The New year so far.

Here I am again, been out and about but not been in the mood for writing, think it must have been writers block!.

So I've been doing a lot of reading and the last couple of books I've read were so good couldn't put them down, so perhaps that's why I've been off the blogging. Last book was "Caught" by Harlan Coben and the one before that was "Red Notice" by Andy Mcnab, both the type you can't put down!.

The last week or so I've also been sat in waiting for the Hearing Aid man to call, people lately have been telling me that my hearing has been going off again, so after a few calls to the man, been sat here waiting for a call back, eventually he did and took away my duff left aid and reprogrammed Velda's aids so I could use them, they were nearly new so they are no longer a waste sat in the cupboard.

My faulty left one turned out to be no better than a ear plug and was stopping the small amount of hearing I did have in that ear!.On returning with the newly tuned Velda's ones I couldn't believe the difference, I can now hear all the screaming kids in the Cafe, but there again one turn of the switch and I can turn off, there are some pluses in being deaf!.

My own aids turned out to be both faulty and are being replaced with new ones under guarantee, which is great after four and a half years,  My TV which I thought had faulty sound because I had to have it turned up to 85 is now down to 15!!, so there you have it on the hearing aid saga.

My Christmas present to myself was a Bose Soundlink mini, and has you can see from the size of it against my watch, it's quite small and I thought not very good, BUT after the hearing test and tweaking up of my new aids the sound is brilliant. The music comes from my Iphone or Ipad  and is sent by Bluetooth so I can take it anywhere, in the car, in the bedroom and even in the park in the spring!.

My other interest at the moment is collecting cactus for in the porch once the warmer weather comes along, so whilst visiting the local garden centres with friend Marjorie who is a keen gardener have been picking up the odd cactus now and then, They are all odd do I hear you say?.

Here are a few of my collection,

Repotted and ready for the porch, the two centre ones are my birthday presents from Marjorie.

waiting for some nice containers

Previous bargain from Daisy Nook Garden Centre, repotted by me

And the last one bought yesterday from the Grosvenor Garden Centre in Cheshire, worth a visit though its that big they are still changing from the Christmas setting, so not at their best at the moment, their plants are all nice and healthy looking and plenty of bargains at the moment, not forgetting the nice Cafe with great Roast Beef carvery!

Talking of meals we went to the Stable Gate at Denton the other day, its one of the Brewers Fayre chain and this one is really worth a visit if you live in the area, before 6-00pm, two meals for a tenner and two desserts for two quid!, can't be bad hey.

Marjorie's healthy option with baked potato instead of chips and two pineapple instead of two eggs!, I must admit I went for the pigging out option and got my feet in the trough with Smothered Chicken and Chips, well it saves you cooking when you get home doesn't it.

Well there you have it, back in the grove and a bit of a mixed bag today.

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Live not only begins at forty, but it begins to show!.

And don't forget Clones are people two.

Why is it that when you talk to God you are praying, but when he talks to you, you're crazy!.

If you choke a Smurf, what colour does it turn?.

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Thats all folks.

Christmas and New Year

Happy New year to everyone!.

 Had a nice Christmas and New year, a lot nicer than the previous couple of years I must say,that is probably due to a wonderful family and friends old and new, thank you all!.

Christmas dinner was at John's and there were two lady missionaries there to share our family with us and also to "Skype" home to their families.Technology these days is wonderful isn't it!, they could hardly sit still waiting for their turn to "Phone home".

 The lady missionaries tucking in.

Mum and eldest G/ Daughter 

Duckie,Jacob and Ruthie.

Lady friend, Marjorie and I had a drink together on Boxing Day and Pepe enjoyed having company other than mine I'm sure though he wasn't too happy with his Christmas hat!.

Trying to open his Christmas present!.

The day after Boxing Day is always a Frostbite Sail Day at the boat club and here we are enjoying ourselves nice and warm in the clubhouse, having hot soup and mince pies, better than outside sailing boats in the rain and cold.

Click here to see club event

All wrapped up, Pepe doesn't need much wrapping up though.

To round off the holidays it was off to "The Stable Gate" the Brewers Fayre pub at Denton, for my birthday party with the family, a good Do, nice food and company and the staff are second to none.

Beautiful Hey

Have I shrunk!!

All bigger than me now.

Look no hat!, Marjorie and Duckie.

So there you are a nice holiday, I must say though that I feel heartily sorry for the people on the coast with all the flooding there, its not only now when the storms finish it's all the time afterwards drying out and getting back into their homes, and the environment agency just announced its cutting jobs, who makes these crazy decisions at a time like this!!.

Well thats all for now folks!.   

  

Oh, did I forget to mention my age!, you can take a guess and comment on it, no rude comments though as this is a family friendly blog.