THE YING AND THE YANG

Spoke to young Steven and his stepson Ryan in Tesco this morning

Went to the Indian Muslem petrol station on wakefield Road and they presented Sheila with a box of Chocolates

This evening spoke to my entire family in Scotland.

This is the first year that we will spend New Years Eve (In Bradford Old Years Night)
by ourselves

DIGITAL PHOTO FRAME

Christmas Present to Sheila from Beech Cottage

TODAY

Today we went to the Gym for the first time in three weeks

CHRISTMAS GROTTO

Taken at the very child friendly home of our good friends Maureen & Bruce Heath

THE DAY AFTER BOXING DAY

GEMMA RESTS HER EYES, TAKEN BY MARK

GLUTEN FREE YORKSHIRE PUDDINGS FOR GEMMA

BIRTHDAY BOY

STEVEN FILBY IS TWENTY FIVE YEARS OLD TODAY

CHRISTMAS DAY

Sheila, Stuart, Sandra, Mark, Gemma round the Christmas Table


Today would have been the One hundred and thirteenth birthday of my Auntie Jennie

PAULINE'S FAMILY

This is Laura, she is Pauline and Geoff's Grandaughter, Her Fiance is Chubby, other wise Anthony. The are getting Maried on the 3rd of September

Twas the night before Christmas by C. C. Moore 1779-1863

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stiring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In the hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled, all snug in their beds.
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads
And Mama her 'kercheif, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
I sprang out of bed to see what was matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to the objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear
But a miniature sleigh and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment that it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name.

"Now Dasher ! now, Dancer ! , now Prancer and Vixen !
On, Comet ! on Cupid! on Donner und Blitzen!
To the top of the poarch! to the top of the wall!
Now Dash away ! Dash away ! Dashaway all!"

As dry leaves before the hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle , mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With a sleigh full of Toys and St. Nicholas too.

And then in a tinkling I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of eack little hoof
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of toys, He had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler , just opening his pack.

His eyes-how thet twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drewn up like a bow.
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe, he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath,
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump , a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A Wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread .

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filed all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod , up the Chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle
And away they all flew Like the down of a thistle,
But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night"

Thoroughfare in Rastrick

BREAKTHROUGH

My mobile phone has always been set on predictive text, and for 18 months I have been trying to use it, and couldnot. Steven called this morning and reset the mobile and now I can send Text Messages
And they say that "an old dog can't learn new tricks"

trivia

Today is the Winter Solstice, ie the shortest day.
Also there was a total eclipse of the moon
The last time that these two events coincided was the year 1638 or 372 years ago

TODAY

TODAY IS STUART'S 47th Birthday

Hopkinsons' Sunday Lunch

Sheila, David and Auntie Pauline

CHRISTMAS PAGEANT AT PEPPER HILL

One of the best services that we have ever attended at Pepper Hill, Over 50 Adults and over 25 Children,and a Brass Ensemble. All organised by Nicola and Tim Hanson

YOUNGER GRANDSONS

Today we had a visit from the youngest Grandson on Sheila's side, STEVEN

I had a telephone call from my youngest Grandson. HENRY

YESTERDAY AND TODAY

Yesterday first thing I went and got my new library book, "Latin for Dummies"

In the afternoon it was the funeral of an old friend of ours, Betty Hanson

Halifax Wine circle had it's Christmas dinner at the Lotis Grill Turkish Restaurant in Cow Green.The food and service was Excellent

Today we have been to Marshfield School to its annual Christmas Concert and this afternoon Sheila hs put the new lights on the Christmas Tree

Katie & Daren's Leisure Group

Final meeting this year, at the WYKE LION

OPENING NIGHT AT THE WYKE LION

This young man is responsible for the eradication of Japanese Knot weed

TOBY BY HENRY

This picture borrowed from Lizzie and Andy's BLOG

ADVENT AT CENTRAL

SERVICE CONDUCTED BY MRS MARGARET WEBB

HENRY BY TOBY

TOMORROW

Tomorrow would have been my Father's one hundred and sixth birthday

SKYPE

I have just had a 25 minutes video telephone call with Marion Bentley in Australia on the SKYPE System. I have known Marion all my life and her Brother Alec was a very good school friend of my Brother Arthur.She has lived in Australia near her Daughter Janet for about seven years . It really is a remarkable thing to be able to see someone at the same time as you talk to them. For the cheap cost of a webcam, you can talk to anyone in the world 24 hrs a day, seveb days a week. It was My son Andrew who first Introduced us to SKYPe. I also speak a couple of Times a week to Sandra Coleman( Nee Dews) on the same system

SNOW ON THE RIVER CALDER

Our car is snowed in at the moment, Photograph of Calder taken when we walked down to town for Groceries

WINTER IN WEST LILLANDS

This is the third day that we have been snowed in with the car. Yesterday and to-day we walked to Brighouse, To-day we were with Sheila's Sister Pauline, and called for a coffee at Witherspoons. The exercises of walking to Brighouse and back is more than a session at the Gym. The U3A Creative Writing class run by Peggy, was cancelled, as was the Leisure group run by Katie and Daren. Tomorrows meeting of Hopkinsons' wine circle is also cancelled . Also I have had to cancel an appointment with my Doctor tomorrow

IMPORTANT NOTICE

If you like my BLOG please have a look at my Sons and his family BLOG


www.beech-cottage.blogspot.com

We are sure that you will appreciate it

Cheers David & Sheila Craven

GATHERING WINTER FUEL

THE LOGS FOR WINTER WERE DELIVERED TO-DAY

Yesterday and Today

Yesterday we went to a meeting of the Northern Craft Brewers in Huddersfield


Today we are snowed in

UPDATE

SHEILA'S SISTER PAULINE HAS BEEN DRIVING US ALL OVER THE PLACE AND WE ARE VERY GREATFUL

TODAY WE HAD THE FIRST SNOW OF THE SEASON

Ninetieth Birthday

Eileen & Harold Hemingway from Mirfield Wine Circle

YELLOW & RED COTTONEASTER

ON THE WALL BEHIND OUR HOUSE

WINE FESTIVAL CZERWIK'S

STIR UP TUESDAY

SHEILA MAKES THE SPICE LOAVES

SHELF WINE CIRCLE

Richard Lee did a presentation of beers

MALCOLM PARKER

60th Birthday Party

HOECHST REUNION

DAVID CRAVEN, MEL HARMER, ADRIAN ABLE, RODNEY SWALES, MARTIN ROGERS

ONE OVER THE EIGHT WINE LOVERS

AT THE HOME OF JOAN & LEYLAND SMITH

UPDATE

After 25years or so, Dr. Chambers has taken me off Metformin for my Sugar Diabetis
He says that it is the main cause of my Gastritis which has been causing me a lot of Pain

I sometimes think that we take one tablet to cure the effects of another

MASK IN BRIDGES GYM

A COLD AND FROSTY MORNING

Patterns on the VOLVO

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY AT CENTRAL

A very moving Service with Mr. Tim Asquith as Preacher

UPDATE

YESTERDAY I HAD A VERY WELCOME TELEPHONE CALL FROM HENRY AND TOBY, OUR YOUNGEST GRANDCHILDREN AND THEY ARE FINE

THIS MORNING SHEILA SPOKE TO MY NEICE JANE ON THE TELEPHONE AND SHE ALSO IS FINE

UPDATE

The results of all my medical tests were VERY POSITIVE

I HATE SHOPPING

FOUR BUSY DAYS

Monday three medical Appointments, One with Dr Chambers, and two at the Hospital
Tuesday, both of us at Janes all day, she now seems a bit better
Wednesday U3A Remember When class at Huddersfield Town Hall, and in the afternoon Ten Pin Bowling with Daren and Katie's Leisure Group
Today, the Gym early Morning and then to the Winer's and Diners luncheon club
We also received our First Christmas Card today from Mary and Kenneth Fenton
Read in the Echo that our old friend Mike Thompson from Czerwik's Cheese shop has retired, he made us quite a lot of Money for Wateraid

AUNTIE RAFFAELLA

Auntie with her grandchildren Richard, Mary Joy and Luke

Today is her 79th Birthday

MARYLYN MEERS

I have known Marylyn Meers (Nee Binns) all my life. They were neighbours at Newdorth Grove, Her Father Ellis worked with my Father Lawrence for the Prudendial Assurance Company, Tomorrow is her Birthday

ERNEST BAKER

Ernest Baker has been a friend of mine since we were teenagers, He is a Unitarian Minister in Sheffield and Tuesday the 9th of November is his Birthday

SAME EVENT MORNING AFTER

Sheila views the ashes

GUNPOWDER TREASON AND PLOT

Bonfire night at Gary Williamson's House

SIGN IN BRIGHOUSE

BRADFORD INDUSTRIAL MUSEUM

Taken during a visit with Katie and Darren's Leisure Group

AUDREY EASTWOOD

Audrey Eastwood is Stuarts Mother in law and tomorrow (MISCHIEF NIGHT) is her Birthday

DANCING GIRLS

In the grounds of Calderdale Royal Hospital

SIGN SEEN AT SCANDIA WINE CIRCLE

HOME FROM HOME

A WEEKS HOLIDAY IN THE ISLE OF WHITE ON A VOLVO COACH

BEST MEAL OF THE TRIP

One of the finest meals that we have ever had

STILL ON THE ISLE OF WHITE

Sheila and David Craven with Thelma and Andy Hepton

ISLE OF WHITE

SHEILAS YOUNGEST GRANDSON

HE CALLED FOR APPLE CRUMBLE

SECOND TIME RIGHT

I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT MY YOUNGEST GRANDSON HENRY JOSEPH IS FIVE YEARS OLD TO_DAY