The view from the bedroom where my computer is There is an old Irish song called " the forty shades of green " which I think is appropriate here !

I am now the proud greatgrand mother of Vincent Leo, my third GGC. so I will bore you with photos taken recently

 
Don't I look proud ?

Vincent wondering " Who is is this strange person ?"

Still thinking " She is a stranger but I think I like her "

Time for a cuddle

Vincent had hiccups so needed a pat on the back !

 
Here he is with his mummy Laura. She said it is the first photo of the two of them since he was born three weeks ago. The rest of the family have had their's taken with him but poor Laura has missed out !
I took the first photo earlier today- now the weather has changed dramatically, it is very windy and rainy. I even had to put on the light when I was having my meal and because the hour goes on tomorrow my evening meals will, for the next few months,be eaten with the lights on.
Winter is coming

I can't believe that we are more than half way through October The weather here has been absolutely gorgeous, warm sunny days, almost summery, so it hasn't seemed like autumn really. Today however there is a marked change in the temperature - it is cold ! Time to get out the gloves and scarves and put away the t-shirts and light jackets. In two weeks time the hour goes back ( or is it forward ??? ) and then it will really feel as if winter is nigh.
I had a serious moment of reminiscing on Friday when I came across the Biography channel and there was Shirley Temple. When I was little I wanted to be her, I wanted the curls, the dresses and the ability to dance- in fact I wanted it all ! Does any one else remember her films ? I saw most of them and thought she was younger than me but have now found out that she is four years older - I wonder why she always seemed so childlike ? Actually after seeing the biopic I realise that she had a very strange life, rarely mixing with other children and always being told to " sparkle " by her mother. I remember having a cardboard Shirley Temple doll that you could "dress up" by fixing clothes over the doll with little tabs. I loved that doll ! My other heroines were Dianna Durbin as she wore pretty dresses  and Esther Williams because she could swim so well, an accomplishment I have never achieved. I don't think that these stars would be interesting to the young girls of today do you ?

I might not have had the curls but I had the ribbon
This week I have to go church get the Christmas cards ready as people are asking for them already and as there are going to be postal strikes over the next few weeks panic is setting in about how the overseas post will be affected. Let's hope it will be sorted out well before Christmas ! I have, for a change, actually bought some Christmas presents but I have a problem ! Over the last few years I have sent presents to Xangan friends BUT haven't kept a record of what I sent to whom so I'll have to rack my brain or "think outside the box" and buy more unusual gifts
Dratted computer or stupid operator ? I've spent hours and hours trying to get a photo from my desktop on to my blog but I can't manage to download it. I'm really annoyed with myself but hey ! life is full of little troubles and as long as big ones don't come along I'll survive ( does that remind you of a song ? )
A few " bon mots "
The test of courage comes when we are in the minority. The test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority. Ralph. W. Sockman
Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time. Steven Wright
Everyone gets so much information all day long that they lose their common sense. Gertrude Stein

Problems, problems and more problems

On Friday I noticed that the cleaner wasn't picking up any bits even though I had emptied it so I thought that I needed a new one, mine being about six years old. I looked on the internet for prices and picked out the one I wanted. When Dot came for the usual Saturday chat I told her and she asked if my cleaner was a bagless one as she thought they were more of a problem to clean than the bagged machines. Her husband does the hoovering (lucky Dot ! ) and she said he cleaned it every week with a brush. That surprised me as I'd never thought of cleaning a cleaner !!! I decided to try and brush it with a nail brush - my ! how the dust flew every where it was so bad I went outside to finish the job. Result - I don't need a new one and it now cleans with great suction again. Yesterday when putting the washer on I couldn't close the door, I rang for the man whom I bought it from hoping he would tell me I needed a new one ( I don't like the one I have it doesn't match the decor !!!! ) No such luck, he fitted a new door and it works like magic now. So the problems were solved at a cost of £10 for the washing machine and elbow grease for the cleaner and I've saved £100s into the bargain. I think I should go out very soon and spend some money on myself- I deserve it
Autumn is a lovely season BUT I do wish the fallen leaves would fall in some one elses garden, not mine. After gale force winds at the weekend my porch was full, almost knee-deep in leaves and there are more to come yet I filled a large bin bag and now after reading that American towns send people out to get leaves I'm wondering why I have to pick up leaves from trees that don't belong to me. I do appreciate the trees but find them a nuisance at the moment.

A few weeks ago I went into the bathroom with my glasses on- what a shock I had when I saw the state of the floor-to-ceiling tiles. They were dreadful ! How can one person get tiles so dirty ? I am able to clean the lower part of the wall but can't manage to reach the ceiling. This week I've had the tiles cleaned - now it's so bright and shiny in there that I almost need my sunglasses. I have made up my mind that I will keep on top of jobs like that in future so I will never again be ashamed at the state the house was in.
I had a lovely trip to Liverpool with the cousins, lots of chat about our respective families and a very nice lunch in an Italian restaurant. The big Marks and Spencers there is having a major overhaul so I didn't bother shopping and only bought some pot-pourri and a sandwich ( crayfish and rocket - yum )
On Thursday I went to Liverpool again to see the relics of St. Theresa of Lisieux in the cathedral which was packed. We had to "fight" our way out as there were hundreds trying to get in- imagine a packed cathedral and even more people outside waiting to get in. So many attended that it was on every TV news channel on Friday, I think that the huge numbers shocked every one as these days the media seem to imply that people are no longer interested in religion
Autumn colours in Widnes

This is part of the garden that that was cut back in the early spring it's even more lush now than it was !

 The last of the marigolds, poppies and a Japanese acer

A myriad of colours
As you know governments are trying to get us to be more economical and help save the world but the following news will surprise you.
Every year Britain exports 5,000 tons of toilet paper to Germany and imports more than 4,000 tons from there !
4.400 tons of ice cream are sent to Italy with 4,200 tons being transported back again
Some 27,000 tons of potatoes go to Egypt and then 22,000 tons comes here.
It's little wonder that our roads are overcrowded and products are so expensive.

The new table and chairs in the diner. Now I have to buy round tablecloths For years I didn't bother about using cloths but now I think it makes a meal seem more special to have the table set properly.

The newly painted walls and cupboards. Marj, see the ever useful ovencloth and mitt that you sent me years ago which still matches the decor.

The oven which was professionally cleaned. I was going to buy a new cooker for approx. £350, now the old one looks like new and cost me £55. That's what I call a bargain !

The flooring which is much lighter than the old one, making the kitchen seems bigger

New cushions with a bit of bling- these days sequins are everywhere

The two rockers have been cleaned as has have the carpets in the lounge, hall and diner. Frank chose these chairs and the one nearest to you was " his " and woebetide anyone who tried to usurp him from his rightful place
It took a long time for me to actually make up my mind to get the work done but now I'm really pleased that I made the effort. On Thursday I'm having the bathroon tiles cleaned, another messy job that I don't like doing so I've got some one in the do it. I am not being lazy- indeed not ! but at my age I might as well make things easy for myself. Don't you agree ?
Tomorrow I'm going to Liverpool to meet with my cousins, have lunch, chat and do some shopping
And now for something completely different
There's a wonderful family called Stein:
There's Gert and there's Ep and there's Ein.
Gert's poems are bumk,
Ep's statues are junk
and no-one can understand Ein.