And your mother must have been as good of a mathematician as carol vorderman!

Good morning everyone. Weather is wet and dismal.

El, I have been racking my brains to think of a relative with an interesting occupation but I can't think of any - I'll ask my mum and dad next time I see them.

I've decided to wait until Monday to pick up the last gifts I need for Christmas, as the shopping centres will be bursting at the seams this weekend.

Good morning everyone

 

It's going to be a windy day with showers and fairly mild here.

 

Summer, during WW2 when my mother was in the ATS, for a short time she was being taught to drive army vehicles but her legs weren't long enough to reach the pedals. Although Princess Elizabeth as she was then was a driver in the ATS there is no reason to suppose they ever met.

Good morning everyone, breezy and showery here.  Off to get my hair cut soon.  I think you are very wise to finish your Christmas shopping on Monday Yogi, the crowds will probably be horrendous this weekend and I don't know about you but I get very grumpy in huge crowds - no January sales for me.

 

Your mother had a fascinating job EL and your grandmother was a pioneer Summer.  My Dad started his career as an assistant to a rag and bone man with a horse and cart, my Dad would have been the runner to collect the stuff and hand over the reward whatever it was, while the boss probably would have rung his bell and shouted out that incomprehensible thing they all shouted - I never did make out what they were saying.

 

Good morning damp & chilly, but milder & brighter than previous days El, my grandmother was in the ATS too, that's where she learned to drive! She drive wagons & ambulances during the war. She would have been a teacher if it weren't for the war, but said she probably wouldn't have had the opportunity to learn to drive if it hadn't have happened.. She enjoyed her career anyway

Squiggle, the rag and bone men (I remember them with horse and cart when I was very young) used to say "any old rag and bone" and that became "any old iron" but as the words are drawn out like aaaannnyyyyoollldddddiiirronnnnn it becomes harder to distinguish the words.

 

Summer so it's possible that your grandmother and my mother could have met.

 

Incidentally, Samantha Stewart (Honeysuckle Weeks) of Foyle's War was in the MTC (Mechanised Transport Corps), not the ATS.

The new series (3 2 hour films) due to be shown next year is set in post-war Britain with Christopher Foyle (Michael Kitchen) investigating espionage as a Senior Intelligence Officer assisted by Sam Stewart. 

Another job my mother did for a short time after WW2 was for a small greetings card company but I don't know in what capacity.

It is possible el! My g'ma trained in snowdonia and was stationed in Norfolk afterwards, but she could have been posted anywhere on any job at anytime really. I'm heading out for the evening- it's a free bar & food, but I'm not especially interested in the bar. I like a couple at home in my pj's but when I'm out I'm not so comfortable. Also, if mr summer has a skin full, its best that i drove the car home tomorrow. I'll have plenty of the food though, quite happily Have a lovely evening all, and I'll see you tomorrow

Have a great evening, Summer

Hope you have a lovely evening, Summer.

Signing out early, catch up tomorrow. Goodnight everyone.

Good morning everyone

 

It's going to be another showery day here but relatively mild. Doesn't seem likely at present that there will be a white Christmas in this part of the country.

 

I saw the film "Billy Rose's Jumbo" last night. I hadn't seen it before and although it had its moments there was the feeling that this was the end of the classic movie musical era. It was made in 1962 and it was the last out and out musical that Doris Day made. The dance routines (not that there were many) were directed by Busby Berkeley and this was his last film.

Good morning everyone, I am sure I have seen that film and enjoyed it EL.  We didn't realise that we were witnessing the end of the golden age of film as we were growing up, still we have them to enjoy forever.

 

One of the hymns at church today was this very traditional advent hymn:

The music is from J S Bach's "wachet auf, ruft uns die stiemme" which we know as "Sleepers Awake!".

There are two melodies in this, the first one isn't used in the hymn and after a bit is joined by the second , which forms the basis for the hymn and harmonise together even though they are different. This is what is known as counterpoint.

By the way with the amount of rain expected here this coming week, it is probable that the cumulative rain for the year will have broken the record for the wettest year since records began. I doubt if that will come as much surprise to anyone.

Good morning everyone. Weather is dry but there is a dampness in the air (if that makes sense?). Edit: It's raining now.

We had visitors yesterday, so I didn't manage to get on here. Hope everyone had a good day.

Good morning everyone

 

After rain overnight, it's a sunny morning at present.

 

In case any of you are interested that film Billy Rose's Jumbo is repeated again today on Film4.

Good morning El. I missed that film the other day, so my V+ is now set to record it (I love Doris Day).

Good morning everyone, now the showers have cleared away it's a nice bright morning.

 

Hope all went well with your visitors yesterday Yogi.

 

We had our Nativity Service yesterday and it's always nice to see the young kiddies dressed as angels etc.

 

I hope Santa has a spare reindeer in the boot of his sleigh.

quick hello while I can! Will catch up as soon as possible hope everyone had a good weekend

Ooh that was a quick easy catch up Lol squiggle, that's a brilliant pic! Happy christmas countdown week everyone

The news you've been waiting for is here and is waiting for you up there

Sweet, I've done as you requested

Thank you El I really appreciate it, on both notifications. I'm pleased I've got a few quiet minutes then

Isn't this a cute picture?

 

I found this very moving

 

That pic is a 10 on the Cute Scale, Squiggle. (I'm referring to the baby and dog pic)

 

Keira has been a bit excited today. It's her birthday and she's had lots of toys and a couple of doggie chocs, too. Her tail goes into waggy overdrive as she waits for the presents to be unwrapped.

Very moving, Squiggle. Initially, I didn't notice the date at the top, which makes it even more poignant.

I feel the same Yogi, I had tears in my eyes as I posted it, those children have been on my mind but the wonderful thing is I know that the basic message behind the photo is all true, I just feel sorry for those who are missing their little ones so much, it must be agony especially with Christmas just around the corner.

I know, Squiggle.

I have small shrubs, one either side of my front door (similar to these).

Mr Yogi bought me some outdoor lights to decorate them - they look very pretty.

Off to bed, goodnight all.

Summer, in case you are around later, I'll leave you a hug.

Good morning everyone

 

A reasonably dry day here today. From tomorrow rain every day for the next week:

 

Yogi, pretty shrubs.

Good morning everyone. Weather is dry atm.

I know rain is on its way tomorrow, so I'd like to book a seat on the ark please, El.

Good morning I tried to night owl last night but couldn't get on, I think it was my connection Squiggle, both those pics were lovely, in 2 very different ways. Those poor children & their families Yogi, happy birthday Keira! For yesterday was she 8? And I LOVE the shrubs, I bet they look beautiful lot up I'll pop in as much as I can, but in case I get busy, hope you all have a lovely day

I wondered if you were having internet problems, Summer.

Yes, Keira was 8 yesterday - which means she is older than me now (she doesn't look it)!

Good morning everyone, aww a happy belated birthday to Keira.

 

I bet those shrubs look gorgeous Yogi and very Christmassy.

 

Oh dear, the weather forecast, I was hoping for a dry day on Thursday.  I have 2 ladies to take to our Christmas lunch.  They both have 3 wheel walkers and I was hoping for a dry day as the strut that keeps my boot up (the car is not a hatchback) has never worked since I had the car so I don't often use the boot.  There is a handy stick to use (no expense spared ) but as you can imagine it's not very practical.  When it's just one walker I can pop it in the back but I don't think I'll get 2 in there so the rain is going to make for a most difficult day.  Still I suppose I'll manage and I just have to hope that maybe the rain will be kind and hold off until we're back home again.

 

Hope you manage to get some time to yourself today Summer

 

Squiggle I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that you get a dry day on Thursday, at the very least until you have dropped your friends off at home

Mine are crossed for you too, Squiggle.