We have arctic conditions here "up north" but it makes the tree in the courtyard look pretty!

We have a smaller tree this year inside the barn but we love all the decorations that we've either collected or been bought over the years

Lat Sunday, whilst outside the blizzard reined down, we were in a local hotel enjoying (oh yes we were) a panto with Jack and Emily..Aladdin. getting back home was a bit of an ordeal -my car doesn't do snow and ice very well!!

Prague Xmas Markets 2009

The Hotel Josef where we stayed for 4 nights. Very contemporary in the old market town area just off the Jewish Quarter

This is what it's all about -hand carved wooden nativity scenes

..and of course we took a carriage tour of the night scene

and here's the spectacular Xmas tree with the famous gothic church as the backdrop in the old town square

Wembley waits for Jack!

Great excitement last night as Jack's football team (Sheffield United -the Blades) beat Preston North End to reach the Championship play off final at Wembley, where they will contest promotion to the Premier league (worth £40m) against Burnley...Dan and Jack are both season ticket holders so will definitely be going, and hopefully Sally will be able to get hold of a ticket through her Dad's membership as he'll be vacationing in Canada.

Jack went to the match last night and rang me on the way home; really excited by it all. I think the atmosphere at night games is always enriched.

The play off final will take place next Bank Holiday Monday...fingers crossed for Jack's Blades!

"Flowers in the rain, making the garden grow"...etc.

I promised to let you see the climbing yellow rose to the side of the barn door; so here's a few pics as it comes into full bloom. Lovely little multi headed blooms.

Speaking of blooms here's Emily peering through the galleried landing at me,

and here's the two of them tucking into "breakfast at Grandma's" whilst watching Kids' TV!!

M'aidez M'aidez!

Yep it's May Day. The sun is shining brightly and it's very warm today. The summer forecast for the UK is it's going to be a sizzler; let's hope so, the last two have been complete washouts with record amounts of rain.

It's also M'aidez because today May 1st, Jack and Emily have come to play!!

Hiding in the den under the willow

Take a seat your highness

You may sit next to me.

My My

...someone asked for the longer version, so here it is!

Mamma Mia....here I go again..."My My...etc"

Well, thank goodness it's the weekend coming up fast. We've got Emily and Jack overnight on Saturday and our good friends Sue and Alan are coming round for dinner in the evening. Tomorrow (Friday) morning Marg is going with Sally and Emily to enrol her in "baby ballet" (Emily not Sally). She's been for 3 taster sessions already and really enjoys it, bossing us all about "good toes/naughty toes!" All you former girlie dancers will know about that I am told [ by Margaret].

Here is two year old Emily's first semi musical solo rendition captured eventually on video. Goodness knows where she has picked it up from, but it is quite amusing.....this is the short version by the way! She has just started jabbering incessantlyand drives us mad with "Why?" When we asked her to sing hickory dock she said clearly "No, I am going to sing my my"..so there you have it. Eat your hearts out Abba, Meryl Streep & Co and French and Saunders.

Giggles with Thomas!

Banbury Visit

On Thursday I picked Marg up from work and we drove down to Banbury. I was reminded on arrival of where I probably get my peculiar humour "genes". At last New Year Dad told us that he had been prescribed new eye drops for his macula condition. As they were steroid based, then it was likely that his eyelashes would grow longer -prompting gaffaws of "camel" from his daughter in law, "that'll go well as you've usually got the hump" etc. The pics below tell their own story when we arrived on Thurs evening!

Those lovely camel eye lashes

Hump too! (not Humphrey)

Mum and Dad's front garden

From the bottom of their rear garden, looking up to the bungalow and terrace/deck that Daniel and Bro' Mark built



Mum and Dad (80! (and still nuts) on New Years eve 2008) with sister Karen, me, Margaret and Jack's Hippo!

I know Dad suffers with his central vision because of his AMD but REALLY...his "remote" is nearly as big as the telly!!

We visited niece Helen and her husband Simon to see Sophie, Thomas and one year old Cerys who were being looked after by Grandad and Grandma (Marg's brother Pete and wife Margaret)

Pics of Sophie and Thomas with their new Aussie purses

Grandad Pete with Cerys

Door done, and the birds are singing!!

Just a quick glimpse around the courtyard..in the spring sunshine..and with the door/window of the barn painted! (in mandatory conservation area "green" of course)

Surprise View

The first coat of gloss has gone on, should now finish the door/window tomorrow. With the sun beating down and an almost cloudless blue sky, I thought I'd take the camera to surprise view -mindful of the fact that Frank and Liz, last time over here, didn't make it all the way to the view because of the wind and rain, despite walking at a 45 degree angle!!

As I pulled into the car park, the grey skies moved in from the Manchester and the wind speed suddenly picked up. Covering the camera's mic. with my finger I hastily took a shot of the view for my Oz relos. So, sorry for the greyness of the scene. Leaving it behind me as I travelled back to Chesterfield to pick up Margaret from work, the sun shone brightly again...perhaps it's a real surprise view when you see it in sunlight?

Where Margaret works (for Accenture)

Spring has well and truly sprung

Well, we have come back from Oz just waiting for the weather to turn..and finally I feel warm again!!

Armed with her clipboard and fascination for writing lists(who does that sound like Liz?) Marg has set out a number of spring cleaning/decorating tasks for the next couple of months. Like Frank and Liz in Oz we have spent the last week or so decluttering and clearing out unwanted collectables (or just plain garbage). Well now the weather is here, the first task for me on the list is to paint the courtyard side barn door/window.

Well I am two thirds through undercoating it, having rubbed down, filled and sanded it. The problem I have is that in the afternoon it gets the full sun making painting technically impossible.. that's my story and I am sticking to it.

How good it is though to see the hedgerows turning green and the trees in blossom and what about the magnolias everywhere. Here's a few snaps taken today.

Entrance to the courtyard

Painting in progress!

The rose to the right as you look at the door is full of buds this year -a small, multi headed yellow bloom..it should look great. The birds currently like it for nesting in.

Clematis in bloom -first time in 3 years, since planting

Magnificent magnolia trees

pieris planted adjacent to the car park

Local, nearby street with the tree blossom about to bloom

Right, that's a long enough break...back to Marg's list...mm?

Easter Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday

Jack and Emily stayed over last night, had their evening meal, bathed and went to bed with their stories, Peppa Pig, George (pig) and a giant talking Peppa too and of course flopsy bunny (all Emms) and slept through til nearly 8 o'clock this morning! After breakfast, they got dressed and off we all went for a walk in Graves Park; before meeting up with their Mum and Dad at the Bradway!

Havin' a swinging time together (Jack sporting his "blades" jacket -he's going to the match this afternoon with his Dad (Sheffield United (the blades) v Nottingham Forest

Here's Abi -all smiles -whilst Matthew slept in apparently! -a late night last night.

Who's ordering at the bar?

Look out -here comes Jack on his scooter

..and here's Emms on the slide

Last weekend, Matt and Abi had a "hog roast" at their pub -The Bradway. It was their first year anniversary of their opening and once again the Grand National was being run. With the bookmakers next door, the pub quickly filled up after opening its doors at midday. Matt and his mate John, were up early getting the Hog prepared and Spitted correctly, putting it on to roast at about 6am. By one o'clock it was done to perfection and ready to serve. The pub was full until quite late on in the evening, ensuring a succesful day for both Matt and Abi and their happy customers and punters!

Matt holding an audience with the staff -Sally and Abi!

Sally's not convinced of the plan..can you tell?

Steady as she goes with the "hog"

mmm...done to perfection!

Yesterday, Easter Saturday, Emily and Jack came to play at the barn...this is Emily being a caged lion!

And decorating Grandma's plant with Easter deccies is fun too!