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!!!!!!!

Thanks for well wishes

Alice getting her Black belt with the little Pumas

Father Christmas circa 2003

Her first boyfriend

Common you Greens!

Green belt time with Great Auntie Clare

All above were 2002/2003 time dragged from my photo album

Ches and Em on the bank of some river in Germany in '83

Just thought I would go back in time for a bit and post some old pictures taken from our photo album. Some were just after we got a webcam so we had some fun with people seeing themselves on screen when it was a novel idea!!

Haven't posted for a few days. Sorry about that.

Things are going on much of a muchness. On Monday I had to attend a "conference" and one question was on everyone's mind - will I have a job next year. Glad to say the answer came back as a yes, I'm looking forward to retirement but not this early! However, if I was to be offered a package!!!!!

The Greens had a bit of a hiccup on Saturday, we seem to get camera shy when the TV boys are around. Still, made up for it last night with a good 2-0 away win at QPR.

Tomorrow Val, Ches, Lin (Val's mate) and a few other girls are in to the Pavilions to see and hear Colin Fry. If she gets any messages we will pass them on to you all if we can. Val dragged me along to see a medium once and my cynicism went straight out the window. I was very surprised at what I was told. Lots of charlatans out there but when you listen to the genuine article then all changes.

Will update on what happens, if anything happens that is as I think the hall might be a little full.

Alice got her cheque from the Portman / Nationwide "merger" (takeover!) today. She doesn't know yet so I think I have the pleasure of telling her tomorrow as she is around here in the evening looking after me! She has been doing work to earn money to buy herself a Nintendo lite DS so she will be a bit happy when she gets to open her letter!

We have a tradition that when it's just her and I we head off to the Chinese takeaway and get ourselves a meal. We normally put on a film but soccer is on tomorrow so we will have to see! Normally it's a St Trinians movie (or those naughty girl films as Al puts it). I think we may settle for Clint Eastwood and his Orangutan.

Just like to say thanks to you who e-mailed us after Val got the "Shadow on lung" follow up news. We were a bit relieved as you will understand!!

Phew!

Just couldn't resist it anymore. Any questions send to Blue Skies!!

Thought you may like to see Clare and Brendon's pad in NZ.

The Phew bit in the title is because Val had to see the chest clinic consultant today over a shadow that was found on her lung. We have had a bit of a worrying time with imagination working overtime as you can imagine!

It appears that the shadow is mainly made up of scaring left over from some childhood illness, possible TB or something similar, that Val has now forgotten all about.

The consultant reckons there is something to do with Val's Arthritis in there as well but nothing to worry about. She is back to see him an a month or so for a "make sure" check. Luckily she had an x-ray about five years ago so they were able to compare that x-ray with the CAT scan, even I could see the scars (black bits on the x-ray and bobbly circles on the CAT!).

Massive relief in the Mann household as you can guess!!

Blue skies aka brown fingers has been at it again so without further ado .... UP, UP and HOLD

" Suffolk Sojourn 19 of 134.Good question Zoe - Sunrise or Sunset? Obvious answer to those who know him - Paul's never been an early bird.The Tractor Boys are taking a lot of flak - I obviously hit a nerve. I await this weekends' results with eager/confident anticipation. Plastic, with limited mobility and still in last years strip - say no more.Still no word from HR, Derek or Barry?! (Or Leon of late - He'll be back - I know it) Obviously busier than us.Anyway - It's late. Got the ironing to finish before Bil gets up for work. She appreciated your Birthday greetings by the way - Thank you.Blue Skies - CT "

The good news for my old mate podga is that if he tunes into Sky sports this Saturday at about 5.15 (17.15 hrs) he can watch a proper team in action - no not Cardiff!! The mighty Greens are in TV land action. And yes, I know, I am on a limb here. Pride before a fall and all that. But confidence in the lads. Incidentally did you all like the subbuteo team photo?

Heard from HR via e-mail. Problems with PC and all that. MOD not paying for a decent system or something like that. I am sure he will post something now we are in his "my favourites" - NOT on his desktop you will note - Humph!!!

Podga had to do the ironing and I now have to go and get tea as Val can't move from the telly. "Ghost whisperer" is on you see. A must see show.