30/01/2008 by Paul D.

I can’t upload pics from home; must be something to do with my settings, so I thought I’d test it from work. Here’s some random pics just to try it out…. 8¬)

Alfie and the laydeez enjoying a quiet night…..

P.

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25/01/2008 by Nicky.

    Just to show that a great camera doesn’t necessarily mean great photos…..                                                                                                                                      

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01/01/2008 by Rob.

Wishing all the US the best for 2008! Thanks for the NYE bash, Nicky and Trev (and Ted!).

 R & P

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11/12/2007 by Nicky.

It seemed such a good idea to get new wardrobes fitted in Summer last year (yes that’s 2006) …. we had some quotes , decided we couldn’t afford it & put the project on the back burner pending up summing up the energy to visit Ikea .

Of course , we never found the energy to visit the devil’s store (there’s a reason they wear red T-shirts you know) and when a friend said “why not try MFI?” , we thought “why not ?”

The salesman wasn’t so slick , but at half the price of the other guys , we didn’t much care & we placed our order . Which was measured wrong. We were given a delivery date . Which was wrong . We cleared the rooms & then the delivery came …. just imagine the contents of 2 bedrooms PLUS 2 new fitted bedroom parts all over our house.

The fitter came (a day late & long after 9am) and started to work … guess what? the delivery was wrong , so he had to order more parts. One of the parts was delivered wrong a second time - apparently their system was wrong. They didn’t finish on time & came back again . They didn’t finish on time , and came back yet again . They drilled holes in our BRAND NEW floor.

Several stroppy phone calls and a very stroppy letter to head office later , we’re still waiting to hear anything at all from MFI .

If you’re thinking about it…just don’t do it !

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11/12/2007 by Neil.

Well, after Nelly the Elephant packed his trunk, and said goodbye to the circus.

He decided, for some strange reason, that it would be a great idea to spend the next month stuck in front of a PC creating a 3 minute picture show of last New Year’s hoedown at Ewen Palace.

After hours of cutting people’s heads off, making them jingle, sticking them in buckets and popping out of Paul Ewen’s stomach. (Tell me Di, what was it like in there? No, on second thoughts, I’d rather not know!) one finished song was completed.

I’d had plans to do about three tunes, but I’ve got to be honest, I think I’ve developed a touch of RSI…….

I’ll try and get a DVD made for everyone for Christmas, so you can watch it at home in Hi-Definition, digital surround sound, Technicolor, or you can just use the disc as a coaster.

Steve has provided a link to a web version, so you can cringe at it while at work:

http://www.deepmilk.co.uk/usmedia/us_nursery.html

Be warned though, you’ll be singing the song all day if you do. I’ve had it going round my head for the past month and I’ve only just got rid of Cocacabaña from last year.

Any chance that this year’s party can be held in a room with plain white walls? It would make editing soooooo much easier. A blue screen background would be even better. That way I can superimpose us all say, on the Bridge of the Titanic? Just before Di asks if it’s at all possible to get some ice for her brandy and diet coke!

Enjoy

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05/12/2007 by Steve.

I feel like a right hero on the home front! In the last two weeks, while Ness has been out at an awards ceremony, shopping (for work) in NewYork, and attending a girly dance weekend in Great Yarmouth, I have pottered on, looking after the house and kids, helping out big time at a school charity event and even paying a visit to Santa at his grotto in Hamley’s. I’m feeling like I’ve racked up a few points on the social credit account and hope to use some up over the next few weeks.

Now I’m not looking for praise. Let me tell you, most ‘at-home’ parents (mums) are doing this stuff all the time. So I’m only doing what’s required. But I’ve just thought - I’m writing this blog entry to tell you all about it. Actually pretty boring! And as I consider that you’re reading this, the question is what have you all been up to?

Neil made a nice contribution a week ago. What did you think of he and Jen’s achievement then? It’s lonely out there on the web when no-one talks to you, you know….

Where are all your stories?

I know that Ness has a whole lot to tell…about said awards ceremony, NY, building her own Santa’s Grotto and an outrageous girly weekend. But I haven’t persuaded her to pass it on to you all yet! Nicky was even at the same weekend, with Ness, and allegedly has the pictures to prove it. But no post yet. (In fact, rather disappointingly, no posts ever from the Elsons).

Rob! Did you all know that Rob gave generously of his time at R and L’s school Xmas fair this past weekend, to host a ‘pub quiz’ in the bar (and many thanks to him too). But Rob, we haven’t heard from you for a long time! What about all the big concerts and sporting events you’ve been attending in your stewarding capacity! Any film gigs? Let’s hear about them.

Paul E - never a dull moment with you mate, however controversial! Entered any quizzes, met anyone famous (who we would know) or tried on any new make-up? I think maybe more words, less pictures though…

Paul, Di - not heard from the Bell End for a while - you must have been doing something. I can’t imagine you staying in all weekend, watching TV. Unlesss it was in the pub maybe! How’s your new job, Paul? What ya you doing with all the spare time, now you’re not travelling into town?
If any of you read this, you must be checking the blog out occasionally. So you’re interested. So are the others. Let’s hear your news. You don’t have to write much, and you don’t have to have pictures. Stir it up a bit with a ‘thought for the day’. Make people talk back. If you visited the blog to look, you could spend 5 mins writing something!

Back to work now…..

Steve

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27/11/2007 by Neil.

With the weather man predicting a glorious sunny weekend (he lied) we decided as we were free for the weekend to head over to the Island to see me mam, and get another section of the Island coastal path completed.

The coastal path is around 75 miles long, and we have been walking it in small ½ to 3 miles sections as part of various circular walks, which may be as much as 9 miles long. So far we have completed the vast majority of the 75 mile path, probably walking at least double that in the process.

Well last weekends section was a 6½ mile circular route starting and finishing at a well used establishment of ours, The Folly Inn.

Actual map of route walked

Coastal route walked so far (click image to enlarge)

Walking along the banks of the river Medina to the Island Harbour Marina, past the Ryde Queen Paddle steamer, which is as you can see is in sorry old state.

Would you believe it, that in my younger days, when I was a lot fitter, thinner, and had a good head of hair, I used to have many a good night out on her, when she was a very popular night club. The girls didn’t stand a chance. “How youuuu do-innnnn”.

Like me though, she hasn’t faired well, although her funnel has now fallen off, at least mine is still well and truly intact !!! Aint that right jen………jen …JENnnn

Anyway, moving on, we headed inland until where we saw this rather menacing sign on a gate. Must get one of these.

This was followed by a rather strange site in a field. It was like something from a 1970’s episode of Doctor Who. “The Invasion of the Killer Post-boxes”………

They fire high velocity letters as weapons. First class ones decapitate you, but second class ones only stun and leave you with a rather nasty black eye and the excess postage to be paid.

Nasty…….

But their evil plans were thwarted when the Doctor arranged a 48 postal strike. Hurrah. The Earth is saved.

Time to continue me thinks. We followed the route of the old Island railways, another successful closure from Beaching, and into The town of Wotton where we came across this wood carving.

I think they got Jen’s better side, don’t you ?

From here it was the long trek back to the Folly, passing this new designer Bus Stop.

Our feet were aching by this point, so it was tempting to wait for a bus, but we thought from the size of it, it was a bus stop for the vertically impaired only. Political correctness gone mad if you ask me.

And now as our adventurous treks ends we fall into the pub for our just reward. Big mistake sitting on that big comfy sofa though, as our eyes began to close……

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11/11/2007 by Steve.

Now this week has been a very busy social week. I cannot complain. Music has featured very highly and a family day out rounded it off very nicely.The music events started on Monday with the ‘Audience with Rick Wakeman’ gig. Fantastic it was and details have already been posted by Paul D on this blog. On Tuesday I saw ‘The Fray’ at Hammersmith. For those who don’t know who ‘The Fray’ are, they recently had a hit with a tune called ‘How to Save A Life’ (better know in our gaff as ‘How To Shave Your Wife’!). Good they were, too!

‘The Fray’ say ‘Hello Hammersmith!’

Then on Wednesday I took part in a focus group discussing a new ‘pop opera’ act in the mold of Paul Potts (’Britain’s Got Talent’ winner). An odd musical diversion.

Now on Thursday, I stayed in (!) while Ness went out…to a lady’s ‘Indulgence Evening’ - an event designed to raise money for the school. She indulged very well with the help of a few glases of champagne and struggled all day Friday! Then on Saturday, we had a family outing….

Who’s been to the Lord Mayor’s Show during their lives, then? Asking various friends this weekend, it would appear that most of us have at some time. And that ’sometime’ was probably when we were kids - usually when we were around 10 years old. So in keeping with tradition (which is what parades like the Lord Mayor’s are all about) this weekend was when Ruby and Louie got their (first) London ‘traditional’ experience.

Three lie-ins
We hadn’t actually planned to go. Ness only thought about it late Friday night, as a cheap way to get out of the house on Saturday. It was planned that I would take advantage of the empty house to get on with some work. But when I got up at 8.30am on Saturday (while they all slept-on) I realised they’d never get up town in time, or find a decent position to see it from. So I kicked them all out of bed, got them through breakfast etc….and by 10.35, we were all standing in a good position to watch the parade, behind St Paul’s! So much for work!

In the end, it really was good cheap fun. Thousands of people, hundreds of people in uniforms, odd pieces of miltary hardware, whistles, bunny ears, drums etc. Then we went to McD’s for lunch, paid a visit to the Tate Modern to look at ‘The Crack’ (go to the Tate website if you don’t know what I’m on about). We got home about 4pm, leaving time to ‘veg’ in front of the TV for an hour….

Lots of bands	St John’s Ambulance - on push-bikes!!!!

Don’t stop
But then I was off out again! Saturday night and this time to Wembley Arena, to see ‘Heaven and Hell’ - or ‘Black Sabbath’, in another guise. Although I went with Gary, Paul and Di were also there under their own steam, as were another couple of friends, who we bumped into on Wembley Park platform afterwards. Rock’n'Roll!

‘Heaven and Hell’ say ‘Hello Wembley!’

So what a week! I am definitely staying in all this week….I am… definitely. Until Friday anyway…..

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08/11/2007 by Paul D.

Monday evening was spent in the company of the original and finest keyboard wizard and grumpy (but very funny) old man, Rick Wakeman at his one-man show entitled ‘Rick Wakeman’s Grumpy Old Picture Show’ in the Swan Theatre in High Wycombe. I’d managed to secure tickets in the second row, right in the middle, so we could almost see his nasal hairs…..

Armed with a mini grand piano, a cluster of modern and vintage electronic keyboards, a projector screen, a lectern and a very long overcoat, Rick entertained us with stories from his life interspersed with ‘very rare footage’ of interviews with people who had influenced him and he had influenced, some silly gags and of course some incredible piano and keyboard playing.

The screen also showed recordings of other musicians playing that he played along with live, which is quite a technical feat. At various points, there were five Ricks on stage, two Gordon Giltraps, a rock band and a school choir!

Highlights of the show for me were ‘Merlin the Magician’, ‘Amazing Grace’ with Rick’s daughter Gemma on vocals, ‘Eleanor Rigby’ in the style of Prokofiev, and the ‘Injured golfer’ gag….

After the show was another big highlight for me. Rick appeared in the bar for a chat and signings, so I managed to get his squiggle on a few items of great historical importance. We had a bit of a natter and he explained why he was reluctant to agree to do any more massive world tours with YES, which is very sad news because if they do tour in late 2008 for their 40th anniversary (as has been strongly rumoured) it will undoubtedly be their swansong. We can only hope that a compromise is reached and a ‘final’ album and tour do actually come to fruition… It would be unthinkable for the band to end their incredible career without Rick.

By coinsidence, we found ourselves leaving the theatre at the same moment as our host. We continued chatting into the car park where a bemused old rocker came to a stop with a puzzled expression on his face. “Where the bloody hell did I put my car?” he quizzed. Di couldn’t help herself and let out a big belly laugh which echoed around the deserted multi-storey. Our hero appeared slightly less than impressed. Eventually, with a little help from us, he managed to locate his big green car on the level below, so all was well and we could chuckle our way homeward.

Definately another grand success from the YES family, and Di, Steve, Nix and Dave all said they really enjoyed it too. Thanks for coming along guys.

P.

  Rick punishes the keys.

  What a bod, eh girls?

  At the bar.

  Steve couldn’t wait to get an autograph…..

  Old mates?

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04/11/2007 by Steve.

So did everyone have a good night on Saturday? It would appear so. Another bash at the Usual Suspects entertainment HQ lingered on until 4am so I guess we were all enjoying ourselves! For the benefit of those who, unfortunately, could not be there, you missed a great chilli and lots of beer and wine. Other highlights included the letting-off of a rather large firework in the back garden… and Paul D just letting-off. There was also a rather surprising impromptu performance by Rob - with only a frankfurter for a prop!

Thanks to every one who helped out:

- Food provided by Ness.
- Firework provided by R and P
- Frankfurters provided by Sainsburys
- Fresh air provided by God

Finally, a pictorial record of the event…

Cheers, Steve

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