Ah! That's what to do then!

Looks like gangin up next week then!!!

Pauly Boy!

Congrats CtD!! Great choice x

Don't Stop Me Now!!! Woo Hoo!!

Happy Weekend all!!!

Yay yippee yippeee!!

Hehehehe lots of happy people :)

xxx

Happy Friday all...

Happy Birthday, Foxie

DtM xx

very clever, everyone . . .

Great show as always
Happy birthday Foxy
Have a good weekend all

Hi Chris
What a start to the show. We got our way by ganging up. Summer of 69 for the second record, the w/end starts now.
Have a good one.

Mel x

Hi Chris
What a start to the show. We got our way by ganging up. Summer of 69 for the second record, the w/end starts now.
Have a good one. Happy B Day Foxy.

Mel x

How did that happen?

Ayup Chris

Quality song to start the show, I've got every Queen album, but I still prefer to rock out at the weekends, but hey what can you do lol

Listening at home now until I go for a meal with my Spanish Class in a bit

Que Tenga un buen fin de semena amigo lol

Ian

Oh my we did it - congrats to everyone.

Wooooohooooo *spins around on chair*

Thankyou very much Chris

Woooooooo Hoooooooooo

Go the Diva...and the bloggettes..

AND bonus- Summer of 69 as well.

Heaven......

Did you hear what Chris said- shal w

have a another regular spot-like the D

spot- he should call it the Diva spot.

Good tunes today Chris x

X R

Anyone know what the lookey lookey picture in the gallery is all about?

Nice haircut Foxy


Oh wow a Diva spot and a play of deliah is this a fixture now as well?

Enjoy your weekends everyone.

EJR - good luck on the next part of your trip in NZ I really enjoy reading your travel reports

Thank you, thank you, thank you Chris!!!!

I missed the first 10 minutes and only just got home to log on and find out if we did it - hooray!!

AnnieOakley/AnnieMac/Very Happy Ann right now xxx :-)

OK OK

You did it. Well done Ctd et al.

I suppose if it had to be Queen then that was the best one.

Apart from Crazy Little Thing Called Love, which, despite my denials of liking anything Mercury-esque yesterday, was actually and honestly the very first single I ever bought as a wet-behind-the-ears 8 year old.

So, to recap, first single CLTCL, grew up in Hersham - home of Sham 69 - and first gig Motley Crue.

So that's where it all went wrong.

Perhaps goatherding in Mongolia maybe the answer after all.

Not sure Mrs MfR could be convinced though.

Hope the weekend brings everything you want it to.

Peace, my friends.

MfR

Hazel

Oh would that it was Haze, but never

mind, some lucky colleen got there...

Good for her.....

You know what they say...better to

have loved etc..

But tell Mr Treacy to keep some

dates free , he might have to make

several...as Ascot is over with for

another year we might be ok...

The Diva might be ok ..she bought

one recently..

X R

Somerset _phoenix-looky looky.

I think its a song by John Lennon

nearly priceless...brought in by a lady

from auction house along with other

valuable rock and pop items..I think

she had a pair of John Lennon glasses


X R

sorry got chopped off

....John Lennon glasses as well as

got Bingo ed I think....

Ah ha knew I'd missed something - thanks Red

I'm still very pleased we did it today but I don't think we should gang up on Chris every week, and how would we *ever* agree what to choose?!

Went for reflexology this morning after missing it for 3 weeks, I'm still spaced out but all the tension in my neck and shoulders and other achey places is gone and I'll sleep like a log.

Think I'll have an early night fellow bloggers and wish you a 'good rest of Friday'.

Happy Weekend to you all, here's hoping the weather fairy keeps the rain away from the bbq on Sunday, otherwise I'll have to squeeze 14 of us into my little house, eek!

Thanks again CLP, will be thinking of you and your fab new toy, sorry car! Wish Foxy a Happy Birthday and we'll see you on the far side of the weekend.

Night, night - pass the Horlicks

okAnnieOakley zzzz

Wow foxy looks amazing...CTD did it :) and does that mean im a blogette? :P

Anyone notice how quiet it is without Cheryl around lol

Agree tho we shouldnt gang up on Chris every week and is it me or does he not look so "Ginger" in those pics?

Sara xx

yay, I'm a blogette too!! It was so funny, I was out walking the dog with my radio on and I shouted out YES and started laughing when I heard "Don't Stop Me Now" ..... great start to ARF!!! Made the dog jump though ha ha!

Sorry I'm not contributing much at the mo - just tons to do before the move next week - house looks like the back of a charity shop at the mo, full of boxes and bin liners!!!

T xxxx

Thanks for the tune CLP - not that I heard it live - just listened to it now!!!

Decided to sneak off early to avoid any more "forgotten how vacuum works" etc.etc." from old gits - phone calls so transferred calls to car. Various gadgets mean I can pick up separate handset while himself carries on driving - so I can lie - is he there? No!


Beesmum xx

this is bingoing me

Just bout 4:15 two big prob calls! Oh joy. Spent next hour diving under bags for

laptop - mad yuppie mobiles clapped to

our ears

give up try later

bt not avail for 2 hours so why am i still here?

story contd tomorrs -

Yes..I agree we should lay off the

nagging for a while....until there is a

song that we reeeaally want played.

Another 'Dont stop me now ' moment

Yes, his hair is lighter these days,

looks nearly blonde...

X R

Tanmer Springs to Picton

Well, with the waters well and truly taken I headed off towards Kaikoura. The drive this morning was slightly later in the day, about 7am, as I needed to give the roads a bit of time to defrost. There is some very cold weather on its way to the South Island so I am heading North. My plan for the day was to get some whale watching done and perhaps see some of the seals that dot the upper east coast of South Island. Arriving in good time at Kaikoura I spotted some seals basking on the rocks and spent an enchanting 30 minutes creeping around these huge but docile creatures, well that is docile unless one gets too close and I was treated to a demonstration of this as a particularly large and boisterous lady ventured a bit too close and then had to scramble for her life as one of the seals chased her down. Sadly she did get away and the seal went back to its important basking, shame. With the eastern mountains forming an impressive backdrop to the bay at Kaikoura this was a most relaxing and enjoyable experience. Having sated myself thusly I girded myself for a cruise out to see the humpback whales that are year round residents of the area only to find that there was only one boat going out and it was fully booked. Disappointed I struck out north heading for Picton and a ferry out of South Island. The drive from Kaikoura to Picton is picturesque to say the least (although not in anyway near as grand as the west coast) and there are plenty of vistas worth taking in. With the sun high one is treated to sweeping bays with crashing surf, spraying onto coastal woodland which clothes the lower slopes of high hills which are in turn backed up, almost as if by a protective big brother, by alpine mountains a few kilometres away. Seals bask on rocky outcrops and the narrow gauge railway keeps one company as you sweep up the coast and finally inland toward Blenheim. Trundle through a quite bustling area of vines and towns and then finally one reaches Picton. Despite being 4 days early the good people of the Interislander Ferry Company allowed me to board the next ferry and I sat and composed my impression of the famed South Island.


And so here I sit thinking about the last week. From my arrival at Picton, driving thusly; Picton to Greymouth, a journey of wide open river valleys where grape vines bathe in the sun, producing the wonderful New Zealand wines that grace many of the supermarket shelves of the UK at a price that makes the French suspect that there is a pipeline through the center of the earth as it is so low, to the first inklings of the sort of mountains that one will see in the rest of the country. Next was Greymouth to Franz Joseph and Fox glaciers, a reminder that coast is as stunning as mountains but that both together is a wonderful experience. Franz Joseph, although shrouded in low cloud gave a demonstration of the power of ice but also of the power of man as the glacier is in overall retreat thanks to global warming, which is being accelerated by our activities (such as driving around in a campervan to see the shrinking glaciers, ironic). From the glaciers to Queenstown was a drive that took in stunningly still lakes, crashing surf and quiet and beautiful lower alpine mountains, drives along wide and deep lakes and of course one must not forget the biting flies that are in abundance there (I fear for them as without me to dine on they may very well be endangered by now).
From Queenstown to Milford Sound I shall not forget the impression the building landscapes had on my sense of insignificance in the face of nature. Even now, days later, I am in awe of the surroundings in the south west of south island. The Sound itself a colossus of mountains rising directly from the still waters of the Sound to peaks of around a mile high, ships seemingly pea like in relation to the walls they cruise along. From Milford Sound to Mount Cook a long drive but saving the lovely Magda and Michael a two day cycle (at least) uphill to Te Anau but then the drive back past Queenstown and up into the centre of the island. A rapidly altering landscape of low red tussock covered hills, sweeping mountainsides, crystal clear lakes and then finally the awesome expanse of the Cook Glacial valley, broad and empty with a cooling wind running down from the wall that is Mount Cook and neighbours. The freezingly cold but clear night that allowed me to take a stunning image of the mountains. Mount Cook to Tanmer Springs with the long straight drive to Christchurch, floundering around in the low rise sprawl complete with a lack of decent signage, seeing too much of the city before finally bursting from its embrace back into the mountainous country around Tanmer Springs. Wallowing in sulphurous 41 degree waters for four hours and emerging into the frigid air, escaping the attentions of an amorous and not unattractive but neglected wife (not mine) and feeling totally relaxed. Then the leisurely drive from Tanmer Springs to Picton via the seals at Kaikoura with the charming and sometimes breathtaking coastal mountain road.

South Island delivered all my minds eye had promised it, indeed in certain areas had exceeded it. I shall forever wonder at the scale of Milford Sound and the kindness and openness of the people of South Island. I would happily admit to being in love with the place. But of course, as with every love there are the good points and the bad points.

South Island:

Bless you for open and clear roads
Damn you for lack of signage
Bless you for amazing scenery
Damn you for 30km speed limits in empty towns
Bless you for so many stopping places along your highways
Damn you for lack of decent internet connections
Bless you for cheap accommodation
Damn you for being so far from my home
Bless you for Tui Beer
Damn you for …erm…erm
Bless you for friendly natives
Bless you for helpful police officers
Bless you for wildlife protection that does not impede the enjoyment of the outside
Oh yes, damn you for the All Blacks!

I have left South island a little earlier than I had planned as the forecast is for a very cold spell moving into the Island and so I intend t take a slow drive back to Auckland via Rotorua where I hope to enjoy the thermal springs and see some of the seismic landscape that I didn’t really see the last time. I also need to finish off all the Tui Beer in my fridge and the bottle of wine that I bought and this will call for a lot less driving… so a few more entries still to come I suspect.

South Island farewell, but not for the last time I am sure!


Last night I drove from Wellington to Tiahape where I stayed the night in the most charmless campsite ever, well it was ok but the owner was the most miserable person I have met on my travels so far, so don’t ever stay there, mark that down. Simply had some food and went to bed. Up at dawn and back on the road towards Rotorua. I was hoping to get some shots of the three extinct volcanoes, Mt Ruapehu, Mt Ngauruhoe and Mt Tongariro but the mist was up and I did not see a peek of them. I did see a rather dramatic truck crash though, the roads were very icy and the poor trucked had gone around the bend too fast and slid off the road. He seemed alright and two other truckers had stopped and were directing the early morning traffic until the police could get there. Drove past Lake Taupo, famed for its trout fishing and a nice place. I stayed there on my earlier visit to New Zealand a few years ago and fished myself but happily caught nothing. Upon arriving on the outskirts of Rotorua I stopped at Te Puia which is a cultural park where one can see some traditional Maori culture and ogle the geo thermal activity that takes place under Rotorua (which is just one giant volcano). I watched the eruption of two geysers, The Prince of Wales and Pohutu. The former was small and a prelude to the latter which was very spectacular. Being very early I had the place almost to myself and had a nice time wandering around and peering into various steaming crevasses. The sounds were the best things with the mud pools making the most delightful “gloop gloop” sound. Then checked into my campsite before a spot of lunch. The plan for the rest of the day is to perhaps watch the rugby this afternoon or sit in a spa, maybe both, who knows….

Well done all of you on getting DSMN played!!!!! I am so pleased for you all but gutted I can't hear it here. Oh well...I shall have to use listen again..woo hoo.

Hope CtD is feeling better - hey there virtual wife..got to get better so you can get my place all cleaned up for my return ;) x

Hope you are all well..going to go back to yesterdays blog and try to catch up..oh btw new pics up on my FB page ..link from the CLP FB Page

xxx

EJR

Somerset Pheonix - I was all wrinkly...and it was ewww...but made me laugh and I was soooo relaxed :D May just have to invest in a hot tub and stick it in the middle of my room- hope the land lady does not mind

Rusty - the Hanmer Springs were not that busy as it is the start of the winter but there were enough people to have a good chat to but few enough for asome "me" time as well

B-sMum - if anything did drop off then I don't seem to miss it so nothing important I guess ;) harharhar

gingembre - nothing of the sort, was simply minding my own business when she came and sat next to me...then followed me around a bit until I went to the 41 degree pool...just for us harder manly types I guess ;)

Yay!!! Just listened to the start of Friday's show and Chris is quite right that there is no better song to start a weekend of possibility!! Even though it is Saturday here I shall now go out here in Rotorua and watch the rugger and have several cheeky halves with the natives and other fellow travellers of the road. Chris said there were too many to mention and he is quite right but I think we all know who should have gotten a mention - CtD!!!!!! well done honey!!!! and well done everyone else.

we could start a No_10 petition to get a Q spot at the start of every show - but I guess if we head on down that road then we shall soon run out of opportunities to actually have a request - still it is a cracking song and I shall never listen to it again without fond memories of my epic around South Island and fond thoughts for all my virtual CLP pals!!!

Have an awesome weekend all..back on later - perhaps a little the worse for wear..who knows.....wooooooootttttt!!!


Rob (his job is easy - I think - and his name is rob)

Rob you are to blogging what Freddy Mercury was to music....the master *bows before you*

Sara xx

hmmmm hope you don't mean I like to wear spandex, have a dodgy tash and play air guitar _ well quite right on the last one but I hardly ever wear spandex now and as for the tash that is only because i am on holiday and don't want to shave ;)

Rob, just reading your entries has me driving along with you enjoying all the sights and sounds of the South Island. I did the North Island 4 yrs ago, my lasting impression of Rotorua was the pong...haha but I do remember being particularly exciting by the hot springs there and seeing the bubbling mud (me being an ex-geologist and all). Happy days....I wish i was back there.
Up at the vets this weekend, doing driving duties tonight, she's out celebrating with her girlfriends (one of them has finished their finals). Boyfriends not allowed....pah!

Hi rusty,

you simply must get back..I did similar - just North Island and always promised I'd come back - if I knew then what i know now I would have foregone N Island entirely and headed south. Loving rotorua though..just came back froma 3 hour wallow at the polynesian springs and a beer or three after :)

hope animal is ok..and she? must be the missus :)

Hi all...a bit geeky I know but as I was sat here sheltering from the rain I did a vid montage of my best pics from South Island and added it to one of the tracks I listened to alot on the trip. It is in the vid section of CLP Bloggers on FB.

Rob the geek :) hehehehe

Rob

Your account of your travels is

truly poetic....what a stunning

country..we can forgive them

the All Blacks eh? On second

thoughts ..I'm a 'taffy' and

some scars run deep :)

X R

Rob you made me miss some of the f1 qualifying reading your travelogue. Rivited! - and I'm pleased you are still intact!!

Beesmum xx

Not too much rain here in bolt hole just this morn. and stopped now - sun trying it's best to break through but fairly warm.

Will survey the "estate" to see what needs to be done but being swooped by swallows at mo - feeding a lot of chitty chatty young!!

Beesmum xx

spoke too soon - mist rolling in from sea

bm

nojob
Agree CLP should have mentioned your v. wife and yourself of course. If I recall - you suggested and she - like any good wifey knows - if it suits - agreed!!? DSMN?

Beesmum xx

Wondered why it was so quiet here and realised mrs diva is away!

xx

Ola one and all

From Sunny Majorca. Internet connection very poor here, however when I get home I will post a pic on facebook of my real boat.
Meanwhile I hope Enzo is doing ok. I still think about my little pal Holly and if I could of saved her I surely would, so fingers crossed for Enzo.

coco off for na mojito.

Marie celeste - hello anyone there?

coco enjoy mojito!! could do with your luxury cruiser - take to the boats!! when I last posted - sea mist - since then - chucked it down true welsh style green green grass unable to cut cos it's soaking!!

Beesmum xx

Rob want pics of you in the spandex :P

Sara xx

Been meaning to mention - I would also like to apologise for the increase in the retail record figures - not just CLP with his veeehicle - added more than my fair share over last couple of months!!

Beesmum xx

well no point summer clothes/shoes if you aint going to be here!! but I am!! yah hay - also received today some good news from friend who is also now clear! til next check!

ps hopesara - behave!!

BMxx

now - no-one about - shoes or music - both I think - late night here I come!

Beesmum xxx

CtD get in here and stop me - pink sparkly flip flops/shoes/ tops which look like 2 pieces hope they fit! etc.etc

and kc and the sunshine band - whole album plus gibson bros - marianna - plus whole album - totally forgotten about these guys! thats the way - huh huh I like it! i want to to put on mymymymy funky shoes - must stop looking at other folks purchases!! think I will miss on the sky blue shirt and a rainbow tie someone went on to purchase!

Beesmum xx

B-sMum

That s why it so lovely an green tho'

eh? Was talking to family in West

Wales earlier...fair chucking it down.

X R

Good newsx..good for you ..good for them .
Nos Da

doo doo
stopped now Red - me in west too - not holding our breath for lawns tomorrow although smidge of red sky!!

Where in west?

BM x

Hi All,

rain, rain , rain - well it is winter and my weather to date has been excellent. England got well and truely trounced yesterday and i was sat at the back of the bar quietly nursing my nth beer - actually I had struck up a rather good friendship with some of the other patrons but was the only one supporting the heroes in white. One of the kiwis sportingly commented that England were putting up a good show and I gaffawed into my beer spilling it - this seemed to go down rather wella nd I woke up this moring with good memories of the sporting nature of the kiwis - very few barbs from them and lots of beer. What a top crowd.

So here I am sat in a cyber cafe sheltering from the extreme weather warning outside and considering my options. I have driven a huge distance over the last week so a few days with my feet up, book out and constant spa usage seems reasonable. All I really need to make sure now is that i am back in Auckland by the 26th to hand back the beast and cathc my flight back to blighty and a warm summer. Have a weekend planned in Oxford on the 28th and am going to see Slainte play at Rosie O Gradies in Oxford. If you like banging irish music then this is the band and the pub for you. If you are in Oxofrd that weekend come on over and say hi - I shall be ther with Milo (my former NZ traveller), Stu (of the police - not the band - the force), my twin (if he has not been deployed to sort out the world's ills) and perhaps one or two of my old cronies - all nice people and all very friendly.

B-smum I hope you are enjoying the bolt hole and finding plenty to do

Sara - sorry no pics of spandex clad rob for anyone to see ;)

Coco - can't wait to see the pic s - have a great timeout there and drink a beer or three for me :)

Rob bit the worse for wear spending another fortune tonight - rugby - grrr don't get me started - dropping balls all over the place - so to speak - !!

plenty to do??! - hissing down all day so guess - what ironing!! it travels well!

BMxx

ps cant get video to work but check pics comments - please tell me it's a h-blad or one it's got!

doggy crossing legs - big brown eyes - melt - off to bed after quick zap round garden in howling gale - what next!

Beesmum xx

B-s.Mum.

Hurrah good for you, doing your bit for the nation's retail industry.

The Genius daughter and I did our own bit yesterday, availing ourselves of a selection of This Season's Must-Have harem pants (pity I haven't still got the ferret), platform shoes the likes of which haven't bin seen since Billy Smart passed on, and bags that may well require planning permission before use.

Any road. Get this. Said daughter and I stopped off for a pit-stop and some oxygen in the coffee shop. The cafe was busy so I paid and waited patiently for my latte and the daughter's panini while the daughter went off to play musical chairs. Some minutes later, the panini bipped and duly delivered, I was contemplating the Universe and watching the girl attempting to operate the till with some fascination, since I hadn't seen an expression like hers since the first time my budgie clocked himself in his swingy mirror, and also why you need a bloody PhD these days to make a coffee, when I was snapped out of my trance by the coffee-maker asking, "What was yours, madam?"

"Oh..er..just a small latte, please," I replied.

Suddenly behind me I was aware of a chap speaking to me. Used to chatting away in queues in Ireland, I turned round. "Sorry?" I said, smiling sweetly.

"Do you always ignore queues?" he repeated, more loudly this time and probably more sulkily. I was thunderstruck. I mean. I have more than my fair share of faults but bad manners and queue-jumping isn't one of them. Therefore I looked at him in surprise for a second and said, "Oh, my apologies, I didn't realise."

But he wasn't quite done. Thinking he had me on the ropes (?) he continued. "People like you think you can jump the queue just like that. Huh."

People like ME? What??.. I looked at him in disbelief; he looked like a college lecturer with two small children in tow, not the sort to get his knickers in a twist over a cup of coffee. Then my indignation kicked in.

(Cue Jaws music.)

I took a deep breath, raised myself fully up to my statuesque 5 ft., turned to him and said calmly, "Ok Sunshine. Today is your lucky day. I am in a good mood. But see this tongue? It has stunned bigger eejits than you at fifty paces. So cut it out."

I was about to collect my latte and retire to my sofa when he muttered something else disparaging (didn't quite catch it but the facial expression was something akin to a newly-awoken vampire bat) so I turned to the embarrassed guy behind the counter and declared, "Look, can you get some steam up with this guy's drink, please. He obviously needs to take his tablets."

Honestly.

And even then the crisis wasn't quite over, as I almost had to administer the Heimlich manouvre to the daughter after she'd witnessed the verbal carnage and almost asphyxiated herself on her bacon panini.

She's still laughin' this morning.

Huh.

Clodagh.xx

Rob

Guess who lives in Oxford - well just outside now about 20 miles...not brave enough to come meet you tho as you might be wearing spandex :P

B-s mum bah thats no fun :P

Sara xx

This is my first ever blogg. I adore the show but have never yet managed to speak to Christoph. I always listen on my way home from work so does my husband Peter...I am very lucky to be doing a job I love as a district nurse, but the show is an extra that make me smile....and increases my knowledge....I'm mainly writing to hope that the lovely Foxy had a wonderful birthday and that she has momories to hold forever.....

This is my first ever blogg. I adore the show but have never yet managed to speak to Christoph. I always listen on my way home from work so does my husband Peter...I am very lucky to be doing a job I love as a district nurse, but the show is an extra that make me smile....and increases my knowledge....I'm mainly writing to hope that the lovely Foxy had a wonderful birthday and that she has memories to hold forever.....

Well done Clodagh for standing up to rude people. it was pathetic of him to get so upset about nothing that important. I too am only 5ft and often get overlooked in queues but never make a fuss about it so if it had happened to me I would have been proud to have thought of such a good and quick witted answer, good for you !!!

Jenn x

OK hope sara you have my permission to mis-behave!! hate to spoil anyones fun!

sun has got his hat on sorry neighbours machinery about to be fired up. Can't have a messy garden in village can we

back later

Beesmum xx

clodagh you make me scream ! would love to have seen that! go girl! and keep shopping too!

Beesmum xx

B-sMum

Pembrokeshire......back later..x

I near ox too....

As i said back later ...


X R


Rosie's- good pub.....

Way tio go Clodagh well done you - I too am 5ft and often get overlooked when at bars and cafes and hate the coffee shops that you pay and then have to wait ages for them to do it.

Beesmum just what have you been up to and Sara - shameless behaviour - please continue.

Its now sunny here but very windy. sad news my mum's cat was put down yesterday after taking a turn for the worse - it was diagnosed almost blind last week very sudden and now not eating much so after 15 yrs and 2 yrs to the date my dad died his cat departed this world.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend

Easyjobrob - I'm loving reading about your travels around New Zealand.

My brother and his family emigrated to Devonport (North Island) two years ago and I spent three weeks there this January. Me and 'im indoors hired a campervan and drove from Auckland down to Lake Taupo and up to Rotorua, stopping en route in Hawkes Bay, Napier, Hastings, Taupo, Rotorua and Raglan.

Next time we're going to go straight to the South Island where we'll meet up with my brother and family for a week's holiday, and then we'll drive to the North Island on our own, savouring the sights and sounds.

Sorry your holiday almost over but you've been an absolute joy to read.

Safe journey and have a flat white and an afghan biscuit for me please!!

jillygoat

Jenn, B-s.Mum and Phoenix. Ah tanks for your supportive comments. We shorta*ses have to stick together in the spirit of the sisterhood, hurrah.

Mind you, I'm not in the slightest disadvantaged by the height thing; in fact I've milked it for all I'm worth all me life. And as my old Granny always said, "They don't make diamonds as big as bricks, sweetheart." Mind you she was bonkers.

What I do detest is bullying in any form, and unfortunately it's when you're perceived as small and vulnerable that certain insecure people will pounce. I very much doubt that Captain Mainwaring there in the cafe would have picked on me had I been a big bruiser with a cauliflower ear and Satan tattooed on me forehead.

Anyway. You've a lower centre of gravity down here and it's priceless when you do step up to the plate. I well remember when I lamped that car clamper in one of only two acts of mindless violence I have ever perpetrated. * At 6 foot 2 and about 20 stone, he hopped up and down, clutching his ear, and threatened to sue me until I pointed out how delighted I would be to face him in the dock when I came up before the beak for GBH.

Cred down the toilet or what.

* The other was when I aimed the kettle at the then husband's head. Luckily for both of us I'm a cr*p shot and therefore said appliance went straight through the window, as it had jut boilled.

Clodagh.xx Aka. Miss Piggy.

Clodagh - sorry 5ft8 amazon meeself but happy to bop anyone on the head from a great height if you so ask!!

I hate bullies too - having been almost this height since I was about 12 always seemed to be standing up for someone - strange - not many wanted to challenge!! and if it was aimed at me (giraffe) it is so much easier to put nose in air look haughty and walk away when one is a certain height!

Beesmum xx

Red- pembs too - just outside woolly you button up. no pub!!

Blowing a gale here - himself had to take doggy to beach again- well the sand blows in to my eyes and contact lenses!! Actually chicken a bit larger than usual so had to put on early.

miss piggy wish I had thought of the kettle for my ex instead of the hair brush (blonde hair) -me not - found in car! made contact yay!

Beesmum xx

Phoenix - what have I been up to? moi? just a smidgeon of shopping. yahoo!

ooer! soggy doggy to deal with -
back later

Beesmum xx

Evening all!

Well the bbq went well despite my poor brother spending well over an hour trying to get the coals to light in all the blustery weather here - I refused to let the uncle get paraffin or similar flamable liquids so food was late but the fences and all eyebrows remain intact!!

So what with silly men having a go at Clodagh - more fool him I say - and B-s Mum either shopping or doggy-walking in the gales and a seriously silly spandex exchange going on between here and our reporter in NZ... the blog's up to it's usual standard - hooray!

So what happens when you cram 14 friends and family into a v small house and garden? You have the best birthday bbq in living memory... mind you, I can't remember what I had for breakfast so that may not be saying much...

Can't wait to find out about CLP's car adventure today, that should be top of the blogs tomorrow.

B-s Mum - great news, hooray again!

Night, night all

okAnnieOakley etc etc

did think 'bout you anniemac - bbq and party and wondered if you had these gales - really pleased it all went well.

phoenix - sorry about mums cat - good innings though. is she looking for another to keep her company? may be an idea!

Beesmum xx

I seem to have hogged blog today - but working from here tomorrow so off to beddie shortly - if bp will allow however??? how sad are we - swapping reclycling stories with neighbours!


BeesmumXXX

bingoing me so may give up

will tell you story about orange re'cycling bags when bp on coffee break -

beesmum xx

prob tomorrow
bmxx

blog police don't do welsh

nite all
love

Beesmum xx

morning all

hope you all had a lovely weekend, The 40fox, car doo's and new forest - oi oi - all went well?

Off to work inabit, big week or 2 ahead as we're having to vote on a new shift pattern as the new boss doesn't like the one we're on at the mo...

...you know the score, it's one that works for most, 96% voted to keep it only 2 years ago, sickness is down, overtime budgets are not being met and more importantly crime and detections are at record levels (in a good way). However, the boss is gonna change it all and we start a new pattern next April 1st (how apt)

Wont bang on about only getting 1 weeknd off in 6, having to work 34 more shifts a year, not seeing my kids hardly, let alone #1 daughter who I need to be playing a big part in her upbringing since mummy died..

..oh well as long as he's happy in his plush office on the top flor eh??

Bonnet de douche

KWx

Morning morning all.

Ah Gingembre, I hope voting goes the useful way for you all. New bosses eh, who'd have em. Are you actually getting to vote whether to change or not, or just how much to change?

Sunshine here today, actually it was sunny yesterday as well and from the inside of the car it looked like the perfect day to sit outside with a cold beer (according to mr jumpingbean). Until you saw the trees being blown sideways that is. Today looks slightly less blowy, so I might risk hanging the washing out - less chance of it being blown away, hopefully anyway.

Annie sounds like a good barbecue! Noone got blown away then? Excellent! :D

Ewww spandex?! Almost as bad as speedos... or cycling shorts... still having nightmares about the sheer number of cycling shorts I saw being sported last weekend :( Having said that though... there are some men who don't look too bad in cycling shorts... sadly I must have been looking the other way when they went past ;)

Right up and about for me, washing to do, and another failed to deliver parcel to go and retrieve from the sorting office.

Friend's birthday tea tonight - mmm takeaway and birthday cake for us, and the men are off on yet another bike ride :)

See y'all later, have a lovely Monday, as good as it can be - actually make that better, positive mental attitude and all that ;)

xx

jumpingbean

hEY gANG.,
wAS A bit quiet on Friday, cause I was hosting a party for my son - and the cast of his school musical. You know how word of these parties spread, so i was saying NOTHING.
As it turned out was a great night. Kicked off about 11 and I managed to get rid of the last one at 3 am. As I counted the kids back into the house from watching the Fire Poi display at 1230 am.. (ha ha ha ha - yes, my neighbours are mightily impressed with me) I counted 40 of them.... and there were still kids in the house. Bearing in mind I live in a three bed semi in the middle of a residential estate, you can imagine, it was quite noticable! Have been in hiding since.
It would have been lovely to request a song for them on Friday...... but isn't that how the house in cornwall got trashed!
TEe hee
DWNB

Yoo hoo all -

Just popped in to ask Jumpingbean - how did your scan go???

And to say -

Clodagh, I wish I'd been there!
Rob - my heart/fantasy is broken - please get back into spandex!
Coco - hope you're having a fab holiday
Gingembre - deep breaths mate ...
DWNB - hope you've recovered from the party!


Everyone else - MWAH and ((())) if anyone needs it!

T xxx

Hello everyone,

Hope you've all had a great weekend, fete on saturday was very soggy but successful, by the end I think I'd got soaked through about 5 times!! Never mind, as long as we raised lots of money for the school that's all that matters!

Number 2 son won a prize for his Garden on a Plate made out of sweeties, he hated going up in front of everyone to get his medal, he's nothing like his big brother who loves being centre of attention!

Yesterday was a lovely relaxing day of swimming, eating out, shopping and sitting in the sun - all my favourite pastimes!

Gingembre - sorry things are changing for the worst at work, I'm surprised they don't take the situation with your eldest daughter into consideration to enable you to spend time with her. Hope her fete went well and you were more suitably dressed than me! x

Can't wait to hear all about your weekend Chris,

Em xx

Hi Tinsel,

Scan went really well, baby was fast asleep right at the bottom so much prodding was needed to get it to move so we could see it properly! Everything perfect apart from a tiny cyst on one of its kidneys, which apparently is really common and nothing to worry about. Going to see someone next Monday to see whether they want us to go for another scan but whatever happens they can't do anything about it until after baby is born. All tickety-boo otherwise!

xx

jumpingbean

PS there's a few pics on FB... :)

Heaven forfend doesn't Monday come around quickly!

Christophe, all the weather did on Friday was close in...I'm still waiting for the thunderstorm to happen, that would be THE thunderstorm, not just yer run of the mill thunderstorm...I NEED MY HEADACHE TO GO...ahur hur hur...

Gingembre...time you found a proper job mate! Are there another 34 days in the year upon which you can work? I've had a look and I'm poggered if I can find them frankly.

Anyhoo, Christophe, re the accountant...any more news on 'Brian's Got Talent'?

Coo, look at that. A lovely coffee, sans panini, but a lovely coffee all the same. Go Clodagh!

Free the Starbucks One!
love
hazel
x

Red...x

ps I would give ANYTHING to be up in a helicopter right this minute. It sounds like a totally FAB escapist thing to do (dahling)...and the sea looks divine today...

Jumpingbean saw the scan pics on fb grats and I think im almost as excited for you as you are yourself xxx

Ello, I see me GP/ Fisi predictions were totally wrong as usual, so as from now i'll keep 'em ter meself!!!!!

An example of why betting at the bookies is always a bad idea!!

By the way 'ope Foxy ad a nice birthdee bash - Belated BIG BIRTHDEE GREETINGS!!!!!

And I like yer new 'air do, Foxy!!!! It's a mixture of stylish.....

blog won't let me say the rest!

Sophistcated........

The 'air cut reminds of the 'uman Leauge backing singers!!!

Which is mean't as a BIG COMPLIMENT!!!!

People always take me compliments the wrong way!

While am on ere gotta quick joke, maybe a very poor one but ere it is anyway......