Wonderful Christmas

Alice doing her Santa bit
Val and Al saying thanks to each other

Yours truly and Al

Val, Ches and Al

Ches and Al thanking each other

Val with someone doing a super mature thing behind her. Well, Peter Pan never grew up!

Ches checking out a pressie with a grinning whatsit behind her

Holly showing great patience with Santa Al opening her pressie

Al finally finds Santa's letter. It was under the dirty dishes he left!

Al, Ches, Nikki and Silv

Dinner table set. Name tabs by Alice! We had a late change of flower centre as the flowers from Aussie wouldn't fit in the twig thing Val bought!!

Just a quickie to say Hi to one and all and hope you all had a super Christmas.

The festivities at 122 have been long and full of food and good cheer. A visit to the bottle bank this morning was testimony to that! Taking into account that I don't drink alcohol anymore I wonder where all the bottles came from. A plastic box full of Stella bottles just for starters!! Val claims to not know how on earth that happened. Al stood in the pouring rain today getting rid of all the little green bottles, a damn sight more than 10, whilst I got soaked doing the clear and brown one's.

Al and I then headed to Home Park to get our tickets for the Hull FA Cup match. It will be our first visit to Home Park this season, shows how busy we have been as we normally take in a game every six weeks or so. Still, this year we watched the Cup draw and Al gave an almighty cheer when the Mighty Greens name came out of the "hat" first. Could have something to do with me promising that we would go if it was a home tie.

This year the board has been sensible and dropped the prices for the 3rd round tie. £15 for me and they are running "kids for a quid" so just £1 for Al. Sensible because I will get moaned at in the coming weeks if we don't go out for a couple of league matches. The board are learning, get the kids in for the future and if the kids want to go then an adult has to take them, and maybe get back into the the swing of live games again!

As I said earlier, Christmas was super. Ches and Al came around about 11 ish and Al did the Santa bit handing out the pressies. Funny how each family seems to set up it's own Christmas day tradition. Cheryl's friend Nikki and her mum Silvia came around for Christmas dinner and a good time was had by all. See piccies above!

Boxing day meant cold turkey and chicken along with the, now famous, "Podga's Chutney". Ol' Brownfingers did us proud, it was "bootiful". Val's sister Silv and her hubby George came around yesterday and we had some of the aforementioned Chutney with cheese and crackers. Silv does a lot of cooking and George has been growing his own tomatoes since the war (the big one in the 40's). They both appreciated the Chutney, so well done to Podga. All we have to do now is get a bit of sense into him when it comes to football teams.

Ches has been at work this afternoon and is about to go back on late shift and a night sleepover shift, so Al is around with us tonight. Ches took her car for MOT today, we knew that she needed new tyres but there was some brake work needed as well. Anyway £220 (all but a few pence) on top of the car tax yesterday has brought a few tears to her eyes!!!! Now she is back in work she can afford to run the car but they are very expensive beasts aren't they!

As usual time is creeping on. All that remains is to wish one and all a super end to 2007 and a cracking and successful 2008. Sister Mary is in Florida and hoping that the air strike isn't called off whilst other sissy Clare is working on her teleseminar in sunny NZ. Bro Tony is walking (or riding his bike more likely) on the beat in Aussie. Meanwhile I am looking out of my window at the dark and the rain. Well actually I am looking at all the flashing Christmas lights, it's quite pretty really.

Is it really nearly two weeks??

I was amazed when I discovered that it has been nearly two weeks since the last post. How on earth have you all survived without your regular dose?

The run up to the Christmas festivities put you in a position in which you need a couple of weeks off to get a rest!! I assume that you all have been busy busy busy so I will not go on about how flaming busy I have been. Just not enough hours in a day. Tried to go without my regular sleep earlier this week and that didn't work at all!

Big news of the moment is that Ches has got herself a job. Like London buses she had three turn up at once. Why does the Universe work like that eh? She started her first shift in her new employment yesterday evening. She is working with vulnerable adults. I reckon it will suit her down to the ground, but I must admit to being biased. She has another shadow shift on Monday then straight into the deep end. She starts 10 ish Monday morning on her shadow, then 15.00 hrs she starts her normal shift. Finished a 22.00 hrs and goes straight into a sleeping shift. Finishing at 07.00 on Tuesday morning. She certainly enjoyed last night so hopefully all will be well. 6 months probation. Al was chuffed to meatballs. Her first reaction was "great mum can save for her Disney ticket now" As a matter of interest Al has already saved her money for Disney. Sitting in a building Society account building up interest - a chip off the old block!!!

For those of you interest Operation Hall has been put on hold until the New Year. Christmas decorations and ripped off wallpaper just don't mix!!

Does anyone know how the Mighty Green Army got on today ? They were away to the League leaders - Watford. No way are we going to do anything up there. Ooops NewsFlash. The Hornets have been stung. 89th minute goal gave the Greens a 1-0 lead. Wonder how it ended? Oh, there you go... that's the final score!!!! I hear the tractor boys dragged out a home victory against lesser opposition, they conceded goals again? (note the use of the plural there).

Talking about tractor boys let's see how Brown Fingers the Chutney King is getting on.

"Suffolk Sojourn 30/137. Greetings - as we career towards the silly season. Firstly - gross apologies to your 'lil Sis Clare for my typo in the last - it's Korimoko - sorry. Still, it's nevertheless Paradise by the looks of it.
No updates from the Blogmaster of late - hope all is ok and you haven't fallen off the ladder reaching the parts Val couldn't on the landing. As I scribe - the Tractor Boys are preparing to defend their unbeaten home record against Leicester, a team your renegade ex-Pilgrims manager is now inspiring. (Don't mention Ipswichs' appalling away record). This is the game in hand match that will take Ipswich one point above Plymouth if they succeed. I'm not holding my breath though - still, early days!!
Anyway, apologies for comms silence - been laid up with major back problem and unable to focus on anything for more than 2 minutes (Nothing new there then)!
Chutney's in the post - mind you, Customs legalities were a real pain.Blue Skies. "

I must admit to be looking forward to the Chutney delivery. At the moment the postie is making a daily delivery to us. HMV have a daily offer DVD wise. Have picked up some cracking bargains recently. Busy replacing videos with DVD's. Al now has all my old videos and is planning a car boot sale.

We haven't heard from HR from a while. Well he has made up for it now. As usual he can't hack the technicalities of the comments system so I post his e-mails - less the juicy bits!!

"Hiya , I am stricken with a need for heavy music! I saw a You tube item 'a tribute to soviet strategic airpower' or similar and it has a soundtrack with it from Linkin Park .The lyrics immediately made me think of an ex girlfriend, and my time with her, and so is indelibly printed in my soul now !
Oh well.Meanwhile everything else is going fine. I am flying TZ on Friday and have just sent off my FAC to have the Mauser and Mosin Nagant rifles cleared for target shooting. I began using my reloading equipments a few weeks ago and tested my first .22 Hornet rounds on the range without blowing myself up! It really is very satisfying making ammunition !! It also means I can save a bit of money in the long term.
Mum, bless her ,moved from a house to a flat and delivered a fait accompli in that I had to provide the floor covering costs ( that was £420) ; so (having just split up) it inspired ex girlfriend to ask me to give back some of the money she had contributed to 'us'. Her logic was that since we were not together there was no 'us'; so she could have it back to finance the cost of her divorce!
But she has worked her little bum off in the house and there is paint and paper and a home to show for it; so I do not really begrudge it her. She made this place look lovely and I am now over the hill I was climbing before she passed into and out of my life.
Unfortunately I had spent a lot on my visa ,buying these toys and their collective timing could not have been worse! So I am on minimum spend for the next few months ! My pension goes up in october ,when I reach 55 , and I will use that to pay off the loan for the camper van.
Then I will make it work for me I think.I will get out and do things ! The shooting is proving to be good as a way of meeting people and I am learning all the time. Hopefully I will be able to go Deer Stalking at some stage (I hope that is in there just to wind me and mine up!! - ed).
It is quiet on the Eastern Front until next year but I shall not be touching the vodka at all now. My evening with the Poles (bless em) and the falling over a lot and lying in a hedge (and being sick!) have put me off the vodka a bit. Not the Poles though : they were ace! I hope all is well with you and yours?
You have been a bit quiet recently and that worries me because you may be building a space ship in the cellar! I have read and tried to understand the blog ,and tried again to write a reply ( I am loath to say anything after having need described as 'banging on') ! It seems full of lots of interesting people most of whom seem to be called or related to Podgah.It would be interesting to put up a 'hall of fame ' so people can see who goes with what name.
I am thoroughly enjoying the funnies through the email thanks. some are gems and I know that my friends appreciate the ones I relay. I had better trot; I made home-made burgers for tea and stink of cooking ! I will have a bath with aroma therapy oils , mmmmmmm where is that rubber duck?..Have fun. "

You may have guessed that age hasn't mellowed HR. You know those people Ches is working with .......

This is a reply to an e-mail I had sent HR telling him that I was doing the Santa bit again and how one has to be careful nowadays with kids and sitting on knee for photos. Well, last year a tipsy mother brought in her tipsy daughter foe a photo and insisted the daughter sat on my knee. I was foolish enough to tell him!! Incidentally, did the Santa thing yesterday and a fun time was had by all, except the two or three month old baby that was fascinated by the lights and was happy enough until he/she spotted the big weirdo in the red suit in the corner!!!!

"Hi , ta for the reply.oooh the thought of a 24year old on my knee.....!
I have been trying hard to form a picture of the people on the blog and am reading it regularly if erratically! It was nice that they asked about the Firefly but I didn`t feel said any more than anyone else?
It is difficult to be interesting to somebody you have never met. I will get there though. I either say too much or too little !! Sorry that i have not been down as I intended: I shall i promise. I often think back to how Gail and I visited you ,was it at Thorney Island? I remember you tried to help me with a transfer to the RAF and I was really grateful for the support. I know we both came to St Mawgan ! I had a chap contact me this week who was at my "old school" The Franciscan College, at Buckingham. Sounds posh just saying where it was ! It was run by Franciscan monks in the full riot gear! He was as scarred as I was psychologically afterwards He was called Alan Wetherill but is now called Alan Urdaibay. Normal stuff I suppose !!
I am busy writing crimbo cards and reading about "cartridge head-space" when my flowing script gets scruffy ! I had better trot. look after the rein deer .
brief Swedish joke : What is the cleanest animal in the world? The Reindeer. Cos they call it a riendjur (pron : ree-en.yure)and djur is an animal and ren means "clean or pure" so it is the only animal where all you do is take away the "i" and it is clean. Well something like that ! "

And here is the final bit

"Can I wish everyone ,wherever they are, on the blog a very happy holiday and the very best in health and happiness in the new year and beyod (i`m sorry I ev a cold!) . I don`t really ; its a tie po !! PS : I am finding it difficult to get those "deck" high-heels out of my mind !!"

And with that I will end to days wonder through the valleys of my mind. Did I mention that Val has our front room looking like Blackpool on a bad day? Ah well, she is happy so I will just have to pay the electricity bill with a smile. Nearly time for a cuppa tea.
Happy Christmas to one and all.

In the spirit of Christmas over to you

See the bit from Sunset Zoe below

As it says in the title I intend to hand over the blog today to my dear friends. In order to stop any bickering I am posting in order of receipt!

First, our oldest correspondent it's the one you all love and find difficulty understanding Podga!

"Suffolk Sojourn 29/137. Greetings - and I'll open with the fact that the Pilgrims travelled to West Brom last night and returned empty handed. More excuses about Managers upping stix and leaving at short notice. A quick check on the league table tells me the Tractor Boys are still up above them. Early Days - as we move into Xmas!

Leon (AKA Golly/Mick Russell) rang recently, and gave me the Spanish Inquisition as to what the hell was PB on about! I explained patiently, as he also then asked what the HR's aircraft photo was. I had to tactfully suggest he read the Blog regularly - otherwise it would never quite gel! He promised to comment as he was on a rare day off, but nothing seen to date.

Anyway - excellent photo's from Clare - she's a looker your 'lil sister - but the sailing footwear! Nice to see Purdah Dark is up and running as such - what a wonderful environment to spend your formative years. Kokimoko looks like paradise - been out there yet Paulie? (A bit better than my sister Claire's outlook in Kentish Town!)

Chutney is bottled - want some? You didn't say. Blue Skies. "

The age is getting to him you see. The mighty Greens were home to WBA and had a little slip. He forgot to mention the wonderful away win to the team of the moment - Sheff Utd. His eyesight is also going a little out of kilter. All that jumping from aeroplanes and rarefied atmosphere. Who is closer to the top of the league? Hmmm. Also re Chutney, Damn right I do, get a chance to taste what those little brown fingers have been up to over the years!

For those of you wondering, back in the good old days Claire (Chris's one) put us up over night before we headed to see the Stones headline at Knebworth. It was also my introduction to Lynyrd Skynyrd. From "who the hell are they" to on my feet shouting for more. "Freebird" in the open air!!!! It was also the last time I saw Leon, so on that note here is the man himself.

"Thought you might like this for the blog.........
best
Leon

The seven dwarfs are down in the mines when there is a cave-in.

Snow White runs to the entrance and yells down to them "Is anyone there, can you hear me, say something".
In the distance a voice shouts out "I think Spurs are good enough to win the Premiership this year and the Tractor Boys will finish above the Mighty Green Army."
Snow White says "Thank God you're okay Dopey - is anyone else alive down there?"

I have asked Podga and Leon if they want to be included in our little humour distribution via e-mail group. Can't get a sensible reply so they both miss out on the laughs. However, someone who is an active member of that group and has provided some good old belly laughs over the years is Sunset Zoe. And as coincidence would have it - here she is!! Firstly let me explain that in her previous e-mail she had asked why Blue Skies called her "Sunset Zoe". This happened months ago but she has had technical problems. Don't forget she lives in Holland - the land of Whacky Baccy!

"Cheeky git!
Okay maybe that jab was well deserved after all it did take me a month to reply. Fortunately my service level to our customers is not quite so lackadaisical. I just have trouble concentrating at this time of year (too dark, far too dark) and I end up making some mistakes and forgetting things then in February or March finance finds my mistakes and I end up spending a week making corrections and feeling rather stupid and hoping I don't get demoted down to tea girl. .............oh there it goes again ........my mind wandering all over the place......now what was I saying.......oh never mind.........I've forgotten already.

I think the Beatles put it quite nicely

"I'm fixing a hole where the rain gets in and stops my mind from wandering where it will go I'm filling the cracks that ran though the door and kept my mind from wandering where it will go"
I've got this poster pinned up on my cubical wall to try and make me feel better but I think it's stopped working, think I need a new one, change of scenery."

Now you know why there is a picture of Paradise at the top of today's post.

I am sure (hoping) that Al will get around to updating her blog at some time and tell us all about "Daisy", the eight week old Hamster that now resides in her bedroom. Billy the Cat has shown a great interest and even snoozy Suki has woken up! Oh deep joy.

Christmas is here

Rainbow Koromiko

Purdah Dark

Minka Koromiko

Marlborough Sounds

Koromiko clouds

Daz and Minka Koromiko walk

Clare Sailing (Those shoes look really suitable for the crewing job Clare!!)

Andes Brendan and Clare with friends

Into City Centre today to do a bit of the old Christmas Shopping. I have heard the news about the economic downturn and the worries that are keeping the buying public out of the shops.

I thought that it would be nice to have a wonder around, just Val, I and a few other hardy souls who weren't taking a gamble on the shops having a sale before Christmas. No problem getting a parking slot as there is no one shopping this year.

WRONG!!!! Took me bloody ages to get a parking slot. The queue's at the tills were snacking back some flaming distance. Where were the deserted streets I had heard all about. Not in Plymouth City Centre I can tell you!!!!

Uncle Christopher has been at the comment button again. Here we go, here we go, here we go...

"Suffolk Sojourn 28 of 137. It's only me - From over the sea - Barnacle Bill the Sailor!

So - more contributions to the Blog - Hurrah. Nice one Clare, and nice to see the newly arrived Foal - have a name yet I wonder? Looks perfect out there - as East Anglia cuts itself from the rest of UK, thriving Blue Tongue, and now Bird Flu. More exclusion zones than Iraq. Fish Fingers for Christmas I'll be bound.

As for PB of the SBIC (Rtd. Hurt) - I thought HR banged on a bit, but this takes the biscuit. I've got 1,000 shares in Northern Rock - is he interested? Is Binney Towers due for demolition? Don't forget your PA Pete - she's on the top floor watching your Earl Grey brew.

The final photo of the Iranian Hostage trilogy been sent to you Paulie. Editors' decision of course re transmission - but be warned readers: the Girlie is finally revealed, and the print can be labelled as topless. Don't log on till after the Watershed.

Tractor Boys and Pilgrims back in action this w/e - how will things look by Tue 29 Jan when we host you at Portman Road. I'll be there and will send the programme.

If you're out tonight - on your bike - don't forget - Wear White.Blue Skies !!??!!!**? "

You will be aware that the third picture of our intrepid band has already been posted. I know the Mighty (headless) Green Army won a wonderful away three points today. Even though the chap that lectured us all about integrity and honesty, and the lack of it in some quarters in the football arena, decided to cash in his forty pieces of silver. Ian Holloway, man of the people and lover of Plymouth Argyle has shown his true colours. Coat of many colours or just turncoat. Take your choice. He is not a popular person down this neck of the woods at the moment.

Baby Sissy Clare has sent me an e-mail with some photo's. Thought I would share them with you. An extract from the e-mail below to explain a little bit of the background.

"Maybe we are carving out the best life here - working in Sydney and the city life and time off for writing, reflecting, reading and pups (oh joy) in NZ. It is terribly slow here which may sound great - being off the hill at least gives us privacy and we can always close the gate! Ha! The lovely things are the horses, sheep, goats, birds, wildlife - and I attach a photo of a new foal which I was the first lucky person to find the other day. Also some photos of the pups on my daily walk up the hill with them and then sailing with two friends Andy and Andrea. Brendan has been working here with him and has set up the first recycling system in Picton (3000 people) "

Hope you don't mind sharing the piccies with the rest of the world Clare.

It is time for me to go my friends. Lin is downstairs chatting with Val. They have been friends for many years now, since about five or so I believe. So many many many years now! Ches has just dived off to pick up Al from some dance thing in town. Didn't quite understand what it was all about but assume I will be told tomorrow.

Talking about Al. That wonderful chap Ernie sent her a cheque for £100 on Wednesday. Most I have ever got from him is £50! Ah well.

I started so I'll finish

As their colleagues were whisked off to Fleet St. - then there were 3 ....... (1 x PARA, 1 x SAS and an RAF PTI/PJI). Now can you spot the Girlie?'

I started today's posting as my spuds were on the boil. Thought I would have plenty of time. Unfortunately I changed my settings yesterday to add the Hindi translation button (you never know who may pop in for a visit). I couldn't stop the damned thing translating! Well I know you lot are a pretty switched on crowd but I wasn't sure you could actually read Hindi.

Anyway, the spuds boiled over all over Val's nice (ex)clean hob and we ended up with fried potatoes for tea, great for the cholesterol levels. The point of this quickie is to let Podga show off another of his photo's. The end of the Trilogy. I'd like to point out that Frank Herbert's Dune Trilogy now runs to some 15 books - so come on Podga live up to that one! Over to you.

"Yo Ed!
For possible inclusion - hope I haven't missed the copy deadline. Hope all continues to be well.

Best wishes from Blue Tongue and Bird Flu Country - Looks like Fish Fingers and Curried Beans for Christmas,

Loadsalove to all. Blue Skies"

I still reckon the girlie is in the middle. Re Xmas Turkey, some of us watched the news and noticed the Turkeys getting their Christmas treat a bit earlier than planned. My Xmas Turkey is now sitting in my freezer - just in case. Reckon a bit of Chutney would go down well with it actually don't you think?

Benevolent employer or wot?

It is with great pleasure that I am able to inform you that my financial advisor has joined the ranks of correspondents associated with this blog. I have been trying to work out a colour appropriate for him. As I am running out of them I have decided purple, as his investments always seem to hit a purple patch. I introduce to you ex founder member of the Scroat Busters Investment Club and ex Civil Servant of some standing - well I may be getting a bit carried away here. Anyway over to Pete.

"It is with great regret that I took your bait and left a lengthy dissertation ref. comment on your blog only to find that it would not accept anything over 300 CHARACTERS and not WORDS as I had interpreted it !!!!! This is no good to ME-I can use 300 characters in one sentence!!!!! Hence, my reply to your impertinence is thus:-
Minimum wage entitlement has already been discussed with my over-age YTS trainee whose main secretarial duties involve 1) answering the phone (as she is becoming increasingly deaf incorrect information is often forwarded to me) 2)making the tea (which I demand is brought to me in my study and has been received lukewarm on more than one occasion of late due to my employee's inability to climb the stairs as quickly as she used to do-a rather lame excuse, I feel).
In order to prevent standards deteriorating further, I had to take disciplinary action only recently which involved confiscating her pension book and forbidding her to cuddle the cat. I know what you're thinking -I've been far too lenient, but I'm glad to report that standards have begun to improve. You 'll also be reassured to know that as her performance of the said tasks is still not good enough to warrant a minimum wage, she has requested that she be employed in a voluntary and vocational capacity thus taking the stress out of the situation in attempting to achieve the required standard whilst realising that said penalties are still applicable if productivity levels fall again.
Although this is not an entirely satisfactory outcome for ME, I would like readers of your BLOG to know that, contrary to impressions given to them by you, I am, in fact, a most benevolent employer as my actions above show, I'm sure they'll agree???!!! I might add finally that I have reassured my ageing employee that while she works in a voluntary capacity, greater disciplinary action (the renting out of her room) will be most unlikely!!! Not even you, Paul, could doubt the generosity of this action!!!??? I must admit it has given me a rather good feeling too!!! You must take some credit, I feel, as it was you who encouraged me to be good to the workers!!!
Regards,
All @ Binney Towers."

Well I have certainly learnt something today, they do say that you should learn one new thing each day. Must be a wonderful day today as I have learnt two things today - but more on the second one later. I didn't know that you could only use 300 characters in a comment.

I have to apologise to Pete as I didn't realise what a wonderful employer he is. I must admit that when I have left messages for him his secretary has been a little familiar. Speaking as though we were equals!! I now understand his frustrations. She expects to gain advantages just because she is his mum, just not fair on the poor old guy.

Now on to the second thing I have learnt. You know Val has been busy on the hall and has all but stripped all the paper off. When she spoke to the guys about an estimate she was talking about having the ceilings sorted with board. All I said tonight was that it may be a bit expensive and why don't we just paint or take the paper off and have it skimmed the same as the walls. She said something about nearly finished , gave me a dirty look and has since not really spoken to me other than when absolutely necessary. She is down taking the paint off wood in the downstairs closet as I type. I think I have put my foot in it again!! I am not sure I will ever understand this particular female in particular or any other one in general!!

I will update you later - if I am still breathing!!!!

Another discovers the delights of comment

Podga continues to celebrate with the 'Hostages' - things degenerate as they patiently await the Tabloid Limousines to whisk them off to Fleet Street

I can't get him to stand up (he's only 3 hours old)

I actually have a little bit of time spare in my busy life. My thoughts immediately went to the blog and the adoring public just waiting for the next post. Is it coming from the West Country, or maybe Brownfingers in Turnip land is going to spread some news of his gardening skills? Surprise surprise, we have a bit from Turnip land rabbiting on about some Tractor something or other but I notice he does build up the word "green". Is the mighty Green Army getting to him?

We also have a contribution from our New Zealand correspondent! Hay, meet sissy Clare folks. At the bottom of her mountain domain the miracle of birth has happened again. One 3 hour old foal. Check the photo above.

"Suffolk Sojourn 27 of 137.2 weekends gone since my last - and the same for you - sulking??Tractor Boys and Pilgrims have played another 3 matches each - both teams have won 1, drawn 1 and lost 1. Tractor Boys remain above Pilgrims, and still a game in hand.Early days say's Paulie - yeah, right! Thanks for putting the Iran hostage photo on - very brave of you. It's suddenly got colder in Suffolk - picked my final 4lbs of tomatoes today - albeit green. Stand by for a couple of jars of Podga's Home Made Chutney - incoming.

Other than that - I await to read any other comments on your missives. We know they're out there don't we.

I'm prepping to strike as the 2,000th visitor - just to repeat my previous triumph of cunning stealth.Onwards and Upwards, and Blue Skies. CT"

You will notice that Another photo from someone's glorious past has appeared. All sorts of comments about Queen and Country flow through my head!

Without further ado (drum role please) welcome Clare to the blog. Go for it gal!

"Well - hello from New Zealand. I have to say our family was always one for having many faces but this dressing up beats it all! Have to say a lot of effort has been put in and it looked like great fun - I am sure a lot of alcoholic punch was drunk! Say hi to blighty for me folks."

Val has just come back from dropping Ches and Al back to their car. She has asked if we are having tea tonight so it looks as though my spare time is up! Never mind, Thursday is comedy night on the telly!

Before I go, must mention Anne, sister in law in Aussie. Hope you had a super birthday and when are we getting a comment on the blog then??

Also, got an e-mail from Pete, my investment guru. He says he pops in here for a view every so often. What do you think of a bloke who employs a 89 year secretary and I am sure he doesn't pay the minimum wage?? How about a comment from Binney Towers?

Time for tea.

Val has finished her bit

Val has just about finished her bit, she is a little chuffed.

Ches, Al and Val survey the work

That's it folks

Just had to do a quick entry to let you all know that Val has finished her bit in the hall. Well, just a little bit to do but let's not worry about that.

She has told me I have to do the high bits as she is such a short arse and can't reach. Excuses excuses. She just wants to see me engaged in a little manual labour. I keep telling her that I am really not built that way nor am I emotionally prepared to undertake anything over 3 feet. She doesn't believe me.

Ah well, I shall be able to report the completion of our part of the enterprise next year sometime!!!!

Once we have prepared the whole area then we shall get the builders in to skim plaster and put up a couple of false ceilings. It has been a long time since my house didn't resemble a building site and I have become quite accustomed to the layer of dust covering everything!!!

I have no idea how much this little lot is going to set me back, still waiting for the estimate!!

Hope you all noted the brilliant display by the mighty Greens over the weekend. 3-0. Pity one of our top forwards got a little carried away and got himself arrested in Union Street in the early hours of Sunday morning!! Professional athlete or what?

If you don't know Union Street. Think Boogie Street, Singapore or the Gut in Malta. The Gut is now long gone, at least it was when I visited around 75/76 time. The days when we had a navy rather than the offshore defence force we now have!

Can't talk really as the RAF has shrunk somewhat over the past few years I think most of the Stations I served at over the years have gone! Upwood, 12 Fld Wksp REME Osnabruck, St Mawgan, Abingdon, Portsmouth CIO, DDLS Rheindahlen, Chivenor, RAF PMC Innsworth, Mountbatten, Chivenor (again). Even the training units at Swinderby and Hereford are no longer! Oh yes and don't forget the firemans strike in the East End of London for a few months in '77/'78, we were in the TA building in Plaistow, probably find that's gone as well!

Tell you what, looking back I had a bloody hard time of it in my career didn't I!!!

Weekend here at last

Podga celebrates with the Navy hostages on their release from Iran - having secured lucrative tabloid paper deals for their story. (PS Spot the girlie!). (Ed. The country is safe now most of this lot are drawing their pensions!!)

A photo from podga's past here. I am guessing the girlie is standing in the middle as centre of attention?

As appears to be the norm at the moment I have been a bit on the busy side, hence nothing from Plymouth for a week!! Work is toddling on and keeping me and my colleagues well occupied - thats enough of that! The dread word is FRAIMS will mean nothing to you but I am just interested if anyone feeds that into Google and ends up here! Very expensive and what appears to be a crap not up to the job IT system just in case you were interested.

At home Val is doing wonders with the hall. I think this weekend I am going to have to get stuck in as 5 foot 4 inches doesn't reach too high, even though I did buy her a super magic ladder! The things I do for her!! She is getting all the paper off the vestibule as I type. 'Tis far more important to get the blog updated than stripping wallpaper off the wall - anyway she tells me she enjoys it!

A quick Happy birthday to Anne, my sister-in-law in sunny Aussie, for next Wednesday. I did Leon's Plaxo thing for e-mails and they sent me a reminder. How the hell they knew it was her birthday, still, modern technology eh!

As a matter of interest still waiting for Tony to post a comment just to prove he looks at this wonderful blog!

Well my friends the turnip farmer has posted another. To be fair on the poor old boy he did comment before last weekend. I just couldn't think of a decent retort to the fact that the mighty Greens are letting me down a little!! Go on Podga - go for it.
"Suffolk Sojourn 26 of 137. The weekend starts here - and did I laugh as I scrolled through your Halloween party photos - when I arrived at the one of Val - and your caption 'Val pissed'. Classic - I'm sure she wasn't really - so hurtful Paulie. Maybe Lucozade and Painkillers don't mix?Reminds me of those old days of putting an Aspirin in your bottle of Coke! The team photo's are excellent - Al looking more like Ches every day.
So, this weekends' football looms. Shall I be crowing again as the Tractor Boys triumph and the Pilgrims slip further into oblivion? As for Leons' Gunners - Man U. are closing buddy.
I've emailed you a photo from the past that came in from Spain - only 'cos I'm in it (Another gang, not as old as ours) and have suggested a caption that might swing it for you to add to the blog. (Editors Decision is Final) So - HR is legally back in the air, and you're putting aircraft spotter pics in. Right - Parachuting material incoming. Love to all ghosts and ghouls in Plymouth. Blue Skies - CT "

I reckon it must be time for me to get tea sorted. Val must be getting a bit hungry now. before I go, on the subject of birthdays. Happy 50th to Andy Parkin of FIS Plymouth fame. You don't look a day over 49 3/4 my son!

HR is back in the air

Got an e-mail from HR as he STILL hasn't managed the art of the comment yet! Not the only one is he Clare?

Thought I would share with you all. I reckon he should do a pen picture so we can all get to know him a bit more (Yes I know I know him but you may not!). And what about Blue Skies and Leon I hear you ask. Yeh, why not indeed huh?

"Hiya, the real Bob is back ! I have attached a picture of 'TZ' and the link below for you to see why. http://www.westernairthruxton.co.uk/fleet.htm
The real reason is that having been on the ground since Jan 07 I booked a check flight at Thruxton and after 35 mins circuit-bashing,which included 3 landings, I was set free !
On top of that : the aircraft in the picture was (I was told) being sold off , but she has been retained by popular demand and so I can continue to fly the most beautiful aircraft I have ever been privileged to control.
On top of that , this now means that I can continue with my solo aerobatics once I get a refresher with Bob Cole. He is an ex lightning pilot and was the CAA Test Pilot for some time.
So the one first and true love of my life (flying) is back, so I am me again!
Have fun and be good. Thanks for the funny emails at work , I enjoy them."

Now you know why I have a picture of an aeroplane on the blog!!

It is now Friday and no more work for two whole days. Val is feeling a bit better so that means she is ripping paper off the wall downstairs. How she enjoys that I will never know. I do know I can hear an awful lot of mumbling from down there!

Have a super weekend, no matter where in the world you are. Visitors feel free to comment!

Guess what we did last night

Ches, Paul and Val

Ches, Al and Val

Ches and Al looking scary ?

Mary and Val (Note Mary gave up on the teeth!)

Paul and Mary's dad (Clare's as well but she choose LA over the party!!)

Mary and cobwebs

Val pissed

Paul and Val just arrived caught not quite expecting the flash yet!!

Rocky and Mary (With teeth)

Words are unneccessary!! Look at from bottom up!

Is it only Tuesday

Faith , Al and Jaz on a pre Halloween run.

Val and Ches hiding in the kitchen.

Back to work yesterday after four lovely days off. Got back to the inevitable pile of crap. What is the point of going on leave if most of the crap is there when you get back. My colleagues should have been in till 8 at night doing "my" work - that's what I say!!!!

After the unfortunate results on Saturday I suppose the crowing just had to come from brownfingers. A whole season still to go old boy!!!

Update on Val's health. She is a bit tender today as they are trying to get her off the steroids before putting her on a different course of pills. Trouble is she is in a bit of pain and loses the use of all her joints! No, not the one's you puff on just the ones that puff up! She is downstairs watching "her boys" - Justin and the other guy on the DIY show, bombed out as she gave up and popped the pills. I think she is going to have a chat with her doc to see if anything can be done. Isn't life fun, never even thought about these problems in the "good old days". On that note Blue Skies is calling over to you Podga.

"Suffolk Sojourn 25 of 137.Now then! First of all - Pilgrims lose, Tractor Boys win. At your prompt I look at the League table as you suggested a week or two ago - and we've still got a game in hand! Early days?! Anyway - just got back from Woodstock (Oxon!), a duty welfare call to my folks for the w/e. Good food, fine wine and many family jackanories that force Bil to bed early!

Intrigued by HR's history/CV - he's got a PPL/flies too!! I had him tagged as some kind of Citizen Smith, considering the armoury details. Should be an interesting get-together when we do sort it! Wonder if my 'ol man taught him - he's still flying/teaching and displaying - at 80+. Was HR at Gutersloh, or Paderborn, with you?Anyway - Hope Val's not pushing the pain barrier too much in order to sort the Hall/Landing/Stairs etc. Everything in moderation.As for all your TV/DVD/Satellite/Phone and other technical troubleshooting stuff Paulie - Phew! We're still using the (B&W)TV I had in my room in Upwood in '72. If it ain't broke - don't fix it!! (Hands up who believes that).Love to all and Blue Skies. CTx "

HR and I met on my first posting after jolly old Upwood. We were in the instrument section at 12 Field Workshop Osnatraz (Osnabruck). What was a shiney doing in the instrument section I hear you ask. Never quite worked out that one myself, seems I had a talent for engraving. Ether that or I was just in the way elsewhere and they found a convenient hole to put me in. Anyway I was happy there as they let me take a record player into work and I used to play LP's whilst doing the engraving. Was amusing when we had parades as I had carried my LP's in a bag with me. I was never any good on the parade ground and the CSM (who was actually a bloody nice bloke) never got used to "Blue Jobs" messing up his little get togethers.

On the Hall front. Yes she (Val) is doing too much but she actually enjoys doing it, just regrets it after. Still the bits that are left are a bit too dangerous for her to do so I will probably have an earbending each weekend until the job is done. During football season as well!!

Hey, Uncle Christopher. Tell B I got the e-mail from her and I will look after the Southern half of the country for her to the best of my ability!

You lot look after yourselves, it's dangerous out there.

I am on leave

After the fun of the last week or so I am now on four days leave. Day one today and the spare bedroom got itself a clear out along with a new telly and DVD. Well not actually new, just moved from downstairs, but I haven't told the spare room that and I don't think it uses the internet so it won't get to read this.

Man utd and Arsenal both did rather well tonight. And the Mighty Greens march on, 2-1 away to Charlton.

I only opened tonight to let HR have his time in the spotlight. Off you go my Red Army friend.
"Hiya, thanks for the email and the mention. I love the one about parachuting from the Herc and the TACEVAL !
I never had the guts to jump from a serviceable aircraft but was almost the jump pilot at colerne once ! The static lines connect to the pilots` seat frame ! Not really a good idea ! The frm is on rollers ! Also cool parachuting-dude (sitting next to pilot but on floor) with back to controls can be completely oblivious to the fact that his bloody parachute is jamming the controls !
Once took a parachutist for a flight in Germany and he looked quite nervous on the way in to land; so I asked him if he was ok and he told me he was a bit scared because he usually left the plane higher up and had never come back down in one before !
I love the thought of the crisp Cornish morning though.What freedom ! I went to see Freja this morning and she was cute and wrinkly;
Glad Val's bum is better (written in a whisper)
PS: I am taking up reloading my own ammo ...so lots of scope there for blog entries !!"

My baby sister in NZ has promised to read the blog so Hi Clare. Hope Aussie wasn't too bad and the dogs have forgiven you for deserting them again!!!

Where have I been you may ask.

Where has Paul been I hear you ask. Read on to give you a flavour on my life. A little later I will hand over to our roving correspondents - but first.

On Tuesday Val rang me in work at 10.30 saying that she had an appointment with the Chest Consultant re the follow up to the “Shadow on lungs” visit last time. You may recall that the consultant said he was fairly sure there was nothing sinister but he wanted to check out with his “X-ray expert”. Val’s appointment was at midday. You can imagine what I thought. “There must be bad news as they have given her one and a half hours notice”. NHS normally takes a couple of weeks notice to hand out bad news!

Val drove into my place of work to pick me up at the agreed time of 11.00. I got into the car and casually mentioned that it was unusual for the Hospital to ring for an appointment and a short notice one at that! It appears that the appointment letter only reached our letterbox at 10.30 that morning because it had been held up in the postal dispute!!!! I was a little relieved! Anyway we went in and it was confirmed there was nothing sinister. There is something they are unsure about so Val has to go back in six months for another X-ray. This isn’t any good for my blood pressure!!!!

On Wednesday I got an e-mail from Kodak informing me that there was an updated version of my Kodak software available to download. So off I went and downloaded it. Big mistake. Wednesday night, Thursday night and Friday night were spent recovering the situation. I was getting to bed between midnight and one. My bedtime is normally between 10 and 10.30!!! I was flaming knackered come Friday. Not sure how I stayed awake in work I can tell you.

On Saturday Val and I went looking for a new phone system for home. You may, or not, be aware that she is (very slowly) doing the hall, well she wanted to move the phone. I reckon it would have cost me £80 to move the phone socket (no wires wanted showing you see so not a DIY job) and anything around the £100 mark for an electrician to put a new electric socket into the wall. All in all about £180 ish to move the phone to the other side of the door. Not a good idea from my viewpoint. Came up with a solution. A wireless phone system using one of the sockets upstairs. Val agreed so into Curry’s and Comet we went.

Eventually found the set that filled all our criteria except colour. Even Val was wearing down at this stage so, surprisingly, she gave in. £40 odd gave us a three handset wireless system. Whilst in Curry’s we decide to have a look at TV’s and DVD’s as ours has been playing up. DVD starting when it feels like it and TV slowly shadowing over.

You know I said I was knackered by Friday. Well my resistance must have been low. We came home with not only the phone set we went in for (remember I said I did it this way to save cash???) but also one 37 inch LCD TV and one DVD recorder. This was just the start of the fun.

You know when you get electrical kit the salesman says it’s easy to set up. Open the (rather thick) manual and it says just plug and play. Bollocks. All day Saturday until the now usual one in the morning and up to three this afternoon connecting and trying to work out how the bloody system works. Then after all that I had to connect Al’s Wii. You will be pleased to know that now we can see terrestrial TV one way. Cable TV via the TV and via the DVD. WE can get, what I assume is, Freeview via the TV and DVD. We can play and record DVD’s as well as recording onto the DVD hard drive. We can play with Al’s Wii. And all this is on top of the Virgin V+ system that we are used to. My only problem is remembering what set of buttons I press for whatever I want to do. I say only problem. I have to explain all this to Val yet.

After all that I had to set the bloody phones!!! They work OK but each one needs to have the phonebook put in. That is for another day as I am tech’d out.

And all this over the weekend that from an international sporting point of view wasn't the best for England. I caught the end of the rugby world cup and the last seven laps of Lewis Hamilton in Brazil. Still would just like to point out that Argyle came away with three very deserved points against Coventry. Not sure how Albion got on against, what a coincidence, Coventry.

Ah well back to work tomorrow. I am off next week from Wednesday, which is excellent as we have to change the spare bedroom around. Anyone want a double bed???? The futon is going in there along with the old TV and DVD player. Visitors will now have a place to run and hide from the chaotic state we live in.

Still, the hall is coming along nicely!!!! See the photo's above for confirmation.

Well you will be pleased to know that is it for me and now over to Blue Skies for his bit.

"Suffolk Sojourn 24 of 137.Hells Bells HR! - I had to clock overtime to get through your communique. And still no mention of the next gig with the Gibson Flying V Balalaika. You mentioned Chivenor Paulie - remember that time the trials team I was with at the time (Jun 85) flew down to you there and we spent a week jumping from high altitude onto Saunton Sands? (During some precious time off Val, you and I walked down a railway line (?) for an evening scoff at a Bernie). Anyway, we did a lot of early morning stuff before the Sqn Hawks fired up. Buddy Jim and I found ourselves at 25,000' on a beautiful but cold Devon morning - 0615, and about 21 miles upwind of Chivenor. Luckily the C130 Nav. had got his calcs well plotted - for me anyway. I arrived 31 minutes later on the beach but Jim was 3 miles short. He landed on the airfield, (with O2, full bergen eqpt including weapon) smack in front of the Hawk line up - 10 minutes after the TACEVAL siren had sounded off. He was immediately surrounded and captured by an enthusiastic bunch of young Rambo's who couldn't believe that the exercises were getting realistic at last. A coincidence, but it took us 3 hours to find him then get him out of the guardroom. Good times. Barry and Derek - are you out there? Hope Val is on the mend, and love to Chesch and Alice. Blue Skies - CT "

I remember that weekend visit very well. You (again) wanted me to jump out of a perfectly serviceable and flying aircraft. Never quite understood that as fun. It must be me because my Wing Commander at the time, one very nice bloke Chris Rowntree, wanted me to sit in a Hawk while he drove it, very low, around the West Country and through the Welsh valleys. Looking up at sheep whilst doing 400mph or whatever is another fun bit I have never come to understand.

The bit about you and Jim hitting Chivenor during TACEVAL I also remember well as I was Incident Commander just heading back to my little hidey hole when I saw the chute with the aforementioned Jim heading earthward. I too was very impressed. Even more impressed when I found out that I didn't have to deal with the situation as the guys sorted it out without me!!!

The Bernie was a rather nice castle sitting by the waters edge, Val and I often talk about the good company of that night.

Now over to HR. He e-mailed me, but as he said he hasn't got the hang of the comments facility on the blog yet I thought I would post for him. Just as a matter of interest he had sent me a message in Russian. I went back asking what it meant as my Russian is fairly rusty now the Cold War is over. Is it? No that's a question for another day! Over to you HR.

"OOPs sorry I forgot .
It said in Cyrillic (Good old Saint Cyril!) : Spaceeba Balshoi .
Spaceeba means thank you and balshoi means big.
So the Bolshoi Ballet is just " the big ballet"!!!
I changed my keyboard to allow me to write in German ,Swedish or Russian.
Sadly my two-finger typing is still crap !!
Thanks for the mention on the blog : I did not add the fact that i feel privileged to be welcome amongst all the other people there and will make an effort to meet them one day.
We should have a get together. !
PS I found myself reading about Val's Bum ! Are we allowed to talk about that and I hope it is getting better!"

Val's bum is better you will all be pleased to know. God knows what is going to happen if she ever reads this !!

Changed my mind

Well Hi there France. Hope all is well at your end. You and Estonia can have a pint on us OK lads?

Went into PC World yesterday with Al and surprised and shocked at the prices. Laptop and a wireless/Ethernet system were the targets. Think I will settle for the PC I have and a wife that is into 19th century comms. I can always pass on a message - far cheaper!!!

I reckon we will just replace the LCD telly, ours appears to have aquired a shadow. Val wants to give to to Al but I think it's a bit too big, may end up in our bedroom, then I really won't care if the soccer clashes with Coronation Dale Enders whatsit.

HR has decided that blog communication is beyond him - what is your job actually HR? Hmm.

I get these e-mails from him and he has said I can share with you all. You will now get to see the qualiyu of e-mails I have to put up with!!!! Only problem is that I can't remember what colour is Bob's. Not Brown, not blue and not orange. Might have been red for the Russian Army. Have to point out that he was going on about shooting innocent creatures in his last one to us. Pointed out that we were in the Hunt Sabateurs whilst at Chivenor and were passing his details on to ALF. May help you make a bit of sense of what follows - not much though but hopefully you'll pick up the thread as we go along! Hopefully HR will read this and introduce the characters mentioned at some point in the future. Meanwhile try and work out who is who!!
"Hiya Paul, thanks for the email and veiled threats !
Who hunts whippets anyhow ? !
The last animals I shot at walked off in disgust (cos I missed) then (when I removed the sight to mount on another rifle) the Squirrel came back and flaunted itself knowing my gun was sight-less ! The furry ,buck-toothed American descendant little (rodent!).....
It hasn`t learnt about "moderators" yet ! They are civilian name for what we know as a "silencer"......(insert evil laugh at this point which I am unable to turn into letterz!).
Wots all this about the females "ripping off the walls"? Are they ,making cheap copies or just fleecing them for extra cash? !!
I have paid attention to the round ball (used to call it "Kick-ball" when I was a kid) . That expression would upset the experts now that its is an industry ! or is that a "science"... oh well just run as far forwards as you can, and pretend to be fouled....then ... roll on floor clutching right shin (always the right one ) then get a fee kick ! Mincers !! There used to be charismatic players like Georgie Best and Bobby Moore.
Now there are long-haired shirt grabbers ( "Non contact sport ...? I know nothing Herr Refereee !!..Senor .... Iss big mistake ... I no touch him.... his leg jus brake.... honist!).
But enough of sport ... your honour..
My friends Nisse and Sussi went on to London yesterday after a short but wonderful visit.
I have not seen them since 1993 and they have since married and had twins. Nisse teaches the local childrens football team so is a fellow "kindred spirit" to you Paul.
I have been on tenter hooks hoping it would all go well and we had excellent weather and the trips out went well.
This morning I went to Surrey and collected my .22 rifle ( and the bunnz will be pleased to know that when I fitted a telescopic sight and on instinct decided to "boresight" the rifle (look down barrel from breech end and point it at something......Next look through sight and see if they agree.
Da Bunz will be happy to know that with elevation adjustment fully "UP" the sight still insisted on looking at the grass in front of the "water baby" birdbath (birdz ?....they never throw away their empty shower gel ! Bloody pidgeons !) .
The barrel meanwhile was silently lined up with its elbow !
It might have worked well at 200 mtrs but not at any other range below that !!
So have refitted the open sight and will work with that until I decide whether to give in and shim the telescopic sight!
In the morning at 0630 I am off to Christchurch (no not shooting chorists!) near Bournmouth ( no not shooting tourists!) where CGC are having an open day .
I have my membership interview , then , when they accept me , I shall be cleared to zero the Hornet and the .22 LR if I am lucky; and later we are having a 2nd Guards shooting competition with the 7.62mm Mosin Nagant rifle ( a mans rifle ! Although women did use them , and the anti-tank rifles too !).
So busy busy.
Phils girlfriend produced a baby girl called Freya , Leigh. and all is well. They went to Glasgow today to see her Dad.
He was in 16 AD Regt in NI when I was in it in 1976 ; and sadly was near Buff Miller when he was killed.
From my point of view I can understand very well how Val feels because these memories come up out of nowhere.
The bond between mum and son is the strongest I know of and never fades.Maybe letting go takes a lifetime?
Please give her my love and tell her that i am thinking of her.
I know that counts for sod all in the life of a mum who has lost someone she bore, but its as sincere and genuine as I can make it I promise.
Gail is never far from my thoughts.
The tiling was given the seal of approval by Nisse and so was the "this is where I keep my tools " area. He looked at it and smiled at the mess; I spotted the look of recognition and asked if he had the sma (mess) at home: "yeees" he said... and the smile that Sussi gave him confirmed he was telling the truth !!
As for the loo... its ace and Lee christened it by throwing up in it later the night it was installed !
He had a tummy bug your honour!
Please feel free to edit this and use any of it you wish; I amno good at getting things on the blog so I stick to emails.
Lees band QuarterBlind have an album being released in november... it is available for pre-booking thorugh Amazon now.
Its heavy metal !
I had better dash cos I have to have a bath then get some sleep.
I hope I don`t lie awake like I did last night... designing "moderators" in my mind !!!

have fun and be good.
Lets hope we beat the French."

See what I mean! At least we beat the French (and the Estonians). Ah well, bye for now.

I'm in a rush again

Been researching a wireless LAN for my place. Seems a bit complicated to me, and not that secure or reliable. Came across a Powerline Ethernet Adapter system thanks to some cracking articles on the Net. Read one guys Blog that finally pushed me in that direction.

Trying to get Val into the 21st century you see. Reckon a laptop will be easier for her to use as a mouse is virtually impossible for her to handle!

Into PC World / Comet with Al tomorrow after sorting her MP3 problem. Hope I can sort it as it was a special pressy from my mate Santa!

Blue Skies is back from his short break so a quick handover before I head downstairs for an evening of comedy. Oh yes. Good luck Englan tomorrow in both football rules games!
"Suffolk Sojourn 23 of 137. Now then! Back refreshed from the sunny climes of our counties' Eastern coastline. A good time had by my hard working better half - although blindfolded throughout (I told her we were in St Tropez).
Got to share this with you: We arrived in time for Sunday lunch - at which point a bunch of Norfolk Hoorays were settling well in the lounge, obviously onto their 3rd bottle of fizz (by the decibel level) - whilst the offspring trooped down from their rooms clutching kites, buckets and spades etc to go onto the beach (50 yds away). We had lunch, took over our room, then a long walk, nap, and eventually dressed suitably for supper. Armed with chilled Chardonnay, we sat on the sea wall and watched the sunset.
The kids were still down on the shingle, and their parentals were still in the lounge giving it hot rocks. A father then appeared at the top of the hotel steps and shouted down to his son and heir to "come up - we're going into dinner - now! Marmaduke trudged back up the beach to sit on the path in front of us, and took off his trainers and started to wring his wet socks.Father came back out, went ballistic and told him to "get some hotel slippers from the room - brat", and turned to go inside.
Marmaduke sat there - disdainfully looking at father swaying back up the steps and muttered:"Well - I might have wet socks - but at least I'm not drunk" Bil and I fell off the wall - backwards.
Anyway - Ref the Championship League Table - why should I weep? Tractor Boys have a game in hand over Pilgrims. Early days Paulie.Blue Skies "

Why do some folks have kids eh? Still got to get those three points Brownhands!!

A couple of changes

Just in case you think this blog has shrunk, I have changed the settings. You get the last five wonderful posts then if you want to delve into the past. Have a look on the left hand side near the bottom...I'm sure you can work it out.

While you are down there check out the crazy clock that has been added. Coo eh!

Thanks to Bro Tony and Anni-Jo in sunny Aus for pointing me in that direction. I love simple things!!!!

The clock shows UK time to me but you never know - you may get whatever time it is in your part of the world.

Another day in sunny old Plymouth

Quick update on Val's bum. A lot better now. She is up and about and even driving around. Kidneys checked out so no major problem, except for frequent visits to a certain room in the house. But she won't thank me for publishing that to the world so I had better say no more!!!

Young Christopher has absented himself with the excuse of taking Miss Belinda away for a well deserved rest. I will hand over to the Blue one now.
"Suffolk Sojourn 22 of 137.Tractor Boys secure 3 pwans - Pilgrims scramble 1. Dream on indeed. Hope Val's injury has eased up - make sure she has everything she needs Paulie! Am kidnapping Miss Belinda and taking her (blindfolded of course) to a 3 day pampering session at a plush hotel on the beach at Aldeburgh tomorrow. A belated birthday treat. I will suffer withdrawal symptoms without being able to check your latest - but will be back Weds evening. Till then - Don't forget, If you're out tonight - On your bike - Wear white. Blue Skies! CT x "

Not sure what they are up to but starting off blindfolding her?? Not sure we want to read about the next chapter in this little story!!

Alice showed her customary lack of confidence today. She is doing exams at school (they seem to do a hell of a lot more than I remember from Primary School - maybe it's just my memory!). I asked her how she felt she had done. "Brilliantly of course" came the response. I think I may have been speaking over the Disney Channel so it was a way to silence me!

It appears that I have been told to attend a Halloween Party at my sis's place. Been told I have to dress up. Val has suggested Mr Spock. Do you think she is missing the point somewhere along the line here? I am not good a dressing up so will have to have a think about it. Could go as Groucho - nope that's been done!! No I'm not doing a Val - he is dead you see so I would be a ghost .... Halloween see.

As usual busy busy so must dive off. Sunset Zoe has just come back from Egypt it appears. She might bang a link to her photo's if she reads this.

Oh by the way Mr T. Have a look at the league table. Read and weep!!

No prizes for guessing who was the 1000th!!

Leon was dead right!!!!!! He foretold who would be number 1000.

Val has tweaked something in her bum, so this is going to be a short post. I will hand over to the 1000 boy in a minute.

Val went to sit down and got a sharp pain in the left cheek (Not me before the pain in the arse jokes start floating about). I think she may have pulled something - it's a pretty large muscle down there nowadays! Just another thing to add to her sickness CV. She is now in bed sitting up unable to straighten out!!!

Right the podga let's hear what news we have from our East Anglian jury.
"Suffolk Sojourn 21 of 137 - and I reckon I'm the 1000th visitor - as promised. So, my boys scraped through - thanks to Rooney. (Please note - Podga has appointed himself a mere mentor to the Tractor Boys as he lives local, but he remains confident and loyal in the meantime - Ed). PS - Dream on Pilgrims. Miss Belinda is back in town again - on another course - and presently somewhere in Earls Court with yet another FANY, chewing the fat over the good ol' days with a bottle of Chardonnay. Thanks for publishing the Groucho and Harpo Polaroid by the way - it was a good party! I'm now back to grey hair and moustache at last - never again. Leon's comments when he passed thru' were typically abrasive - put me off Just For Men forever. Me vain? Fwaaghhh!"

One thing I have worked out about Podga's house is that Miss B must have a clear "no mirrors downstairs" policy. She would never get Blue Skies into the garden if he had to pass a mirror!!!!
Dream on Pilgrims indeed!!!!!!

Have heard from HR by e-mail so will let him know that the Blog Boys are waiting for pearls of wisdom. Probably wont get any so ask HR to say something instead!

Podga did explain to me what FANY was but my memory ....

Man U kick off in 10 minutes

Very quick today, really just to post the comments from our two roving reporters. I say two as the third one (HR) seems to have disappeared into the Russian Steppes (I am sure I have spelt that wrong, sure someone will correct me).

Baby sister Clare is busy saving dogs in New Zealand. Maybe she will post something, or maybe long suffering hubby B will come up with a little ditty.

Without further ado I will hand over to Leon - he got here first I'm afraid podga :-)
"Hi Paul & Val & Family,Firstly may I say congrats to Val for the all clear and hope it stays that way. I too had a scare a few years back and thankfully that too has gone.Secondly sorry about not scribing for a few weeks but have been extremely busy, which of course is good, and although a little quiet this week the manure is due to hit the proverbial fan again next week and the week after.
Tractor boy too has been quiet of late and I think he must be watching the counter in the top left hand corner of the blog so he can whip in there and claim the 1000 tag.......... gawd bless him. No news on the Donaldson front at the moment. I seem to remember years ago that if I was to contact RAF Innsworth Records they may be able to forward a letter on for me if I was to scribe to him. Do you know if this is the case Paul? Also Derek and Barry have not been on which is a bit of a surprise but still there is plenty of time yet.
The mighty " Arsenal " are steaming away which is great for me regarding the fantasy football team selection for my local boozer....... and long may it continue. I will sign off now as my breakfast will not cook itself so keep happy and will scribe again soon. best Leon "

I think you are right old boy, there used to be a system for forwarding letters. I have a horrible feeling it was another of those useful public services that was kicked into touch some years ago. I reckon you would need service numbers though. I reckon the demise of that service would explain the rise of things like the "Forces reunited" website. I know in the good old DWP we no longer forward letters etc.

Nearly kick off time so quickly over to our East Anglian reporter :-0
"Suffolk Sojourn 20 of 137.Helloo and Good Eevenink Plymouth - This is Stowmarket calling, ant many congratulations on a wondervul show.Here are the votes frum the East Anglian Jury:
Luxembourg 208 - Nul Point
Gunners - Une pwan
Paul's GP - Deux pwan
Conservative's Spin - Trois pwan
Pilgrims - Quatre pwan
Tractor Boys - Cinq pwan
38 Special - Six pwan
Alices' Savings - Sept pwan
Podga's Veg Harvest - Huit pwan
Paul's photos - Neuf pwan
Val's All Clear - Dix Points!
And that completes the voting from the Blue Tongue County.
Bonsoir.(In Haste - Busy!)Blue Skies x "

See you all later - nearly 1000!!!!

Are YOU the 1000th visitor???

Hi

If you are the 1000th visitor can you do us a favour and leave a comment?

Would appreciate it.

Blue skies was trying for the honour (?) and I guess, knowing him, he will regard it as a challenge!!!

Go on just click comment and say hi. You could even revisit if you made us a favourite. If you read the posts on this blog you will see that we are getting to renew old friendships - always happy to make new ones as well!!

We even welcome Tractor boys!!!!

One week on

A day out at Mount Edgecombe. The last one showing what a good time was had!

With Lin, Dan and Alisha for a day out

Paul, Al and Floydboy off to the minature pony centre

Al in HER study, or so she keeps telling her mum!

Billy The Kid (Cat!)

At home in the sunshine

And if you thought Val was left out....

Thought that with winter coming I would bang on a few of the photo's that Ches and Al have taken during the summer. I only downloaded them this weekend so they were fresh in my mind

Hells teeth. Is it really a week since I last put fingers to keys on this blog? They say time goes faster when you are busy but it just rockets by nowadays and I don't feel that rushed!

Val went to see the Arthur specialist last Friday. He said they were relieved to see her as they thought she had the big C when they saw the x rays. As I just e-mailed to little sister Clare in sunny NZ, I am glad they didn't see Val before the Chest Consultant!! Latest update on Val's health is that her Cholesterol is 5.2, I put it down to too good a lifestyle with me! They medics aren't worried about that. My theory is that they just don't think she can take any more flaming pills! The new treatment for Arthur is out the window as it appears she had TB, or some form of it, in the past.

The latest move is to try to stop the modules from popping out all over the place. Strangely enough that is the one thing above all others that Val really gets bothered about! Vanity eh!!!

As previously reported I am now officially a KOS. Along with the blood pressure pills and the Cholesterol pills I am now going through the process of getting used to the hearing aids. Bloody weird I can tell you. The brain has forgotten how to block out background sounds so I get the whole lot. I can keep them on for about 3 hours at home at the moment. Next stop is taking them to work. It will be a case of MP3 player out of the ears and HA's in!! Before the piss takers start (you know who you are!!) as the Beatles said "It won't be long, yeah", my turn will come.

Before I go, do you remember I told you that Alice was dead keen on a Nintendo DS lite and that she was doing chores to earn money to be able to by one? She got up to £26 when a cheque came through the post. Those nice people at the now defunct Portman BS were taken over, oops sorry - merged with, the Nationwide BS. Al, as a qualifying member, got a £200 cheque. Normally she would have invested this "for her education" but this time was allowed to purchase one DS lite and 4 games from Toys 'r' us for £139.99. One very happy little girl who also knows the value of saving!!

You lot look after yourselves - and I await comments!!!!!!!