Morning from a sunny West Yorkshire - it has to be a song that really gets the christmas spirit for me:



THE RONETTES - SLEIGH RIDE



Back soon after another slice of yummy chocolate cake.

Good Morning Simon, Team and Blogpoppets



Is the blog working now? Missed you all.



It's snowed here in South Cambs! Not too much though, thankfully. Mum and Son are both being collected tomorrow, so we could do with some clear roads, please.



Re 'Womblegate' - just the press getting stuff out of proportion yet again, IMHO.



Because of the blog being broken earlier I've broken with my usual Friday tradition and tweeted my ARFO suggestion. I've gone for cheesy and Christmassy:



MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE by Shakin' Stevens



Deebee ~X~

Morning your Lordship, team, NYM and headless bloggers,



Two portions of lime pickle? Verily, you spoil us. Don't mind if I do.



Firstly, thank you for the FOUR (count 'em) menshes this week. And a particularly fine and bold choice yesterday for S Club 7. Universally appreciated, I'm sure.



It seems churlish to have any expectations for today's ARFO, but just in case the Xmas spirit extends this far, I'd like to suggest:



RUN RUDOLPH RUN - Chuck Berry



Not enough of the uplifting rock 'n' roll or motown/Phil Spector Xmas tracks played on R2, IMHO.



Keep warm everyone.



JBG

#3 Ah, see what you mean now about the lime pickle JBH - I thought it was quiet! Just been back to the previous blog, so hopefully people will come and join us over here. Otherwise it's going to get very confusing!



~X~

WARM THIS WINTER - Gabriella Cilmi also has a certain appeal.



And that's all.

Ooh, am I early enough to be in with a chance?



Can we have the rip-roaring, toe-tapping, get 'em all going



MUST BE SANTA by Bob Dylan



please? It's got to be one of the best Christmas songs around, along with Fairytale of New York, obviously!



Thank you.

Will this work?





1. At 10:50 16th Dec 2011, The Driver wrote:

Morning all.



I personally see no need for a Christmassy ARFO - there will be plenty of Christmas tunes played over the next week, and possibly even requested as part of ARF, so my ARFO suggestions remain all-year-rounders!



CHICAGO - 25 or 6 to 4 (one last try for that one!)



FINE YOUNG CANNIBALS - I'm Not The Man I Used To Be



NILS LOFGREN - Shine Silently



SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND - Delilah (if loudness is required)



If forced to go for a Christmas tune I'd go for

STEELEYE SPAN - Gaudete



... which, following on from yesterday's emotional overtones, reminds me of childhood Christmases with my parents and grandparents, none of whom are around anymore. That's not to say that it makes me sad; whilst the song never fails to bring a tear to the eye and a lump to the throat the memories it evokes are ones of great joy, laughter, fun and love.



complain about this comment (comment number 1)



Comment number 2. At 10:58 16th Dec 2011, FestiveFlorence wrote:

Simon, since a female voice hasn't opened your Friday show for 56 weeks.....



DEVIL GATE DRIVE ~ Suzi Quatro



failing that, the pulsating....



WATERFRONT ~ Simple Minds



or for something more festive....



DRIVING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS ~ Chris Rea



MERRY CHRISTMAS ~ The Ramones



xx



complain about this comment (comment number 2)



Comment number 3. At 11:00 16th Dec 2011, Daniel Tuley wrote:

In Dulce Jubilo - mike oldfield



complain about this comment (comment number 3)



Comment number 4. At 11:03 16th Dec 2011, You wrote:

Hurrah, comments are go go go!



With you on the 'no need for a Christmas ARFO' Driver.



Howzabout a bit of ELO Simon, still hasn't been an ELO opener yet!



*** Twlight *** By ELO would get the weekend off to a great start.



Love Sals 'sort em out' approach. She doesn't stand for any nonsense.



MTF :)



Comment number 5. At 11:03 16th Dec 2011, Deebee wrote:

We seem to have two blogs today! Can I suggest everyone moves over to the other (more recent) one, to avoid confusion...



~X~



complain about this comment (comment number 5)



All posts are reactively-moderated. What does this mean?

ARFO suggestion....



DARLENE LOVE singing any of these would be a loveley festive start to the show and the weekend



ALL ALONE FOR CHRISTMAS



WINTER WONDERLAND



CHRISTMAS (BABY PLEASE COME HOME)



thanks



PSL x

Yup, hope Driver, Flo and Daniel are ok with that?



What a palava!



MTF :O

#7 Looks like it, MTF!



#8 Ah, there you are PSL! I'm starting to feel a bit like a sheepdog, herding everyone into the right place!



~X~

Hi Simon and everyone.



Thank you for the mention yesterday for Silver Star, I had to catch on I player as I was walking over to the car from work yesterday so apologies that I missed some of your wonderful show.



Hope you find a new contract soon Alex Girl, I know what its like waiting for the next call... I was 6 weeks without one from end of September. I am now in one til the end of March and I have applied for the role that is permanent so fingers crossed!



Now for an ARFO:



1. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY - Slade



and for non xmas tune:



1. THE NIGHT - Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons

2. DANCING IN THE STREET - Mick Jagger and David Bowie.



Have a lovely day and weekend. Two of our students are taking Black Belts tomorrow!



Mandy ;)

Baa Baa!



MTF :)

#9 - I'm happy with it.



And very confused. On my pc in front of me, having refreshed the page twice, my post is the first. On my phone, however, only the pasted-by-MTF version exists.



Oo er.

Thanks Deebee... I hadn't realised there were two blogs on the go!



Simon, since a female voice hasn't opened your Friday show for 56 weeks.....



DEVIL GATE DRIVE ~ Suzi Quatro



failing that, the pulsating....



WATERFRONT ~ Simple Minds



or for something more festive....



DRIVING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS ~ Chris Rea



MERRY CHRISTMAS ~ The Ramones



xx

Funny old world eh Driver.



Still you and Lady S have both got the first posts on the same blog. LOL!



MTF :D

#9 MTF... thanks so much for moving our messages over from the first of today's blogs... :o)

The one morning I get to the computer before 10.00 and it won't let me post!! Perhaps I scared it off!



ARFO suggestion -



Santa Claus is coming to town - Bruce Springsteen (or Loose Windscreen as he is known in this house)



Wet, windy and sleety here in Essex this am.



Off to unpack the shopping. See you later.





Jennie

Mon Plaisir Flo.



Its a stunning view from my window here today.



So many white horses on a fairly black looking sea. Its a very sharp wind, but the bluest of skies.



Over on the South Wales coast, which looks deceptively close today, I can see the planes taking off and landing at Cardiff airport.



The backdrop is stunning and looks like a fair covering of snow on the hills (any Welsh bloggers to clarify?)



We have still got lots of fungi on the lawns, bizarre for December, but not complaining, in any shape or form, thinking back to this time last year!



Right, I really must tear myself away and get on with some chores, ho hum!



MTF :)

ARFO:

COLD COLD CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU by DANA

MAMA SAID KNOCK YOU OUT by L L COOL J

or

BANG ZOOM LET'S GO GO by THE REAL ROXANNE

I wonder if the technical term is 'bloggered'?

Here, you all are. Thanks for the heads up Deebee. I thought it was a bit quiet on t'other blog.



Hubby just texted to say that he has got to work safely. His normal 40 min journey to work has taken 3 AND A HALF HOURS! And there wasn't a flake of snow in sight.



Apparently its Mad Friday today. Top day for Office parties so in view of that, hows about



1999 - Prince



for today's ARFO



I thank you



A.

Over here Brandon....



8. At 11:28 16th Dec 2011, Brandon-B wrote:

Morning All,



ARFO suggestion 'You Make Me Feel Like Dancing' Leo Sayer



Have a good day everybody

Hi from a very wet and stormy place, ARF SUGGESTIONS



LITTLE ST NICK - THE BEACHBOYS

OR

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

Morning all. So nice to see some friendly 'faces' here as I haven't been able to join you for a few days. Hope everyone is OK.



Got a day off today - then work Christmas Party at the Royal Armouries in Leeds! Very posh - so I will be on my best behaviour.



Now then Simon. I'm going to give this another go and I know FestiveFlorence will back me up. JOYCE COUNTRY CEILI BAND by THE SAW DOCTORS would start the weekend a treat and send me off happy to my 'do'!

#24 Alan... I will definitely back you up in your brilliant choice of The Saw Doctors' very jolly JOYCE COUNTRY CEILI BAND please Simon!

Ah hello skittish blog ... I've been trying to catch you all morning ... [she lied]



Greetings fellow blogpopsters - don't know about anyone else but I seem to have lost my appetite for ARFO choosing on a Friday ... hence my late appearance. Ah well ..



WIZARDS IN WINTER - TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA



MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE - POLICE





☆*•♫♪.•*°❤

#24 and #25 Alan and Florence can I add my support for JOYCE COUNTRY CEILI BAND by The Saw Doctors.



Saw them last Sunday and they where brilliant as always.

Thinking about yesterday's discussion about present/card buying versus donating to charity - can I be slightly controversial and say I love receiving Christmas cards! With everyone keeping in touch via email, text and social networks these days, we very rarely get any mail through the post other than fliers and the occasional bill. Except at this time of the year, when there are lots of envelopes bearing greetings from our friends across the country (and indeed the world).



And yes it's good and edifying to give to charity at Christmas and remember those less fortunate, but surely charities need support throughout the year not just in the festive season.



Just my ha'pence worth...



~X~

Howdy y'all! Hope everybody has a Fantastic Festive Friday one n all!



May I request - Driving Home for Christmas by Chris Rea? Please?



Deasant Play



MP

#28 Deebee.. I donate to various charities throughout the year, help with Guide Dogs for the blind and locally with fund-raising as I expect many others do, but at this time of the year an extra £50 - £60 or more from what would have been spent on cards and postage wouldn't go amiss. I would always send cards to family members and several lifelong elderly friends of my parents, but wouldn't mind dropping ex neighbours and old friends who go back a long way that I text etc fairly often, but I agree it's nice getting something handwritten on the mat!

Hello all .. tried to post on the old (broken) blog, then went out for a meeting (watching one of the liferafts from the yachts at work being set off and serviced - great fun and very educational) .. just got back in to the warm ..



In my absinthe I see that the very wise janmbs has already selected my choice MUST BE SANTA by Bob Dylan .. not heard it played yet this year .. it was my All Request Thursday Opener choice last year, when I seem to recall I called it the most bonkers Christmas choon .. love it and the accompanying video ..



Take care and keep warm x



PS I love receiving Christmas cards by post too :0)

#29 Hi Malcolm - nice to see you!



#30 Well said, FF! And charity Christmas cards make it possible to do both Although I must admit I also buy a few non-charity ones - when I'm writing them I choose the picture to suit the recipient. And for the record, Mr B and I also give a little extra to our chosen charities this time of year.



#31 Never a dull moment in your job, Alison. Most of us sit in an office staring at a computer screen - you get to play with boats!



~X~

Afternoon bloggers all. I have a note for my absence yesterday - last day of term (thank heavens) and so it was all house pantomines and eating my own body weight in chocolate (body weight now considerably more!).



In the hairdressers for most of this morning - I know I'm getting a bit older but when it takes over 2 hours to have your hair done, you know it's bad!



I'm not giving any specific ARFO today - but if we must have festive tunes then I agree with the 'motown'- type ones.



As regards cards - I too love receiving cards and so, in turn, buy lots of charity cards and send them also.



Having friends for dinner tonight so going to spend the afternoon in the delightful company of Wittertainment and this here blog whilst chopping (already managed to take quite a hefty slice out of my left index finger!), sautee-ing and roasting.... perfect start to the holiday season. I may even pour myself a glass of something fizzy - bliss!

Afternoon all



Apologoes for another late arrival! I did try to post on the broken blog this morning and then work got in the way!



I like receiving and sending cards, but always try to buy charity ones and donate to a variety of charities too.



One song that I haven't heard so far this festive season, and my ARFO choice today is:



THAT'LL BE CHRISTMAS - Thea Gilmore



Tortie x

Aha! I've found you all.



Late today but quiet blog (am I on the correct one?)



Honky Tonk Christmas - Alan Jackson is my ARFO today please Simon.



I love receiving cards and love sending them too. Like others, I try to match the picture on the card, where possible, to the recipient. I spend quite a bit throughout the year supporting charities and always purchase charity cards as well as other shop ones at Christmas.



Back to work



Shona x

Hi all



Apologies for absence over the last few weeks, but pressure of work has got in the way. Would you believe it though I am at home at the moment having felt ill at the office this morning. Feeling a little better now and so a U2 tune is needed in the festive spirit I give you "Angel of Haarlem".



GB

#34 That'll be my choice as well Tortie! Love that song.





This is a copy of my recent post in Evansblog with huge thanks to Festive Florence whose excellent invitation I have shamelessly purloined ..



" 9. At 14:18 16th Dec 2011, Katy Mac wrote:



Hello blog chums next door.

:^)

Lovely to read back over the last few days' postings in here - during what is a very busy, yet thought-provoking time of the year. There's been a fair degree of emoting occurrin' in the Mayoblog as well. lol.

Anyway ... just thought I'd drop by with an invite - designed by Festive Florence - to a 'bit of a do' which we're having next door on Thursday 22nd.

Much like your famed FNWC, it's a drop in if you can sort of affair.



https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7153/6484530153_77a257dffa_z.jpg



T'would be truly grand to see you all

Katy

xxx"

I do love the challenge of the ARFO. Something inspirational? I am going for



ALL TOGETHER NOW by The Farm.



Has an element of Christmas with all the troops meeting in the trenches gubbins in the lyric, it was released at the end of a year and has Pachelbel's Canon as its motif tune. And its inspirational of course...

Good Afternoon All :)



I tried (in vain) to blog this morning, but the gremlins got the better of me (speaking of which, Gremlins is another festive favourite film of mine)



I ended up tweeting for...



SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN



Which I see has been suggested on here by Jennie and Vildeen, but Simon did once do a multiple ARFO mensh for Alice Cooper's School's Out, so y'never know :D



Another festive offering would be...



PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS - THE EAGLES or BON JOVI



I would also like to throw out my credibility, and throw this in to the ring...



D.I.S.C.O - OTTAWAN



On Christmas cards - I would rather not bother, a huge waste of time, money and trees in my opinion. I donate to charities on a direct debit monthly basis all year round, but I do buy charity cards too, mostly to support the NAS, Mencap and Scope. I only send out a bare minimum of cards (to close family, friends, one neighbour & folk who work with our twins) Actually it still amounts to lots of cards!

Most Nice Greetings Ter The Mayo & ALL...



Bingo Star 'ere...



Mayo Mate - Yes a find it is most wild and stormy.... Especially after too much Christams brussell sprouts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



ALL - A just wanted ter say further ter me blog yesterdee, a 'ope a didn't bring the blog down with me difficult life that started at aged 7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From zero ter 7 me Christmas times were very most nice.... VERY most nice!!!!!!!!!!!!

Me mother and grandmother were VERy good ter me, which a think is what made me the most nice young man thatta am terdee all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Not that am boasting or INDEED being egotistical!!!!!)



A remember Christmas as a small child was the most exciting time of year.... Going ter visit me nan & grandad and being around their 'ouse and me grandad's church!!!!!!!!!

'aving the most amazing dinner and 'ome made bread suace that me nan used ter make!!!!!!!

And then coming back 'ome with me mum and dad ter 'ave another dinner made by me mum with equally nice 'ome mad ebread sauce that me mum got the recipe from 'er mum aka me nan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok yes there was the odd year that the dinner ended up on the wall after me father wound me long suffering mother up.... But atleast the walls smelt delicious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



The most amazing part of Christmas was knowing that Santa was coming ter me room in the middle of the night..... The only problem, Christmas Eve was the one night of the year that a dreaded as a small kid as a could never get ter sleep, what with being so excited that Father Christmas was coming to my room!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Which following up ter yesterdee's blog 'ere is one of me other VERY favourite Christmas tunes >>>



https://youtu.be/Khpk9274gMg



A most 'appy, uplifting and appropriate opener for terneets Drivetime Gig!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1



'ave a nice weekend all ;-))))

PS ALL - Don't wanter end on a slightly negative note.... But terdee is Friday aka Demoiltion Day on the roads!!!!!!!!

As ave written before if ever yer gonna see a bump/ blue flashing lights at the side of the road.... on the roads it always seems ter be on a Fridee..... Just noticed it so, so, so many times being a trucker etc!!!!!!!

(Which is one reason why a try not ter work Fridee's - roads too busy and chaos!!!!!)

Only ran me mother the 15 minutes ter the general 'ospital this morning for a general check up and low and be'old.... Bitta snow and there was 2 pile ups on the M53!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



All caused by idiots who don't know that drviing in snow yer need ter slow down abit.... Use abit of the upstairs!!!!!! (If there is anything upstairs... Amount of idiots with no lights on terdee - amazing!!!!!!).



If yer driving today.... Be careful and if it's snowing all.... Please slow down and drive with intense finesse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Intense finesse!!!!!!!!!!!



Ave a spelt finesse with finesse?????



A don't know!!!!!!



Glad ter 'elp!!!!!!!!!

Oh dear, the dogpoppet has been a naughty boy!



Yesterday I got home from work to be greeted by Mr B with a "I'm not talking to your dog..." Apparently at lunchtime Mr B had treated himself to a fish finger sandwich. He took it into the dining room, which he's currently using as his study, put it on the table and turned to look at his phone, which had just bleeped to alert him of a text. He only had his back turned for a moment but the dog was there, jaws clamped round the sandwich a triumphant wag to his tail. I'm afraid I found the story rather funny, as did Daughter who arrived home from Uni yesterday afternoon.



Anyway, I've just had a text from Mr B. Dogpoppet has been in Daughter's room - he's eaten the chocolates from her Advent calendar. Oops...!



~X~

Good ARFternoon Each! I'm a wee bit late, but I will have a punt anyway....



'Girls Talk' by Dave Edmunds



It'd be nice to see it promoted from the status of a 'bed'.

Thinking about charity Christmas cards, I wonder with some of them, just how much money from their sales, how much money actually goes to the charities, but every little bit helps!



https://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/nov/13/charity-christmas-cards-stingy-donations



Like Shona and Deebee, I also like to choose cards to suit the people I'm sending them to and usually buy Guide Dogs for the Blind cards for my 'general' doggy friends. I try to stick to 'traditional' cards for elderly people, but my Basset Hound friends usually get Basset Hounds on their cards and I sometimes make my own by putting Santa hats on their Bassets or I may send them a homemade one of my hounds, like the one below, which is for all of you Blogpoppets!



https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7172/6520927781_15e2fc5cbd_z.jpg



xx

#44 Flo - that's lovely, if I was clever enough I would reciprocate with one of my mogpoppets!



I try to buy cards that are only for one charity, so that whatever is donated isn't 'diluted' and ends up being about 1p per card per charity! Obviously, Cats Protection is one of my favourites!



T x

Afternoon! For all request Friday, I'd love it if you could play Leather Pants by Martin Billany. The song's fantastic, but barely anyone outside the Internet knows about it! If you do play it, it's found here-



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jnCcejkpjg



The guy who performs the song is a genius, so please play his song!



From LKFan92 (Claire)

#42 LOL Deebee. You'd best be getting home to make sure there isn't "an accident" after Dogpoppet has eaten all the chocolates. One of my dogpoppets stole Mr W's sardines on toast when he went to answer his phone so I can relate to your story. Tee hee.



Thank you Festive Flo, for your lovely card. I wish I could do such clever things.



I also wish I could send a photo of what I can see right now - the view from my office. There is a beautiful pinky purple sky line over snow capped hills which is just stunning. Just alerted everyone else to have a look so it gives me a chance for a wee blog :)

Has everyone gone home?

Or Christmas shopping?

This has to be the quietest Friday blog I've ever seen. It was all a flurry of activity to get posting first thing - maybe we've all run out of energy!



We escaped the threatened snow down here in South Bucks - there were a few flakes in the rain this morning but not enough that you'd call it sleet.



Right - timesheet to submit and then I can toodle off home. In case I don't see you before Monday, have a good weekend all!

Or to the pub?

Bah, missed a scarf!



Right. Home time for me too - more guests arriving tonight. It's all go.



Shona x

hi all my arf tune today is



i dont wont our loving to die-the herd

Hi again :-) been over to my parents to trim their treee and help them get sorted present wise...my dad bless him usually rings on the 23rd and asks me to get 'your mother' something like Christmas day is some random date and he's just realised he has two days to go!

Hi all! I tweeted an arfo earlier having heard it on local radio yesterday



David Bowie - Pretty Things



I usually send some, not a lot of, cards but have been caught out this year. My adopted home doesn't "do" cards. And I kept forgetting to stock up on my brief trips home. I have made an extra donation in lieu to Alzheimers (1 of Dad's lovely homemates died yesterday).



Looking forward to finishing work on Weds and getting home. Apart from having to then do my Xmas shopping in 3 days. All my own fault.



Hoping to be at the party on Thurs and catch up with you all then.



X

#52 - Sorry Shona!

Whoop whoop.... well done Lady Stormrider, the new ARF queen!!!!

Congrats Lady_S - a great way to start. Am even begining to feel a little les grinchy myself!

great ARFO lady Stormrider and off a fantastic album :-D



PSL x

well done lady stormrider on the arfo

WELL DONE LADYSTORM! BRILLIANT CHOICE - LOVE THAT CHOON.

HERE'S A CROWN - WEAR IT WITH PRIDE X

:^D

.......☆........☆.........☆.........☆.........☆.........☆.........☆

.....★★......★★......★★......★★......★★......★★......★★

...★☆★...★☆★...★☆★...★☆★...★☆★...★☆★...★☆★

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

┃ARFO☆♫•°★°•♫☆ARFO┃┃ARFO☆♫•°★°•♫☆ARFO┃

┃★°★°★┃★★★┃★°★°★┃★°★°★┃★★★┃★°★°★┃

═══════════════════════════════════════

#42 Deebee... re your naughty dogpoppet grabbing your husband's fish finger sandwich... food theft is a regular occurence here with our long-bodied Bassets, who have a very long reach when it comes to what my American friend calls 'surfing the counter'! If your dog is like mine, he will have grabbed the sandwich rather than knocked the plate off, which would smash and alert us to what was happening as I'm sure most dogs are brighter than some people think they are!



It would take me too long to tell you of some of those naughty Bassets' pickings, which include lumps of cheese, meat, a variety of cakes, a block of marzipan, two packets of Lurpak that were on the top to reach room temperature before making a cake and several boxes of eggs!



One day I was walking into the kitchen and just caught Lottie mid-air with a box of ten eggs in her mouth that she got by leaping up and grabbing, rather than knocking it off the kitchen top, which would have smashed them! So at least by grabbing them with her mouth she was saving me having to wash a sticky floor!



I'm glad I'm not the only one with naughty dogs! :o))

Have got the 'A Christmas gift for you' from Phil Spector on...

*... is off to the cathedral - Ian Anderson & Jethro Tull, Greg Lake [eek], songs, prayers and her mate Phil Harding from Time Team is doing a 'reading' - will tweet a pic or two to twitmates if at all possible*





:^D

Woohoo for Lady_Stormrider, me ole shipmate! A worthy winner of the ARFO crown - so pleased for you.



I've been 'doing a PSL' - an expression I've just coined meaning having my nails done. Fingers and toes, that polish that begins with a sh... that's supposed to last for 2 to 3 weeks so it should hopefully see me through Christmas and New Year. Arrived home to a lovely surprise - wreath on the front door, outside lights twinkling and a fully festooned tree in the sitting room. There was nothing when I left this morning. Have Daughter to thank, unfortunately I can't thank her in person as she'd already left for her bf's as they're going to London for the weekend. Still can't get used to that actually, my little girl all growed up...*wistful*



KatyMatey, that sounds like some great gig! Hope you have a great time, and I look forward to seeing the pics.



~X~

A big WHOOP WHOOPfor Lady stormrider ............... great choice.



Didn't get the chance to blog today. By the look of the post count, and even with the 10 from the earlier one, it's been a slow day. Is everyone pre-occupied with Christmas?



@Katy, I'm deeply, and thoroughly, green with envy. Jethro Tull and Greg Lake? Sounds like it's going to be wonderful night :-)



Anyways, hope you all have a great weekend.

I have only just seen the party invite, and am very touched Flo, I guess thats nothing new, but all the same, am honoured to be involved in the opening song. I knew it would happen one day!



Well done Lady S, I missed the beginning of the show, a big Whoop whoop to you :)



Have a nice weekend everyone.



Happy Days.



MTF :)

Hello All,



Missed a lot of the show, but what I heard was enjoyable.



Well done to LadyStormrider for the ARF crown

Good Morning All



It started cold and crisp this morning, but it's clouded over now. Mr B has gone off to collect members of the family, and I've got a busy day ahead tidying the house before they get back. Then we're going to a party later.



I've been thinking about writing a review of the blog for 2011 - a sort of personal account of how it's been for me this year. I'll probably do some time during the week between Christmas and New Year when I guess things are going to be a bit quiet. But I was musing in the shower this morning about what I could write about, and actually there's quite a lot I want to say about this lovely blog, the blogpoppets and His Dudeness... So I may have to do a Bingo and spread it over several posts! You have been warned...



Will try and poop by again later today, if only to give myself a break. Otherwise I'll be falling asleep at the party. Can't take the pace like I used to, you know... ;o)



Hope everyone has a good day.



~X~

Good morning everyone.



#69 Deebee, "do a Bingo"? It will be in English, though? ;-)

Morning all .. just back from NOT doing my Saturday run .. we'd already had to move venue due to waterlogging, and the new place was way too icy .. so what do you do when you're wearing high vis running jacket plus Santa hat .. pop to Tesco, of course ..



Off to Mum's for festive family get-together .. the husbands are driving so my sister and I are drinking, at lunchtime, with 'challenging' parent .. it could get messy ;0)

Morning all & many many thanks to the lovely blogpoppeteers - I am bowled over. I should have been at home listening to this but got dragged off for a free christmas meal in Cleckhuddersfax last night - I was making up the numbers to justify the restaurant opening. Anyway Mr Aquaplane & me were stuck on Huddersfield Station thanks to 'an incident' at Leeds Station and I missed the whole thing. Have just spent the last 5 minutes cursing myself. How many times have I listened in on ARFO day and this was the one time I missed it? DOH!

Good Morning Everyone



Very cold and blustery here -



A quick visit to add my Congrats to LadyStormrider! What a week you've had - passing your driving test first time - a Birthday and then the ARFO Crown! I curtsy!



36 Mince Pies made last night - 4 already eaten - 2 each! Tree all decorated!



"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas ................... "

#70 Harry, LOL! It's okay - I can't do accents...



#71 Hope your festive lunch goes well, Alison - maybe if you drink enough the challenging parent won't be a problem.



#72 Lady_Stormrider - you know you can 'listen again' to your moment of glory? Go to 'Shows' on Simon's page and it lists all the shows from the last week.



Hi to Billie too - and anyone else who's lurking.



Right - back to the housework. Michael Bublé is helping - good of him, don't you think...



~X~

WHOOP WHOOP... Shona has just had her weekly mention from her pal Tony!! :o))



xx

#65 lol DeeBee...glad I've made it into the blog-dicker! I had mine done monday in a rather decadent sparkly purple!

Hope your concert was good Katy saw the pics



PSL x

Evening Poppeteers



Congratulations Lady Stormrider for winning the ARFO crown - which I heard.



What a busy weekend. Got more friends arriving for ittle Christmas drinks tonight.



#75 Thank you Flo - good old Tone! PSL sent a tweet to me say she was waiting for the Tony and Shona show to start. Tee hee. X



Look forward to reading your blog story Deebee.



Enjoy your Saturday evening everyone.



Shona x

Good Morning All



Rain overnight - still drizzling a little - but light in the sky - could "turn out nice again".



We're out for lunch with friends - the posh place where we often stay more than 4 hours!



Have Nicetimes whatever you do .................

0° and Bright Sunshine. Lots to do today.



Hope to return ere day's end ..





:^)

Morning all .. pleased to let you know that the bottle of rose simply added to the enjoyment of yesterday .. the 'challenging' parent kept the grandchildren amused with her swearing/inappropriate/racist comments and a good time was had by all ..



Busy writing Christmas cards this morning .. only came on here to check a postcode, and you know how one thing leads to another ..



Have a warm and snuggly Sunday x

Morning all.



Should be getting ready for Christmas here too, but.....



Yesterday had the most amazing couple of hours out on the coast. Chilly chilly, but so bracing.



We were lucky to be, in the right place at the right time, to witness the arrival of literally hundreds of noisy Brent geese, in fact, they could be heard a long time before they could be seen. On the meadow next to the water, were two roe deer, happily grazing away.



There were an abundance of other ducks, teal, wigeon etc.. and many many wading birds too. Egrets, (which seem to be growing in numbers over here now) a lone heron, curlews, redshanks, dunlins, turnstones, oystercatchers, sandpipers and many many more, still really learning to recognise some of them tbh.



But the piece de resistance was a short eared owl (fairly large with an impressive wingspan) out hunting in the daylight, as they do. He was around for a long time and the experts around there, with their sooper dooper impressive long lens' snapping away like good 'uns.



Hoping for more of the same again today, although yesterday would take some beating, then I suppose I had better get my Christmas head on next week, I was hoping to go back and find the tree up, but looks like that is going to be down to me again, ho hum!



So, is it possible to organise Christmas in 5 days?



Que sera sera!



Wrap up warm, its a mean wind out there.



Happy Days.



MTF :)

Oh and a visit to the dentist is on the cards too, to see what he can do with half a wisdom tooth.



Yikes!



MTF :O

Hello All,



Bright start here but very chilly, yesterday was cold but being out and about having a wonderful day, didn't notice.



Hope everybody has a good day

Hi everyone



Wall to wall blue sky here today... lovely and sunny too, but quite chilly.



MTF, being a mobile tooth fairy, surely you can sort your own wisdom tooth! :o)



xx

Afternoon Poppeteers



Very frosty here but a lovely sunny day. 3 lots of guests been and gone and now waiting for my cousin to arrive for a mince pie, brandy cream and coffee - or shall we go straight for the mulled wine?



Hope you are having a nice time whatever you are doing. MTF, sounds like a lovely walk yesterday. Wonderful sights.



Catch you later



Shona x

Beautiful post MTF - as usual!



Me? - Hic!

We had a lovely lunch out. Good Food. Good Company. Good Service. 4 Hours!



A Michael Buble (can't do the accent) Christmas Special is on TV tonight. I have all his CDs and enjoy listening to them. I've seen him in other "Special"s and don't really take to his personality. Can't explain why. We shall watch it anyway.



WARNING!



Going to post a post about TT Progress which is on tonight also!

Hi All



Busy day today, culminating in the church carol service. It went well, in fact Mum said it was one of the best carol services she's been to! Daughter is now home from her weekend in London so I have all my family about me. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...



MTF #81 - amazing post. I wish I had your way with words. You paint such a picture, I can almost visualise it. And to see a short eared owl - wow! You know I love owls. When it comes to birds, I have to admit I am fairly ignorant. I can name the more obvious ones but there are many more that I don't recognise. When I was out walking the dogpoppet this afternoon we passed a hedge 'alive' with the sound of birdsong. There must have been dozens of them in there, singing away together. I couldn't see them, and anyway I didn't want to look too closely because of the dog. Wish I knew what they were.



Well the beef is nearly ready to come out of the oven and the yorkshires need to go in. And the red wine is poured. Cheers!



~X~

Mr. BP bought the DVD for me for Christmas and I forced him to open it early. Ha!



It is FANTASTIC! It's in sections -



The first part is 4 TT members and they do all the expected songs - "Rule The World", "Greatest Day", "Shine" etc.



I'm having to shorten this.



The second part is ROBBIE - SOLO - in all his madness - in all his EGO - in all his SECURITY - his INSECURITY - he covers every inch of the stage - he is an Entertainer!



Shortened this as well.



The third part is All Five of Them - can't remember - modern songs - "The Flood"?



Then - The Most Amazing - The Most Clever - The Most Daring - is that ALL 5 sing the Original Songs - "Pray", "Back For Good", and BESTESTOFEVER "Never Forget ".



Then - to just rub our noses in their "sublimicy" - Harry ? - Is there such a word - the very uptodate "Eight Letters"!



I would just suggest that that can't be beaten.



Prejudiced - Moi? NON!



Mr. BP says "It's like Precision Engineering mixed with High Drama - Visually Spectacular - and Musically Brilliant".



I would take what he says with pinch of salt because he has confessed that he's in love with Gary Barlow!



But you're not going to get all that tonight - you're going to get an abridged version. You'll have to buy it!



I'm not on Commission!

Evening All



Glad everyone is feeling Christmassy and enjoying the run up to festivities. My tummy is all warmed up (so are my cheeks) with lovely mulled wine. Just walked my cousin back to the train station in the freezing cold and then walked home again. Feel all glowing after a 2 mile walk.



Hot bath, jimmyjams and bed await.



See you all in the morning.



Shona x

Bleagh! Bunged up nose, sore sinuses, achy shoulders and back, sneezing and coughing.



And a key presentation to do at work tomorrow that I can't postpone or get someone else to do at such short notice.



I rarely catch any bugs, but this is the second in three weeks. :o(



Early night for me, and hope the rest does me good.

hi all been out a got myself a treat i bought the wombles album,20 wombling greats it was only£5 in asda other supermarkets available,

What 'bottom smackingly' excellent value Gazza.



MTF :O

Am jealous HH, you're assured a rocking Christmas now

Well! What does one say - other than WAH!



Wasn't it Brilliant? Magical?



I deliberately didn't mention earlier that Robbie pricks his own ego-centric bubble by fallimg down a trap-door. I didn't, deliberately, mention, that they end up singing in the hands and the body of the gynormous figure. I didn't mention that at the end they do all the original dance moves to their original tracks - and how funny that is - and looking back - no wonder Robbie felt frustrated and wanted to move on.



LOVED It!



WAH!

yeah im sure am bb



great value 4 a new album

Morning Poppeteers



#91 Poor you Driver. Hope you fell better this morning to get through your presentation at least.



#96 Wombling party at your house HH? That was a good deal :)



What a good sleep! I think the mulled wine helped there.



Catch you on the next blog



Shona x

#97Feeeeeeeeeel better Driver

testing ...testing ...testing .... the BlogParty Tree



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