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

Finally read all about Shaun's birthday; his 13th no less.

I have finally finished the tax returns, my own and the one for Gatesgarth. Actually it didn't take that long, about 3 1/2 days for the two of them, only I kept putting it off and postponing the starting. Somehow just didn't want get into it, there always were very nicer and more interesting things to do instead. But this meant I couldn't get to the new post all about Shaun's birthday celebrations, because due to my "calvinistic upbringing" I had to finish the chores first. Of course there was my weekly training at Regents Street interrupting the chores, and the practising of all I learnt. But more of that later.

Shaun's birthday as you all know was on the 2nd of May, a Friday, so the St. Albanites came to Godalming on Saturday as well Micko, Rita and the terrific bonus, Beanie aka Alessia. All from St. Albans were delighted to see the little one and all wanted to hold and cuddle her.

Even the Jellies behaved themselves around her after we all came back from lunch at Prezzo and they were allowed to be with us. They thought she was terrific. What she thought of the Jellies we do not know.
Everyone turned up at about 12.30 all together and what a reunion, ohs and ahs by the most of them all over, no not really Shaun, but the littlest member of the family! Still Shaun was delighted with his presents from the Demetres, he is now a great fan of the Portland Blazers. In fact he is acquiring quite a collection of baseball uniforms, last year it was the LA Lakers. After all had been exclaimed over, admired and tried on; off we went in 2 cars to our usual haunt Prezzo's for lunch. I had booked a round table over a week ago thinking it would be full, but there were only 2 other tables occupied. Still it was around 2pm on a hot sunny Saturday afternoon and the town fair was also going on. as you can see we all had a good time in the empty restaurant Shaun's favourite. Lovely food as usual; actually several of us had pizzas and garlic bread and all the rest that one has in an Italian place. Perhaps we were all gearing up for our Tuscany holiday in July!

By now it is Monday 19th, it has taken me three days to do this blog. Started it on Sat. 17th of May and couldn't finish it then, don't ask me why, there are always interuptions in my life. Sunday we had to go to a drinks party at 12 pm and didn't get back till 2, then took the Jellies for a walk, and guess what Jed diasappeared again, and he was found 3 miles way in Cutmill 2 1/2 hours later. The crazy thing was that he was found by one of my WVW pals; as I said to Stella I never thought I would get to her house this way. They were ever so nice, he had joined them in their back wood, and Stella's children just loved him. Can't say I felt the same then; and of course when we got home into Guantanamo he went (John has taken to putting him in the cupboard for a bit, thinks Jed will learn that way; I am not convinced, but actually today he was very good and never wondered off at all; it was Nellie who was the naughty one and so she spent some time there. I do despair).

Any way today was my weekly training at Regent's Street Apple Store. I take the 9.35 train up to Waterloo and get at the store by 10.45 having had a Costa coffee on the way. I had been training in iMovie; started it last week, and tried to edit my imported videos from my Mesh but got my knickers a bit in a twist . Its not as easy as you think when you are an ignoramus aabout Apple Mac as I am. Last Friday my friend June even came and we had go, but didn't get very far. I managed to get a good book on iMovie 08 and iDVD 08 from Amazon, actually they had a double offer for iPhoto as well which I also got. So now I should be making my little video clips into small movies. Today at training I learned a lot more; and wrote as much down as I could, so I hope it will stick. I had edited the Jellies as pups, and learnt to put text and transitions and even sound; they gambol to Beethoven's 5th no less. I must find doggie tunes; if any one know any good ones let me know. I can't put movie on here as it is on my Apple Mac laptop. But perhaps I can learn to blog there as well, will see. So here is a little clip for your enjoyment taken at Prezzo's. I think I am getting better at filming!

Some of us at Prezzo's.

Thats it folks for now, will be back some time to show you all our beautiful blossoms and spring going on.

My trip to Portland, the second instalment

Sorry again! it took longer than I thought. Somehow I didn't get around to doing it on Friday, too busy, so busy I have lost all memory of it. Senior moments that. Then on Saturday the St. Albanites and the Chelsea-ites came to celebrate Shaun's birthday which was on Friday. I just managed to phone him around 9 pm; but then the phone had been busy. However I am not writing about that visit yet you all will have to hold your breath; till I have time to do that. Maybe tomorrow, Tuesday in the morning, although I should be doing my tax returns, and in the afternoon I cannot as I am stewarding at Guildford House at the WeyValleyWorkshop Exhibition.
Right so here is the remainder of my Portland visit: It was really beautiful in Portland,(when it was not raining) most of the trees were in bloom with such lovely blossoms, this was taken on the way to school. After the Spring break was over Louise, Milo and I would walk the kids to school and fetch them again in the afternoon much to the chagrin of "MoggyMoo" who hates to walk. But of course Milo loves it, its why I come, he feels, even if only once a year.

And then during the Break we went to the sea side. That day was the most amazing weather-wide: we had rain, sunshine, fog, snow and hail one after another. The drive to the sea side to visit friends of Louise and Morgan usually takes 1 hour, this time it was nearly 1 1/2. Here is why

here is another view of the drive there; would you believe that this is spring?

However when we got there the sun had come out, but then when we went to have lunch in this super fish-type inn it rained again. Nonetheless we had a lovely lunch there thanks to Molly's father Andy; some of us had clam chowder and fish and chips, absolutely delicious. But then the food in Portland and at the sea side was ever so good although such huge portions. Luckily a lot of places did do smaller combined meals which suited us very well indeed.

The next celebration was of course Easter: look what that "clever Easter bunny brought us", these two were up before 7 am on Easter Sunday even though they had taken part in two Easter hunts the day before! It was a lovely candy and chocolate period. When we were not munching on that Louise and I were having great quality time playing with my MacBook and hers, she downloaded all sorts of music and audio books onto mine from hers, the latter for my new iPod, did I mention that the last training session I also procured myself and iPod which I now can use quite well. And love to listen to the books Louise put on for me. Especially when I go up by train to my London training session, much better than books as the iPod is so much smaller and lighter. However that was just an aside:

One Sunday I think it was the last one, Darren took us all to Mother's, a wonderful place to have breakfasts or brunches: as usual we filled ourselves up to the brim "Moggy Moo's" favourite part of the meal,
Owen didn't do so badly either I think chocolate cake is his favourite! am not at all sure if this pix was my camera being funny or if he really looked like this at that moment of utter delight.

Owen's birthday was also a bonus that had been fore-planned, although I nearly wasn't there: my much loved brother-in-law Piet had died peacefully in his sleep the Thursday before and his funeral was going to be on the day I was flying back. If I had wanted to be there I would have had to leave on Owen's birthday; but I was unable to change my ticket to the Tuesday, so although I really was torn both ways I stayed to help celebrate his birthday, his 9th and took them all out for dinner at Porcelli's. Supposed to be good with home cooked Italian, but it wasn't as the portions were too much, and none of us could finish our meal.

So I would like to finish up by saying what a wonderful time I had with my two wonderful American grandchildren as you can see here (Louise's pix which I stole from her blog), but I also had a wonderful time being with Louise and Darren.
Just before I left I took one more pix of Morgan and her #1 fan , even if he looks fierce he really isn't, such is a poppet of a dog.

And just one more for your delight this was taken at the beach to show what the weather was like that day;

the dogs had a ball.
Thats it folks must go it is Jellie time, in the even though I find I am not that fond any more of that part of the house. Must be my age! See you all next time!

I don't really look like this even though I sometimes feel it.

Whee at last I have returned.

Its been a long, long time since my last post, so much has happened and it was such a long time that I had even forgotten the password to get into my account!! Imagine; but luckily I have a secret place where I record these things and so found it again. Needed to look at all my pix that I have taken since my last posting.

So much to record: so here it goes; my last post was in Feb. when we went to Christina to fetch the marmalade she made for John (at my expense!)

Since then I finished my Altered Book # 6 entitled Faces and Families here is the front cover; the back is the same but not with the face (of course) and one of my favourite pages. I think in earlier posts I did give some glimpses to titillate. But now it is finished, was handed in on the 19th of March and is at present exhibited at the Wey Valley Workshop Exhibition at the Guildford House Gallery at the High Street Guildford. This Exhibition opens on Saturday 3rd of May, I shall be stewarding there in Tuesday afternoon so can see it all for myself, and it runs till the 24th. I also entered a sampler I made for John's great niece Nell. This one is NFS and awaiting to be presented to her later in the year. My Faces and Families book is for sale @ £475 no less. Lets see if it will go for that price. Guildford House Gallery is a very good venue; but I not bothered if I don't sell it. Have 2 more future exhibitions to which it can go.

On the 20th of march I flew off to Portland with BA to Seattle and then caught a local flight from there with Alaskan Airlines. And although BA took off an hour late and landed at 6 pm instead of 5 pm I still managed to catch my booked flight to Portland even if it was a tight squeeze; and I arrived with all my luggage at 8.45 pm where Louise was awaiting me. We went straight to their lovely house, but the grand kids and Darren were already asleep. The only one awaiting me was Milo who was looking through the curtains of the sitting room window. And what a welcome he gave me, he obviously had not forgotten me the mad dog. It was lovely to see him again as well as Owen and Morgan next morning when I woke up; It was hugs all around. Owen has grown nearly as tall as myself.

The children had a last day at school before their week's spring break so Louise and I hared of to the Apple shop where Louise had booked me a personal shopping appointment. When we arrived there I was overwhelmed with the friendly service of all those lovely guys who work there. Louise and I had a ball selecting the AppleMacPro laptop with all sorts of extras. The £ being so very good against the $. I was able to upgrade the RAM to 400 Mb, if that says anything. I also acquire the .Mac so that I can go on the Internet and have a new email address there. And I bought a Time Capsule in order to go wireless at home and as an extra hard drive for storage purposes. Don't ask how it all works because I still don't know. It all is a completely new learning curve. But I did get a one-to-one training course for a year and as such can go once week for an hour with a personal trainer. The first one of all I had that same morning after we had had lunch and they had upgraded the laptop. Boy did I need this. And am still going once a week here in London to the Regent Street Shop having also acquired a senior rail card for a good discount for my weekly train journeys. The Apple Store is quite something with a glass stair case.

It is however not as amazing as the New York store which is a huge glass cube out on the street.

I will need to go for many a week till next March 'cause there is so much to learn. I do know already that like all Apple Mac users I am totally in love with this terrific machine. Even though I also use my Mesh PC which is behaving quite well touch wood. This means running from one to the other, quite tiring that and no wonder I haven't much time.

Back to my Portland adventures: For Owen's birthday party we went to see the Portland Blazers (Basketball) team play the Washington Wizards, they beat these by 102 - 82 if I remember correctly we had seats quite high up so had an excellent view of everything going on. this came up in the screen in one of the intervals.

Even this floated past our amazed eyes at one point, the atmosphere was electric and we all had a ball. Came home quite late, and one of Owen's pals stayed for a sleep-over and the next day, when it rained. It rained a lot while I was there. but luckily not all the time.

To be continued:

That's it folks must go and feed the Jellies. Nellie awaiting her grub!