Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Christmas Cheer!!!!!!

Thank you Lesley Eric and the furry ones for my new mouse!!!
I decided to make a pillow of it!!!!
And now at the risk of being told off, this is how unhappy Dive is at Christmas, Full would not let me take his photo!!!! so this is to let you know they are not as grumpy at this time of year as they make out!!!

Thank you boys for a wonderful day, your Dad would have been proud of you...

Saturday, December 22, 2007

One year on................

Grace and Maddie, hard to remember nearly a year ago I posted photo's of Grace just after she was born, and Maddie dressed as Snow White....how they have grown....

They were helping everyone to enjoy the Diamond Wedding day, see the last post.....


Cannot believe a year ago when we were travelling backwards and forwards to await the birth of Brooke, she wanted great great auntie Beryl's glasses!!!!!!!!and of course smiled beautifully for the camera, after I had taken the photo!!!!

They are all going to enjoy their Christmas this year....

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Cakes again


A couple of Christmas cakes, sorry about the photo, did not have time to adjust, but you get the idea!!!!!!decided it would be snowmen this year.....


Christening cake.........

Dive has taken some pics of my flowers for the wedding cake which I may pinch later!!!!to show...

Friday, December 14, 2007

Gala Christmas Gig

At last I have made time to write about my night out last Friday with Jan my lovely sister in law, and her daughter Liz my gorgeous niece....

We try to book a few nights at the Marina Theatre in Lowestoft, we see all sorts, but love the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra who are resident at the Theatre. This time it was the Gala Christmas Concert..

Afraid I cannot make it very interesting, but you can see what great music was played....

They started off with the Overture on French Carols...then Joy to the World....after which the audience and orchestra joined in with O Come All Ye Faithful. The Pakefield Singers were on the stage, although they were good, maybe not as good as the choir Liz used to sing in, suppose I should not say that......

Next came The Little Drummer Boy, then Still, Still, Still....

The Nutcracker`: Waltz of the Flowers was so lovely, such a great orchestra, and the conductor Nick Davies was really getting with it...

We then sang The First Nowell.. some great voices in the audience....followed by Winter Wonderland.. The Sleigh Ride...Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah.....Mary's Boy Child...and then we all sang Once in Royal David's City...

After the interval we started with Posthorn Galop, such a laugh they made that one, again audience sang God Rest you Merry Gentlemen...
Psalm 23... Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas.. Torches... The Twelve Day's of Christmas, which the audience had to sing from 5 Gold rings, it was so good because all Theatre goers join in all the time, and it was like a party...

Some of the songs were sung by a lovely lady called Mary Carew, and the next one she made a really good job of.. Santa Baby..very saucy...

Sleigh Ride came next, and the horns and bells etc were very moving... Robyn would have been proud of the French Horn players...Good King Wenceslas and White Christmas then we all joined in Hark the Herald Angels Sing.

Marvelous, they did get such a response that they played Jingle Bells as an extra little treat....

We are so lucky to have such a lovely Theatre so close to home, and a huge thank you as always to Jan for booking and driving us.. and for the ice cream and the many giggles we always seem to get when we are together....

And dear James when we took Liz home, he must think we are mad when we arrive home after a concert, but he copes very well, hope the feet did not get too cold James!!!!

Roll on the next time....

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Friends

Just received this from a good friend.........who took this unbeknown to my dear friend Pat and I, I am sure you will be looking in Anthony, you got it in the end then!!!!!

We all met up and had a good reunion.. old photo's goodness, who were those thin young people in the pictures!!!!!

Not going to let it be so long before we meet again.... great memories.....

Sunday, November 25, 2007

DIY CAKE

Apparently this was well received.....although the paint brush looks rather large!!!!!!

Monday, November 19, 2007

LUCKY ME


Today David has given and set up my Christmas present, my lovely new Apple Mac, well not completely new, but to me it is........and taken a photo of my posh new work station.........He has worked so hard to put all my bits and pieces on here, and a bonus is I have all his music.....just got to figure out how to use everything new ....will the old brain work it all out.....

Poor boy got a bit frustrated with a Mother who could not remember all the passwords etc, but all now written down......just forgot about posting my digi camera bits, so had to borrow the above photo from David!!!!!

My dear small apple mac is now stting in my bedroom ready for me to play my music......

So this silver surfer will be able to enjoy a nice big screen, when I have time in between making my cakes.......

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Wave

This is what our lovely Southwold looked like when the surge came this way....but luckily the bad weather did not turn out to be bad as anticipated.....

I did not take the photo by the way....a friend just sent it and I thought it was so good....

Two posts in day...............

I am here!

Morning... just realized how long it is since I last posted.....

I am not entirely boring!!! have been busy with making cakes, and knitting.....also trying to get the garden in order for winter....luckily a friend is going to give me a helping hand with the garden next week..

The other reason for non posting is my old conservatory roof had to be replaced....luckily Dive and Full came and gave a hand to move furniture etc........at last it is done and no leaks now, and with the high winds we have had of late it feels safe....always thought the old one was going to blow over the fence!!!

Off to catch up on reading other peoples exciting blogs.....hope I can manage an interesting one soon!!!

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Oscar Frog staring

Oscar has not moved for quite a while....... I had moved one of my bins, and there is a hole in the stones where the frogs hide.....and he is waiting for one to come out!!!!!!

It is very cold out there, and he has sat there for at least 1/2 an hour so far!!!!!I await the frog to be brought in to me...... They give off a scent so he does not harm them but he must give them a scare but they seem to hop away merrily when I put them out again....

Friday, October 05, 2007

Dancing Queen

Another Theatre visit on Wednesday night, to see an Abba tribute........Which had outrageous choreography, including feathers, head dresses, roller skates, and great musical arrangements.

The dancers and singers were really great, and the costumes well, they were gorgeous...

Just 16 singers and dancers, it was like a full scale party.....fun and happiness spring to mind...

They did all the Abba songs, and also Saturday night Fever, Rocky Horror Show, and they dressed up to do WMCA, am getting old as I was still doing M when they had got to A......

Very much included audience participation, and in the end for the last 20 minutes, everyone was rocking and dancing, and yes we were as well....... For my sister in law Phyllis, it was the first time she had seen a show like it, and she loved it, and did not want it to end, so looks like we have another one on our list, when Jan, Liz and I go to the shows...

Rather would like to have seen one night of Queen...which is on in November, but must not be that naughty.... so next thing is the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Gala Christmas Celebration in December.......

Lovely evening thanks Jan for driving again......and for the entertainment in M&S car park... Liz hope you are not reading this........!!!!!!!!!

Monday, October 01, 2007

Humbug

Have I joined the ranks of scrooge?

Yesterday my brother and sister in law took me to a garden centre... we were looking for a few plants to brighten the autumn days.....

We walked into a winter wonderland, oh yes I can appreciate the glamour and glitz, but oh dear it was still September....

I wondered what had happened to Christmas, which, as I am old school still believe that it was someones birthday..... now I know that all the science has told us otherwise, but at my age I still have memories of Christmas as a Church service and a few presents, a tree, and lots of lovely food that we did not see for the rest of the year....The children's faces when they saw the tree...

So have we come far in this day and age, who is it that is trying to convince the people who live their lives on credit and benefit........that you must have the most wonderful amount of all those presents.......The biggest and best dressed tree etc...

I am so pleased that my boys were brought up in the days of good food, small presents, a nice tree and friends and family all around , cards sent to keep in touch with those who we have not seen during the year...

It must be so hard for families nowadays, as the children's faces looking at all the wonderful presents, bows and glitter that met us yesterday. how can they realise that they cannot have what they want, and how many weeks are there to Christmas? well enough so that by the time it gets here they will have no idea what it is all about...and the credit cards will be full....but will they appreciate it?

I was pleased to see there were a few nativity groups ... maybe people will remember that is what we should be thinking about........but I suppose I am getting cynical in my old age.....I loved Christmas, all the preparation of the food and all that goes with it... the Church and Carols, the boys faces when they saw the presents.......Maybe it is because without my dear hubby nothing means as much anymore.....

But they call this progress so have to go with it.....I just wish that all the commercial Christmas goods could stay away until at least December........we should be living in the present.. not for the present....so maybe I am scrooge after all!!!!

Saturday, September 22, 2007

My lovely surprise!!

Just a couple of nights ago, my dear Jan phoned to say she was taking me to the Marina Theatre....we do like to go at least a few times a year, but I had declined this one, not because I would not love to go, but thought I could not be so extravagant as The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra was a bit beyond my means at the time of booking.

But Jan thought it would be a nice part of my birthday present.... and how right she was, my dear niece Liz, who has not been well, was feeling better, so they came and picked me up, and off we went...

The Theatre has recently had a little make over, and it looked every bit like a West end theatre with all the lights outside..very impressive....

The evening was so great... The first they played was Glinka, now I thought I had not heard of him, but they played the Overture, Ruslan and Ludmillam and surprised me as it seemed familiar.....

Then Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor Op.64

The young violinist was called Mathew Trusler, and what a performance Allegro molto appassionato, Andante, Allegretto non troppo, Allegro molto vivace (and no Dive I did remember not to clap in between them!!!! although I wanted to, Mathew stood in centre stage and he played the violin with such passion, and, no music, it all came from his heart, and his fingers were flying, ( reminded me of you playing D)

It was really breathtaking, he had to take so many curtain calls, our hands were red hot clapping....

After the interval Dvorak Sympathy No 9 (From the New World) Adagio-Allegro molto.. Largo....Scherzo (molto vivace), and Allegro con fuoco...

The wonderful conductor Nicholas Cleobury, who was so into the music, and had been very entertaining all evening, never still!!! he explained about Dvorak in such a way, so when it came to listening to it, you waited for the lively allegro that comes after the the first movement which opens quietly.....and from then on, well of course the Hovis advert had to come into it, I had forgotten where they had pinched that from...

The Brass section (Robyn thought of you) was so good, in fact, what a performance all around, there are all ages playing, and the first violins, 8 of them... second violins 6 of those ...violas 5...Cellos 5, oh they were really good.... double bases 4,.. flutes 2 ..piccolo 1 ..oboes ..3 clarinets.. 2 ..bassoons 2 ..contra bassoon 1 ..French horns 4 ..trumpets 2 ..trombones 3 ..tuba 1 ..timpani 1 percussion 1.....

All of them played with such love and passion, the many violins and cellos playing as if one, a really moving experience...

So you can see how very lucky we are to have a little theatre where the Royal Phiharmonic Orchestra has been resident for 2 years now, and have agreed to another year....

A wonderful evening spent with lovely family, and so very much enjoyed, thanks again Jan, you are my star....

Roll on the Gala Christmas Concert in December, which we booked last year....lucky me....

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Golden Wedding cake


Colleen made the collar for the cake, it is a bit wide, but it is she is pleased with it... I would have rather had it smaller, or perhaps the cake a little bigger!! customer is happy........she made the invitations and place cards all cross stitch. Very clever lady....

But I am pleased with the roses and lily of the valley......

Sunday, September 09, 2007

Trees on Beccles Common

Well it is Jan's birthday, so if she wants to ride the tree trunk who are we to stop her!!!!!!!


Today is as I said my sister in law Jan's birthday, and she always likes to go Blackberry picking on this day... so Jan, my brother and me went for a walk on our Common....
Not some where I have been for a long time, as they have a golf course there, and I do not fancy getting a golf ball on my head, however Sunday afternoon is Golf free.......


The trees are so great could not resist them....

We also managed to get a nice lot of blackberries..... plus a 2 mile walk!!!



I do love silver birch.....I took loads more photo's but you can gather from these that we had a good time....

Saturday, September 08, 2007

Flower Festival Somerleyton Church part 2


This is Somerleyton Church.. the sky turned rather grey this afternoon....Sorry Dive I am posting twice in one day!!! do not forget to look below!!!!

This was done by the children of Somerleyton School. called the Ugly Bug Ball!!



The Maypole a bit blurred we were on our way out and there were a lot of people about... my excuse anyway.....


Turkish Dancing...

Now this was very complicated you cannot see all the detail, but it really was interesting....


Line Dancing...


I loved this one as well, the swords were real!!!! and I did not look under the sporran....

Morris Dancing, hope you can see the violin....

I was amazed at how many different ideas there were, and I have been to a lot of flower festivals...


This one is called The Hornpipe, cannot resist the bits of stained glass.....


Very nice Flamenco......

This was very good as well The Can Can, with again a little stained glass...

Hope I have not bored you!!!

Flower Festival Somerleyton Church


Somerleyton Fower Festival this afternoon, just a few of the great displays....Barn Dance.


Viennese Waltz .. loved the sunflowers as well...


Rock & Roll, they were all so cleverly done...


Lambeth Walk.......This is a beautiful Church....

You cannot see the details here, but it was so well done...



This from Lord Somerleyton called Hunt Ball, the cake had ballet shoes on it....


Talking of Ballet !!!!! I was rather pleased with this photo, you can see some of the lovely stained glass and (Pea Hen if you look in, have you ever been there, if not it is a must.....) I also managed the reflection in the mirror of the stained glass opposite!!!!

This was the real stunner.. so clever look at the hands on the piano!!!

I have more I will put on another day....... hope you like!!!!

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Brooke


I had a visit from my Niece with her grandaughter, who would not smile until a friend of the male kind called for a coffee, and of course being a girl decided to give him the come hither look....

Balloon !!!


Just looked out of the door yesterday and saw this floating past.......

It got rather low, imagine it was going to land at the Heliport which is just up the road from me....

Sunday, September 02, 2007

Are they my (Boys?) Men!!!

Dive has just sent this for me!!!! The boys wishing that the car belonged to them...

They had a great day out at Goodwood, and I cannot wait to see the rest of the photo's....and hear more about it........

Guess how long it took me to sew those badges on!!!! Not sure about the flat caps!!!!!

Saturday, September 01, 2007

Ruby Cake

Just finished this one.. hope they like it!!!

Thursday, August 30, 2007

More Somerleyton

A view from the hall they have really lovely gardens there....



Rather nice statue!!! Gazing at that blue sky!!!

We thought this lovely flower was a Camellia, although it was rather a large flower.....
Very pretty.... pity I did not get the bees in the photo as they were having a good time in it....

Monday, August 27, 2007

Jazz in the Park Somerleyton


A nice statue at Somerleyton Hall today, where we spent a lovely afternoon listening to Jazz......and meeting up with a few people I met at Jools Holland Picnic in the Park a few weeks ago.....



Just a few of the jazz crowd...with a nice photo of a very tall tree!!!!!

Bernadette and Bill with Jan looking on.....They will soon be on their way back to Australia, well not Jan!!!!!!!!!


what are you up to Brother!!!!!


This was the first jazz group, they were really good...... and as you can see we had lovely weather....thanks folks for great company......and Somerleyton Hall were so pleased with the turnout, they will repeat it next year......