Friday 31 December 2010

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

Thursday 30 December 2010

TODAY

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

Wednesday 29 December 2010

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

Monday 27 December 2010

Sunday 26 December 2010

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

Saturday 25 December 2010

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

Friday 24 December 2010

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"

Thursday 23 December 2010

Wednesday 22 December 2010

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"

Tuesday 21 December 2010

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

Monday 20 December 2010

TODAY

TODAY IS STUART'S 47th Birthday

Sunday 19 December 2010

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

Saturday 18 December 2010

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

Friday 17 December 2010

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

Wednesday 15 December 2010

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

Sunday 12 December 2010

TOBY BY HENRY



This picture borrowed from Lizzie and Andy's BLOG

ADVENT AT CENTRAL



SERVICE CONDUCTED BY MRS MARGARET WEBB

Wednesday 8 December 2010

HENRY BY TOBY

TOMORROW




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

Saturday 4 December 2010

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

Friday 3 December 2010

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

Wednesday 1 December 2010

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