WEDNESDAY WISDOM

Once again saying thank you so much to my blogging friends....just for being who you are.  Don't you just love sunflowers?

MONDAY MIRTH

I loved this one...reminded me of when Precious and Henry would play.  Loved those two cats.

SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT

I'm a believer.....are you?

THINKING ALLOWED

As you know yesterday was Phil's birthday and we were going out to dinner.  Aimee picked us up on schedule and we had an uneventful trip until about 5 minutes from the restaurant.  K rang on her mobile to tell us there had been a crash on the main road just before where we were due to turn off.  All drivers behaved quite well and merged into the one lane.  It appeared a ute and a very old bus had collided but I don't think anyone was seriously injured, at least I hope not. 

I would plead with everyone, if you are driving, do please be extra careful as I feel as Christmas approaches people have more than usual on their minds and maybe are not quite as careful as they usually are.

We all enjoyed our dinner....I had Atlantic salmon with mash and asparagus (delicious) and Phil had steak fillet with chips and a garden salad.   Those who had pork belly found it a tad overcooked but decided not to complain and still seemed to enjoy their meal.   We were wondering if the restaurant had new owners as there were various changes and new waitresses.  Am trying to decide if I want to go there or perhaps somewhere else for my birthday next month. It becomes very crowded and the acoustics are not good....as Phil said it's a little like being in a chook run when all the hens get disturbed!!

We now have our Secret Santa lists....one of which is very straightforward...the other a long list from which to choose.  I still think it a great idea where one person buys for just one person with a monetary limit.    Lots of folk decide not to bother buying for the adults in a family but, even at my age (perhaps even more so in a way) I still love to receive a parcel to unwrap at Christmas.  Doing Secret Santa ensures we all receive something we want.

A BIRTH DATE

Today my husband Phil is 87.  He told me last night he was born at 11am GMT so it's not really his birthday until 7pm Perth time.   I told him we'd go by GMT so we could celebrate his birthday all day.

We are having a very quiet day and #2 granddaughter will pick us up at 5.15pm to go to Steel Tree in Baldivis for dinner with our little family.   Phil has his VIP voucher so his meal will be free which is a terrific birthday gift from Steel Tree.  With Aimee giving us a ride it also means that Phil can have a couple of glasses of wine should he choose to do so.

Our family is of course much smaller than it once was.   With son cancelling all communication with us nearly 16 years ago we don't see him, his wife or his two children (who are now adults).  #3 granddaughter lives in New Jersey with her partner and #1 grandson works on Friday nights and weekends.

Nevertheless, the remaining 9 of us will make Phil feel special this evening.  I told him just now that I am so glad he turned 87 today as it means we are still together and he seconded that.   I am now looking forward to being 85 in a month's time so we can have another family celebration.  With these 2 birthdays and Christmas, December and January become real family times that continue on with #1 granddaughter having a birthday on 31st January, her oldest daughter in February and her youngest in April.  My only regret is that it all happens during hot weather but then I guess we can't have everything we want.

FRIDAY FAVOURITES

I wonder how many people remember Patti Page?  Here she is singing that beautiful song "The Tennessee Waltz".  This rendition is from 1950. It amazes me how you can here every word she sings so unlike so many of the modern artists.

DID YOU KNOW?

I feel people are a little tired of Kings and Queens of England and Scotland so decided to have a little break.....next time I will give some information (from the same book) about Welsh royalty.   This is something I know absolutely nothing about so it will be educational for me as well.  This. by the way, is the front cover of the book from which I am quoting all the royal stories.

I remember a story my mum told me years ago about her father and his sister.  This may have happened at the end of the 19th century or early in the 20th.  The story, as told by mum, was that her aunt had decided to do some genealogy of the Rockliff family and apparently she discovered that they may have been descended from King Llewlyn of Wales.   When she told her brother (my grandfather) of this discovery he told her she shouldn't be too proud of that fact as, if it were true, he was a dreadful old blaggard!!  Now I'm hoping to find out something about this king of the Welsh whom my grandfather obviously did not approve.

Keep watching this space on Thursdays and thanks to those of you who have been interested enough to have followed so far.