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!

Holy island

Spent two nights at the Open Gate on Holy Island whilst Ian stayed in the caravan. Here are some photos of the island which you can only get to at low tide.

On Saturday there were hundreds of people, when the tide comes in they all have to get off over the causeway otherwise the are stuck there for the night.

Wedding Anniversary

Yesterday was our 10th wedding anniversary.  Its hard to believe that 10 years have gone by so quickly and so much has happened in them.  We did not plan to do anything special but had a lovely day.  In fact probably the best day possible.  Daryl was here putting in our new kitchen and that seems to be going very well - should be finished by Tuesday/Wednesday next week.  The weather was lovely and sunny and Ian and I did some gardening.  We then went to a pub called The Sportsman for lunch in a village called Noughton, not far from here.  Then to B&Q to change a light fitting for the kitchen, then on the Witham for Ian to have his hair cut and then back home.  It was a lovely sunny evening so we sat outside reading our books taking up the rays.  In the evening we had salmon and salad - salmon cooked in the caravan as not kitchen facilities yet and watched a film on tv.  Just an ordinary day - but there was something special about it.  I  think it is because we love our life as it is in Great Totham and yesterday kind of celebrated it.  We are so lucky - God is looking after us.

Beekeeping

Went to see Stuart Baldwin in Wickham Bishops who is a beekeeper.  He talked to us about beekeeping and then showed us the room in the garage where he does the honey extracting.  He advised that the first priority is to go on a beekeeping course as there is a lot to know before you start.  Unfortunately these courses don't start until February next year.  Anyway in the meantime we can gather information in the form of monthly magazines etc.  Also Jean Syme who runs the Maldon and Chelmsford beekeeping groups has suggested that I ask Stuart if I can shadow him.  She will take a bee suit round to his house for me.  I also have a list of the various meetings in the Essex area which we can attend.  I think I am dragging Ian along on this one, but you never know, he might get interested!  We are looking into hives.  Some of them can be built from flat packs - Ian is very good at this sort of thing!

Went into Maldon this afternoon and bought Ian some anti-hayfever tablets as he is suffering quite a bit and sneezing a lot.  Its nice to go into Maldon and walk round the shops - its a nice town.

Back to church

I feel that we haven't been to church for a while but it was only one Sunday whilst we were in Dorset.  Anyway, it was nice to see everyone again.  We had the family praise service today.  This is held in the church hall and is children-orientated with more modern songs played by the band.  At first the congregation were not too sure about this service, preferring the traditional communion service in church.  But today there were a fair number of people (about 40) and  it was a lovely service.  Father Stuart preached - mainly to the children and mainly with 'audience participation'.  It was good and enjoyable.

Ian and I got home and had lunch and then, as the weather was nice and sunny, we decided to go to the Heavy Horses Show at the Museum of Power at Langford - just up the road from us.  It was a typical country affair with lots of dogs, horses, funfair and stalls.  Ian enjoyed the Museum of Power too.  Came home for a lovely cup of tea.

Have been watching Countryfile and the Antiques Roadshow on telly.  Had salmon with mushrooms and garlic, prawns and broccoli for dinner.  What a lovely day!

Coming home from Dorset

Had a nice day yesterday. Went to wimborne and to nt property called Kingston Tracy which once we got there we remembered we had been before when we went to visit the Fitzsimmons in Ringwood. Then into wimborne to the craft centre - everything quite expensive. Walked into the centre of the town - lovely sunny day. Headed to the church but nothing particularly noteable, except that they had a chained library but we could not find it. We eventually ended up at costa sitting outside in the sun. Had to leave at 5 because our parking ticket was about to expire. Such a lovely evening we didn't want to go back to the caravan so drove down to Swanage on the coast. Had a little walk along the front then went to the Swan pub for a meal. Then back to the caravan; watched a film, then to bed.

Today we packed up the awning and caravan and started to make our way home. Stopped at Winchester services for our packed lunch and a cup of coffee. Ian then took over the driving, although he 'virtually' drives whilst I am driving -the only difference is that he doesn't have his foot actually on the pedals!

Picked Anna up from Boking and Jessie, Ella and Danny came out on the street as we were trying to park the car and the caravan. In the end it was easier for Anna to jump in and off we went rather than hold up the traffic. Anna came back to our house for a cup of tea and a bit of administration work, then I took her to the station for the train back to London.

Egg and bacon for dinner and start the washing machine with all the washing to do.

Tuesday in dorset

Got up really late. Woke early but was reading and messing around on the Internet. We have 20 hours of wi fi for 15 pounds through the caravan club. Anyway after doing the washing up from the night before, making packed lunch and getting ready we only left at about 11 o'clock. Went a village called Tolpuddle and to the museum on the Tolpuddle Martyrs. They were six men, ordinary farm labourers, who in 1834 were arrested, tried and deported  to the brutal penal colonies of Australia for protesting about the low wages and grinding poverty they were forced to endure from their harsh employers. Eventually after a period of 4 years they were granted a pardon and were allowed to return to England. It was on their return that the trade union movement was born.There are still trade union festivals celebrated at Tolpuddle today. The six men eventually emigrated from England with their families to Ontario in Canada.
Had a phone call from lindy about us going over to monkhams hall to see William next sunday.  She also asked about charlotte.
We then drove to dorchester.  What a nice town with lovely shops and lots of wonderful buildings. I could probably spend quite a bit of time there. We went to Dorset County museum and had a guided tour by one of the volunteers there. Dorchester is very old with lots of history, there are signs of habitation even in the neolithic age! Lots of famous writers and poets from this part of the world including Thomas Hardy. I bought one of his books - the Woodlands - which can join the pile of books for me to read.

Dorset in the caravan

Oh dear - nothing but rain and more rain. Not too bad yesterday but it's more in the evenings and all through the night. We did some travelling around yesterday in the local area of Wareham. Wareham itself was originally a walled Saxon town on two rivers, the Piddle and the Frome. It's a very nice old town which in its heyday must have been very wealthy. Nevertheless we did our shopping at a small sainsburys there!
We also went to Lulworth Cove and saw the upended geology of the coast and the little bay. This bit of coastline is known as the jurassic. Coast. When I was on my course at the weekend, Ian went to Kimmeridge bay and collection some fossils. The type of rocks here are shales and limestone which is why so much of the jurassic age has been preserved along this coast. Did not manage to get to Durble Door as it was quite a climb up go get to it. Instead we opted for a coffee at one of the little coffee shops. I spoke to a couple who had a cavalier spaniel. What a sweet dog I would love to get one. Some little sparrows came and eat the crumbles from our table.
We then went abbotsbury swan sanctuary but thought it was a bit expensive to go in so did not stay that long.  Charlotte tried to phone but reception in the wilds of Dorset is rubbish. Went to Weymouth,  a Georgia town on the coast favoured by George the third. They are holding the sailing Olympics here and have spent a lot of money making the whole place look really good especially around the bay and harbour. We went over to the Isle of portland to the highest point and looked down at the harbour with all the boats and Chesil beach. We then drove into Weymouth and walked along the beach.
It was then time to go home and have supper. Had chi ken and vegetables. Our tv works only on all the BBC programmes because they don't have digital signal here yet. I went to sleep early.

Diamond jubilee sunday

Feeling cold and wet. Just got back from the church field where Ian and I helped to put up the prayer tent and be there. Wow.... It was cold like winter. Anyway I think the lunches and teas and cakes in the church hall went very well. Church beautifully decorated with flower displays depicting things to do with the Queen such as changing the guard, ascot, union jack etc.
Looking forward to bbq at the mill house tomorrow.  Hopefully not too much rain.

Friday Sunny Day

We are in the house waiting for the courier to call to collect my Blackberry Playbook that is faulty.  It is a bit of pain having to wait - and not knowing when they will come.  But hey-ho, getting a lot of admin work done!

Gardening

Gardening.... but not in our garden!  Went over to Charlotte and Scott's to help plant up some plants from Mimi.  Also did a lot of weeding.  By the time we left it looked quite respectable with tubs and pots planted up, plus a few more plants in the beds.  Had lunch outside in the sunshine.  C & S are off to Madeira early Saturday morning.  Hope they have a lovely time.