handed in the shop.  Sabrina pulled a sicky, she texted Nev saying she was too ill to phone in because she has a fever! I bet she is better for her trip to Liverpool this weekend.

Thursday 29 Nov.

The first really heavy frost of the winter this morning.  The car windows all frosted over etc.

All praise the Lord for Sabrina's miraculous recovery, she was back at work today, said she had a fever yesterday and that's why she couldn't phone.  Yep I don't really understand that either!

Friday 30 Nov.

Won £5.00 on an on-line lottery scratch card!  Another heavy frost this morning and quite cold all day, so much so we had the heating on in the shop.

Saturday 1 Dec.

Just to rub it in, another crisp and frosty morning.
Took a trip over to Stoborough to give Granddad's bungalow a once over to make sure everything is OK.  Spent a couple of hours weeding the front garden in an attempt to make the place look lived in again.  Had a chap come round asking to buy Granddad's car.  First he wanted it, then he didn't, then he did.  Then he said, "Ok I'll take it off your hands" then when I said he could take it for £200 he decided he didn't want it after all!
Saw Granddad, he was looking very well, in fact the best I've seen him for a long time but he is so confused, hasn't got a clue where he is  and thinks he has only been in the home for a couple of days.  Perhaps that is just as well.
Popped into Tesco on the way home and got a load of nibbles.  Saturday evening TV is not the greatest - Strictly come Dancing and Casualty!  Strictly would be OK if they got rid of Bruce Forthysth

The Rainy Season Edition?

Sunday 18 Nov

Rugby International  - England 14 - 20 Australia.  Only highlights shown on the box but it was a pretty good game.  England now play in purple with gold numbers!  Can you believe it?

A real good night's sleep and woke up this morning gout free.  Its weird that it can go so quickly, but I sure am glad it has.  A lazy day spent in front of the box with the iPad catching up on emails etc.

Monday 19 Nov

A hectic day trying to install the new computers.  Not as easy as it first seemed.  Isn't that always the case.

Mum did the weekly shop and was brought home by Han and Matt.  Well, she got into the car OK but had a bit of trouble getting out - something to do with the seat being too deep and her legs not being long enough!  At least she was laughing about it!

Tuesday 20 Nov

Won £4.00 on an on-line lottery scratch card.
On closer examination of the chilli plant there appears a total of 4 chillis growing.  One has gone red and the others are still green.
There are temporary traffic lights outside Trull Stores.  This morning the queue was right back to The Crown in Staplehay.  So to pick up Nev I had to drive up to the Crown, turn left and then go around to Trull that way!

The Town Bridge

Wednesday 21 Nov

Goodlands Garden on the left, Lidl on the right

Looking from the Brewhouse car park over to Morrisons

Woke up to heavy rain and high winds which receded during the day.  I've never seen the river Tone so high though.  The river burst it banks by Morrison's and you couldn't see under the spans of the bridge in the middle of town.
There has been some major flooding across the county and because of closed roads, Reuben (Wellington) and Sabrina (Wiveliscombe) couldn't get into work.  More rain is expected tonight.
Fred, the old boy that Wendy and Andrew keep an eye on has died.  Poor old Andrew, he found the old feller.  A bit of a traumatic thing to have to deal with.

Thursday 22 Nov

More high winds and heavy rain today.  Part of the roofing felt on the tool shed was blown off.  Mum and Hannah went late night shopping, they said because of the bad weather the town was really quiet, with many of the shops closing early.

Took a nibble from the home grown red chilli this evening.  Ooops, big mistake, it was more than a little hot!

Friday 23 Nov

A respite from the heavy weather, actually saw some sunshine but the forecast for the weekend is not good.

It was Geoff Hewitt's funeral today.  He was the old boy that lived in Trull Green Farm house, the big old thatched house on the corner of Dipford road and Comeytrowe lane, the one with the really high Leylandii hedge.  Nev took Ray and Dee to the Funeral.  Nev said that he was expecting a bigger turn out, Geoff was a Village personality, being the Chairman of the Parish Council for years.

It took over an hour to get home tonight.  It was absolutely chokker block with vehicles coming into and driving out of the town, I can only guess that there was an accident or something on the motorway.

I thought I had some roofing felt left from the "Didyabringabeer" build but it turns out there wasn't enough to make a permanent repair to the tool shed so I fashioned a temporary job with sheets of plastic.

Saturday 24 Nov

Glad I got the temporary repair done to the tool shed roof last night, cos its raining again today.  Just hope it holds the water off until I can get some proper roofing felt on there.

Verity

UFO Over Combe Martin

Nev picked us up in the Kia at about 11am.  Uneventful journey to Ilfracombe where we had a bite of lunch at Dolly's cafe.  Spent a whole £1.00 in the penny arcade.  Wendy and Hon won a key ring .  The went to see Verity, the Damien Hurst Statue that has been erected on the harbour wall.  Personally I think the thing is hideous.  Its a statue of a pregnant lady, holding a sword in one hand and scales in the other, one side of her is as if she is naked and the other is as if her skin has been peeled away showing muscle tissue and bone and the unborn baby in the womb.  Not my cup of tea at all.  The weather was pretty terrible so we headed off to book into the Sandy Cove Hotel at Combe Martin.  This is the same place that we stayed at last year.  Luckily it was just as good this year as last.  Spent the rest of the day chatting and just generally having fun  and enjoying the company.  I managed to catch a photo of a UFO flying over the bay.  And just to prove it didn't rain all the time a picture of the sun breaking through.

Sunday 25 Nov.

Sunrise over the bay

After a hearty breakfast with copious amount of coffee we headed off for a wander around Combe Martin Village.  Had a stroll along the beach but there wasn't a great deal to see.  Mum said you and her came here to collect shells.  Then a short ride in the car to Lynton, where we had another stroll about and did a bit of window shopping, bought some pasties for tea and then decided it was time to head home across Exmoor.

All in all a very pleasant weekend.  Oh, by the way, the UFO, they were all saying its the reflection of the light in the room against the window, but I say it is a UFO!

Snelly Brown Fish at Combe Martin

Remembrance Day Edition

Sunday 11 Nov

That one day each year when we spare a thought for all those who have paid the ultimate price in protecting our way of life.  I didn't go to any of the services, I just had a private moment in the shed where I raised a glass of  "Nelson's Blood" (Rum) to those who have gone before us.

Was great to speak to on the phone this evening.

There has been loads of rugby on this weekend - the Autumn Internationals - England 54 - 12 Fiji, France 33 - Australia 6, Ireland 12 - South Africa 16, Wales 12 - 26 Argentina (there will be no singing in the hillside this evening), Scotland 22 - New Zealand 51.

Monday 12 Nov

Bought some shares in Kingfisher and Lok'n Store.  Now its a waiting game to see if their share price rises and to collect the dividends when they are paid.

Tuesday 13 Nov

Won £2 with an on-line lottery scratch card.  Well, when I say won, the card cost £2, so I really only got me money back.  I wonder, will I win the Euromillions tonight - the jackpot is £136 million!!

Wednesday 14 Nov

Golden Leaves, you can just make out patches of frost on the grass.

Surprisingly I didn't win the Euromillions last night!  Some lucky snail eating French git got the jackpot! 

It seems like all of a sudden the leaves on the trees at the bottom of the garden have turned from green to a golden brown and are now falling from the branches.  We have a carpet of fallen leaves around the shed already.
The kit to brew some more Belgian beer arrived today.  I've left it too late for it to be ready for Xmas but I reckon it should be just right for the first BBQ of 2013.
Got a Poinsettia plant for the house for Xmas.  Just hope the red leaves stay red for the period.

Thursday 15 Nov

Woke up this morning with a very sore toe.  Yep its another dreaded gout attack.

Mum went down the Winch with the ladies, Han and Matt were out, so it was curry for tea for me!

Poinsettia

Major problems at work with our e-mails.  It looks like we will have to purchase a new computer for the admin desk.  If nothing else it might keep Louisa quiet for a bit.  She's been off today and will be tomorrow also.  She's spending 12 hours at the cinema watching the Twilight movies that are playing one after another!

Friday 16 Nov

Foot is getting sorer.  Couldn't bare to wear my shoe today.  Hobbling around like an invalid.

Mum didn't want any tea tonight, said she wasn't feeling too good but wouldn't tell me any more.  If its anything serious I'm sure I'll get to know eventually.

Saturday 17 Nov

Terrible night last night.  The toe was really painful and swollen.  Couldn't sleep and spent the night on the sofa.  I remember seeing 5am and then all of a sudden it was 7:45 and I'm late getting up for work.  Couldn't bear to wear socks and so went into work in my holiday sandals - NO not the old leather ones!!

After work Nev and myself took a trip out to PC World to buy a new PC for the admin desk.  We ended up getting a new lap top too.  Your old one, which we use for on-line stock ordering and the accounts has started playing up so we thought we'd better replace it too.  It would be a nightmare if we lost all the accounts data!

Red Chilli

Arrived home to find Mum still not feeling too good.  Again she didn't want any tea but had some soup later on in the evening.  I hope we're both better by next weekend, cos that's when we are going to Combe Martin for the weekend.

Well I might not have won the Euromillions on Tuesday, but I DID on Friday!  Don't go getting too excited, was only £6.40!  But hey, a win is a win!

What d'ya reckon to our prize red chilli?  Good Eh?  Did I mention we've got another growing but its still green at the moment.

Guy Fawkes Edition

Sunday 4 Nov.

Walked into town to pick up the car.  A pleasant stroll and I only got caught once by the rain.

Received an e-mail from Scottish power telling me they are going to put the gas and electric prices up in December.  According to "YouSwitch" I could save almost £300 a year by switching to another company, so I reckon that's a no-brainer and have started the procedure.  They reckon it could take about a month to complete.

While in the mood for switching thought I'd check out BT's Infinity Broadband.  Its supposed to be really fast.  Went on the site, put our tel number in the checker and apparently it is available in our area.  Started the application process only to discover that it actually isn't available to us.  Wish they'd make up their minds!

Monday 5 Nov

Rhubarb didn't get any better over the weekend so we had a trip to the vets.  An injection of pain killer and anti biotics and some pills for the rest of the week should have him sorted out.
Guy Fawkes night.  Not a lot of fireworks, I think it all sort of happened on Saturday.

Tuesday 6 Nov

There's always someone who ruins a photo!

Nothing of note today so I thought you might like this pic!

Wednesday 7 Nov

It's time to start thinking about Christmas.  Mum has done the cake.  Presents, lets get those wish lists in early. That also includes those who happen to be spending the festive season in the Amazon Jungle!

Thursday 8 Nov

The green chilli on the plant has now turned red.  It isn't very big, about an inch long I guess.  I wonder if this means it is a really hot one.

Friday 9 Nov

One of those, got up, went to work, came home, glass of wine in the shed, had tea, watched telly, went to bed, kind of days!

Saturday 10 Nov

Becky has decided to resign from her job at Musgrove Park Hospital.  Andrew is trying to persuade her to chill out and take a break.  So we did her a "WWBD" (what would Becca do) T shirt.

Andrew came round for a "solving the world's problems" session in the shed this evening.  We had a couple of beers and talked a load of stuff, lit a fire. T'was good.

Rhubarb is back to his normal self but has started using the dining room as a toilet.  Not sure what that is all about.

.....and there we have it for another week.

Mum's Birthday Edition

Sunday 28 Oct.

The clocks went back last night and so we all had an extra hour in bed which was nice.  It was good to hear you on the phone today, albeit very briefly, but it is important that we get this Student Finance problem sorted out.  You have to ask why they make things so difficult.

Mum did a roast for just the two of us, Hannah and Matt were out, and we spent the rest of the day in front of the box doing IPad stuff!

It looks like moving the chilli plant has worked as I have noticed that there is another fruit growing.

Monday 29 Oct.

The schools have all broken up for half term so the junction of Church Road and Wild Oak Lane isn't its normal chaotic self for the drive into work.
Put the heating on in the shop for the first time this year.

Tuesday 30 Oct.

Myself and Nev took a trip to Congresbury to see our accountant today, leaving the girls in charge of the shop.  We have classified today  as our second worse day takings wise.  Would you believe that less than £10.00 went through the till!

Hope you got the texts from Mum regarding the contact details for UWE Registration.

Wednesday 31 Oct.

Its Halloween - spooky!  Glad to hear you got Mum's texts for the UWE contact.  Hope you managed to get everything sorted but I suspect it will take more than one call to achieve the aim.

Takings today were more than 200 times yesterday's - weird ain't it!  So it was a good day at work.

Thursday 1 Nov.

Mad panic to buy Mum some Birthday Presents, I've left it to the last minute again!  I did remember to get her a card this year though.
Sold my shares in Home Group (they are the company that owns Argos) making a nice 6.3% profit.

Discovered that my old earphones (bought on a flight to some holiday destination that I don't remember) work on my iPad, so spent the evening watching Shameless.  The iPad copes with video feed much better than the computer upstairs, which suggests that it might need renewing to a more modern device.

Friday 2 Nov

Happy Birthday Mum.  Hannah had the day off so she and Mum went to Street for the day for some retail therapy.  Then in the evening after opening her presents, Hannah and Matt got a take-away tea.  McDonalds for Han and Mum, fish and chips for me and Matt.

Rhubarb came in limping and looking sorry for himself.  Looks like he has been bitten in the front leg, so if it doesn't get better on its own I guess it will be a trip to the vets to get him sorted out.

Saturday 3 Nov

Nev had the day off and so it was only Sabrina and me in the shop.  It wasn't particularly busy but we took a few quid.

We went to the Sanctuary restaurant for Mum's birthday meal.  The food was really good, Mum went veggie, I had lamb, Matt had steak and Han surprisingly had pork.  They even managed to get a bottle of Asti in for Mum which was well appreciated.  Afterwards we had a couple of drinks in the Castle on the Green pub which is the name of the old Firestones where Han used to work.  A very pleasant evening all round.

Won a tenner on the National Lottery.

The Gold Post Box Edition

Sunday 21 Oct.

Having mentioned it in last week's episode I should really have posted the photo then but here it is in all its glory,  Trull's very own golden letter box!  Stunning isn't it?  And on the right is Deb Criddle with her gold and 2 silver Olympic medals.  I reckon that she has done really well and the achievement is even more impressive when you consider she has only one arm.

Moved the chilli plant from the kitchen window sill into the dining room.  The plant was getting too big for the kitchen and I'm hoping the less of a change in temperature from day to night will stop the blossom drop and we might get some more fruit.

Monday 22 Oct. 

Hannah forgot her keys today and so was locked out of the house until I got home.  Let her in then went back into town to pick up Mum from the weekly shopping in Sainsburys.  Felt rather tired and so flopped in front of the box for the rest of the evening.

Tuesday 23 Oct.

The good news today is that I have heard from the Nursing Home and Granddad went into hospital on Friday 19th for his exploratory and everything appears to be OK.  Just wish the Home had informed me when he was admitted.  Perhaps it was my fault for not asking the GP.  But at least the cancer has not returned.

Wednesday 24 Oct.

Saw Andrew today and asked him how Becky was doing.  She's just started at Musgrove.  I think she is finding it a little difficult, chucked in at the deep end in a new place, not knowing anyone or knowing her way around.  I'm sure she'll find her feet and will be happier and more confident as time passes.  They've already got her working 12 hour shifts!

Thursday 25 Oct.

Took Ray and Dee to hospital this afternoon.  Ray had to go in for a check up and Nev didn't have a car available.  Just as we arrived at Musgrove so did the air ambulance.  The landing spot is right in front of the main building and so we got a ring side seat watching the emergency services do there thing.

Found this picture of lightning and a volcano erupting.  Apparently it was taken in Chile which isn't too far from you right now.  Don't know how old it is but I thought you might like the expression of natural energy it portrays.

Friday 26 Oct.

Sabrina has got tickets to go and see the Rolling Stones at the O2 arena next month.  She is going with her Mum, its a shame she hasn't got a friend she can go with, but I expect her Mum is well pleased!  She tried to get them when they first went on sale but they had sold out within 7 minutes!  So we don't know how she got hold of them and she won't tell us how much she paid, which must mean she paid a lot for them!

It looks like Ray will be in hospital throughout the weekend while they do tests on him to find out exactly what the problem is.  Nev puts a brave face on it but I can tell he is more than a little worried, and from what he says, Dee is starting to show the signs of dementia.  My Dad said it to me and I'm saying it to you - DONT GET OLD - it sucks!  I don't think Granddad said "it sucks" - I added that bit to show that I am still "down with the kids!"

Saturday 27 Oct.

Woke up this morning with the tell tale pain in my big toe.  Another attack of gout, which got progressively worse during the day in the shop.  Looks like another trip to the doctor to get some more pills on Monday, hopefully I've got enough to last me through the weekend.  No red wine for me this evening!

Andrew came around to the shop this morning for the traditional Saturday bacon roll.  I asked him about which make of camera would be good for your needs.  He reckons anything Fuji is good value for money, will produce good photos and are easy to operate.  He did say though, that he wasn't sure if there was a branch of The London Camera Exchange in Puerto Maldonardo but the sale of Fuji cameras is worldwide.
Had KFC for tea.  Is there a MacDonalds in Puerto Madonardo?  Even if there isn't I bet you can buy bottles/cans of Coca Cola!
The outside temperature this morning going to work was just 1 degree C, burrrrrr!

Looking forward to your next blog update, no pressure, we know its difficult without having internet access on your doorstep.

Until next time...........

....To Saturday 20 Oct

Sunday 14 Oct.

A really nice sunny day saw me spending some time in the garden.  A poor harvest of courgettes, I think we got two and one marrow.  I guess the cats using the plot as a toilet didn't help.  I moved one of  the raised beds so they are all in a line now.

Nev came round with his ladders and we cleaned out the grass that was growing in the gutters.

Found a huge dead rat by the tool shed door.  It must have been a good 10 inches long.  Vicious looking creature.

Came across this phot of Mum from our 25 Anniversary party.  I suspect it is not one of her favourite ones!  But the one below is better.  And only goes to show that you will always find us in the kitchen at parties!

Monday 15 Oct.

Bit of a non-day, in that we got up went to work and came home again with nothing much of note in between.  But did you know that Trull has a gold post box? It was painted gold to celebrate Debbie Criddle's (she lives in Trull) gold medal at the Para-Olympics.

Tuesday 16 Oct.

Mum did the weekly shopping today.  She left work at 2pm and called for a lift at 7pm!  She said she met up with Lorna and they went for a coffee.  Must have been a huge cup to last 5 hours!

Strong winds and heavy rains this evening.  This weather has stripped the leaves from the Virginia creeper which makes the outside of the house look very unkempt.

Wednesday 17 Oct.

Restocked the wine store, got a couple bottles of Spanish, a couple of Chilean and a couple of Australian, all reds of course.  Also got a case of Hoegaarden, a Belgian wheat beer which is my favourite tipple of choice at the moment.  More heavy rain this evening.

Sandy Cove Hotel

Thursday 18 Oct.

Andrew told us that he has booked up the Sandy Cove Hotel for the weekend of 24 Nov for the Snelly Brown Fish weekend of fun. This is the same place we went to last year.  Its right on the cliff top near Combe Martin with fabulous views across the bay.  Can't wait.  Rubbish picture, the resolution is so poor, but that's the place.

Da Sisters

Friday 19 Oct. 

A very good day in the shop, takings wise and I have tomorrow off.  Spent the evening in the shed burning off some more garden rubbish.  The pile doesn't seem to be getting any smaller.  Probably drank more wine than I should have and I think I got to bed around 3 ish!  Oooops, that'll be me in the dog house!

Me, Nev and Andrew getting Newted

Found this phot of "Da Sisters" also from the 25 Anniversary party.
And the one below is from early on in the evening at the Newt Festival

Saturday 20 Oct

Hannah thought I was late for work and gave me a shake at 0830 hrs.  But today is my day off and so I snoozed on for a healthy lie in eventually getting up around 1130!  (What a waste of a morning!)  I can confirm that I did drink far too much last evening.  It's not big and its not cleaver, but sometimes it just has to be done.  I guess it's just the way I'm put together. 

We might have to keep the phone calls a little briefer.  Just had the bill for the latest one and it is a little high.  But don't stop giving us a call when you fancy it we'll just have to cut the chat down a bit.

And there we are, another week done.

Autumn Has Arrived

Sunday 7 Oct

Thankfully the gout has eased overnight, the pills must be kicking in.  

Virginia Creeper going red

You can tell Autumn has arrived, the Virginia Creeper on the outside of the house has turned a lovely shade of red.
Mum caught this pic of a pigeon waiting for the squirrel to finish on the bird table.  I think we have 2 squirrels using the garden now.  One is very brave, I've seen him on the wooden fence by the kitchen door.
Lazy day today, ipad games and TV with my foot up (what a poor excuse!).

Spoke to the people today who were going to buy Granddad's bungalow.  Due to the fact that they haven't managed to sell their own place and that they will not get as much as they had hoped for they have decided to pull out.  So it looks like we'll have to put the place on the market after all.

Bird Table?

Monday 8 Oct

Got some bad news today.  Granddad may have a recurrence of his bladder cancer.  His doctor wants him to go into hospital for exploratory operation.  Got to say I am a little worried .  On top of all his other problems this is the last thing he needs.

Tuesday 9 Oct.

Rained all day.

Wednesday 10 Oct.

Harvested the beetroot .  A very poor crop this year.  For some reason the roots on the majority of the plants didn't swell. Carrots have done well though, we have been eating them for some weeks now and there is still plenty left.

Thursday 11 Oct.

Spent the evening in "Didyabringabeer", listening to the radio and some music.  An earful of Sea Sick Steve, its good stuff.  When it got dark I switched off the lights and lit a few t lights. Had a couple of glasses of wine and woke up in time to go to bed!  I really like it in the shed and for some reason it doesn't seem to get cold.  It made a nice change from sitting in front of the oggle goggle box and playing on the ipad.

Friday 12 Oct.

Its "Double Denim Day" according to Absolute Radio, the preferred radio station in Imprints.  It was decided we would all wear 2 pieces of denim in the shop.  I even dug out my jeans and Nev loaned me a denim shirt.  Just a bit of fun, we took a photo and sent it in to Absolute hoping for a mention on the air waves.  But guess who didn't join in, yep you guessed it, the life and soul of nobody's party, she who goes by the name of Louisa!

The cutlery draw in the kitchen has collapsed.  I suspect we were cramming too much into it.  I think I have managed to repair it but I suspect it is more of a patch up job.  This isn't the first time it has broken.

Saturday 13 Oct.

Went on Facebook for the first time in ages this evening.  Posted a "Hello" and surprisingly got a load of replies.  Ended up having brief chats with people I haven't seen for ages.

My fingers have started to split again.  Really annoying, I thought I had solved this little problem by taking cod liver oil tablets.  I had wanted to have a strum on the guitar but the digits are just too sore.  Boo Hoo, sob sob!  

And there we have it for another week.

First week of October

Monday 1 Oct

Busy day in the shop.  It seems like Sabrina is allergic to Mondays, she called in sick today.  I think that makes it three Mondays in the last month where she hasn't come in for one reason or another.

The handle on my garden rake broke this evening. Shame, cos I wanted to do a bit of tidying in the garden.  The evenings are drawing in quite quickly now.  It's dark by 7:30.  Ah we'll, it's an excuse to put the job off to another day.

Tuesday 2 Oct

Happy Birthday to Becca, happy birthday to you.  Hope your having a wonderful day in the uloo.  Wish we could be there to celebrate with you.  Next time you check your bank account you should find a little something in there which we hope comes in u - seful.  Happy Birthday to Becca, Happy Birthday to you.  That's it, I've run out of endings that rhyme with oo.  T'was lovely to talk to you on the phone this evening.  Hope you had a fun filled day.

Spent a couple of hours this evening bringing the business accounts up to date.  Was important to do it because not only is it the end of month but also the end of a VAT quarter and we have to make a return to those men in the bowler hats in Whitehall.

Wednesday 3Oct

Chilli Plant

 I was looking at the chilli plant that Hannah and Matt got me and guess what - it seems we have a chilli growing.  There are lots of flowers which I hope means more fruits to come .  I've brought the plant into the kitchen from the shed as the night temperatures are getting a little cool now.  Can you see the fruit in the pic?  I am a bit worried because as you can see, something is eating the leaves but I can't see anything.  Perhaps a blast of fly spray may do the trick.

Here's one for you - Do green chillis stay green or do they go red if you leave them on the plant long enough? and do you get chillis growing in the wild in the Tampobata area?

Thursday 4 Oct

Was supposed to be going out for a curry with the boys tonight but Andrew had forgotten all about it and had already had his tea so we cancelled!  So instead I mended the rake and did a bit in the garden until it got dark.

Hannah with her Birthday T shirt from Becca

Friday 5 Oct

Woke up this morning with a touch of gout in my left big toe. It must be at least a month since the last attack. Thankfully I have some tablets left over from the last time, just got to wait for them to kick in.

Saturday 6 Oct

Its World Smile Day today?  (According to Google) Big grins all round please!  The latest blog from Peru arrived on the interweb, fantastic phots and a real insight to Becca's work out there.  Fascinating stuff.
Not a bad day in the shop.  Mum decided to do the weekly shop today.  Her routine of shopping on Thursday has been thrown out of kilter because she is working on Monday and Tuesday now.  The gout was pretty bad today, was difficult to drive.  Strictly Come Dancing has started again on the TV.  Its not so bad but would be far better if  Bruce Forsyth (nice to see you, to see you nice!) wasn't hosting.  I think he is getting a bit past it.

Soooooo, from us all here in Trull, Keeeeeeeeep Dancing!

......to Sunday 30 Sep

Sunday

Well as you can see I managed to attach some photos but I cheated by going onto the computer.  Couldn't  figure out how to do it on the iPad .  I'm sure there has to be a way of doing it but its beyond me at the moment.

I guess summer is now over.  Woke up this morning to rain pounding against the window.  I am thinking it is nature's way of telling me that the leaking roof is still waiting to be fixed as there was a drip drip dripping into our bedroom.  Nice!  It's been raining all day, every time I go down to the shed for a beer I get soaked?

Here's a completely random question for you.  Do seagulls drink sea water?  Don't know where that came from but I wonder what the answer is!

Monday.

The start of another week in the Imprints business empire.  Usually Reuben works on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday but his college days have changed and so Mum is working on Monday and Tuesday instead of Thursday and Friday.

Tuesday.

Mum is out with the laydees this evening, I think they are going to Prezzos because they have got  money saving vouchers.  Hannah is at Matt's place which means that it's channel Dave all night on the TV and something spicy for tea!  Actually ended up having one of my pasta and tomato veggie combos but with a touch of chilli to give it a little kick.

Thursday.

Nothing of note happened on Wednesday so here we are on Thursday.  T'was blooming cold this morning so I put the heating on for the first time this autumn, just got home from work and the house is like a sauna!  Heating off again!  I suspect you are trying to find ways to cool off rather than heat up.  Mum is working all week to cover Louisa who has taken her boyfriend , Baz, to Alton Towers for his birthday treat.  Another case of Baz on the Raz!

Friday.

Hannah really, really, really, really wanted take away for tea, so everyone had McDonald's except for me, I had Chinese, special chow mien.  Haven't had that for a while, was lovely.  After tea, whilst Matt was playing with his new Fifa x box game, Hannah cut my hair.  I've only been waiting since before you left for Peru.  But she's done a good job, its nearly as short as Matt's but without the stripe and should last me another 6 months.  Heating back on!

Yep, its true, my beard is longer than my hair!

Saturday.

A really good day in the shop, quite busy but with a lot of people collecting and paying.  It's so nice when the customer pays!  In the evening we went to Wendy and Andrew's for a BBQ.  Was really nice and we all sat outside until it got just too cold and then went in to eat and drink some more.  Becky and Jordan and Kat and Sam were there too.  Last night it was a clear sky with a full moon, it was just like walking home in daylight.

Has Andrew managed to get in touch with you about camera models that might be suitable?  Next time I see him I'll ask him again and put the results in next week's blog.

I'm trying to get some sneaky pics of Mum to put on here but you know what she's like when a camera comes out!  The mission is proving to be pretty impossible but I'll keep trying.

Happy Birthday for Tuesday, twenty how many, Ha ha, hope you have a great day, we'll try to ring or txt or something.

Until next time, loads of love from us all here in autumnal Taunton, XxX

First Attempt

So, there I was doing my usual Sunday morning chore of sorting out the week's paperwork when I became aware that the MOT on the car had run out in August.   They used to send out reminders, obviously no longer.  Haha, the trip to Gatwick and back we were driving illegally - oops! £300 later and we were legal again with a new set of rear brakes to boot.  Absolutely amazing, you press the brake pedal and the car now stops.  Modern technology eh?

Last Saturday had a bit of a bonfire in the incinerator, burning the garden trimmings.  Thought it was about time to chop back our version of the rain forest.  Spent the evening with a few beers, feeding the flames.  Cleared quite a bit of the stuff that had accumulated over the past monts.  Left the fire to dye out.  The following Monday, after work, cleared up some more stuff and placed it in the incinerator ready for the next burn up and went inside to watch a bit of telly before tea.  Just got settled when Mum called me into the kitchen to look at the garden which was smothered in smoke - you couldn't see the shed.  Surprisingly there must have been enough heat left in the ashes, after two days, to set the thing off again.  Bet the neighbours were fuming! (Pun intended)

Hannah's birthday on Tuesday.  Mum and Han went to Steet for a touch of retail therapy, then in the evening we all, Matt included, went down to the Winch for a meal and a couple of drinks.  Very pleasant it was too.  Mum had gammon (how strange),  I had lamb (how strange), Matt had a burger and Han had fish and chips  which she couldn't finish without help (how strange).  I did take a couple of iPad photos of Hannah opening presents and Matt pulling faces but I haven't figured out yet how to put them into the blog.  I suspect it is dead easy and I am just being a oaf.

On  Wednesday Mum took a bit of a tumble on her way back from aerobics.  Twisted her ankle after tripping into a pot hole in Church Road,  and fell flat on her face.  Of course it had to be her bad ankle that got twisted (ouch) badly bruised and grazed her knee on the other leg.  See, physical   exercise is dangerous!  She is however, all OK, and the swelling is going down and No, we didn't let her have a day off work!!

We have persuaded the girls in the shop to work one Saturday a month so that myself and Nev can have a couple of days off.  So this Saturday Mum, Han and myself popped over to see Grandad.  He looks fine physically but is getting very frail.  His memory, well as you know he hasn't got one to cover the short-term.  He seemed genuinely surprised when we told him he had retired from the army years ago.  Poor old feller, I don't think any of us realise what it must be like to live in such a confusing fog.  Its a shame the nursing home is so far away, but it was a nice day with sunshine all the way and so made for a pleasant day out.  Far better than being sat in-front of the box.

This next bit I guess I should have put at the beginning but hey, what the hell!!  The reason for starting this blog was an attempt to keep Becca up to speed with things at home whilst she is away spending 10 months in the Peruvian jungle.  So for any other visitors who have plodded through the above I would like to say welcome and sorry if you were expecting something other than what is basically a diary of a normal(?) family at home.

I think I have discovered how to insert photos so rather than mess up this edition I'm going to play on my own.  See yah next time, Lots of love from Somerset.