BIG BEN sets the BELLS a-RINGING!

It has been some time since I have taken the trouble to do a blog, but our eldest grandson Ben's recent Performance at the end of his Degree Course provided such a 'Friday Night Fever' that I just had to record it.

We went to Guildford with Martin and Kim, Vicki and Max ,and arriving early at his College had a chance to take a look around the various rehearsal booths, recording studios and the like - all very state of the art. Here are Vicki and Max looking as if they know exactly what they are doing - NOT.

When it was time for Ben's set, we all packed into the performance area, which looked very professional, and were provided with ear plugs - so we had an idea of what we were in for!  I could never have imagined that I could enjoy four pieces of music by two guitarists, a drummer, and of course mainly Ben, SO MUCH.     He was truly fabulous, SO talented - the music takes him over, and his fingers take on a life of their own.    As one who attempts to play the cello with much enthusiasm, but no talent at all, I can so appreciate just how amazing are his fingering and vibrato.   I was just thrilled to bits with it all, but very particularly liked 'Good Thing', the slower piece which showed such warmth and texture.   Thank you Ben for making your Granna's spine tingle, set her feet and much more a-tapping, and made her feel young (but not foolish!) again.

                                                 

Martin and Kim took us all out for a celebration meal afterwards at a super Italian restaurant nearby, and a great evening was had by all.   Late to bed- but with Ben's spectacular performance still running through my brain.    Sharing family occasions like this make me SO delighted to have lots of grandchildren - ALL of course very clever and talented in their own particular ways.

While I am here blogging, I might just mention a few of the other happenings in the lives of us two elderlies recently.    Winscombe Community Choir, of which I am a keen member (can't sing, but love trying), made its debut as the Headline Act at a (late) Jubilee Celebration Concert locally - it was really a case of "Singin' in the Rain" but what did we care - the audience of friends and families of the 80 members put up their brollies and cheered us on enthusiastically.

                                                             

.....there I am, behind, and to the right of the bald man by the microphone ......as we are all chattering away, I guess this picture was taken after we had finished......

There has been Zac's Christening, which was a really lovely occasion - he wore the tank top I had knitted him, and behaved perfectly...........  John and Sam provided a super Sunday lunch afterwards for 40 of us at the Apple Tree nearby - such a happy day. (but I don't have any accessible photos to show.)

We had my brother Trevor, and Vivien to stay for a few days, so that they would be here for the lunch I was giving on Mum's 96th birthday for her 4 'kids' (now all OAP'S) and their partners.  Sadly Mum had a couple of falls, and wasn't well enough to come so we took the champagne, decorations and presents over to her that afternoon........      Here we are doing a bit of preparation in our kitchen. 

                                                 

Regrettably for Mum she had to go into hospital, but we had the pleasure of Kerry coming to stay for a few days.  She was able to visit her Nana with us, go to a choir rehearsal with me, play her flute with piano accompaniments by variously her Dad and me,  make some biscuits, spend time just enjoying the ever-changing view from our garden room, and even take a few photographs at her old haunt - Backwell Lake .......

Just a day or so before Ben's Big Beat, we drove Kerry back home, and took time to draw breath before the journey back home by having a meal down by the Bay at the end of her road.  The sun was STILL shining - yes, summer finally arrived in the form of a full 8 days of continuous sunshine - and it was a real joy to watch matchstick people  splashing about in the sea,  families tucking into barbecues on the beach, and folk of all shapes and sizes finally able to shed their winter woollies.

          
The past few weeks has been a kaleidoscope of ups and downs, with hospital visits and worried phone calls punctuating the days, but I have a pre-birthday lunch tomorrow with Sean, and another the day after with a friend, a birthday away day/night down in Devon, and then a holiday down at Kim's home in the lovely Hampshire countryside next week (whilst they are all holidaying in Greece) - thankyou Kim for providing such  very comfortable top-end Self Catering accommodation. 

Note to myself - don't leave it so long before blogging again next time.

                                                

A very different Christmas - Vive la difference!

It is almost the end of January, and I haven't found time yet to write up something about our fabulous Christmas holiday in Australia.   This is mainly because Mummy was in Intensive Care at Southmead Hospital for much of our absence (thankfully my two sisters and brother were there for her) and now she is back on the ward,  we are keen to do our share of visits, which together with a backlog of Post, e-mails, and phone messages and much else, means that I am rather behind with everything.

We began our lovely long Christmas holiday with a family get-together at Jon and Sam's - SO good to have four of 'our five' together round the table, and it was an uproarious evening - Christmas tree and decorations, and much festive spirit.   After taking in a visit to Epping to see Ron and Annelies next day, Jon arranged to have us driven to London Airport the following day... thank you guys!

I had dreaded the long journey, but this time, travelling with Singapore Airlines it was a joy ( a five hour stopover in Singapore spent in and by a pool under the stars on the roof of the airport adding a luxury touch) , and we arrived  in Sydney in high good spirits, to be met by Jenny and Katy, whose 12th birthday it was that day (and who was looking sweet in the birthday dress we had sent).     Soon we were in the midst of all the pre-Christmas excitement, with invitations to parties at various friends of Jenny and Ally, and we even fitted in a visit to the famous QVB (Sydney's Harrods) for the children to meet with Father Christmas in the most sparkly grotto ever! - and afterwards walked down to Darling Harbour to join the carols round the Christmas tree all made of coloured lights -  in hot summer sunshine - so surreal!

Christmas Day turned out to be ALL that one could possibly imagine - the children's sacks in the morning followed by a breakfast of eggs benedict superb Jenny!) and delicious fresh fruits, then a short drive to nearby Balmoral Beach to join the crowds of people enjoying the hot sunshine (including a couple of policemen, complete with guns in holsters, parading along the prom wearing Father Christmas hats)- such a lovely festive atmosphere .   We returned to champagne, and caviare dip, and the sharing of presents from 'the tree' - lovely, lovely gifts, and finally at sunset we ate a traditional turkey dinner out on the terrace by the pool, surrounded by fairy lights and candles. Just fabulous!

On New Year's Eve we went to Balmain, on Sydney Harbour, where we spent the afternoon in the park, and wandering amongst the lovely cafes and boutiques, finally hoving to at the home of the parents of friends of Jenny's just some 100 yards from the bay.   There we met up with other friends and their children, and enjoyed champagne and a grand selection of canapes and dips before we all of us careered along the road to an Irish pub where we managed to ALL sit down at one huge table - 8 adults and I don't know how many children - and have a great meal together.    Then it was back to the house to watch the children's fireworks display at 9pm from the superb rooftop terrace - and then somehow time flew by as we drank, and chatted, and laughed until the BIG SHOW at midnight that was Sydney's welcome to 2012.   I have never experienced anything like it - words are just no enough to describe the colour, the noise, the sheer fabulousness of it all - added to which, the street below us, and the little park by the bay were filled with happy revellers - all shouting up 'Happy New Year' to us, and we were raising our glasses and yelling down to them.   SUCH FUN!

The weeks following were filled with one thrill after another.   We took two cars and all drove up to Morag and Danny's beach house on Boat Harbour - a really beautiful sandy bay.   Six adults and seven children - the children sleeping in a huge tent in the garden - where we saw a koala bear in a tree just across the road, and a goanna ( a huge 5ft long lizard) climbed up and rested in a tree in their own garden.   Lovely to meet up with Morag again, and we also visited her at the Clinic where she works as a physiotherapist at nearby Nelson Bay,, when Jenny and Ally surprised us by booking a further two nights at a hotel there for just the two of us!  That was idyllic, our own balcony overlooking the marina and blue sea beyond, and time to wander and explore .

There are SO many memories of happy times - two visits to Taronga Zoo (the pelicans and gulls pictured were though, photographed 'wild' by the Hawkesbury River); a super super evening at an open-air cinema right across the water from the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, where there was lavish food on offer, and glamorous cocktail bars, and the giant screen emerged seemingly from the water to great fanfares.(this was just one of their Christmas gifts to us - an evening we'll never forget, seeing scenes of Windsor Castle, and London streets, against the backdrop of beautiful Sydney Harbour by night);  lovely beaches where Jenny provided THE most amazing picnics; a local vintage market where Jenny, Katy and I bought books, jewelry, and clothes for next to nothing; shopping expeditions;  having my face made up, and hair styled by Katy - what a giggle;  teaching the children to play cribbage which turned out to be a great favourite;  having a baking session with Katy and teaching her to make pastry by hand - she turned out a delicious apple pie;  Grandad teaching Will to make 'music' with cupped hands and a leaf(!), seeing my first kangaroo (and enjoying barbecued kangaroo served by Ally) ..... and much MUCH else.

Port , cheese and fruit on the terrace late into the night.

At Bondi Beach.

A

Their gorgeous pool seen through our balcony (the boys playing on their inflatable look so small!)

Above all we SO much enjoyed getting to know not only the children all over again, but being able to spend time with Jenny and Ally after so long away.    They made us SO very welcome, giving up their huge bedroom with its dressing room and luxury bathroom to us (whilst they squeezed on a sofa-bed in the study - that was SO good of you both!) , and Jenny went to ENORMOUS trouble to provide the most delectable, delicious, and unusual meals - all  beautifully and artistically served.

All in all, we were spoilt rotten, and given a holiday to remember - and how!

THANK YOU ALL for absolutely everything.    We had a fantastic time - which now, back in wet dull January in England, seems like a marvellous mirage, a very warm and happy memory, and the most perfect end to our Golden Year.     

ROSES IN DECEMBER.

I use a lovely quote in my 'Grandma's Garden' Talk which is - " God Gave us Memory, that we may have Roses in December".  But this year we have no need of memories as we really do have roses in December.  These, growing just outside my studio, I photographed on 1st December..............

...and not only do we have roses, but also a splendid array of fuschias, and nasturtiums continue to climb and blossom along the balcony rail ...... I even saw this week a bee supping happily from the remaining marigolds.   And whilst pegging out the washing (which dried - quite an achievement normally at this time of year) I heard birds singing their hearts out in the nearby trees as if it was spring.

These past few weeks have left us with so many happy memories to take us through the darker winter days which inevitably lie ahead.   We have had the great pleasure of having Kim and Martin,  Sean and Julie,  Jon and Zac, and most recently Jon, Sam, and Zac, all staying with us at various times.    Kerry too had planned a stay with us, but was sadly not too well that week and didn't come, but we have been in close touch and are off to Langland Bay to visit her in a week's time.    These family times are  most precious to us - we consider ourselves lucky indeed to be able to see them so often - and though we miss Jenny and hers greatly, we have Christmas and New Year with them all to look forward to!         It was SO good that Sam and I managed to arrange for Zac to meet his Great Nana - resulting in some lovely photos of the oldest, and youngest members of the family together.    One for the Album!

Life has been packed full with Talks, and Concerts, and Lunches, and so much else, but something quite simple gave me a great deal of amusement lately.    Fourteen lambs appeared in the paddock outside my window here a week ago, together with One Ram.   He was obviously there to do the biz, and strutted about showing off his  green painted chest.   Each day we have noticed more and more sheep, the hussies, grazing contentedly, their green backsides signalling what they have been up to!     A couple of days ago, right outside my window, the only sheep left unmarked was chewing at the grass, trying to pretend she had not noticed that the Ram was lurking nearby - but I could see that she had her tail up, and wagging slightly, when all the other sheep had theirs down.   As  I have so far never seen The Deed taking place, I watched with great interest.   The Ram duly sidled up to her and sniffed around, and the sheep wiggled its hips provocatively, but the Ram decided presumably that she was not yet 'ready' and wandered off.   The poor sheep's dejected body language at his rejection made me chuckle, and say 'aaahhhhh' at the same time - you could just see her thinking - 'So what have the other sheep got that I haven't eh?'    I find myself searching daily for that particular sheep to see if the dastardly deed has happened, but so far no luck...... and then I stand back from myself and think ' what have you come to Yvonne, being so preoccupied with the sex life of one left-on-the-shelf- ewe ?'.       It's age, you know!

September Sentiments

We haven't had a marvellously sunny summer this year, but this autumn in the garden is our best ever.  The plants are all still going strong, and there is a wealth of colour - we are wondering if this unexpected 'harvest' has anything to do with Rondoc's magic Seawee'd Solution which we sprinkled over all the beds in the early spring.   If so, then we shall be up for some more after the winter, and will be wanting to invest in the production company once it is formed!

I have been out and about with my camera, and felt I had to share the Fall Flowerings on my Blog.



A whole lot of nasturtiums have appeared from nowhere and clambered up around John's tomato plants - seen from a distance there are heaps of blossoms, but up close it was hard to capture both flowers and tomatoes - though there is a spider in its web in the middle of the picture if you look hard ....

....... and this is how it looks from the other side of the balcony .......

.Since John dug up and we have enjoyed his superb potatoes, he has planted out Swiss Chard in their place - we have never tried this before, and I have no idea what you do with it, but I'm sure Delia will enlighten me.

Our roses have done particularly well this year, and are still looking wonderful .......

And while lush fruits fill the branches of our flowering cherry - falling daily on to our drive where they form a rather unpleasant red mass reminiscent of Waterloo after the Battle .....

We are reminded that winter is not too far away when we see holly berries already forming.....

Still, there are a few weeks to go yet before winter, and the  forecast for the coming week speaks of really warm weather coming up from the Continent to stay with us for a while.   And anyway, we hope to be in hot, sunny Australia for Christmas and a chunk of cold old January!

Country Pastimes.

I return from an abortive visit to the Garden Centre with nothing except a bag of freshly made sugared ring doughnuts.  This in spite of my avowed intention at the beginning of the weekend (when I was replete after a supper of fish and chips) to cut down radically on food intake to combat a noticeably thickening waistline.  The sweet warm aroma wafting enticingly from the strategically-placed kiosk between the shop door and my car had proved irresistable!

John and I sit down in the hot sunshine and tuck into our feast.  The rural scene is idyllic. A honey-coloured cat stalks gracefully along the fence by the paddock, butterflies flutter amongst the late flowering nasturtiums, caterpillars lazily make their way up the warm wall (going where?), and the herd of cows contentedly grazing in the pasture beyond suddenly stampede in single file before stopping, settling, then lying down to rest after such uncharacteristic exertion.

Then a distant spluttering engine-noise adds a soundtrack to the picture.   An old farm tractor is busy in the far field, towing an interestingly-shaped trailer.   As we watch the toy-like tractor wending its way about the field, we notice that from time to time it stops, and the trailer tosses out from its innards a large bundle of grass - John remarks that it is like watching a birth, whilst I (who have never, unlike him, seen a birth) murmur that it looks more like it's doing a poo!   This happens over and over again, so that soon there are large hay bales scattered all over the field.  We find ourselves riveted by this unexpected lunchtime entertainment.   Then a second red tractor appears from stage right, towing a wierdly fascinating piece of equipment, which scoops up each bale, and spins it round in the air for some time, gradually covering it with shiny black plastic, before unceremoniously flipping it out, when it bounces on the grass before rolling gently to a halt.  Soon the far field looks like a calm greenish sea, with shiny buoys glinting in the sunshine.  The tractors and their equipment disappear, and our lunchtime entertainment has come to an end.

                                You can just about make out the shiny blobs in the far field.

Such are the simple pleasures of living our declining years in the midst of the Somerset countryside.  Indeed we appreciate it all the more having both had London (or more particularly) London Suburban childhoods, where we had small back gardens overlooked by rows of houses.   Here our vista is constantly changing, and there is always something new to take our interest.    Hard to believe that recently I looked from the kitchen towards the hall door to see a  glossy bright pheasant gazing intently at me.     I dashed for my camera as he wandered amongst the greenery outside our sitting room window, watched lazily by his very drearily coated ladyfriend.     They stayed fussing around for a good half hour before disappearing through the hedge - but their visit really made our day.

Lastly I have to include this picture of the hollyhocks which seem to have self-seeded in our garden, and have flowered for weeks, the blossoms slowly moving up the long stems which have successfully survived high winds and lashing rain.    One of them has grown considerably taller than I am - which John was keen to put on record, though I have to say they are now  really gangly, and almost flowerless so do NOT look their best.

Tractors, pheasants, and hollyhocks .... hardly material for a blog, but strangely fascinating.

(Later this same day......)

We had a further diversion whilst enjoying our Sunday evening meal - what should turn up in the far field but a piece of mechanism rather like a dinosaur - it had a long ugly neck, and it proceeded amongst the shiny black hay bales, steadily getting each one in its sights, then moving towards it and clasping it between iron jaws.   Once having grasped its victim it raced towards a waiting platform, and offloaded its prey.  One by one, each of the helpless parcels were scooped up and piled on top of each other, till they resembled, from this distance, a very modern black-glass edifice.     We scarcely had time to admire this rather spectacular structure,  than the monster returned, and hooking itself up to the platform, proceeded to race off with its plunder shimmering in its wake.

All this happened as the sun moved low in the sky, painting the whole scene in warmest yellow, giving the grazing cattle a very burnished appearance, and creating a setting where it seemed scarcely possible that such carnage had so recently taken place.

'Trains, and Boats, and ....... Games.'

I see that I haven't contributed to my blog since June, and this is because (much, I am sure, to the surprise of the younger generations) we have been having such a full-on Great Time!   We may be well into our Seventies, but I can't remember a year when SO much happy-stuff has happened, and when we have enjoyed ourselves more.  Who would have thought, on our Wedding Day so long ago, that 50 years later we would STILL be having the time of our lives!

Having completed my Talks Season with a nerve-wracking finale at Vicki's Winchester Fashion Week, we spent a really happy couple of days with my brother and wife enjoying the ever-generous Harewood House Hospitality.

               Playing a campfire 'sticks' game, which after a great barbecue meal and lots to drink, became more and more hilarious!         

Then we brought Viv and Trev back here with us.  You might imagine that we four aged folk might spend our time dozing in the garden in the sunshine between sessions of g&t's and over-eating ....... but not at all (well..... the eating and drinking went on apace).    We managed to fit in a super time at the Bristol Harbour Festival, taking the Park'n Ride in and walking miles around the dockside to see the myriad boats wedged in every space - and taking a ferry trip to get a different perspective. 

   We shopped, and prepared for a garden party here one day, when my brother was able to get together with his sisters, their families, our Mum, and even our only cousin - Tonia.     We spent one whole day on the golfcourse, with two buggies - the one my brother and I had seemed supercharged, and as he has had racing car-training he drove frenetically around, trying to spin me over the side - it was huge fun (we were lucky to avoid a telling-off from the Course Supervisor!).   And on my birthday we took a really scenic drive down to Devon in the sunshine, visiting High Bullen Hotel (John and my favourite hideaway 'treat' venue) to show them the glorious golf course, and to encourage them to take a break there with us sometime.   Trevor treated us to a delicious evening birthday supper there, and we all landed back home here well after midnight.

The Birthday Girl Celebrates at High Bullen with Little Bro. and Spouse.

This might seem more than enough excitement  for us to cope with- but even more was to come.    Last
week we took Kerry with us to spend a couple of days or so at Gerrards X with Jon and Sam (.... and had a wonderful time with dear little ZeeBee, such a smiley baby!).

    From there the following day, John and I went by train to Marylebone, and thence to Victoria for what was to prove a TRULY truly fabulous experience.

 Kerry had booked a day trip for us on the Orient Express to Southampton, and thence by coach through the New Forest to Beaulieu where we spent a couple of hours or so, with sunshine all the way (super place - MUST go back again!).

'Motorina' Bell in her Edwardian Motor Coat.

 The Orient Express was waiting for us at the QE2 Terminal on Southampton Quayside later that day, with its splendidly uniformed staff lined up by every door to welcome us aboard, where champagne was liberally poured and delicious canapes offered, before a REALLY superb four-course meal which we enjoyed on the journey back to London.    (I have neglected to mention that on the journey down that morning we had been served an amazing brunch, with bellinis mixed at our table, then fresh fruit salad, followed by smoked salmon, scrambled eggs, rosti, and a spoonful of caviare from a silver dish.)

The QE2 Terminal at Southampton Quayside - (last off the coach!)

Halfway through breakfast.

The whole experience was one of utter luxury - the carriages all had wonderfully veneered panelling with art deco marquetry, velvet wing backed armchairs, lots of lovely old brass fittings, thick carpets,  and each had its own particular colourway.   The individual tables were laden with cut glass and fine china, all with the Orient Express Logo, and  velvet trimmed, brass table lamps - all displayed on sparkling white tablecloths.

It was lovely that Kerry was at Jon and Sam's on our return so could hear all about our wonderful day at first hand.   She too seems to have had a great time, as she helped Sam attempt to cover ZeeBee's hands with paint to make Memento Hand-Prints for her scrapbook ( a very messy business, which the wee boy did NOT much enjoy), and she and Sam had both had  pedicures - a first for Kerry, so we were able to admire her pretty toes.

Kerry came back to stay with us in Bristol, and Jon joined us for an evening meal and sleepover when he was working in Bristol - it was lovely to have them at our table together.   

And so we continue along our merry way, with the diary full of dates with family and friends, with Talks and Orchestra, with Committee Meetings (me), and Parish Council Meetings (John - he is now Chairman of our Parish Council) and much else.   No time to 'stand and stare' - and not much time to see to the necessary chores, and the garden - but wow - it's a great life!