Thank you for all your kind wishes for my recovery, I am much better now as Dot, my friend gave me an tablet that settled my " funny " tummy. I have a " thing " about taking tablets or pills so prefer to act like a martyr and " put up " with aches and pains. It's very silly really as sometimes it is better to get relief instead of " suffering " and inflicting misery on every one else.
I started this LAST Sunday- the 6th but I have been busy since with days out and that sort of thing. The two Christmas lunches I went to were wonderful, the food and the company were great. I got my bargain of the year on Friday when I bought a cardigan/jacket for £7.50 that did indeed lift my spirits. I also bought two books of jokes about " older " people so now I'll have lots of silly jokes and stories to regale you with over the coming weeks.
Probably the best laugh I've had for a long time was when Dot, my friend, told me about their new smoke alarm. As Frank is deaf the fire service installed a special type for night time use, well, three times over the last two weeks the alarm beeped, lights flashed and the bed vibrated though there was no fire ! The furore woke Dot up but Frank slept though the "bells and whistles" Poor Dot said she didn't know whether to be scared or excited. Fancy having a vibrating bed when you are in your late 70s

For those of you who don't visit Julie's site this is our own Baby Christmas, Vincent, looking very solemn but sweet. He is supposed to be like his father but he does have an uncanny resemblance to Thomas his cousin - well, at least I think so ! As doting greatgrand mother I can say that can't I ?
 Here are some quotes from my new book " Senior Jokes " by Geoff Tibballs
Patient Update
A senior man telephoned his local hospital and asked " How is Mr Radcliffe in ward 35 ? " The duty nurse replied " Mr Radcliffe is progressing well. His test results were fie and the doctors are pleased with him. Can I ask who is calling ?" " yes, this is Mr Radcliffe in ward 35 " said the caller " No one tells me anything ! "
Reasons to be cheerful
A group of pensioners  were sitting around in a nursing home comparing their respective ailments."My hands are so shaky I can hardly lift this cup " said one. " My cataracts are so bad I can't see to pour my coffee " another said. " I can't turn my head because of the arthritis in my neck " said the third." My blood pressure pills make me dizzy " complained the fourth. " I guess that's the price we pay for getting old " said the fifth. " yes, but it's not all bad " said the sixth comfortingly " We should be thankful that we can still drive "

I started this blog on Sunday but since Monday I have been unwell. I ache all over and I have a " funny " tummy. I haven't had the energy to visit Xanga - or do much else either ! but will try to catch up with you all very soon. I have to get well as next week I've got THREE Christmas outings to go to, two are Christmas lunches, one with a Christmas market as well.

It seems only a very short while ago since I wrote that Advent was upon us again- in fact it's twelve months ago.  I thought that as one got older time past more slowly - not so ! At Mass yesterday it was lovely to see the children gathered around the Advent wreath watching with eagerness as the first candle was lit. It certainly is a season of hope and anticipation even though some people will have to be more careful as to what they spend this year- not that is always a bad thing as very often people get in to dreadful debt after spending enormous amounts of money on frivolous gifts. Christmas isn't about HOW much is spent but about the thought that is put into choosing a present for a loved one.
OK, end of sermon 
A few weeks ago some one wrote about her aged mother losing her teeth and said she has outlived her teeth - well ! I've out lived one of my front teeth. I now had a gap and it seems that there isn't much I can do to " bridge the gap " as Julie, tells me that unless I get a palate the dental technician can't help me. I can't bear the thought of a palate so my theme song for now is " All I want for Christmas is my ONE front tooth " Does any one remember this ditty ? Fortunately most people don't realise that I'm missing my molar so I'll just make sure to keep my mouth closed as much as possible. It will be hard but I'm sure friends and family will be pleased.
More quotes !
I like these cold, grey winter days. Days like these let you savour a bad mood. Bill Watterson
Regrets are the natural property of grey hairs. Charles Dickens
My parents only had one argument in forty-five years of marriage. It lasted for forty-three years. Cathy Ladman

Update - stupid me  I forgot to go public yesterday 

A very happy 50th birthday to my dear son Adrian Michael

I do get very annoyed by the stupid things that happen here and the litigious society we have become.This week a mother has been awarded compensation for damages because her two year old son was hit by a three year old with a carjack as they sat in a car. Neither mother was present at the time ! Now, who in their right mind would leave two babies ( for that's what they were ) alone in a car and why was the jack in the car ? The case had been heard twice before and not been successful so, we the taxpayers, have paid out for three court cases and now the compensation. I think that both the women involved should be made to pay damages ! Madeline McCann has been missing for more than two years now, she disappeared from a hotel bedroom whilst on holiday in Portugal. Four year old Madeline was left asleep in the room with her 2yr.old brother and sister while her parents went to to join friends for a meal. The parents went back and to to check on the children every 20 minutes or so but Madeline had been taken by some one. Two years on the parents are still using the media to find her - there are more than 11 pages of websites about her ! Now I know that it must be devastating for the parents BUT surely it was their responsibility to stay with such young children - a duty of care that comes with parenting.  OK ! end of rant

Golden Oldies
These days we old folk are worth a fortune
Silver in our hair, gold in our teeth, stones in out kidneys, lead in our feet and gas in our stomachs
Being frivolous I have the attention of two gentlemen every blessed day- Will Power who gets me out of bed and Arthur Ritis just never leaves me alone
The vicar called yesterday. He said " Never mind the frivolity-you really should be thinking of Hell and the hereafter ! " " Vicar " I said " Every day they are on my mind ,no matter where I am in the house, I say " What the Hell am I here after ? "

 
I hope that all ourdoorsmen ( and women ) read this sign VERY carefully

It's good to have a choice isn't it ?
This has been a busy week for me, on Tuesday we gave our " oldies " at the bingo a lunch. It was hotpot followed by apple pie and cream - no ! I didn't slave over a hot stove as we bought it in from a local bakery and it was as good as any home-made would ever be. For those of you who don't know what hotpot is I'll explain this Northern English favourite. It consists of beef, onions and potatoes cooked together and covered with a pastry " lid " - real winter warming food. We served it with red cabbage or beetroot in vinegar.

 

The apple pie was delicious as the apples were not pureed but were whole pieces. The hotpot was served in individual foil cases so it was easy to give out though we had to cut the apple pie into pieces and put the cream in ourselves. All in all it was as easy-peasy change to our usual afternoon. On Tuesday night I had a meeting here to compose the prayers that will be used at the Masses this weekend. The prayers are called the Prayers Of The Faithful ( or bidding prayers ) and reflect the needs of the community so for example one is about this years Remembrance Sunday ( tomorrow ) when the country honour the dead of all the wars since the Great War of 1914-18. In cities, towns and villages in the UK wreaths of poppies will be laid on the war memorials ( cenotaphs ) by the mayors with councillors and various bodies such as the British Legion,the Scouts and ordinary people. On the 11th of the month there will be a minutes silence to commemorate the fallen heroes who died for us. On Wednesday I had another meeting of a group called the Society Of St. Vincent De Paul which is a charitable group that works to help the poorest in our town and also those abroad.
I can't believe that I started this blog on Saturday and haven't yet posted it ! Where has the time gone ? I watched a film about Churchill on Sunday, Monday evening had a VERY long phone call from my DIL Gail and last night a man came to install a new printer for me - so no time for Xanga
Today , the official Remembrance Day there was a special service in St. Paul's cathedral attended by the Queen to honour the last three service men from the Great War 1914-18 who died this year, all of whom were more than 100 years old.