Look at the picture books - people and places
Perhaps I'm getting less garrulous as I reckon this diary is going to be the shortest so far. Perhaps it is just that we are retreating into our shells, preferring to stay at home rather than getting engaged in outside activities. We are both introverts so I guess it's easier not engaging. Paul still works with Besom on Fridays other than the three a term that we both serve in the Church Cafe. Paul's F1 exploits at Wisley - scaring the old ladies - averages only a day a month. Of course Tot's Praise still runs every Tuesday with attendance usually in the 70s
To the Picture House to see Les Miserables. Approaching 5 stars in our assessment.
Paul went with Yvonne Collins to a Listening Course designed by the Acorn Trust. It was 7 or 8 hours and a preliminary to a much longer event. If Paul was more heavily pastorally engaged he might go further but for the time being it has served its pupose - and achieved some good results!
This is habit forming - a week after our last film visit we went to see Lincoln
On Boxing Day last (unrecorded last year) Paul woke up breathless: still went for the Boxing Day walk but would have been better not doing so. Took no further part in the day, ate very little and even went to bed for a while. Whatever it was, took hold and eventually, in the middle of February the doctor was visited by which time he also had plantar fasciitis. Blood tests, x-rays, ECG and echocardiogram all resulted in the response - 'you are strong as an ox (albeit an elderly one)' . Not given any treatment and eventully recovered.
Still so pleased to be able to host the parties. Zuzana's (yes, the party was in Feb!) produced only pics of dancing children! Or were they chasing balloons?
To the theatre yet again. Yvonne Arnaud to Maurice's Jubilee. As the theatre wrote: "Maurice’s Jubilee is a tender look at life and love in a marriage where Helena has been the Queen of Maurice’s heart for sixty years. But a distant memory of Her Majesty The Queen still sparkles brightly in this retired jeweller’s mind. Entrusted a lifetime ago with the Crown Jewels and a royal pledge, Maurice insists that his ninetieth birthday will be one worth waiting for."
Saw Cadfael at Yvonne Arnaud, Guildford, having taken out a membership there in lieu of Woking Victoria
At the Pyrford Heath Residents' AGM Paul handed in his gavel after 4 years as a Trustee and Chair.
But Grandpa was not elected to carry children at his birthday bash. They probably think he's too old - but not too old to carry washing machines up and down stairs with Besom!
We may have done away with the idea of birthday presents - in lieu the children and, in due course, the grandchildren, are all asked to contact us personally on the day itself - but we've not cancelled the gathering. The little ones, who are perpetual grazers, attack the food as soon as they see it. The older ones have a better idea of timing and some like to ensure that nothing remains.
Bob and Chris Randall from Virginia Beach are staying at Blockley for 7 weeks - part of his Sabbatical. As well as getting around and learning something about Fresh Expressions he is aiming to study Hebrews. They landed at Heathrow, called in for a brief time and then took off for Blockley
Two major events this month. The first was Stella's baptism on 5th.
The second was a sponsored walk - Simon and Paul set out to walk 25 miles on the North Downs Way raising funds for CMS. We did it in 8 hours 20 minutes and then added 1 mile 385 yards to complete the Marathon distance. Total raised - a creditable £1945. This picture of the handsome couple appeared in four publications.
On 18th we went to Yvonne Arnaud again. Saturday matinees are two for the price of one for members - I knew there was a good reason for joining.
Also in May Paul was at last able to join the Open the Book team at Pyrford Primary. This is on Fridays before Besom which means I miss most of the worship with which Besom starts.
On 23rd we took off for our second Scottish Progress. A bit heart in mouth as the sunshine van had refused to start all year without being warmed up by the application of fan heater to the engine block. We took heater, extension lead, blankets to wrap the engine at night, tow ropes, jump starts, battery charger and a few other helps for emergencies. Well prepared and, in the event, no problems. We 'did' Ayr, Dundee, Aberdeen and Newcastle. Home on 14th June. First stop was the Travellodge at Lancaster which resembles a control tower!
See the
Sometime after Adrian's birthday (24 May) we usually have a birthday bash for the four boys. Because of our travels it was well delayed and it turned out that we celebrated 6 birthdays together, with Lucie and Max joining their Father and Uncles on 22nd.
His was a very special anniversary but Adrian endeavoured to keep it quiet.
Great weather for the Flower Show this year. Paul's duties were to surpervise Bouncing Castle - which didn't turn up - and inflated Obstacle Course which ripped and had to be shut down.
To the Swan, Stratford to see that most bloody and murderous play, Titus Andronicus. Bodies galore brutally despatched.
To supper with the Greenwoods at Ilmingion with Carmel, and David whom we entertainted in the van with the other 'old men' when we met them walking in the Peak Disctrict.
How giddy can you get? Even more entertainment as we go to the picture house to see the 1961 ten Oscar winning film, West Side story.
Tot's Praise only runs during school terms but in August we have 'open' days at the park or such like. They came to Fosters twice in the summer holidays with 33 showing up one of the days.
Melanie, Phill and Lola moved home in August. Less than a mile from where they were but better in several ways. The van came in very handy in aiding the move.
We've often thought there are not as many birds in our garden as there used to be. Perhaps because the neighbours have large feeding arrays!
At the end of August a Song Thrush 'moved in' (decided our oak tree was a good perch) - and stayed. What a wonderful song. Beautiful.
Not unless one of us could find a position as a cleaner but more to the point 25 years after I last borrowed a cello in an attempt to rekindle (that's a common word now!) memories of music making I have been able to borrow a very very good instrument. Quarter of a century ago I think; so says my - suspect? - memory, I took to it with no trouble: this time it is harder work. Of course that is what it needs - work: several times a week. It's not happening and so progress (yes, it is that) is rather slow.
Three September weeks in Tenerife this year including a wonderful 4 full days 'up the mountain'. We went by bus which arrives at 10.30
and leaves at 4.15 so instead of 3 nights in the hotel adding up to two full days, as it often does, we had three nights and four days. The
hotel is one of the Spanish Goverment owned group. Whether that makes the waiters civil servants we don't know but it was very good and they were civil. We had
a corner room with wonderful views both sides. As well as booking at El Parador we prebooked the cable car and arranged to be allowed to climb
up to the crater - which Paul last did 25 years ago when a government permit was not required. They now only allow 200 people a day and even
then it is to the side walls of the crater and not in the 'bowl' itself. Surprisingly although we have now been to Tenerife 29 times there was
no photo gallery! In recent years, having seen everything several times, we've not taken our cameras and the early pictures were not digital
so the
There is often a joint party for Annie and Belinda. We should have a picture of those two beauties but instead Timothy took some flash pics outside in the dark - which means there are no shadows on walls.
Yvonne Arnaud again. Midsummer Night's Dream. Propeller Theatre Company's Dream, first seen in 2003, is weird stuff: an all-male version designed to have you rubbing your eyes in disbelief. Not a cast of androgynous young men in dainty likeness of the "boy-players" of Shakespeare's day. When the cast cross-dresses, they still look like thirty something blokes. Absolutely brilliant.
The sad thing is that Pat was laid aside with Pneumonia and Shingles. Very painful and a long haul ahead. Eating has been difficult due to her mouth being ulcerated. Various pills are hopefully helping but leaving her in a near zombie state (must look up 'zombie') energyless, asleep or making a good pretence most of the day. Goes for a comfort break three times a day (not that we are counting) and that's about it. I took Audrey Taylor - complete with sticks as she is recovering from a replacement hip op.
Following x-ray it seems the pneumonia was no more but the shingles not only covered the lower right face and ear with great scabs but resulted in excruciating pain. Three weeks in the prescription was been changed hoping for some relief. I've stayed in with Pat on a Sunday. We normally listen to the 8 o-clock radio service in the morning and often it builds us up with worship and a good sermon: later in the day we watch Songs of Praise. These days neither BBCV nor ITV have a televised service and so we turned to Christian tv channel with, I might say, some tredpidation and fear of haranguing and hectoring Americans (sorry chaps but it's my fear - just hope this doesn't go viral and get me arrested). We found a service on Revelation tv which is presented by a husband and wife team certainly in their 60's if not more: interactive to the extent of taking emails and texts during the service and responding to some of them. In the main they seem to take their hymns from Songs of Praise (presumably via You Tube as I do for our Home Group). We have appreciated it and will continue to watch as long as we are housebound. Appropos nothing they showed this pic the other day - someone had sent it in and it took their, and our, fancy. Three weeks after the pneumoni diagnosis Pat has also contracted Blepharitis - inflamation of the eye ball. To the hospital direct from the Health Centre on the GPs insistence. Result in further hospital appointments and a course of treatment lasting another 6 weeks.
For Stella's second birthday see the
Timothy's family took off for Czech Republic again for Christmas. They arrived safely which means they didn't so much take off as drove carefully. Nevertheless its a very long journey and they now have the good sense to take an overnight stop round about Cologne. On Boxing Day we talked with them on Skype - not the best receptionbut everyone on both sides were (or was) able to take part - the rest of the family having joined us for lunch or later. There are pics in the gallery but as Melanie and Co's present to us does not count as part of the family we show it here. Gingerbread. Fantastic construction, worth displaying - and all three of them had a hand in it. (Should be a hygiene joke here but we will pass it over in favour of the other lady who made a splendid cake and asked her husband what he thought she would get if she sold it. 'Well, um, about 5 years I should think'.)
As recorded lots of good things this year yet as it is our own jpournal for future reference perhaps just a little note to say that it was actually the saddest and most grievous of our life together - due to external causes. Much depression and it may be that Pat has fallen ill in consequence of being run down. New Year's eve evening saw Paul doing the ironing for the sixth week - the measure of Pat's poor health. The Shingles is causing a lot of pain and morphine has now been added to the battery of potions.
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