Twas the Nightmare before Christmas

 Dear Marmite

I am as guilty as the next man. I go shopping for food at the last minute and feel really aggrieved that the supermarket is full of people emptying the shelves of the things I wanted to get but missed out on. Tescos was a nightmare and the stress of getting the few last minute things was not nice in the least. We only do it because it is Christmas but why?

It was worth it in the end though - I hope. The turkey turned out well and I still have enough to last me through to CNY. After the meal, I stripped the meat off the bones and threw them away as I didn't have you to make broth for. Then Shadow and Lucky came to stay and I didn't have anything for them. Silly me!! 

Things have certainly looked up since my supermarket hustle. As is tradition, I listened to Bells of Dublin twice on Christmas morning, then made it to church. I had two big tables all prepared for the dinner and guests galore. We played games... all the usually bits... and now I feel substantially fattened and in need of a strict regimen so I can at least move around the tennis court. All in all, Christmas has been a joy.

Sammi arrived after Christmas but already we have done Canasta, Scrabble, chess and tennis games together. The other night we went out for the BEST pizza ever. I want to advertise this place... lovely ambience, amazing food and beer... a real wow! This was an organic beer and pizza place right next to the canal in Wolverton. It is on an industrial estate and if only the metal fence between the bar and the canal didn't exist, it would be accessible to the towpath and walkers could pop in for a pint. It would be the most popular place in MK, if only.  

While we were eating our pizzas, I lost at chess. If I hadn't had Sammi as my partner, I would have lost at tennis too. We played in cold, damp conditions with a 35mph wind whipping around the court and despite the weather, it was lovely playing with my "little" boy. We did the local pub quiz last night - won that!! The reason we won was because I have amazing quiz friends who know everything... They even put up with three Woolheads on the same team!

Perhaps the biggest joy of all was seeing my cousins from Australia yesterday. Imagine travelling all that way and ending up in a small village and having a drink in the pub. We were so busy chatting that I forgot to get a picture to send to you in my blog... I am sure you remember them, Marms.

Now I have New Year celebrations to look forward to.

Lots of love and Happy New Year 

XXX

Merry Christmas or something close to it!

 Dear Marmite,

Yesterday was the shortest day and now we have longer days to look forward to from now on. That is one thing for certain! Other things are less certain. For a really long time the weather was well into the minuses and now it has risen to a heady 12c. It is permanently wet now and drizzley. Yuk! I heard how your fellow Singaporeans have been whinging about the temperatures dropping to 24c. Just tell them that is barmy summer heat over here.

I have to admit my childhood excitement for crunchy snow under foot and my grandaughter loved the snow too. She is now very sad her snowman has gone. Even Shadow loves the snow. I can't stay sad for long though. There are lots more exciting things to look forward to. I have the turkey and today I am making the stuffing. I just love cooking the traditional dinner. This year Richard is doing the trimmings and we have the hordes descending on Christmas Day. There will be two tables side by side so we can all sit round but I don't think it will turn into THAT Christmas!! 

I met up with Rachel, Diane and Jeremy last weekend. It truly was a Dairy Farm reunion. Rachel lives over two hours away so it was a very special get together. Lovely food, even nicer company - Claude - that little creature on the other end of the doggie spectrum -  was pleased to see us! I am sure you must remember him flirting with danger trying to sniff your bottom just when you were about to sit on him. 

I took my Christmas quiz down. I did a bit of research to put the History of Christmas quiz and now realise how much of our celebrations is not in the least related to Christianity. So when eat, drink and get merry, you are bringing out the pagan part of you. Pope Julius l decided that the Feast of the Nativity would piggyback a Roman festival of Saturnalia which involved 6 days of debauchery where rules were thrownout of the window and it seems nothing was off limits. He did this to sell the new religion to the masses. Nowadays, I feel we are much more reserved - even when you take THAT Christmas into consideration - including the mislaid specs!!!

The image for this blog is full of things we have invented and thoroughly absorbed into our celebrations. Believe it or not Rudolph was part of an advertising campaign for a department store in the US in the 1930s, and Clement Clarke Moore was responsible for other frippery. This is all so fascinating I could go on at length but I won't.

Take care Marms and don't eat too much turkey. I am sending you extra-special hugs at the season.

Love

XXX

'Tis the Season to be Jolly

 Dear Marmite

We are heading for Christmas and there are just a few more sleeps to go. I am as excited as a child - I always am. I love the whole thing of cooking the turkey, having family around and playing games. I started my season of joy with games at the tennis club last Sunday. When Nasser and I arrived it was like an ice rink on court so we just stood on the spot and hit the ball to each other. Then others turned up and joined in... standing still tennis evolved....

We ended up with a 3 v 4 match so we had the court covered. The rules were flexible and we laughed - oh, how we laughed. After two hours in sub zero temperatures we topped off the morning with mulled wine and mince pies. The real creative part of the day was the combined cleverness of the club having  a Christmas tree decked with "decorated" tennis balls! Even the Grinch was enjoying himself!

On the home front a Naughty Elf has come to stay. Ezra-Mae knows not to wake him up. I have told her he will do naughty things if is awake. I have told her to "Shhhush" and put my finger to my lips when she gets near him. She copies me but sticks her finger on her forehead and gives the loudest "Shhhush" ever so as NOT to wake him up. He seems to find a new resting place each day so he keeps me on my toes.

Outside, everywhere I turn, it looks like a chocolate box scene. On my walk this morning, the canal was totally frozen but the river was still flowing. Provided I stayed upright and tramping across the fields, all was well. I didn't have to worry about slushy mud. The roads which haven't been gritted were a bit more of a challenge. 

Yesterday as I turned into my little road, I skidded and very nearly hit the wall on the bend - eeeek! It just shows how how easy it is to lose control. For the time being, I am not venturing out on my bike. 

I put a Christmas History Quiz together for a friend's party. I learnt a lot along the way. It really was the Victorians who "invented" our Christmas but most of our traditions are actually pre-history and Pagan. Jesus was squeezed into the party around the fourth Century AD when Pope Julius l sold the idea of the Feast of the Nativity to all those Pagans. So when you are eating, drinking and generally being merry - that is what you are meant to be doing - that is what we have been doing in the middle of winter for millenia...

So I raise a cup to you and send you my love.. 

Party Marms like it is going out of fashion. 

Love You

XXX

Happy Birthday, Marmite

 Dear Marmite

This was in a window in Sophia
Happy Birthday, Marms

Amazing!! you have reached another milestone and you are still going. I have my theories as to why you are here to celebrate. I think when you went to live with Rita you realised you were already in heaven... No more long walks through the jungle for starters. Life clearly made a big turn for the better on so many fronts for you. I congratulate you on being so old! 

You were born in 2006 and came to live with us in 2007. The SPCA didn't know when you were born so I gave you my father's birthday - 9th December. He would have been 99 years old if he was still around. In doggy years you have outlasted him.

You might have heard how Britain is freezing - literally freezing. Temperatures are now in the minus zone. Where I live is a frosty hollow and I have noticed consistently that the temperature guage in my posh car always rises by one or two degrees by the time I get to the big roundabout. So you can imagine how thankful I have been that I invested in a VERY warm coat a few weeks ago. I am going to get out my ski trousers just to make sure everything is covered!

I went walking around Stowe Gardens yesterday. This is something I had been meaning to do for a long time. There is a folly or a monument at every twist and turn. My favourite was a shrine to the British Worthies - three monarchs, a couple of explorers, an architect, a writer, a couple of scientists. I expect you can guess who they are mostly.  This and lots of other wonderful classical edifices are set in the landscaped gardens designed by Capability Brown. 

The National Trust are repairing bits and pieces. Currently under repair is a temple to the modern virtures which sits next to a domed temple to the ancient virtures. I would love to know which virtures slipped out of popularity between building these structures. 

It was just a bit too nippy to take lots of pictures. It meant I had to take my gloves off and stand still. In the background was the vroom and roar of cars going round Silerstone race track on a Wednesday morning!

Anyway, I wrote this especially to wish you all the best on your big day.. Enjoy it. 

Sending you extra big hugs.

Love you

XXX

Brilliant

 Dear Marmite

The things that trigger my ire are increasing exponentially. This could be the product of getting old or not having enough to occupy me. I recently had a phone call to a call centre that needed my details to confirm who I was. Every time the lady at the other end of the phone got a detail right, she'd say, "Brilliant". The conversation was a bit like this, "What's your family name?" ..."Brilliant" and .... "Your house number?"... "Brilliant". How sad her life must be if getting my details right is her pinnacle of brilliance -  DUH! I was so tempted to ask about her exciting life beyond answering the phone but I reckon my life was too short to hear her answer. Brilliant!

There have been other, more interesting things happening though. My Christmas tree is up and bedecked. This year I had Santa's not-so-little helper, Kenan, to decorate it. It looks lovely. He did a really grand job. I expect it will soon get tested by Ezra-Mae to see how sturdy it is.... watch this space.

The temperature is around 5c over here. It is damp and overcast most of the time. Night falls around 4pm - You get the picture, Marms. So when I see pictures of my friends in sunnier places, I feel more than a pang of envy. I admit to having second thoughts about playing tennis when the conditions are less than clement. I definitely need more resolve to get myself moving in the winter.

Added to the conditions outside, the one thing on everyone's mind is the cost of fuel. In the sauna at the pool the other day, a lady was saying how much it cost to boil her kettle. I suggested opening a bottle of wine wouldn't incur the same charges as making a cup of tea. For me, boiling the kettle for coffee is not something I'll be cutting back on.

Saturday was Wolverton's Lantern Festival. For "Lantern Festival" don't imagine the ones in Singapore. This is a whole new ball game. There were giant bugs lit up and they all went for a walk ALL around the town. The central square was buzzing - literally buzzing. Hundreds of people turned out to see the choir, the band, the Carribean band and there was a children's circus group. I joined in juggling with not-so-little persuasion! The big kid inside of me escaped once more. Brilliant!

The downside of my trip to Wolverton was the cycle home. Once more I managed to have a front light that almost died on me as I pedalled back along the pitch black tow path. My thighs were so cold, they were burning and I couldn't push hard as I couldn't see where I was excactly. Silly me - I do this too often.

I haven't forgotten... your birthday is just round the corner. I bet you are getting excited already in the only way you know how! Brilliant!

Love you as always

XXX

Countdown to Christmas

 Dear Marmite

Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent and my mind has turned to thinking about Christmas. I have already got my visit to IKEA out of the way. I needed lights and candles and there is no better place to find all those things under one roof. I managed to restrain myself from buying any more house plants though. I always get itchy fingers when I walk through that section. I can't help myself.

Sadly I missed the village lighting up event yesterday. It was such a lovely one last year, I'm sorry I missed it. At least when I drove back into the village I saw our newly lit Christmas tree standing proud at the end of my road. By comparison, it is smaller than the Dairy Farm one but probably decorated with more panache!

What really has got Christmas underway was my trip to the Ideal Home Exhibition with Sophie, Diane and Jeremy. We did a wreath making workshop which was the big part of our plan for the day. Everything we needed was in a big box and all we had to do was tear open the package and put it together. Easy! Well actually it wasn't. I got into a fight with the fine wire that we needed so that we could wrap the leaves to the hoop. It had a mind of it's own and it fought back. 

I set about repairing and fixing my wreath this morning. An hour of being pricked and pierced by aggressive, fine wire was not enough time to create  masterpiece - I needed to continue with the masochism to get the finished article into an acceptable round. At least now I am a bit happier with my result and it will be put in a place of pride on December 1st. 

On the downside of our day out, the Olympia Exhibition Hall was heaving! A dizzying amount of  people all wanting to eat in a "food court" style area. It wasn't nice. We got food from a stall that didn't have a mile-long queue and found a table to sit at. Even table's were at a premium. errr. 

Part of the exhibition had stalls very much like those found on an indoor market. They were all set at the back right-hand side of the hall. I wonder whether this is a sign of our current economic decline or that my tastes don't allign with their "Ideal Home"ones. I wonder?

What was really exciting was my trip down to London in Sophie's car. We got down to St. Albans and then drew to a halt. The M1 saw chokka. There were police vehicles and flashing lights behind us so we edged over to make space. What we didn't expect was to find the police descending on a van right next to our car. We had front row seats. Sophie turned off the engine and wound down the window so we could hear!! The van was STOLEN. The  passenger was interrogated and the driver was marched off across three lanes while we were asked to stay still and wait until the can had been moved. We sat there and took it all in.. I should have videoed it... silly me!

So today is just a normal day. I have a swim planned and despite the low temperature outside there is glorious sunshine -just right for long country walks! I know, Marms - not your style....

Love you

XXX

Things that go bump!

 Dear Marmite

The weather here is truly wintery now and I have now bought all the warm clothes I could possibly need for this winter and many more to come, I hope. You are lucky. Your beautiful coat would be most suitable over here. When I went away to Stevenage for the weekend, I piled three different types of outer coat in the car just in case. I am completely prepared for all types of weather. I have even made myself matching hat and gloves - crocheted - and they match my new, waterproof parka.  I felt pretty proud of my efforts and I was only slightly miffed when Liz said they looked rustic. For rustic, I read a bit crude and rough round the edges!

Amira bumped into the back of another car on one of the many roundabouts in Milton Keynes on Friday. I know it is wrong to find other's ills amusing but to hit a car in the presence of a police car is quite funny.  The car looks rather bruised but she wasn't hurt, thank goodness. 

So with this in mind, Ann reversed off her drive with me in the passenger seat. Nothing unusual about this except it is a bit of a Woolhead thing to thump the inside of the passenger door at an unexpected moment to make the driver think they have hit something. You know me Marms, at times anything and everything seems funny. Ann wasn't amused. She thought she really had bumped her new car. She called me a daft bat. It doesn't seem so funny now but it was - hilarious! 

I thought it was so funny I called Nasser to tell him.  I thought it would amuse him. He didn't find it funny. He knows the silly prank only too well and does it to me as well. I was sure he would enjoy my success in making Ann think she had bumped her car. Suddenly I felt really daft explaining why I had phoned. I can only explain my embarrassment as being drunk on laughter when everyone else is poker-faced. Silly me... small things and all that...

Nasser with card expressing heartfelt wishes!

It was also Nasser's BIG birthday last week. I chose a recipe to make a parfait cake. However, my trip to the supermarket to get the ingredients wasn't totally successful so I came home minus two very important bits. I made the cake anyway but it didn't look special enough for a birthday cake, especially for a BIG birthday. I made another cake in a hurry and topped it with malteesers to make it look a bit fancier than it really was! 

This meant I was left with a sub-standard cake.... I took it to Ann's and we took it off to her friend's place for the card night. It actually looked OK for an ordinary cake until you cut into it and then it splodged. So it was a good call to make a second one.

So here I am back home and still full of cold one week on. I haven't swam for a whole week now. I am still smiling about my fun weekend playing cards and catching up on gossip. I only won two of the games - and for Ann's benefit - no, I don't need a medal! 

Oh, how we laughed.

If only you could have been there!

Love You

XXX

Uh-Oh

 Dear Marmite

Misty moisty morning!

I think I am turning into a Teletubby. Not only do I watch kiddy programmes now, they seem to be affecting me deeply. More and more my level of intercourse sinks to "Uh oh" and similar. I am definitely more Dipsy than Tipsy! That is what inevitably happens when you have a toddler around, I suppose. I even think my simplified expressions stretch to the tennis court these days. With the way I play, there is ample room for lots of "Uh Ohs" and a few "D'ohs" - courtesy of Homer Simpson.

I'll give you an example. Ezra-Mae - as is her way - tips up my kitchen bin. I am actually quite annoyed but "Uh-oh" slips out. Maybe even a "Whoops-a-daisy". I restrain myself from letting an "oh bugger" slip - I know to save that for more adult company. 

Poorly little thing!

Last night I had Shadow for a sleepover as Ezra-Mae has been so ill she ended up in hospital dehydrated and full of cold - such was the nasty virus that she picked up. Uh oh... poor thing. Shadow is a very chill dog these days. She is 12 years old now so I would have thought she knew better than to plonk herself on my bed. I growled at her. That worked. She leapt off the bed, hung her head in shame and slunk to her mat. "Grrrrr" works well with dogs.

I know I am not the only person to regress with a child around. The other day while I was getting dry from my swim, in the next cubicle there came an almighty thud. There was a pause and then a scream. Obviously a fairly small child had fallen off the bench onto the hard floor. Clearly the Dad didn't realise this. He was clearly an expert in the bleeding obvious. He asked, "What happened?" If only the child could speak - I would expect his reply to be something like, "What do you think happened, Dad?  You were standing right next ot me. I hit my head on the floor when I fell off the seat. It hurts." 

I really think we have inbuilt language filters for such situations. I have spent this morning cuddling a poorly baby while Mum Danielle went for an appointment. Ezra-Mae really wasn't happy that Mum had dumped her and no amount of platitudes and CBBC programmes like "Night time in the Garden" made her feel any better. It wasn't all a waste of time though. I am now an expert on Makka Pakka, Upsy Daisy and Co. I even watched Room on the Broom - Brilliant!! Now Room on the Broom is an allegorical tale of how we should be inclusive. Even the cat came round to a better way of thinking. I am sure E-M picked up on it!

Meanwhile, when Ezra-Mae is in a better state, she calls me, "Nana" but she repeats this so it sounds a bit like a siren, "Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah, nah". Perhaps there should be a warning for all approaching Grandmothers! Who knows!

So, Marms, life is pretty busy. Even I am full of cold today. You are in a warm, sunny place - be happy. 

Love you

XXX

Remember, Remember

 Dear Marmite

It is breakfast time here and I am having an extremely large cup of coffee and eating Marmite on homemade bread - good old warming winter stodge. In fact, the weather here is still very warm which I feel a little disapppointed with as I have bought a REALLY, REALLY warm waterproof winter coat and I so want to try it out in harsh conditions. I know I'll look like a mustard coloured Michellin man but at least I will be warm.

As you know, Britain is rapidly turning into the third world country. We have been told to expect blackouts in January because of fuel shortages and I have the thermostat 1c lower than I did last year as fuel bills have gone through the roof. Fortunately for me, the house is fairly warm despite this and I have a bed cover over my duvet so my bed is a perfect retreat.

Day to day I have been busy. I am nearly done with the Channel swim challenge at the local pool. If I really was swimming the Channel, I would be in sight of French soil already. When it was lockdown, I calculated I swam this distance every month but now there is so much else to do, I have taken to popping to the pool most weeks at least twice a week. I also have been swimming with Ezra-Mae. She is a little fish and loves the water. 

I mentioned that my bed is a perfect retreat. I had Ezra-Mae over for her first sleepover last Sunday. We shared the bed. I thought it was rather unfair that someone her size should occupy the Lion's share. I went down to check on her and even Shadow had plonked himself squarely in the middle of MY bed - BAD SHAD! For one night only I clung to the very edge of the bed and slept not one jot. There will be words before we do it again and next time, I'll put the boot in with Shadow - cheeky mutt.

From my garden

The season of mists and mellow fruitfulness is well and truly done. It is officially winter. In the old days we made a big thing of Bonfire Night. It was a much bigger thing than Halloween back then. From my reading, I discovered that it was actually an Act of Parliament that made it an official celebration for saving James l from being blown up by a group of Catholics. So, clearly this was not a PC event by any stretch of the imagination. I remember making a "Guy" to burn on the bonfire and we would have our own fireworks, as would everyone else back then. I decided to have my own little Bonfire party this year - just food and games - no big bangs because Shadow was there. 

It is always lovely to have people around. The downside is that I am still eating leftovers. I ring the changes with different veg from the freezer but my meals are very similar. This is another downside of living alone. 

I am off to the Orchard soon so I'll say bye bye. Hugs all round.

Miss you.

Love

XXX

Happy Halloween

 Dear Marmite

Halloween is indeed a scary time. I know how much you get scared on a normal day so today will be even more dicey. In times of prehistory people dressed up and made loud noises to scare away evil spirits while nowadays we just aim to drink tasty spirits while listening to loud music when dressed in ill-suited costumes. Times haven't moved on me thinks!

I went to visit Anita up in Sheffield for a Halloween Party. She went the whole hog and had a pretty wild party. The house was decorated with cobwebs and bats. There were even a couple of black cats - and one not so black too. I went dressed as another black cat but didn't get my tummy tickled like the other ones did. We played games  - and as you know - games are right up my street. Naturally, Anita has wonderful friends and I had an absolutely wonderful time.

Anita had told some of the guests that her friend from Singapore would be there so initially they thought I had just arrived from the island. When I said I had been back some time now, they then thought it was a co-incidence that I was also in Sheffield like Anita. It was a bit of a let down to say I had just popped up for the weekend from down south.

On the way home I stopped off at Sue's in Nottingham. Another reunion! As always when meeting Sue it is loads of natter punctuated with laughter. I told her the "Nottingham Services" put on a good meal and the service is very friendly! Until we meet again, Sue - thank you and cheers!

Between letters I have had a theatre visit too. I saw Spike at the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury with Diane and Jeremy. It is a play written by Ian Hislop and a fun evening all round. While I was waiting in the foyer, I was recognised by someone from my neighbourhood and I got talking to some people from the carpark too. I felt almost famous! Only joking, Marms!

I am now on the home straight on my Channel Swim. I have less than 500 lengths left. As with the River Thames swim, you are with me all the way. Having had another lump cut out of my back, I couldn't swim for a while so it is taking me longer than it should do.

So Marms, tonight is the night!! Don't get spooked. Under those scary masks are people I am sure you love.

Sending special hugs

XXXXX

Happy Deepavali - a little late

 Dear Marmite

I really hope you and Rita had a lovely time celebrating. I know how much you love having friends around you. Over here people are allowed to set off their own fireworks and at times it feels almost like being under siege. The noise is never ending and it sounds like gunfire. Definitely not nice for dogs.

I was staying in London over that weekend and I met up with Vandana for a chat and pub meal. It couldn't have been more unlike Singapore. The weather was wet, it was quite a bit colder and the pub was relatively empty. Despite this sounding like a time of misery, we had a lovely time and as always it is lovely to catch up. 

As you probably know, our weather isn't normal over here. This autumn has been so warm I have seen people out in vests in late October. We have had thunderstorms and rain more reminiscent of tropical downpours too. It was in one such downpour that I was out walking. I got so wet, it went though my rain coat, my gilet and my shirt. The water wouldn't drain away and I had to wade ankle deep through a flood to boot. It took days to dry out my walking boots. I remember a similar 20km walk in Singapore down the Green Corridor. I believe Jeff still has nightmares from our jaunt.

Now I'm back home and it feels like I have never been away. I am back to swimming, going to the tennis club and quizzing. I am pleased to say our crucial wrong question in the last quiz wasn't my fault this time - fun quizzing; but this time no cigar.

I am also prepared to spend almost any amount of money to buy my first truly waterproof coat. I say, "almost" as I have looked online and in  the Cotswold shop and quality clothing is quite expensive  - I am adjusting my wants to suit a more limited budget and will continue looking.

Meanwhile, our glorious democracy continues to take a battering and our economy remains in freefall.  We are on the third different PM since my return. Haven't got enough fingers to count the different chancellors and Foreign ministers. I am not even sure it is a saving grace that fallen politicians don't languish in jail over here. My good memory is a big drawback when I shop and notice how much the price of everyday things changes every shop. When I got back here, filling up my tank cost £35 now it is £55. At one point it was nearly £70. 

Today was expecting a handyman. Today at 6am I got a message to say it would have to be next week. I have been waiting since August for this to happen... I'm irked and grumpy, to say the least.... errrrr. 

Missing you as always,

Love

XXX

On being thrown under a bus

 Dear Marmite

I promise you this doesn't happen for real. It is an expression that means the blame for a disaster is put on your shoulders. Just like Kamikwasi Kwarteng our late and not particularly great chancellor, I was thrown under a bus this week. This was not an unceremonial sacking for doing exactly what the PM wanted by tanking the economy. It was death by a thousand whatsapp messages by my quiz team - only joking guys -  and I thoroughly desrved it. It was a crucial question which, if wrong, lost us 15 points and first place. The question had to do with Rosa Parks and 2857. I promise I won't forget that answer in a hurry. But, to be fair, I did know it all happened before I was born which none of the rest knew. Ha!

Other blips in my week include another skin cancer removal. I expect to look like a Swiss Cheese before too long. I have to say the doctor was lovely and it was all relatively painless - thank goodness. THe biggest downside is not being able to swim for a week. 

There were nice things in my week. I went to Grand Designs in Birmingham with Jeremy and Diane. I haven't quite decided on the final layout for my ideal home - again this is a dream -  but there were some nice things there. I particularly liked the natural wood and coloured resin tables but at the price they were, I will stick with my current one. I also rather liked a bed that changed shape and massaged you vigorously. Now that is something I would be willing to trade up to. I had to apologise to the salesman who I accidentally kicked in the nether regions while testing the bed. That, Marmite, is an entirely other story!

Jeremy and Diane then treated me to a play in London too. Upstart Crow is a part panto- part farce - with a smidgeon of Shakespeare for good measure. I am still chuckling which means it must have been funny and very British. Although a strangley odd thing happened to me as I was waiting for the loo in the interval. The lady waiting behind me in the queue told me how you really needed to know Shakespeare to be able to appreciate the story implying that I knew diddly squat. I probably just look DUH! I look like I don't know the difference between Lady Macbeth and a Merry wife -obviously.

I also took in the sights. A  trip from Covent Garden through Chinatown to Regent Street took me down memory lane. It was Mid Autumn festival here too.

So, back to the quiz night. The quiz master asked if I was on the Victoria Line last Tuesday. Having got a crucial question wrong, I hesitated. The correct answer was YES! He was in the same carriage but didn't say anything to me as he was a tad drunk and not entirely sure it was me. Small world, eh? 9 million people in London and I am spotted on the tube at 11pm.

I must remember to blend into the background more. It is so much better for a quiet existence....

Hope you are doing alright. 

Love you as always. Hugs

XXX

Gloomy Britain

 Dear Marmite

This week the weather has turned to Autumn. You can feel the pinch of cold in the air. I have already sifted through my warmer clothes and I will be wrapping up even more these coming days as we all need to mind how we use elctricity and gas. Putin is blamed for the hike in energy prices and while he is somewhat to blame, it is mostly the path chosen by the government that has created our collective misery. This is where your marvellous fur coat would be ideal.

I booked a tennis camp down in Suffolk and this was the first time I had seen the sea since coming home. It was grey. It was uninviting - especially as the water companies have emptied raw sewage into our coastal waters this year. However, I was there for tennis and that is what I did. It was wonderful. 

I met a most fantastic group of ladies who shared my love of gin. Drinking gin and playing tennis compliment each other - gin being a much needed pain reliever after a session on court. As I now realise, the older I get the more pain relief I need!

We went to Fishers in Aldeburgh for a tasting session straight after 5 hours of tennis. The special flavours of this gin come from the plants foraged along the banks of the watercourse that feeds the sea. There is a slight saltiness about the finished product that makes it quite unique. Both the good company and the experience made it wholly worthwhile. hic! 

Yesterday I played a match for my club at Winslow. My new partner for the day - Nasser - played his socks off in his debut match. I am just about recovered enough to go out for social tennis this morning. This afternoon I have promised to help Danielle do some housework so tonight a good massage wouldn't go amiss - if only!

A slightly decimated quiz team hit my local for the monthly quiz last Thursday. Stephen and I joined a lovely couple for the evening and yet again we won! When I turned up for the quiz, a man from the next table told me to drink more so that they could have a chance. What a lovely reputation to have!

You, Marms and I have well and truly finished the 58 mile swim challenge and you are now signed up for the cross channel swim. So far we are 6 miles into it. Stick with me and we'll reach France. I imagine you with me all the way! I got a bit of a shock when I saw the membership prices off my local pool - they have gone up by £50 a year - shock, horror! 

My huggable other

So, that is about all my news for the week. At least this last week will be remembered as being special for the holiday I had in Thorpeness. Keep the pictures coming. I so want to hug you when I see you.

Loving you as always

XXX

A Day in the Life of a Retiree

 Dear Marmite

As both of us are retired you'll know where I am coming from. It isn't that I don't have anything to do. it is just that my week days and weekends slip seemlessly by and I don't notice where they have gone. 

I get up happy, usually set off to do some sort of exercise; then back at home I potter and fiddle with stuff. Monday was different. It was the Queen's Funeral. This I have to say was spectacular on so many levels and I appreciate totally how long the history of the pageantry is. It made me chuckle when at one point a commentator said that one part was a more recent addition in the early 1500s. 

Lines like that are pure comedy. I did, however, get a bit irritated by the inane commentary about what was happening and also the number of familiar faces wheeled out to tell us at home how wonderful Her Maj was. By the time the coffin had been transferred to the hearse, I turned the sound off and just had it on in the background.

Just thinking of our history - the abbey, fininished in 1276, is amazing considering they had no cranes and modern technology. Not only is it grand on a large scale, it is magnificent in its decor too and it is still standing. This is a testament to how well it was made. I am glad I don't have to get the cobwebs from the rafters though. That must be a bit tricky even now. Westminster Abbey is not the only old place still standing. This country is full of really ancient stuff. Buildings around you in Singapore get earmarked for redevelopment after 30 years. Lucky that Dairy Farm is clinging on!

Last Friday I did quiz night at my place. It makes me realise what clever friends I have here. My round was on HRH... From my research I found this one...Do you know why the longest serving Saxon King was called Ethelred the Unready? It is all to do with a play on words and nothing to do with an incompetent monarch!! That was news to me.

A pro arts quiz by a pro artist!

I have been making tree name signs for the orchard. I am learning pyrography. This literally is playing with fire and I am not totally relaxed with the process but it fits with my aim of picking up new skills in my dotage. I have also been making a blanket for the cold weather. I plan to have my heating one degree lower than last year. Bills over here are threatening to be scary. 

And so Marms, I am off to tennis- need more practice to get more medals-  shortly followed by an afternoon pottering in the garden. Lots to do before the temperatures really drop! 

Miss you and love you loads

Hugs

XXXX

In search of Heathcliff

 Dear Marmite

I know it has been a time since I last wrote. Last weekend we had a Community Orchard Day where little children and my daughter, Danielle could make bug hotels and clay animals. I made 24 crumbles to sell and we did a roaring trade in preserves too. These were all from orchard produce. The weather was perfect, the atmosphere as always in the orchard is so nice so I knew I would enjoy it. I wasn't disappointed. On top of that we raised money to keep the place ticking over.

This week I went up to Howarth in Yorkshire to meet up with an old friend you once knew and to walk the moors. Even with warm sunshine the moors are bleak and when you are on top of them, you really can see the world. For me, it was my first time in this part of the world and I fell in love with it.

I also very nearly fell in love with a dog too. His name is Rollo - a young Alsation with impeccable manners. We got there on Monday and to be honest Haworth was closed. The Pub where we stayed was almost the only eating place open on that Monday night and everybody we were in the pub with was on the circular path to see the Wuthering Heights house way up on top of the moor - a 7+ mile round trip. So it wasn't difficult to spot Rollo and his family - big wide open space - not many people - easy!

Things livened up for us when we got back to town from our walk. Outside a brewery-cum- distillery pub was a man sitting in the sunshine holding a pint. He said it tasted good and he certainly looked as if he was enjoying it so we too had a pint. We then tried their speciality gins - nuff said. As it was Tuesday they weren't serving food and everywhere in the Main Street was also closed when we had finally finished (It was Haworth after all) so the only possible answer was to pop into another pub for another gin! Long walk plus mini pub crawl equals great day!

Now I am back home. I have caught up with my swimming. You and I Marms are close to the finish line - 40 lengths only. The next challenge is the Channel - 22 miles in 12 weeks. If you think we are up to it, I'll put your picture on the chart and we can do that one together as well.

Today I am off to do some tidying up in the church graveyard of my little village. A little bit of give back to the lovely place where I live. The sun is shining. The birds are singing - the bloody geese are making a racket - they always do.. almost idyllic.

Love you

XXX