Letter from the Godalming: What a great night!!!

It has been some hectic weeks on the global level, we followed the American election trail inch by inch and to think it has ended in such a triumph!! Although I suspect that there were many who might not agree with this. But after last night and listening to Obama's victory speech: we realized what an orator he is, and if he is so articulate on his feet we must be a good thinker, and that can only bode good not only for the US but also for all of us in the rest of the world. After the last 8 years we were made all aware & dependent on who the American President is. And what was worse none of us non- American can not even vote for someone so powerful and influential in worldly matters. If Al Gore's presidency had not been stolen from him, I am convinced that the world today would have been quite different; and also I think that if Bush had not been the President for these last years Obama possibly would not therefore have become the first black President destined for the White House. What a tremendous success out came this is. Although I must say that if it hadn't been for McCain's running mate who know things might have been different, although I respect him immensely for the way he took his defeat.

However as that may be, I do feel that the new President elect will have his work cut out and certainly inherits a fantastic amount of troubles and difficulties and problems to carry and to solve. It also will be very interesting to see whom he selects for his cabinet and advisers. As we know these are of the utmost importance when it comes to governing and running such an influential country. Let us wish him well and that he may solve all those problems with which he was landed. I somehow he will fulfill all expectations and be considered as one of America's great Presidents: together with Lincoln and Roosevelt.

For the rest we have chundered along, the autumn weather did not keep up to its promise although I was able to captured some of the more spectacular colours imaginable and yesterday in a grey overcast day we went to the Arboretum just outside Godalming even so I got one of the trees that was just turning, I love the greeny green. But the exciting thing was their sculpture trail that is on till 12 Dec. so I was very pleased when John suggested we go for a walk there with the Jellies. They however weren't as happy as they had to walk on the lead, both of them. Where as Jed was fine on the expandable lead, Nellie was on an ordinary lead and pulled a lot; she hates not being in the front; and it was muddy and slippery and she nearly pulled me over in order to be first in the queue . So I changed with John and had Jed, he was the gentleman he usually is, but when I wanted to stop to photograph he just went on, which was definitely not making my pix too good. Judge for yourselves!

These fellas are most amusing and very clever
unfortunately there were five of these 'wicker' fellas emerging out of the ground starting with the head. I thought I had all of them but it seems that I am missing one; a pity that 'cause he was having a hard time getting out of the ground.

I will leave all of you with this final pix. My only regret the sun wasn't shining; and I cannot go back for another shot as the colours are nearly over.

We saw a wonderful program on Alastair Cooke and his letter from America to which we listened religiously every Sunday till he died at 95 some years ago. Hence the title of my blog.

I can't believe it!!

Its been exactly, well no longer, a month ago since I last put up a post. Am so sorry, but I lead such an uneventful life that there is practically nothing to write about.

Well not much except we have had a super autumn, the colours are glorious I will show some of them. The only exciting things if you can call it that, are that Jed & Nellie this time together ran away last Saturday while we were walking on Newlands corner. Jed was on the expandable lead but on the way back to the car while along the open field with the magnificent views John let Jed off, and I must admit Jed was very good and stayed fairly close to us while enjoying running free. He actually skips and gambles about bless him. Only ....................................................when we were nearly back at the car park the last little bit narrows down to a wooded path and guess what? You guessed it they both disappeared completely and were gone for 1/2 hour. I went into my usual spin but said as little as possible though I thought plenty. John stated that "we are training him not to run away" Huh! Still they did appear after 30 minutes and we all went home. John let them have it he growled with the best of them, and Jed went of his own accord into the cupboard under the stairs! it near broke my heart, has he been that conditioned?

I have also been very busy at learning to make a web site with Apple and sorting out my holiday photos and videos, editing and putting them together. its a lot of work as I am a slow learner, and all sorts of little jobs crop up to distract me and keep me from doing what I want to do.

One of my changes in life I now have a cleaner who comes every Monday morning at 8.30 am. She wanted to start at 8 but we're not up that early and have trouble being ready for her at 8.30. It took her 3 mornings to clean the kitchen thoroughly and one whole morning to do the sitting room. But we have such clean windows and dust free services, she is much better than I am. Her hoovering is so good that I noticed that the front room carpet is getting thread bare!! Maggie is lovely and a joy; her English isn't yet that good but getting better which is just as well as my Polish is nonexistent. But my silver has been cleaned and the shower curtains washed (these were done by me) as I have to do something to keep the Jellies away from her, she isn't too comfortable around dogs, and Jed is quite formidable (?) at the moment.

But I have also started on Alessia sampler which I am determined to finish before her first birthday so that I can present it to her. Caitlin was very concerned whether I would one at all.Sorry it is such a small picture but it will give you all an idea. Am now working on it, starting with top middle border. Its slow work but I love it!! And I may still change it as I go along.

TaTa for now thought you might enjoy this one.

Jed's Adventure, or should it be Misadventure?

Wednesday afternoon John took the Jellies for a walk at the mushroom farm, not my favourite place as Jed had vamooshed from there twice before. But we always got him back thanks to the kind doggie people who would ring up. Once from Cutmill about 5-6 miles away when he joined a family party in the garden at the house of a friend of mine!!!!

But since he now walks on the extending lead I thought it would be a doddle and let them go happily I stayed home as I had my "ladies" coming for Stitch & Chatter. After an hour John came back:"they are both gone, I whistled and whistled and nothing" it turned out he had gone off with out the extendable lead, with out any leads at all; he had thought they were in the car when they were not. (Man never checks things it seems.) I immediately hared off to the car park luckily we had had our lunch; and when I got there there was a very kind scruffy chap who had Nellie on a length of string. A very muddy but happy Nellie. I stayed awhile whistling for Jed; but nothing. All of a sudden a car with a lovely woman and her mother turned up at the car park and asked if I had lost a black dog, she had seen him crossing the road a little way back towards Godalming but he vanished into the wood. (We exchanged mobile Numbers and names, hers being Emma, and she said she would phone if she saw him again or caught up with him). Aha I thought: "t'is walkabout Jed", he will surely come now when he hears my whistle. I waited and waited, and whistled and whistled but nothing not a sight of him. By now as it was 1/2 hour past the Stitch & Chatter start I decided reluctantly to go home. Not too worried as I had my mobile on, and he does have a disk with our phone and my mobile number on it, as usual we wait patiently till some one calls to say they had found him. Poor Nellie was hosed down and not at all happy at being alone.

By then end of the session I and my friends were getting slightly worried, and they persuaded me , although I didn't need a lot of persuasion to go back to the car park. They promised to wait till I got back. Again no Jed: again I waited and waited and whistled, Emma turned up again to see if he was there or if we had found him. After a long wait I went home again in time to catch my "ladies" awaiting me by the garage and I could say goodbye. Nellie was fed, and she mooched about with her 'soul' under her arm pit, as we say in Dutch. We had our supper and we were getting more and more worried. John went to look again at 7pm just in case.......but no Jed. He went again at 9 when it was getting dark. By that time I was rather frantic visualising Jed round around in the woods and sitting shivering in the car park thinking he was abandoned. We finally went to bed, Nellie sleeping in our room, I had the phone and my mobile under my pillow, you never know. As you can imagine we didn't sleep that well for worrying.

Next morning still no calls; John went again to the car park with a printed poster. Then he went to London while I went googling for a website to do with lost dogs. There are several, and one of the tips I got was to contact our Dog Warden. Called the Godalming one first but when I told them where we had last seen him I was told that that area came under Guildford and to contact the Dog Warden there. Can you imagine my relief when I was told that they had pick up a black Staffie in the area of Norney Farm, and that they would be delivering him to Treetops a Guildford kennels. I was told to wait a bit and to phone them a little later.

Which I did, and was told to come as he was just being delivered, but that I had to pay a fee and/or fine of £52!!!!!!!! I was so happy that we was being restored to us, and that he was not sailing away that I didn't mind; though I will charge John at least half of this. And all our friends & even Emma, who had gone once more past the car park were just as happy! The welcome I got, actually he charged and launched himself at me when he came out of the door, and couldn't wait to get into the car and home soon enough. Just as well as Nellie was rapidly becoming white with anxiety! And the reason why we got no phone calls and why he was picked up by the Dog Warden: his identity disk was gone, not his collar only the disk!!!!! He is now the proud owner of a new one, shaped like a bone.

That's all folks, "all 's well that ends well" but we hope he has learned his lesson.

Your

Where are you all? This Autumn!

Here I had posted a new post since June, all about Caitlin's birthday.presents, balloons, champagne, grand food, and grandparents and a baby; even a video for your edification, and not a nibble, nary a visit or comment! Well what to do?

The only recourse I have is to tell you all that the Autumn to date has been dire; lots and lots of rain, although where we are we haven't been flooded yet, that is reserved for Wales and the Midlands. However our spirits aren't that brilliant as you can imagine. But I thought I would upload a a few pix, I took in between the rain.

Here is a view of some wonderful heather they have thrived

and what about this sky: guess what that holds, yes you have guessed it RAIN

Today I am off to Regent's street again for a training session, haven't been for weeks. Lets see what I I will learn today. By by till later

Caitlin's 16th Birthday

Lookit The birthday girl Sixteen today !!!

Finally I am back, at long last. So sorry for the long delay, and what is worse there is no post about our fabulous Tuscany holiday celebrating the big Birthdays : Fred's 80th on the 24/09, and Paul's 50th. All the photos and films I had taken, and I took a lot, were downloaded unto my Mac as I am learning to edit, make movies and photos there, but am at present unable to transfer those to the Mesh from which I blog. I have even learnt to burn the movies onto a DVD, actually am still working on that at the weekly training one-to-one course. I have learnt such a lot, but there is simply oodles more to learn. I am in the process of making a photo book of this holiday, but that is still in the future.

This post however is all about Caitlin's birthday, her 16th which fell on the Sunday as well! And of course there was no way that I could miss that. Her other grandparents Nancy and Jim were there as well. Caitlin had some fabulous presents: one of the main ones a lovely brown leather jacket. There was the Complete Series 3 of Dr. Who from the Demetres, a jar of jelly beans; a plaque of her favourite car: a Mini, to go on her wall, that is the car she is saving up for, in the future. She got a lovely bag, an enormous Filofax from Nancy & Jim, a lovely brown dress, 3 Shubert CDs, money for her savings etc. etc. (for more info go to BlogbyKobrak .)

Before lunch Rita and Alessia arrive, more presents and pink fizz, only Caitlin wasn't quite up to that so she and Shaun had something else.

We then had lunch, all dishes chosen by the birthday girl: dips with raw veggies and chips, after that lamb curry ( the poor things had to have a leg of lamb the night before) in order to have the lamb for this; with rice and for pudding two kinds of ice cream: mango with coconut which was lovely, and one other I can't remember now it was lovely too but not as nice as the mango one, and then of course there was the cake: sixteen candles no less.

one of the many photographers who was at the party snapping all sorts of people

as shown here.

That is it folks a lovely afternoon was had by all; even though it did take me 2 and 1/2 hours to get home. The weather was atrocious and the M25 packed with traffic, for some time were were going at the tremendous speed of 10 miles per hour! While the rain bucketed down. Still I got to hear a lovely Mozart quartet well worth it. So till the next time this is me saying so long not that I look like this YET

As a special treat I have posted separately before this post my video taken on Sunday. Actually I took two, but the first one I took portraitwise on my camera and it doesn't like that, should be landscape and so you can only view it with your head a a sideways angel. Too tiring! I could post it if enough people would like a go. So let me know.

Big Day for the Kobraks & Thorpes

Just a short post about Sunday 29th Alessia's Christening. I rather thought you must all be agog to hear about it! I haven't yet had time to edit and down load the photos and video clips, so here are just a few to whet your appetites.

The day was beautiful sunny but not too hot, which was the best for the Jellies as they had to come with us and spend most of the day in the car.

We had been bidden to arrive to the Church at 10 to 11am. We left so early and the traffic was so light that we arrived at the church by 10.30 which meant we could park just opposite the church entrance. However soon we were not the only ones, Sue and Robert (Rita's brother and sister-in-law) were next to arrive, and the the St. Albanites arrived and little by little the other guests as well and then the most important ones of all the proud Dad, with his daughter; then

and her Mum. Beanie was most bemused by it all the expression above on her little face says it all; she was desperately trying to figure it all out. And she was so good during the ceremony never cried even when the holy water splashed all over her little face.

As for the Mass it was beautiful, I have loads of video clips but you must wait for those. Am at present learning to edit these in i.Movie on my MacBookPro. The things I have learnt are amazing, and haven't reached the final depth of what is possible yet. It seems life is too short for everything I want to do. I will however download one of the video clips from my new camera (bought the afternoon before, but more of that in a later post) taken at Il Pagliacio were we all had a most delicious meal. A hilarious time was had by all as is shown on my movie clip.

my grandaughter and I will now take leave from you all till the next time.

I am sorry haven't had time to edit this yet but it will give you an idea.

Here it is, the explaination!!!

I really shouldn't get that involved in new things, am desperately trying to get on top of i.Movie,and keep taking new clips that have to be edited; also have a lot of them from way back of the Demetres, some of them dating from 2003 which I want to put all together for the kids to watch when they come over here.

Then yesterday I went to a WVWorkshop on making special little books. Given by some one whom I had really admired ever since I saw her books at the last two Ramster exhibitions first one in 2005. That year her books were not for sale. But at the next one in 2007 they were, but a bit too pricey. So all I could do was admire them! Then this year Frances came to give us talk and lecture and this week she came over to give a workshop, I managed to go for the first day, which was all about covers, just what I wanted; and I have learnt such a lot for making my Altered Books especially the covers. Some of Frances' work and books in the making.

I still have two of these, # 4 and 6; and to my great delight both of them have been accepted for the VivArtis Exhibition at the King Edward VI school in Witley. This is a very prestigious exhibition in the South of England, mostly painters and sculptors, and they are in a very high class indeed. Three years ago they accepted 3 of my embroideries as they don't have much in that media, only some, but they were more incorporated into painting.

Last year I even sold one of my pieces there; and this year I took my Faces & Families Book to show for selection as it doesn't really photograph well enough.

At the last moment I took my Dragons & Butterflies Book as well and the piece of work I am working on at present, the Autumn leaves one. I thought I would frame I have been working hard on this piece and it is nearly finished, and really deserves to be put on the wall and exhibited.and if it isn't sold it will go into Book #7 having taken it out of its frame. Funny embroidery doesn't really photograph well while in the making. But scanning is even worse. this is straight from the camera, no editing, just to give you an idea. Must go and do some banking and then its "walkies" time again

So it is Bye Bye from all of us.

About time I think.

So sorry about the lapse of time, but now that I am jumping from one computer to another i.e. my Mesh and my AppleMac I seem to have less time than ever. Am also cleaning my photo files and folders, a major job, and haven't got very far with this. Did my tax returns and those for Gatesgarth, am going for a one-to-one training every week, learning all sorts of things about the Mac. Very necessary; latest is about editing my movie clips. Boy do I need that, I was not to good at filming. However I have learnt a lot, and my filming has improved quite a bit.

Unfortunately its all on the Apple Mac and I haven't yet learnt how to get them in my blog. Am going to training on Monday and I will enquire. John is busy trying to let the bottom flat of his London house and I am also trying to get on with my Altered Book #7; have lots of ideas, and am even working on an embroidery: a photo I took of autumn leaves It has progressed somewhat further, am 1/2 way across, but it takes a lot of time, something I haven't got.

#6 went to the Exhibition and returned unsold, so now I will put it into another Exhibition in Sept-Oct.

Thought you all might like this pix makes a change!

To be continued as soon as I can