Google visits a beach for the first time



Look what we found!!

Disney in front. Google unsure.

This water is a lot bigger than the river we normally go too!

Wheeeee!!!!!

Disney has found something else

Disney having a roll

Race you!!!

What! I can't see anything.

Heeeee. This is great fun.

And the winner is....Google

Not sure I like the taste of this water

Next stop ....America

Catch me, catch me

See it's there again

Take us home dad. We are knackered.



Yesterday Google had his first visit to the beach. Disney had a super time remembering sand. A few photos show what a super time was had by two little boys!!

The Army were using the firing range so we couldn't go to the end. The boys were having too much fun to allow the sound of machine gun fire interrupt their day out!!

Alice's dad died

But of sad news I'm afraid. Alice's dad died back in November, we only found out yesterday when Cheryl received a letter from the CSA saying the account was closed.
She did ring to try and get some information as she had to tell Alice and we wanted to answer all her questions. Needless to say she hit a blank wall " can't tell you anything because of the data protection act".
That Act is used to cover all. All we wanted was to know when and where so we could chase up info. I cannot for the life of me figure out how the Data Protection Act comes into play in when the question is from a known source (they wrote to Cheryl!) and asking for place of death and date of death (all in the public domain if you can find it!) about a dead person.
The world is truly full of non thinking automatons who are now afraid of their own shadow. How on earth did we reach this mess? And don't even start me on the Human Rights Act!!!!
Anyway, back to the point. Alice was as upset as you would expect being told her dad had died although her friends have been brilliant and there for her. She really has some very thoughtful young ladies in her group of friends.
Just thought you may want to know.

Congrats to Mr and Mrs H-R

H-R has posted on here in the past so I thought we should all share in his great news.

Nope he has not won the lottery and decided to split it 50/50 with me!!

I copy his e-mail to Val and I below.

The day went brilliantly and we are very happy.

We began by going shopping as soon as I arrived in Groningen on friday for "something to wear.
We found a lovely black, embroidered front and back,jacket and lacey black/cream top.
I bought new shoes and a shirt.

Joke looked stunning in black jeans with her hair clipped up.
She has legs that begin below her chin and go on significantly before reaching the floor !So with her hair done up she looked lovely.
The pictures were taken by me before we left for the Gemeentehuis, and she looks a bit starchy ; but we were both well in tune and happy.

Her daugher and partner (Rob) were our witnesses and Rob took some pictures and had two video cameras running !
Ami Rutgers who did our Ondertrouwen was the registrar ; and she was as nervous as we were ! But I understoood the whole service in Dutch and said "Ja"at the correct time !

We went off afterwards,to the village where Jokes Mum and sisters live (Baflo) and had a meal and coffee.

We both feel;at last, that we can get on with our lives.
We have had a lot of support from our firends and that has been a very pleasant experience. One client sent JJ a bunch of flowers today and that was a complete suprise; while DSS at Abbey Wood collected and gave me a card and pressies to bring over.Very sweet of them I thought.

I have heard nothing from my sons.

I will send a more up to date picture when I receive Robs material.

The House is sold and the contracts being prepared for distribution ; so all is moving well ,thank goodness.
Meanwhile we are buying things here and there for the new home.\
it is a real blessing !

You can put any of this on the blog if you wish and thanks for all your support .

Many Congrats to you both from us in sunny Plymouth. May you have a long and happy marriage and retirement!!!

Happy 2012

The boys on Googles bed
The Boys on our bed. Val trying to sleep!
Disney getting a little dirty
Disney having a rest between causing trouble
It's playtime
Google showing he can get dirty as well
Disney after a wash and blow dry! Our revenge for the dirt!
Google finds wash and hair cut time is at an end!
Moral of this story. Don't get dirty in the first place!
Val's 58th with Silv, Thelm and Alison
A view of our room before the latest work! See Christmas blog for comparison!

Val and Ches at the 58th
Zoe, Mary and Al at the 58th
Al and friend on school trip in Barcelona. Not too many sensible pictures taken
Ches and me awaiting my 60th birthday lunch
Al and Val also waiting
Out for a drive on my 60th
We know we are very lucky living in this part of the world!
Dartmoor drive on my 60th
Still there
Hell's teeth don't we look happy!! We were actually!!
Mt 60th pressy. Live long and prosper!
Ches, Al and the boys at Plymbridge - with an added friend!
Nearly back to the car!
Disney out for a swim. Still can't get Google in to join him
At Plymbridge but not on Plymbridge!
The most important stick in the whole woods
Val, Viv, Thelm and Silv at Thelm and Bri's 50th
Gray and me at the same do
Val and Viv finding something amusing
The Golden girls
Just could not resist. Gray with a bunch of flowers - ex Navy you see!



Pictures above taken at various times during 2011 put on for your entertainment!!

Have been having real technical problems updating the blog. Keep getting freezes on the page when I try to use the up or down arrows. I think there may be an Explorer related problem.

Just to test it I have accessed this time via Firefox so fingers crossed!

Hope you had a cracking Christmas and New Years break. We did. For the first time in many a year yours truly didn't do the Christmas dinner. Ches, bless her cotton socks, said she would like to have a go. You will be pleased to know that she did a cracking good job of it.

Seeing out the Old Year was a quiet affair. Ches was on 24 hour duty so Al was around with us. Lots of footie on the box with some really strange results at the top of the premiership. This continued today with Man City being turned over by Sunderland with the last kick of the match!

I am out Argyle tomorrow and hope to see three points in the bag come this time tomorrow evening.

We are all around Silvia and George's pad for lunch. I will then be away for kick off. The boys have to go out first so it will be a time pressed day for me, but a pleasant one I hope.

You will be pleased to know that I have just pressed the down arrow to create a little more space with no freeze. Methinks the culprit is the latest Explorer - shame on Microsoft!!

Christmas 2011

Christmas 2011. A few photo's to share. Unfortunately my blog is playing up again so not too much comment - is that a bad thing?

Val started off the day with a Google cuddle. Al did the Father Christmas thing. Ches played at chef for the day - and a bloody good job she did, delicious dinner. I sort of did nothing.

A great Christmas. And an added bonus of Argyle winning 3-2 away at Bristol today (Boxing day).

You all have a cracking 2012. Love from sunny Plymouth.