My Birthday

The Hydrangea bush on the front

The back garden

Hi everyone, don’t we soon get back into the usual routine. Lunches out and Gym three times a week. I have missed the gym, its surprising how unfit one can get after a couple of months of relaxation, still I feel we need that too as a balance. The sales are still on and I managed to find some real bargains, that always gives me a lift. It has tried to snow on a couple of occasions but thankfully never got established. One morning when it had been snowing all night I had a dental appointment at 0915hrs and decided to walk because of the state of the roads, no gritters had been. I went out looking like an someone on an Everest Expedition. But I was warm dry and felt real secure underfoot, in my walking boots. Looked a little out of place sitting in the dentists chair though. Went to the movies to see `Avatar` a brilliant film, especially seen in 3D, it was nearly 3hours long but worth it. Valentines Day was spent in Harrogate with Stuart and Sara, Sam was working but I did get to see him. It was my birthday and Stuart cooked us a special meal. I received lots of cards, presents and phone calls, especially from Cathi Amy and Ben, Leonard and Mona in the USA and Pam in Cornwall rang. During the week I had a birthday lunch with the girls, everyone really made my birthday very special. Bought a new Dell Laptop running Windows 7 as a birthday treat and will pass the old one to someone in need of a laptop. I also have my old Desk Top Computer working on Window XP, its 7years old and still in good order. But nobody wants Windows XP, but I will not give up, eventually find some one who wants it.
Went to a lunch at the Local Technical College with 45 members of the W.I. Prepared and cooked by the Catering Students, the food and service was excellent.
Dorothy and I have booked a holiday with the PTG tours again, we will be seeing Portugal via Train and Boat, it’s our third Rail Enthusiasts Tour, we just love riding around on vintage locomotives, many with steam, in renovated antique carriages.
On Sunday we had deep snow but it had gone by evening and I was able to get to the Howcroft my first Poetry Gig there since October. I wasn`t disappointed we had a full house and a brilliant night ,so much laughter and good poetry.
Check out Darren`s, Review of the evening. he has a unique way with words and I think he is brilliant.
http://writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=9029

Back to Normal

Chilling out in Perth Zoo 40 degrees

It s good to go away, but there is no place like home. The first priority was to reset the digital TVs & Recorders as during November the UK went digital and all TVs had to be reset to enable them receive all channels. One fear I did have on my return though was, had I remembered correctly the numbers for the house alarm! Yes I did, so it goes to show that my memory still good. The mail as always, was waiting for me but there was nothing unexpected and as all my bills are covered by direct debit anyway I have no worries about them. The snow has almost gone and the rain is here, I don’t mind it will wash the slush away and it will be safe to walk out again. I have had a fair number of lazy days since I got back it has taken me much longer to recover from the journey. I didn’t realise until the tenth day when I started feeling better, how tired I had been. Fortunately Andrew had filled my cupboards and fridge with food so I didn`t have to go out shopping.. Another priority was to get someone in to clean the gutters on the roof, full of moss and leaves, causing the rain to cascade down the walls at a terrific rate on to the garage roof which due to the pressure of water had started to leak. The guy came next day and in the rain climbed onto my roof and sorted it within the hour. I am keeping an eye on the garage roof situation as the guy feels that it will not leak anymore . Brill. Checked out the boys were all well and learn that Sam has also passed his driving test,great news.. spoke to Cathi Amy and Ben. Ben passed his driving test, Hurrah. Answered a few Christmas letters and generally settled in to my usual routine.
On the 24th I attended the first poetry Gig in 2010 at Middleton, it was a brilliant evening really enjoyed the session .Performed three poems, two favourites and a new one about the Australian Summer . Then I got to grips with downloading all my photos 400 of them that took ages but I am glad to say they are well worth the effort. Already been out to lunch twice to catch up with my friends to find out what I have missed over the holidays. A sad note though, a dear friend of many years, Brian Jones died in his sleep. RIP Brian.