Wednesday

Just been to see Charlotte and Grace.  We had a nice day together and went to Hornchurch, walked round the shops and went to the park.  The sun decided to shine too which was nice.  Grace was very well behaved and enjoyed her little pot of yogurt at Starbucks.  She is such a sweetie.
Tonight we have homegroup at Starfish Cottage which should be good.

Lunch at Charlotte and Scott

Last weekend we went to Charlotte & Scott's for lunch with Anna as well.  This has come up today as I edited it but actually it happened last weekend.  We sat outside and had kebabs and salad and a lovely relaxing afternoon.  Here are some photos, mainly of Grace!

Visit to Anna and Tano

Ian and I went to see Anna and Tano yesterday.  We took the long way round because we missed the turning off the M25 to A1, then went past the M1 and then had to loop back.  But we got there in the end bearing gifts of potatoes, raspberries and courgettes from the garden - and sweet peas. 
We had a lovely lunch of chicken casserole, potatoes, salad and beans followed by strawberries and raspberries and cheesecake.  Ian had a job to do, but before starting we decided to go for a walk to a nearby coffee shop for refreshment.  Ian's job was to put up two blinds in the sitting room window, an improvement on the net curtains that were there.  They really improved the whole room and brightened it up.  We left at about 6pm and got home at about 7.30pm, Ian drove and I slept!  Lovely to see Anna and Tano, we enjoyed our day out.

Friday

Had a bit of busy day today.  Went up to the church this morning - Ian to do some work in the churchyard putting some paving blocks under a bench and some gravel around the edge.  The little corner next to the church wall now looks so much better and more inviting.  I was making chicken wire cages to go round the smallest of the rose bushes in the memorial garden to prevent the leaves being eaten by rabbits and muntjac deer.
Went home for a bite to eat and then back to the church.  It was the funeral of Ivy Sawyer and Stuart asked us to make the tea.  We ended up staying until the end, clearing up etc.  Tony, the son in law of the lady who funeral it was, wanted to give us money for all the work we did but I said give a donation to the church.  He gave me £40 to put in the box - very generous!  Got home at about 5pm and went to sleep on the sofa! 
Have now got my pension sorted out.  Had to return all the paperwork today by Special Delivery.
We were thinking we might go to Hyde Hall RHS Garden tomorrow as they have a Design and Craft Show this weekend which looks quite good.

Tuesday

Today we are going to lunch at The Compasses at Coggeshall.  Norma has booked it for the Christians Aware group.  Although we are not members its still nice to go out for lunch.  She has completed a sponsored walk around Mont Banc to raise money for Christians Aware - well done her!  It must have been exhausting.
Last night there was a thunderstorm and lightening.  I don't think Jasper was too happy about it - he can get in the house to shelter, although only as far as the kitchen.  Today it is still hot but now muggy.  Everything is going to grow like mad now - so watch out gardeners!
Two white hollyhocks are starting bloom outside the back door.  They look lovely.

Plus a few more photos of the garden.........

Just had an email from Christopher to say that William has had the operation on his tendon.  He is in a lot of pain but the surgeon said the operation went well.  Lindy is with him in Singapore which is good.

Preparing for trip

Today we are getting the caravan ready to go to Wales.  It means bringing it up to the house and then packing our clothes, food etc.  Lots to think about.

Busy day today

Went to the dressmaker this morning to get two dresses altered.  Now that the good weather is here, I could actually wear them, if they fitted me.  Then to Morrisons to stock up on groceries for our holiday away in the caravan.  Back home for a cup of coffee then out to Tollesbury to meet with Janet Barlow.  She is my prayer partner and we are praying particularly about the deanery.  We have decided to hold a prayer meeting for the deanery on 5th August, so needed to decide how we would do this.
Back for lunch, then Ian went to get his hair cut in Heybridge.  He had to change barbers because the one he usually goes to has changed hands and is now a poncey female/male hairdressers - which won't do.  And no doubt the charge has gone up too!  Anyway the new barber is quite a character.... and cut his hair OK.  So looks like this is the new barber shop!
Then off to Jessie's to return the gazebo.  We stayed for a cup of tea and before we knew it Danny was cooking chicken portions on the BBQ and had rustled up a salad, which was very unexpected but nice.  Ella has her last Brownies meeting today as she has decided to give it up.  Back home again to do a few things and then out at 8.00pm for PCC meeting at the Rectory.
Phew...... that was a bit of busy day.  Hopefully, a bit quieter tomorrow.  But we shall see!!

To Charlotte and the mill

Went to see Charlotte this morning to drop off a few things.  Grace woke up soon after I arrived.  She is so sweet.  I wish she did not have to suffer with the eczema - its not fair on such a little baby.  I pray that she will be healed of this horrible allegey very soon.

Went to the mill and had lunch with Mum and Susie in the garden as it is such a sunny day.  Susie made us a lovely salad with produce from the garden, followed by raspberries and strawberries - very nice.  Mum had arranged to go and see her cousin Margery, so Susie and I chatted in the garden and then went to see the vegetable garden.  Here is a photo of Susie with the vegetables!

and here is one in the greenhouse with courgettes, melons and cucumbers....

David came round and showed us Helen's new converted office in the garden and saw George as well.  Susie and I then had some tea followed by another trip round the vegetable garden.  I had to leave at about 4pm to miss the worst of the traffic, especially on the A12.

Thanks for a lovely day Susie.  See you soon.  xx

Trip on the river from Paper Mill Lock

The church organised a trip on the River Chelmer today.  About 40 of us met at Paper Mill Lock and boarded the Victoria.  Ploughman's lunch was provided and we spent the time chatting or standing on the bow in the sunshine watching the reeds at the side of the boat or the fish swimming in the river.  A very pleasant way to spend 3 hours.

A year on...

I've decided to start my blog up again.  Not quite sure why but i've been thinking about it off and on for a while.  Its been nearly a year since my last entry and a lot has happened.  After my operation in September 2011 followed by chemotherapy, I had to have another operation in May this year.  But thankfully no chemo at the moment!
Since my last blog entry, we have had a new addition to the family..... little Grace! Born on 11th January 2013 after a very long labour.  She is very beautiful and we are all in love with her.  She is such a cutey.  Charlotte and Scott are both such wonderful parents. Here is a photo of Grace with her mummy ....

We have been having such an eventful and enjoyable summer - especially since hearing that no chemothereapy was necessary!  The weather has really perked up and actually feels like proper summer at last.  I celebrated my 60th birthday with a BBQ for family and friends on 29th/30th June.

The weekend before Ian and I took the caravan out for its first outing.  We went to visit Lindy and Chris in Bath, going to see the sights of Wells, Wells Cathedral and a beautiful privately-owned garden. Here is a photo of Lindy and Ian by Wells Cathedral.......

On the second day we had a wondeful dinner with them at their home before returning to our caravan.  The next day off to Bamford (in Oxfordshire) for the Community of Aidan & Hilda's Annual Gathering.  We had a really good time there and it was great to meet so many new people.  Here are some photos of it....

What else have we been doing?  Oh yes, we went to visit a relative of Ian's who lives in High Wycombe.  They are related through their great, great grandfather.  Keith came over from NZ when he was a young man and spent the first few months living with Ian's parents until he got himself a job.  He is now married to Victoria and has two children, Georgian (shortly going to University) and James pictured here with Keith cutting the cake.  It was their birthdays (on the same day) the day we went to visit them.
 

On Saturday Ian and I ran a books and resources stall for Community of Aidan & Hilda at the Bradwell Pilgrimage, an annual event at the chapel at Bradwell-on-Sea.  The chapel was built in 640 by St Cedd who came down the coast in a boat with some monks from Holy Island to establish a monastry and on the request of the Saxon King, to evangelise the Saxons.  The chapel was built from the stones of an old Roman fort and still stands today.  Its a wonderful place in the middle of no-where on the estuary with wild flowers, the wind, the sky and the call of the birds.  Needless to say, the sun shone again for us.  Here is a photo of the chapel on the right with the marque (where we had our stall) on the left.

I also have met up with some friends that I knew at school.  Can you believe it.  I've not seen them for 43 years but we met up on Facebook and arranged to meet up in London for lunch.  It was so weird and yet so enjoyable.  Here is a photo of us at an Italian Restaurant in Paddington Street.  Alison Montague, Valerie Knight, Sue Hildrey and me!