I won't be deleting this blog as it contains so many lovely memories so it will be simply suspended in time under the guardianship of "Arnica".
My poetry blog will stay the same but my non poetry posts will now be found here. You'll always be welcome to pop by for a coffee and chat.
I'll see you all over there for drinkies later! 
Cox's Mill Hotel, Cheddar Gorge
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Well he was a bit too boney for my liking but at least he didn't snore!
]]>I have covered well over a thousand miles and met up with some smashing bloggers en-route.
First of all I spent a lovely day with one of my very first blogfriends Usky.
Then after a visit to my dear Mum I met up with Murphymole for a good old natter over a meal and glass or two of wine.
My next stop was lunch and a whistlestop tour of Nottingham's theatre land with Phil (Frenchy) Lowe.
Finally I met up with a boggle of bloggers in Bournemouth. Jenray (Jenny and Ray), Kevin Wilson, Elliegant and I spent time putting the world to rights. I've forgiven Jenny for telling me to "shut up" 
All in all I had a great time meeting everyone and will definitely do it again.
Now all I have to do is catch up on what's been going on in blogland whilst I've been away 
This could take some time!
]]>Many thanks for all the lovely comments.
Marian
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.... of ironing to do.
I've created two piles - one "to do now" and one "to do sometime" 
Well at least I'm organised!
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Well it was the right number and he was rather taken aback. He said "you won't believe this but I came across your address card just the other day and it's now sitting on my desk in front of me". We chatted for ages and I told him of my plan to drive back and he invited me to stay at his place in Somerset for a few days.
I haven't finalised my itinery yet but I will be driving around the UK so if any of my blogfriends want to let me have their telephone number (in confidence obviously!) I might just be in your area! Watch this space!
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The piece is entitled Oraison Solaire (Solar Prayer) and measures 210cm in circumference.
Well I thought it was funny!
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How thoughtful of the proprietors to provide nice warm throws for their clients.
]]>These are not very good quality shots but I love the chain of events unfolding before my eyes.
Ready........
Steady........
....... Oh!
Oops! ....... If you look very closely you'll see Teddy Polar Bear
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First of all I read all the bloggers' comments on Subs' posting and then I "googled" Facebook to read that:
Facebook has met with some controversy over the past few years. It has been blocked intermittently in several countries including Syria and Iran. It has also been banned at many places of work to increase productivity. Privacy has also been an issue, and it has been compromised several times. It is also facing several lawsuits from a number of Zuckerberg's former classmates, who claim that Facebook had stolen their source code and other intellectual property.
So what, if any, are the merits of Facebook?
Am I missing out on something? or should I be glad I'm not a part off it?
I'd be interested in hearing your general views.
Thank you.
]]>"I've been at it"
"Knockers"
"Red Hot Mamma"
"A Dirty Weekend"
You get the idea. Even the French are at it - no that's not another title (but it should have been!) With the romance surrounding Valentine's Day I came across a catching headline which, even with my limited grasp of the language, I understood.
Boum son coeur fait toujours boum
Immediately that silly Peter Sellers/Sophia Loren duet came to mind
Her: Oh doctor, I'm in trouble.
Him: Well, goodness gracious me.
Her: For every time a certain man
Is standing next to me.
Him: Mmm?
Her: A flush comes to my face
And my pulse begins to race,
It goes boom boody-boom boody-boom boody-boom
Boody-boom boody-boom boody-boom-boom-boom,
Him: Oh!
Her: Boom boody-boom boody-boom boody-boom
Him: Well, goodness gracious me.
Thinking that it might be an interesting article on l'amour which might help me learn some useful phrases I clicked on the title and was surprised to find an article on football!
WELL GOODNESS GRACIOUS ME!
It was spotless and beautifully fitted out to a high standard and the owners went in and wiped down all the surfaces between users. I was so impressed that I made a point of expressing my delight to a suprised proprietor, but that might have been due to my poor command of the French language.
My nomination for "Most Unusual Decor" must go to this one
but satisfied 
My bush is now nicely trimmed my cherry, pear, plum and apple trees have been pruned to within an inch of their lives and I've brought some more logs in. Tomorrow, if the weather stays the same, I will have to gather up all the debris and try and find somewhere to have a bonfire.
But for now I'm going to light a fire, run myself a bath and pour a glass of wine.
I may be gone for quite a while.
and now I'll show you mine
So go on then - what are you waiting for? - show us yours
Your desktop images of course!
I also bought a similarly priced bottle of Provencial rosé called "Rosé à la Rose" and am rather tempted to open it tonight. Mmmmm perhaps I'll save it for St Valentine's Day instead?
Now what should I make to go with it?
*Reads the label*:-
Parfois nos vignes donnent ce vin précieux rose pale, d'une transparence rare, au délicat parfum, tel une rose fraichement épanouie dans un jardin de provence.
Oh yes - St Valentine's Night it is then!
]]>We were a big family (I am one of five children) and I can only recall us going away for two holidays. One was via bus to Whitby where we stayed in a holiday flat and the other was via train to Scotland for one of these holidays.
Camping coach sites were operated by British Railways in the 1950's and 1960's and we stayed in what was literally a railway siding in a converted railway coach. Looking back the holiday had an Enid Blyton feel to it and we were just like "The Famous Five"
Happy days!
When I arrived home the sky changed dramatically as a storm gathered in the distance. You can probably tell that there was bright sunshine behind me as it lightened up the buildings. Just look at the glowering sky and the colour effect of the tree.
Here's the same tree and buildings (and sky!) an hour later!
Talk about finding a needle in a haystack! The lovely attendant at the enormous ball pool at Ikea has written a letter of explanation for Aimée to put under her pillow for the tooth fairy. She's also promised to post the tooth on if they find it when the pool gets cleaned next week.
Now that's really over and above the call of duty!
Oh and Louis has sadly lost Teddy Polar Bear. For those of you who don't know Teddy Polar Bear here's a series of poems I wrote about him:-
Teddy Polar Bear Goes to School
Teddy Polar Bear Goes on Holiday
Teddy Polar Bear Goes Missing
Teddy Polar Bear Goes to the Beach
Teddy Polar Bear Has a Friend
The end of an era! Now I'll have to write Teddy Polar Bear "RIP"
Yesterday I couldn't connect to the internet and I felt so isolated from you all. 
I tried to pinpoint the problem, France Telecom said there wasn't a problem from their point of view, my son-in-law suggested some things to try but no joy 
This morning it's mysteriously back to normal!
Now I might be quite some time catching up on everybody - sorry if I miss anything. 
There's a small teapot with a matching cup and saucer and a small coffee pot with its matching cup and saucer. The fact that my Dad (who was very clumsy) managed to bring them back in his suitcase still amazes me. I guess that baggage handlers must have been more careful those days too!
These items are very special to me.
ps - I think I once promised to show these to Miramaze sorry for the delay!
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I think I'd better have a siesta!
See you guys later!
Dear Customer,
Due to multiple log-in attempt errors on your account, LloydsTSB Security team has suspended your online banking access
In order to re-access your account online click in the link below
I am so relieved that my 87 year old Mum isn't a "silver surfer" but someone's mum's bound to fall for it!
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At 9.30 each Thursday morning I attend a French class to try and improve my French (well one can hope!!!) Last Thursday's class was cancelled due to the national strike over here. The tutor offered an extra class this week and the most convenient day for the group was today. I was the only one who couldn't make this date as I was due to be travelling back from the UK so I gave my apologies.
This morning I turned up bleary bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and no-one was there! Luckily I had a telephone directory in my car (doesn't everyone?) and made a quick call to a fellow sufferer student only to find that the agreed time was 2.30pm
That'll teach me to pay attention in class!
Ah well something to look forward to this afternoon!
]]>No-one was more surprised than me to find myself a Bloscar nominee. I felt suitably humbled by the fact that my fellow bloggers nominated me.
In the past I’ve heard about the “bad feelings” that the Bloscars have stirred up but have never had first hand experience of it until now. For those of you who “knock” the Bloscars let me just say this:
The Bloscars are just a bit of fun
OK rant over!
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Sorry for the bad pun but it just popped into my head along with the following childhood song:
'Twas on a Monday morning
When I beheld my darling
She looked so neat and charming
In every high degree
She looked so neat and nimble, O
A-washing of her linen, O
Refrain
Dashing away with the smoothing iron
Dashing away with the smoothing iron
She stole my heart away.'Twas on a Tuesday morning
When I beheld my darling
She looked so neat and charming
In every high degree
She looked so neat and nimble, O
A-hanging out her linen, O (Refrain)'Twas on a Wednesday morning
When I beheld my darling
She looked so neat and charming
In every high degree
She looked so neat and nimble, O
A-starching of her linen, O (Refrain)'Twas on a Thursday morning
When I beheld my darling
She looked so neat and charming
In every high degree
She looked so neat and nimble, O
A-ironing of her linen, O (Refrain)'Twas on a Friday morning
When I beheld my darling
She looked so neat and charming
In every high degree
She looked so neat and nimble, O
A-folding of her linen, O (Refrain)'Twas on a Saturday morning
When I beheld my darling
She looked so neat and charming
In every high degree
She looked so neat and nimble, O
A-airing of her linen, O (Refrain)'Twas on a Sunday morning
When I beheld my darling
She looked so neat and charming
In every high degree
She looked so neat and nimble, O
A-wearing of her linen, O (Refrain)
They just don't make songs like that anymore - thank goodness
The snow will now probably disappear.
Roll on Summer