 Our
New Year's Eve party was held at Belinda's with the usual crowd - food,
drink, wii games, fireworks etc etc saw us through the night .. all
surrounded of course by good friends & family More photos
here
|
 Traditionally
we go to my sister Beverly's for Boxing Day lunch. But mom had come down
overnight with V&D and couldn't get out of bed. But as you can see from
the photo [looking up from Bev's towards the gate at the top of her
field] the whole area was covered with iced-snow! No car could get up or
down and we needed to leave our car at a nearby house and walk down. Mom
could not have managed that walk!! That said, when we got to Bev's we
were subsumed into the whole family celebrations [again!] with food &
drink aplenty and games! More photos
here
|
 Christmas
Day saw me visiting my brother Barrie as mom was their watching everyone
opening their presents. Then lunch at Belinda's with Nicki & Jodie who
had flown in from Bermuda yesterday. An excellent lunch, silly hats of
course obligatory, with the Queen's Speech @ 3pm. More photos
here
|
 The
family gathers every Christmas Eve, with the nieces & nephews returning
home from Loughborough, Windsor, Southampton, Aberystwyth, London and the like.
Tradition was broken for the first time this year as we met at Barrie &
Jane's instead of mother's .. but it gave us more space and of course
the traditional family group photo was taken just before we exchange our
presents. This is my favourite family get-together of the year! More photos
here
|
 The
Christmas tree at church was donated by a local garden Centre, all we
had to do for it was sing Christmas Eve for an hour to their last
minute shoppers!! So about 14 of folk from church did our bit for the
said 60 minutes .. polite applause when we finished ha-ha.
|
 We
had a spectacular fall of snow on the early morning of Saturday 18th
December - and as at 21/12 the car still hasn't moved!! It looks lovely
but ... when can I move the car?! More photos
here
|
 Another
walk, this time on a wet, windy & cold Kinver Edge on 16th December. I
wasn't entirely happy while walking through the woods that we came upon
an guy in his 70s who was taking his rottweiler for a walk and clearly
could not hold it when we met. I fear had we had a dog with us then a
melee would have ensued! And the rottweiler would have won!! |
 It
was George's birthday on Tuesday 14th December so a few of us went round
for a lovely, as usual in the Tyler home, meal. photo shows the Tyler
family relaxing afterwards - aided by the copious amounts of wine!! |
 A
vey cold walk on 8th December alongside the Dudley canal which was
frozen solid - as demonstrated from the photos
here of the two [daft, in my
view] teenagers walking down the middle of the frozen water.
|
 A
weekend away with Joy & Lynton and Lynne & Ian .. the highlights being
Friday 3rd December: at Imperial War Museum; sight-seeing and a meal in
Covent Garden. Saturday 4th December: shopping [or should that be just
looking at those prices!!!] at Fortnum & Mason; at the British Museum;
at Momma Mia the musical. Sunday 5th December: sightseeing; at Harrods;
at the Royal Tournament @ Earls Court - all with food aplenty, of
course!! More photos here
|
 I'm
in pieces over West Brom's recent performances. So many points lost ..
and we play Stoke City this coming Saturday, 20th November, sadly our
bête noire when it comes to teams I do not like playing!
|
 It’s
Armistice Day today [11th November] and I thought I’d share these words
(as shown in the photo) offered to the families of the fallen of WW1 –
as you can see I was named after my grandfather, who was killed in
December 1916 during the Battle of the Somme while serving with the
Seaforth Highlanders .. "lest we forget"
|
 I
went on Saturday 7th November to a Concert's performance of (1) Sleepers
Wake [Cantata 140] by JS Bach (2) Sing unto God, the Wedding ode for
Prince Frederick by Handel and (3) the St Nicolas Mass by Haydn ... I
can't imagine why I went by myself, my friends opting instead for a Guy
Fawkes/Fireworks Party .. !!
|
 An
alert looking Aunty May, who's approaching 101 in a few months shown
here with a very tired Archie whose 1st birthday will soon be here. Also
on the photo is mom & sister - 2nd November 2010
|
 I
went with others to a Quiz Night in Stourbridge on Saturday 30th October
where the 8 of us formed two teams .. the one including George & Judith
and Peter & Phylis did, sadly, better that Belinda, Paul & Deb and I
did. Food/drink before and after the quiz at J&G's was good! |
 I
cooked .. impressed? I had Judith & George and Peter & Phylis Fisher
over for a meal on Friday 29th October. We are a lot and drank probably
a tad too much too .. I had a long lie in on the Saturday morning .. !! |
 It’s
not going to last long
.. the bubble will soon burst .. but hey [and before Arsenal & Man U
kick off
later today to spoil it] I’m going to milk this image for all it’s
worth, for sadly we’re not called the Yo-Yo Club for nothing …. !! |
 A
happy day .. I went to the Hawthorns on Saturday 23rd October to watch
the Baggies play Fulham .. a great game, but I would say that wouldn't I
seeing that we came away with all 3 points!! Boing Boing me thinks
|
 It
was 'walking day' on Thursday 21st October 2010 and we went to
Kinver. A cold but crisp & sunny day. And yes, I won the stare
competition with this bovine-creature - trying to block my way indeed!!
More photos here
|
 On
Sunday 17th October at Overend Methodist Mission we held a service to
commemorate the Centenary of the Women's Chain Makers' Strike (details
about this can be seen on our local newspaper's website here). Among the
guests were two former local MPs, Silvia Heale [former Deputy Speaker)
and Lynda Waltho - who was kind enough to arrange, way back in February
2008, tickets for PMQs and then lunch with her in the Commans ..
|
 I
stayed overnight at Bev's on Tuesday 12th October as she had her friend
& family staying with her - they live in Switzerland - see photos
here
|
 A
weekend with Joy & Lynton and Lynne & Ian .. dinner at mine on Friday
8th October .. visiting Packwood House & Baddsley Clinton on the
Saturday .. dinner & overnight stay @ J&L's .. visiting Hanbury Hall on
Sunday 10th October - see photos
here
|
 my
second week of a night school course on Adobe Dreamweaver - not like any
other web authoring program I've used before, but it looks good and
hopefully by the end of the course this website will be all bells &
whistles! On the other hand, reality may strike .... !!
|
 would
you 'Adam & Eve' it ... the Baggies beat the Gunners (Saturday
25th September) oh how my cup overflows!! But as a 'facebooker' friend
of mine did add "Baggies in Wonderland" .. perhaps, but nice
while it lasts.
|
 who
needs Sat Nav / GPS when we have such helpful signposts to assist? (Seen
over Romsley yesterday while out walking 22nd September.)
|
 It
was my nephew Matthew's 20th birthday on 11th September .. sadly he'd
been taken into hospital the day before because of glandular fever.
However we had a brief family gathering on the Sunday 12th .. more
photos here
|
![William {Bill] McBain with his great nephew Archie - Sept 2010](images/3sep10c_small.jpg) I
went walking with my neighbour Terry on our usual weekly walk, This time
walking along the banks of the the River Severn from Bewdley towards
Arley. As we were so close to my sister Beverly's we ended up there for
lunch .. Friday 3rd September. More photos
here
|
 We
celebrated mom's birthday [which was actually on 26/08/10] with lunch at
Bev's on Sunday 29th August .. more photos
here
|
![William [Bill] McBain on 25th August 2010](images/25aug10_small.jpg) The
weather was a dreadful on Wednesday 25th August with heavy rain and it
being really cold for the time of year. But nonetheless my neighbour
Terry & I still valiantly 'went forth' to Uffmoor Wood. We managed 80
minutes before we called it a day .. oh where is the sunshine & heat?!
|
 Bethany heard on Tuesday 24th August that she had passed the 2 GCSEs she had
taken a year early @ 1xA* and 1xA. Well done Beth
|
 I
went to the first home game of the season of WBAFC at the Hawthornes on
Saturday 21st August @ 3pm ko. We beat Sunderland by 1 goal to nil ...
an anxious last 10 minutes but at least the win has taken us off the
bottom of the table after last week's disastrous game!! Onwards &
upwards .. erm, hopefully!!
|
 It
was another gathering of our 'old-gang' from my teenage days .. yes, I
can remember that far back! .. meeting up with Deborah, Alex, Joy &
Patricia. As ever, a good laugh was had, even if the topics of
conversation has moved away from fashion & the latest Beatles' songs
towards aches, pains & medicines!! :)
|
 I
went walking over Waseley park on Wednesday 18th August, with my
neighbour Terry. Good to blow the cobwebs out of your system!
|
 I
watched a piece of history re-created today when a replica of the
Titanic's anchor was pulled through Netherton. The original 16-tonne
anchor was cast by Hingley's of Netherton in 1911 & hauled to the old
Dudley train station by 20 shire horses. Today’s re-enactment followed
the route in reverse. Sadly today’s horses
aren’t as strong; they couldn’t cope with the weight and a tractor had
to be called in to pull the anchor!!
More photos
here.
|
 on
Tuesday 10th August I went to watch the funeral of 40 Commando
Royal Marine Jonathan
Crookes, 26, from Halesowen who died during a patrol in the Sangin
district of Helmand province on 16 July.
It was rather emotional .. more photos
here.
|
 yet
another
good weekend away (7th - 9th August) with Joy & Lynton and Lynne &
Ian visiting National trust places in both Surrey & Kent. But the
whole reason for going at all was to visit Chartwell - the country home
bought by Sir Winston Churchill for its magnificent views over the Weald
of Kent]. Chartwell was his home and the place from which he drew
inspiration from 1924 until the end of his life. We did this on the
Sunday - it was fabulous; bathed in sunshine, the house & gardens lived totally up to expectations
helped. The house has been preserved as it would have looked when
Churchill owned it. More photos
of our weekend here.
|
 Walking
the old rail track of the now disused Halesowen/Longbridge line - 5th
August 2010 - more photos here.
|
 Walking
over Haden Hill with George Tyler on the morning of Friday 30th July.
|
 I
met up with Paul Bond, my former boss, and Ian Lacon & Nando Jaramillo
for our 'usual' twice a year gathering! Paul provided the food but we
ate at Ian's .. eating alfresco on a lovely balmy summer's evening. Much
food & alcohol was consumed - 29th July 10. More photos
here
|
 While
in Derby for a gathering with my neighbour Terry and others of 'The
Seagull' on Thursday 29th July, we just popped into Pride Park, the home
of Derby County FC, for an enquiry about a season ticket and ended up
getting a 30 minute tour of the ground - a rather splendid outcome I
thought! More photos can be seen
here
|
 a
relaxing evening at Judith & George's along with Peter & Phylis -
Tuesday 27th July 10
|
 a
family lunch at mom's on Sunday 25th July 10 - with my lovely great
nephew Archie .. to see more photos click
here
|
|
 walking
from Arley to Highley & back .. with my neighbour Terry Curzon on
Wednesday 7th July. To
see more photos taken, click here
|
|
walking
from Arley to Highley & back .. with my neighbour Terry Curzon on
Wednesday 7th July. To
see more photos taken, click here
|
|
 my
[first] great nephew Archie James Bevan was christened on Sunday 4th
July St Mary's in Highley. A splendid occasion for family & friends. To
see some of the myriad of photos taken, click
here
|
|
 It
was my sister Belinda's birthday party & BBQ on Saturday 3rd July 2010. More
photos here
|
|
 I
went away for a few days away to Llandanwg, near Harlech, from Wednesday
31st June to Saturday 3rd July 2010. More
photos here
|
|
 at
Paul & Deb's for our final [sadly] World Cup game party for the England
v Germany game on Sunday 27 June 2010 - oh well, let's wait for the Euro
2012 games!! . More
photos here
|
|
 Walking
over Bluebell Wood near Clent on Thursday 24th June with my neighbour
Terry Curzon. More
photos here
|
|
 yet
another football party, this time at my house on Wednesday 23rd June to
watch the final group game v Slovenia .. but as it was a 3pm kick-off
most were at work so were were down to only 4 of us! We won, but sadly
we didn't finish top of the group and our next game is therefore v
Germany .. ouch!. More
photos here
|
|
 a
Prayer Walk organised by my church over local fields to see points of
historic interest. We went on Tuesday 22nd June 2010 on a beautifully
sunny & balmy evening. More
photos here
|
|
 at
a football party to celebrate & support England .. thankfully these
photos were taken before the end of a most awful England performance. We
were dire .. sadly!! Friday 18th June. More
photos here
|
|
 Walking
through the woods to find the canal path through some remarkably green
and quiet areas of Netherton, not known for its aesthetic charms!!
Pleasantly surprised .. on a lovely warm & sunny day @ 17th June. More
photos here
|
|
 Meeting
up with the 'Short Crossers' (friends from my teenage days!!) Joy, Deb &
Pat - 16 June 2010.
|
|
 the
operation on my hand was on 25th February .. since then I've been weekly
to Russells Hall Hospital for Occupational Therapy .. today 26th June, I
was discharged from their tender care!! Hallelujah
|
|
 A
photo of my nephew Alexander Bevan and my adorable great nephew Archie
James Bevan, 5weeks old .. taken 12 June 2010.
|
|
 The
first of our 'World Cup - England games' parties @ Peter & Phylis'
gathering suitably clad in England colours on Saturday 12th June to
watch the game against the USA. At a 1-1 draw it was not quite the score
we'd hoped for; but hey still two games to go .. more photos
here
|
|
 The
World Cup is at last here, and like a big kid at Christmas I woke this
morning thinking "the day's actually here" .. can't wait for the next
four weeks!
|
|
 Walking
through the splendid Wyre Forest on Thursday 10th June with my neighbour
Terry Curzon ..
|
|
 I
spent the day at the National Memorial Arboretum [whose motto is "where
the Nation remembers"] and was moved by the solemnity and dignity
of the place; and where the names of those killed in action in 2009 have
only just been chiseled into the memorial wall of remembrance. I also
found the 'Basra Wall' very moving. It was re-dedicated here
recently having been brought back from Basra - it remembers those who died during Britain's
six-year operation in Iraq following the March 2003 invasion. Made from
brick with brass plaques listing each life lost, the wall originally
stood outside the British forces' headquarters at Basra in southern
Iraq. It was built by the colleagues of the fallen.
More photos of my visit here.
|
|
 My
niece Katie was back home for a fleeting visit this weekend, and nephew
Matthew is also back from Uni for the summer. They popped round to mom's
to say hi - on Sunday 6th June - seen here with Jane, Belinda, mom
& me.
|
|
 I
went to the Birmingham Rep Theatre for the final night's performance of
Noises Off, a superb farce with a bit of an extra zing; really
funny. And it being a fabulously warm evening we went for a drink along
the canal. A late night was had!
|
|
 Friends
Paul & Deb Westwood sailed off on their Mediterranean cruise on Saturday
5th June .. not to be outdone, a few of us met at the same time their
ship was sailing @ Judith & George's for our very own 'sail-away party'
of popping corks and pretending .. !! A much cheaper occasion!
|
|
 Friday
4th June saw a fabulously sunny & hot day .. I went walking with my neighbour
Terry Curzon over both Clent & Walton Hills .. it was a hard walk in
the heat, I
sweated on the climbs - as you know 'I don't do sweating' .. !! More photos
here
|
|
For some time now I've been wanting
to go to Wootton Bassett to pay my respects to the fallen. I eventually went on
Thursday 3rd June .. to see to see the
repatriation of Corporal Stephen Paul Curley, 26, of 40 Commando Royal
Marines and Gunner Zak Cusack, 20, from 4th Regiment Royal Artillery,
both of whom died in Afghanistan on Wednesday 26/05/10. From the moment
the church bell tolled the town fell silent; It was a very moving experience indeed.
More photos
here - though please note 3
of the photos are taken from the BBC website [to show what takes place]
as I felt it inappropriate to take photos at such a personal time for
the soldiers' families there.
|
|
I stayed overnight at my sister
Bev's on 1st June and on the 'morrow, 2/6, I met there with Mo, a former
work colleague, for morning coffee alfresco, fruit and scones &
cream & jam!! All the gossip was caught up with!! More photos
here
|
|
The 31st May will see the 12th
anniversary of the untimely death of my belovéd
sister Barbara. As we always do, the family met at church at Short Cross
[this year on Sunday 30th May] after which we went to the Clent Hills to
scatter rose petals over the spot where her ashes had been scattered.
See more photos of the day here
|
|
Friday 28th May was a good day for a walk , going with Terry, my
neighbour, walking alongside the Kinver canal .. and in beautiful
sunshine.
|
|
An
early start was needed on Wednesday 25th May to get to London in time to
watch the State Opening of Parliament - or more correctly, to stand in
The Mall and watch all the pomp with the bands, procession etc. Having
left well before 6am I went via the M40 & caught a train in from the
outskirts of the City. The sun shone, London was as vibrant as ever and
I managed to get a good vantage point for photos, which can be
seen
here
|
|
I
went away for a long weekend 14th-17th May with Joy & Lynton to stay in
Torquay at Lynne & Ian's home. On the Friday we had a gentle stroll
around Torquay and its harbour; on the Saturday we went Dartmouth to
Greenways, a NT place, formerly a home owned by Agatha Christie -
the home and gardens were fabulous. On the Sunday we went fist to
Boringdon Hall for morning
coffee (parts of which date from 956 AD) and then on to Saltram House,
near Plympton, yet another NT home! On the Monday we went to Sidmouth
for morning coffee at the Belmont Hotel and then another stroll around
the town. Sadly it was then Lynton had a serious fall resulting in a
brief loss of consciousness and a nasty head wound. An ambulance was
called and we ended up at Exeter A&E for a couple of hours. Thankfully
all was well and he was allowed out .. Joy drove us home!! More photos
here
|
|
Walking again on Wednesday 12th May with my neighbour Terry Curzon and
friend Mike Standen who's down from York just for the day.
|
|
One
Thursday evening 6th May, I stayed up until 4.00am on the Friday waiting
to see who had won the election .. luckily, because of the
hung-Parliament outcome, I didn't wait to see the final outcome before I
went to bed otherwise I'd be like the 'walking dead' by now - as
at Sunday evening, 09/05, no outcome is yet determined!! Watch this
space ..
|
|
I
went to see 'Respect' at the Birmingham Rep on Thursday 6th May
[election day!!] a play about four teenagers taking a day trip to
Cologne. By the end of the night, their world has been turned upside
down. One is dead, two are in police custody, and the fourth is
recovering from stab wounds. It's a hard-hitting play about sexual
attitudes, provocation and intercultural confusion & is based on the
true story of an honour killing.
|
|
 Archie,
Aimie, Bev & me met at mom's for tea on Tuesday 4th May giving me an
opportunity to spend some time with my great nephew Archie .. he's just
gone 4 months and it's so good to see him smile and chuckle! More photos
here
|
|
 An
end of a Bank Holiday evening drink @ Judith & George's
[Monday 3rd May], and after an awful day's weather it was good to
chill, albeit briefly. And the soft glow of each of us, making us look
like something from the Ready Brek advert, is due more to my lack of
Photoshop skills .. :)
|
|
 I
went
visiting two former BR stations, both of which had fallen into an awful
state of repair but now restored to private residences
& rail tracks @ Fencote and Rowden Mill between Leominster &
Bromyard nr Herefordshire - Thursday 29th April 2010.
We
had a great day riding up and down each stations' mile and a half of
track .. toys for the boys!! Fabulous. More photos here
|
|
 Having
been at home for only 20 minutes from my NT day out on 28/04/10 [see
below] I was picked up to go and meet up for a reunion of our old 'gang'
from my teenage days of Joy, Deb & Pat - sadly Alex couldn't make it.
isn't it great that we still want to meet up after well over 40 years of
friendship.
|
|
 I
went with Judith & George to two national trust places on Wednesday 28th
April. The first was Croft Castle
- a castellated Manor House that's been
in the Croft family for almost a 1000 years! Secondly, we went on to the
nearby Berrington Hall . More photos here
|
|
 On
Monday 26th April I went to the Town Hall in Birmingham for a lunchtime
Concert led by the Birmingham
Conservatoire Chamber Choir after which we had lunch in the Mailbox
having had a nice walk there in the sun alongside the canal. The only
downside to our eating alfresco is the building work being carried out
on 'The Cube' - the hideous offices/hotel/apartments
you can see in the background; it blocks out much of the sun in the
various squares, and its decor is redolent of the 1960s!!
More photos here
|
|
 Saturday
24th April was my birthday!! A day of mixed emotions .. on the morning I
was treated to a birthday breakfast by Joy & Lynton and later when I got
home I spent a little time with my neighbours Ian & Heather who are
moving home this weekend down to Torquay. I'll miss my weekly coffee
mornings with Ian. On the evening I was singing with VIH who were
performing a St George's Day concert in Blackheath. A good day. More
photos here
|
|
 Friday
23rd April was St George's Day & would have been my dad's birthday - a
proud Scot born on England's Patron Saint's day .. he never lived it
down within the family!! I went to Clent, where we had scattered his
ashes. On the evening stayed with Joy & Lynton who treated me to a
traditional English meal of faggots & mash followed by treacle tart &
cream .. nice! To see more photos of the day click
here
|
|
 We
explored new territory for our weekly walk on Wednesday 21st April,
trying to follow the former trainline from Halesowen to Longbridge. We
joined it at Romsley and walked part of it in the near 3 hours we were
out. More photos here
|
|
 After
the Mozart concert [see below] on the 16th April, I met up with some
friends who were also in Birmingham that night. We went for a few drinks
in a few places and I got home rather too late for someone of my vintage
.. !!! |
|
 I
went to the
Birmingham Symphony Hall on Friday 16th April for a performance of
Mozart's Requiem. As a Mozart fan, it was obviously superb!!
|
|
 I
went walking
with Terry my neighbour on Wednesday 14th April going to Trimpley
Reservoir - and I bumped into John Taylor, with whom I used to work,
while there as well as have a close up view of an SVR train. The sun
even shone as we ate bacon sandwiches at the cafe in Arley! More photos
here
|
|
 Oh
yes, the Baggies are promoted .. let the celebrations begin .. boing
boing .. oh how my cup runneth over .. the photo is West Brom in
1888 .. two of them still play for us!!
|
Has
been to see a fabulous production of Les Misérables at Birmingham
Rep starring John Owen Jones & Gareth Gates, the music evoking emotions
of mirth & pathos and at times was so stirring that it made even me want
to go and man the barricades – me, an avowed monarchist!! The photo
shows me shaking hands with Claude-Michel
Schonberg [who composed the music of Le Mis, Miss Saigon etc]
taken a couple of years ago at a music workshop
|
So
much for an Easter Monday Bank Holiday lie in!! Woken early with sirens
blaring, courtesy of 3 police cars and 2 fire engines attending a RTA
outside my bedroom window … 5th April
|
"The Lord is risen; He is
risen indeed - hallelujah" For Easter Sunday morning I went to Short
Cross Methodist with mom, a splendid service led by Maureen Jeavons with
good rousing Easter hymns to boot!! I went to my own church on the
evening for communion and a more reflective service led by our minister
Rev David.
|
Good Friday, 2nd April, was a
busy day and saw (1) the early & now traditional morning GF service at
Short Cross Methodist church @ 7.30am, followed by (2) the annual Easter
egg hunt at the Hierons' and then (3) off to Bev's to help my niece
Abigail celebrate her 31st birthday, then (4) off to mom to see my aunty
May followed by (5) folk here at home to watch the WBA game on Sky - we
won 3-0 - and finally (6) off the Overend for another Good Friday
service. Egg hunt photos here
and Abigail's birthday celebration photos
here.
|
All Fools Day dawned with a
fabulous blue sky; by the time I went for a walk over Kinver Edge in the
afternoon it as wet, wet, wet .. oh, and a tad cold!
|
I went with Judith to visit
Coughton Court [a National Trust property] on Saturdsy 27th March 2010.
It was
home to the Throckmortons family who were one of the UK’s oldest
Catholic families since the 15th century and implicated in the Gunpowder
plot of 1605.
More photos here
|
It was Judith's birthday on
Tuesday 23rd March and where we were invited for a meal and to try out
her birthday present of a Wii-trainer!! Far too much like hard work for
me!! More photos here
|
At Bev's for Mothering Sunday,
14th March,
and
where mom received her first ever great-grandma card off Archie.
Earlier Belinda & I went with
mom to her church. More photos
here
|
While
not wishing to put anyone off their tea, you do need to realise the pain
and anguish I'm suffering!! :) This
photo was taken Wednesday 3rd March 2010 as my dressings were taken off
for the first time since my operation, for my wound to be claned; I
refrain from showing you the pre-cleaning photo!! Spot the skin graft?
Next week my stitches come out. Ouch. Sympathy in oodles please .. or
grapes!
|
 I
returned home after 2 days in Russells Hall hospital [25/26 February
2010] for an operation on my hand .. unfortunately it’s my right hand,
clad in plaster & has to be elevated so feel somewhat immobile .. but on
the plus side my left-handed typing/texting is improving!! .. photo
shows my arm in the sling I had to wear while on the ward so
you can imagine trying to sleep was not easy .. and now with parts of my
body I can’t reach to wash is in danger of becoming a social pariah ..
“unclean, unclean”
|
 I
had a good day out with Peter and Judith & George on Wednesday 24th
February when we had a 'National Trust' day .. we visited moated
Baddsley Clinton and then Packwood House. Two places well worth
visiting. More photos here.
|
 It
was my Aunty May's 100th birthday on Friday 19th February and we tried
to make her day as special as possible. Unfortunately she had a fall the
previous weekend and broke her hip - we thus celebrated her birthday in
Russells Hall hospital where she will be staying for a week or two .. !!
This photo shows the family's oldest and youngest members - aunty @ 100
years and Archie @ 7 weeks. More photos
here. |
 I
had another great weekend with Joy & Lynton and Lynne & Ian ..12th-15th
February. It started with a meal at my house on the Friday and then a
two nights away @ Joy's. We visited Bridgnorth and then the national
trust property at Dudmaston Hall. On the sunday we had morning coffee at
the Chataeu Impney' More photos
here
|
 I
had applied for, and got in the public ballot, a ticket to see Tony
Blair when he appeared before the Iraq Inquiry - held at the Queen
Elizabeth Conference Hall in London on Friday 29th January. It was a
fascinating experience heighten by all the security surrounding the
Hall, the intense media interest and the demonstrations outside. More
photos here
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Photo of a very friendly robin,
taken at the Kinver canal on Thursday 28th January.
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I had a fabulous 4 days away with
Joy & Lynton and Lynne & Ian when we stayed at the Saunton Sands Hotel
in north Devon from 16th/19th January 2010. I visited the only town in
the UK to end its name with an exclamation mark, played my first game of
Wii and ate in fine style at the hotel. More
photos here
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Another walk in a fresh snow fall,
this time walking from home [the roads seemed too bad to try and get the
car out] to Haden Hill House & Park - Thursday 13th January. More
photos here
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My first walk with my neighbour in
2010 on Wednesday 6th January. Because of the heavy snow fall overnight
we left the car at home and walked to our local Saltwells Park
and I've never seen my locality look so pretty; cold but pretty!! More
photos here
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![William {Bill] McBain with his great nephew Archie - Sept 2010](images/3sep10c.jpg)
![William [Bill] McBain on 25th August 2010](images/25aug10.jpg)
