No photos (copy)

I have been trying for the last few days to edit my post on Ali, to add a photo, but no luck. I have even tried doing a new post and it still isn't working. I am getting quite fed up with it. This is apparently a frequent problem with Blogger. I will keep trying though.

Simon is away this weekend so I am getting in to some family history research. I will post any new finds on here.

On wednesday we are off to Ibiza..........here comes the sun!!! Am I alone in thinking that English weather is rubbish??

I had a lovely picture of the sun............................but guess what? This stupid thing won't upload it!!!

Ali's Blog (copy)

My friend Ali was the one who got me started on this blog thing. She has a really good one at www.blog.core-ed.net/ali

In Ali's own words:

It is a mixture of personal anecdotes, observations, skites about my marvellous son, Thomas and sometimes, somewhere hopefully some things vaguely intelligent. For much more intelligent comments on education, social software and the like check out the blogs of my colleagues at www.core-ed.net

Do have a look. It is really good and has more intelligent stuff than mine does. Ali is the general manager for CORE Education. This is what it says on its web page:

About Us
What is CORE? CORE Education is a not-for-profit educational research and development organisation based in Christchurch, New Zealand.
CORE researches, applies, supports and disseminates new learning technologies. CORE equips students of all ages with the e-learning capabilities they need to succeed in the future. We also provide teachers and trainers with the support and skills they need to ensure e-learning programmes are both viable and leading edge.

It is an interesting web site and to take a look go to:
http://www.core-ed.net:8200/ To see Alis profile go to:
http://www.core-ed.net:8200/about-us/staff-profiles/Ali_Hughes

NB I have spent ages tonight to upload a photo of Ali but it is not happening. When I get the chance I will go into edit and try again!

Googlewhack (copy)

I have discovered, via Coralie, that there is a brilliant new way to lollygag. You spend your time on the internet "Googlewhacking". Apparently, Googlewhacking, is when you put 2 unrelated words into the Google search engine and see what results you get. If only 1 result is returned then you have a Googlewhack which apparently you can claim as your own and register it with Google!! How sad is that???

I had one go because I thought it would be easy. My 2 words which I thought of while driving in the car with Coralie were: elephant and jodhpurs. EASY......... It didn't work, there were 10,500 results!!! Anyway, it would seem there are thousands of people out there who like to use Googlewhacking as their preferred method of lollygagging. What ever turns you on, I suppose.

If you want a go there is a web site dedicated to it: www.googlewhack.com Also worth a look is: www.davegorman.com/googlewhack.htm

On looking at the Googlewhack web site to see what words have acheived Googlewhack status, I can see that you need to be a bit more inventive than elephant and jodhpurs. The latest Googlewhack is: stool crudiness!!! I didn't know crudiness was a word.

Anyway, there you go. I challenge you all to come up with an even more pointless way to lollygag.

Reading group news (copy)

Although I have only had 2 responses to the idea of a reading group; I am pleased to be able to say that Ali has a friend who is going to set up something online for us. If anyone else wants to get involved then please let me know.

I have compiled a list for myself from the book "1001 books to read before you die". I was amazed how many books I haven't actually read. I know about them and have maybe seen the TV film or seen the play but haven't read the book. Am I the only person that didn't know that "Breakfast at Tiffanys" was a book before it was a film??

Debbie....if you are out there or Doug If you are reading this...... think how proud of us Mrs Crewe would be!!!! You should join us.

I will put details on here when I have them.

Mrs Pigeon says good morning (copy)

MORNING POEM

I woke early one morning, the earth lay cool and still, when suddenly a tiny bird perched on my window sill. He sang a song so lovely, so carefree and so gay, that slowly all my troubles began to slip away. He sang of far off places, of laughter and of fun, it seemed his very trilling brought up the morning sun. I stired beneath the covers, crept slowly out of bed, then gently shut the window and crushed his bloody head.

This is for Simon who hates the pigeons that wake him about 5am every morning!

Dogs in the garden (copy)

Doggies in the garden, enjoying the summer sun!

Some more Lollygagging (copy)

I have spent most of this week lollygagging again! I have sorted out some photos, and framed them at long last. I am now waiting for Simon to put them up on the walls, but that will take time! Other than that I have been doing lots of reading and family history research. Simon has been busy as he has started to repaint the cupboards at the front of the house. He has also spent a lot of time at his barn.

Other news........ Coralie is off "up north" on Saturday to do some kind of mountaineering course with the regular army! She is praying that it isn't hot. This will qualify her to take the little army cadets up into the mountains on her own and lose them all! Personally, I think she is totally barmy.

Joshua is (hopefully) going to Paris on Monday with his girl friend Charlotte. They are planning to visit all the tourist spots such as the Eiffel Tower and the Champs Elysee. (Good Shopping according to Saskia) Obviously because of yesterdays terrorist threats and the chaos at the airports the trip might not go ahead. I did watch the news ealier though and it seems that things are getting back to normal, so hopefully they will be able to go. I just hope that they can find a hotel as they have only booked flights!!!

Everyone else is fine. Doggies are enjoying having their Daddy home for 6 weeks, although it does mess up the sleep routines.

Wardrobe tidying (copy)

Well, I can now report that Simon has (nearly) finished tidying up and de-junking his side of the wardrobe!!! Our wardrobes incidentally are built in ones so look nothing at all like the one to the left!!!! Had to have some kind of graphic though and that was the best I could do.

It took Simon about 4 hours in total and he threw out 1 bag of very old clothes and a few bits of paper. He still hasn't progressed on to his shelves though. I think I may do them myself as it will be a good chance to get rid of all those horrible grubby car T shirts.

The stuff he kept far out ways the stuff that he threw out. Why can't men get rid of anything???
He has hundreds of magasines which date back to the dark ages..........BUT....... HE MAY READ THEM ONE DAY.
Won't they be just a "tad" out of date?? This is equally weird, an old NSRA commitee members shirt, circa 1994, possibly earlier. It is truly disgusting, being royal blue with red and white accents. It looks like something that wouldve been unifrom in an American diner about 1950. Can it be thrown out though? NOOOOOOOOOO. They may possibly have a reunion at some point in the future and Simon would want to wear it. Or it may be a collectors item.

I tried to tell him that if you haven't worn it in the last decade you are not likely to ever wear it again. Plus as previously mentioned, it is disgusting, absolutely hideous. Anyway as far as I can tell the NSRA have reunions about 10 times a year.

Oxford dictionary definition of "reunion" = a coming together after being apart, a meeting.

Therefore by definition every car show is a reunion! You haven't worn it so far so throw it out.

For information the NSRA is a car club for people who make or modify pre some year or other cars. It stands for the National Street Rod Association. NOT the National Smallbore Rifle Association!!! For weird people here is their web site link: http://www.nsra.org.uk/
There is probably stuff on there written by Simon.

Actually I have just had a thought....................if there is anyone out there who thinks the infamous shirt is a collectors item then I am open to offers. Maybe I'll puy it up on Ebay.

Update on Verity and Adam (copy)

I spoke to Verity a few days ago and both her and Adam are fine. The season actually finishes at the end of August so they will be returning temporarily to Southampton at the begining of September. However they are off again on the 6th of September to spend 3 weeks at Adams parents house in Belfast. They will be back for the start of term on 2nd of October.

A very clever girl. (copy)

This week we have had a letter from Southampton University to say that Verity has passed all her exams and assignments and is ready to proceed to her final year. Congratulations Verity, well done darling. Roll on that dissertation!!

Verity is currently working for PGL (childrens adventure holiday company) in Spain. She is based at a place called La Fosca which is near Gerona. She is due back in Engalnd in time for the start of the new Uni term in October. Adam, Veritys boyfriend is also working at La Fosca.

To see where Verity and Adam are, click on the link: http://www.pgl.co.uk/online/ourcentres/centre.asp?centrecode=LAF

Birthday photos, Coralie and Rosie (copy)

These photos show how happy Coralie and Rosie were on their shared Birthday.

Time travelling through mundanity. (reading group)

I have spent the last few days catching up on all those jobs that didn't get done while I was lollygagging! See, I do occasionally do something. Simon and I went to Stevenage on Thursday to take Dad to the hospital. To cut a long story short he is now going to have a prostate operation which will be about October time. We had a good day with them. We cleared out lots of old junk and furniture from their conservatory which pleased Dad. Mum desperately wanted to hang on to an old drop leaf table, because "they do use it occasionally and it's useful to have". This wasn't born out by the cobwebs on it! Anyway it finally went to the dump.

We went for a meal with them in the evening, to a pub called the Plume of Feathers at Little Wymondley. I am pleased to report that after a bad experience there some years back we had a lovely meal this time. They do excellent steak and kidney pie. Yummy. xx

Today I have been trying to persuede Simon to clear out his wardrobe and his side of the bedroom. He managed to get as far as tidying the books and magazines by his side of the bed and threw out about 3 things!!! He was so stressed by throwing something out that he has gone to his barn. I think the barn is the equivalent of Simons cave!!!! (reference to "Men are from Mars, Women from Venus!!)

Speaking of books, I have just finished reading the Time Travellers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. It was lent to my by Coralie who said I must read it. WHY??? I found it most confusing and quite weird. I can't see why it has had so many good reveiws. It jumps around all over the place until you dont know where you are. If anyone out there has read it, then let me know what you think. Coralie cried at the ending!!

I love reading and have to read every single day. I will read anything at all but prefer "easy reading" stuff most of the time. I have just got a book from the library called 1001 books to read before you die! It has books from pre 1700 - 2005. I am flicking through it picking out some titles to get hold of. If anyone wants to give me their suggestions that would be great. Actually what about an online, book reading group??????????????? ANYONE??????????????

Must go books to read. I wonder if reading is a form of lollygagging?? No its educational.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROSIE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR ROSIE, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!

Rosie - High Spirits, born 1st August 1995.
Bred by Master S F J Bristol.
Sire: Washakie Dancing Brave. (Champion and American champion)
Dam: Artemis The Great.
Rosie comes from a very long line of champions and she bred her own champion boy - Alfie won best puppy in 2000.

11 years old today and still our best girl.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CORALIE

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Coralie, Happy birthday to you!!!!!!

Coralie Cerise Glennsansum born 1st August 1982 in Sidmouth Devon. A daughter for Simon and Jill and a sister for Samuel.

24 today!! Happy Birthday Coralie, hope you have a lovely day and that you don't have pizza for dinner!! We love you lots and are very proud of everything that you have acheived. We wish you a very good 25th year and hope your dreams come true.