Christmas blessings

Although all the family could not be together we enjoyed the day with Chris, Maki and the boys and spoke on the phone to the rest of the family. One year perhaps we can all be in the same place at the same time.

After our usual morning visit to Nanny Iris we returned home to prepare the meal; Roast Chicken and all the trimmings for everyone else and plain boiled potatoes, veg and lean chicken for me. (Gallstones are no fun!) Chisato enjoyed his presents and Michika loves a cuddle with Grandad.

Then the evening was spent curled up in front of the TV, relaxing with the dogs.

Whirlwind visit

Belinda and Lily flew in last week for a whirlwind week. It was great to see them but the week went very quickly. We were joined for the weekend by Lawrence and Thierry; Thierry enjoying a long weekend with his favourite cousin. Lily was supposed to be a bridesmaid on the Saturday but after finally persuding her to get dressed she then refused to carry out her bridemsmaid duties and wanted to stay home with Thierry rather than go to the wedding party.

Lily was desperate to see snow so when none came we took her to the City Centre where there was a special photographic opportunity .... a large plastic globe complete with fake snow. She had a wonderful time playing inside with her mum and their friends, Alecia and Mark ..... and I enjoyed looking after Alecia and Mark's new baby Amelie.

Sebastian Pickard

Our nephew Liam invited us on Sunday to the christening of his son, Seb. We had a good time and enjoyed meeting Seb for the first time. He was so good and very friendly, happily being passed from guest to guest without any fuss. He has a certain mischievous look about him so I am sure he is going to be a handful but will also bring lots of joy and love to his parents.

We were so pleased to be able to take my mother, Iris with us. Here she is in St Mary's Church, Wavendon with her grandson Liam, Gemma and great-grandson Sebastian. As you can see Seb was particularly interested in Nanny Iris' hair and looks as if he is about to take the pins from her bun.

Sparrow Hawk

It's times like this that I wish I had a more technical camera. This morning we watched as a Sparrow Hawk sat on our lawn and plucked the feathers from it's prey, a Collared Dove. I managed to take a few pictures through the window but could not really get close enough. Have tried cropping the picture so that there is more bird and less background. I also managed to take a short video clip. Once it had finished plucking the feathers out the Sparrow Hawk flew off with the carcass and left us a mess of feathers on the grass.

Our boys

We have had a great week this week with our grandsons. Chisato has spent the week with us and so I took him to visit his cousin Thierry. They had a great time playing together .. I'm not sure who got worn out first but I don't think it was the boys.

Chisato was very happy to see his brother when they came to collect him today.

Last few days

This last few days in Florida have gone very fast. On Monday I went with Belinda's friends and their children to Young At Art. Lily and Thierry had a great time and didn't want to leave at lunchtime when the other children had had enough. It's a very hands on place with interesting exhibits and activities.

In the afternoon Kelly and arthur took the children fishing. Grandad was the only one to get a catch but they had a good time.

Thierry has got stronger and stronger in the pool (when he concentrates!). Arthur and I enjoyed the pool last week when the children were at Summer Camp ... and a quiet time reading in the sun. It always seems a shame to spend so much time indoors when we are here but it is often too hot to spend long outside.

Summer Fun

Lily and Thierry are having a wonderful time.

This week they have been going to a daily Summer Camp at Nova Gymnastics which has given us some relaxing time during the day. Every day camp has had a different theme and they have dressed accordingly. Today they had to go dressed in favourite sports jersey so they both wore their England football kits.

Swimming Champs

Not to be out done by Lily, Thierry swam for the first time today without aids. Just a few strokes but he was so proud of himself and did it over and over until worn out.

Pirate Party

Today was Lily and Thierry's 5th birthday party. As they are both 5 in August they shared this year's Pirate Party. It was a really great day and there were two very tired children at the end (not to mention the exhausted adults!).

Birthday Girl

Happy Birthday Lily. 5 years old today.

Family night at Sweet Tomatoes

Tonight we had dinner at Sweet Tomatoes. It's family night and the face painting is free. We ended the night with two terrible tigers. It was great fun.

Beautiful Wedding with a difference

We were very happy to be able to be at Belinda's wedding on Saturday. It was a wonderful occassion and a beautiful day.



Belinda and Kelly shared their very special day with Lily who looked so beautiful.






We travelled to the marina on a Sun Trolley. Lily and Thierry couldn't wait to get on they were so excited. Then it was a boat ride out to Stiltsville. It was a fantastic venue and everyone had a great time. Belinda and Kelly also included Thierry in the wedding party as they got married on the dock at Stiltsville.

Double Trouble

We are here in Florida at Belinda's home getting ready for her wedding this coming weekend. At one point we thought we would not make it as when we collected Thierry on Saturday he had a very sore finger (from shutting it in the door!) which turned septic overnight so that by Sunday morning it was twice its size and bright red. Off we went to the local Walk In Centre and they prescribed antibiotics and said he would be fine to travel ..... by 5 o'clock that day he was bright red, had a rash and was feverish. Back to the Walk In Centre who in turn reffered us to the local out of hours Doctors. It seems he was very allergic to the antibiotics!!! We had a very early start the next morning with one very sleepy, sad little boy, a new bottle of different antibiotics and a long flight ahead.

Still here we are and a few days later I am pleased to say Thierry is much better and back to his usual lively, cheeky self. He and Lily are having a wonderful time playing together and we are all looking forward to the wedding.

The Duchess of Dorinda

This is our 88 year old mother, Iris. Nanny Iris has 11 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. She lives at Highclere Nursing Home and despite being physically frail and having cataracts she still keeps herself busy knitting and making greetings cards for family and friends.

Iris' friend Sheila Russell died last week which marks the end of a friendship which spanned more than 60 years. Iris first met Sheila when she moved into a bedsit in Edmonton during the war and Sheila lived opposite. Sheila was just 11 years old then. Later when my sister and I were born Sheila would help Iris look after us and babysit. When we all moved to Dorinda Street in Holloway, London Sheila kept in touch and was a regular visitor. The house we moved into was in a very poor condition (part war damage and part years of neglect) but it was a house not a bedsit. Sheila started calling Iris "The Duchess of Dorinda" because she worked so hard to make that little house bright and cheerful and, in Sheila's words "Iris was a proud person like a duchess. She always tried to make the best of everything no matter how bad things were."

Over the years that followed Sheila and Iris kept in touch, mostly by letter and phone. Sheila continued to refer to Iris as the Duchess of Dorinda and would even address letters to her as that. I guess that the flowers Iris sends to the funeral from the Duchess of Dorinda will be the last time that the title is used.

Summer?

We just caught this baby bird sheltering from the rain under our Hydrangea. It's a cold, wet, miserable July evening. Still at least we don't have to remember to water the garden.

Michika Oliver Fo

Now this was worth the wait.

Our newest grandson was born on 18th June and the look on his big brother's face when he saw him was one of those very special moments in life.

Worth the wait

Our peonies have been in bud what seems like for ever but at last the buds have opened. It was worth the wait.

Spring Bank Holiday

Well we were hoping to enjoy a quiet weekend in the garden but the weather doesn't look too promising. At least we have plenty of blooms to look at and have managed to enjoy a few days outside during the last week.

Family time

Update

Last week I spent a few days with Lawrence and his family, Arthur stayed home with the dogs. Here are some photos from the week.

This week we had to take our 10 year old Lhasa Apso, Buster to the vets. He had to have 3 front teeth out and the rest cleaned. Poor thing is feeling quite sorry for himself and so were we when we found out how much it cost.

Spring News

Since we returned to England we have "enjoyed" some interesting Spring weather. I have planted Begonia corms in the hanging baskets and just hope they haven't frozen.

We went to Lawrence's to collect our dogs and enjoyed a couple of days with Thierry, Jayden having gone to his mother's for the Easter Holiday. Unfortunately we now know that she has decided not to send him back. Everyone is sad and missing Jayden very much.

This week we have had Chisato to stay with us. His first time away from home on his own. We had a good time, although could have done without the early starts to the day. Chisato loved making friends with Lady and Buster.