Monday, December 31, 2007

Onward and upward

2007-2008

Aside

Ring out the old, ring in the new,

Ring, happy bells, across the snow:

The year is going, let him go;

Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease;

Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;

Ring out the thousand wars of old,

Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Alfred Lord Tennyson

Back in one piece, despite ‘flu germs and fog on the journey. Our last visit to the farmhouse, though a little sad, was a happy, energising one. The children were a joy; the youngest grandson who still believes – most of the time - in Father Christmas said it was a great time because you could ask for anything – didn’t matter how big it was – anything: ‘because NOBODY PAYS’ His Mummy then had to explain that Santa doesn’t like greedy little boys. On Christmas Eve he held aloft two family Christmas stockings and said:

‘I have a pronouncement to make: these stockings have to be filled NOW or they won’t get filled a TALL!’

I said he would make a jolly good head- master but he said that school was his worst hobby.

Our fifteen year old grand-daughter brought a tear to her mother’s and my eyes when she gave her a beautiful album of photos and copy she had been assembling secretly, of her mother’s life up till now. Flash, the cat, went berserk on the polished floors, with wrapping paper and string and blotted his copy book by up- chucking his salmon treat on one of the rugs.

We enjoyed the Christingle Service where the vicar had taken up ventriloquism. I said there should be oranges for Grandmas and grandson said I could have his orange as long as he had the sweets.

We went to Crawley to see ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ Snow White was played by Kellie Shirley, an excellent East Enders actress but she was blighted by a black wig and an uninspiring Prince. The parts of the Wicked Queen, Nurse Gertie, Muddles and the Forest Fairy were played with terrific gusto, in the old-fashioned way and we all enjoyed it.

Travel Lodges made the journey a piece of cake and they were nicely refurbished. Little Chef has moved a bit up market and one can get grilled salmon, a minty choc with coffee, a concoction of fruit yoghourt and granola for breakfast, to say nothing of the Belgian waffle (Hi girls!)doused in vanilla ice cream and maple syrup. We thought it was sweet that they have a peeing pole for dogs on the green, and in case the dogs can’t read there is a picture of a dog atop the pole.

BTW we heard two smashing radio programmes on BBC 4 which wiled away the journey: Count Arthur Strong, which if you have had a northern childhood, particularly in the thirties and forties – is an utter delight, and we both laughed out loud. The other was a writer who went on a cruise ship as a host to the lonely old ladies – all highly respectable and decorous but you had to be able to dance – keeping a distance of six inches betwixt at all times, of course. Most of the hosts were retired and married and seemed to love it. How about it- some of you dishy older men? If nothing else you’d get posts out of it.

The photos below are random as I didn’t want to just repeat last years. The card is one of the ones our grand-daughter made for us.

It was good to get back to messages from my cyber friends. Thank you all and I’ll be round to see you as soon as poss. Here’s hoping for a happy, healthy, peaceful year to one and all. God Bless.

29 comments:

OldHorsetailSnake said...

And a happy happy to you!!

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Welcome Home, dear Pat....And a Very Very Happy New Year To You & Yours...May 2008 be a WONDERFUL year for all those you hold dear in your heart!

If you get a chance do drop by my blog---I have a "special" treat and it is of someone I hold very very 'dear'.

Your Christmas sounded quite Magical....And I love the pictures, too! I Missed You! So happy you are home again.

Z said...

Glad you have had a lovely time. Happy New Year, darling.

Anonymous said...

Glad you're back safe. You were missed.

Cheers.

Zinnia Cyclamen said...

Wishing you a very, very happy New Year.

Monozygote said...

I love that Tennyson. And I love this post.
A happy new year to you, dear pi
xx

Casdok said...

Yes onwards and upwards!
A very happy new year to you!

Anonymous said...

We missed you, Pat. I'm glad you had such a lovely Christmas - the wee fellow sounds a treat.

It's been a great year on Past Imperfect, watching the story unfold and catching snippets of your current life. Darling Pat, have a most happy New Year when it comes. I wish you and your family all good health, peace and happiness for 2008.

Kim Ayres said...

Happy New One to you too Pat. you're back just in time to pick up an award over at my place :)

Anonymous said...

Thank you for a most interesting year of present and past imperfect. Happy New Year to you and yours.

Pat said...

Hoss: have a good one young man!

Naomi: I came, I saw, I loved it.

Z: thank you my dear.

Randall: I'll bet you say that to all the girls but I love you anyway.

Zinnia: there's lots to be happy about - especially my cyber pals.

Sam: and everything of the best for you honeybun.

Dandelion: good! I'm so glad you like it. It was worth getting up
at 3am.

casdok: thank you - I do appreciate you spending your precious time.

Kim: ooh my goodness! Thank you! A New Year's Honour. I've always wanted to be Lady Muck!

Sablonneuse: Merci bien mon chou! I enjoy my trips over to you.

apprentice said...

Happy New Year missus! I heard those two programmes too, they were a delight.

Count thingy has perfect timing, just like the radio comics of old.

Pat said...

Thank you Anna! and great that you agree about the progs. The Count was a revelation.

Anonymous said...

Hope that you all have a very happy new year! Lots of love and wishes heading your way... x x x x

Moon said...

Glad u are back, welcome home! Sounds like u had a lovely Christmas! Here's wishing you the best for the New Year with many more blog posts in your future lol!!! BONNE ANNÉE!

f:lux said...

The peeing pole for dogs bit made me laugh - good start to a happy new year all round! Lx

Nikki - Notes of Life said...

Sounds like you had a great time. Happy New Year! :)

Pat said...

Sim: so glad you are back:)

Moon: Many thanks and the same to you.

f:lux:good! A laugh is better than a pain in the bum anyday:)

Thank you Nikky-Ann

Gorilla Bananas said...

Happy New Year ma'am, your grandchildren sound delightful.

FOUR DINNERS said...

Abbleynewshair babe x - hic -

Pat said...

GB: sweet of you to drop in:)

4d: a strong dose of milk thistle for you young man!xoxox

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

I like your grandchildren, they sound adorable. I spent the last few days 'hanging out' with some teens too, what fun, teens aren't as bad as the movies make them out to be!

Speaking of movies and BBC, I saw a lovely BBC movie recently, Under the [something] tree, darn, I can't remember the name right now...but ohhhhhh boy, lemme tell you all, one of the actors was sizzlin' phewww.

TLP said...

Happy New Year!

Pat said...

GG: I can't think either; the only thing i can think of is 'Under the Greenwood tree', but that's a song.
Tonight I watched the first episode of 'Sense and Sensibility' so am feeling blissful. And there are three dishy males in that:)

Cream said...

All the best to you and yours, Pat.
I love your cake!

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

Yes yes, that's the BBC movie, Under the greenwood tree. drool. yummy actor.

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

James Murray, that's the actor, Pat.

Pat said...

Cream: I cannot tell a lie. Sometimes. It was my DIL's cake

GG: Hve googled it and got two names : Tom Georgeson and Tony Haygarth. Possibly Tom?

Pat said...

GG: just seeen James Murray's photo. What can I say? Wow!