A DAY OF FIRSTS FOR OSCAR

Today marked 2 weeks since Oscar's last batch of inoculations, so he is now officially allowed to go out walking with the "big dogs".

Karen and Hugh have been walking him in the garden, with his choker chain and new lead, in an attempt to get him used to it, for the past three days.  Eventually it was agreed that perhaps he should get used to wearing an ordinary collar first - even though the breeder had recommended a choker from day 1.

 Two against one - that's not fair!

 Say what you like, I don't LIKE it!

Preparing for a forward somersault closely followed by a backwards flip.

10 minutes later, the fuss was over - and he hasn't taken a bit of notice of his collar since.  It WAS highly entertaining at first though - but he's bright enough to know which battles are worth the effort.  Probably that would have been enough exercise him but a promise is a promise - and after lunch, Karen, Hugh, Anya, Oscar and I went for a walk in the Cotswolds.

 Anya and Hugh walking the dog - eventually he got a little bit braver and risked using his own legs in the big open spaces

 Looking towards Gloucester from the Cotswold Hills.  When you're in Gloucester and look towards the hills it's not unlike being in Christchurch, looking towards the Cashmere Hills.

Oscar's first encounter with another dog gave him such a fright that he practically climbed up Karen's legs to safety.  That outfit had to go into the washing machine on our return to the house!  However, the second dog was on a lead and a bit uncertain too.  Oscar's still not too sure about those things with four legs.

The drive home was a doddle - he slept all the way home ... and all afternoon, while the rest of us went to a National Trust house in Worcestershire, where a man referred to as "Mr Wade" had devoted his life to collecting handmade, antique items and restored them.  He actually bought a house to store them in - and lived in another, smaller, house on the same property.   There were a few interesting items, but I came away feeling that I didn't really think I'd have liked meeting Mr Wade - so it was probably fortunate that he left the house in 1956.

Hugh - our Knight in shining armour ... in one of the items visitors were allowed to handle and try on!

The grounds and views were lovely - but overall it gave the feeling of a home owned by an eccentric old man who never worked a day in his life.

Tonight the clocks go back an hour so that means NZ is presently (Sunday lunch) 12.30 pm while the UK is now 11.30 (almost midnight) pm.   I much preferred it for the short period that we were exactly 12 hours difference.

Steph's had her shoulder surgery and I go back to spend a week supporting her (and Ray) on Monday.  It will be a difficult time for her, with little or no movement allowed by that arm for 6-8 weeks.  I'll probably be home before she can start doing anything with it again.  A good way to get out of having to do the vacuuming though!!

Meet Oscar

 Apart from razor sharp teeth and boundless energy, what's not to like about this 12 weeks old bundle?  If old  Tessa's life is anything to go by, Oscar has a lovely life ahead of him.

Aunty Sue (with numerous layers on) keeping Oscar off the settee in line with his training!

As can be seen, I made it to Gloucester - stopping off with Steph and Ray for one night, after leaving Sally and Ken in Guildford en route.  Tom and I have now clocked up over 2000 MILES in the Mondeo - and just around the same time, I note that the blog has had 2,000 hits as well.  How these numbers mount up - and how time flies ... I note with interest, that two months today, Boxing Day will be over and I'll be doing the last minute squash of things into my suitcase.

Today, Karen, Anya and I visited Philip and Rosemary in Cirencester. No. 4 niece, Gabriel, is staying there during the half term holiday break with Nye and Idris. 3 year old George is also there while Hannah, James and the girls spend the week searching for a new home.

We 7 spent about 2 hours in the museum there - doing a quiz ... finding pictures of prehistoric animals from cave drawings and eventually winning hand puppet animals each for their efforts.   It was a lovely morning and all the children enjoyed themselves - a clever, inter-active way of encouraging children to look at things of the past.

 Nye and George displaying their rock art for all and sundry to admire

 Idris posing for the official photographer - just in case she needed yet another photo of him for the newspaper article!

George, Anya, Nye and Idris displaying their "prizes" on our way back for lunch.

It was good to get an opportunity to see Gabriel and the boys again - and Philip and Rosemary. They only live a 25 minute drive away from Karen and Hugh in Gloucester, so it was easily arranged.

I am still working on my third cold since getting here - for the past two days laryngitis has also made me a most entertaining house guest and it's anyone's guess which voice I'll be using tomorrow.  At least the NZ accent dulls into insignificance, meanwhile.

NARROW BOAT - not long boat

Silly me!  But at 52' long, (6'10" wide) I can surely be forgiven for the slip - by anyone but  narrow boat owner perhaps.  We had a lovely relaxed day on the Wey River, almost reaching the Thames but deciding instead to moor up for a leisurely lunch and return the way we came.  I say relaxed.  For me, at least ... steering that length, from the rear and/or dealing with the locks at regular intervals is a pretty good workout for even the fittest of men/women.

Ken and Sally started from scratch in 2006 - preparing a plan of what they needed on board to decide how long it needed to be - and then fitting it out over the following two years.  There are canals all over Great Britain and basically its possible to get anywhere if you have the time.

Initially used by horse drawn barges, since the 1600's, they are solely for pleasure now - if you call working those locks a pleasure.  I DID get out at one stage to help Sally but suspect I was more hindrance than help ... and I certainly didn't risk disembarking when we were going DOWN the locks - Sally seemed to take her life in her hands each time she stepped back down into the boat - varying between a 3' and a 12' change in depth.  Going back the other way the boat is level with the bank, and moving on and off is much easier.

 Sally, hard at work.  One month younger than me ... about half the weight ... and hardly breaking out in a sweat!

 Going out through the first lock gates after a drop of about 8'

 From under a bridge - oh the photographic excellence - even the ducks are in focus!

 Told you!!  1653!

Waiting for the water to fill the lock - proof positive that I was indeed out of the boat - or at least my camera was.

Although most boats seemed to have been put to bed for winter, there was still plenty of animal activity on the river.

 What can I say?  Hiding the fact that the drain down point for the central heating has to be accessible.

 Two adults plus two teenagers

 Woops ... wrong turn, Mr Mole.

Even Chalkie got a look in!

And such views -

 Cox's Flour Mill - now an apartment building for I wouldn't know how many apartments.  What photography - just look at those reflections.  Such a perfect day.

 A weir to deal with some of the excess water, beside a lock.  On our way back about a dozen people were practising for rough water, in their kayaks.

 Eh? Eh?  Good or what?

Be grateful I didn't put up all 60 photographs that I took in the 5 hour journey!

All in all a lovely day - followed by a  pub meal in the evening with Pauline and Nick (Sally's sister).

And now a win to the All Blacks.  Not sure I approve of the delaying tactics in those last 2.5 minutes, but seeing the look on everyone's face at the end made it all worth while.

Whatever will we look forward to next?  My return at the end of December?  Must be almost as exciting surely?

MOVING ON ...

Today is the beginning of the school Half Term break.  I hadn't realised that when I planned this coming weekend, so I'm making my way back to Reading (Steph) for my car around midday, and then Tom and I will drive over to a lovely little village near Guildford for the weekend, with friends.

Actually, as far ago as the early 1970's, I used to go there and on one occasion couldn't remember whether it was near Dorking or Guildford - ending up driving around in circles for over an hour, trying to find the house.  Mobile phones were unheard of then and Tom wasn't available in those days - and a map book would have been  far too easy.

Sally's mum, and mine, started work the same day for Prudential Insurance - and years later, Sally and I were born within a month of each other, at the same hospital.  Our mums (and later we) corresponded for years
and when I eventually came over for my big OE, we met up and remain friends.

The school "mufty day" has been and gone - more understandable now that I know about half term holiday - and after hours of effort on Hannah's part, first Emilia decided she'd rather go as a witch (just before Hannah started the second one) and then, on the morning Alice agreed to have a photo taken, but instead decided she'd go as a dragon (the outfit Hannah made in 2010).

Oh to have a mother that talented.

Once again, I'm not sure about the internet connection in Guildford so it may be early next week before I can update again.  On Monday I'll be driving back to Gloucester (quite near to Philip and Rosemary) to stay with the Kemps - my NZ friends who had such a dreadful time trying to get their work permit and visa to take up a job with the university in Gloucester, and were so supportive of me during the February earthquakes.  I'll be there for a week but know they have the internet, so I should be able to update after that.

The air has suddenly become very cold and I'm glad of my old favourite, winter jacket, but the days are still sunny at the moment.  I hope everyone at home has survived the flooding and webbed feet that has been reported on "Stuff" - poor old Christchurch.  Julie just sent me a video of the Red Zone - pretty miserable viewing really.

Go the All Blacks - I have my seat booked at Sally and Ken's but they're not rugby people, so I hope I don't disgrace myself too greatly by shouting too loudly at their television.

39 STEPS

Not quite the film - but it's about where I stop each time I attempt to go up to Hannah's guest room (7 times yesterday - but 4 today and it's not even noon!)  In fact, I can safely state that there are, in fact, 54 steps up to the top bathroom (with 'my' room just 9 steps below).  All very well for tightening the gluteous maximus but absolutely no help towards losing weight I fear.

We're told that come the weekend, there should be snow.  However, today there is a clear blue sky and a crisp, bracing air outside.  I can guarantee that - because George and I walked to play school this morning before 9 a.m.  We had a lovely chat and saw so much more than if I had been alone - rubber bands, raindrops on leaves, crane drivers, and workmen pulling buckets up to the top of their scaffolding with buckets.

This morning Hannah and I have an empty house and had planned to be creative - with me trying to finish a blanket which Gabriel (who never asks for anything) asked for.  She, making a second "mummy" outfit from white T-shirts covered in bandages for the school "halloween" mufty day.  Both of us instead, working on our computers, facing one another.

The children are fun.  Emilia (aged 8) and I played four games of UNO without cards last night - she won each time - followed closely by several games of eye spy which, sad to report, she also won with flying colours.  Both she and Alice had their violin lessons last night ... not such a bad experience after all.  They SHOULD be naturals - Hannah herself plays, Rosemary did too and my grandfather was the first violinist with the London Philharmonic Orchestra in his time.  Not to mention, of course, that their father (James) is an excellent ukelele player (now that I've taught him one tune) and Philip used to own a white guitar.  What better genes do they need?

Hannah and James attended a wedding at The Temple on Saturday.  They were flanked by riot police and much noise as they walked through to the reception it being VERY close to the rioters, opposing bankers' bonuses.  I'm actually beginning to wonder if they are the magnet - when the other riots were erupting, they had just left the shopping area, before it started.

Rachel and Will came around with Kitty, Henry, Georgia and Luke on Sunday and we had lunch together.  With Hannah having sold their house now, I guess that will be one of the last times we will all be together in this house, at least.

I can't put off doing some knitting any longer.   I HAVE (I think) averted the tragedy of publishing this post earlier when I hit the wrong button.  This laptop is lovely, but it does seem to have a mind of its own at times. And what is more, after much effort, I have managed to find the photos I've taken over the past few days.  This one is my "payback" for "elderly aunt" status granted by Hannah - appropriate, but unkind.

Bedtime story for Emilia - "Swallows and Amazons" - spot the flaw!

CORRECTIONS

I tried to be sneaky and just edit the last blog - but it didn't work.  So no surprise there.

However, putting the record straight:

Darcy actually attends "school" on four mornings per week

And the road kill we saw at Jill's last time I was here was a BADGER.  Silly me.  As I wrote the blog I thought to myself "well that won't be a novelty to anyone at home, we have beavers at Orana Park" ... aha!  But we DON'T have badgers - only in Toad of Toad Hall.

I move on to London tomorrow - to be with Hannah and family.  As always, I hate leaving the place I'm at, but am looking forward to seeing the great nieces and nephews as well.  The time is flying by, it seems.

WEST PECKHAM

Darcy, now 3, is a wee sweety - goes to 'school' three mornings but in the afternoon yesterday (after her nap) we went to Penshurst Place to feed their chickens and play on their swings.

 Even I was impressed by this chicken coop - it is fully fenced but includes a "woodland" area out the back.   Free range, yet not ... but free range enough to have had a visit from Mr Fox the night before.

Julia assures me that this is the correct way to sit (I took the photo from the 'pushing' position) and Darcy certainly agreed.  It'd also work for twins, I suspect.

It was interesting to see numerous mole hills around the grounds - there had been a report on TV only days ago about the problems moles are becoming at the moment.  Evidently, when they dig out their burrows, the worms are left dangling into the tunnel and become the next meal - which means that the grounds are not being aerated (by said worms) - which means the land becomes less productive.

Today I was meant to move on from Julia's house to visit her aunt, Jill for a couple of days.  Unfortunately Jill had surgery on her eye a week ago and has had a bit of a rough time with it - so instead, I went over at about 11 a.m. and came back to Julia's around 7.00 p.m.  It's a bit over 30 minutes' drive, so wasn't too difficult - though it is getting dark by then and there are some very narrow, twisting roads between here and there.  And it does remind me how useful it is to have a car over here.  It's nice to remain independent.

I saw Jill at Darcy's birthday on Sunday and was glad to see, today, that she has vastly improved. Today we were able to drive to see her horse, Luke.   I've been there before with her and was pleased to renew my acquaintanceship with the three ferrets at the stables.

One of them was found by a local, sitting on the road.  It only has three legs.  Despite ferrets having a bad reputation - remember that poor television reporter who had one latched to his finger once? - the owner of the stables happily picked them up and stroked them freely.  I even had a stroke myself. (of the ferret, not of high blood pressure)

On our way up there, we saw a dozen (at least) pheasants strutting around the hedges.  Jill told me that they are especially reared for "the shoot" but each year many of them miss getting shot and so numbers are increasing.  I was driving, so didn't take any photos, but the male (as always) was the more beautiful by far.

Last time I was there, we went and saw where the beaver had a hide - but they had long since left.  The only one I actually saw had become a road kill in the morning and Mr Fox's evening meal by the next morning.  I forgot to check whether they'd returned this year.

And so this nature ramble concludes!  Tomorrow I hope to catch up with another cousin (on mum's side) when she comes into Sevenoaks.  Somewhere our families all link through some sisters (one of whom was my grandmother) but it gives me a headache to try to start working it out again and we all just claim one another as family (mum's side being a bit short on relations) and carry on.

I am hoping that the stinging throat I'm turning out the light with (contortionist as well as everything else) is no more than lack of fluids today.  Surely it can't be my third cold in as many months??

SEVENOAKS

I awoke this morning to a dawn chorus of very noisy birds and looked out of the window to check what was going on.  Above us, there must have been 100 black birds with wings that pointed backwards - wrens, Alan told me later - flying in what seemed to be a mass of blackness, above the garden.  They suddenly flew off - as one - only to return about 10 minutes later to continue their discussion.

But it was great to be up at that hour, because it gave me the opportunity to take a photo of the fabulous scene that Christine and Alan look out on each day.

Around 9.30 a.m. Julia came round and we actually went to a meeting at that church, at which a friend and neighbour of hers gave her testimony about answered prayer - her little son (now aged 4) was born with a very serious heart defect, requiring immediate surgery after birth, and the ongoing battle to remain positive against all odds.  As can be expected, I spent most of the time wiping up wayward tears.

Halfway through, workmen began repairing the roof of the church with much clattering and banging.  Julia told me that the lead on the roof had all been stolen one night - and that this was quite a common occurrence for local churches, evidently.

Having taken numerous 'proud aunty' photographs of Darcy's 3rd birthday party, with the camera card still left in the computer, there is no photographic evidence of the happy time that was had by all.  Today, Julia found the photos on the camera, but without the proper lead extension, we can't seem to do anything about it.  Tomorrow may see us taking a visit to her friendly camera shop because, it now seems, I was the only person taking a variety of photos.

However, today I did get a couple of the birthday girl, shortly after we'd spent a little while making up a felt bag for her

Sevenoaks is another area that I really like - and it's quite close to Sutton Valence.  I've been coming to the area since my first visit in 1969, and I was here on the day that the underground bombings occurred in London. Had Julia not asked me to stay on another day, I could well have been much too close for comfort at the time.  So it was good to just go for a short drive to a local garden centre for a browse, and to allow Darcy to feed some fish (these are for you Sgt Glithero!) this afternoon.

I've at last packed a box to send home ... my summer clothes are no longer required, and I seem to have acquired much more over the past three months than my suitcase will allow.  Having the car is so handy - it acts as a portable trunk (literally), but encourages me not to throw things out, so I've been arriving at houses looking like the original (plastic) bag lady and it was time to take stock and get myself sorted out again.

Julia tells me that the forecasters are suggesting that by the end of the week winter will really be upon us - and Chris tells me that come November, we've been told to expect the first snow.  I'll believe that when I see it, but meanwhile it's good to have sorted out the few winter clothes that I have brought with me.

I'm NOT dreaming of a white Christmas - Santa may well enjoy travelling in such conditions, but I'd prefer the runway at Heathrow to be ice and snow free on the 29th if possible.

BUDAPEST (II)

What I should have mentioned in the previous blog was that on our last night in Budapest, we decided we'd wander around the town and spend some time 'people watching'.  In one of the centres, a band was setting up so we decided to settle down and enjoy the music for a while.

No sooner had we sat down, than we saw a rather pretty 'girl' (probably mid 20's) wander across and plant a bottle in the middle of the square then continue across to speak to the musicians who were tuning and setting up.  To cut a long story short, a tramp wandered across and took the bottle away with him - followed very shortly by a very irate (original) young lady who was sure that Lynne and I had stolen it!  Fortunately she spoke English and we were able to re-assure her that it wasn't us

I'd noticed that the drum had something in Hungarian that looked remarkably like "Gospel Group" on it.  So it was really rather unfortunate when this lady suddenly threw off her cardigan and proceeded to do a pole dance with a signpost right in front of the group.   Sure enough, after the first rather loud song, out came another man - walking backwards and forwards, preaching in a very tele-evangelist manner ... and of course he became a target for a little more "performing" on her part.  We left before it got too heated, but it was some rather unexpected entertainment at the time.

I took this photo especially for Anne and John - clearly a relation of yours and one who would appear to be worthy of a follow-up!  Right beside a Prada shop and sited in the posh part of town.

 There were some beautiful interiors - this rather unexpected fresco was in a mineral bath house.  I can't remember now exactly how many mineral spas they said were around the city (something like 160 I think) with at least 3 bath houses.  You name the ailment, there'll be a mineral spa that will cure you somewhere in the city (evidently).

 Thought this was rather good too - just came across it in the middle of nowhere - but there didn't seem to be anything going on downstairs, despite the open window above.

And I know that I've already shown the ceiling at the Bookshop - this was in the Opera House.

It certainly is a city of contrasts.  We were so lucky with the weather and that pasty face John complained about is now quite bronzed thank goodness.  It was never a place I'd ever even thought about visiting - but it was a lovely week away and somewhere I won't forget in a hurry.

Today (Sunday) we've been to Darcy's third birthday party.  The weather couldn't have been better - even though I had acclimatised to Autumn on my return - and we sat in the conservatory of St Julian's ... a house which started as a sort of commune purchased by several couples which the locals were all a little suspiious of.  It now continues as a private club with swimming pool etc - and fabulous restaurant.

Darcy is Christine's granddaughter - related on mum's side, through my granny's family ... though officially we are un-cousins.  When I was here last time, Darcy was just a baby and she got chicken pox rather badly - followed quickly by her mummy (Julia) who went one better by getting foot, hand and mouth.  It is so nice to see both of them looking 100% better now.

I've just gone to my camera to include a photo or two - only to find that I've left the photocard in my computer ... another example of my prowess in blogging.  What an idiot!  It's back in my camera now - so watch this space ... it can only get better.

BUDAPEST

I am certainly back in the UK - overcast, raining (on and off) and cold by recent standards.  We've been very lucky with the weather - 28 and 29 degrees celsius most days, but somehow not unbearably hot (how does that work?).  About half that this morning, as I await the English/French games (Wales having just beaten Ireland - sorry Kieran!)

I spent the evening with Ingrid and John (and a superb ham and leek pie) and will leave here after the game finishes.   Ingrid and John are off to Dartmouth after I leave - they kindly waited for my return before going down.

I have walked the soles of my feet off - at least 3 or 4+ hours walking around the city each day though we did get an on/off bus and boat ticket which we certainly used well.  It's steeped in history and has really only been out from behind the Iron Curtain for a decade or so.

A few photos to whet the appetite:

The lampshade in our favourite evening restaurant - they don't show up very well in this picture, but they are just very ordinary, stemmed wine glasses

 Now that teabags (and earthquake damage) seem to have taken over, that's ONE way of using up the odd teapot.

 Got any old graters you no longer need?

 The Opera House (we went to see Giselle, performed by the Hungarian national ballet company) - SLIGHTLY classier, perhaps!  I felt really good in my trainers, while most people were dressed up to the nines!!

If you'd told me you wanted one, I could have bought you one from this shop!!  Teacups this time.

 It's rather an arty place - and despite the poor wages, the people seem content. There were a number of beggars sitting on corners, but quite unobtrusively, and the streets were pretty clean.  Public loos averaged about 100 florints a visit (1000 florints to the pound; about $3 to the pound - you work it out, it just got too hard for me - but I rather suspect it wasn't a case of "spending a penny")

We didn't once see groups of threatening young lads - and the local dogs literally trot alongside their owners, without a lead.  They were noticeably jaunty, happy dogs ... all well groomed and allowed EVERYwhere!!

Chalkie - what you doing there?... HungAry doesn't mean you're about to be fed.  We came across this old lady and her two little dogs at about 10.30 pm.  She was very happy for me to take a photo despite speaking not a word of English!

The audio on the boat trip said that the Danube was only as blue as the song indicates, for young lovers.  It seemed pretty blue to me but I do agree that on the one cloudy morning we saw it, it lost its hue.

 We never did work out what those long, long boats were, but assume they're the ones that do three and four day trips up and down  the Danube ...

 The Danube is at its narrowest at Budapest but is still pretty wide (I want to say 81m but I've been known to be wrong on one previous occasion so may be again!)

 Houses of Parliament - there are 365 small towers around the building (one for every day of the year) and an equally large number of rooms.  When it was built it cost the same amount as it would have to build a small town for 60,000 people.  To visit its interior, you have to book the day prior so that they can check you out before allowing you in.

Buda is to the left and is hilly and 'green' Pest (pronounced Pesht) to the right ... containing the flat (thank goodness) ground and business area.  Two of these bridges were bombed out during WWII ... please don't ask me which two.

One of the new bridges was evidently an engineering masterpiece, and the designer was so proud of the finished result that he is reputed to have boasted that if anyone could find a fault, he would jump off the bridge.  Then one of the tradespeople noted that the lions didn't have tongues.  Fortunately the engineer could swim.

One really nice feature of the city was coming across musicians all around the place.

 A most annoying bagpipe sounding instrument - which he wound a handle on the left side and strummed/fingered with the right. (I'm reliably told it is called a hirdy-girdy - of Muppets fame!)

 

 A fabulous trio - part of a whole gypsy orchestra which I now have a CD for.  The group reminded me of Bob Heinz' 'group' at home - inter-relating with smirks and winks and thoroughly enjoying one another

 80 if he was a day - at the piano bar where we had a lovely meal one evening.  He played in a very similar style to dad - and lots of the tunes he used to play.  As he finished for the night he came over to me and gave me a booklet in which he appeared ... evidently tours all over the place and has a repertoire of some 4,000 tunes.  Most enjoyable in an old fashioned sort of way.

 Some Poles promoting polish fare at the market.

A glass harmonica - amazing ability with a backing tape - you'd wonder how he carries the water to fill the glasses, AND has time to tune them.

There's more to tell, of course, but the French are about to do the same to England as they did to us 4 years ago.  So I'll close meanwhile, and if there is a wireless connection at Sevenoaks, I'll try and do some more tonight.

It was a great trip - Lynne's dentist sorted her tooth out at (she tells me) an amazingly low costs and not too much pain.  Certainly a very pleasant way to go to the dentist, for me!  (even though I ignored a tooth that I broke the day after getting there!)