Brum

Hi everyone.

I've now been in Birmingham for 2 months, and things are going pretty well (I haven't developed the accent anyway- but maybe wait to see at Christmas...). I live 10mins from Cadbury's World, so on a good day the smell wafts down my way. I'm not sure which bars are made there (inexplicably not Bournville I do know), but I have seen them loading up vans with tins of Roses.

As for my course and work- things are going pretty well. I'm based at uni every Friday and some Mondays, and then work in the NHS from Tues to Thurs in a community hospital not too far from where I live.

Writing this has reminded that although things are going well, I do actually have an assignment to hand in very soon, so I better get on with that now.

I hope everyone's well, and hope to catch up with you soon.

A few specific messages:

Matthew:- Many thanks for the card and picks (always useful at the rate I lose them!). Glad to hear you're getting on well. We'll have to trade some tunes at Christmas.

Paul:- I know you have your interview coming up, and I was wondering whether you would like to speak to some of my friends who made it through? They'd be happy to be in touch by e-mail, so if you're interested let me know.

Ivy:- Good luck, and please try not to steal gloves in the future.

The unknowns

Hi Everyone,
How do we get the Bonners and Bennets to join in? I have a special message for Suzanne. Gran Martin is coming to stay in Luton for Christmas as she wants a hair appointment with Suzanne! Good news if it gets her here.
Hoping the Egyptian day pictures will soon be posted on the blog. I guess the Egyptian slave will soon be sorting it. No mention of you know who !
Gill

Some Tips

I've been playing around with this blog and have a couple of tips...

When you see there is a comment on an item, if you click on the heading of the item such as Slaving away in Southampton you can see the comments below in nice format. (If you just clicked the 1 Comments link you get the plain old display - although you can use this to add a new comment of course.)

You can also navigate to items by clicking in the tree on the left hand side - as we get a bigger list of items I guess we will use it more.

BTW you can only add pictures to new posts and not comments which took me a bit of time to realise. Also BTW 'Ivy' has made a good job of it so far as it is a bit of a faff (officially my favourite word).

Slaving away in Southampton

Hello there,

How is everybody?
Life is pretty hectic for me at the mo - I don't seem to go anywhere without my huge pile of marking these days :-(. Nevermind, not long till Stations.

On Monday, we had an Egyptian Day at school. This involved a last minute costume creation using a cream sheet, staples and sellotape. However, the first comment I received from a child being; "Are you a slave?", indicated that my costume might not be the standard of the ones their parents had been working on, for the past month or so. Atleast my generic 'slave' costume will be easily adaptable for any other themed day. Perhaps a little over the top for anti-bullying day on Friday though.

Anyway, better get back to preparing my Christmas list...

Rachel x

Its Ivy again!

Hi all,

I was disappointed that Mum did not include the picture of me at Cleeve Hill, so I had to send you another blog. It shows her whistle, which I always obey, and my enhanced coat design. I'm not sure what they meant about pegs. Shame about the bath afterwards.

Mum prefers the photo of me with a silly leaf in my mouth; it's not very ladylike if you ask me. Which one do you prefer? She likes the Autumn one because she took it I think!

Anyway I hope you like my Christmas photo, I cannot preview it here but all I can say is that this year I have not sprouted antlers.

I look forward to hearing about your adventures.

Love to you all,

Ivy xxx

Worcester

Hi There, This is the first time my hot (or cold) little hands have written a comment or blog. Richard and I took Ives to Cleeve Common this morning and R and I went to Worcester this afternoon. It's the first time we've been shopping together for years. Ivy stayed here, just as well- she lovingly rolled in a cow pat so had to be bathed this evening -a first- I shower her downstairs at home. I'm now drying her. See you soon Love Gill

Hello

Hello I'm practising blogging. Deborah and I are cutting out material for Guides. We are being serenaded by Matthew on the guitar unfortunately it needs tuning!

Calvin Harris Gig

A couple of hours of loud DJ, a pair of rapping twins and then the main act. Some pictures...


Cant beat a good old pair of fly eye glasses!

Some crazy fans, with serious attitude..! lol

Lists

Hello, here goes for the result of my first blog lesson! Mum and I went on a coach trip yesterday to Peterborough to do Christmas shopping. Except I hadn't got any lists so couldn't do any shopping - but we had a nice day anyway. So, you all need to get writing your Christmas lists straight away because I will be on the phone soon.

I have a busy weekend ahead (just for a change - not!) with tree planting at Haverings on Saturday morning, the church bazaar in the afternoon and then going to Kev and Jackie's for tea. Hopefully some catching up with house work on Sunday.

S & P are cracking on with the fireplace and hopefully they will have layed the hearth in the next few days. It's got to look nice for the 29th December. I hope you've all had your invites by now. You may wish to bring ear plugs for the fireworks, they are not the domestic sort! Love Dx

Ivy's first orchestral concert

Well I made it and I behaved myself, my escort was very relieved. You can see that I was very keen to get in and it was as posh as I had hoped. I had to wear my coat which means I should be on my best behavour, well I did not let my organisation down; the only problem was that people wanted to stroke me, that was good but I prefer food. Did you know that Labradors have an eating disorder; they are always hungry. I am pleased that I am normal.

I did enjoy the music, it had a very wide dynamic range, I am used to shocks though and did not react. I almost cried during Nimrod, I am deep down sensitive. Well I better get to bed so my next meal and walk come quicker.

Love to you all, Ivy xxx and a big lick.

Greetings from Evesham

Hi everyone, Gill, Ivy and I are having a well deserved week together in Evesham; shame I am working.

This Tuesday evening however we are all going to a concert together, this will be a first for Ivy, I wonder how she will cope! I also wonder how we will cope; we will let you know. It is at the Pitville Pump room in Cheltenham, a very posh venue!
I think that is enough for my first message.

Bye for now, Richard

Here We Go!

Hi everyone, it's an experiment at trying to keep everyone up-to-date on what we are all doing.

You can put words and pictures and web-stuff as well such as links to other items of interest.

Now to work out allof your email addresses to invite you onto this...