Love's Young Dream

After how many year's? 57 years married but Mum and Dad have been together longer than that.

Mum and Dad's 57th Wedding Anniversary

23rd of September 1950

Here are the happy couple 57 years ago!

Mum and Dad remember that their wedding cake was made under the rationing restrictions. They were allowed an extra 2 lbs of sugar as they were getting married. Once collected the sugar was taken to the baker.

Mum recalls that the cake was round and one tier but that the cameras of the day were unable to take indoor photos.

pepe

Pepe has arrived safely very impressive.you have been working hard! Are you pleased with your creation? Your characters would make a good animation for chidrens T.V. Any plans in that direction? We liked your picture of the flower.We have been to Wakehurst today somewhere we should show off to Ellie. Love to you looking forward to November Mum & Dad.

lobelia cardinalis

The photo doesn't do justice to this 'lobelia cardinalis' it is a vivid red and is very striking when viewed from a distance. It lives in the some time pond that fills when there is a heavy downpour. The marsh merrygolds that surround it have yet to bloom.

Keeping busy here, just completed the wood chopping, so there is no chance of anyone being cold this winter.

I have been working hard on Pepe but the promised arrival of new editions will be delays a few days. i will be getting back to work on the website shortly.

Hope you are all well

Love Rick

The vegatable garden is proforming wonders but Hank planted far too many cucumbers so we have been giving them to anyone that we catch off guard.

Stately Home

Many thanks Rick for the picture and message.I heard about the storms on the world Service. You certainly have improved your living quarters ,it is no wonder you are so happy. We will look for the cowboy hat photo. It will be an improvement on the one that Dad is wearing! Good news that you are making progress with the books. All is well here Warwick is looking for Jobs he has an application for the Police Force.He has wanted to be a policeman since he was about eight.The weather has changed for the better in fact it is hot today. Please give greetings to Ellie for us and love to you too. All the best send another message soon please Love M&D

South Hamilton

Ellie arrived back from 'way out west' on saturday. Storms chasing her all the way.

She had a great time riding for up to 7 hours a day across the ranch. I received the obligitory t-shirt which I got dirty straight away!!! I will try and get her to pose in her cowboy hat and post the pictures here so watch ths space.

I'm working hard on the new version on the book so expect a copy soon.

the stamp snipper at work.

Guide dogs for the blind don't know how trimming stamps can affect people!

John and Hilary at Glyndebourne 2007

We both had a fantastic experience at Glyndebourne for the staged version of Bach's St Matthew Passion which we thought very well thought out and beautifully performed in what could have been a disaster if taken lightly. Very moving and poignant plus such a brave setting which many people didn't really understand....

Nice weather and an excellent picnic supplied by Bill's thanks to Hilary who was OIC catering.

Hilary also insisted on referring to me as "Your Grace" on account of my Moari shirt collar! Still better than some of the sights we saw!

We also had a fantastic first night and civic reception for our friend's new venture The Finnish Prisoner which sets the story of Finnish Prisoners of the Crimean War being imprisoned in Lewes Naval Prison which is now North Street car park. Great singing with a community chorus featuring lots of friends and 8 Finnish chaps, tenors & basses singing the Finnish stuff brilliantly. Apparently there is a folk song still sung in Finland about the prisoners, Lewes and how the people here were kind to them. They also have a gravestone in St John sub Castro. The Finnish Ambassador was guest of honour with the diplomatic car registration FIN 1

UK arrivals

Rick and Ellie

Looking forward to seeing you while you are here hope your journey over is comfortable with no delays

Please explain the how that happened!

Poor Warrick, but all things considered he hasn't suffered to badly in the past

Some sort of Chinese maple that has just come into bloom.

The empire expands

Very impressed with the size of the network and I see that you are working your way up the hill.
I remember going to see the derby at Epsom. We parked the car at a friend of John's and walked to the course. The thing that stands out the most were the Gypsys playing 'chase the lady' with very dog eared cards. In those days the derby was run on a wednesday so I guess there was no school for me that day. I would be interested to see the picture that goes with Gill's post but better luck next time, Gill.

You can see here how the network is growing and linking together, I'm working on covering most of the town!

July 4th

Just occurred to me that July 4th has some significance somehow? Let's have a party!

Lewes calling....

Crikey Gill that's at least 36 years ago!! I remember working at Derby Day wearing a funny blue hat with a silver badge but had forgotten about us going there even earlier and seeing Lester Piggott's backside flash past at speed.

Rick, all OK for the flat, I've got another Meraki order being delivered as we speak but may order a few more to be delivered to you and there's a computer/equipment case I'm looking at but will let you know. We are looking forward to your both being here and happy with the standard supper arrangements for Talbot Terrace to run as before, if there's anything you may want to do let me know, see you soon.

ps now have a spare desk in the office!

Gill day at the Races

Had a wonderful corporate day at Epsom yesterday - Ladies Day - you should have seen the hats!

The winner of the hat competition was a beautiful young lady with a wonderful hat and made page 2 of today's (Telegraph) newspaper

As a guest of "Clear View Stables" the champagne and Pimms flowed. Had a tour of the stables which was lucky really because the track was very crowded and we couldn't really see any of the horses from track side although we were right on the fence just short of the finish line.

The bookmaker in the private marquee did a roaring trade although I did manage to make a profit of £3.00 over the whole day - I guess if he knew that he might not have been so happy on his way home in his big car!

Travelled by taxi and train - the whole of Epsom Downs was grid locked and would be even worse today. John, do you remember going there before? Mum and I can remember being there with you but not much else apart from seeing Lester Pigott flying past!

Booking arrangement

Hi John

Arrive in the UK on the 27th June rtn. to USA 6th July. I would like to stay in the flat for the duration. Ellie will be joining me July 2nd to July 6th upon her return form the channel islands.

Is there anything that you would like me bring with me ie meraki's etc.

Lewes calling

Hi all, busy here in Lewes with Brighton Festival concerts etc and a visit to London and the Children's War exhibition at the Imperial War Museum. Have seen a fantastic screening of the Olivier Henry V with Carl Davis abd London Phil/Brighton Festival Chorus playing live, Micahel Clark contemporary dance and Dream of Gerontius. Looking forward to seeing Rick again: just need Rick to clarify booking arrangements for flat etc. Speak soon, John

All rosy in the garden

The weather is great at the moment and the garden is blooming marvelous

Found this at the end of the vegatable garden.

speak again soon

Rick

June 27th

So the the good news is that I will be back in the uk for a few days, 27th June - July 6th,
so I will be around for my birthday (47) who'd of thought! Ellie is off to Jersey for a family get together and I will be picking her up on the July 2nd 3.30pm then it's an overnight stay in London and then down to Lewes till the sixth. So John if you want anything from the states speak now or forever hold your peace.

One for dad

here's one for Dad, I would send it to him but he may cut it up and give to the Red Cross.

I will hand delivery it Late June

Gills Weekend

Had a weekend in Suffolk with my five friends

Stayed in a beautiful house overlooking the mere in Thorpeness

Wonderful meals each evening at different places lots of laughing so much that some people were complaining of side ache! Lots of rain but fun none the less

This is the website for the house
http://www.bighouseholidays.co.uk/cottage/suffolk/000098/TheBays.html

The house is exactly the same as in the pictures

Keeping in touch.

Hi,Rick surprised to learn about you and the gardening. You are enjoying life now and good luck to you. I will get you some gardening gloves for your birthday,never know what to get you now what a brilliant idea. Just kidding. We are in the doldrums here .It never stops raining. Thank
goodness we have the Telegraph . Love all the blogs it keeps us in touch better. See you soon.
Clare's birthday 10th june perhaps you would send a message. Bye for now M&D

Letter from Lewes

Hi folks, all's well at Lewes. Hilary has been in France over the weekend with our friend Valerie at her farmhouse and had lots of walks and talks. Busy at work with the wireless broadband project www.lwbnet.org.uk and our new project which we hope will be a go'er www.dits.org.uk

Rick will be interested to know that the office will be a little emptier at the end of the month as Frances has decided to move out. She's apologised to Craig and me as she went potty last week because we were talking.... then in the afternoon she had a four person meeting in the office without a thought to the noise they made when we were working. She also complained about Rick and Sophie talking as they worked on the web site. What a pain, will miss the rent but not the renter.

Anyway lots more to do this week, off to Isle of Wight next month and we are both looking forward to that, bye for now J&H

My Weekend

Had a quiet weekend with just the one function attended, The Commodore's commissioning chowder at the Manchester by the sea yacht club. The event was well attended but no went out sailing as it was too cold for these sea dogs. The weather was nice but the sea breeze did cut thru you spent the rest of sunday doing some gardening, Ellie is determined to turn me into a horticultalist. I'm getting to know the garden and realising that every plant has a history and a bright future ahead. It's sure is top of Ellie's priorities she spends a lot of time and money on it and the attention detail is something to behold. The beets have started to sprout in the vegetable garden but the carrot have yet to put in an appearence.

Crazy For You

So last night,after a glorious hot day, we went to the North Shore Music Theatre, to see their production of 'Crazy For You' billed as the new Greshwin Musical. it was great to see such a young cast preforming an old musical with such vigor and enthusiasm. Lots of tap dancing and the a happy ending.

We've seen lots of Musicals at this particular theatre and we consider ourselves very lucky to have it so close by.

Other Rustles that have made a noise

Having a laugh

Hi rick good to see your picture ! Talk about' put me among the girls'. Life is full of culture in
Boston. Terry is back home but just as reticent as ever. I like this blogging and dad thinks I'm
a whizz kid.If only I could do the crossword as easily. Great to be in touch and know you are
enjoying yourself Regards to all M&D

Look mum I'm on top of the world

I'm sure they pick the worst pictures.

Rick's Weekend

Hi there to you all,
I had an entertaining weekend, Friday night we went to the Rotary Club Laugh-in, and saw four comedians, Two ladies, one black one white, a chinesse imagrant, and a fisher man from Maine.
The lad from china was by far the funniest. We nearly got our pictures in the Salem News, as there was a reporter covering the event. We happended to be in the front row and in camera shot and he asked our names. Nothing appeared in the next days edition but I will keep an eye out this week.
Last night we went the see 'The marriage of Figaro' the one were Mozart plays it for laughs.
I really enjoyed it and I'm determined to find out more about this Opera milarky. It was performed at by the Boston Lyric Opera of which one of Ellie's aunts is the major sponsor. So we got to have dinner with the cast and watch all the presentations being awarded. The Cabots couldn't hear so they stopped the presentation and insisted that a microphone be found. As Linda Cabot Black said after storming the stage 'this was the most important part of the evening so everyone needs to hear' I'm getting used to this sort of thing. These Cabot ladies don't hung back when they see that something is wrong, more power to them I say.

Spring

Hi Rick and fellow bloggers. thought you might like to know the state of play at E.G.
Of course as it is the Spring Holiday and the day of the Lions Club fair it is raining.
Gill is manning a stall for the guides dressed in camping wet weather gear! The teenagers are out,and m&d don't know what to do. so it's status quo. Every where is a beautiful verdant green
thankfully the air isn't full of pollen now. hurrah the sun is out so there we go out to the fair.
bye for now love you all M&D

M & D signed on

Hiya

M & D now signed on to (B)log and will keep in touch with all, at the same time!

M & D

All at Number three

Hi

This is all at number three (B)logging in and M & D will sign up later today

Hope all well everywhere

Gill

Hi Rick

As you know I'm a fan of blogging, see www.lwbnet.org.uk and www.dits.org.uk , it's much faster and therefore easier to update than a conventional website reliant on ftp and dreamweaver etc. I've got dITs off the ground and have a new volunteer, Gary, who has MS, 45 and lives in Ringmer, scope for wifi there! He's done some City & Guilds training with network cabling etc but rather basic, just needs an opportunity to get some experience which hopefullly dITs will help with. More later, John

Welcome

Welcome to this blog I hope we all can use this as a way of staying in touch
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