General Chat

I spoke too soon, we had a terrific thunder storm.

I have just been helping Sue to book her hotel at the airport next week, not that I want her to go of course

I am watching the concert from Edinburgh Castle.

The football season starts soon :-D

oh good :-D

Get writing Tec, it is better than doing nothing.

We haven't had the promised thunder but we have had a vast amount if rain, the garden looks bashed

Happy Birthday to little Esme <3

Gosh that year flew by..................

I wonder what wet burnt sausages taste like :-D poor Sue, especially after all the glorious weather we've had - but this sure ain't Oz.

Poured with rain since I got up. Actually the garden badly needs it, so now had a good soaking. We didn't get the thunder storms forecast here.

Re driving licence. I may contact my MP regarding the unreasonable delay.
It is true that I am totally reliant on my car.
Unless someone takes me I cannot leave the village to go shopping, visit the doctor, visit the Duchess, who must think I don't care.
I have been out of hospital for four months now, and apart from being transported to hospital to outpatients, and the occasional visit to the nursing home, I haven't been anywhere else.
I cannot believe that it can take at least eight months to process a driving licence. They have had all the relevant information for months now, including supporting letters from doctors.
I don't think "they" realise the impact on peoples lives while they are sitting there twiddling their thumbs, watching the clock, while eating their custard creams.

Disgruntled, of Tunbridge Wells :-D

Sue has gone to a family BBQ, unfortunately the rain is coming down in sheets :-D

I hope you are feeling rich Amanda, with even more presents to buy :-D Will Megan be living with you full time? A baby in the house will bring back memories

Esme is one today, I can't believe the time has gone so quickly

I do think you are in a situation where you a licence is a necessity not for just yourself but to enable you to see the duchess as well. You do have extenuating circumstances and this should put you up at the head of the queue..

That is great news re more grandchildren and that means more lovely photos.. you have done really well Amanda. a young and with it grandmother with chooks as well. Glad to hear you house is a restoration of sanity place as well .. poor bloke.

Hello Berona, good to see you around and about.. xx

Persie waves to Sue and OH wherever they are now munching pies or whatever.

Tec - that's not good news about your license. What happens to your car in the meantime? Sitting there without being moved doesn't do it any good.
I am inclined to agree with Linda about contacting your MP. They get paid enough and are there to represent you - so use him. Of course, I understand you not wanting to agravate the situation at the DVLA, but surely if that happened, your MP would be able to sort it out. Maybe write to them first and outline what you have said here - and see what they say - then call in the big guns.

Good news, Amanda. I've lost count. How many will this be?You still have a fair way to go to beat the ancestors, though. .. My mother was one of 88 first cousins - and that was only on one side!

Hello Amanda - are you warm enough? :-D

It is I suppose good that your OHs relative sought sanctuary with you both. At times of great strife it is good to have a "bolt hole" to escape ones problems.

Personally, I have a grotto down the garden where the elves live :-D

Seriously, I hope your relative can sort his life out and find peace.

Are you expecting thunder storms tonight?

Congratulations on the two expected grand children, and it's good news that Meg can keep her job.

Hello everyone .
Tec , sorry to see that it is going to take so long to get your licience reviewed . I believe the " system " is in general meltdown , across the board :-(

Sue , I hope you enjoying all your travels , it certainly sounds as if you are getting around .

I have had a very busy week indeed . OHs step-son ( from many years ago ) came here to seek sanctuary for the past five days . Poor man has had a distressing break up with his partner of 15 years . He needed to get away from it all as the situation was , I believe , threatening his sanity . Hopefully he is fully dosed up with tea , sympathy and wise words , ready to face the new day and a brighter future .

I also have to announce that two more Grandchildren are on the way :-0 :-) <3 Middle daughter is 17 weeks through her pregnancy and our Meg dropped her " I'm pregnant " bombshell " a few days ago ! It was a bit touch and for Meg as she was half expecting to be told she wouldn't be able to stay at her new job ( health and saftey / lifting and moving the residences etc ) but her manager has talked the owner into keeping her on .......so that's a big phew ! It has all been rather mad here for the past few days :-S

I've been watering the garden in the dark :-D though we have a severe weather warning because of violent thunderstorms tonight.

I am extremely disappointed about my driving licence - I can't believe after all the correspondence and form filling since March, and a supporting letter from my doctor, they are not even going to review my case until "at least" three months.

I am reliably informed that many civil servants have been seconded to the passport office to clear the backlog. I suppose what with holiday coverage there is only a skeleton staff at the DVLA.

As for contacting my MP - I don't know what to do. He is the type of man who would take something like this up, but I'm afraid to antagonise them in case that goes against me.
It only takes one spiteful pen pusher to find an excuse to refuse my licence. :-0

Sorry I disappeared last night Tec, I had things to sort out and the time ran away with me


I have spoken to Sue and she is meandering back, but won't "home" until late.

It is terrible about your driving licence, it is the same with passport renewals, they are taking ages as well. I would contact your MP and outline your case and have them investigate it. They seem to be able to intervene in individual cases,so hopefully could speed things up. Even if they can't they could highlight the problem. It is definitely worth a letter though in the hope that they can help, better than just waiting

Glad to see you back home Linda - I expect Sue is still nursing a headache :-D
I do hope that she isn't lost in the brewery.

It was a scorcher here today as I know it was everywhere. At least we had a nice breeze coming off the sea.

I washed and dried a full line of washing. Took delivery of my first Asda order. That worked out very well, so I don't have to worry about shopping now.

The bad news is that I received a letter from DVLA this morning to say that due to volume of work I can expect my application for renewal of my driving licence to take place on three months. :-|

I am seriously not a happy bunny :-(

Well I have just arrived home and no Sue, she is probably still in the cider brewery

A cider mill and a brewery visit on on trip, people will begin to think you like your alcohol :-D

I have been to Wells Cathedral as well.

I couldn't post earlier as the others were sitting with me for most of the evening. I have had a nice day with Esme, but it is incredibly hot. This morning we stayed in the large air. Conditioned shops,so she was happy looking around and nice and cool. It was cloudier this afternoon,so we went for a walk, but she was too hot by the time we got back, so I will have to avoid the heat tomorrow.

I have to sleep now as eves early start is catching up with me

Bound to be free samples - but be careful, strong cider can be quite potent. You'll have to fight over who's drinking, and who's driving :-D

I have to say that I haven't seen any shepherds - I was wondering where they were :-D

We passed a Cider Mill so we were thinking of calling in and seeing if there was a tour. It would be interesting and they might give us free samples ;-)

Steak and Ale pie sounds very nice :-) I suppose while you're in Somerset you should try the cider :-D

I had shepherds pie - no wonder there is a shortage of shepherds these days :-D

It is lovely and it has already stopped.

The wifi is intermittent so if I suddenly disappear you'll know why.

We had steak and ale pie for dinner - it was very nice :-)

Bell practice won't go on too late.

I love to hear church bells, it seems so quintessentially English to me :-)

The sound of sanity