General Chat

CONGRATULATIONS Lesley on the arrival of baby Emilie. A long and happy life to her..

Petunia, I hope they were not your best towels that CC was ripping up :-D.. Oh deary me. Has Patrishaaa stopped wailing yet? Did she not have long enough tresses to lower herself gracefully from the tower window? Err, long tresses and graceful, perhaps not. ;-).

Hello Teresa, have a lovely holiday in Wales. OH and I loved the little bit that we saw in May, so beautiful. We shall return someday.

My fruit has just been over for my assistance in holding down the puppy to put in the eye ointment, what a mission, nothing that a few 'treats' can't fix. said puppy was in the dog house yesterday, literally and figuratively. Her loud and continous barking , led one of the neighbours to call noise control :-(. Oops. Fruit was out of town all day for a job and puppy objected to being home alone.

Yes we have some more volcanic activity. Tongariro decided to give a wee belch, the first time in over 100 years. We didn't get any ash as it travelled east instead of northward to us. White Island (off the coast in the Bay of Plenty) is also showing signs of activity. :-D.

Well I never, the sun is shining today. Shame I shall be at work and stuck inside :-P.

Did you see our Kiwi House in London had a bit of an explosion and fire... No one injured thank goodness. Tis a gathering place for Kiwi Olympic followers. I did see they imported a mega amount of a certain NZ beer, it has nearly gorn :-D...
Well I don't suppose it was imported to look at was it.

Looks like our Black Sticks are playing your gels in the Hockey for a bronze. Might I be so forward to wish our girls well, they have done extremely well throughout the competition. ( you have enough medals already ;-))

Toodle pip for now,

Susan

Enters the thread to the sound of Cliff Richards.

CONGRATULATIONS DEAR LESLEY, TO THE PROUD PARENTS, AND MOST OF ALL WELCOME TO DEAR EMILIE.

Oh dear, I am all overcome with emotion. Wipes the corner of my eye with a lace edged hankerchief.

As Cherry so rightly said, why did you not call us? I was boiling kettles and Cherry was ripping up sheets and folding towels. Well done to all.

Teresa dear, we was thinking of sending out search parties for you, but we know how hard you work, so if you are missing, we generally surmise you are toiling away. I am sooooo pleased you enjoyed your party, and you won an Oscar? I hope you gave an acceptance speech thanking your Mama and Papa, your Aunts and Uncles, Grandparents and Uncle Tom Cobley et all. Have a lovely holiday dear, if you do not get back to us.

Now dear, Upsidedown Susan, I think we read in the papers about something happening in Enzed? Was it another earthquake? You seem to have a few shakes around and about down there.

I am sitting in the back of Georges' limosine as I speak. On the bloooooberry of course. I am exhausted with the activity today at the Games. Such a success in the Dressage. Such wonderful horses, so very clever, dancing to music. Wonderful.

Do you know, all our winners never seem to stop smiling. All their hard work has paid off handsomely. Hip Hip Hooray to them all.

We are now turning into the drive of Motie Towers, and I am sure I can hear shouting. As I step out of the car I look up to the garrett and I can see dear Pat-trish-aaaah banging at the window. I do hope she does not break the window, that leaded glass it very expensive to replace.

She is mouthing something at me, I can see her saying something, but cannot quite make it out. Hang on, she has written something on paper, and is holding it to the window.

Sharp intake of breath.

Cherry has locked me in and thrown away the key!!!!!!!!!

Oh really? We will see about that...................after all................blood is thicker than water.

Rolling my sleeves up as I march up the front steps
Auntie Petunia

hello Teresa, am I to take it that the V concert is a smaller version of Glastonbury?

We noticed you were absent but you are excused. Wales eh? The lovely land of Y ach y da, and bara brith. Forget the diet, and treat yourself to some Siocled. Ride in a tacsi. Meet the pobol bob tro. Is Dietlau ar y sgrin. Whereabouts in Cymru will you be staying?

Does FTY mind the Grandies overseeing the proceedings? or do you have a budding rebel on your hands? I bet FTE is getting quite excited now, not long to go.

I have a birthday buddy - Lisa wossit that actress wot was married to Bernard Jewry better known as Alvin Stardust, but in a previous incarnation was Shane Fenton with his Fentones (ooops showing my age). Lisa and I were actually born in the same hospital if the gossip column was right about that, and I have often wondered if our respective Mamas were in adjoining beds. I have a couple of other birthday twins who are ladies I "bumped into" in the course of doing the family tree research, no relation, just fellowette researchers.

Congratulations on your Oscar, does he look like Bette Davis' uncle?

*toying with the idea of dining at the Ritz and asking for a Mocktail ... I wonder what I would get ..... probably thrown out.

CC

weeeheeeeeee ! WELCOME TO EMILIE !!!! and congratulations to the proud parents and grandparents.
*hands cigars and champers around*.

But how did you manage without us, being as we were all boiling water and counting fluffy white towels and folding terrytowelling diapers. You should tell your son in law - if women had the first baby and men had the second baby ... there would be a third, but never a fourth !!

Well done to all concerned Lesley, and (((hugs))) from me to the new momma and kisses to Emilie.

CC

:-D :-D :-D Baby Emilie was born this morning at 10.20 without intervention :-D

She weighed 8lb 1

Mum and babe doing well, dad looks exhausted :-D

Halooo one and all,

Such goings on everywhere, the Olympics, poor Susans dog and hedge, Lesleys grandfruit and Cherrys Daughte.

V is on in Chelmsford at Highlands park Cherry dear. Many fruits from this area wander up the road for a day or a camping weekend. Those who do not like the facilities often wander home again for showers and fresh clothing from their Mamas and wander back orff up the road again to join the crowds! Its only half an hour or so up the A12 from here. FTE, is not attending this year due to training etc etc. I dont think the Niece or Nephew fruit will either. My SILs Ma and Pa live near to the venue so they sit in the garden and hear it all for free anyway :)

I have been at paid toil and had visitors hence my absence over the last few days. We are orff on our hols to Wales at the weekend. Grandmama and Gradpapa will be house and FTE sitting. FTE does not need sitting but will not see the Gs for some time so they are spending a bit of time with her here.

Any news Lesley, a good curry and pineapple usually help with the babay movement. FTE was three days late and FTY came bang on time:) It is his 14th bitrthday on the 14th. Maybe your grandfruit to be will be a birthday buddy. FTE has many birthday buddies including Prince William :)

The Holywood party was wonderful, I won the movie quiz and got an Oscar. In fact all the guests got an Oscar for various reasons. I dressed as an extra complete with full skirts, long gloves and a fake fur mink! I was the driver of the evening and drank mocktails darlings :)

Orff now to get the chores done and pack for the good old British weather.

Yours wandering out to the garage to look for wellies

Teresa

I am so glad we have cleared up the question of The Sullivans dear Petunia. I thought you were having a senior moment there, you see, I didnt realise you were just being allegorical. I am so glad you are keeping sane. But perhaps sane should be paying his or her own way?

Believe me Petunia dear you do not want to see a photograph of my daughter. But she is on Facebook in all her tattooed glory ....... and there is a picture of her boots on her radio station "wall". At least her boots are not covered in tattoos with a different hair shade every week. But I say nothing ..... I remember what Jimmy Savile was like although in comparison to today he was quite tame really.

I once edited a photograph of her, removing all the tattoos, and emailed that picture to her as a reminder of how she used to look in the pre-needle days. She was not amused. I was !! :-D

Please excuse the banging thumping and hollering in the background. Its not Mrs Berry in the pantry with the gardener. It is Pat rish aaah in her room, I persuaded her to lie down for a little while and take a nap, and as soon as the door was closed I turned the key to lock her in. Now, I put the key in a safe place and as soon as I remember where that safe place is I will let Pat rish aaaah out of her room.

*wondering if there are any spare keys .......*
CC

hello Lesley, I have never forgotten the hullaballoo over my daughter being "a week late" and very small, according to the hospital, and I was told - word for word - the baby is too small and something is radically wrong and if I dont go into labour by the weekend I was to go in the next Monday for an "injection" to get me started.

I returned home in shock and went into labour the next day which was a Thursday. The "very small baby" arrived on the Friday, weighing in at 7 lb 6 oz approx, but they took her away to be monitored in ICU for 24 hours then returned her to me saying she was absolutely fine, nothing wrong at all, and not one word of apology for giving me such an unnecessary fright. If it was these days I'd have had no hesitation in writing a letter to make a formal complaint but "that was then" and it didnt occur to me, because few people made complaints against hospital doctors in those days.

I had an uncle and aunt who lived in Woodford Green a long time ago. In those days Uncle collected us to visit him at home, as my parents didnt have a car.

Also a long time ago ..... I was married by then though ..... I had friends who often went to the Epping Country Club and we were invited to go there but we couldnt afford the ruddy drinks. I was also offered a sub on Abba tickets (by the same friends) to see the band live, and here too I declined because I knew my budget wouldnt allow for the cost of the tickets. Gaberdene coat and no smalls, that was us. (I cannot say All fur coat and no knickers, I dont think its allowed). It is one of my life's regrets, that I never got to see Abba on stage.

What are the V festivals? Dau is under the wing of Mick Monsta, at the moment, I think its Monsta and not Monster.

CC

Good evening Ladies,

Tutty tut, dear Cherry, of course I know the Sullivans are Aussies. Have we not had conversations about Dave, Grace, David, Tom, John, Kitty, Mrs Mangle, Lill and Bert before? Its just that I can imagine dear Upsidedown Susan in one of those wooden bungalows with a picket fence all around. Please leave me to my musings dear, sometimes it is the only thing that keeps me sane!

Of course Babies come when they come..................of course it was different in my day. Nothing was spoken about, and they did speak it was in hushed tones. There was plenty of hot water and towels and not a lot else. The Nurse came along with her Bag, deed done, and then one had to lie in for two weeks. No wonder that the Mama was in danger of all sorts of nasties. Please tell you dear daughter I am thinking of her Lesley.

One knows of a young gel who lives just outside Colchester, she took me shopping there and took me along the little lanes, it was very similar to Brighton. We went to buy a heart-shaped tag for Trickey-Woo in an engravers/boot menders. It was very pretty, but poor old Trickey lorst it within two weeks.

One also has an acquaintance in South Woodford too dear, so small world.

Dear Cherry, might one ask if there are to be cameras at this Festival dear? If so, may I be permitted to see a likeness of your DJ-ing daughter?

I trust that dear Cherry has kept an eye on dear Pat-trish-aaaah today, locking her in her room if necessary. I will not have her making a spectacle of herself...........or me. I have a reputation to keep!

Indeed Teresa dear, it will not be long until we are on the ocean blue. I have commissioned a few outfits as I believe we 'dress for dinner' and I do not want to have to wear the same old thing ALL the time. One has decided not to plump for dear John, but have taken my patronage to Alexander. I know he can be a little off the wall, but I think if I have sufficient spondoolicks, then he will cater to my taste. I fancy a wool crepe for the chillier evenings, and maybe chiffon for the warmer climes. I have doodled a few designs so we will see what we will see.

I am in Stadium right now, I have just seen the 200 meters, golly but they are FAST! I havent moved so fast since, well, since that last ghastly prawn!

Will away now dears, I have to inspect the spikes dears, to make sure they are the correct length.

Putting on my bi-focals
Auntie Petunia

CC You are so right babies will only come when they are ready, my old doc always maintained there was no such thing as a late baby :-D

Crikey we are almost neighbours I grew up in Chelmsford before moving to Colchester, The Epping Country Club was one of my favourite haunts when I was much younger and my hubby goes to the dentist is in South Woodford, Freddy Dupree's (dentist) first practise was in Chelmsford, hubby hates going to the dentist but likes and trusts Freddy and would rather drive the 40 plus miles than see some else.

Will your daughter be DJing at the V Festivals?

Lesley home alone this evening OH has gone fishing ;-)

babies will arrive when they are ready Lesley, I hope the hospital dont make too much fuss and make your daughter nervous.

I think most ancient forests were royal hunting grounds at one time, so Epping probably was. When driving through Epping Forest I've never once seen a deer, although there are plenty of "low flying deer" signposts. However, I once saw a young muntjac deer while driving along one of the A10 link roads. We live in the Lea Valley and its a vast parkland which is being opened up more and more over time, so there are all sorts of wildlife, not just foxes or rabbits. Mind you the foxes seem to be emigrating - into my backyard.

My daughter is a professional DJ now, but this Bloodstock gig is a "special event" for her, and she was thrilled to be offered it. But nothing goes to her head - she has to come here and cut my toenails every few weeks and if thats not a great leveller I dont know what is :-D

CC

Good Afternoon Ladies.

Auntie Petunia the security at the velodrome is really not good enough, I am hoping those in charge will be severely reprimanded :-| all eyes on a lady with an ostrich feather fan and a lace trimmed handkerchief last seen hidden amongst piles of clothes that are ready to be packed into her trunks as she will be making a quick get away to a sunnier climate as soon as the Olympics have finished :-)

I am sorry to hear about your puppy Susan I hope it makes a full recovery.
I am lucky enough to have our eldest fruits partner (expectant father) to cut our hedge, that is one job I refuse to even attempt in my roll as gardener
Was your fruits committee meeting productive on her trip to Wellington x

Epping Forest CC a beautiful part of Essex once I believe it was a royal forest, I do hope you have been warned to drive very carefully through there when it is the deer rutting season.
Your daughter of to be a DJ in the VIP section of Bloodstock what a wonderful job and amazing experience

Well my eldest is booked to go into hospital at 9am tomorrow that is if the beds have been returned :-S she must make a telephone call at 7.30am to confirm, she will have an injection then a minimum of 3 hours bed rest then sent home or not depending if there is any movement, if this doesn't work the same procedure will be repeated on Friday, a maximum of 3 attempts :-|

Lesley

hello Petunia dear, I did catch your bloooberrying earlier but you were so breathy and kept breaking up so I wasnt sure if I was actually hearing what I was hearing. I trust you were not the lady who marched with the Indian contingent into the enclosed area? You really must calm down dear, all this excitement is bad for you.

I feel obliged to point out - The Sullivans was set in Australia and not New Zealand. Never mind though dear, we will excuse you not knowing your Roos from your Kiwis, on account of your age. You will be 94 soon wont you, I shall have to write a song just for you

When I get older, losing my hair, many years from now .....
will you still be sending out valentines,
birthday greetings, bottles of wine,
Will I still be able to get through the door,
when I'm Ninety Four !

howzat?

Of course my daughter wont be wearing a dinner jacket. Or a strait jacket either. Knowing her, it will be a tight black top, to display all her disgusting tattoos.

As you know, I do not follow the olympics, but today we drove past the gates leading to the Lea Valley white water area, and there were several security officials visible. We were travelling in that direction to visit a bespoke tailor, as one's first husband is soooo tall that he cannot just walk into a shop to buy trousers that fit. The only solution is made to measure. Oh my god the price of the fabrics has gone up. I have informed MFH that he has got to make these new trousers last for a very long time. A very very long time. It was a nice drive through Epping Forest, however.

I so apologise for being unable to restrain Pat rish aaaaah to prevent her from taking the tuk tuk to the olympics. She was so determined to find you however. You know she still has ... ahem ... "moments" following that incarceration during which time Tricia was substituted for Pat rish aaaah. In the absence of a Momma, the gel just needed her GrandMamma.

Sigh ... if this rain keeps up you wont need to go on a cruise. You can just float down your garden !! :-D

CC

hello Susan, I rarely eat Manuka honey cos I cant afford it, but its medicinal properties are supposed to be good. I usually buy Orange Blossom or Clover.

So sorry to hear about the poor doggie's eye and I hope no lasting damage has been done. they do get up to some antics dont they. Our dog Ben who we had many moons ago, developed a cyst over his eye. The vet said we could drain it ourselves and put ointment on, and bless him that dog was as good as gold and let us perform the procedures. Also giving him tablets was a doddle - one cooled sausage, with the tablet tucked into the sausage, and the sausage disappeared down the dogs gullet every time.

The weather here is "all over the place". Yesterday there was rain with high winds, and some storming. Today was dry all day, but we are having a rainy evening.

Of course I havent analysed my dream. I dont think I'd like what I might find ;-)

CC

Good evening dear Friends,

Once again an eventful day, and not for all the right reasons.

Our dear Victoria, Christopher and Laura did well on their bicyles today. I was so proud of them all. I had tears in my eyes.

Dear Christopher was just doing his lap of honour, when IT HAPPENED. There was an enormous thundering noise, and a Tuk-tuk appeared on the Vellodrome banking and began to circuit. Around and around it went, try to steal dear Christopher's thunder. Now I am not the quickest of persons to perceive a calamity in the making, but I dont think I have to tell you who it was, do I?

All of a sudden dear Pat-trish-aaaaah gets these flights of fancy, and orft she goes. How she managed to get that contraption beyond the Security Gates is a mystery to me.

I know that I am a VIP [preens] but even saying she was associated with me should not have allowed here within the inner sanctum. Needless she was bundled orf and when she protested she was with me..................what could I do? I denied any knowledge of knowing her. I shall go and collect her later when the fuss has died down.

Of course I am supporting our ANZAC cousins in their races dear. Only not quite as much as Team GB. I hope you do not mind dear.

My holiday will be when the Olympics are at and end. So within the next few weeks dear. I am so excited, we all need a fillup and that will do the trick.

Looks like rain again, so will have to pick Pat-trish-aaah up soon if we are to get home dry.

Pip Pip
Auntie Petunia

I suggest a car ride over lots of speed bumps...... Come on baby, the world is waiting for you - more importantly, so is your Nana <3...

Petunia, our dear puppy is wounded, she has been poked in one eye by a stick she was retrieving. Oh dear, it is a mission to put antibiotic ointment into a canines eye... An operation is on the cards if the eye is not better by Friday :-D.

I am glad you are busy weaving your magic about the Olympics, I feel sure the populous( is that a real word?) will never fully appreciate your efforts :-S.
To think the games will soon be over. I did read on the tinternet news that your ambassadors and officials are being set upon for their costume - purple people eaters maybe? I was not offended by the garb.

We have a few more medal prospects but one must not count one's chickens before they cross the finish line... Go Team NZ !!!

Teresa , sending you a wave or three ~~~ :-). Good luck to FTE, may the waters she sails be always calm...

CC, have you analysed your dream yet? I am continually fascinated by the workings of our after hours minds... Some dreams seem just so real it is scary.
Perhaps I should have studied the topic, but no, on second thoughts, I wouldn't really want to know what my dreams 'mean' and who is to say the analyst is right anyway :-S.

Petunia, when are you orf on your high seas adventure? I shall be keeping up to date with world news :-D. Have you finished your packing yet? In fact, is it Summer yet?? OH and I have only been on a small ship cruise around the beautiful Yasawa's in Fiji. Magic indeed.

I should be away and think about preparing an evening meal, by the by, one of our mountains (Tongariro) has spewed forth after some 100 years :-D. We have not had any ash as it went east..

Toodle pip
Susan

Just popping in to say hello to everyone.

Unfortunately still no news :-( I believe the French have a saying for late births that translates as The baby is making itself beautiful :-)

The last couple of day's have been particularly hectic and have left me feeling a trifle drained, so will read back and hopefully catch up tomorrow.

Lesley

Good evening All............talking to you via the Blooooooberry...........so there may be a time delay.

As you know I am a prime mover and shaker in these parts, Stratford would...........be lost without me doing my thing.............for the athletes.

Another very good day.............for our girls and boys. We whizzed down the Olympic lane to Greenwich..............to watch the showjumping........you see my magic rubs off on our competitors................and they won..............first time in a great many years.

I do apologise for not be up close and personal..................to you all. But, busy, busy, busy.

Any news yet dear Lesley with your daughter?

Upsidedown Susan dear, I can just imagine your dear little house...............like the Sullivans, with a .....................picket fence all around. That dog may as well..................live with you dear..............no? I do hope your daughter had a lovely time in Wellington.

Dear Teresa, I am delighted..................that your daughter has begun her training............she must have worked very hard to be accepted...............and so all her endeavours have reaped rewards...................please give her my best wishes............and yes it would be delightful to have her on my ship when we sail. If this is the case..............I trust that she knows that we only expect the very................best, and that she will organise it for us.

Oh Cherry, this festival sounds.............very, erm...............interesting. I trust that there will be many cannonballs there.................heavy metal I mean. Titters. An DJ-ing. Does that mean she will wear a Dinner Jacket dear................plus she is doing voice over work...............how lovely for her...............she will be joining the ranks of Mr Hanks. Congratulations dear.

I do so envy you all and your daughters, it must be lovely for you all. Sniffs into a lace edged hankerchief...................still, I have my Pat-trish-aaaah........#raises eyes heavenward# she may only be my grand-daughter, but she is still.............blood.

Soooooooo......................back to the high-jump...........which is what I shall be for if I do not getting my legs into gear, and get over there!

Oh dear, poor dear little Holly has not done as well as she would have hoped.......................how sad.

I shall go and tend to her dears.

Bustling off with a kind word and a box of tissues.
Auntie Petunia

Good morning Ladies,

CC, I don't eat Manuka honey :-(, good old Clover for me. Manuka is too strong in taste..... Perhaps I should be though, medicinal qualities and all that jazz.

Speaking of gardeners, I am in shock. I had my usual chappie in too trim the hedge between ours and fruits house... Oh dear, oh dear. OH and I have now decided the hedge is to be removed in full and replaced with a fence :-P. I always said I didn't want another fence - but never say never it seems. The chappie has yet to front for his money :-D. Maybe he is a tad scared of me ;-).

Well done to your daughter, hope she has a blast.

Hello Petunia, Team GB are doing very well, congratulations, I am sure it is all your influence :-D. Our own team are doing quite well too, though I see this morning our dear Val has a few issues with management , ie: they fogot to enter her in her event :-D.... Heads should roll. All is to be rectified but what an oversight, I hope it doesn't put Val off her stride..

I dog sat yesterday afternoon, as our section isn't fully fenced, I spent a great deal of time outside watching the dog play. She has three balls on the go, all punctured - her favourite sport. She then proceeds to run with ball in mouth , up and down the lawn, if only children could keep themselves so occupied. I gave her an apple for afternoon tea !! There isn't much she wont eat ;-).

We are in for another drenching according to the weatherman :-(. In one part of the country, a local cemetery is closed until further notice due to too much rain...

Tis Monday morning already, must away and on with my day... I have to let the builders into fruits, pick up parts for OH, there goes my morning.

Toodle pip
Susan

so pleased for my dau. She tells me she is off to Derby for Bloodstock Open Air next week to DJ in the VIP section. I dont know whether this is going to be broadcast on her radio show however; and I hope the VIPs like goth and heavy metal ..... having said that, this is the dau who introduced me to the Phantom of the Opera when I came out of hospital in April. And I must admit, I find some of the heavy metal almost tolerable, it depends how heavy it is. And, I really like one goth song.

Also, she will be voicing a comic book character for a motion comic and animated movie. I hope it turns out better than that trashy horror movie she was in. I cannot believe how outgoing she is, considering she has a shy shrinking violet for a mother.

Changing subject - I watched that movie The Help and was so impressed I ordered the book from that River company and have finished reading the novel already. Forget Grey men - read The Help !! Its sad in places, funny in other places, and a thoroughly good read. If you remember Roots, and enjoyed it, you will love The Help.

CC