General Chat

oooh Susan a MOB, how lovely :0) Congratulations to your dear Fruit and her intended.

There is a little problem over here at the moment when young and not so young Ladies are planning for their forthcomming nuptuals. The said young Ladies become a little over excited about the day and become





"whispers for fear of your fruit hearing"






Bridezillas



I blame all the celebs and people who sell all things weddingy. Pressure is put upon the poor gals to have the biggest and the best of everything, and the everything has to be better and bigger than everyone elses.
It may be just a thing which occours to some gals on our shores.

Have a google and see :0)


I love a wedding we can be your downunder cyber guests :0)


I do hope you are feeling better now Cherry, there is nothing worse than a bruise anywhere on ones person. I find cake may help :0)
FTE is making a banana cake with vanilla frosted icing and walnuts at the moment. We have BIL and SIL and the Neice and Nephew Fruit round for tea. I shall send you a slice before they come and snaffle it all up :0)


Lesley, your dress is lovely. There is a naice shop which sells some classic type clothing not so far from here (I will pm as not sure if im alowed to put in on here for fear of advertising) but not footwear. have you tried W and Gs in Town. I popped in with the Ladies who lunch the other day and there are still sales on and very nice court and weddingy type shoes. Hope all is well with Baby E. My Babies were small, FTE was only 14lbs at the age of one so was FTY. FTE is now tall and weighs a normal weight. They all catch up in the end :0)

Im glad Auntie that Patty is back with you and you are continuing the good works. Pattty appears to have left some strips of material here......oops its her smalls. I am sending them down the cyber hatch dear, get ready to catch...................................................................................................................................

Orff now to fashion a Christmas card for FTE. I am cross stiching a card for her to take on board in October. It is a little difficult to send things to the ship by post so she is taking her Christmas cards and trinkets with her.


Yours tittering at Pattys smalls



Teresa :0)

*opens a bleary eye, espies Petunia standing there, struggles to stand up, and groans*

Ah Petunia dear. You will see I have left you something. Its in the kitchen .... its waiting to be washed up !! ;-)

*

congratulations Susan to your Fruit and her Fiance. You do realise that MOB - Mother Of The Bride - eventually turns into MIL - Mother In Law. :-D

Why wont you wear a hat? I suppose its because you have nothing to hide ... no double chin, sagging cheeks, crows feet, or brow furrows and other wrinkles. Hmmm, some people are just jammy devils :-D

I'm sure Lesley will lend you her wedding outfit, for a reasonable fee, which will save you some time on clothes shopping.

*

Thanks Teresa for your concern and sympathy, I am recovering nicely. Oh there is a lot of peer pressure everywhere, these days, not just in schools or to do with wedding plans. It's a new variant of Keeping Up With The Joneses, really, isnt it.

The slice of cake went down a treat. Thank you!! Might I have another slice please? *Reaches hand out through the cyber hatch ....... OUCH !!

Ah yes ... Smalls. What I want to know is, why did my Smalls become Bigs.

*

Well we nipped out yesterday to Caithness Glass in Kings Lynn, and spent a little money. And today we went to a Glass Fair at Linton College, and spent a little more money. Two very interesting venues, and it was nice to get out of London and see a bit of the English countryside. In fact we saw a bit too much of the English countryside yesterday, because for some strange reason the blimmin Sat Nav took MFH off the A10 and around loads of country lanes, here there and everywhere - from Norfolk into Cambs, into Suffolk, then back into Norfolk on the A10 again. In fact, we neednt have left the A10 at all. But I have discovered a new Holy Testament, where Babraham begat Shepreth and Meldreth. And just outside the ancient village of Loose Chippings, there is a Holy Mountain called Blind Summit.

A word of advice -if while driving around The Wilderness, in the back of beyond, you find yourself Caught Short - forget the Happy Eater and similar A-road Eateries - look for the nearest Garden Centre or Public House.

CC

Good afternoon dear Ladies.

Have sent Pat-trish-aaaaah out to build an Ark. Tis tipping it down here. I believe Pat-trish-aaaaah's small are not that small.......................they can be used for sails, when the wind eventually drops.

Cherry dear is looking a little less black and blue, and back to her normal peaches and cream complexion. Thank Heavens. Must be all that building up with the roast dinners.

Oh dear Upsidedown Susan, how lovely for you. I can see you trailing around Bride Fayres. We have them all the time here. You can get everything under one roof. All the stationary, tokens, dresses and outfits and even order the photographer. We will be there in spirit. And we wish to be sent photographs.

Teresa dear, I do so love to cross-stitch myself and have made several samplers for births etc. I think your Fruit will be having a lovely time on her Ship, and taking reminders of you all will make her come home all the sooner.

Lesley looks as if she is ready for the orft. Lets hope it is all under one roof, I think she said it was, and the rain holds off for the happy couple.

We are having an early dinner dears, so will go up and change in a minute or two. I look forward to the cake being sent down the cyber hatch for dessert. Handmade by someone other than Mrs Berry. What a treat! I do so like to experiment.

Have a lovely evening all. I am going to overdose on Downtown now, I missed the first episode and will have to rush to the Parlour in a mo to catch up with it.

Wishing You All You Wish Yourselves
Auntie Petunia


thinks. I shall send a hat to dear Upsidedown Susan regardless. The straw boater with cherries on it will look tickety boo!

Hello Ladies

Just arrived home from a family lunch :-) have eaten far to much and I feel most uncomfortable :-( changed into negligee and relaxing on the chaise longue in front of the log fire.........it's freezing :-|

Congratulations Susan and fruit :-D

CC I am pleased to hear you are on the mend and able to get out and about :-) .........well I've learnt something today I had no idea Caithness Glass was made anywhere other than Scotland.

Ooooh Teresa please don't tempt me to buy more dresses :-D

Auntie Petunia I'm not orf to the wedding until next weekend :-S I do believe the weather forecast is much like today's though :-(

Know where did I put my fan.............the heat from the fire is a trifle stifling............there's no pleasing me today :-D

Linton you say Cherry dear? if its the Linton near Cambridge there is a Zoo. I have neve been but tis a small pootle down the road from here on the way past MILs to Cambridge.

Lesley the said Mactintosh and outdoor coat place you mentioned which the gentry and country folk wear is indeed in the shopping venue I mentioned. It advertises as 50 % off and indeed has many nice coats and jackets etc :0)

I think we have some of Susans weather here, its raining and cold and I have extracted my winter jacket out of hiding. I was toasty warm with it on :0)

Auntie, I hope you enjoyed the cake. FTE is making a chocolate delight for work mates on Wednesday. I will send you a slice or two for tea.

Orff now to have lunch, yes I know it is 4.20pm but its been a bit pf a day. Orffff now for boiled egg and toast.

Teresa

Peeps over bedcovers..................

Is it safe to come out yet? It has blown a storm here today. Lashing of rain and high winds. Umbrellas blown inside out, and all in all, not a nice day at all.

How glad I am that I can please myself and if I dont want to rise, I wont.

Teresa dear, do you know where every zoo is in the South of England? I only know London Zoo and Chessingtons. London Zoo has had an update and is now more animal friendly, less cages and more open spaces. Also the penguins have a new enclosure, so they can swim, waddle and produce chocolate biscuits.

We also have a City Farm near us, in fact there are two, in opposite directions. One has geese that chase you. The other has a poor moth-eaten cow, that just stands and mooos all day.

Has anyone visited the Shopping Outlet in Bicester? I visited once, and was more impressed with the chocolate shop, that the clothes shops. Too, blingy for me I am afraid. The exception was the shoe shop outlet, where there were some very sensible shoes on sale.

Do you fancy making me eggs and soliders dear Teresa? I could just fancy a Grenadier Guard right now.

Lesley dear, I do hope the weather changes for the weekend. I shall speak to Mary Poppins, she seems to know which way the wind will be blowing. I am sure whatever, you will have a lovely time. Be aloof dear, people will be queing up to speak to you, as think you are mysterious.

Now Cherry dear, please try and be a little more cautious in future. We cannot have you tripping up again. Take care, dear, get someone else to do your work for you, Pat-trish-aaaah is an ideal candidate. She has nothing else to do, once she has helped Mrs Berry. Make good use of her.

Time for languishing in front of the television now dears. That nice UCOS team are on tonight. Minus Mr Bolam, unfortunately, but with that nice Mr Lawson in his place.

Pip Pip
Auntie Petunia

Thanks for that Teresa I will suggest to my fruits partner that he looks there first, knowing him he wont as he is definitely a W Gs shopper :-S I personally don't think W Gs is same since it was bought out :-(

Aloof Auntie my MOG says I'm like that all the time :-D .....................London zoo I have a photograph of me there when I was a very young gal riding on a camel or was it an elephant:-S ...............oh dear I fear my memory is failing:-(

Lesleyx

good afternoon folks. I am in dire need of sympathy and coddling. After posting on Sunday I became extremely unwell, and was very unwell for the rest of Sunday, all through the night, and for much of Monday morning. Am now surviving on dry toast and boiled water. I cant decide whether I had food poisoning, or picked up a gastro-virus .... there are many sick people out and about this time of year who havent got the sense to stay at home, and I have a weak immune system.

I hope Petunia that my frequent trips to the Little Girls Room did not disturb your beauty sleep. Or, are you still sleeping with pebbles in your ears?

*

Yes Lesley this is a Caithness Glass factory at Kings Lynn. They make the glass there I presume, because during the week they hold demos in the Glass Blowing Room. Or its possible they just sell the stuff duly imported from Scotland. We visited the factory at Perth once, many years ago. Anyway there is lots of info on the Web about Caithness, Kings Lynn.

*

That's right Teresa the Glass Fair was held at Linton College, and its the same Linton where the zoo is. We took our offspring there, many years ago when they were young and innocent. We also took our young and innocent offspring to Whipsnade, although I have to say that after they saw what the rhinos were doing they were no longer so innocent.

*

Last night I recorded some of the TV shows I wanted to watch, because I was sooo groggy, and just as well I did because I kept flaking out and Cable Catch Up seems to have "gone down". I am fully up to speed with the UCOS team, Petunia dear, and have advance information that Brian Lane and Chief Insp Sandra Pullman will also be leaving. Who should we nominate to replace them, do you suppose?

It is most kind of you to suggest I should make more use of Pat rish aaaah, dear Petunia. Unfortunately, that girl seems to have acquired too much self confidence since she decamped to Essex, changed her hair colour and started wearing Skimpies. I just cannot dp a thing with her. Why, I am even having to boil my own water !!

CC

Sending CC sympathy, flowers and chocolates, please don't be tempted to eat the chocolates until you are well into recovery.

Baby E's check at hospital went well today no concerns and no follow up appointment for a month, the doctor did mention the strawberry mark she has developed near her eye doctor said it should eventually go away by itself but if the mark gets any bigger they can/will treat it so E's vision isn't affected :-) :-(

Lesley

Hello Lesley and thank you for the flowers and sympathy - all sympathy is much appreciated :-) Please dont be offended if I return the chocolates - I've gone off the stuff for the time being, and would not wish such lovely confectionery to be wasted! I still cant eat anything, without having difficulties.

Yes some strawberry marks do disappear on their own so dont worry about that for the time being. Am glad E is well in all other regards.

Well Ladies - you are being posted at by a Woman Of Substance, A Lady of Some Private Means ....... oh such wealth !!

Yesterday I received a recorded delivery letter, and thought : who the heck would be sending me RD mail. When I opened the envelope I found a letter from a certain building society who advertise they give X-tra. That's "just a line", as I do business with them so I know what a bunch of shysters they really are. Anyway, the letter said I had won a prize in their monthly draw.

How much??!! I hear you cry.

The top prize was £100,000. Then £1,000. Then several £100 prizes. MFH said if I'd won the top prize, he'd retire. I told MFH, it would only be £100, and I promised him that he would get half my £100. (But, if I had won the top prize, I'd have kept quiet about it, and given him £50, as I dont want him to retire!!! :-D).

So today I dragged my weary bones, and empty tummy, to the building society, with all the documentation they asked for as proof of ID, barring the drivers licence as I'd forgotten to check it was in my handbag. You would not believe the palaver I was subjected to, to prove that I was ME, and over 18. I mean, look at me, would an 18 year old choose to look like this?????

The branch I visited is my local branch and I'm in there every month doing the banking. But its a different division who handle the prize draw, so even the branch's word wasnt enough ... or so they claimed. I was asked for another proof of ID, perhaps a bank card from another bank. I supplied one - then commented about how they were walking off with my bank card and added "with all due respect how do I know what you are doing with my bank card when its out of my sight, you're making all these checks on me but people are always being told not to let their bank cards out of their sight". "Its to make sure you dont walk off with prize money that isnt yours" I was told. I pointed out I'd signed for the recorded delivery letter, and I'd come in with the latest bank statement and a utility bill from British Gas and who else would have a letter from British Gas addressed to me except for me, and it wasnt my fault I dont own a passport. They refused to tell me how much I'd won, until the final clearance checks were made.

So ..... I was finally cleared to receive my prize. Which was, as I'd anticipated, £100, and it was paid into my passbook account!!!!!! Which no one else can access, except me and my signature which matches the UV signature in the passbook - so if I wasnt me I couldnt have fraudulently walked off with the money anyway. Why couldnt they have just paid this money into my bank account in the first place, and avoided all the hoohar.

Now - MFH has had his share of my boodle, leaving me with £50. I owe the credit card £49.95 and I must pay this bill or face having my Credit Rating ruined. How far can we go and how much can we celebrate, with Five Pence, gels?

CC

Congratulations Cherry dear. Money is money dear. Five pence can give you five trips to the loo. Unless you go in one of the big Railway Stations where it is 20p, so you may get as far as loosening your coat!

I am sorry I have been absent dears, but it is the Anniversary of Poor Lavinia and Mr Lavinia. Those of you who were there, know what happened at Highgate Cemetery, with the runaway horses, and the glass carriage. Shudders.

I have been in silent reflection for the past two days, it brings it home to you, how frail we all are.......................

I am delighted to hear you are feeling a little better Cherry dear. I was beginning to wonder, as we can only see your dear little face, once wrapped in cotton wool.

Lesley, the weather looks to improve before the weekend, so hopefully sandals will be in order. I hope you have broken the shoes in, just in case.............

~~~~~~~ to Teresa and Upsidedown Susan.

Back to a relective mood
Auntie Petunia

Good morning ladies,

I have been absent these last few mornings as my fruit has accompanied me home after out morning constitutional and then proceeded to commandeer my laptop and visit 'bridal' pages........
The puppy has watched me eat my breakfast this morn, she has moaned and groaned and growled in the hope I might share my cereal :-S, no chance puppy !!

CC, I hope you are much recovered, Petunia, I hope you are feeling a little brighter.
Lesley, pleased to hear that E is not in need of the Doctor again :-).

~~~~ to Teresa.

The man who 'trimmed' our hedge to within an inch of its life :-| , is returning today to take out the hedge and start building our new fence....... :-(. At least it will tidy up the area permanently.

I am orf with fruit this afternoon to check out a wedding venue in another town. I know it is not cheap so don't think we will end up there, but, never say never I guess.

Better be on my merry way, I am to escape work early today - hooray :-).

Toodle,

Susan

Cherry dear, I too have been struck down with the same bug as you. I was at paid toil on Tuesday was as happy as Larry when suddenly whoosh, there was the bug. I was dispatched home and have slept on and orff ever since. I have had water and dry crumpets today and yesterday. The joy of it is I have lorst 4lbs in weight :0)
I do hope you are feeling better now and congratulations on your win. 5pence will buy a penny chew.

Lesley, when I wasa little younger and a student in the late 1970s I worked as a Saturday girl in W and Gs. It was then owned by the original family. I think a large retailer now owns it. Its not quite the same any more but has lovely clothes in it. When I was a small child I got lost from my Mum in there. Oh dear what a panic. The layout is almost the same. Like a Hampton Cout Maze! Hugs to baby E :0)

Goodness Susan, you have the phantom Hedge trimmer there by the sounds of it. Good luck with venue shopping :0)

Auntie is it really a year since dear Lavania departed. I remember those horses! I wonder what she would make of Pattys transformation :0)

Orff now to get another glass of water. I am also off the sweet stuff and the thought of chocolate..........................................................................................

Yours a littlle green about the gills

Teresa

Ha ha, Another zoo is in Lowestoft. FTY went there on a school trip many moons ago. I have not visited it yet :0)

Five trips to the loo eh? dear Petunia? I would never have thought of that and it gives me much relief to know that five pennies can be so well spent.

Yes I am still wrapped in cotton wool, self-coddling myself in your absence, and I dont know where Pat rish aaaah is right now, for, like my cat, she comes and goes as she pleases. That gel wears such skimpy smalls now, she will end up with the same problem she'd get if she sat on damp walls or cold radiators.

Of course I had not forgotten poor Lavinia at Highgate Cemetery nor the strange ending of Mister Lavinia. I do hope the horses have recovered now.

*

I hope Susan dear that your errant hedge cutter provides a better service with the fencing job.

Enjoy these bridal forays, perhaps you could just tell your daughter "you can want it as much as you like", if she sets her heart on a gown identical to the one Catherine of Cambridge wore ... for the same price. It used to work for me, when my offspring watched TV adverts then demanded this toy/that toy/the latest gimmick. I would reply : of course dear, you can want it as much as you like.

*

Teresa I am so sorry to learn that you too have suffered the same malady and hope you are well on the road to recovery. My MIL was also afflicted, and the only thing we had in common was Kings Lynn but thats in Norfolk and you are in Essex so I suppose this is the start of the National Norovirus Season, and I cannot blame the Caithness Cafeteria after all.

Last night I managed to eat a slice of bread with a piece of ham and drank a cup of tea, and this morning I had toast and tea. Have now cracked open the organic carrot juice, which is supposed to be binding, and will be nibbling on some more arrowroot biscuits which are also supposed to be binding. I havent been on the scales since the end of last week but have no doubt I've dropped a few lbs. I can see my ankle bones as well as the veins on my feet. Am now fretting about how long it will take me to pile those lbs back on ..... I dont want to be fat again.

Having fallen asleep over the TV shows I wanted to watch, I woke up at nearly midnight and was wide awake, so I finished reading Les Mis, a most fascinating tome, and right at the end of the novel I learned that in the 19thC gastro enteritis was known as petit-cholera .. little cholera. I've had GE several times in my life, and never known that before. Certainly I thought I was dying of dysentery, at one point. I have never known a time in my life when I could not face a bar of chocolate. *tut* and with Christmas so close too.

I started reading another book - a complete contrast to Les Mis. No less than Terry Pratchett's Maskerade :-D I'd read it before, having borrowed it from Offspring, but bought my own copy having decided I should read it again because TP was inspired by Phantom of the Opera, in particular the Masquerade sequence, which was a simply brilliant piece of choreography.

Alas I am old enough to remember when five pence had the buying power of five pence and one could purchase five penny chews. I will follow dear Petunia's advice and save my money for visits to the Ladies at Liverpool Street Station, where no Man has gone before.

We never took the Offspring to Lowestoft, that was a zoo too far for us. Just London Zoo, Whipsnade, and Linton. One expects zoos to be educational of course, but that was one practical biology lesson too many :-D

*

Well - two down - how many to go?

CC

Dons paper mask and latex gloves, and green surgical gown and boots.

Can you hear me dear Friends?

Oooooh-eerrrrr! I dont fancy getting the Running Trots one little bit. I will have to have my flu-jab very soon, and dont want to miss it. The Doctor may give my dose to another deserving soul, and then I will be wanting.............

Ah Bridal Shows, I went to one of those. Lots of mirrors, and a little smoke too, I'll be bound. When a young acquaintance of mine was getting married, Mama ordered a lot of stuff of tinternet. They got very nice Favour Boxes which were engraved with the names of Bride and Groom. All the contents for such, loose, and made up the boxes themselves, and saved themselves a packet. The Dress was bought from a shop which specialised in making Samples [luckily the Bride was a teeny gel] and got it at Cost. So savings all around. The Dress and Favours were commented on lavishly, so no-one was any the wiser. You gotta be shrewd sometimes.

Yes dears, tis a year since we were standing in the rain in Highgate Cemetery, but we have made a new friend in Beatrice. She will never replace dear Lavinia, but she seems a reasonable soul, and we will welcome her into our enclave.............until she upsets us that is.

The Hedge Trimmer dear Upsidedown Susan. Soundss like a sketch from the Two Ronnies. The Phantom Hedge Trimmer of Old London Town. A neighbout of mine a few years ago, had a wonderful honeysuckle all along her back wall, beautiful yellow blooms with a heavenly scent. Her gentleman walker husband went orft to work, and by the time he arrived home in the evening, it was gorn. He was a little annoyed we believe. We could hear the shouting and the door slamming through the walls.

Do take care dears, I am putting myself in isolation I think, no nasty germs for me!

Night Night All
Auntie Petunia

BRAT food for CC and Teresa,

Apparently after a sick tummy, BRAT food is de riguer. Banana's, rice, apples and toast :-D.

Though which combinations you choose is entirely up to you ;-).

Some years ago, my OH and I went down at the same time with a bug, due to chicken :-D. We have never been so ill... In fact my OH looked like a skeleton by the time the bug had finished with him.... Oooh dear, not happy memories.

We have a very nice zoo in Auckland if your sat navs ever bring you to our neck of the woods ladies ;-).

Looks like we are in for a lovely weekend weather wise. At last. I hope to get outdoors after I have finished indoors :-(. The hedge chopper has left alot of root and twigs about. I wish to dispose of them before the chopper returns on Monday for stage 2. I shall send pics in due course.
Our neighbourhood is a hive of activity at the moment. Trees being trimmed, driveways replaced. It is all go.

I am awaiting my OH's return from work.., He has had a very busy week with several very late finishes. There is a beer or three chilling in the fridge and waiting for him.. It is home made fish and chups for dinner. I do mean chips, but according to the aussies, we kiwi's say "chups". I , of course, disagree heartily and very vociferously :-S.
Ah, the trans tasman love/hate relationship will be a 'forever' I think.

Better go and get me 'tattie's in the oven.

Toodle pip,
Susan

Where am I? Is this St Elsewhere? I keep seeing a spectral figure dressed in surgical greens and a face mask ..... oh, its YOU, Petunia dear. Do please be assured, I am no longer infectious if past experience of this illness is anything to go by. You are quite safe, but do please be careful while going out and about doing your Good Works. You dont know who else could be harbouring germs "out there". I suggest you hold your breath when passing by!! :-D

*tut* just look at that bruise from where I fell on the floor just over a week ago. Have you seen so many shades of blue and green?

Do tell me, pray, why did your lady neighbour decide to have the honeysuckle ripped out? Was she annoyed with her Spouse?

As it happens - ahem - my wedding was on a tight budget as well. I wore a full length, full skirted, lacy wedding dress but it was bought in the January sales, saving me a small fortune. Fortnum & Masons was not available to provide the catering, so Mama made me hire a local caterer who turned out not to be just cheap, but cheap-skate, and if that wasnt bad enough the reception was like the church - bride's family on one side, and groom's family t'other side of the hall, and no fraternising in the middle.

*

Hello Susan, alas because of a pre existing medical condition I am unable to eat rice or pasta. I cannot digest apple, and I am not supposed to eat potato or bread either. I've been living on boiled water and toast however, and last night managed to eat a piece of breaded fish with some mash, for "the bulk".

On Sunday, I'd taken a piece of chook out of the freezer, to defrost for my dinner, before I took ill. It never got cooked and remained in the fridge and I had to throw it away yesterday, also a half can of soup I opened on Saturday then couldnt finish off. Am now praying that my OH doesnt catch this illness but at least he wont take it from me as the standard incubation period has passed.

MFH and I have also been in the situation where we were both ill with GE at the same time ..... Youngest Offspring was only a baby at the time and I still remember how hellish it was caring for her, MFH holding me up as I knelt down to change nappies so I didnt collapse over her. And the worry, because the children had to be fed and I was so scared that in doing their meals I'd infect them. We had no one to come in and help care for the children. Still, we survived.

Do put me right please .. I dont think I have asked this before. I was told many moons ago that if a Kiwi is mistaken for an Aus, the Kiwi gets very upset. But, if an Aus is mistaken for a Kiwi, the Aus finds it amusing. Is this true? To the English ear, the accents sound very similar, and I certainly cant hear any difference in the accent between North and South Aus, tho I know there is one only discernible to another Aus. I wouldnt know if someone was from Darwin or Tasmania, and this is in spite of all the antipodean TV shows I've watched down the years.

No sign of Teresa yet, I see. I hope the poor dear continues to recover well, but it will take time. I still feel very weak and woozy, although I've managed to push the vacuum cleaner around the upstairs and put some laundry away in the airing cupboard.

CC

Good afternoon dear Ladies,

I had an early night last night, as I had an early start this morning.

I had to go and purchase a pair of shoes in the West End. As you know, high button boots are increasingly hard to find. However, I did manage to find a rather naice pair of shoes at the department store, where it has a Royal Warrant. The one that has an advert on the television of late, where a boy and gel, in different time warps, get together. That young gel reminds me of myself, with her drop waist dress, cloche hat and lisle stockings. I will leave them in the box, so they do not get scratched. I think I will put some polish on them before wearing too. I do so like new shoes, in fact, any shoes.

I do believe dear Lesley has her nuptials this week-end. The sun is shining, so I wonder if she plumped for the sadals after all.

Is dear Upsidedown Susan from EndZed? When I met her earlier this year, she hardly had an accent at all. She also commented that mine was like cut glass. At least, I think that is what she said!

I am pleased you are feeling better dear Cherry, is it safe to take of the mask yet?

No news of dear Teresa, I do hope she is on the mend.

The window boxes are very sad now, only a few flowers yet, I think it is time to empty out the old flowers, and plant spring bulbs. When I say me..............of course I do not mean me......................I shall get the gardener to do it.

Mine you, he has been conspicuous my his absence, I wonder who has frightened him off? Pat-trish-aaaaah before she came back to her usual lumpy self I suspect. Blonde Bombshell indeed!

Piffle!
Auntie Petunia

good afternoon Petunia dear. I just love your shoes, did you buy those at the Antiques stall at Camden Market? I believe that ancient clothing is highly prized, but do not like to see it highly priced.

Yes you are quite safe from infection, so do take the mask off now. Waste Not, Want Not. Save the mask for Halloween, which is just around the corner, metaphorically speaking. You can wear it to scare the neighbourhood children off when they come begging for pennies for the guy, or trick n treat. Alternatively, let Pat rish aaaah open the front door.

Odd you should mention your missing gardener. Mine is missing as well. Do you suppose they have run orft together? Mine was supposed to phone me for some extra work before next month, as well as confirm next month's day and time. I shall have to borrow your phone to ring him on Monday ..... my phone is being disinfected, you see :-D

Keanu Reeves was in a film where he and a girl kept time warping, I forget the actress's name, and I think the film was called The Lake House. They kept sending letters to each other "across the decades" and finally arranged a Present Time to meet, only (unknown to her) he was killed in a road accident outside her offices. She of course did not know this, and thought she'd been stood up. But, she realised what had really happened, eventually, and sent another message back in time, to tell him not to cross the road.

I have been googling some Caithness on Tinternet, and am amazed at some of the prices. I am not parting with my few humble pieces, not for any price. Unless the price was right, of course!! ;-)

CC