Grandad's 80th Bash!

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Kathleen Elizabeth Abery (nee Russell)

Life is good! My last statement in my blog. Yes, on the whole life is good but sometimes it deals some unexpected cards. I have been proud and happy to be a part of Kath's life these past 26 years, therefore all my adult life. I just can't believe Kath I won't ever get to talk to you again although I can hear your voice, reminiscing on past events, which I find very comforting. We all had a great day out for George's 80th and you were so happy to be surrounded by your children and grand children - the giggles and photographs are testament to that! I loved your home made custard - Ambrosia could take a few lessons from you and all the kids agree on your wonderful roast dinners!

There is so much I could write but at the moment can't get the words out without the tears, so dear Kath, my lovely mother-in-law, you will always be in my heart xx.

04 November 1934 - 01 November 2007

My Little Class!

Well that is the first half-term of the academic year almost in! I have to say I have, on the whole, a lovely class. I love my job and all that it brings, apart from the mountain of paper work which seems to be ever increasing. The time has whizzed passed but a lot has been achieved in the past seven weeks.

I love September and October - don't you? It is just a lovely time of year. I read somewhere about a little field mouse that stuffs it face with food and drink all Summer and Autumn long, gearing up to the long Winter sleep ahead and then when Spring arrives, wakes and stretches to find himself revived and a size 8 again! What a life eh?

I am glad to say that my mother is much better after the effects of a huge steroid injection and my daddy has fully recovered from shingles. On the whole life is good!

Back to the Old Routine!

Where has the summer holiday gone? I have to say a rather odd summer full of mixed weather, not to mention mixed emotions. Having two colleagues pass away has been rather difficult, not to mention very sad. Time with my family has been super duper though spoilt by the suffering endured by my poor mother who has been in agony with bilateral sciatica and arthritis. Keep your chin up mum - we'll get there in the end! My poor old dad has shingles - so the summer hasn't been a bundle of laughs for him either! I have to say though that my parents have a wonderful sense of humour, jollying one another along - a pure tonic they are and I love them very much. I know I have elements of both parents in me and that makes me feel proud and happy.

During the time spent with my parents in the holidays, we had a good old rummage around old photographs (I have taken up scrapbooking as a hobby and am keen to catalogue as much as I can about my family in many forms - photographs, journalling, conversations, family tree etc), and am happy to say that I have acquired a selection of excellent photos with lots of information carefully written on the back and am pleased to say that I will have a reasonable overview of my family's life - feelings and thoughts at the time of the photograph - wonderful. Now all I have to do is display them.

On a personal note I am working hard at my "things to do" before I am fifty and am really enjoying this - I love the choir, the people and the songs! I adore all aspects of crafting and am hoping to learn some Spanish! I have to work a bit harder at sorting my blog out - please help me Stephani! Well done to Cameron for being selected to perform at the Harlow Playhouse in October.

Steve has been working long and hard this summer but we have still managed some good days and nights out - I know you have been tired but have made great effort at continued socialising and it has been good xx. I love my little Ellis and his mum and dad are okay too - thanks Gaye and Paul for a super bank holiday. Oh I am surrounded by wonderful family and friends.

Life is good!

Stephanie's week!

Well done hen for passing your driving test! Just remember the car is mine and I am happy to SHARE it with you, including petrol, etc!

Super duper exam results Stephanie - all your hard work paid off with dividends - did I really say I would dish out some dosh for good effort and results?

I am so proud of you Stephanie - keep it up and keep your goals and dreams in the driving seat!

Oh dear!

Is it really that long since I have looked at my blog! Definitely slapped wrists time! I am happy to say though that lots of things have happened during this gap! I have finally managed to get my scrapbooking off the ground and am quite pleased with the results, not to mention the pleasure that this brings to me. It does take up a lot of time - but hey who's counting?

It has been wonderful looking at photographs and me being a Libran, finding it almost impossible to choose my favourites - I like them all! Choice is always a difficult one for me - not got any easier with age and I admit I spend lots of time pondering (as my dad would say - procastination is the thief of time) - naughty procastination - but my thought processes dictate that I have to think about things in detail first and then make a decision. This however can be a pain in the rear when I am only deciding on whether to visit Tescos, Morrisons, or Sainsburys!!! Focus, May, you need to limit choice and keep focused on the task in hand!

I am sure it is not only I who gets distracted - in the middle of doing something which takes me to another room, get involved with something else, eventually move back to the original room and realise I haven't finished the original task - too much to do and not enough time!!!!!

These past two weeks have involved lots of clearing out - those of you who know me I know are saying - what have you got to clear out - you clear out constantly - it's strange there is always something to clear/tidy out! The trouble is I have NO storage/cupboard space and can't stand anything cluttered around me - except of course for my stuff!!!!!!!

Still working on photos - scanning old ones in - which I am fed up with - takes too long and am bored with it - hurrah for digital stuff and the wonder of technology and all that jazz!!!

May Half-term!

I love this holiday - lovely long daylight hours - making the day longer and more productive! Ha! Ha! what a joke! The weather has been so atrocious - non stop rain, rain and more rain bringing dark, dark clouds - so much so for long daylight hours! Ah well Cameron tells me that the farmers are happy as the crops needed a good drink!!

Good old Stephanie hasn't noticed the weather - she has been armpit deep in revision, revision, revision and has now announced that "not caring about the end result must be a fantastic feeling" - oh dear - I have to admit I echo her sentiments every time I look at the state of her room! Papers, books, pens, shoes, socks (not to mention dust)everywhere! Oh well 14th June is D Day and we (or more likely I) can have a blitz! You have and are, still working hard Stephanie, whatever your results, you have given it your best shot. Well done!

As I type Cameron is up to his armpits in pruning! He loves gardening and has made a lovely herb garden around our fairy ring. He has also planted (with the help of Steve) a wisteria around our kitchen window. He has some super duper ideas and works hard on them.

Have tried to add some pictures but for some reason (probably a straightforward one) I cannot download them on to my blog! Help! Wait until the 15th June and after some tuition from my daughter I will be whizzing away and adding fancy bits and pieces to my blog!!

All systems go on Monday - the last half term is always an immensely busy one - school trips, sports day and events, courses, lots of outdoor play (hopefully) and an end of term night out!!!!!

Plumbers!!!!!!

Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you to Mark who unblocked my drains (oh ah Mrs!)with help from Steve! Thursday evening was a real panic for me - outside drains were blocked, house was smelling of faecal matter, couldn't use washing machine, dishwasher, shower, bath; if we did then lots of very nasty bits and pieces were coming up to say "hello" via the drain covers and my parents were about to arrive!! Good old Mark arrived attired with his long rubber gloves (lovely shade of red) and matching boots. One hour later and lots of gurgling and whooshing, hey presto - those nasty bits and pieces returned to their own home.

However, I have since discovered that the blockage was such that on one occasiong of gurgling and whooshing, there was a bit of a splashback, the contents of which landed on Steve and Mark's face! I could never, ever, for all the tea in China be a plumber - I truly admire plumbers and I dedicate this to the plumbing world - especially Mark Russell - thank-you!

Senility catches up?

Oh dear! Decided (or rather needed) to do a Tesco shop yesterday. I needed a few essentials, one of which was milk. Two hours later I came home with a boot full of shopping but with none of the essentials! Stephanie, I might have to agree with you that I am "turning into granny". My memory is obviously not as sharp as it was - running upstairs for something and by the time I have got to the top - it's the "what did I come up here for?" I could go on about my ever increasing grey brain cells but at least they are a source of entertainment (at the moment) for those who live with me. Just to say to them "thank-you" for laughing and teasing me about this very sensitive issue of "greying". Just as well I know they love me!

Monday, 23 April 2007

Ah! Back to the old routine - which I love!! I do truly miss my all the human beings that I meet every morning, five days a week, for about 36 weeks of the year! I love my holidays - helps me love those 36 weeks! Of course this makes sense to me, lots of things only make sense to me! I have just had a wonderful weekend in...........Butlins..........yes.......one can have a wonderful weekend in Butlins.......I have had several! Thank-you for the wonderful weather and to the friends who made me laugh all weekend - what fun!

Tuesday, 1 May 2007

FOR STEPHANIE!

Well! I have just aged 50 years this evening! Nothing to do with Stephanie - honest Stephanie, it is me - I am obviously of a nervous disposition when you are driving! You are an excellent learner - I am a poor instructor! I blame the brakes! I, apparently, brake too late, (nonsense, of course - the wet road conditions were to blame when I skidded into the back end of the car in front, many moons ago) and now I think the braking distance for about town driving is 5 miles!! So, I guess Stephanie, this is a written apology for continually saying "I think it would be a good idea if you depress the brake pedal now, now, NOWWWWW!!!!! I am also sorry about all those loud sharp intakes of breath - total involuntary reflex!! You have done so well Stephanie with your driving - loads better than me (when I was your age!!!!!!)

Easter holidays!

Tuesday 17 April 2007

Finally decided to set up a blog today! Have been thinking about this for some time - so here goes!

Stephanie gone to school today (Cameron returned yesterday). Rising from bed was suprisingly easy for Stephanie - well done shnooks! Reflecting on the holidays - brilliant. Super week-end in Blackpool with Paul Matthews - his place is fab as are his culinary skills!

Easter week-end in Knaresborough with the gang! What a beautiful place to live, eat, drink and be merry - thank-you Bill, Louise, Gaye, Paul, Bethany, Portia and Ellis (not forgetting, Steve, Stephanie and Cameron) for all the entertainment making it a special time! Check out a selection of the photographs that remind me of the giggles!

Some after-dinner entertainment!

Skimming stones seems to be a compulsory past time! Perhaps it's the effect that water, a variety of stones and the 'Dambusters' has on one's soul. Of course Steve loves to go that step farther especially when his biceps can be put on show!

Splash! The water level has just risen by about 10 cm!!

Yorkshire is full of natural beauty - and the rivers, bridges and terrain are quite nice too!

Group photo! Do I need to polish up my photography skills? Still everyone looks happy and I love the shot!

Oh Happy Days!