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this is the 'Latest News' I uploaded in
2005 |
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New Year's Eve 05 we descended on Peter & Phylis's where
vast quantities of food and alcohol were thrust in our
direction! The amount & noise of the fireworks in the
locality that we stood outside to watch after midnight seems
to grow each year. The photo left shows Pat & Adrian who met
for the first time 15 years ago tonight!! More photos of the
evening here. |
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Well, it is Christmas - so
yet another gathering!! This time at Pat & Adrian's on Thursday 29th
December 05. Good food & company ... !! More photos of the evening
here. |
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I went on Boxing Day with Mom, Belinda & Jodie to Bev's
for a late lunch. It was lovely to relax in front of their log fire,
playing the traditional games you have to do at Christmas. To see more
photos from the day click here |
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on Christmas Day I took mom to church in the morning,
picking her up from Barrie & Jane's where it was great to see their 4
kids still opening their presents. I then took her to Powke Lane
cemetery where we visited Joe's & aunty Cis's graves. Then off to
Belinda's for a lovely, filling lunch [she looks after me so well],
listened to the
Queen's Christmas message [of course! Part of the tradition] and
then home at teatime to put my feet up in front of the telly .... !! For
more photos of the day, click here. |
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Christmas Eve was the usual whirl of visits to friends,
and then off to mom's where the family all meet from 7.00pm to 9.30pm.
Then I went to Paul & Deb's with the rest of our crowd & onto the
Midnight service where I sang merrily due to the copious amounts of wine
consumed! For once mom had all her grandchildren there [Jodie's back
from the Cayman Islands & James was up from London]. It was a good start
to the Christmas break!! To see family photos from the
evening click
here;
for the photos taken at Paul & Deb's, click
here. |
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My first time ever on strike - and
on a picket line to boot!! All over pay, of course, but if only the
arguments were that simple. A disappointing result of intransigence by
the DCA. Pity. More information can be seen
here |
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It was the Court's Christmas meal on Friday
16th December at the Whittington Inn on the
Stourbridge-Kidderminster road. An excellent meal and good
company. What more could I ask for? More photos
here |
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 I 've
had a family holiday - my first with the family since I was
16!! We [with mom, Beverly & Belinda ] went on a Red Sea
cruise to Jordan & Egypt from 24th Nov - 1st December 05.
More photos will be appearing
here
as and when I get time to upload the many photos taken. With
temperatures in the low 90s, it's a lovely place to get some
winter sun. The highlights of the break, for me, was
floating on the Dead Sea and seeing the pyramids. |
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Stephen & Hilary, Hilary B, Lis, Peter,
Judith & I went to hear Verdi's Requiem at Birmingham
Symphony Hall on Saturday 19th November 05. We went to the
Bank Restaurant before the Concert to get us gently in the
mood ... !! More photos
here |
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A production of 'Joseph & the Amazing Technicolour
Dreamcoat' was put on at Overend Church 11/12 November 05 by loads
from 'the gang' and other church members. To see some photos from the
11th Nov, when I and some of the family went, and the "thank goodness
that's all over" party on the Saturday night 12th Nov at Pat & Adrian's,
click here. |
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A Guy Faulk's & Fireworks party, held at J&G's on
Saturday 5th November 05. See more photos
here |
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Our annual OctFest held this year on Saturday 29th
October 05. They used to drag me out to Clubs in Brum but, thankfully,
they're all having to settle down with houses, partners, mortgages [you
get the picture!] so an evening of Trivial Pursuit now keeps us occupied
[started off in grand style with the delight of watching Man Utd lose
4-1 to Middlesborough] interspersed with a can or two or three of lager
of course. That's obligatory. My liver hates these reunions ...... !!
See more photos here |
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Gloria, the boss's PA @ Dudley Magistrates'
Court, had her retirement do
on 19th October at Frankie & Benny's. More photos of the evening
here |
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Lynne & Ian, friends from Torquay, came to stay in Hagley
for the weekend of 14th - 16th October 05. They stayed with Joy & Lynton
but came to me for a meal on the Friday night. We then spent a superb
weekend eating, drinking, laughing, shopping(!) and visiting Ludlow &
Bewdley and walking & walking! These weekends are always fun; and to see
more photos click
here. |
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Kevin Beale & his girl friend are off to Australia for 5
months soon. He popped round to watch the England v Poland game on
Wednesday 12th October 2005 [we won - now top of the group!!]. Good luck,
Kevin, in your antipodean adventures. |
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On Saturday 8th October 05 it was three years to the day
since Dad died. I spent a few reflective moments on Clent Hills, where
dad's ashes had been scattered. The photo shown here was the last to be
taken of dad - August 02. |
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Saturday 1st October 05 saw the end of
Judith T's and Peter F's self-inflicted month long abstention from
alcohol ... ! We had a meal to celebrate. You can see a few photos
here. |
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Because I've having a fair few problems
with AOL over the past few months, I've finally change my internet
provider - on Friday 30th September. Pity really, as AOL have been good
up to now but having been put back on dial-up for 2 weeks was the
final straw. My new e-mail address to follow on here soon. |
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I've started an evening class at the local
College on 'PhotoShop' [for beginners, I hasten to add!!] in
September 05, over 4 evenings. It a great package but it's totally
unlike a Windows program, far less intuitive. I'm pleased that Elaine
Pugh is the tutor; she's excellent [and patient] - I've been in her
groups before on other classes. |
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On Saturday 17th September, Josh left home
for his first day at the University of
Sheffield. Good luck Josh - the first of Barrie & Jane's kids to fly
the nest. |
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Matt had his 15th birthday on Sunday 11th
September 05. We all popped round to see him and were well fed &
watered! Matt had celebrated the day before with his friends. At 15, we
oldies are somewhat of an anathema to him me thinks .... !! Never mind
Matt, family 'has to be done.' See more photos of the day
here |
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It was mom's birthday on 26th August 05, but
we did not all get together as a family to celebrate until Bank Holiday
Monday, 29th August. More photographs can be seen
here |
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my nephew Alexander has sent [August] me
some recent photos of him in various stages of sanity .... !! View
here at your peril!! |
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Thursday 18th August 05 saw the release of
the national A level & AS level results. Joshua
did well with his A levels @ 2xA and 1xB result.
Katie did well too by getting 1xA, 2xB & 1xC. Well done guys & gals.
With this result Josh gets his placement at Sheffield University. |
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The gang went round Peter's for his birthday
bash on Tuesday 16th August 05 - a good way to ease off the lazy days at
York the previous 4 days. And with the good weather we had we were able
to sit outside the evening. Plenty of food & drink [my sort of 'do'] but
where was the jelly and blancmange eh ... ?! |
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I went to York from Friday 12th - Monday
15th August 05 with Bev & Ami to spend a long weekend with Abigail,
who's at the University there. We did a lot of sightseeing and watching
the third test match on TV ... !! Suzi, Abi's Uni friend from Germany,
was also there for 3 weeks. More photos
here
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At Shugborough Hall on Saturday 6th August
for part of its Music & Firework Weekend. It was a 'bring your
picnic and grab your spot' type event. But with me, Belinda & Judith in
the choir for the second-half of the Concert ["for the very best flag
waving classical 'Proms Spectacular' " - as the programme said] we were
there for practice 3 hours before the gates opened, so had a splendid
spot kept for the 13 of us who eventually sat around our table! Jenny
Bond compeered; a spitfire flew over, and Bev locked her keys in the
boot as we were leaving at midnight!!! We left a damp field at 0120 the
Sunday morning courtesy of the AA. More photos
here. |
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A welcomed midweek meal & soak at Judith &
George's on Wednesday 3rd August 05. |
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The family visited Scotland from Friday 22nd
July - Monday 25th July 05 for our Cousin's daughter's wedding. Karen &
Paul Keeney got married at the West Kirk, East Kilbride on Saturday 23rd
July @ 1.30pm. We stayed on until Monday evening for a bit of
sight-seeing at Loch Lomond, the Trossachs, Stirling Castle and
Bannockburn. More photos here |
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From Friday 8th July - Sunday 10th July I
was in Wales with Stephen & Hilary, staying at their caravan The weather
was superb, if not a hint too hot. We went especially to go to the
Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod - the first time I'd been.
Lunch on the Sunday saw us overlooking the magnificent waters of Lake
Vyrnwy. More photos here |
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to see my other 'Latest News'
uploaded, click on the links below |
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2009 |
2008 |
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2007 |
2006 |
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