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Thursday, May 17, 2007

Famous Blunders


I listened with amusement to Chris Evans talking to Mike Rutherford on Radio 2 this afternoon, not that their conversation was amusing but it made me think of exmoorjanes question about "who do you know who is famous?."

I had quite forgotten until I heard them talking, that my "current husband" (who to say the least is a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to music and literature) went some years ago to a party held by Mikes wife Angie who he knew through the horse world. When he arrived he was immediately introduced to Mike.

Not having a clue what he did he happily "small talked " . After a while he said to Mike

"Do you work nearby"

"Yes came the reply I have a studio at the end of the garden"

Current husband enquired "Oh are you a potter?"

I do fear for him sometimes!! Best send him back to his Military Bands and War books.

Blossom

A busy day

Well, I reminded him about the anniversary this morning! Got a kiss!
We went to the Grand-daughters' school's Grandparents' day. The children are aged from 3 to 14. It poured stair-rods much of the time and all tennis and cricket had to be cancelled. We started before lunch with a clever sketch and some solos of a very high standard. A Korean boy played the cello as one seldom hears it. Also a boy played a Chopin Waltz beautifully. After lunch, the girls took us on a very damp tour of Nursery, Pre-prep and class rooms for the Prep school. Lucky, lucky children. Lots of facilities and small classes. Then we had more time in the theatre, instead of the tennis and cricket. They did bits out of a play shown last week and many more solos, duets and songs. The highlight for me was a young man of about 13, who played a grade 7 piece on his flute. He is also grade 5 on the clarinet and has just started the bassoon. They have a very strong team teaching music and drama.
In the evening, our W.I. entertained over 80 people for a Group meeting. Somehow they were all shoe-horned into the Hut - and kept it nice and warm! After business and a very good talk from a guy who sells walks in Northumberland, Cumbria and the Borders on the internet. He was very interesting and had some lovely pictures. Then we settled down to the highlight - a proper W.I. supper. We are well known for producing a yummy meal and they all guzzled away as if there was no tomorrow. Then, at the end, they bought up the remains!!. The entertainment was rib-crackingly funny. Three women, one old and living in a bungalow,one middle-aged in a nice 4 bedroomed house and one young and liveing in a 'palace' such as are to be found in a certain place near here. (I believe Shearer lives in one of them) The comparisons made were very clever and really did have us in stitches.

Am I allowed to put this sort of thing on here? I don't particularly want to put some of this stuff on my blog page, but will if I am being naughty!!!

What think you all of this list?

An article about a list of 160 books for boys to promote more reading by 'working class' boys (their words), with a link to the 167 books on the list - either the list compiler got carried away or was not mathematically minded.

I for one was very surprised not to see Lord of the Flies or even Harry Potter, both eminently appealing to boys in my opinion, nor was there any Henry Treece, about the vikings, and why was the second Eragon book up there but not the first?

Is it me?

Is it only me who can't get into the I've blogged comments box? It happened yesterday too. Didn't mean to blog today, but had to share a very short moment of alarm.

Rush, rush, busy, busy, work, work, bang, bang.

Ok. Hands up all who remember the penguins? Good grief you're old!
I have been a penguin today, or - my bum is on fire and I am running away from it. In short I haven't stopped, haven't blogged, have had 4 granchildren to look after ( for various parts of the day, not all at once ) AND been shopping, AND been into the office to swap a pile of 'done' stuff for a pile of 'to do' stuff.
Tomorrow is housework, WILL blog I promise, half a dozen 'phone calls to make at some point ( work ) and then at 4.oo p.m. I will be weeding. Have we all remembered? Hope Lesley's service goes well Blossom.
Pondside - apologies for the re-location I gave you ( my geography is almost as good as my biochemistry! )
Will do better tomorrow Headmistress I promise.

Confessions of a serial mower - a Royal Connection



Well, I thought I ought to put my money where my mouth is and have spent a happy hour searching drawers for said photo of us with HRH Princess Royal. I have however found this one, taken a few years ago, when she opened one of GOH's sports halls somewhere near here. I am the one on the extreme right and he is next to me, before he went grey and before I aged somewhat!

A change of profile..public service announcement.


A small public information announcement to say I thought it was about time I changed my profile and some of the details of personal information on my blog page since it seems to have been totally taken over by Madame Loufoque and her entourage and is hardly mine at all now! . Ah I remember when I had a life of my own.. well I think I do..once but it was such a long long time ago.
Pass the Absinthe Madame Grognonne I feel a Monet moment coming on!


Afternoon from Almondbury

hi all..
Hope this finds everyone well. I have blogged ( just a short one)
Sue x

Confessions of a serial mower - a boob job



Well poor old Mousie was quite overcome with old silicone granny yesterday and has
done a bit of DIY enlargements with the help of some Lakeland cedar balls. So much nicer and natural. She is seen here reclining against the laptop for all to see. You may have to double click to appreciate the full spectacle!! She will no doubt go totally global!

Today's nosey question

OK, carrying on in nosey mode. What famous people have you met or (even better) do you know? And what were they like (without being too libellous!). Thought of this as I am just reading (guilty pleasures!) Jilly Cooper's latest book. I met her once and she was gorgeous - totally unpretentious and great fun.. On a more embarrassing note, I once saw Princess Diana and knew i recognised her and came within a whisker of trotting over and saying hello, haven't we met somewhere?! Ouch.

Who would want a job like this?

A friend sent me this amusing Job Advert , thought you'd like it!


MUM - JOB DESCRIPTION This is hysterical. If it had been presented this way, no one would have done it!!!!
POSITION: Mother, Mum, Mumma, Mummy, Ma
JOB DESCRIPTION: Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an, often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.
RESPONSIBILITIES: The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.
POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION: Virtually none. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE: None required unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.
WAGES AND COMPENSATION: Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.
BENEFITS: While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life. Forward this on to all the Mums you know, in appreciation for everything they do on a daily basis, and let them know they are appreciated.
" Success is getting what you want, happiness is wanting what you get "

Working this morning, Hospital for further inflation this afternoon. Will try to get on to read blogs later this afternoon.
Muddie XO

Who's reading our mail?


Countrymousie's visit from the silicone-enhanced babes from Catalania made me think about the difference between snail mail and our CCW chat space. I had an email chat with Headmistress early on, about the question of privacy. I guess the bottom line is that there simply isn't any in a chat space or on a blog. That's probably alright with most of us because while we share some pretty personal stuff, most of us use blog names for ourselves and families to 'protect the innocent'. I listened to a program on CBC today - the topic was the internet. The guest reminded listeners that once something is on the internet it is 'out there' forever.

I really enjoy our chat space! It's like opening up a mailbox every day for the most interesting and entertaining letters. While we can all imagine everyone else's laptop or PC, I know we all get our snail mail by different means.
I thought you'd get a kick out of seeing where I get mine!