this page was last updated on 13 August 2014

 

this is the 'Latest News' I uploaded in 2008 

I went walking for a couple of hours along the bank of the river Severn today, 27th August 08, and just as we were getting into the town of Stourport [and when my energy levels were beginning to flag] I stumbled across this house displaying a wonderful 'Baggies' flag ... it spurred me on to walk faster [for a minute or two at least!!!].

It was mom's 86th birthday on Tuesday 26th August. Because mom always meets her 98 year old sister May that day we meet up with her at my aunty's to swap cards, sing Happy Birthday and eat cake! More photos here

The family got together on Sunday 24th August to celebrate mom's birthday later in the week. We met at Bev's for a BBQ as all her brood were home, and Barrie & Jane and their lot had got home from 2 weeks holiday in Scotland only the day before. The weather held good and you can see more photos here

Albion's foray into the Premiership started today 16/8 playing away to Arsenal - can you imagine a more difficult game! A respectable loss @ 1-0 was fine by me. I had folk round to watch the game .. my TV remained intact so all was not lost!

I went with my neighbour to meet up with his former BR colleagues, when we spent the day on the Severn Valley Railway - 15th August 08. The weather was good and a good full day was had. This photo shows us in the Royal Mail's travelling post office carriage as collected in the SVR Museum.

I went to the Birmingham Opera Company's production of Mozart's Idomeneo in Birmingham on Thursday 14th August. Held in a disused former Rubber Factory it was the usual style of stand and move around. We stood overall for almost 2½ hours with only the occasional sit down on mats on the ground! The photo [taken on my mobile] shows how the production/cast moved around us all and how close they were to us. At one point the leading lady was singing no more than 3 feet away from me.

My nephew Alexander took part in the London Triathlon held on Sunday 10th August 08. More details to follow, but to see a brief video of him crossing the finishing line [he's in black, running in from behind] click here

Another walk, early on in the week, this time was along the canal - the forecast rain kept off an we saw loads of families on their barge holidays 

I think Christmas has come early - on the Family tree front at least! A [long lost] cousin of mine, Wendy, got in touch to say she too is 'doing family history' on the Tromans [my mom's side of the family] and had traced members back to 1627 ... ! Makes my efforts look a little understated. I met with Wendy shortly afterwards and in the 5 hours we had she ran me through everything she had, including giving me scanned copies of all her certificates and registers. I'm now slowing working my way through each and will add them to my own records after I've validated each step. But thank you Wendy - it's like knowing the answers before I even know the question! 

In a very busy week of meeting friends, lunches out, the highs and lows of a wedding and a funeral, I did find time [and needed to!] to spend a day out with my neighbour for a good hard slog around the Wyre Forrest - 1st August. We may only have walked for 2 hours and 5 minutes but it wasn't an easy walk. I needed my pot of tea when we got back to their Visitors' Centre!! 

Rather delayed, Josh has let me have some photos of his Graduation ceremony for his degree in Politics & History at Sheffield University. More photos here   

Also a little delayed, you can see here some of Josh's photos from his 4 weeks in Thailand.   

At Bev's 25th-26th July helping to celebrate her new French doors ... with weather to suggest Summer has finally arrived!! More photos here   

It was my neighbour's stag do today - Saturday 19th July - and they we doing 18 pubs playing to the 'golfing rules' ... I managed a few pubs before wending my way home. Best not to be let loose with too much alcohol inside me!  

My niece Katie continues her life of Riley in Thailand .. seen here washing elephants!! Some other photos here

My nephew Adam got his degree results today [16/7] and heard he'd gained a First in Accountancy. Superb result, well done Adam!! I did get my Cycle Proficiency Test award, 2nd attempt!! I don't know what all the fuss is about ... 

It was my nephew James' 40th birthday 'garden party' on Saturday 12th July 08 at his home in Pottersheath, Herts. We stayed over until the Sunday. More photos here

My niece Bethany has won the annual "Outstanding Player of the Year" award with the football team she plays for as goalkeeper .. !! If she's that good, I'll get her to sign up for the Albion!!

I spent a weekend with Joy & Lynton and Lynne & Ian @ Catshill 5th/6th July - having first had a "4th July" meal at my house on the Friday. A good weekend of chuckles, outings and good food [finished off by watching a superb Men's final @ Wimbledon]. More photos here

I went to Wales for a few days early July, staying at Llandanwg, near Harlech. The weather wasn't what you'd expect for July, but we should be used to that this year!! Do you think my Tarzan act suits me?? No? Oh well, neither do I actually. More photos here

Josh heard today 26/6 that he'd gained a 2:1 in his degree @ Sheffield University - he was emailed his results while he's in Thailand. Well done Josh .. great result!!

My niece Kate has also now flown out to Thailand with a friend, and though it's a totally different holiday from Josh's they are to meet up on Saturday 28th June 08for a meal - before going their separate ways! I used to go to Barmouth, Wales for my 'getaway' weeks ... how times have changed!!

My nephew Alexander took part in a YMCA look-a-like competition recently and you can see his contribution here on YouTube - he's the builder, 2nd from the left. I'm his Godfather and always wanted him to join a Monastery .. now you know why!!

I went to the National Tramway Museum @ Critch, Derbyshire on Monday 23rd June with my neighbour Terry & some his former work colleagues. An enjoyable day out meeting some new and entertaining folk. More photos are here].

My nephew Joshua has taken time out to travel to Thailand for a few weeks. He's gone alone with the intention of making new friends during his travels. Here's hoping for a safe & happy trip for him - and a speedy return from such foreign lands!

I went walking again with Terry & Dave on 18th June, but this time we walked from Arley to Bewdley and back [having had lunch at the turnaround] so of it running along the SVR line [see photo]. But at a total walking time of 4 hours it was a tad too much for me and found the last 30 minutes hard going. I did go to the gym later but solely for the sauna and Jacuzzi - to help me get rid of my aches & pains. Poor old sole ... !! More photos are here].

I've joined a gym .. I sweat just at thought of going! Luckily they also have nice & easy sauna & Jacuzzi - those I can cope with!! But as the photo shows it's doing me good, don't you think? (*coughs)

It was our weekly walk again, 11th June, with an additional walker this time: David, a friend of Terry's. During the walk we saw a deer for the first time, this lovely & well maintained horse & trap [see photo - more photos are here].

I went to the Birmingham Symphony Hall on Saturday 7th July to hear 'Rutter conducts Rutter.' I'm a great John Rutter fan and this was my first opportunity to see & hear him play two of his own compositions. As the programme said: "John Rutter’s Requiem has established itself as a classic. Its melodies and atmosphere speak directly and naturally to both audiences and singers alike. Hear it tonight conducted by the composer himself, with his own Cambridge Singers, alongside his recent Mass of the Children, the New York premiere of which made him the toast of Manhattan."

Taken on our now weekly walk in Wazley Park, on Monday 2nd June 2008. At least it didn't rain this week!!

Saturday 31st May saw the 10th anniversary of the death of my belovéd sister Barbara. My mom summed it up when she wrote in the local paper's 'In Memoriam' "Ten years have passed without you but the happy memories and the love that we hold so close to our hearts will never fade."

Just to prove I'm not just a fair-weather walker, this was taken [on a mobile phone] on Wednesday 29th May during my neighbour and mine's walk in the Wyre Forest - thinking the trees would protect us from the rain. Doh .. !! Soaked and wet but we stuck it out for 2½ hours, then the cafe and the call of lunch proved too strong for us.

A splendid fortnight away in Majorca from 10th-24th May 2008. The weather was unusually mixed and the photo shows the steps @ Cala San Vincente on the day we arrived! I went with June, John & Peter H and Joy & Lynton were coincidentally 3 miles away for the same 2 weeks. We met the family of the owners of the Villa, and a surprise birthday party for me was held on 14th May. Sadly I lost my camera at Palma airport on the way home but thankfully I'd swapped memory cards on the Tuesday night so I only lost 4 day's worth of photos. To see the photos I did get click here

I had a superb weekend away in Torquay [2nd-4th May 08] going down with Joy & Lynton and staying  h Lynne & Ian and where we were to celebrate my birthday! The sun shone on the Saturday & we ate the obligatory Devon cream tea at Berry Head House [where the hymn 'Abide with me' was written] before being feted on the evening with presents & a great meal at L&Is. On Sunday the sun shone yet again and we explored locally - going to the Paignton 'motor cycle festival' before going back for a late Sunday lunch and then celebrating confirmation that the Baggies' were confirmed as Championship leaders and thus promoted to the Premiership. See photos here

Another walk, this time in the Wyre Forest on 30 April 08. This was taken just after we had got 'a little lost' and ended up scrambling down a steep hawthorn bush infested bank. How I still have all my limbs intact is a mystery [though my SAS survival training obviously kicked in!].

Oh yes, despite a tense last few minutes the Baggies scrapped a draw [should I be happy that we couldn't beat someone in the relegation zone? - but let's not spoil the moment, eh?!] and unless we lose our final game and Hull FC win theirs by a margin of +13 goals, we're up!!!! Let joy be unconfined ... 

A delayed card & present opening session - lunchtime @ mom's on Sunday 27th. In view of the fire regulations candles were limited to one .. a wise move me thinks. (And yes, it is a different top to the one in the photo below - I just happen to like stripes, okay!?) More photos here

I spent a few days in Manchester, hiding from my birthday, in a rather splendid city centre apartment (with concierge, no less!!) though I liked its 42" plasma screen best, which enabled me to effortlessly watch the whole season 3 set of DVDs of '24' .. !! I also (1) went to the IWM North (2) local theatre to see 'Frozen' - the story of the disappearance of a 10-year-old girl & the play follows her mother and killer over the years that follow, linked by a doctor who is studying what causes men to commit such crimes, sounds heavy but well recommended (3) the cinema to see 'Vantage Point' (4) even managed a night club .. at my age .. but to be honest, it was more a late night pub - and anyway I couldn't manage beyond midnight!! More photos here

My cherry blossom tree is in almost full bloom - but on 22nd April 08 it's the wrong time of the year .. if I know that, why doesn't nature?! Last year the bloom lasted less than a week! One strong blast of wind or one strong downpour of rain and it's gone! Oh woe, so I'll enjoy it while it lasts ...

I went walking with my neighbour on Wednesday 16th April, starting from the Severn Valley Park. We had in mind a pub about halfway round our walk - it was shut when we got there!! So, desperate for food to sustain us we walked to the nearest village which was Highley and which is less than 2 miles from where my sister Bev lives. She was out and the local pubs were shut [at lunchtime!!!!] and as we'd been walking for 2½ hours we just collapsed in the Square [the only bench we could find] having bought nutritious sandwiches from the Co-op opposite. What a sight we looked! More photos here

My nephew Alexander is running in the London marathon today, Sunday 13th April 08 .. his first time. He is raising money for the Mental Health Foundation As I watch the TV I haven't yet been able to pick him out of the 10k crowd!! I'll let you know how he does. Note - Ali finished @ 3 hours 26 minutes & 39 seconds, and his online sponsor form (with his Paula Radcliffe 'lookalike' photo!!) can be seen here. To see the details of how he did along, and at each part of, the route of the race, click here and more photos here

It was my cousin Dawn's wedding on on Saturday 12th April @ 3pm at Short Cross Methodist, to Paul Acton. The reception was at the Mount Hotel, Clent. And even though it meant I had to miss the Baggies v Watford gave live on Sky Sports at 5.15pm [oh the sacrifices I make for family!!] I didn't mind, and with the result of 1-1 it wasn't a "too bad result" in the light of pothers' results ... Oh and the bride looked lovely too. More photos here

It snowed overnight between Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th April ... even my house looks pretty under 2 inches of snow!

Oh well, it wasn't to be! Before the start of the game of the FA Cup semi final @ Wembley (Saturday 5th April 08) I still held faint hope -and to be honest they were faint hopes - of Albion "doing a 1931" (when we gained both promotion and the Cup) but sadly though we dominated the first half [68% of play] we couldn't capitalise on it with goals. And given the choice between Cup or promotion, it has to be the latter so with 6 games to go it's now in our own hands to achieve that. My half bottle of champagne (well I was driving!!) went back in the fridge for another day!! But we could have won that game. you know ... and I'm not biased *coughs

Walking along the canal on 2nd April from the Stewpony Locks towards the locks at Swindon/Himley I bumped into John Taylor, seen here, walking the opposite direction with a group of friends. John was an usher at Dudley Magistrates' and we worked together for a number of  years. During the walk we also saw a large number of herons, a photo of which [with others] can be seen here.

I went to see 'the other Boleyn girl' on Thursday 27th March @ the Showcase Cinema - well worth a watch. But the cinema's air conditioning had stuck on in C10 so were we all frozen during the 1hr 55m film. So many people complained afterwards that we were all given an 'emergency ticket' by the manager to come and  watch another film on an other occasion "with our compliments." But it had been mightily cold!!

On our weekly walk, Terry & I went  went to Arley. The photo shows the Victoria Bridge, which spans the river Severn linking Bewdley & Arley. This bridge was the one used in the 1978 remake of 'The 39 Steps' - to see other photos of our walk around the Trimpley Reservoir click here

Good Friday started with a moving service at Short Cross @ 0730 followed by the (equally) traditional Easter egg hunt and Hot Cross buns at the Hierons'. But due to hail and then snow we did, exceptionally, eat indoors!! The group photo does show how sunny it eventually got. I then went on my weekly walk this time to the Wyre Forest - to work off some of those buns!! Followed by watching the Albion v Charlton game on Sky [a disappointing 1-1 draw] and then Lee staying for a couple of nights. Not a bad day overall [pity about the footy though]. More photos here.

A much welcomed few days of R&R in Torquay, staying at Lynne & Ian's along with Joy & Lynton. As ever much eating, drinking, laughter & shopping [every shop we passed I think - do women have a predisposition that makes them shop??!!] and my diet was shot to pieces, but hey who cares when such delights are placed on the table before you. Bread & Water to purge & detox me now needs to follow. The Saturday-Monday soon went, but what a good sign that is!! More photos here.

Well, what a weekend of FA Cup quarter final football ... as I write this the 3 underdog-teams have each each beaten their 'betters' & gone through to the next round; and Albion are playing now!! I'm nervous and need something to do & take my mind off the pressure of watching the game!! (I'm on a much-delayed diet so can't even take solace from alcohol to sooth my nerves.) At 38 minutes we're winning 2-1 but ..... !! Whatever the final score, I'll keep this bit in ... I'll be back after the game!! Why did I worry?! A comfortable 5-1 in the end.

It was Mothering Sunday on 2nd March so Belinda & I, gladly doing our filial duty, went with mom to Short Cross for their morning service and then on to Bev's for lunch. 

I went to the WBA v Plymouth game @ the Hawthorns on Saturday 1st March - a 'magnificent' win of 3-0 (eventually - dreadful first half!). I sat next to Jim Price, my former BB officer, who was celebrating his 94th birthday that day! It was announced at half time over the PA system and it was lovely to see the people around us applaud his success. This photo was taken just after the game ... more photos here!

This is Bethany on her 13th birthday [25th February 08]. One of her presents was a drum kit. There are times I am so grateful for living 3 miles away from their family!! And I do apologise for advertising anything to do with Aston Villa on this website ... !!

It was Peter Mabbott's (my godson) wedding at Nottingham on Saturday 23rd February 08 - to Leonie Nolan. It was a lovely service, great reception & fun speeches. Photo shows mom, the groom himself and his sister Kirsty. More photos here

The 'old gang' from Short Cross met up again on Wednesday 20th February - Patricia, Joy & I turned up ... Alex was working and Deb forgot!!

During our walking on 20/2/08 we noticed parts of the canal were still frozen - it was so funny watching the birds trying to land and sliding everywhere; or them 'walking on water' as seen here.

Auntie May was 98 today [19th Feb 08] a fantastic achievement by any standard, and of course the family went to help her celebrate ... more photos here.

It was such a sunny and warm day [for February!] that when Peter phoned me from Clent Hills on Tuesday 12th saying 'come up for tea & a bacon sandwich' I did .... more photos [no walking involved - just food!!] here

Having only seen Alexander a few days ago at his office @ Ofcom, he's heard today (8th February 08) that he's been accepted for post-grad medical training as a doctor at St Mary College, part of the University of London. Always was one of his ambitions, so well done Ali ... !!

After the excitement of the Commons' tour et al [see below] Bev & I then went on to see my nephew Alexander who works at Ofcom as it was only a few stops away by tube. The office is in a beautiful spot on the edge of the Thames and has a lovely view of St Paul's cathedral. More photos here.

A tour of the House of Commons, tickets to watch PMQs and then lunch with my MP, Lynda Waltho, in "Strangers' Restaurant" was all part of what Lynda had put together to help make our visit on Wednesday 6th February 2008 special. Sadly, we weren't allowed to take any photos anywhere except in the precincts of Westminster Hall.  Those few we did take can be seen here.

A meal at Paul & Deb's on the Saturday night [2nd Feb 08) was a lovely end to a good day ... a diet has to be on my agenda soon, i know! Soon but not yet ... !! More photos here.

It was a glorious day on Thursday 31st January [as you see from the photo] so we went for a walk over the Lickey Hills, absolutely superb!! It must be 15 years since I last went there. And at the end a bacon sandwich to boot [no pun intended]!! More photos here.

I went to Bewdley on Wednesday 23rd January for another walk, only to find the path we were to follow is under water!! We did find high ground to stroll over but took this photo outside the pub where we had lunch - showing quite clearly the flood defences in place and the river so high it's half way up the bridge; and the speed of the flow had to be seen to be believed! More photos here.

More walking, this time over a sodden Clent & Walton [17 Jan 08]. And we managed to get ourselves 'a little lost' - and this is over home territory, how can that be!! And as a result, with Terry having an early afternoon appointment, we didn't even have time for the famous 'National Trust - Nimmins Road' sausage & bacon sandwich!!

Tuesday 15th January 08 saw the FA Cup replay with Charlton at the Hawthorns. With 2 friends I went to see the game, having got soaked in the walk to the ground. Despite a 2-0 lead at one time, we were still forced into extra time and then, oh joy , penalties!! At least the cold & wet was worth it when we came out victors as 4-3 in the shootout!!

I've started college again, this time doing a course on how to use Adobe Photoshop CS3, which I have but find difficult to use - despite buying and trying to use two 'Dummies' books off eBay. I thought 'Dummies' summed me up totally when it came to CS3. All I can say after my first week is, 'wait and see' if the college course fee was worth it!!  

More walking, and boy do I need to!! I went with my neighbour Terry to Himley Hall Park and did about 2 hours of effort - followed by a well deserved sausage sandwich at the cafe at the end of the walk!!! More calories ... ! More photos here.

Having been at Katie's birthday yesterday, Sunday 6th January 08 saw my sister Bev's **th birthday - would I dare tell?! So yet another birthday-bash ensued with calories galore on offer. When will the diet start? More photos here.

It was Katie's 20th birthday on Saturday 5th January - we gathered as usual ... whether she wanted it or not!! More photos here.

Our weekly walks started again on Wednesday 2nd January 08 ... much needed after the (over) indulgences of Christmas! We went to the Wyre Forest.