Barney and Lunch

I woke myself up during the night ~ I was sobbing and the tears were rolling down my face wetting my pillow ~

I don't know if I had a bad dream ~ if I did I can't remember what it was about ~

My daft ~ Scatty little Barney ~ you know the one who loves to chase the Postman ~ and next door neighbours cat must have heard me ~ because he had crept into my bedroom and jumped onto my bed ~ he gently put a paw on my shoulder and wanted to lick the tears from my face ~ he was making a soft grumbling sound ~ as if trying to talk to me ~ then laid beside me ~ when I was fully awake I told him off for being on my bed ~ and had to laugh at the look on his face ~

He seemed happy that I wasn't crying anymore ~ so hopped down and went back to his own bed ~

Lyn gave me a nice surprise today ~ she had booked for us to go out to lunch at the Red Lion in Drayton as an extra Mothers Day present which was really lovely ~ a Carvery and I had Turkey and Gammon and lots of veg ~ new potatoes ~ and every thing else that goes with Turkey ~

DRAYTON - RED LION   Link to a bit of the history

 

"Blue" KA

Lady was a special Yorkshire Terrier who we had the privilege of being her owners from a puppy to 17 years old ~ she was so tiny when we went to collect her and she fitted into my hand ~

She favoured Dick to me and would follow him everywhere ~ he even took her to work with him ~ and when he couldn't take her he would nip home a couple of times during the day ~ just to let her in the garden ~

One day on  going home he saw a fire engine parked outside our bungalow ~ and our Grandson was there ~ seemed he had just dropped by in case anyone was home ~ but could see a lot of smoke in the kitchen ~ but couldn't get in ~ and was worried because he knew Lady was inside ~ so he called the Fire Brigade

Every where was Locked and they could only get in through the bathroom window ~ that had been left slightly open ~goodness knows how the Large fireman managed to get through such a small space ~ thankfully he did ~ so they didn't have to break a window ~

Seems we had left in a rush that morning and had left a pan on the stove which was burning and gushing smoke ~

Luckily Lady was OK ~ and had no ill effects ~

The next day we noticed the Firemen had left their ladder at the Bathroom window ~ so they had to come back for it ~ which pleased the children as they got to climb all over the Fire Engine ~ and they met the Firemen ~ who were just great with them ~

Just to add a footnote my little Ka passed the MOT today so I shall keep her ~ Well I never intended getting rid on her anyway ~

Thanks Laine for my lovely tag ~

 

 

Sorry looking Garden

I have been searching for signs of Spring in the garden today and was surprised by what I found ~ it has been quite warm today ~ and it was a pleasure just to sit and watch Nin and Barney following the trail of  our neighbours cat that roams our garden when they are indoors ~

There is a lot of new life just starting to come through and it is always exciting to watch and see what comes through first ~

The Apple and plum trees are covered in Buds ~ and I look forward to seeing the blossom ~

With last years Harvest we made Plum wine ~ and apple jam ~

The Black pole in front of some of the pictures is the Basketball net ~ which the Children just love to try and get their ball through ~ must admit I like to have a go as well ~

am going to post this now as I have typed this three times and just been cut off 

 

Ally

 

 

Dogs and Cars

Whichever Vacuum cleaner we choose to use ~ Barney always has to have a fight with it ~ Nin usually just sits and watches ~ but decided to join in this time ~ we call this vacuum Henry and it is the one we use in the garage and to clean the cars ~ but had the bright idea if we left it running Barney would get used to the noise  ~  but it didn't work ~ he even got his tongue caught in the hose but that hasn't put him off ~ maybe it has made him worse ~

Ended up having to put them in their cages in the car to be able to finish cleaning ~

 

Lyn has changed her car today ~ she still has her SURF but is going to get it cleaned and serviced then put it up for sale ~

Her new car is a Land Rover "Freelander" I think that is the right name ~ will take a picture of it later ~

They keep asking me to change my little KA ~ but I have had it for eight years and never had any trouble with it ~ I remember how well it started after standing in the snow for nearly a week ~ it is due for it's MOT next week ~ and has only done 45,000 miles ~ and I really can't imagine being without her ~

How sad is that to get attached to a car ~ can always remember selling my little Mini the first car I ever owned ~ hope I am not the only one like this about their car ~

 

Surprise Gift

 

Lyn was out yesterday collecting some medication for me ~ and visited one or two different villages in our area ~ she parked up in Aylsham and had some  spare  time to waste ~

There was an Antiques Market and she wandered into the hall to have a look ~ she saw the little purse in pictures above ~ but didn't buy it straight away  ~ had a look at all the other stalls and the wonderful bits and pieces they had on display ~

But was drawn back to the purse ~ It is quite heavy and in immaculate condition ~ So bought it for me with the intention of giving it to me on Mothering Sunday ~

But she couldn't wait for me to have it  ~ So I got it a few days early ~

It is so pretty and just sparkles whichever way it is turned ~

Can just imagine some elegant Lady dressed in her finery going of to a Ball ~ with this purse held in her hands ~

The embroidery is so delicate ~ such tiny stitches ~ and still full of it's original colours  ~ This is something I will really treasure ~

 

 

 

Going to the Dogs

                                      

 

When we were young we didn't have a lot of money to go to many places ~ so we had to plan our outings as cheaply as possible ~

                                               

Norwich at this time had two Dog Tracks ~ one in Sprowston (not quite sure where) and one at the Boundry ~ Which I did know as it was just near where we lived at the time ~

The gates would be open for the last three races and we were allowed in free ~

Dick ~ Myself ~ Dicks sister Celia and Barry her husband would be waiting to be let in ~

                                                 

 

It was all very exciting ~ and we would watch them lead the dogs round the track before the race ~ so you could pick which one to put your money on ~

As we were watching Celia was taken by this beautiful Black Greyhound walking towards us ~ his coat gleamed ~ he was a very handsome dog ~ and she was shouting with excitement this was the one she would put her money on ~

It's name "Capitalist Blackbird" ~

This dog sauntered over to where we were standing ~ right at the front of the barrier ~ and promptly cocked his leg up Celia's coat ~

Well of course that settled it for us and we all put some money on him ~

                                            

He came in last out of seven ~ but that didn't spoil the evening for us and we laughed all the way home ~

There must be a moral to this story ~ but I cant think of one ~

 

 

Saturday

 

                                 

 

The Company I worked for had a very active Social Club ~ Evenings would be arranged where we would all get together ~  competitions were played  in lots of different  things  ~ Teams were set up for Darts  ~ Pool ~ Cricket ~ Football ~you name it there was always something going on ~  

"This was the company that entered us for the Raft Race "~ all the men are Qualified Engineers ~ and it was the apprentices who built the Raft ~ 

At the end of the year a Dinner dance would be arranged  ~ and we would all dress up and get ready to have a good time ~

Trophys had to be handed out and this was done after we had  eaten ~ and before the dancing started ~ this was always a long drawn out ceremony ~

Then of course there would be the Raffle draw ~ after all the  prizes were handed out ~ the disco would take over ~

Those who had won the Trophys were taken into another room to have their Photograph taken as a group ~ this would end up on the wall in the Canteen and would remain there until next years Dinner Dance ~