Gullible's Travels
Monday, February 08, 2010
Visiting May - February 2010
The usual monthly visit to the MIL in Scotland. Fly up Friday evening, get picked up from Glasgow airport by the BIL, borrow the SIL's car and drive down to May's. Then spend the weekend doing chauffeur duty and assorted DIY tasks.
This time it was replace a broken loo seat, install three sliding baskets on runners in the kitchen cabinets and glaze part of the shower cubicle with a sheet of Perspex (clear acrylic sheet).
Sunday we went out to celebrate the birthday of an old family friend, Duncan. We went to Maccullum's of Troon right down by the harbour side and had an excellent meal with efficient and friendly staff. Googling the restaurant reveals lots of 5-star reviews and deservedly so; one to re-visit.
Then back late Sunday with a multi-part meal of snacks and wine, in the airport, on the plane and on the train. And so to bed.
The usual monthly visit to the MIL in Scotland. Fly up Friday evening, get picked up from Glasgow airport by the BIL, borrow the SIL's car and drive down to May's. Then spend the weekend doing chauffeur duty and assorted DIY tasks.
This time it was replace a broken loo seat, install three sliding baskets on runners in the kitchen cabinets and glaze part of the shower cubicle with a sheet of Perspex (clear acrylic sheet).
Sunday we went out to celebrate the birthday of an old family friend, Duncan. We went to Maccullum's of Troon right down by the harbour side and had an excellent meal with efficient and friendly staff. Googling the restaurant reveals lots of 5-star reviews and deservedly so; one to re-visit.
Then back late Sunday with a multi-part meal of snacks and wine, in the airport, on the plane and on the train. And so to bed.
Labels: family
¶ Permanent link: 4:27 PM 1 comments
Monday, December 21, 2009
Preparing for Christmas 2009
This past week has been getting ready for Christmas. Up into the loft to bring down the tree, the decorations (the gold collection and the red and green collection) and the Christmas tea pot.
Yesterday we went down to Farnham to visit the Ageds for a cuppa, drop off a bag of presents and collect one in return. Then off to Heathrow to collect May, the MIL, and bring her back to stay with us for a couple of weeks.
The tree has already been assembled; tonight we put up the decorations and lights.
Jeeves, mull me some wine!
This past week has been getting ready for Christmas. Up into the loft to bring down the tree, the decorations (the gold collection and the red and green collection) and the Christmas tea pot.
Yesterday we went down to Farnham to visit the Ageds for a cuppa, drop off a bag of presents and collect one in return. Then off to Heathrow to collect May, the MIL, and bring her back to stay with us for a couple of weeks.
The tree has already been assembled; tonight we put up the decorations and lights.
Jeeves, mull me some wine!
Labels: family
¶ Permanent link: 8:25 PM 1 comments
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Another MMG-style four part day
Another quiet MMG*-style four part day on Sunday.
1. Trip to the local auction house to look for sideboards for the breakfast room and claret jugs.
2. Visit the RHS garden at Wisley to check outsmelly perfumed roses for May's garden in Scotland.
RHS Wisley: smelling roses
RHS Wisley: Rosa Hot Chocolate 'Wekpaltez'
RHS Wisley: 200 year old bonsai
3. A picnic in NT Hatchlands Park followed by a whistle stop tour of the Gertrude Jekyll** garden. We will have to go back for a fuller inspection.
NT Hatchlands Park: picnic
NT Hatchlands Park: Gertrude Jekyll garden
4. Afternoon tea and cake in Farnham with the Aged P's.
5. A quiet supper of picnic leftovers and an early night.
* MMG = Mary Mitchell Galashan, aka "SWMBO", aka "her indoors"
** Update: 30-Jul-09. Post edited. Do not confuse Gertrude Jekyll (garden designer) with Gertrude Stein (American writer).
Another quiet MMG*-style four part day on Sunday.
1. Trip to the local auction house to look for sideboards for the breakfast room and claret jugs.
2. Visit the RHS garden at Wisley to check out
RHS Wisley: smelling roses
RHS Wisley: Rosa Hot Chocolate 'Wekpaltez'
RHS Wisley: 200 year old bonsai
3. A picnic in NT Hatchlands Park followed by a whistle stop tour of the Gertrude Jekyll** garden. We will have to go back for a fuller inspection.
NT Hatchlands Park: picnic
NT Hatchlands Park: Gertrude Jekyll garden
4. Afternoon tea and cake in Farnham with the Aged P's.
5. A quiet supper of picnic leftovers and an early night.
* MMG = Mary Mitchell Galashan, aka "SWMBO", aka "her indoors"
** Update: 30-Jul-09. Post edited. Do not confuse Gertrude Jekyll (garden designer) with Gertrude Stein (American writer).
Labels: family, garden, leisure
¶ Permanent link: 8:07 PM 1 comments
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
My uncle was a one-armed paper hanger
Uncle Ralph was a most picaresque role model for an impressionable young lad. My earliest memory was of him living in a basement flat in Philbeach Gardens in Earl's Court (aka Kangaroo Valley on account of the number of Aussies who lived there). His lived with his girlfriend "in sin" as it was described in those days. Very exciting and risqué.
Uncle Ralph at my sister's wedding 1979
He was a qualified mechanical engineer and lost his right arm just above the elbow in an industrial accident. Interior decorator was not the obvious career switch for a man under those circumstances but so he chose.
He used to have a mechanical arm but it was heavy and he only wore it on formal occasions. The rest of the time he tucked up his sleeve as you can see. One of my more vivid memories was him driving round a corner whilst changing gear. This necessitated using his stump to steer whilst changing gear with his left hand - can I open my eyes now?
Uncle Ralph at my father's investiture (MBE) 1984
It is over ten years since he died of a massive stroke which is one reason we have done several bike rides in aid of that charity.
And since you ask... He pasted the paper, concertinaed it, went up the ladder, headbutted the wall with the end piece, used the stump to hold it in place and his good arm to position the drop as it unfolded.
Uncle Ralph was a most picaresque role model for an impressionable young lad. My earliest memory was of him living in a basement flat in Philbeach Gardens in Earl's Court (aka Kangaroo Valley on account of the number of Aussies who lived there). His lived with his girlfriend "in sin" as it was described in those days. Very exciting and risqué.
Uncle Ralph at my sister's wedding 1979
He was a qualified mechanical engineer and lost his right arm just above the elbow in an industrial accident. Interior decorator was not the obvious career switch for a man under those circumstances but so he chose.
He used to have a mechanical arm but it was heavy and he only wore it on formal occasions. The rest of the time he tucked up his sleeve as you can see. One of my more vivid memories was him driving round a corner whilst changing gear. This necessitated using his stump to steer whilst changing gear with his left hand - can I open my eyes now?
Uncle Ralph at my father's investiture (MBE) 1984
It is over ten years since he died of a massive stroke which is one reason we have done several bike rides in aid of that charity.
And since you ask... He pasted the paper, concertinaed it, went up the ladder, headbutted the wall with the end piece, used the stump to hold it in place and his good arm to position the drop as it unfolded.
Labels: family
¶ Permanent link: 8:23 PM 1 comments
Monday, June 15, 2009
Downsizing the MIL (4)
Actually there was very little downsizing to do; it was mainly attacking the garden in May's new place. That did necessitate a trip to the tip with bags of clippings and a few bits and pieces from the old garage which had escaped earlier culls. Of course when May's house does find a buyer then there will be some more shifting to be done!
Apart from the usual shopping trips, the main task for me was laying six paving slabs for the garden storage box to sit on. Mary worked on all the tubs and pots putting in new flowers and rearranging some of the existing plants. Having done that we were able to relax and enjoy the brilliant weather. Proof that the sun can shine in Scotland:
Al fresco dining in Irvine
Actually there was very little downsizing to do; it was mainly attacking the garden in May's new place. That did necessitate a trip to the tip with bags of clippings and a few bits and pieces from the old garage which had escaped earlier culls. Of course when May's house does find a buyer then there will be some more shifting to be done!
Apart from the usual shopping trips, the main task for me was laying six paving slabs for the garden storage box to sit on. Mary worked on all the tubs and pots putting in new flowers and rearranging some of the existing plants. Having done that we were able to relax and enjoy the brilliant weather. Proof that the sun can shine in Scotland:
Al fresco dining in Irvine
Labels: family
¶ Permanent link: 9:08 PM 1 comments
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Downsizing the MIL (3)
The bank holiday weekend was spent in Scotland clearing out May's garage and beautifying her new abode with hanging baskets and bedding plants in pots.
We flew out of city airport for a change. We thought we would give it a try as it is quicker to get to than Heathrow. Very successful - we will use it again.
We landed in glorious sunshine which caused much consternation amongst our fellow passengers. They were not used to this big yellow sphere in the sky!
We cleared a load of stuff out of the garage and shed to the tip and did several garden centre trips. Also I did a bit of loft boarding as May's new place lacks any storage. That gave her somewhere to put items like empty boxes and suitcases.
We flew back Sunday so we could have the Monday at home "relaxing". Mary went into work and I did stuff around the house.
Now to work for a short week as we are off to Italy on Thursday for a six day, very long weekend. The weather has to be better there. I am a fair weather cyclist and today I am on the train as it is grey and raining.
The bank holiday weekend was spent in Scotland clearing out May's garage and beautifying her new abode with hanging baskets and bedding plants in pots.
We flew out of city airport for a change. We thought we would give it a try as it is quicker to get to than Heathrow. Very successful - we will use it again.
We landed in glorious sunshine which caused much consternation amongst our fellow passengers. They were not used to this big yellow sphere in the sky!
We cleared a load of stuff out of the garage and shed to the tip and did several garden centre trips. Also I did a bit of loft boarding as May's new place lacks any storage. That gave her somewhere to put items like empty boxes and suitcases.
We flew back Sunday so we could have the Monday at home "relaxing". Mary went into work and I did stuff around the house.
Now to work for a short week as we are off to Italy on Thursday for a six day, very long weekend. The weather has to be better there. I am a fair weather cyclist and today I am on the train as it is grey and raining.
Labels: family
¶ Permanent link: 11:01 AM 2 comments
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Downsizing the MIL (2)
Easter weekend was spent in Scotland helping May move into sheltered accommodation. The removal men arrived Good Friday at about 10:30, packed up the contents of the living room and main bedroom, and drove round the block to May's new home which is literally less than 200 yards by the direct walking route. Mary and sister Sandra unpacked while I flattened boxes and wrapping paper although with three of them unwrapping it was hard to keep up. By 6 o'clock the place was habitable.
Then Saturday and Sunday my other contribution was DIY: turning the fridge and freezer doors, installing a self-assembly bathroom cabinet plus accoutrements, changing a light fitting, sealing round the kitchen work surface and banging in a large number of picture hooks. Meanwhile Mary was sorting out everything else: more unpacking, arranging the contents of the cupboards, deciding what should go to the dump and generally organising. Between her and Sandra, May didn't stand a chance!
Sunday afternoon our work there was done so it was back to Sandra and George's to babysit while they went to see Pink at the S.E.C. Then home the next day for a quiet evening to relax.
Easter weekend was spent in Scotland helping May move into sheltered accommodation. The removal men arrived Good Friday at about 10:30, packed up the contents of the living room and main bedroom, and drove round the block to May's new home which is literally less than 200 yards by the direct walking route. Mary and sister Sandra unpacked while I flattened boxes and wrapping paper although with three of them unwrapping it was hard to keep up. By 6 o'clock the place was habitable.
Then Saturday and Sunday my other contribution was DIY: turning the fridge and freezer doors, installing a self-assembly bathroom cabinet plus accoutrements, changing a light fitting, sealing round the kitchen work surface and banging in a large number of picture hooks. Meanwhile Mary was sorting out everything else: more unpacking, arranging the contents of the cupboards, deciding what should go to the dump and generally organising. Between her and Sandra, May didn't stand a chance!
Sunday afternoon our work there was done so it was back to Sandra and George's to babysit while they went to see Pink at the S.E.C. Then home the next day for a quiet evening to relax.
Labels: family
¶ Permanent link: 11:41 PM 1 comments
Monday, March 02, 2009
Downsizing the MIL
Last weekend, sitting on the Heathrow Express en route to Glasgow, Mary got a call from her Mum to say that she has been allocated a place in the local sheltered accommodation. This is very good news for May. The new place may only be a few hundred metres from where she lives now but that is up hill - not good for an OAP with angina and emphysema. Her new home will be much closer to the church, the shops and the bus stop, all on the flat, plus a number of her friends also live in the complex.
May is going from 2 bed, 2 reception and a garage to 1 bed, 1 reception. Her current home is full which means she is going to have to shed 50% of all she owns in order to make the move. So instead of a bit of shopping and relaxing the weekend took the form of clearing out and a trip to the local tip. Not quite "everything must go" but not far off.
It made me think how we would be severely challenged to downsize. Quite how one couple manages to fill a 4 bed, 3 reception house plus loft, cellar, garage and 2 garden sheds is a mystery to me. We are a bit like Thunderbird 2 with pods for everything: the picnic pod, the barbecue pod, the bicycle pod, the decorating pod, the Christmas baubles pod, the walking boots pod, the "every play we have ever been to" programmes pod...
2009 is designated as the year of de-cluttering.
Last weekend, sitting on the Heathrow Express en route to Glasgow, Mary got a call from her Mum to say that she has been allocated a place in the local sheltered accommodation. This is very good news for May. The new place may only be a few hundred metres from where she lives now but that is up hill - not good for an OAP with angina and emphysema. Her new home will be much closer to the church, the shops and the bus stop, all on the flat, plus a number of her friends also live in the complex.
May is going from 2 bed, 2 reception and a garage to 1 bed, 1 reception. Her current home is full which means she is going to have to shed 50% of all she owns in order to make the move. So instead of a bit of shopping and relaxing the weekend took the form of clearing out and a trip to the local tip. Not quite "everything must go" but not far off.
It made me think how we would be severely challenged to downsize. Quite how one couple manages to fill a 4 bed, 3 reception house plus loft, cellar, garage and 2 garden sheds is a mystery to me. We are a bit like Thunderbird 2 with pods for everything: the picnic pod, the barbecue pod, the bicycle pod, the decorating pod, the Christmas baubles pod, the walking boots pod, the "every play we have ever been to" programmes pod...
2009 is designated as the year of de-cluttering.
Labels: family
¶ Permanent link: 12:21 PM 3 comments
Thursday, December 04, 2008
A weekend in Valencia
Some while back my Dad saw an item about the opera house in Valencia design by Santiago Calatrava. The end result was that we three siblings and Dad (and BIL Pete) went to Valencia for the weekend to visit the aforementioned building in the City of Arts and Sciences.
Valencia - opera house
The building, and the whole complex, was quite stunning. A building to rival the most dramatic in the world. It surpassed expectations; indeed the whole complex was quite extraordinary.
Valencia - Dolphinarium
The whole of Saturday was basically spent at the complex. Admiring the buildings, a film at the IMAX and a dolphin show.
Valencia - Irish pub
In between times we walked, talked, ate and drank. Saturday night we had a superb meal at Sagardi (brilliant restaurant, shame about the website).
Valencia - Sagardi restaurant
More pictures on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8179454@N02/sets/72157610589966699/
Some while back my Dad saw an item about the opera house in Valencia design by Santiago Calatrava. The end result was that we three siblings and Dad (and BIL Pete) went to Valencia for the weekend to visit the aforementioned building in the City of Arts and Sciences.
Valencia - opera house
The building, and the whole complex, was quite stunning. A building to rival the most dramatic in the world. It surpassed expectations; indeed the whole complex was quite extraordinary.
Valencia - Dolphinarium
The whole of Saturday was basically spent at the complex. Admiring the buildings, a film at the IMAX and a dolphin show.
Valencia - Irish pub
In between times we walked, talked, ate and drank. Saturday night we had a superb meal at Sagardi (brilliant restaurant, shame about the website).
Valencia - Sagardi restaurant
More pictures on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8179454@N02/sets/72157610589966699/
Labels: family
¶ Permanent link: 10:11 PM 3 comments
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Long time no blog
This is going to be to have to be a bit of a Portmanteau blog as it has been *shock, horror* over two weeks since I last put finger to keyboard...
Changing jobs: After four years and many contract extensions (I must have been doing something right) I finally left the client for whom I have been working since August '04. Odd feeling as it is the longest I have ever worked on any project, ever. Fortunately (in this current climate) I have picked up a new contract with one of the recipients of my former client's offerings - a veritable case of poacher turned gamekeeper.
My double crown fell off: A quick trip to Raj to have it temp-bonded back on revealed that the bone of the jaw underneath had healed so well that it had pushed up against the crown from below and eased it off the implants. So he got the technician to grind some porcelain off the underside of the bridge and popped it back on. It shows the wisdom of Raj using temporary cement - a deliberately designed point of failure to prevent stresses building up where they shouldn't.
Weekend in Scotland: Visiting the MIL as per usual. An opportunity to see Mary's sister and family as well as spend time with her Mum. This weekend Mary decided to kitchen cupboards needed a good clear out. Yellowing plastic containers out of the Ark and tins with a 'best before' date in the last century.
A week at home between contracts: Though not idle - I wish. General tidying and foutering and a visit to my Mum and Dad on Wednesday. Oh yes, and I painted the breakfast room and kitchen in my spare time.
This is going to be to have to be a bit of a Portmanteau blog as it has been *shock, horror* over two weeks since I last put finger to keyboard...
Changing jobs: After four years and many contract extensions (I must have been doing something right) I finally left the client for whom I have been working since August '04. Odd feeling as it is the longest I have ever worked on any project, ever. Fortunately (in this current climate) I have picked up a new contract with one of the recipients of my former client's offerings - a veritable case of poacher turned gamekeeper.
My double crown fell off: A quick trip to Raj to have it temp-bonded back on revealed that the bone of the jaw underneath had healed so well that it had pushed up against the crown from below and eased it off the implants. So he got the technician to grind some porcelain off the underside of the bridge and popped it back on. It shows the wisdom of Raj using temporary cement - a deliberately designed point of failure to prevent stresses building up where they shouldn't.
Weekend in Scotland: Visiting the MIL as per usual. An opportunity to see Mary's sister and family as well as spend time with her Mum. This weekend Mary decided to kitchen cupboards needed a good clear out. Yellowing plastic containers out of the Ark and tins with a 'best before' date in the last century.
A week at home between contracts: Though not idle - I wish. General tidying and foutering and a visit to my Mum and Dad on Wednesday. Oh yes, and I painted the breakfast room and kitchen in my spare time.
Labels: family, teeth, wandsworth
¶ Permanent link: 7:07 PM 1 comments
Sunday, June 08, 2008
The Other Executor
Last week I spent a pleasant evening with the my parents albeit with a slightly macabre twist. I went down to Godalming to meet Murray Campbell, for years the family solicitor and also the other executor of my parents' will.
As the first born I was asked to be one executor and Murray the other. When I heard that he was retiring I expressed a desire to meet the man as I had never met him in person. Although he is retiring he has agreed to continue as fellow executor and any legalities will be dealt by one of the partners, Guy Crowther, at his old firm of Barlow Robbins.
So last Wednesday evening I went along to Murray's retirement party in a marquee in the grounds of their offices. I met Murray and Guy and I am glad to say formed a good opinion of them both. Murray especially is a very solid, robust seeming sort of a chap, he looks like he ought to have been a rugby player.
That done it was back to Farnham for a meal with Mum and Dad and a late train home.
I am forunate that Dad and Mum take a practical view of these matters. They have made a will, appointed executors, granted me "enduring power of attorney", drawn a list of bank and other accounts and even written a "living will".
Although I hope they will be around for a good few more years it is comforting to know that when the time comes my grief will not have salt rubbed into the wound with all the hassle of intestacy and legal wranglings.
Last week I spent a pleasant evening with the my parents albeit with a slightly macabre twist. I went down to Godalming to meet Murray Campbell, for years the family solicitor and also the other executor of my parents' will.
As the first born I was asked to be one executor and Murray the other. When I heard that he was retiring I expressed a desire to meet the man as I had never met him in person. Although he is retiring he has agreed to continue as fellow executor and any legalities will be dealt by one of the partners, Guy Crowther, at his old firm of Barlow Robbins.
So last Wednesday evening I went along to Murray's retirement party in a marquee in the grounds of their offices. I met Murray and Guy and I am glad to say formed a good opinion of them both. Murray especially is a very solid, robust seeming sort of a chap, he looks like he ought to have been a rugby player.
That done it was back to Farnham for a meal with Mum and Dad and a late train home.
I am forunate that Dad and Mum take a practical view of these matters. They have made a will, appointed executors, granted me "enduring power of attorney", drawn a list of bank and other accounts and even written a "living will".
Although I hope they will be around for a good few more years it is comforting to know that when the time comes my grief will not have salt rubbed into the wound with all the hassle of intestacy and legal wranglings.
Labels: family
¶ Permanent link: 10:16 AM 2 comments
Monday, April 28, 2008
Cash Rich, Time Poor
This phrase could have been coined for us. We do not have a problem with work / life balance - we have an equally excessive abundance of both! What we wrestle with is the triple constraint of work / life / hours-in-the-day balance - trying to squeeze a quart into a pint pot. Hence two weeks without a post.
The last two weekends have had a tidy symmetry about them, both involving mothers and old friends. Last week end was Scotland to visit Mary's Mum, this weekend just gone was Farnham to visit my mum.
Last weekend we flew up to Scotland and did the usual: baby sitting for Mary's sister Sandra and George. Saturday was spent with May, shopping and cooking a meal. Sunday we went into central Glasgow for lunch with a couple of Mary's college friends: Christine and Geraldine and Alisdair.
The McLellan Family Celebrate Mum's 81st Birthday
Jane, Michael, Sarah, Pete, Mary, Mark, Geri, Ian.
This weekend we had my old friends Carmike&Lorna plus youngest son David for a DP. Saturday we saw the last night of "The Importance of Being Earnest" starring Penelope Keith. Sunday we went to Farnham for Mum's 81st birthday. We took our bikes with us on the train and on the way back we cycled 30 miles but that is another story...
This phrase could have been coined for us. We do not have a problem with work / life balance - we have an equally excessive abundance of both! What we wrestle with is the triple constraint of work / life / hours-in-the-day balance - trying to squeeze a quart into a pint pot. Hence two weeks without a post.
The last two weekends have had a tidy symmetry about them, both involving mothers and old friends. Last week end was Scotland to visit Mary's Mum, this weekend just gone was Farnham to visit my mum.
Last weekend we flew up to Scotland and did the usual: baby sitting for Mary's sister Sandra and George. Saturday was spent with May, shopping and cooking a meal. Sunday we went into central Glasgow for lunch with a couple of Mary's college friends: Christine and Geraldine and Alisdair.
The McLellan Family Celebrate Mum's 81st Birthday
Jane, Michael, Sarah, Pete, Mary, Mark, Geri, Ian.
This weekend we had my old friends Carmike&Lorna plus youngest son David for a DP. Saturday we saw the last night of "The Importance of Being Earnest" starring Penelope Keith. Sunday we went to Farnham for Mum's 81st birthday. We took our bikes with us on the train and on the way back we cycled 30 miles but that is another story...
Labels: family
¶ Permanent link: 8:57 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Father's Birthday 2008
... this year was on the Monday. So the three of us siblings-plus-partners gathered at Loch Fyne in Farnham on the Sunday for a celebratory meal with Mum and Dad. Followed by the giving of gifts and general chat back at the house.
Mary and I did not hang around over-long as the back bedroom decorating was nearly complete and we were due a guest staying with us Tuesday (last) night. A bedroom needs curtain pole and curtains!
Chatting to a colleague on the Monday and hearing of her family's "X is not speaking to Y" and "I can't remember when we last got together" reminded me yet against how fortunate I am with my lot.
... this year was on the Monday. So the three of us siblings-plus-partners gathered at Loch Fyne in Farnham on the Sunday for a celebratory meal with Mum and Dad. Followed by the giving of gifts and general chat back at the house.
Mary and I did not hang around over-long as the back bedroom decorating was nearly complete and we were due a guest staying with us Tuesday (last) night. A bedroom needs curtain pole and curtains!
Chatting to a colleague on the Monday and hearing of her family's "X is not speaking to Y" and "I can't remember when we last got together" reminded me yet against how fortunate I am with my lot.
Labels: family
¶ Permanent link: 1:31 PM 1 comments
Mothers' Day 2008
Was spent in Scotland visiting the MIL. The usual routine: Friday evening and night at Sandra & George's, Saturday daytime and night at May's.
The original plan had been the not-usual routine of meet up with friends in central Glasgow but it was not to be. So instead one of them, Geraldine, popped down to May's for afternoon tea:
Mary, Geraldine and May admire a pashmina
Sunday we met up with G & S and their two, Ross and Sandra, for a Mothers' Day meal. Then home late Sunday.
Was spent in Scotland visiting the MIL. The usual routine: Friday evening and night at Sandra & George's, Saturday daytime and night at May's.
The original plan had been the not-usual routine of meet up with friends in central Glasgow but it was not to be. So instead one of them, Geraldine, popped down to May's for afternoon tea:
Mary, Geraldine and May admire a pashmina
Sunday we met up with G & S and their two, Ross and Sandra, for a Mothers' Day meal. Then home late Sunday.
Labels: family
¶ Permanent link: 1:20 PM 1 comments
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Scales Family Tree
All this family research was triggered by my Mum. She has been wanting to research her family for a while and this year went to St Andrews church in Hertford. There she got a whole heap of births, marriages and deaths plus some census records for assorted Scales in and around Hertingfordbury Road. Having got all the pieces we proceeded to assemble the jigsaw into a family tree:
There were a couple of false starts. For example the gravestones revealed that the earliest Thomas Scales turned out to have married twice which suddenly made sense of the ages of the children. And one of his children by the second wife had two sons both called Thomas: one was Thomas William (sometimes just called William) and one called Thomas (sometimes called Thomas Jnr).
I think we have cracked it now and this is an extract showing the direct line:
Complete family tree as pdf
Genealogy Report as pdf
Genealogy Report as txt
All this family research was triggered by my Mum. She has been wanting to research her family for a while and this year went to St Andrews church in Hertford. There she got a whole heap of births, marriages and deaths plus some census records for assorted Scales in and around Hertingfordbury Road. Having got all the pieces we proceeded to assemble the jigsaw into a family tree:
There were a couple of false starts. For example the gravestones revealed that the earliest Thomas Scales turned out to have married twice which suddenly made sense of the ages of the children. And one of his children by the second wife had two sons both called Thomas: one was Thomas William (sometimes just called William) and one called Thomas (sometimes called Thomas Jnr).
I think we have cracked it now and this is an extract showing the direct line:
Complete family tree as pdf
Genealogy Report as pdf
Genealogy Report as txt
Labels: family
¶ Permanent link: 9:15 AM 2 comments
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Jazz on a Sunday Night
down at the Park Tavern. Brother-in-law Pete plays double bass and does occasional pub gigs. Last Sunday he was playing at the Park Tavern.
Since it is only 10 minutes walk from home I hardly had any excuse for not popping along. So I left Mary relaxing after a Sunday evening roast and toddled over for a very pleasant hour and a half listening to dinner jazz and drinking a couple of pints of Young's.
The pub has a very comfortable atmosphere almost like being in your own livng room: comfy chairs. roomy, well lit, friendly bar staff and a clientele that looked agreeable.
I got talking a a group of blokes who were obviously a) old mates and b) into the music. Turns out one of them has a trulli down on the coast at Castellana Grotte: http://www.trullicasolare.com/. Small world, eh? ¶ Permanent link: 4:33 PM 0 comments
down at the Park Tavern. Brother-in-law Pete plays double bass and does occasional pub gigs. Last Sunday he was playing at the Park Tavern.
Since it is only 10 minutes walk from home I hardly had any excuse for not popping along. So I left Mary relaxing after a Sunday evening roast and toddled over for a very pleasant hour and a half listening to dinner jazz and drinking a couple of pints of Young's.
The pub has a very comfortable atmosphere almost like being in your own livng room: comfy chairs. roomy, well lit, friendly bar staff and a clientele that looked agreeable.
I got talking a a group of blokes who were obviously a) old mates and b) into the music. Turns out one of them has a trulli down on the coast at Castellana Grotte: http://www.trullicasolare.com/. Small world, eh? ¶ Permanent link: 4:33 PM 0 comments
Friday, November 16, 2007
Sibling Dining in Soho
Saturday it was another siblings and partners dinner*. It was Jane&Pete's turn and Jane wanted to hold it in Soho so we could all see the finished flat (those of us who had not already). The flat is too small and not equipped for supper for six so we met at the flat, inspected and then went off to Le Deuxieme for a very enjoyable meal.
I was down in Farnham last Wednesday doing some family tree stuff with Mum when Dad remarked how much it pleased him that we siblings not only got on well but also enough to want to get together socially. And it's true we do.
* Previously: Sibling Dining, Akira's Cousin, Family Dining, I'm Up on the Eleventh Floor, Family Dining 2, Siblings in Puglia.
Saturday it was another siblings and partners dinner*. It was Jane&Pete's turn and Jane wanted to hold it in Soho so we could all see the finished flat (those of us who had not already). The flat is too small and not equipped for supper for six so we met at the flat, inspected and then went off to Le Deuxieme for a very enjoyable meal.
I was down in Farnham last Wednesday doing some family tree stuff with Mum when Dad remarked how much it pleased him that we siblings not only got on well but also enough to want to get together socially. And it's true we do.
* Previously: Sibling Dining, Akira's Cousin, Family Dining, I'm Up on the Eleventh Floor, Family Dining 2, Siblings in Puglia.
Labels: family
¶ Permanent link: 4:52 PM 0 comments
Monday, October 15, 2007
McLellan Family Tree
If you are lucky enough to have Scottish ancestry then tracing back your family tree to the early 1800's is something of a doddle. Go to http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ and you can search the registers of births, marriages and deaths plus a load of parish registers some going back to 1553.
Mary is absolutely hooked and been doing wonderful stuff researching her family, both sides and my Dad's family. She has traced back my paternal line to my great-great-great-grandfather who married in 1817.
Going back earlier than that the chain of evidence starts to get a bit shakey but I am sure there will be more to follow...
Descendants of Archibald McLelan
Generation No. 1
1. ARCHIBALD [1] MCLELAN He married MARRION MCDOUGALL 03 Mar 1817 in Bowmore. She died 24 Aug 1857 in Victoria Street, Govan.
Child of ARCHIBALD MCLELAN and MARRION MCDOUGALL is:
2. i. DOUGALD [2] MCLELLAN, b. 07 Dec 1818, Inchinan, Renfrewshire; d. 12 Jan 1875, Coatbridge.
Generation No. 2
2. DOUGALD [2] MCLELLAN (ARCHIBALD [1] MCLELAN) was born 07 Dec 1818 in Inchinan, Renfrewshire, and died 12 Jan 1875 in Coatbridge. He married ISABELLA MCLEAN 22 Apr 1845 in Barony (Maryhill), Glasgow. She was born in Tyree, Argyll.
More About DOUGALD MCLELLAN:
Occupation: 07 Apr 1861, Iron Works Magazine Keeper
Children of DOUGALD MCLELLAN and ISABELLA MCLEAN are:
3. i. CHARLES [3] MCLELLAN, b. 09 May 1852, Gartsherry, Coatbridge; d. 17 Oct 1930, Tollcross Road, Glasgow.
ii. ARCHIBALD MCLELLAN, b. 10 Jul 1845, Gartsherry, Coatbridge.
iii. NEIL MCLELLAN, b. 11 Jun 1848.
iv. DONALD MCLELLAN, b. 09 Jun 1850.
v. JAMES STEWART MCLELLAN, b. 16 Jul 1854.
vi. MARRION MCLELLAN, b. 19 Jul 1856.
vii. JOHN MCLELLAN, b. 07 May 1860, Gartsherry, Coatbridge.
Generation No. 3
3. CHARLES [3] MCLELLAN (DOUGALD [2], ARCHIBALD [1] MCLELAN) was born 09 May 1852 in Gartsherry, Coatbridge, and died 17 Oct 1930 in Tollcross Road, Glasgow. He married MARGARET JONES KENNEDY 06 Dec 1875 in Old Monkland, Lanark. She was born 06 Jan 1855 in Sunnyside, Coatbridge, and died 22 Sep 1930 in Tollcross Road, Glasgow.
Children of CHARLES MCLELLAN and MARGARET KENNEDY are:
4. i. JAMES KENNEDY [4] MCLELLAN, b. 26 Dec 1877, Coatbridge; d. 1933.
ii. DOUGALD MCLELLAN, b. 22 May 1876, Coatbridge.
iii. ARCHIBALD MCLELLAN, b. 03 Aug 1879, Coatbridge.
iv. ELLEN MCMILLAN MCLELLAN, b. 16 Jan 1882, Coatbridge.
v. ISABELLA MCLELLAN, b. 05 Jun 1890, Coatbridge.
Generation No. 4
4. JAMES KENNEDY [4] MCLELLAN (CHARLES [3], DOUGALD [2], ARCHIBALD [1] MCLELAN) was born 26 Dec 1877 in Coatbridge, and died 1933. He married AMELIA LONG. She was born 1885, and died 1960.
Child of JAMES MCLELLAN and AMELIA LONG is:
i. JAMES MICHAEL5 MCLELLAN, b. 10 Mar 1925; m. MARGERY FAITH SCALES; b. 27 Apr 1927.
For the PDF originals:
mclellan-family-tree.pdf
mclellan-geneology-report.pdf
If you are lucky enough to have Scottish ancestry then tracing back your family tree to the early 1800's is something of a doddle. Go to http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ and you can search the registers of births, marriages and deaths plus a load of parish registers some going back to 1553.
Mary is absolutely hooked and been doing wonderful stuff researching her family, both sides and my Dad's family. She has traced back my paternal line to my great-great-great-grandfather who married in 1817.
Going back earlier than that the chain of evidence starts to get a bit shakey but I am sure there will be more to follow...
Descendants of Archibald McLelan
Generation No. 1
1. ARCHIBALD [1] MCLELAN He married MARRION MCDOUGALL 03 Mar 1817 in Bowmore. She died 24 Aug 1857 in Victoria Street, Govan.
Child of ARCHIBALD MCLELAN and MARRION MCDOUGALL is:
2. i. DOUGALD [2] MCLELLAN, b. 07 Dec 1818, Inchinan, Renfrewshire; d. 12 Jan 1875, Coatbridge.
Generation No. 2
2. DOUGALD [2] MCLELLAN (ARCHIBALD [1] MCLELAN) was born 07 Dec 1818 in Inchinan, Renfrewshire, and died 12 Jan 1875 in Coatbridge. He married ISABELLA MCLEAN 22 Apr 1845 in Barony (Maryhill), Glasgow. She was born in Tyree, Argyll.
More About DOUGALD MCLELLAN:
Occupation: 07 Apr 1861, Iron Works Magazine Keeper
Children of DOUGALD MCLELLAN and ISABELLA MCLEAN are:
3. i. CHARLES [3] MCLELLAN, b. 09 May 1852, Gartsherry, Coatbridge; d. 17 Oct 1930, Tollcross Road, Glasgow.
ii. ARCHIBALD MCLELLAN, b. 10 Jul 1845, Gartsherry, Coatbridge.
iii. NEIL MCLELLAN, b. 11 Jun 1848.
iv. DONALD MCLELLAN, b. 09 Jun 1850.
v. JAMES STEWART MCLELLAN, b. 16 Jul 1854.
vi. MARRION MCLELLAN, b. 19 Jul 1856.
vii. JOHN MCLELLAN, b. 07 May 1860, Gartsherry, Coatbridge.
Generation No. 3
3. CHARLES [3] MCLELLAN (DOUGALD [2], ARCHIBALD [1] MCLELAN) was born 09 May 1852 in Gartsherry, Coatbridge, and died 17 Oct 1930 in Tollcross Road, Glasgow. He married MARGARET JONES KENNEDY 06 Dec 1875 in Old Monkland, Lanark. She was born 06 Jan 1855 in Sunnyside, Coatbridge, and died 22 Sep 1930 in Tollcross Road, Glasgow.
Children of CHARLES MCLELLAN and MARGARET KENNEDY are:
4. i. JAMES KENNEDY [4] MCLELLAN, b. 26 Dec 1877, Coatbridge; d. 1933.
ii. DOUGALD MCLELLAN, b. 22 May 1876, Coatbridge.
iii. ARCHIBALD MCLELLAN, b. 03 Aug 1879, Coatbridge.
iv. ELLEN MCMILLAN MCLELLAN, b. 16 Jan 1882, Coatbridge.
v. ISABELLA MCLELLAN, b. 05 Jun 1890, Coatbridge.
Generation No. 4
4. JAMES KENNEDY [4] MCLELLAN (CHARLES [3], DOUGALD [2], ARCHIBALD [1] MCLELAN) was born 26 Dec 1877 in Coatbridge, and died 1933. He married AMELIA LONG. She was born 1885, and died 1960.
Child of JAMES MCLELLAN and AMELIA LONG is:
i. JAMES MICHAEL5 MCLELLAN, b. 10 Mar 1925; m. MARGERY FAITH SCALES; b. 27 Apr 1927.
For the PDF originals:
mclellan-family-tree.pdf
mclellan-geneology-report.pdf
Labels: family
¶ Permanent link: 9:16 PM 5 comments
Monday, July 30, 2007
The Mother-in-Law Visits
It has been a quiet couple of weeks with not much of blogworthy note as we have had Mary's mum, May, down from Scotland while Mary's sister Sandra and family were on holiday. So mostly we have been leaving work promptly to go home for an early supper and a evening in watching the box. Weekends were a bit busier in order to keep May entertained.
The first weekend we went over to Ian and Sarah's for a family gathering to celebrate nephew Tom's 18th birthday. Sunday Mary and I took May down to Farnham for lunch with my mum and dad.
The next weekend we took May to a matinee of "Fiddler on the Roof" at the Savoy. Musicals are not normally our first choice but May likes them and, as musicals go, this was good. Most of the tunes are instantly recognisable and it introduced me to a piece of history and culture I was ignorant of. See Wikipedia on Shtetl.
This weekend just gone we whizzed down to Bristol to collect Molly and drive her back to London. In the evening we had old friends from Glasgow for dinner. Geraldine and Alisdair were down for a funeral on Friday and came over to stay with us Saturday. We had a very enjoyable dinner party, I faded at one o'clock but Mary and Geraldine were chatting till gone 2. I must pop round to the neighbours and apologise in case our late night music disturbed them.
Sunday it was all off to Heathrow for their return to Scotland. For us it was a relaxing meal and an early night.
It has been a quiet couple of weeks with not much of blogworthy note as we have had Mary's mum, May, down from Scotland while Mary's sister Sandra and family were on holiday. So mostly we have been leaving work promptly to go home for an early supper and a evening in watching the box. Weekends were a bit busier in order to keep May entertained.
The first weekend we went over to Ian and Sarah's for a family gathering to celebrate nephew Tom's 18th birthday. Sunday Mary and I took May down to Farnham for lunch with my mum and dad.
The next weekend we took May to a matinee of "Fiddler on the Roof" at the Savoy. Musicals are not normally our first choice but May likes them and, as musicals go, this was good. Most of the tunes are instantly recognisable and it introduced me to a piece of history and culture I was ignorant of. See Wikipedia on Shtetl.
This weekend just gone we whizzed down to Bristol to collect Molly and drive her back to London. In the evening we had old friends from Glasgow for dinner. Geraldine and Alisdair were down for a funeral on Friday and came over to stay with us Saturday. We had a very enjoyable dinner party, I faded at one o'clock but Mary and Geraldine were chatting till gone 2. I must pop round to the neighbours and apologise in case our late night music disturbed them.
Sunday it was all off to Heathrow for their return to Scotland. For us it was a relaxing meal and an early night.
Labels: family
¶ Permanent link: 8:36 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Architectural Tour of Amsterdam
The reason there have been no posts over the week end is that I have been in Amsterdam on an four day architectural tour lead by Tim Bruce-Dick (in the hat).
Jane has accompanied Dad (in the grey jacket) on a couple of previous tours but this time Ian and I decided to join them to make is a "siblings spend quality time with father" event.
This is also a test of my new flicker account to see how seamless, or otherwise, they are.
We left Mum at home but rang her every day.
Labels: family, the arts, travel
¶ Permanent link: 10:59 PM 0 comments
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Mum's 80th Birthday
Friday was Mum's 80th birthday so we celebrated twice. I took the afternoon off work as did Ian (and Jane is a "home-maker" as the Americans say). I caught the train down to Farnham where the three of us, Mum and Dad had lunch at the Loch Fyne Restaurant.
Present opening
Then on Saturday we all reconvened at Jane&Pete's place in Reigate where we were joined by most of the grandsons for a great present giving ceremony and birthday toast with a glass of champagne.
Cake with 8 candles
We then had a buffet lunch in the garden and fortunately is was a gloriously sunny day. This was followed by a cake which Sarah had made complete with eight inextinguishable candles - one for each decade.
Nephews: Chris, Tom, Tom 2, Lorenzo, Joe
Lorenzo (Ian's eldest) joined us halfway through the meal. Only Mike (Jane and Pete's eldest) wasn't able to make it as the band he is in (Thumpermonkey) had a gig in PLymouth the night before.
Mum, Dad and Balloons
Friday was Mum's 80th birthday so we celebrated twice. I took the afternoon off work as did Ian (and Jane is a "home-maker" as the Americans say). I caught the train down to Farnham where the three of us, Mum and Dad had lunch at the Loch Fyne Restaurant.
Present opening
Then on Saturday we all reconvened at Jane&Pete's place in Reigate where we were joined by most of the grandsons for a great present giving ceremony and birthday toast with a glass of champagne.
Cake with 8 candles
We then had a buffet lunch in the garden and fortunately is was a gloriously sunny day. This was followed by a cake which Sarah had made complete with eight inextinguishable candles - one for each decade.
Nephews: Chris, Tom, Tom 2, Lorenzo, Joe
Lorenzo (Ian's eldest) joined us halfway through the meal. Only Mike (Jane and Pete's eldest) wasn't able to make it as the band he is in (Thumpermonkey) had a gig in PLymouth the night before.
Mum, Dad and Balloons
Labels: family
¶ Permanent link: 5:07 PM 1 comments
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Lunch at The Groucho Club
Tuesday Mum and Dad came up to London to see Jane&Pete's flat in Soho and brother Ian came to join us. It had been meant as a family gathering but at the last minute Pete's Aunt Freda and Jane's oldest friend JaneF were added to the roster.
The assembled company marvelled at the transformation of the flat then we went round the corner to The Groucho Club* for a family lunch. Another long lunch catching up on JaneF's French hovels and back to work to make up the hours.
* The name of the club was inspired by one of Groucho Marx's quips; "I don't want to join a club that will accept me as a member"
Tuesday Mum and Dad came up to London to see Jane&Pete's flat in Soho and brother Ian came to join us. It had been meant as a family gathering but at the last minute Pete's Aunt Freda and Jane's oldest friend JaneF were added to the roster.
The assembled company marvelled at the transformation of the flat then we went round the corner to The Groucho Club* for a family lunch. Another long lunch catching up on JaneF's French hovels and back to work to make up the hours.
* The name of the club was inspired by one of Groucho Marx's quips; "I don't want to join a club that will accept me as a member"
Labels: family, restaurants
¶ Permanent link: 1:20 PM 0 comments
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Lunchtime in Soho
Yesterday I met up with sister Jane to see how their pied-a-terre is coming along. She told me it was one year and one week to the day since they first went to see the flat. And now it is all but finished and they have done a good job on it. Just a few minor tweaks remaining.
It used to be basically one large room with a separate kitchen at one end and a bathroom. The whole place has been gutted and redone completely, new everything. The bathroom is great, all beige and tiled, it looks like a five star hotel bathroom.
The kitchen wall has been taken out and they have gone open plan. The bed area is now where the kitchen was and there is a small kitchen "corner" next to it which partially screens off the bed area. Then a TV and chairs in the actual corner and a desk / home office and storage in an alcove.
Having inspected the premises, we tested out the local Tapas restaurant to see if it would be OK for Mum and Dad's visit next week. Something of a leisurely lunch, I'll make up the hours later.
Previous visits:
• Walking in the Wild West End
• I'm up on the Eleventh Floor
Yesterday I met up with sister Jane to see how their pied-a-terre is coming along. She told me it was one year and one week to the day since they first went to see the flat. And now it is all but finished and they have done a good job on it. Just a few minor tweaks remaining.
It used to be basically one large room with a separate kitchen at one end and a bathroom. The whole place has been gutted and redone completely, new everything. The bathroom is great, all beige and tiled, it looks like a five star hotel bathroom.
The kitchen wall has been taken out and they have gone open plan. The bed area is now where the kitchen was and there is a small kitchen "corner" next to it which partially screens off the bed area. Then a TV and chairs in the actual corner and a desk / home office and storage in an alcove.
Having inspected the premises, we tested out the local Tapas restaurant to see if it would be OK for Mum and Dad's visit next week. Something of a leisurely lunch, I'll make up the hours later.
Previous visits:
• Walking in the Wild West End
• I'm up on the Eleventh Floor
Labels: family
¶ Permanent link: 8:37 AM 1 comments
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Moving house tomorrow
And as you might expect the run up to tomorrow's house move has been hectic. Mary's Mum, May, flew down from Scotland on Thursday for a "farewell tour" of the cottage. We drove down Thursday night (with Cleo) and worked from home Friday so we would be ready early Saturday to continue the clearing out.
Primary target was the garage: boxing up the last dozen cases of wine, dismantling the VinoSafe, clearing out the accumulated unwanted possessions (or junk as Mary calls it) and doing tip runs to dump the rejects.
Saturday we went to Plummer's Restaurant with Bob&Lynne and Mike&Lynn. Mike deserves an serious award for good neighbourliness. When he and Lynn lived next door he fed the cats, took in the post, checked for intruders when the alarm went off and generally kept an eye on the place while we worked in various locations or countries Monday to Friday.
Even after they moved (about 10 miles away) Mike still used to do all that for little return apart from our heartfelt thanks and the occasional bottle of duty free malt. We have no way to thank him enough for what he has done over the years but we did offer him (and family of course) a free holiday in Italy.
Sunday was a family gathering: Mum&Dad and Ian&Sarah came down, partly house-cooling and partly because Sarah had never seen the cottage. After they left it was more tidying and sorting till it was time for our supper, traditional Sunday roast pork. Monday Mary stayed down at the cottage with May and Cleo while I drove back up to London for two days work. Back down tonight and the furniture van arrives at 9 o'clock tomorrow morning.
We shall have deserved our Valentine's meal out by the time tomorrow night arrives.
And as you might expect the run up to tomorrow's house move has been hectic. Mary's Mum, May, flew down from Scotland on Thursday for a "farewell tour" of the cottage. We drove down Thursday night (with Cleo) and worked from home Friday so we would be ready early Saturday to continue the clearing out.
Primary target was the garage: boxing up the last dozen cases of wine, dismantling the VinoSafe, clearing out the accumulated unwanted possessions (or junk as Mary calls it) and doing tip runs to dump the rejects.
Saturday we went to Plummer's Restaurant with Bob&Lynne and Mike&Lynn. Mike deserves an serious award for good neighbourliness. When he and Lynn lived next door he fed the cats, took in the post, checked for intruders when the alarm went off and generally kept an eye on the place while we worked in various locations or countries Monday to Friday.
Even after they moved (about 10 miles away) Mike still used to do all that for little return apart from our heartfelt thanks and the occasional bottle of duty free malt. We have no way to thank him enough for what he has done over the years but we did offer him (and family of course) a free holiday in Italy.
Sunday was a family gathering: Mum&Dad and Ian&Sarah came down, partly house-cooling and partly because Sarah had never seen the cottage. After they left it was more tidying and sorting till it was time for our supper, traditional Sunday roast pork. Monday Mary stayed down at the cottage with May and Cleo while I drove back up to London for two days work. Back down tonight and the furniture van arrives at 9 o'clock tomorrow morning.
We shall have deserved our Valentine's meal out by the time tomorrow night arrives.
Labels: avon cottage, family, moving house
¶ Permanent link: 12:38 PM 2 comments
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Christmas wines
Having some time at home over the Christmas period gave Mary a chance to sort out the cellar. We had cases and cases of wine still its cardboard boxes. But no more! And all of this to make it easier to dig out some fine wines for Christmas; modesty prevents me from naming names and vintages.
We had my Mum and Dad over for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and had a fine old time. As always with them the meal is the entertainment with much chat and banter. Christmas Day we had goose at 5 o'clock and then we did succumb to "couch potato syndrome" and watched a DVD of the first 'Pirates of the Carribean' with Johnny Depp. ¶ Permanent link: 7:01 PM 5 comments
Having some time at home over the Christmas period gave Mary a chance to sort out the cellar. We had cases and cases of wine still its cardboard boxes. But no more! And all of this to make it easier to dig out some fine wines for Christmas; modesty prevents me from naming names and vintages.
We had my Mum and Dad over for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and had a fine old time. As always with them the meal is the entertainment with much chat and banter. Christmas Day we had goose at 5 o'clock and then we did succumb to "couch potato syndrome" and watched a DVD of the first 'Pirates of the Carribean' with Johnny Depp. ¶ Permanent link: 7:01 PM 5 comments
Monday, July 31, 2006
Family dining (2)
This weekend we fitted in a double dose of family dining. On our way back from the cottage we called in to Farnham for lunch with my parents. In the evening we went round to Ian&Sarah's along with Jane&Pete for another evening of family dining. An excellent evening; my brother has a wicked wit and had me creased up with a tale of him and youngest son doing "boy looking" in the video store.
Sunday was a bike ride round Battersea Park and Wandsworth Common plus work on the Shed Called Jackson. It was like a Tom and Jerry cupboard - you know - open the door and everything falls out. Now it has a shelf for bits and bobs, a tool rack and several hooks for hanging the paella burner, strimmer cable and such like. So much more ruly. ¶ Permanent link: 10:21 AM 1 comments
This weekend we fitted in a double dose of family dining. On our way back from the cottage we called in to Farnham for lunch with my parents. In the evening we went round to Ian&Sarah's along with Jane&Pete for another evening of family dining. An excellent evening; my brother has a wicked wit and had me creased up with a tale of him and youngest son doing "boy looking" in the video store.
Sunday was a bike ride round Battersea Park and Wandsworth Common plus work on the Shed Called Jackson. It was like a Tom and Jerry cupboard - you know - open the door and everything falls out. Now it has a shelf for bits and bobs, a tool rack and several hooks for hanging the paella burner, strimmer cable and such like. So much more ruly. ¶ Permanent link: 10:21 AM 1 comments
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Thumpermonkey Lives! Dublin Castle, Camden. Thursday 03-Aug-06
Live @ Dublin Castle £4.50 Mit Flyer
Thumpermonkey Lives!
Thursday 3rd August @ 9PM 'til late
94 Parkway
Camden
London
NW1 7AN
map
www.thumpermonkey.com
myspace.com/thumpermonkey
Live @ Dublin Castle £4.50 Mit Flyer
Thumpermonkey Lives!
Thursday 3rd August @ 9PM 'til late
94 Parkway
Camden
London
NW1 7AN
map
www.thumpermonkey.com
myspace.com/thumpermonkey
Labels: family, music, thumpermonkey
¶ Permanent link: 9:21 AM 0 comments
Thumpermonkey Lives! Summer Tour 2006
Thumpermonkey Lives! Summer Tour 2006
Aug 03: Dublin Castle, London
Aug 04: Night and Day, Manchester
Aug 09: Pure, Sunderland
Aug 10 The Crown, Middlesborough
Aug 11: Venue TBC
Aug 12: Edwards No.8, Birmingham
Aug 18/19: Secret Festival (Shh)
A public demonstration of the recent album: "Chap With The Wings, Five Rounds Rapid".
www.thumpermonkey.com
myspace.com/thumpermonkey
Thumpermonkey Lives! Summer Tour 2006
Aug 03: Dublin Castle, London
Aug 04: Night and Day, Manchester
Aug 09: Pure, Sunderland
Aug 10 The Crown, Middlesborough
Aug 11: Venue TBC
Aug 12: Edwards No.8, Birmingham
Aug 18/19: Secret Festival (Shh)
A public demonstration of the recent album: "Chap With The Wings, Five Rounds Rapid".
www.thumpermonkey.com
myspace.com/thumpermonkey
Labels: family, music, thumpermonkey
¶ Permanent link: 9:18 AM 0 comments
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Bits and bobs
Pied-a-terre: My sister Jane and husband have exchanged on their one-room flat in Soho with completion early next month. So we can look forward to some evenings of jollity in Soho (see "Walking in the Wild West End").
I'm sorry I'll read that again: It must be having done too many crosswords that causes me to parse things oddly. Last time I was in Waitrose I bought a stir fry pack containing "Free Range Egg Noodles".
That's nice I thought, these egg noodles are keep in fields and allowed to roam free, not like factory farmed noodles. Then I re-read and thought Ah I think they mean the chickens that produced the eggs.
Marriage of Convenience: I was amused by Empire Magazine's 'Book of Movie Trivia' suggestion that Whoopi Goldberg should marry Peter Cushing so she could become Whoopi Cushing.
Pied-a-terre: My sister Jane and husband have exchanged on their one-room flat in Soho with completion early next month. So we can look forward to some evenings of jollity in Soho (see "Walking in the Wild West End").
I'm sorry I'll read that again: It must be having done too many crosswords that causes me to parse things oddly. Last time I was in Waitrose I bought a stir fry pack containing "Free Range Egg Noodles".
That's nice I thought, these egg noodles are keep in fields and allowed to roam free, not like factory farmed noodles. Then I re-read and thought Ah I think they mean the chickens that produced the eggs.
Marriage of Convenience: I was amused by Empire Magazine's 'Book of Movie Trivia' suggestion that Whoopi Goldberg should marry Peter Cushing so she could become Whoopi Cushing.
Labels: family, humour, observations
¶ Permanent link: 8:43 AM 0 comments
Monday, May 22, 2006
Michael McLellan limited edition prints
My father is a talented artist and it is not just me who thinks so. His work has been hung at a number of galleries and exhitions, most recently at the Art by Architects "Vision 05 Exhibition" (see also blog entry "Art by Architects"). At the end of last year he was asked to put togther a one-man show at Wolfson College, Oxford this autumn.
At this point Mary and I decided to enter the fine art publishing business. Over Christmas we were at Collier and Dobson in Fordingbridge to buy a pair of Tabitha Salmon prints. We chatted to them about what would be involved in doing prints of my Dad's paintings.
To cut a long story short, I went down to the printers on Saturday with Mum and Dad for a signing and numbering of the first 20 prints of two of Dad's paintings. Fine art prints limited edition of 95 worldwide; Anthony Dobson has done a magnificent job on the prints, the faithfulness and quality of the reproduction is astounding.
The topic of the wording on the Certificate of Authenticity came up. Contact details will be me and Mary as "publishers" but what to put for the web address? We checked it out and michaelmclellan .com and .co.uk were both available. So now, at the ripe old age of 81, my Dad is a dot-com!
If you want to see the paintings please visit "http://www.michaelmclellan.com/". ¶ Permanent link: 8:24 AM 5 comments
My father is a talented artist and it is not just me who thinks so. His work has been hung at a number of galleries and exhitions, most recently at the Art by Architects "Vision 05 Exhibition" (see also blog entry "Art by Architects"). At the end of last year he was asked to put togther a one-man show at Wolfson College, Oxford this autumn.
At this point Mary and I decided to enter the fine art publishing business. Over Christmas we were at Collier and Dobson in Fordingbridge to buy a pair of Tabitha Salmon prints. We chatted to them about what would be involved in doing prints of my Dad's paintings.
To cut a long story short, I went down to the printers on Saturday with Mum and Dad for a signing and numbering of the first 20 prints of two of Dad's paintings. Fine art prints limited edition of 95 worldwide; Anthony Dobson has done a magnificent job on the prints, the faithfulness and quality of the reproduction is astounding.
The topic of the wording on the Certificate of Authenticity came up. Contact details will be me and Mary as "publishers" but what to put for the web address? We checked it out and michaelmclellan .com and .co.uk were both available. So now, at the ripe old age of 81, my Dad is a dot-com!
If you want to see the paintings please visit "http://www.michaelmclellan.com/". ¶ Permanent link: 8:24 AM 5 comments
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Family dining
Mary too had a tough week of "team building" so we segued easily, without breaking step, into a weekend of eating and drinking. Friday night was a repeat visit to the Food Room as we had promised ourselves after our last visit [Eye Contact Avoidance].
Saturday night was a return match for the "siblings-and-partners" meal we had at Jane&Pete's. A most successful evening helped by a fine menu and the best of wines:
• Caramelised Asparagus on a bed of rocket [US: Rucola] and parmesan [US: parmigiano] drizzled with balsamic vinegar
• Oven-baked halibut with fresh vegetables
• Fresh coconut and pineapple with margarita sorbet and toasted coconut ice cream
• Cheese board with two kinds of freshly baked bread
I wish I had time to type up the full recipes like Rosa who blogs a whole heap of recipes. Suffice it to say everything was home made, of course. The ice cream recipe started with a real, hairy coconut and a hammer...
Sunday was Mother's Day in the UK so we went down to my Mum&Dad's in Farnham. We took lunch (fish terrine and bits) with us so Mum did not have to cook. Unfortunately we had not listened to the radio nor switched on the TV for 48 hours and were blissfully unaware that the clocks had changed.
I got a call from Mum wondering what time we were planning to get there. We jumped in the car and headed off. Unfortunately, so it seemed, had half of South London: the Wandsworth Gyratory was not gyrating. It hardly whirls like a Dervish at the best of times but Sunday lunchtime on Mother's day it ground to a halt. The tailback was all the way up East Hill almost as far as the Huguenot church. We arrived somewhat late but then had a fine time chatting of this and that and an opportunity to hug Mum and tell her I loved her.
I have said it before and will say it again. If you can, if it's not too late, spend time with your family and tell them you love them.
Mary too had a tough week of "team building" so we segued easily, without breaking step, into a weekend of eating and drinking. Friday night was a repeat visit to the Food Room as we had promised ourselves after our last visit [Eye Contact Avoidance].
Saturday night was a return match for the "siblings-and-partners" meal we had at Jane&Pete's. A most successful evening helped by a fine menu and the best of wines:
• Caramelised Asparagus on a bed of rocket [US: Rucola] and parmesan [US: parmigiano] drizzled with balsamic vinegar
• Oven-baked halibut with fresh vegetables
• Fresh coconut and pineapple with margarita sorbet and toasted coconut ice cream
• Cheese board with two kinds of freshly baked bread
I wish I had time to type up the full recipes like Rosa who blogs a whole heap of recipes. Suffice it to say everything was home made, of course. The ice cream recipe started with a real, hairy coconut and a hammer...
Sunday was Mother's Day in the UK so we went down to my Mum&Dad's in Farnham. We took lunch (fish terrine and bits) with us so Mum did not have to cook. Unfortunately we had not listened to the radio nor switched on the TV for 48 hours and were blissfully unaware that the clocks had changed.
I got a call from Mum wondering what time we were planning to get there. We jumped in the car and headed off. Unfortunately, so it seemed, had half of South London: the Wandsworth Gyratory was not gyrating. It hardly whirls like a Dervish at the best of times but Sunday lunchtime on Mother's day it ground to a halt. The tailback was all the way up East Hill almost as far as the Huguenot church. We arrived somewhat late but then had a fine time chatting of this and that and an opportunity to hug Mum and tell her I loved her.
I have said it before and will say it again. If you can, if it's not too late, spend time with your family and tell them you love them.
Labels: family, restaurants
¶ Permanent link: 1:14 PM 0 comments
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Carol Galashan placed 10th in Individual All Around
See the "Women's All-Around Final Results". And Helen is in the finals for the beam on Tuesday. I am most impressed as I never even represented my Infants School in the Egg and Spoon race let alone competed at the level of Planet Earth (Commonwealth Section).
Full results for "Carol Galashan".
Full results for "Helen Galashan".
In my earlier post I mentioned an item in the Daily Record. It was Scotland's First Minister meeting the twins. The story was also used in a press release on the Scottish government website promoting Scotland's bid for the 20014 Games ¶ Permanent link: 5:31 PM 0 comments
See the "Women's All-Around Final Results". And Helen is in the finals for the beam on Tuesday. I am most impressed as I never even represented my Infants School in the Egg and Spoon race let alone competed at the level of Planet Earth (Commonwealth Section).
Full results for "Carol Galashan".
Full results for "Helen Galashan".
In my earlier post I mentioned an item in the Daily Record. It was Scotland's First Minister meeting the twins. The story was also used in a press release on the Scottish government website promoting Scotland's bid for the 20014 Games ¶ Permanent link: 5:31 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Third cousins
Although this could have been titled "Home but not alone 3" [2] [1] or "Spend time with your family 2" [1]. Mary went up to Scotland to spend time with her mum which turned into a weekend of baby-sitting the wee 'uns so that George&Sandra could spend a child-free weekend in Dundee.
At Mary's prompting, it has to be gratefully acknowledged, I went and likewise spent the weekend with my Mum (and Dad, of course) which was much appreciated by Mum. Down to Farnham for Friday night and a meal at the local Italian.
Then Saturday we drove down to Winton near Bournemouth to visit my father's second cousins Ken&Effie (Euphemia) who I had not seen since our wedding in '93. Several hours were spent amusing them with my grasp of Doric (the dialect of Lowland Scots spoken in the north-east of Scotland) thanks to my having married an Ayrshire lass.
Then a quiet Saturday in just chatting and spending "quality time" with the Ageds. And a good thing too. As they get older I am ever more conscious of spending time with them while I still can. So another win for New Year's Resolution #4.
Although this could have been titled "Home but not alone 3" [2] [1] or "Spend time with your family 2" [1]. Mary went up to Scotland to spend time with her mum which turned into a weekend of baby-sitting the wee 'uns so that George&Sandra could spend a child-free weekend in Dundee.
At Mary's prompting, it has to be gratefully acknowledged, I went and likewise spent the weekend with my Mum (and Dad, of course) which was much appreciated by Mum. Down to Farnham for Friday night and a meal at the local Italian.
Then Saturday we drove down to Winton near Bournemouth to visit my father's second cousins Ken&Effie (Euphemia) who I had not seen since our wedding in '93. Several hours were spent amusing them with my grasp of Doric (the dialect of Lowland Scots spoken in the north-east of Scotland) thanks to my having married an Ayrshire lass.
Then a quiet Saturday in just chatting and spending "quality time" with the Ageds. And a good thing too. As they get older I am ever more conscious of spending time with them while I still can. So another win for New Year's Resolution #4.
Labels: family
¶ Permanent link: 3:52 PM 2 comments
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
A Merry Christmas to all our readers
I hope you all had as pleasant and relaxing a Christmas as we did. Ours followed a well trod path: The usual Farnham Potlatch the Sunday before Christmas to exchange gifts with my family. Then we took the Friday off so we could get down to the cottage on Thursday night thus avoiding the pre-holiday traffic jams. Christmas day we hosted Bob&Lynn plus Lynne's parents, Pam&John, to a five course lunch with goose as the bird and some fine wines. Then Boxing Day B&L reciprocated.
Our meal finished with a 1955 Taylor's Port and an excellent selection of cheesy comestibles from Neal's Yard Dairy in Covent Garden. That is another thing I love about living in London, Mary can phone me up, I can pop out at lunchtime and in five minutes I am in one of the finest cheese shops in the country. In and out in 10 minutes with three kilos of the tastiest of cheeses.
A colleague of Mary's left it too close to Christmas and had to queue out the shop and down the street. The gentleman in front of her announced that he had come to collect a cheddar - a whole truckle and they are big! When offered the use of a trolley to convey it to his car he said "No thanks my chauffeur will carry it". He completed his shopping and left with over 550 pounds worth (USD 950) of cheese, now that is what I call a cheese board.
I hope you all had as pleasant and relaxing a Christmas as we did. Ours followed a well trod path: The usual Farnham Potlatch the Sunday before Christmas to exchange gifts with my family. Then we took the Friday off so we could get down to the cottage on Thursday night thus avoiding the pre-holiday traffic jams. Christmas day we hosted Bob&Lynn plus Lynne's parents, Pam&John, to a five course lunch with goose as the bird and some fine wines. Then Boxing Day B&L reciprocated.
Our meal finished with a 1955 Taylor's Port and an excellent selection of cheesy comestibles from Neal's Yard Dairy in Covent Garden. That is another thing I love about living in London, Mary can phone me up, I can pop out at lunchtime and in five minutes I am in one of the finest cheese shops in the country. In and out in 10 minutes with three kilos of the tastiest of cheeses.
A colleague of Mary's left it too close to Christmas and had to queue out the shop and down the street. The gentleman in front of her announced that he had come to collect a cheddar - a whole truckle and they are big! When offered the use of a trolley to convey it to his car he said "No thanks my chauffeur will carry it". He completed his shopping and left with over 550 pounds worth (USD 950) of cheese, now that is what I call a cheese board.
Labels: family
¶ Permanent link: 10:28 AM 0 comments
Monday, July 04, 2005
Name check for Charlie
On Tuesday night I popped down to the cottage to drop Molly (Mary's Morris Minor) round to the garage for its MOT. On the train back in the morning (the 6:50 from Southampton Airport) I got chatting to a woman who was not a regular commuter. She was saying how kids were not as polite as they used to be; she was pregnant and hoped that she could bring up her child with good manners but was concerned it would be considered odd by its peers.
I was saying that the unruly ones are the ones that make the news and there are plenty of well-mannered, well-brought up children about. I cite my nephews (on my sister's side) as fine examples (see clip-clippety-clop). And so, also, it is true on my brother's side.
We went round to S.O. Sarah's on Saturday for the residents' association annual summer event. There was Lorenzo and his mates likewise "handsome, tall, and strong". All charming and polite, confident and self assured. I am sure I was never that poised at that age. Similarly for Lorenzo's girlfriend, Charlie, and her crowd. Anyhow I promised Charlie I would give her a name check on the blog so (hoping I got the correct spelling) there you go, Charlie!
On Tuesday night I popped down to the cottage to drop Molly (Mary's Morris Minor) round to the garage for its MOT. On the train back in the morning (the 6:50 from Southampton Airport) I got chatting to a woman who was not a regular commuter. She was saying how kids were not as polite as they used to be; she was pregnant and hoped that she could bring up her child with good manners but was concerned it would be considered odd by its peers.
I was saying that the unruly ones are the ones that make the news and there are plenty of well-mannered, well-brought up children about. I cite my nephews (on my sister's side) as fine examples (see clip-clippety-clop). And so, also, it is true on my brother's side.
We went round to S.O. Sarah's on Saturday for the residents' association annual summer event. There was Lorenzo and his mates likewise "handsome, tall, and strong". All charming and polite, confident and self assured. I am sure I was never that poised at that age. Similarly for Lorenzo's girlfriend, Charlie, and her crowd. Anyhow I promised Charlie I would give her a name check on the blog so (hoping I got the correct spelling) there you go, Charlie!
Labels: family
¶ Permanent link: 1:12 PM 0 comments
Thursday, April 28, 2005
What a difference a year makes
This time last year, on her birthday, Mum was still in hospital full of tubes and painkillers, recovering from her Mother's Day emergency aortobifemoral bypass
Last night Ian and I went down to Farnham to take her and Dad out for a Chinese meal. She was well and cheerful one year on. It was good to see.
This time last year, on her birthday, Mum was still in hospital full of tubes and painkillers, recovering from her Mother's Day emergency aortobifemoral bypass
Last night Ian and I went down to Farnham to take her and Dad out for a Chinese meal. She was well and cheerful one year on. It was good to see.
Labels: family
¶ Permanent link: 4:06 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Jane's 50th Birthday
Last Thursday was sister Jane's 50th birthday. Like Dad for his 80th birthday two week earlier, Jane went for the quiet, at-home, family gathering, this time augmented by nephews, old friends Jane&Brock and Cheryl, Pete's Dad (Michael) and Aunt (Freda).
Usual stuff: ate, drank, chatted, had a good time. How unlike EastEnders! <sarcasm=ON>Where are we going wrong? How come we enjoy each other's company? Why don't we have family screaming matches, like on the telly?<sarcasm=OFF>
Mary and I were most pleased with the present we bought in Edinburgh - a set of Six Fabergé Coffee Cups & Saucers from The Royal Collection - which went down very well.
Then a taxi back home to Wandsworth, which was cheaper than staying at the local Reigate Manor Hotel and meant we woke in our own bed :-)
Last Thursday was sister Jane's 50th birthday. Like Dad for his 80th birthday two week earlier, Jane went for the quiet, at-home, family gathering, this time augmented by nephews, old friends Jane&Brock and Cheryl, Pete's Dad (Michael) and Aunt (Freda).
Usual stuff: ate, drank, chatted, had a good time. How unlike EastEnders! <sarcasm=ON>Where are we going wrong? How come we enjoy each other's company? Why don't we have family screaming matches, like on the telly?<sarcasm=OFF>
Mary and I were most pleased with the present we bought in Edinburgh - a set of Six Fabergé Coffee Cups & Saucers from The Royal Collection - which went down very well.
Then a taxi back home to Wandsworth, which was cheaper than staying at the local Reigate Manor Hotel and meant we woke in our own bed :-)
Labels: family
¶ Permanent link: 2:11 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
First ever Mother's day card
We don't go in for Mother's Day in a big way in our family. In fact we don't go for it all. Last year was the first time in my 52 years on planet earth that I had ever sent anything - some flowers. That was prompted by her mastectomy in January '04 and the wake-up call that she might not be around indefinitely.
Last year, as I was in Dublin for the weekend, I was not able to visit and was not organised enough to plan ahead and send a card. Instead I used Interflora to send a bunch of flowers. It was when I called to see if they had arrived that I learned she was on the operating table starting a four hour operation (see Not a very good Mother's day).
So this year another break with (non-)tradition: I went in person on Sunday afternoon and delivered my first ever Mother's Day card by hand. So that was nice.
We don't go in for Mother's Day in a big way in our family. In fact we don't go for it all. Last year was the first time in my 52 years on planet earth that I had ever sent anything - some flowers. That was prompted by her mastectomy in January '04 and the wake-up call that she might not be around indefinitely.
Last year, as I was in Dublin for the weekend, I was not able to visit and was not organised enough to plan ahead and send a card. Instead I used Interflora to send a bunch of flowers. It was when I called to see if they had arrived that I learned she was on the operating table starting a four hour operation (see Not a very good Mother's day).
So this year another break with (non-)tradition: I went in person on Sunday afternoon and delivered my first ever Mother's Day card by hand. So that was nice.
Labels: family
¶ Permanent link: 1:23 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Chinese take-away in Farnham
Tuesday evening I popped down on the train to visit the Aged P's in Farnham for a Chinese take-away and a bottle of wine. We call them the Aged P's following the example of a character in Dicken's Great Expectations. Dad started it and it is a term of affection.
There was a note from Heather with some photos from Jane's silver wedding do. She - Heather - wrote that we three (me, Jane, Ian) were very lucky to have such parents. I must say I second that. From what I hear and read about others' relationships with their parents we are very lucky; I enjoy their company and spending time with them.
Tuesday evening I popped down on the train to visit the Aged P's in Farnham for a Chinese take-away and a bottle of wine. We call them the Aged P's following the example of a character in Dicken's Great Expectations. Dad started it and it is a term of affection.
There was a note from Heather with some photos from Jane's silver wedding do. She - Heather - wrote that we three (me, Jane, Ian) were very lucky to have such parents. I must say I second that. From what I hear and read about others' relationships with their parents we are very lucky; I enjoy their company and spending time with them.
Labels: family
¶ Permanent link: 4:27 PM 0 comments
Sunday, June 20, 2004
What's so unpleasant about being drunk?
You ask a glass of water. *
Had a great time at sister Jane's 25th Wedding anniversary bash last night. Saw some old faces that I had not seen for ages (hello Heather, Cheryl, Andrew, Ros, Jane & Brock and others who I hazily forget this morning). I felt sorry for Jane and Pete's neighbour to whom I rambled drunkenly on about who knows what. But he smiled a lot, he must have realised I am the harmless kind of drunk. Gave some folks a laugh by taking along my photos from the original wedding day including me in my Marc Bolan / Roger Daltry curls era:
Today we are off to Italy for 12 days so I will be maintaining radio silence - unless I can get to use the cyber terminal in the corner of the bar in Cisternino main square.
* Douglas Adams
You ask a glass of water. *
Had a great time at sister Jane's 25th Wedding anniversary bash last night. Saw some old faces that I had not seen for ages (hello Heather, Cheryl, Andrew, Ros, Jane & Brock and others who I hazily forget this morning). I felt sorry for Jane and Pete's neighbour to whom I rambled drunkenly on about who knows what. But he smiled a lot, he must have realised I am the harmless kind of drunk. Gave some folks a laugh by taking along my photos from the original wedding day including me in my Marc Bolan / Roger Daltry curls era:
Today we are off to Italy for 12 days so I will be maintaining radio silence - unless I can get to use the cyber terminal in the corner of the bar in Cisternino main square.
* Douglas Adams
Labels: family
¶ Permanent link: 11:15 AM 1 comments
Thursday, April 29, 2004
I'm Jake the Peg, diddle-iddle-iddle-um
Tuesday was Mum's birthday and she was getting a bit fed up with still being in hospital. It has been over a month now since she was admitted, see blog entry: Not a very good Mother's Day. Dad and Ian went over; they dressed her in normal clothes and "smuggled" her into the staff restaurant for a birthday meal.
She is getter steadily steadier on her feet, she has progressed from a zimmer frame to crutches. Getting up and down stairs is, apparently best done with one stick and the bannister. But you need two when on the flat, upstairs and downstairs. So you leave one stick at either end and use a third while in transit, picking up the other when you get there.
When Mum heard she was getting a third stick the nurses wondered what was so funny. It was that in her head she could hear Rolf Harris singing "I'm Jake the Peg, diddle-iddle-iddle-um, With my extra leg, diddle-iddle-iddle-um".
Tuesday was Mum's birthday and she was getting a bit fed up with still being in hospital. It has been over a month now since she was admitted, see blog entry: Not a very good Mother's Day. Dad and Ian went over; they dressed her in normal clothes and "smuggled" her into the staff restaurant for a birthday meal.
She is getter steadily steadier on her feet, she has progressed from a zimmer frame to crutches. Getting up and down stairs is, apparently best done with one stick and the bannister. But you need two when on the flat, upstairs and downstairs. So you leave one stick at either end and use a third while in transit, picking up the other when you get there.
When Mum heard she was getting a third stick the nurses wondered what was so funny. It was that in her head she could hear Rolf Harris singing "I'm Jake the Peg, diddle-iddle-iddle-um, With my extra leg, diddle-iddle-iddle-um".
Labels: family
¶ Permanent link: 5:24 PM
