Pinch me........am I dreaming???

Pinch me!!! Am I dreaming???

Can this possibly be Eric's daughter???

Can this possibly be Eric's granddaughter???

My Goodness!!

I thought the previous photo seemed gorgeous and wonderful.

But yet we have this!!!

Hester, forehead-bejewelled, radiant, smiling and happy.

Elodie also foreheaded, decked out in Indian finery.

Oh what a picture!

What a photograph!!!

What a photograph!!!!!!!

I haven't scrolled through all the India photos yet. But I stopped at this one and just had to Blog it. Isn't it wonderful. Aren't they happy and gorgeous!!! You agonise and agonise and yes you agonise about your off-spring. How will things turn out for them?? Have you given them enough input? Have you given them any input? Was any of the input taken on-board anyway?? Did anything you said or did resonate in any way shape or form??? Did it matter?? I love this photo!!
! I love this photo!! OK Moo-Moo is doing her thing. That's Moo-Moo!! Bless Her. I've only just received this picture in my inbox and I can't tell you what delight it brings!!!!!!!!!

Planting up for this year

Just a couple of images here of this seasons bedding plants. I am going crazy with potting up and watering. Plus!! In addition..... people want me to help them with their gardens.....can you believe???

New Post

There was a lovely chap teaching at Hartcliffe called Jeremy Rowe. He was so self effacing and affable. I remember so vividly the day of his leaving.....he had all the farewell cards and his leaving presents and he stood up to thank us for our cards and the present and he said that the more he taught at Hartcliffe the less like he felt that he taught anybody anything. And Crikey did that resonate with me. There is this huge contradiction. You might think that you are inspiring their minds to think beyond their constraints. But then again.....maybe not. I only taught for 4 years. It took me 4 years to get a B.Ed in Education... So there's parity.

Meanwhile.... Veg plot being prepared..... Thank-you blog-fans for asking for more!!!

Body Image

I wasn't best pleased with this picture taken last April 23rd on my mother's 90th Birthday. That stomach under my shirt was not hidden by not tucking my shirt in. Lucky for me there was a New Year Special Offer at the Chepstow Leisure Centre for Personal Training. This chap called Dan offered 6 x 1 hour sessions for £60. He specialised in weight management. He had a PHd!!. Never mind that he thought that there were 12 lbs to a stone. What do they teach them in school these days??? But he's been great. Simple stuff. Calories in should equal calories out. If not you get fat etc etc. Every 1 hour session with him has been fantastic. He pushes me more and more each time and every time I can do more and more. I'm now bench-pressing 28 Kgs and even though I am gasping for breath, beetroot red and sweating copiously; I am feeling pretty damn good. I've very nearly lost a stone (14 lbs not 12) and I just love going into the gym every morning. Strangely the most wonderful exercise is Boxercise. I put on these boxing gloves and try and hit seven bells out of the pads that Dan holds up in front of me. He tells you how to plant your feet and twist your core. He said to me last week. "You're stronger than you think you are!!!! You pack a real punch!"
Obviously he says this to everyone. It's part of his encouragement programme. But when you smack him back down the mat...boy does it feel good. Don't get me wrong. I am mild mannered and not in the least aggressive. Err just one little admission though. He holds the pads sometimes either side of his face and sometimes I have this overwhelming desire to punch him right between the eyes.

Missing you already

Boy did that trip go quick or what!!! I've still got Moo-Moo's seat in the back of my car and don't want to take it out. I never really thought about becoming a granddad. It was nothing that I ever aspired to be. It gets thrust upon you by events and circumstances obviously beyond your control and I never gave it much thought. When Hester phoned me to tell me she was pregnant I was delighted. But more for her really than for me. I seemed a little inconsequential to the up-coming event. Then Elodie arrived!!! Chris phoned me!!! I was very manly and matter-of-fact, said congratulations and got off the phone as quick as I could because I was welling up with unexplained emotion. Now here she was this past week. Cute and smart and testy. Her Wayman genes telling her to trust no-one and don't be taken in by smarm or flattery. She's feisty alright. You better believe it. An individual in her own right forging her own future already with her signature identity. Bless her!! Bless Hester for creating her. Bless Chris for begetting her and Bless Maretas for endless patience. It was so lovely to have them here. I felt guilty that we didn't entertain them royally enough. Weather a bit against us and child-friendly stuff limited.