Val update

Al and her new friend Karis who has just moved a couple of doors down Settled in quick - shy girls aren't they

Many thanks for all your thoughts re Val and her best mate Arthur Righteous. News update is that she was a bit low last night as her back started to join in the fun. She doesn't have Arthur in the back it's just that she is putting pressure on various parts of the body compensating for the Arthur in the other bits!

Up to the hospital today for a bit of blood draining, she is a regular visitor (I heard they were going to get her her own desk and chair!). She had to see Maggie, her super nurse. Val asked about a cortisone (?) jab in the knee and explained why - no probs said Maggie. Needle inserted and - don't read this if you are eating - a whole clatter of yellow fluid withdrawn from said knee and replaced with cortisone. Although, I have been told, it is a bit eye watering, Val was chuffed to meatballs. Resting up now but, hopefully, should be getting back to, what we consider is normal, tomorrow.

Right time for our roving correspondents. Firstly comes Mr Brevity himself - HR.

"Hi All ; I hope that Val is feeling better now? It is cruel having all that pain inflicted on such a lovely person (and all those around her).

I have been watching some narrowboats moored next to the towpath of the Kennet and Avon canal which runs along the end of our garden. They were cutting up fallen-trees with a chainsaw and stocking up the boats. Must be really cosy. I don`t think you can beat the smell of things like birch when it burns.

Tried cooking Röstis yesterday. It was better than last time but still not good enough. I used "chefs rings" to pack the potato and onion into but discovered my fundamental error when I looked at some recipes on the internet, they all said "begin the day before you want to east it "!!I have been grating the potatoes raw when I should cook the potato first ! It is not a dire problem but the texture of the finished article will be completely different next time ! I made home-made hamburgers which ended up as meatballs (a bit like in a Turkish meze).

Next time I shall get the potatoes right and eat it all with a Greek salad ! Yum. Just in time for spring!"

I hope there is no one reading this who lives in a Birch house, might have a bit of a problem with your nasal fetish there me old mate!

Well. the "cook off" goes well with exotic dishes entering the fray. Talking about "cook off" it is now over to Ol' Brownfingers of East Anglia - Podga.

"Suffolk Sojourn 33/137.Now then - My first priority is to hope Val is OK, the pain is under control and sleepless nights are history. Such unwelcome distraction cannot be truly imagined, and my thoughts are with you. As there have been no blog entries since last week I do hope all is well.

Of much less consequence - sorry to see the Pilgrims were unlucky at Southampton - according to the write ups in the Times, Telegraph and Observer yesterday. (Yes, I take all week to ingest the Sunday papers). The short viewing on Match of the Day showed that it was all David James' fault! If you and Al had gone it would have been a frustrating journey home Paulie.

So - This time tomorrow night I will be at the Palace of the Tractor Boys to give a warm welcome to your brave lads - and then thrash them into submission and rise 5 points above them. I'll send you the Programme and local press cuttings, just to rub it in.

Meanwhile, Man Utd march on in the Cup - and have been drawn to host Leon's Gunners. Methinks another Man U. vs Chelsea Final in May. (By the way - where are you Leon? -Nothing heard of late)

In haste - but again - I do hope you're OK Val. Loadsa love from us both.Blue Skies! "

Geography never was Podgas strong point. Just be thankful there was always a navigator in those planes he used to jump out of. But, be fair, he was close. PORTSMOUTH is fairly close to Southampton.

Reminds me of the time I was in Pompey recruiting office and we had a load of stuff delivered to us that was addressed to Plymouth CIO. I rang MOD and asked them what they wanted us to do with it. The reply? "Oh sorry about that, could you drop it off next time you are over there?"

The two largest naval towns in the UK and MOD didn't know you don't just pop over from one to the other!!! How the hell do we win any wars?

As for tonight Podga me old cocksparrow - we shall see.

Ground control to Leon. Busy times I hope for you, get that bank balance building. Arsenal look to be leaving their second cup competion within a couple of weeks according to some.

On a different note. Sister Clare is currently touring the US of A drumming up work. You sock it to 'em gal. When you get a decent Internet connection you can have a read, just saying Hiya to both.

You all be careful on them streets.

OK 2008 - I submit!

What have I done to 2008 I ask myself. Firstly we had the Header Tank fiasco, closely followed by the Demise of Daisy. Now what I hear you ask.

Got a call from Val whilst I was in work on Friday. She was in agony. A Flare Up had hit her.

Long story short. The flare up hit whilst she was downstairs on the sofa. Once she gets hit by one then she stays wherever it hits. So Friday night Val had to try to sleep sitting up as when we tried to get her to lay down (about a 10 minute exercise) she was in pain (lots of). Tried it a bit but it failed so had to sit her up again. Another 10 minutes and a lot of pain. Numb bum kicks in so she has to try to move, each time - yep you guessed it - pain.

The Doc came out and upped her steroids and painkillers but it still takes time to take effect. Val was hoping for a jab (cortisone?) as she has had that in the past. Eventually the feet, ankles, left knee, elbows and hands relented a bit, unfortunately the right knee decided to carry on. It is now Monday evening, luckily Ches was not on duty today so she was able to stay the day.

Friday night I was on Al's put up on the front room floor. Val was awake most of the night and it was not fun. Got a bit better on Saturday and with a lot of pushing, pulling and pain (for Val) we got her up the stairs to bed (via the loo!!!) Saturday afternoon.

She is now able to get down the stairs with walking stick and taking it very slowly, so that's a bonus. She can drink without having the cup/glass held and sucking through a straw (we have a stock of plastic ones for this very eventuality!). Reminds me of a story about straws and drinking!! Later methinks.

I will have to ring in work tomorrow and give it a miss as I am not happy leaving Val alone all day. Even though her condition has improved, she still couldn't go down and make a cuppa for example. Couldn't get back up and wouldn't be able to lift the kettle!!

Oh isn't arthritis fun!!!!

On the positive side Podga and HR have both been busy. I think we may be going for a "cook off" with our two "chefs"- I am happy to judge lads!!!

Podga wrote first so over to Blue (I am not really a Tractor Boy) Skies
"Suffolk Sojourn 32/137. Hello Playmate - I wondered what had happened to you - the header tank trilogy explained all. Hope it is all under control now - although HR's ramblings in retrospect seem to have confused the issue. Sounds like he would have just emptied a couple of magazines into it - after creeping up in the dark (or was that computer fixology?) Anyway - glad the chutney went down well. Sales were astronomical, and I only have one jar left, which is being kept for posterity (For a maxi comparison session in the future - with the Sep 01, Oct 03, Sep 04, and Miss Belinda's Nov 06).
In your excitement you forgot to mention whether Al got her pounds' worth as your boys dispatched Hull out of the cup. I hope you both enjoyed a worthy result. Tractor Boy's are still 2 points above Pilgrims however - let's see what this weekend brings. Please note, by the way, that my affinity with Ipswich FC is purely geographical and a distraction owing to your unerring support for the Pilgrims. If in different leagues I wouldn't be bothering - honest. Meanwhile -Onwards and Upwards Tractor Boys. My true loyalty (since 1961) is with Man U. Eat your heart out Leon and the faltering Gunners.
So glad that Ches is enjoying her new vocation and obviously enjoying it. And sorry to hear of Daisy's sad demise - I hope Al has come through OK - big kiss for her from CT.
Has work resumed on the Hall/Stairs/Landing yet? Careful on that ladder Paulie - helmet and yellow vest remember.
Finally - is HR issuing some kind of culinary challenge with major descriptions of his menu triumphs? Watch this space for Sunday Lunch with a difference when my Parent's in Law come this w/e - my own recipe Potted Shrimps followed by Suffolk Pork etc and then Apricot Millefeuille. Pig Out !!!! Blue Skies Paulie and love to all. "

Quick answer to the big question is that Val had planned to resume "Operation Hall" this past weekend, unfortunately the Universe decided otherwise. Have to put the big ladder up for the next stage so hard hat might be needed. I have one in work along with H&S hard boots!!

Al loved Argyle (as always) good game a great result. Shame half our team seems to be leaving, one is even rumoured to be heading to Tractor land - why? Money I suppose, certainly not better football or a shot at the Premiership!!!!

Now it is the turn of HR aka (yep he must have got jealous of Podga aka Blue Skies aka Brownfingers!) Brevity. Cook off fella's.

" Start here. Is now a good time to say that Dad took me to see the Canaries play Stoke City at Norwich when Stanley Matthews was in the team (and was not yet Sir Stanley)? Still don`t know who won !!
Ref Daisy: make sure you buried the right one Paul ! Is Al accounted for? Be suspicious if the burial mound is bigger than your average hamster! Finally : thanks for the gen on the TV Rabbit. I had hoped it was a keen girlfriend ! End here !!"

And now I hand over to Brevity!!

"Paul you were supposed to precis my emails not chuck my ramblings on the blog then blame me for verbosity ! That's cheating.
Start Here. From now on I shall restrict my input to "the weather in Devizes was crap today"
PS changed name by deed-poll to "Brevity" End here."

Oops sorry Brevity, finger slipped and the bit before Start Here sneaked in!!!! I didn't know you were a supporter of that superior team in East Anglia. A Canary man heh? Maybe I should stop using Russian red and go for Canary yellow???? I too was taken to see Stoke City by my old man, Argyle won 2-1 as I recall. The start of a love affair with Home Park. Did you know that Pele also came a cropper at Home Park, he visited with Santos and they left defeated by the Mighty Greens.

Time to get tea down before the Soccer starts. Liverpool and Aston Villa I believe. Still, I suppose I will have to put up with a lower standard of football compared to the Mighty Greens.

Al and I were hoping to get to Pompey for the cup match. Looks unlikely now due to ticket demand. Latest plan is for a bunch of us from work (and Al) to head to Bristol City in March. Val and Ches (if she isn't on duty) will drop off at IKEA. Got to ask Gray and Sandra if they are interested and Lin, if you are reading this, Val hasn't forgotten you. We might get a convoy going!!

I wonder what Leon is cooking up for us!! (Well I thought it was funny)

made the mistake of asking HR to comment

On Sunday I made the error of asking HR to comment. Well, I got four e-mails last night. Not sure at this point if they are all going to appear below but have a read.

"Hiya , I have just watched the planet saved by men in black 2 and so I can relax ! I am glad Ches is happy in her new job; she looks a wonderful daughter, always smiling that lovely smile. I went shooting (the .22) on Saturday and found out the chap who shoots beside me every weekend is an ex vampire/meteor photo-recce pilot! and later ,an Air Trafficker !! He was in 2 Sqn before my Dad was ! It was a lovely day out ( I have not been shooting since before Xmas) and the weather was stunning. The range in a conservation area and it is lovely driving through the woods with all their colours. Today I played around on the internet,reading up on history and WW2 things then fiddled with the two larger rifles ( I am hoping the FAC will come back next week then at last I can shoot targets with them!). I will have to drive to Northampton to buy collect the ammunition for them both. I read a bit more of my book on the history of sniping,which is important because I have to keep the ability to read going. I have to stop my mind wandering that is the main thing! I have about four books to get through and there is a heck of a lot in them. They are all historical , and I find that it leads onto more as I go along. I also read a web item on a Russian WW" fighter pilot; it was fascinating.
In the afternoon I roasted a meal for us all ;with a turkey crown,sweet potatoes,normal potato,carrot,leek and parsnip. I wrapped the turkey in bacon and (cos I forgot to put it inside) I put some old Stilton on top. It was delicious ! I made some gravy with a few of the roasted leeks in it and added some frozen veg as a balance to the roasted stuff. It was delicious. Lee is reheating some of it now so it doesn`t get wasted and goes a long way!! I had better trot and read the blog. Have fun , and be good. Love to all."

"Hi , just read the beginning of the blog and am going back in a tick. Had to comment on your header tank repair: That's straight-forward engineering and fault-finding you have done there Paul. Any tech would be proud of you (I am ) ! you did the :
go in and look at it.
Fiddle with everything.
Think about it.
Go away and think some more,
go back fiddle again and especially with anything you missed the first time and then ......"bingo" ............it begins working !
Technical things know when to give up ....and it did.
If it had been a PC you would have had to sneak up on it in the dark and power it down:
then rip out any , or all the boards and replace them (only one board at a time or you are in for deep problems !).
What you must never do with a faulty PC is
a. approach it with the lights on.or subsequently or during the repair....
b. comment to a friend (when in "earshot" of the PC) that the PC seems to be working fine now."

"Aha , just read the rest ! If in doubt shout "mayday" . I managed to put six neat holes in one of my central heating pipes some time ago now. Didn`t realise until I went downstairs and heard the "pat pat pat" on the top of the TV next to me !! Good thing you had cover.
I had my boiler go out (due to a blocked pipe further along) and they said that I would have an engineer come to me on the Tuesday (it was Friday and damn cold). I would have been OK if I had had a baby or an old-age pensioner though. Good to know that paying the same fee-we can get the same service ! I used to have all the insurances but have cancelled all but the gas now because : they condemned my cooker (no spares) and mucked up a light switch (the lad was leaving to be a priest so that's all right then ,the tosser !!)."

"START HERE I rely on your seasoned editing skills Paul, to decide what is worth putting in the blog. As a Clerk Sec (see I remembered) and Engraver Extraordinaire I trust your judgement. END HERE. I shall try to put it in chunks from now on though, I suppose I ought to or it will wear you out!! I thought that , since you know the others better than I , you would take out whatever might interest them and blog it, whilst discarding the remainder.
PS what is a TV Rabbit and who are the Tractor Boys?"

See what I mean, and this is the edited version. He is OK with Russian but completely thrown by TV Rabbit and Tractor Boys!! Sit still and concentrate Robert. I shall explain.

TV Rabbit. A device that you attach to a TV in point to transmit the signal to elsewhere in the house. Attach another to the receiving TV and you get to watch your favourite programmes in a different room without the problem of wiring.

Tractor Boys. A pretend Football Team from some remote spot in the East Anglian area. Hated by supporters of Norwich City and, not sure why, supported by the otherwise sensible Blue Skies. Can you guess?

I started as a Clerk Sec and ended as a Personal Administrator via P&A Clerk. But dead impressed that HR remembered. I now need a cup of tea. But .........

Before I go it is with great regret that I have to report the passing on of Daisy. Al's 11 week old Hamster. I am sure you will understand the pain this causes a nine year old. Daisy was buried in our back "garden" beside a Buddha last night. RIP.

Happy New Year

Well, I was gobsmacked when I signed on to find that this is the first post Christmas posting. Doesn't time fly at a ridiculous pace nowadays.

I am currently knackered. I have had a problem with my header tank over the past couple of weeks in so much that it has been dripping away at the overflow. Up to the loft a couple of times to check out. Pull off ballcock etc. Normal things. Yesterday morning went up and tried to bend the bar supporting the ballcock (as per my Readers Digest DIY manual). Ran my fingers around the intake valve to make sure nothing was sticking. All of a sudden bubbles from the boiler vent pipe. Everything then stopped dripping and all seemed fine. Fixed by me messing and not sure what I was doing. Happy with that.

Last night having watched Match of the Day opened the back door to let Holly out for last pee. Water pouring out of said overflow.

Added complication was Ches on duty last night and Al around here with a friend on sleepover. After DVD's and talking all night they finally went to sleep. There I was in the loft above them with my headtorch fixed in place and too my horror finding the tank full of warm water!! Danger sign methinks as it is normally freezing cold. Everything I tried was unsuccessful. Decide to head to bed to see if the pouring was caused just because the heating had just turned off. Half two this morning up to find warm water pouring out of overflow into back yard.

Out came the British Gas heating cover to check if I could call them. Relief then try to find the number as the emergency number stuck in beside the boiler no longer work. Long story short, British Gas called. Told them what was happening. Not an emergency just a pain so engineer booked for today.

Very capable engineer out about 10 this morning and nearly two hours later all checked and fixed. Very pleased we took out the heating system cover I can tell you.

Of course I had to get up early - not that I was asleep - 7.45 up and outside with my hand under the overflow with hot water still pouring out!!!!

Al's friend, Nicola, had to see her dad today. That took us three attempts due to communication failure, then Al's other friend, Levi, came around. No guesses who was the taxi driver.

On top of all this Val decided that the Wii should be relocated to Al/Cheryls room/ our spare room. So out to Comet to get a piece of kit to enable me to connect Video, DVD, Playstation, TV rabbit and a Wii to one telly. Now all done. On top of that Ches finished work at 15.00 (having started 15.00 yesterday) and she rang up asking when dinner was going to be ready. No prizes for guessing who is chief cook in our house!!

Now this is a normal day in my life - so you see why there has been no posting since Christmas!!!

So on that note over to Blue skies for his New Year message.

"Suffolk Sojourn 31/137. Well then - that was Christmas and New Year - all gone and back to reality now. Looks like a fine time was had by all at 122 - fine foto's Paulie. Here in Suffolk we hosted my Folks and my daughter Sarah (Squeeze) for the duration. Good food and Fine wine - all prepped and presented with immaculate timing by Miss Belinda - no-one was allowed in the kitchen, even for the washing up! A triumph all round. Mind you the menu's were all sorted by the beginning of Dec. and you've never seen such a precise shopping list. I just decanted the wine!Anyway, glad the Chutney arrived safely and was enjoyed by all and sundry - told you it was good!As for Pilgrims/Tractor Boys/Gunners and Man U. Well done Pilgrims in the Cup - now they meet Portsmouth (who put out the Tractor Boys). Feverish text prediction to Leon on Gunners/Burnley tie as they kicked off (Burnley to win 2-1) was my undoing. As for Utd - onwards and upwards in Premier and Cup. Tractor Boys are still sitting enticingly above the Pilgrims in the Championship - will be interesting here at Portman Rd on Tue 29th.So - that completes the voting from the Luxembourg Jury. A bountiful and rewarding 2008 to all your readers, and especially to you and your tribe Paulie.Blue Skies "

As far as the mighty Green Army is concerned I am afraid loyalty from the players is getting us down to platoon strength! The transfer window has seen richer (or more debt ridden) clubs poach our playing staff. We don't have a sugar daddy down here so the money has to come from the Clubs commercial side and the paying public. We just cannot compete against the big wage payers. Ah well, current plan is to go to the Pompey match. Al wants to go to an away game and some guys from work are thinking about it.

I might take Al to a premier game one day - any thoughts about where we can go without mortgaging the house?

Really have to say it folks - the Chutney was mighty fine.

I have heard from HR. A nice long e-mail but I am not sure there is anything for publishing on a public site! I must get him to comment or at least put a bit in his e-mails that can be posted here! The words "start here" and "end here" would help stop confusion HR!!

Baby Sissy Clare busy in sunny NZ and Aussie, showing the locals how things should be done. Elder sissy Mary spent Christmas in Disney World USA. Will try to get her to say something for us all. Bro, Tony, is still plodding the beat in Aussie. No water it appears - we have loads here mate.

Well I am just about bushed. So goodnight one and all and I hope that my last 13 days isn't foretelling of life in 2008!

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.