this page was last updated on 13 August 2014

 

this is the 'Latest News' I uploaded in 2006

After the birthday meal for Adam [see directly below] I went on to stay just for one night in Llandanwg (which you may guess is in Wales!! It's near Harlech) leaving teatime on the Monday 14th August. I saw a lovely sunset on the deserted beach @ Llandanwg on the Sunday evening and then went for some lovely walks on the Monday. (In the village is the church of St Tanwg, a tiny 5th century church and which contains one of the oldest gravestones in the UK - of Ingenuus, who was a contemporary of St Patrick.) I ended up at a favourite place of mine, at Barmouth! More photos can be seen here

I went to Torquay with Joy & Lynton on Thursday 27th July until Sunday 30th July, staying with Lynne & Ian. We escaped the dreadful heat of the Midlands exchanging it with the moderated coastal temperatures - oh the joys of being able to sleep at night!! And, of course, the usual activities of eating, drinking, walking & more eating were interspersed with the usual high dosages of laughter!! Only shopping slipped off the agenda this weekend  . . .  it'll never catch on! To see more photos of the long weekend, click here

It was Alexander's graduation from King's College on Monday 24th July 06 - held at the Barbican Centre. Mom, Belinda & I went with Bev & Abigail. It was a lovely ceremony, in fact the whole day worked out extremely well, and it was good to be able to share in the culmination of Ali's hard work . . .  To see more photos of the whole day, click here

At Bev's with 'our gang' on Friday 21st July 06. She's about to start hosting a series of 'buy your meals to raise money for Street Kids in Africa' and she experimented on us lot . . . !! The weather was splendid so we ate outside - and later we even got Belinda, Deb, Paul, George on the (kids'!!!!) trampoline . . . . now there was a sight to behold!! To see more photos click here

'Superman Returns' - Thursday 20 July 06 ..... I know I go to the cinema almost every week or so and don't mention them here, but Superman is one of those 'warm & cuddly' films from your youth [can I remember that far back?] and even though it lasted 2½ hours [I don't 'do' long films these days!] we all enjoyed the evening.

Beth leaves her Junior School @ Newfields next week to start at Windsor High after the summer break. I went to her school's end of term play/musical on Tuesday 18 July 06 in which she participated. More photos here

a meal at Judith & George' - Saturday 15th July. The day had been bathed in sunshine, and the evening was just as good. After food, we lazed in the hot tub ...... bubbles are good!!! More photos here.

I stayed overnight at Bev's on 12/13th July 06. The sun shone and bacon butties for breakfast al fresco on the morning was glorious [the orange juice was the healthy bit!!] ..... more photos here.

The Choir, VIH, held an 'open house' on Monday 10th July at Stephen & Hilary's - held to coincide with their 'Pearl Wedding' anniversary celebrations.

Jodie's photographs of her time in India & Nepal, together with photos taken during her sponsored walk along the base of the Himalayas, can be seen here

Joshua & Kerry have gone off on a week's holiday to Istanbul, Turkey! (7 July 06) The weather there at the moment is hot, hot, hot!!

Congratulations to Alexander who heard today, 5th July, that he's gained a 2/1 in his degree from King's College, London, in Bio-Chemistry.

I met up with Alex Evangelista again [see below] on 3 July in Birmingham - back here to shop for computer stuff & university text books . . . He's off to Germany soon before returning home to Brazil.

Mom, Bev & Amy and I met Belinda for lunch for her birthday - Sunday 2nd July 06.

Earlier I had taken mom to place a rose on where Joe's ashes had been scattered - he died 11 years ago today.

OOER. Another birthday - 24th April. I tried to celebrate as much as these old limbs of mine would allow

My dad would have been 90 today, 23rd April 06 - a Scot born on St George's Day ..... !! I spent time on Clent Hills where his ashes were scattered.

Our St George's Day Concert was held on Saturday 22nd April 06 at Holy Trinity Church, Wordsley. More details will follow, but in the meantime you can see a few of the 'after Concert party' photos at Pat & Adrian's here - it was Pat's birthday!!

We held our final practice for our Choir's St George's Day concert on Friday 21st April - the day of the Queen's 80th birthday! This photo shows me looking somewhat 'vacant' but hey, why change the habit of a lifetime?! Shown here wearing my 'Scotland' top - well, with all the emphasis on my Englishness this weekend, with the Concert etc, I need to redress the balance to keep both parents happy! My dad never did get over the fact that as a Scot he was born on 23rd April - St George's Day . . . !!
 

the BBC's website says "Mass protests continue in Nepal - The protesters are demanding an end to absolute rule Tens of thousands of protestors have returned to the streets in Nepal for mass protests, despite a shoot-to-kill curfew in the capital." My niece Jodie is caught up in the violence in Katmandu as has been 'stuck' in her hotel for the last week or so and not allowed out into the city. Part of her recent email to the family said "haven't been able to leave the hotel really in the last few days because of curfews every day/night.
Whilst the protesters, the police n the army battle in out we have to stay indoors and just read about the battles the next day in the papers. Seems the police are just as bad as the army who are just as bad as the security forces who just follow the King's orders (who nobody likes) and that's without even mentioning the Maoists. Its all crazy crazy at the mo and the papers are full of dead bodies and beatings and bombs and what not.. nice n tranquil this yoga trip eh! Well why we all sit in our ivory tower and sip tea and swim, it seems this anarchy will go on for quite some time longer.. "
 

We went to Judith & George's after our first day back to work after Easter! We needed cheering up; so food & wine seemed to fit the bill. We had a quick blast in the hot tub even though it was raining!! More photos here.

"Christ is Risen; He is risen indeed" - I went to the Short Cross Easter Sunday morning service on 16th April 06. Following that we went to Bev's for lunch as all her kids were back from University, and where we met Alan, Abigail's boyfriend, for the first time. At 4pm we went to a service by Bev's church, but held in the local leisure centre. More photos of the day can be seen here.

                       
On Good Friday I've always [since my teenage days] taken mom to the early morning service at Short Cross Methodist church @ 0730; and then I go for the now traditional 'Easter Egg Hunt' at the Hierons' - something I've been doing since, seemingly, time immemorial ... !! For more photos click here

I went to Overend church to see/hear 'Pharaoh to Freedom' and act of worship for Maundy Thursday - 13 April 06. Belinda was the music MD for this.

The choir I'm in is joining together with the Halesowen Choral Society and The Staffordshire Band to hold a St George's Day Concert on 22nd April. I took this photo on 11/4, and shows the professional singer, Elizabeth MacDonald, at a practice with the choirs' 2 pianists.

I went for a meal at Joy & Lynton's' on Saturday 8th April 06. As ever, a splendid meal and time was had. And due to the strength of their Plymouth Gin I needed to stay the night!!

We're rather busy trying to get everything organised for our St George's Day Concert later on in April. This shows George & Stephen struggling to put up a poster advertising the event. As you'll notice I'm nowhere to be seen - rather, the camera man!! And the poster stayed up ... ! 

I'm still very much trying to get my family history sorted, but I just need the time to explore. To see the family tree I've managed so far, 31st March 06, click here. "Work in Progress" as they say ...... 

I took mom for a Musical Evening put on by the the 'Circuit Ladies' Choir' at Short Cross on Friday 31 March 06. My former boss, Paul Bond, played the piano for them.  

The 'old gang' met again - 2nd time this year!! - at Himley House on Wednesday 29th March 06. When we're together, we're not old. Just advancing in years together .... !! 

We had a 'birthday bash' for Ron, one of the legal advisors at work, who was attaining the grand old age of 60. Over 30 of us went for the meal. More photos here. 

For Mothering Sunday, Belinda & I went to Short Cross Methodist with mom; and then we were off to Beverly's for lunch. Hopefully mother enjoyed her day with the family!! More photos here. 

We gathered at Judith & George's for a 'party' for Judith's birthday, on Saturday 24th March. As ever, the conversation and the wine flowed!! More photos of the evening can be seen here 

It was Judith's birthday on the 23rd and a group of us went to The Stone Manor for a meal to her her celebrate on the Friday, 24th March. An excellent meal with good company. More photos here. 

On Thursday 23rd March I went into Birmingham to hear the Birmingham Opera Company's latest interpretation of Mozart's Don Giovanni which they entitled "he had it coming to him" ..... and which was unlike any opera I've been to. Staged in the former [grand] Birmingham Municipal Bank building at the end of Broad Street, the audience sat on coffins, were frequently moved about, had members of the chorus and the soloists sat round about us - if fact it was difficult at times to know who was who!! The Times gave it a 4 out of 5 stars in its first-night review - and i think it best if you read that here - all will then become clear (ish). They advertise themselves as "not what you'd expect from opera" ..... too right!!

On Saturday 18th March 06 I went to the 'Glasshouse Studio Theatre' in Stourbridge to listen to the Stream of Sound sing. They are a youth choir which sing acappella, and whose website says of them "we started with hymns of the early American settlers - known as shape note hymns - with their strong harmonies and fuging sections. From there we moved onto vibrant African church and folk songs. We discovered the haunting harmonies of Bulgarian and Eastern European traditions and then the excitement of the ancient three part songs from the Caucasian Republic of Georgia." They also now explore the pre-Victorian West Gallery hymns as well as the wealth of folk songs from these islands. 

I went to a Fairtrade wine tasting evening in Stourbridge on Friday 17th March, where we sampled 8 different types of wine. They seemed to get stronger during the evening!! My favourite was a Thandi cabernet sauvignon Merlot from South Africa which was an amazing 14%. (Available from the Co op @ £5.99 - advertising over.) To see the Fairtrade website click here

Mom went into hospital @ Russell Hall on Thursday 16th March for a minor operation on her foot. Luckily she went in early and there were no complications, so she was allowed home on the night. She's having to rest for a few days.

I went on Wednesday 15 March, with Judith & George, to see a play put on put on by the Stourbridge Theatre Company in Stourbridge Town Hall. It was entitled "a Murder is Announced"  by Agatha Christie and performed to their usual good standard. To see the Agatha Christie UK website click here

My nephew, Alexander, has recently played at the Borderline, a London based club, with his band 'The Ten Colour Accord'. He's sent me this photograph of him there - to see a few more of him & the band click here. To see their revamped website click here

It was a joint birthday party for Nicki & Adrian, held on Belinda's on Saturday 4th March 05. More photos here. Picture left is of Pat Sanger

I met up with Paul Bond [my former boss] and Ian Lacon who I know through our former BB days. It's been a while we we met up so it was good to sit & natter over food & wine. Friday 3rd March.

Jonathan Veira was doing "an audience with .... " on Tuesday 28th February 06. I went with friends to see his one man show. It was lovely to hear him sing and yet at the same time be thoroughly entertained with his humour and anecdotes. Have a look at his website here

I went to yet another Sally Army Proms 'do' [am I becoming a Salvationist, I wonder?!] this time held at Dudley Town Hall on Saturday 25th Feb 06 - organised by the Cradley Heath SA. Hilary Barratt, pictured left, was the soloist and Sarah Falkland, of BBC Midlands Today, was the compere. Our flags had another airing .... !! More photos here.

It was my niece Beth's 11th birthday on Saturday 25th Feb 06. The family, as ever, gathered - just what an 11 year old wants, me thinks!! She is though celebrating with her school & football friends on a bouncy castle @ Haden Hill on the Sunday!! More photos here. Whatever happened to jelly & blancmange?

My Aunty May was 96 on Sunday 19th February 06. we as a family went to visit and take presents & cards and i took the opportunity to fill in a few gaps with the Family Tree ... !! Between her and mom I managed to glean some useful names & details on the Tromans' side!! My Aunty puts her longevity down to eating a banana a day!

I went to Torquay for the weekend of 10th - 12th Feb 06 with Joy & Lynton; we stayed with our life long friends Lynne & Ian. As usual, we had a great weekend of fun, laughter, with good food & drinks aplenty!!  We did much visiting, much walking and had much laughter in the process. An splendid weekend! You can see more photos here

Lunch at Bev's on Sunday 5th February 06. Adam & Kay were up for the weekend. Nicki gave us a lift down there - my first time in her new car! After lunch we watched the Six Nations Rugby game of Scotland v France: Scotland won 20-16, their first victory over them for 10 years. The Scottish genes in us came raging to the fore!

I went to a 'Proms Night' led by the Birmingham Salvation Army at their citadel in the city centre, Saturday 4th February 06. A good night of flag waving. We went back to Stephen & Hilary's for supper afterwards. More photos here

Judith & George have just got back from a cruise around the Caribbean, so it was a good excuse for a meal at their house to see their photos - eating and drinking copious amounts beforehand! Friday 3rd February 06. More photos here

Nicki has had a new car, or should I say 4x4. A rather splendid Subaru - well done, Nicki. I've rather taken to the heated leather seats. Oh I do like a touch of luxury!!

My niece Jodie has been back from the Cayman Islands for a few months now, and on Thursday 26th January 06 left for a 5 month period in India. She's going there to train-up in a number of areas before she finally decides where she's off to next. "Home weary wander home" .... !

On Saturday 14th January 06, Belinda, Peter, Judith & I were with other members of the Midlands Symphony Choir singing in the Birmingham Symphony Hall for "West End & Broadway"  and Angela Rippon was the compere. The West End Stars were Claire Moore,
Simon Bowman, Rebecca Thornhill & Matt Rawle More photos here

On Wednesday 11th January the 'old gang' met up, for the first time over a year, at the Himley House pub nr Wolverhampton. From left-right are: Joy, me, Pat, Alex & Deb.

My niece Katie was 18 on Thursday 5th January 06. She held a party for friends & family the day later, 6th January, at the Royal British Legion hall in Halesowen. It was a great night with all the youngsters reminding us oldies of what it's like to have energy & vibrancy!! And they all seemed so polite too .... !! More photos of the evening can be seen here