A very long and busy weekend but really had a great time.
This was us in our seats waiting for Queen & Adam Lambert concert to begin. This was my Birthday Present from DH and The Boys from 2020 but because of the dreaded Pandemic it was moved to last year and then they moved it again to this year and we finally got to go. It was held at the NIA in Birmingham town centre but all other concerts DH and I have been to have been held at the NEC on the outskirts of Birmingham. It was chaos trying to get in but we actually managed to go in the door where our section was which was a miracle.
The concert was due to start at 8.00pm and there was no support act but was delayed as there were so many people not in. The lighting and affects were amazing and as you can see below, Freddie Mercury was also there via video footage and John Deacon and pictures of the Band from their early days. Adam Lambert does an excellent job on vocals and puts his own style on them.
As you can tell from the pictures there were some fantastic affects. It was worth the two year wait to see them.
The concert finished a little later than expected so DH and I got to the car park by 11.10pm and we were on the top floor. So we sat there for another hour trying to get out! It was just a mess as it is the centre of Birmingham and all the roads were blocked. The Areana capacity is 15,600 so can imagine the amount of cars trying to get out! We got out of the car park at 12.30am and got home at 1.30am and we had not eaten so ended up at McDonalds!!! It was a great night.
Because my Birthday is a Monday and the day before DH is out all day at a swimming event we decided to go out for Sunday Lunch yesterday. We went here, The Saracen’s Head at Shirley in Derbyshire. They do a wonderful Sunday lunch and we have also been in the evening, the food is great. Had a lovely time but I don’t know about you but whenever I eat my main meal at lunchtime, I do not want to do anything else for the rest of the day!!!! Got a few little jobs done and had to bath Coco (don’t ask!) and I decided to dry her with my hair dryer so she will be used to it when she goes for her Spa Day, managed to get her completely dry and then my hair dryer broke!!!! I have had it for a while so no surprise but honestly!!!
This week is a busy week with work but tomorrow I am sneaking a day to go out with Jayne, whose Birthday was yesterday. We always go out for lunch to celebrate our Birthdays and we are going over to Nottingham. As you know we usually go over just before Christmas to do some shopping, so we thought it would be nice to go over in the summer!!!
When you are looking on the Book Shop Website for a Father’s Day book and then find yourself adding twenty new books for your “To Buy” List!!!!! Oops!
It does help that DH and I like similar books so the answer, of course, is to buy a book that I know he will like and read and then I can read it after he has!!!!
Hope your Saturday is going well. Have a great weekend.
I read this whilst we were away for our shortened Easter break. Claire Tomalin has written several Biography’s of famous people, including Charles Dickens. She always presents the life of the person she is writing about in very clear way without too many opinions of her own.
Jane was one of eight children born to her parents, George & Cassandra Austen. George was Rector of Steventon and received money from the living so the family were not rich and he suplemented his income by farming and teaching various Boys who boarded with the Austens. In fact the home was quite chaotic and meal times were a centre for discussion regarding politics, current affairs and acquaintances!
Despite a dalliance with Tom Lefroy when she was Twenty, Jane never married and her work became her life with her first novel being published in 1795, Sense & Sensibility.
From reading this book I think that Elizabeth Bennet’s character in Pride & Prejudice is very much how Austen herself was.
If you are a biography reader then I can highly recommend this book.
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May 2022 Book
Now I normally read these books up to and around Christmas of course but this was given to be for Christmas and I didn’t get around to it. It was actually a recommendation from my good friend Jayne, her daughter Emily on her Instagram Account; “Read By Emily” (https://www.instagram.com/read.by.emily_/).
It truly is a feel good book! Carmen works in her local department store but it sadly closes and she is at a loss as to what to do next but her sister comes to her rescue and tells her about the local bookshop in Edinburgh who needs some help and she has a spare room in her home. Carmen is reluctant to accept any help but decides it might be worth a change of scenery. What her sister did not tell her is that the Bookshop is in dire straights and unless they can turn things round by Christmas will also be closing. Will they get a Christmas Miracle and save the little Bookshop?
I love these sorts of books, they are an easy read but so enjoyable. If you don’t want to read it now at the height of summer, buy it and save it until November!
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June 2022 Book
This is what I am currently reading, another Clive Cussler book from the Kurt Austin range. You know, if you read this section of my Blog, that Mr Cussler is a huge favourite of mine and Eldest bought me all the books I was missing from the collection.
Kurt and his partner Al are on a NUMA survey ship when they are asked to help at a disaster on a small island in the Mediterranean called Lampedusa where a ship has run aground and released a black poisionous mist which causes the local inhabitants to fall where they stand. However someone managed to get a distress call off and they go to investigate.
They are then asked to try and find out what happened and come up against a secret organisation who are using knowledge from the Ancient Egyptians to change all the area in Northern Africa. If Kurt, Al and NUMA are unable to find the cause and the cure millions will die and the world will not be safe.
I have read lots of Mr Cussler’s books now (several times over as well!) and some people would say they are all the same but I find that although it is usually a case of us against them, goodies versus the baddies, his books are always engaging and full of adventure and fun. Very much like the James Bond films. If you are into this type of story then you can’t go wrong with this book or any of the Cussler books.
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Sorry I have done three books on one post but it has been quite a hectic few months since April (Coco’s arrival being one of them!) but I am back on track now.
I hope you are having a wonderful Friday and will have a great weekend and see you all back here on Monday with pictures of the various things we are up to.
Well it was a terrific four days with lots of great Pageants which I think we do very well here in the UK. If you did not get to see the final day here is a link to Instagram (if you have that) with a quick review of the Mall; https://www.instagram.com/theroyalfamily/ . Someone mentioned that we would probably never experience anything like this again, especially as those next in line are all older. We may get a Jubilee with Prince William who may celebrate his Silver Jubilee, all depending upon when he actually takes over of course and Prince George may celebrate the same or more, again depending when he takes over. Obviously H.M. The Queen took over when she was 26 so very young really.
I think it has set us up very well for the summer and here is hoping that we get some nice warm days to come. At the moment it is raining!!!
This is Sue Barker who fronts the BBC Wimbledon show every year who is stepping down after this year and it is such a shame, summers and Wimbledon will not be the same without her! A former tennis player who won the French Open and was in the Semi-Finals of Wimbledon and the Australian Open, she had twelve career titles before retiring and then became the presenter of Wimbledon Fortnight for the BBC in 2000. She will be sorely missed by me and I am dreading who they will replace her with. I have watched Wimbledon on TV since I was a little girl and have been lucky enough to actually attend the event three times and even saw Sue Barker play the first time I went when I was fourteen. I am sure she will enjoy her retirement.
As it is #TBT I thought I would show you a picture of Treacle, above, at three months old and Coco also three months old, below! Airedales they all look a like!!!! Same long legs and fluffy fur!!!
Tomorrow is home jobs day and grocery shopping and I have a firm coming to check the roof of our home, before the bad weather starts in winter again!!! Busy, Busy and Saturday we have a few jobs to do and Sunday as well, along with going to the Queen concert and also out for Sunday lunch for my Birthday. Before I know it, it will be Monday again!!!
Yes I know don’t faint, a quilty post from me!!! I did get quite a bit of quilting done whilst we were in Scotland but not quite finished things off, so I have been trying to get things done since we got home. Anyway here is the first finish which should have been done for the end of November last year, so only six months late!!! Groan!
I took these pictures yesterday outside as it was lovely and warm which was great, but it has blurred the quilt a bit!
This quilt is for our very good friend Alan, who after the Lockdowns bought a caravan for him and his wife, Pat, to go on holiday as although they love to travel abroad they are not confident at the moment so are travelling in this country. Anyway he said right at the start he would like a quilt for his caravan more as a joke but I thought what a great idea for his Birthday at the end of November last, for this year when they started travelling again. SO I managed to get some caravan material and I found the VW Camper Van holiday fabric and combined with this wonderful blue spot.
My very good friend, Susan, in the US, sent me this wonderful green material and I saved it for just the right project and thought it would be perfect for the backing to this quilt.
I took a couple of pictures inside too.
Of course I had material left over so made a couple of mats for the table. I still have some fabrice left so when I have finished everything I need to do I will probably make them some other things for the caravan.
I am going to take it round tonight for him. Onto my next job which I am hoping to get done for second week of July, along with another quilt. Then I am hoping to get my Christmas gifts made for “Christmas in July”!!!! Really trying to be organised!!
I hope you lovely lot are having a great Wednesday, almost the weekend!
Welcome everyone to my little corner of Mom’s Blog. I have been told I have some very big paws to fill.
Since I came home with Mom & Dad it has been great fun. I have two big playmates called Eldest & Youngest and they keep my entertained and have been a great help to Mom especially when I need a bath. I had a bad experience the other day though when Mom bathed me, she got this machine out and do you know it blew air in my face! I was not happy at all but Mom says I need to get used to it as I will have to go on something called a “spa day” which I think sounds good but you never know.
I also get to sleep on Youngest & Eldest’s beds which is great and they play with me and fuss me until I finally go to sleep.
Mom sits in a chair at a thing called a desk and my crate is next to this desk so I sleep in there next to her until she is able to play with me. Here I am sat on her desk but she says I won’t be able to do that for long as I am growing up fast, whatever that is!
I went to Puppy Socialisation Class on Saturday with Dad and he said I was a very good girl. I got to meet three other dogs and one of them was so naughty he had to be put back on his lead! I stayed off my lead until right at the end and I was at the other end of the hall and Dad called me and I came straight back, I did get a treat of course. Anyway Mom is taking me at the end of this month again but Dad thinks that I will not have to go again as I am very good with other dogs. Mom & Dad are also going to take me for a walk at Chatsworth House, which sounds really regal, soon and hopefully I will get to meet some other dogs there.
I hope you have enjoyed my first little Corner and will come back again next week. I hope you are having a lovely Puppy Woofy Day.
Well the country celebrated HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee over a long four day weekend. DH was commentating at The Beacon Lighting in our local area on Thursday which went off with, as can only happen here in the UK, a few issues!! People who were due to entertain did not turn up (!) but the weather held and the actual Beacon was lit which did not happen at another event, where they had to call the Fire Brigade to actually light it!!!!
The Goring, where we stay, all decked out for The Jubilee.
DH and I got a few jobs done but after several busy weekends and our Business celebration were were shattered so we did not get as many things done as we would have liked, hey ho! The weather wasn’t too bad but you know how they say that Global Warming is going to make are summers hotter and hotter, well not this year! It has been really quite cold on some days, including yesterday when the rain set in. DH was down at our Village park commentating, he left at 9.00am in the morning and did not get back until 7.00pm. It went well and everyone enjoyed it. I stayed home and got some quilting done and looking after Miss Coco as both The Boys were out too.
The Night of the Concert and the Drones say Thank You Ma’am.
This week is busy as DH is down at The NEC for yet another business exhibition which was obviously cancelled over the last two years. Like Swimming the exhibitions are trying to get in, in case anything happens again, but at least this is only three days!This is Saturday’s adventure my Birthday present from 2020 and can’t wait. It is in Birmingham so only an hour away and we will get some dinner beforehand. Sunday the four of us are going out for Sunday lunch for my Birthday. This is all happening a week before my actual birthday because we are all busy that weekend!!! I don’t mind it makes my Birthday last longer!!!!!!
I hope you all had a great weekend and the weather was kind to you. Tomorrow will be Miss Coco’s first day on Coco’s Corner (!) and this Friday I will catch up with the Books I have been reading for Book Club! Have a great week you lovely lot.
Hugs & Love, Susie xx
The State Coach which took part in the Parade yesterday.
It has been a bit warmer over the last few days and it is so nice. The sky has been very blue and it is great spending time out doors.
It will be Wimbledon soon, despite all the controversy, and the strawberries will be out in full force and hopefully we will get some good matches. Can’t wait.
And when the sun does go down we can light the candles and carry on reading!!!!
We have been busy doing jobs and keeping Coco from getting into too much mischief in the garden. It is amazing how many hiding places one puppy can find!!! Hopefully I will be able to sort out the Book Club Books this coming week too as I think I have missed a month! Hopefully by the end of the month I will be back up to date with everything!!! You will not believe how many lists I have floating around at the moment!!!!
I hope you lovely lot have had a wonderful weekend and a good week to come.
Somebody is growing fast and actually getting her still to take a picture is a miracle at the moment! She did manage to sit for the above picture well! She is off to Puppy Socialisation class today with DH and Eldest! Obviously we did not have to do that with our wonderful Treacle as we had our wonderful Kelly here when Treacle arrived.
Sometimes there is no room for Coco in her basket as she takes all her toys in there!
Sat on my desk, she won’t be doing that in a bit!
One of my Playmates is home yeah!
In a reflective mood!
Our wonderful Treacle had her own day on the Blog and as you know I retired The Wednesday Wag but feel that Coco should be on here, so on Tuesdays we are going to have Coco’s Corner! Of course I am not sure yet what her opinions will be but I am sure her personality will shine through as did Treacle’s! Join us next week for the first edition.
Yes June 1st arrived and we are officially into the Summer Months and it is great. Although being in Britain it can be really cold too, so we have to hope that we get some lovely warm sunshine! Especially some long lazy sunny days where I can spend the day reading outside. What can be better than that?
It is also Friday and a Summer Friday at that, what could be better?
As things have got better a lot of events which have been cancelled over the last two years are happening now and it is great to see, with people coming out and supporting them. Our Carnival begins in three weeks time, I am off to my Birthday present from 2020 next weekend to see the Band Queen & Adam Lambert in Concert in Birmingham which I am really looking forward to. The four of us are also going out for Sunday lunch for my Birthday, as the actual day is a Monday (dreadful day to have your Birthday on!). I also have a trip to the Spa arranged which should have been towards the end of June but I had to re-arrange it due to Coco’s arrival but looking forward to that. Tom & the Boys are out at a car show the following weekend so it will just be Coco and I at home, so probably a takeaway and film night in store for me. Then that will be June over with!!!
My very good friend Jayne and I, our Birthdays are a week apart so we usually try and go out for lunch between the two dates and are hoping this year to go over to Nottingham to have a look at some of the stores and have a nice lunch then. I bet you it will be raining though!!!
In July we have our second swimming Open for the younger swimmers and we also have a family Christening which has been moved three times! DH has a couple of commentating events on then we have a couple of weekends left to do some jobs at home and in the garden before we go away for two weeks to Scotland again in August and can’t wait! Then it will be Eldest’s Birthday and before we know it September and Autumn will arrive. Boy how the year flies, especially when you are having fun! Again not complaining after what we have all gone through in the last two years.
Whatever you lovely lot are up to this Summer I hope it is a really good one for you.
Hugs & Love, Susie xx
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