One more for Thanksgiving

This says it all

I know it is over, and we didn't celebrate it, although coming to think of , it we did by going out for a meal, we went to the Kings Arms and Royal Hotel in the middle of Godalming (do you remember that is where Darren's family stayed prior to your wedding the Wednesday and we had meal altogether there) The hotel and pub has just been done up and newly refurbished but in the right style for a pub from circa 1600's, well not quite. Any way we didn't have turkey as thanksgiving is not a celebratory day in the UK , so John had a rib eye steak and I had the most delicious calf's liver, pink and tender. The kitchen there is very good, and we will certainly go again as it is also quite cheap.

I think I might upload one of the videos I took at Littlehampton of the Jellies, if I can find it! And here as well is one of my favourite dogs Milo, he looks so happy, the Jellies would love him, well Nellie would at least.

Jed likes to paddle, but as you see, Nellie's doesn't really like getting her feet wet! Scrapping yes, its their way of telling each other off.

This blogging is a bit of pain, I spent all morning catching up with other peoples, and doing this post. And it is now walkies time, but the weather is lovely, crispy sunny and cold for the UK, but nothing like in Portland. I really must get back to my altered book, only have the cover and 3 pages to do. One page is giving me a lot of gip but for another I have some good ideas, if only I can get at it!!! the wait if for the uploading of the video. I am so slow just like this little beastie.

Tata for now.

15 November at Bailiffscourt

We set off on the 15th, just a week ago; and only now did I get around to creating a new post; as it takes me that long to write my posts.

On a beautiful sunny wintery day, not too cold and hardly any wind

for Bailiffscourt in Climping near Littlehampton,

a place the Jellies dearly love, and where they are as welcome as we are; as you can see in this pix, basking by the fire. Having two staffies together on one split lead gets us a lot comments. Bailiffscourt is a hotel that looks medieval but actually was built in 1931. It belonged to the Guinness family, they used to come to Climping for their holidays camping with their children. Then in the late 1920's Climping council was intending to redevelop the whole area with council housing. Lord Guinness countered that by buying the entire area; and his wife had the most enormous fun of building this hotel, together with her architect they scoured the country for derelict buildings no longer in use, and all sorts of items of the period.

All around the main hotel building are various other buildings in similar style. We were in this one, quite near to the hotel entrance

our bedroom door from the outside! it looks pretty authentic doesn't it.

Inside our bedroom, called Broomwood there was areally great bath room a comfortable bed, as well as tea and coffee making facilities. And even biscuits for the Jed and Nellie.

We had a truly wonderful meal, their chef is great and I am getting quite pernickety about food we are served, so often I feel disappointed but certainly not this time. I had wood pidgeon breast, something I have never had tried, and it was delicious; a really great celebration for all four of us, although Jed and Nellie had their usual food of mixed tripe and turkey & rice kibbles. Nothing fancy for them alas.

Next day another wonderful day we went our usual walking place by Littlehampton golf course by the sand dunes we were in luck the tide was out so there was a vast amount of sand in stead of the usual pebbles 3 meters wide. The Jellies love to romp on the sand and Jed even goes paddling.

Here is John with his camera

Usually the beach is quite empty but this time there were all sorts of different things on it!!Like a tractor and truck working on the pebbles. Two riders who came galloping along. I had hoped to take a little video but my card was full! And then the Jellies having fun together Nellie waiting to pounce. We walked a long way along the sea side and then we went back to the car park via the sand dune alleys, they love that even more.

After that we had a big bowl of mussels as the East Beach Cafe,that really wonderful restaurant with food as good as at Bailiffscourt, and that is saying some. Then home where we were just after four.

I was sent this really great little video which I will try to upload, but it is a windows media (TM) file so it might not work. It is proof that it was the Irish who first colonized Africa.

It did come in; so that is it! Isn't killing?

And now a happy thanksgiving to you all

Till the next time!!! Adio

Rita, Mike & Thingie

Mike and Rita came last Friday all the way from Basildon. They were staying with Lidia, Rita's mum as Ratan (Dad) and Giovana(sister) had gone off to India on Wednesday to visit Ratan' oldest brother who unfortunately has Alzheimer's and Ratan wanted to visit this beloved brother who had done so much for him when Ratan was a student all those years ago. Lidia doesn't much like travelling or flying such long distances, but if she had known that they were to be upgraded maybe she might have changed her mind, nonetheless this gave Micko and Rita and Thingie ( don't think this is what they call it, but never mind) a chance to stay with Lidia as their flat in the Piper Building was let out.

They set out around 12.30 after Rita had managed getting rid of her breakfast and turned up in Peperharow Road at 2 pm. John meanwhile had taken the Jellies out and I could put the finishing touches on our meal. Wasn't sure how much Rita would be able to keep down, so did a chicken and apricot casserole, with carrots which I had sliced so finely that 1/4 of them burnt. But luckily I had some little tomatoes and rice. There wasn't much in my fridge ; Ocado was coming the day after on Friday. But the meal turned out fine and Rita felt fine, even had a second helping, I was that pleased.

I had my camera on the ready so I could document how Rita had progressed since she was last her. Here she is showing off "thingie" together with Michael.

And here is "thingie" in all its glory. They had had a scan film done, everything was hunkeydory as it should be, and they could show us the baby on the DVD. It was most interesting to see its face, and its feet in its mouth as well as a hand. But no vision of what "thingie" is going to be: boy or girl; they didn't want to know.

Just before lunch I took one more picture: and off to lunch we go.

The Jellies meanwhile took it easy while we were eating. And after the day was done so did John

In the evening I couldn't find my little camera, I looked everywhere, sitting room, bedroom kitchen, bathroom and loo, you never know where I could have put it in my absent manner. I even looked in the workroom in case I had returned it after all to its cradle although I had no recollection of doing this. But no! nowhere to be see. This went on for several days, and I got quite uptight about it. Said prayers to my guardian angels and even begged St. Anthony all to no avail, till an inner voice said, go and have another look in the sitting room, look on all the shelves, behind all the photographs (of which I have quite a number) everywhere you can think of, again nothing, till as the last resort I looked on the sides of the sofa, nothing.......till I looked on the right hand side under the cushion; this was the last resort, AND lo and be hold! there was my little fujifilm snuggled up ever so comfortably, wondering what all the commotion was about. And here I was even contemplating getting perhaps? a new camera. But all this meant that this post didn't get published till now

Tomorrow we are off to Climping near Littlehampton to celebrate our 29th wedding anniversary at Baileyscourt! Lovely hotel where the Jellies are as welcome as we are. We will be back on Friday when the weather is turning nasty. Will keep you all posted:
Hasta la vista!!!!

Hello! and Hello!

Well well here I am at last and again, finally having something to say! Sorry about the long silence but things have been a little fraught lately. Hence no me. To begin with on Monday 5th of November Bon Fire Night I went to the hospital in the morning where my cast was removed. Just a reminder of what it was like 6 weeks ago.and now. Actually it doesn't look very good, but although swollen it isn't as bad as it looks. It does hurt more now, but that is because the support is gone and there is muscle wastage. I am told this will get better but that it can take up to 2 years for it to be back to what it was. Considering my feet were always my weak point I not holding my breath but will wait and see till 2009. Things are a bit odd with this blog, but never mind.

Autumn is here with the most beautiful colours especially when the sun is shining I have managed to take a few pix the few times I was out with John and the Jellies. Don't ask me what I have done here but probably it may look better as I go along. this is along our street just before I got into the car. Newlands Corner. I had hoped for some more outstanding pix, there were plenty along the drive here, but we couldn't stop as the Jellies wanted their walk and there was a fair bit of traffic on the road. This one was taken later in the afternoon and this is a sunset pix and this one even later

Meanwhile while I was incarcerated I had plenty of time to work on my altered Book "Faces", and have nearly finished it.

Here to wet your appetite are a page or two both these pages have actual embroidery work of mine!

I now have to go and feed the hordes (is that the word I want?) n.l. John and myself for lunch. Actually he really deserves a rest and so do the Jellies:-

So I will sign of for the last time as