June is coming to see me on Monday

Rebecca and Alan are bringing June to K/S on Monday and bringing my Aussie cousin Ray, We will probably go out to lunch in the village, so there is an open invitation to any family to join us. Dad.

And some shots of Hawaii which I must say was very nice at night and a bit like being in an Elvis Presley film during the day (especially Honolulu Airport!)

And last but not least the true heros

Here's some more of the trip!

Here's an update of activities over the last few months as we have been really busy.

Last event was a trip to Hawaii for Claire with me as the guardian, well done Claire and although she found the competition really tough going, we learnt alot and enjoyed ourselves. The others you see in the pictures are our National Pokemon Masters Champion, Darren (with T shirt and glasses) Shawn (who's luggage never arrived, he's the tall fellow), our Pokemon Professor, (usually in a white coat) Ujin who we have to thank for the invites and a mysterious looking Jit Min, another of our accomplished Masters Players. You can check on the competition report by searching for Claire Merrow-Smith or visit our local pokemon gym website (Team Robo). All better than a week at work or school.

A day in the life of grandad

woke up to sunshine this morning aftter a cloudy day onsunday,with some rain .
we has a lovely meal yesteday cathy cooked the roast pork .Plenty of veggies in the garden and all sorts of goodies in the greenhouse. lunch was at 3pm and we were wtill going at 6pm,on to the cheese and biscuits, and of course plenty of wine to drink. we even had rhubarb crumble and we were all stuffed. We sat and watched the LAST lastof the summer wine, but i had been very greedy and even just sitting was uncomfortable
There is talk that we might have a saunter along the valley, between the lovely hills, but I would have to go very slow.
I am sitting out on the terrace, after Thomas brought me some eggs and bacon and I have been reading today's Times, which Thomas went along to the PO to buy for me. It is lovely being spoilt. Questions are being asked about what to do and where to go, but when the sun is hot, as is now the case, it seems a shame to be sitting in a car when the sun is shining. John is looking for some BBQ things so it looks as if we may have an al fresco meal today.
Bank Holiday Monday. Well, we DID have a BBQ in the paddock. John found all the necessary things and we were soon sitting on a bright sunny day, enjoying yesterday's cold pork, plus some very tasty Co-op burgers. I had been reading the Times on the patio and I got very red faced, but as the day wore on and we consumed more food and drank more wine we were all enjoying our sun burn. We all had a lovely sunny day.
TUESDAY AM
Up and dressed by 8am, packed my bag and John made me a soft boiled egg breakfast. Cathy was off to work, so I decided to get moving. I was heading East into a rising son, but the views were wonderful, as I slowly drove up to the main road. The road from Lampeter goes up for a few miles and when it reaches the summit, it is all downhill along a very twisty road, down to the A 40, at Llanwrda. By the time of my first hour I was through Llandovery and heading for Brecon. On my outward journey I took the wrong exit off the large roundabout and wasted time heading through the town, stopping at traffic lights etc. This time I also took the wrong exit and found myself on the road towards Hereford, instead of to Abergavenny, and Ross-on-Wye.
Nil desperandum, and I continued along a very quiet road to Hereford, then to Worcester, where I joined the motorway, only an hour from Banbury. An easy route as there are no speed limits and no traffic lights or stops. I went into the 24 hr Tesco in Banbury and bought enough STUFF to last me for a while, and was home, in 30 mins. I heated up some ready meals in the fridge and settled down to looking in to my computer The Eagled had Landed!! Just got home safely.

Borth

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Originally uploaded by cathy bach

Mini Stonehenge

Surf school

surfplus 056
Originally uploaded by cathy bach

Thomas and Kate last tuesday.

Safe arrival

Grandad has arrived in west wales at 11a.m. this morning after setting of at 7, and has brought the sunshine

Bank Holiday in Wales.

Dad,if you have any doubt about driving all the way just give me a ring in the morning or this evening if you're still up, it's got late and I didn't like to phone. I could drive over, meet you, and we could leave your car (or my car)at my friends house. I don't know I intended to phone you again to check that you still happy to do it.Or catch a train, Edmund tells me trains go stop at KS and stop at Cardiff and Abergaveny and John or I could pick you up.

Clive and Gemma,I don't know much about Narbeth, exept that it is small and surposed to have a good arts scene and just outside the town there is a large swimming pool with flumes, a beach etc called Blue lagoon, probably only of interest to people with children to entertain. St Davids is very nice, the Catheral and the remains of the Bishops Palace, coffee shops, nice gifty shops etc and a very lovely costal walk with St Nons(St Davids mother)chapel and well, tiny and charming. We are about 11/2 to 2hrs from Narbeth and we would love to see you if you felt like it, Lunch? It has been very wet here so pack your wellies.

Do not phone me until Tuesday

Cathy has invited me to Wales for the BANK HOLIDAY weekend, probably coming back on Tuesday or Wednesday.
So do not bother to phone me OR send emails because I am having trouble with GOOGLE who cannot send out any EMAILS. Sorry, Julian, but NO MORE book orders until I contact you. LOVE TO ALL DAD

Welsh Holiday

Clive and I are having a long weekend next month in beautiful Pembrokeshire for his birthday weekend (its the new Cornwall). Anyone got any top tips as its the first time we've been that way? Perhaps for the car route from Oxfordshire, or a good stop off on the way there? Or any must see place whilst we are there?We're staying near Narberth.

love Gem xx

This made me laugh

This sketch was on tv this week in our latest favourite comedy show 'Cowards' (BBC). Grandad you can imagine this makes me laugh!:



Grandad, so glad to hear you had an excellent night out. Last night Clive and I met up with Will after work (first for a pint of Holt Humdinger which got the seal of approval from Will) and then a fishy dinner at Loch Fyne in Jericho. Clive and I shared a seafood platter with crab, which always reminds me of our fishy dinners we had at that harbour side restaurant in Meze.

love Gem xx

Out to dinner

I have just got in after being spoilt by an old acquaintance of mine (Ian Watson) when I worked in Lloyds Bank in Thame. It is now 1030pm!
I forgot that he had been transferred to Brackley in 1972 and only met him again following a chance remark to my solicitor when I changed my Will the other day. Anyway, I had a telephone call from Ian the same day and he invited me over to dinner in Hinton in the Hedges. I naturally thought it would be at his house BUT we met his wife, Shirley in The Crewe Arms in Hinton, and sat down to a wonderful filet steak dinner in the lovely pub that Steve and I went to last Sunday, following our long trip down to Devon. I also had a couple of Hooky (Beer from Hook Norton, near Chipping Norton) beers and later went back to their lovely house for a coffee and a long chat about people and places that we used to know 28 years ago. What a small world! So that is where I went this evening.
Their house is SO perfect that I understand why I was treated to a pub dinner. I don't think Shirley wants to let her PERFECT house be spoilt, by food and food smells. They were both so kind and helped me into their car and things like that, so I must not be bitchy. Ian collected me from K/S and drove me home again.

SKYPlus André Rieu

Saturday night SkyArts2.André Rieu: Romantic Paradise

Charming and charismatic violin sensation André Rieu brings you a spectacular starlit concert from Cortona. Eager to serenade you under the Tuscan sky, Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra offer magical performances of Rota's Love Theme from The Godfather, Offenbach's Barcarole from Carmen, Rossini's William Tell Overture and The Rose.
Newsletter
8pm, Sat 14 Aug, Sky Arts 2/HD

Halfords have an offer on scooters at the moment. To be honest I didn't know they did'em, but I had to pop in for some oil and leaded petrol substitute and picked up a brochure.

The ELITE XS (Henry) SCOOTER is still available it says in the blurb and is (quote)

'Designed for those who want to travel further. The Elite XS is designed to meet the needs of the most discerning customer.' (Yuk yuk yuk!!!)

'Features and Benefits

Travels long distances - up to 57km/36 miles with a full battery charge*
Higher speed of up to 8mph for road use
Offers greater legroom, ideal for taller persons
Comfortable seat with flip up arms for longer journeys
Unique locking storage compartment to secure accessories
Powerful front light for safe road use
Choose from right or left hand controls suitable for persons with limited use in one hand or arm
Available in red or blue'

The Magic Roundabout

Watch The Magic Roundabout - Mr Rusty Meets Zebedee in Animation  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Since Will has bagged the name Dougal or Little Doogs, what should we call a 30 year old Land Rover? There's Florence, Dylan, Ermintrude, Brian the Snail or Mr Rusty???

Returning via Swindon on Saturday we passed over the famous Magic Roundabout heading back to Lechlade without incident... was it magic?

another day

on Monday,I went into Oxford with a couple of friends from Catenians and we had a lovely meeting and dinner at the very posh Four Pillars Hotel in Sandford, on the Henley road. .Got home about midnight. Tuesday I went into Thame first to post some of Julian's books on his instructions, then to collect a re stitched leather suit zip bag (Fay's) which had come undone and then to the bank to make some alterations to my accounts.
Then had a walk round and through the much larger Farmers market. I had a hot chocolate drink in the Co-op cafe then went into new Sainsbury's then into Martins (The Post Office), then to John the Stitcher to collect Fay's leather bag, then into Waitrose to use their toilet, then into the bank, where I knew nobody and nobody knew me. Then I met Mrs Glendinning, who told me the Steeles were on holiday, so didn't see them.
Then I went to Ken and Jean's bungalow, met Neil ( now a screen standin for Mr Bean) , Ken and Jean and Ken's elderly cousin. Stayed there yarning for a couple of hours and THEN came home along the M40 in pouring rain. I like m/ways as you haven't got to keep to a speed limit, unlike other journeys through country roads where there are speed cameras.(as I know to my cost)
Yes I am a bit stiff after my long ride with Steve, Cath, but it WAS nice to be with him and he does love his landy (makes him feel like a farmer with his dogs and flat cap)
Nice to hear from Pete that you all had a good time in Forty Green, and that you were able to see the sea, in wet Wales. Good luck with the shed, Cath. Love to all. DAD