Tamworth Glascote Lock.

This is the Lock in the village where i live (Glascote ) It was such a lovely mild day today so i decided to take a walk down there..its always so peaceful...you can walk miles along the canal and see some lovely scenery...and spring flowers are starting to open up everywhere..i always feel happier in Spring.

I am looking forward to seeing Mama Mia (Stage version) in London tomorrow & will post on it when i get back.

Its better to read the words as you listen to it..the last part is better than the first inmy opinion..tell me what you think...I love it.

I'm Mom Video

Loved this little video..so funny

Hi all..i Just love this little video..Judy one of my penfriends sent it to me...by the time i had listened to it 3 times i was almost crying (with laughter)..she sounds like i used to..and i remeber my Mom saying the same things to me MANY years ago..hope you enjoy it..dont know who the lady is who's singing..but she is so funny..the words are on the screen so you can read them.

Forgot to mention...We have our own breed of pig.

We have our own breed of pig in Tamworth..they are quite well known (among pig breeders only i think)..they are called 'Tamworth Reds'..this little fella looks cute...much too cute to eat !! The other Pics are of Tamworth Castle and The Sir Robert peel pub in the town..let me see some of yours..i love looking at pics.

A few pics of Tamworth

Just thought i would put a few pics of Tamworth onto my blog..i have so many, its always nice to see where friends live..cant wait to see your pics of the new house Kerry

Family Dinner

I have decided to have all the family up to dinner..at different times because there are too many & i haven't the room (or the energy!!!) to have them all together....this is Simons wife Pam, her daughter Stacey & Charlie, (Stacey's boyfriend), & me... Simon is talking to Joe out of picture..will get them on another picture..the other kids are back at home, i will take them out to eat another day..I just wanted Pam & Sim to have a bit of a break..she works so hard.

Just another Pic of Ellie...she is a Pumpkin in this one (i think)..she loves to dress up...its a shame they have to grow up..they are so funny when they are little..Bless em

Snow in Tamworth & Staffordshire

Snow as hit Britain....but we can't seem to cope with it like the rest of the World does, traffic grinds to a halt, Schools close (kids love that) and bussiness's are often shut....funny thing is i dont remember life coming to a standstill like this when i was a kid !!....dont remember having much time off school because of it,...but i do have fond memories of great snowball fights (sometimes even the teachers joined in) .. lots of fun on the way to & from school, and been allowed to stay in at play times IF we wanted to..most of us didn't..we went out by choice and enjoyed the snow..things have changed....but its still so pretty..these are a few pics of Staffordshire in the snow...I think lots of countries have much worse conditions than we do..or is that my imagination...how do you cope..Please let me know.

Long 'Jim' Silver

Sorry forgot to put on the one of Jim as long Jim Silver...haven't quite got the hang of this have i ???...its because its been so long since i wrote on my blog....By the way We are covered in a blanket of Snow here...it came down so heavy..but looks really pretty..will take some pics of that tomorrow.

Sorry got mixed up..put 2 on of Laura ( dont know how to remove them!!..i'm so stupid) anyway heres some more..The Dog is Flynn, he's a lovely boy (Jims Dog)..Polly, Stacey & Charlie, Kieran Sim & baby Amie,..Luke & Emily.

A few more of my Family

Jim was ok about his picture been shown..he just laughed..so i have put some more on (well you said you liked to see my family)..there is one of Jim dressed as Long 'Jim'Silver for a fancy dress party, another one of him 'Posing' on a yatch on his Holiday..One of Kirsty, one of Luke & Emily & one of Laura (Luke & Laura are Vanessa's Kids) Emily is Lukes Girlfriend..Kirsty is one of Simons girls..i will put some more on soon...hope you dont get fed up....i love seeing friends Photo's as well..makes me feel closer and helps me know more about you.

A few Family Photo's

I was surprised....Jim was ok about the pics been shown, so i have put some more onto my blog...(you said you wanted to see my family)...i dont want to bore you though..Ness is going to send me some up of her holiday when Adam as put them on the computer..The ones here today are Jimmy(in Canada)..and also dressed up as long Jim Silver, for a fancy dress party, Luke & Emily, Kirst And Laura ( they are 3 of my grandchildren)..i can put more on if you want to see them ??...

Almost caught in the act !!

I can't believe it..Jim walked in just as i was putting that picture on my blog !!...i got in a panic because i knew he would NOT see the funny side....I have never turned my computer off so quickly....So I just had to check it was still working allright now that he as gone...it seems ok..just 2 pics instead of one.....it serves me right i suppose.

Jim will kill me for this !!

I know Jim will go mad if he sees this....but he doesn't read my blog very often (I Hope !!!!)...but this just made me laugh so much...it was taken when he went to New Zealand last year with his friends...i'm pretty sure he's supposed to be a sort of Mouri Warrior..or something like that ?? ...but it just looks like Jim in a skirt....and he's NOT a skirt sort of lad..even for a Joke..i think its the long hair that did it !!!!!..he had it cut just after this was taken,.. for his wedding...but this is really one for the Family album... not sure about my blog though...oh well...too late now...SORRY JIM...you've got a sadist for a mother.

The Ashton Clan

This is the Ashton Clan..Simons family, from left to right Stacey 19, Sherri 13, Kieran 18,Kirsty15, and Sophie 11...Kayleigh is not on the picture she is 22,married to Steve and is Ellie/Blakes Mom..will sort some others out soon.

You've met the great grandkids now meet the kids

This is a pic of Jim (Rambo)..he's the outdoor one, and Simon (Sheik)..he's the comedian, although he's very depressed at the moment....i am trying to get a recent one of my Vanessa, she's like her Mom..she hates having her photograph taken...but i WILL get one and put it on my next blog..its good to meet each others families..i'll put some of my other grandkids on too as soon as i can sort some out & upload them..its good to be bake on the blog again, i love seeing everyone elses as well....hope you are soon settled Kerry & Dee..thinking of you both.

Baby Amie Jayne....Ellie Mae & Blake

This is a picture of my New Great grandaughter Amie Jayne..she was about 3 days old when this was taken, she as grown already...she's over a month old now.

The other 2 little darlings are my other 2 great grandchildren Ellie Mae and Blake...It only seems 5 minutes since their Mom & Dad were born..Amie is my grandson Kieran's first child, ...Ellie Mae & Blake are both my grandaughter Kayleigh's children..how time flies !!

As it really been 5 months ??

I can not believe it as been 5 months since i used my blog...so much as happened, my computer finally gave up after about 8 years constant use....and i had to wait for Adam to sort out a new one for me (he builds them)..so that was several weeks...i've also had a nasty virus that left me out of action for a while.....o.k..but where as the rest of the time gone ???...i really cant remember it been that long and that is what is so Scary !!!!

In that time my friend Kerry and her daughter Dee have both moved to a new home in Idaho...i wish them so much happiness and fun as they do up there lovely new home..cant wait to see some pictures girls..

I have become a great grandmother, when my grandson Kieran became a father..Steph gave birth to a gorgeous little girl last month, they have called her Amie..will post some pictures soon...now i really feel old !!

I also had a much needed new kitchen..Simon my Son fitted it for me, the other one gave me so many problems when i tried to knock some old tiles off the wall..it started a chain of events that left me with a completely gutted kitchen..i had to have it rebuilt..walls as well..what a nightmare...but i am so glad now that its over and i love my new one,but at the time it was terrible.

I spent my Christmas at Vanessa's..that was good..but i had to come back home to Dog sit for Jimmy & Polly on new years eve..i remember the times when i used to party most of the night on New Years Eve..i never thought those days would end .....time just seems to pass by so quickly nowadays......you dont notice yourself getting older..until you take stock of how things have changed.
Am i just feeling melancholy because i have got the 'Winter Blues'...yes probably...but i cant wait for spring to come..i love that time of year, cant wait.
Ness & Adam have got the right idea..they are on a Caribbean cruise at the moment..it was an aniversary and Christmas present to them both from Lynn..Adam's mom..what a fabulous present..wish i was with them..all that sunshine, but they deserve it..2008 was not a good year for them.

My Little Garden

I Thought i would put these pics onto my blog..as my little garden is looking quite colourful this year..I think its all the rain, combined with the heat that as done the trick...My postage stamp garden is just enough for me to manage nowadays..but I do like to look out onto all the flowers on a sunny morning ( not that we get too many of those)..its been a very wet summer this year !!..I will take some more of my front garden and put those on next time...would love to see other folks gardens too.

Went to see Mama Mia.

At long last i am able to comment on my blog...Life as just been crazy recently..I went to see Mama Mia (The Movie) Yesterday..i didn't really want to go, but i am so glad i did....it was a real 'Feel Good ' movie, and genuinely funny..i am so glad i decided not to be a grouch and went to see it...I love Abba songs anyway, they always cheer me up..Meryl Streep was a better singer than i had been led to believe..(but we all have our opinions)...Pierce Brosnin really couldn't sing..but with his looks he doesn't need to !!..they say the stage play of it was brilliant..this as made me want to see that if i ever get the chance...If you are feeling fed up..then go and see this Movie,( i'm going to get the DVD when it comes out.)..I'm going to a B.B.Q tomorrow at my friends Jean & Alan..Joe is going to, it will do him good, then i think we are going to another one on Sunday at Jimmy's (hopefully)..I love Summer for barbies alone..just hope the good weather holds.

Back from my Hols.

I'm back from my holiday in Portugal...lovely place, but it was so very hot..even the Portugese where complaining about the heat...i only went out in the morning and evenings..all afternoon i stayed in with the 'air-con' on full !! the villa was lovely

Here is a picture of it..thats Laura standing by the gate, it had its own pool outside, will post some more pics later.

The beaches were great too..lovely white sand and clear sea.

We found it very expensive for a lot of things..Ness (who as been several times) said it used to be so much cheaper ...dont know if that is because it is becoming more popular..or because of a world recession..but many things were cheaper back home...still it was lovely to have a holiday & all be together..really miss that villa and all the space we had inside it, it was bigger than it looked in the picture..thats only half of it.

Dancing In The Streets.

I went to see Dancing in the streets yesterday with Vanessa, Adam & one of my friends Margaret.

It was fantastic...the Motown 60's & 70's music and talented artists soon had everyone singing along with them (even the younger folk there.)..the voices were supurb and they must have really studied the singers movements, the costumes were exact copies of the originals...it really cheered us all up......a little bit of nostalgia.

Margaret lost her husband 6months ago & as naturally been very low..it was good to see her singing along with the music and laughing again.

Vanessa was dancing away in her wheelchair and had a wonderful time also...we all did.

Thank you Lynn, it was a lovely birthday present for me..and a great anniversary present for Ness & Adam....I felt about 20 again..but only for a couple of hours !!!!

Snow in April

This was the sight that i woke up to last Sunday...it made my messy garden look really pretty for a few hours...Bailey looks surprised by it all, he hasn't seen snow before...it only lasted a few hours then it was gone, but it came down again later in the night.

I noticed that parts of the U.S. had it bad as well...its seemed strange waking up to Winter weather in what is normally a lovely spring month......However spring as 'sprung' again now and all is back to normal (over here anyway)

I have had some much needed work done to my garden and its looking a lot better...i just can't do it myself like i used to, but i always feel better when i look out and it's at least tidy (its only small so i have no real excuse)...I must go to the garden centres and get some plants and bulbs in the week.

Week in Wales

Had a lovely week in Wales with my friend Margaret, she has a caravan there..on a lovely peaceful site.

We visited a few seaside towns while we were there as well.

The weather was a bit cold, but it was good to get away and relax, good food and company and lovely scenery....it made me feel so much better....the picture on the right is Aberdovey near the sea front..there are some lovely beaches in that part of Wales.

I Am Legend

I went to see this film when i was at Vanessa's..really enjoyed it, but i know a lot of folk who didn't...i suppose we all have different taste..I love Will Smith anyway..so any film that he is in, is good for me...I really Loved the dog, the only part that really made me sad was when he died. Most of the folk i was with that night were upset at that, Ness said..the fact that most of mankind as been wiped out doesn't upset you..but when the dog gets it...you all break down..she's got a point. ..but i think the fact that mankind as already gone when the film starts makes it easier..we actually see the dog go..but as my daughter tells me..its only a film....That dog so reminded me of my Rocky, he was my best friend for 12 years and so very clever...maybe thats why i love the film as well.

I am so looking forward to spring ..today was the first sunshine we have had in days..it made me feel much better..i think i may suffer from that thing called 'SAD' (Seasonaly Affected Disorder) or something like that..as i always feel the pits in Winter...I'm going to Birmingham tomorrow for a bit of retail therapy..will Post more when i get back.

More Garden Centre pictures

Here's another 2 pictures of one of the garden centres near Tamworth..they dont look as good in a small picture..when you actually see them the lights are so pretty & bright..and some of them have room settings with fireplaces etc..they look very festive..the one on the left shows my friend Margaret standing in one of the displays.

Garden Centre

Here's a picture of one of the garden Centres in Tamworth. We have 5 in & around the area..they weren't quite as good this year as previous years..but it was still lovely to see the lights and baubles..I have more pics if you want to see them...(but don't want to bore anyone)..I love them but you can't see them properly in a small picture like this as some of the detail is missing...I will put more on if you want me too ??..had a lovely day with 3 friends.. had lunch in one of the centres..we visited 4 of them..will maybe do the other one next week.. have seen it already but forgot to take my camera.

My Tree looks Drunk !!

Is it me, or does my Christmas tree look lop-sided ??..mind you i did have a couple of glasses of Baileys while i was putting it up !!

The cats have ingnored it now the 'newness' as wore of...except Bailey who likes to sleep underneath it, but he loves sleeping under a tree in the garden.. he thinks its put up just for him the way he struts up to it and gets himself comfotable.

I am off to the garden Centre in a minute..i'll take my camera & hopefully get a few pictures..then Monday i am going to Birmingham so i will hopefully take some pitures of the lights in the city...but they look much better at night when they are lit-up..i'm not sure if we will be back before it gets dark enough...we will see.

Laura without the make.

This is Laura my grandaughter as she is day to day...she was all done up on the previous one, with make-up & a new hair do...I think she looks a lot older on the other one..a bit too old i think !! This is how she looks unless she is going out somewhere...I dont want her to grow up too soon..but i suppose all grandma's feel like that with their grandchildren dont they ??

She is getting tall though she is nearly 5ft 7in (in bare feet)..so she towers above me, especially when she as high heels on...but Nessa is quite tall as well.

I put my tree up last night..and i am going to finish decorating it today, so i will put a picture on my blog when it is all done...the cats fight over who will sleep underneath it...last night 3 of them were cuddled up underneath there...

I am going to the garden Centre tomorrow..must remember to take my camera there as well.

Now I really feel old !!

This is Laura my grandaughter...I often call her my little darlin, as she as always been so sweet & thoughtful...but now so grown up too !!

It is a bit of a shock when you realize that your daughters 'baby' is now a woman. I have never seen her done up for a function before..it quite took me by surprise when i saw her...obviously to me she as always been gorgeous..but she when she is 'done up' she looks about 20 instead of her sweet 16 years...not too sure if i am happy about that !!!...but she is a very sensible girl as well, so i know she will be fine.

I am going to take my camera out next week to the shops & garden centres in the area..and then put some of those pics onto my Blog..Iwould have done it before but with Vanessa here i didn't get time..we were out each day visiting and shopping...i do miss her now she as gone home...but i'll see her again before Christmas, and we are going to spend the holiday together.

Is it any wonder i cant loose weight ?

Here is a picture of my huge Birthday cake (it looks much smaller here than it actually was ) I shared it with waiters at the restaurant,friends and everyone who came to visit me that week..but still had loads left for myself...i can't resist nice cake & this was delicious...I just can not have any in the house or i get too tempted.

I WILL start this diet again this week.

Dee i have just realized i had put this picture on the wrong blog originally ..i put it on the 'losing it' blog..what a dummy..could you remove it for meplease ??..you know how useless i am with these things...i think my Birthday cake is the LAST thing anyone will want to see who is trying to loose weight...i;m SO sorry....any way the cake as long since been eaten, but i have only just got around to putting the pictures into my folder to use.

Just want to say Hi

Just thought i would say hi...i have left a note on the 'Losing it' blog...won't discuss that now as its too depressing!!..here's a picture of my little Birthday meal..there were only a few of us, (10) as i didn't want a big fuss..the friend (Noreen) on my left as you look at it is 73 years old !! hope i look like that when i am her age Jim, Polly & Ness are opposite me, Jenny & Yazmin are the other side, and Margaret, Dave, & Colin are out of the Picture.. It was a good night we had a lovely Indian meal, the restaurant was a new one and very nice..i had a lovely Birthday cake, I will put that on my next blog...but thats a sore point , it was a HUGE cake and really delicious..any way that was a month ago now but i have only just got around to sorting out the pictures....It was great having Ness up as always..i hate it when she goes home though...but i'd never tell her...talk later.

Elas and her dogs

Hi....I just wanted to put a picture of my friend Elsa and her 2 dogs onto here...this picture was taken when she came up last year, at the local water park in Kingsbury...the male dog (the one at the back) has since died of a liver desease, he was a lovely little fella...named Jacob. To Elsa they are her children, she was up here in Tamworth for 2 weeks but went back home yesterday morning...I am off to Vanessa's today for a few days as it is her Birthday on Tuesday, i'm really looking forward to seeing them all down in there in Oxford.

I hope everyone is ok, i have had a bit of trouble with my E-mails, but i think it is all sorted out now...i will take some pictures while i am at Vanesssa's & put them on here when i get back...I must NOT forget my camera (i usually do) i will put it in my bag now so ithat remember...talk later

Two More Pictures

Heres 2 more pictures of places that i visit..the one i think will interest Kerry & Dee.it is an old derelict farmhouse that is believed to be haunted..i'll go in to it in the day time..but i'm not to sure at night..i'll have to wait until Kerry & Dee come over..I wish !!!
The other Picture is part of the flower gardens and shops at Matlock..the gardens are lovely in summer and early autumn..there ia a very old clock there as well...i will send that next..some of the shops here are quite old as well..and there are some nice little cafe's..its nice to spend a relaxing afternoon there as rhe scenery around is very pretty too.

A day out at Chester

Hello Everyone...I have managed to get onto my blog again...there must have been a fault when i last tried and so i just gave up, what a quitter !!!! and I haven't tried since until today...I was going to ask Dee to help me, but i thought to myself ..No, i'll just give it a quick try first...and it worked !!!..i should have tried before..i'm so pathetic,...still it will save Dee a job.

This is a town called Chester that i enjoy visiting sometimes ..it has a lot of very old buildings and shops...its lovely to visit at Christmas time..i will send some more pictures of it then..i have so many pictures that i have taken lately....will put some more on....hope you dont get fed-up with them