Old photos!

I came across some old photos that my dad had kept in Pickmere. I came across them this week as I am slowly but surely clearing out my old family home. Very sad, but these pictures cheered me up...



Dad, me and Mum, when I was 5-6. I remember this photo being taken...I'd been bought new red ribbons for my hair (I was obsessed with ribbons lol), and we had just returned from a lovely day in Stanley Park.





Tommy taking a cracking photo- me, Dad, Mum and my darling eldest brother Brian, who tragically died in 1995, aged 39.

Note the red ribbon obsession continues...


Also note Brian's excellent taste in national Football teams...

COME ON SCOTLAND!!





My 11th Birthday party in the front room at Pickmere.

from left to right,

Tracey Holt, Lisa, Tammy, Me
(stood up cutting my birthday cake), Clare Ellam and, at the end, gorgeous Joanne Collins, my dear friend who despite all our efforts to help, took her own life when she was twenty.














Ahh...the 1980s...brother Tommy in his twenties (who Joanne had a massive crush on lol), me ( I think I was 11) and dad on the front at Pickmere, enjoying the warm weather, Summer 1983.














My lovely family...

Aunt Isa, Uncle Tommy and Gran in Dunblane Drive, East Kilbride, early 80s.










My BSc Degree Graduation Day, Nov 1994...St Peters Church, Wolverhampton. With my Mum and Dad x













Oh no...

Dad's singing...
he's tipsy...
it must be Christmas!

Dad taking his turn giving a song to the family, circa 1994.
















Dad and Aunt Rose on the sun terrace at Aunt Rose and Uncle Jimmy's home, Torquay, Summer 1995.
















xx

Birthday Week!

Celia & Darren's fridge earlier this week...

36!! Indeedie, I am now 36. Where has the year gone?

I had the entire week of work to have some relaxation and chill time, as haven't stopped for breath since April.


On Monday I drove up to The Borders of Scotland and England....amazing breathtaking views.





I had always wanted to go up 'The Old Shap Road' as my Dad used to call it....the only route between Scotland and England before the Motorway in the 1970s. It was well known for being treacherous, steep and dangerous back in those days during the winter months. I remember as a kid, my Mum watching the weather every winter, and as soon as snow hit The Shap, she'd say, "right that's it...can't go up now until Spring". And that meant we'd have to use the railway to go and see Dad in Scotland...cue freezing carriages, breakdowns and blizzards getting off at Hamilton with policeman stood, freezing as the wind whipped round and carried his shouting voice, directing us towards taxis as you couldn't see your own hand infront of your face...ahh childhood!

The Shap was infamous in our house. Absolute rubbish in modern cars, but back 'in the day', it truly was a shady drive, having to use 3rd then 2nd gear to get over the mountains. The welcome relief when you hit the village because you knew you'd made it. Really wanted to see this place, a journey that I have apparently already experienced as a babe in arms, moving to England.
Well my wee modern Corsa made the drive up the old roads an absolutely delight and pleasure. The scenery was breathtaking, and I thoroughly enjoyed my wee picnic in grassy fields, watching the high light clouds scuttle across the blue sky.
Chicken soup for the soul.


Rest of the week...

D and I had Tues/Wed and Thursday off work together. Tuesday was my birthday!!! And we celebrated by drinking Bucks Fizz breakfast, sunbathing, reading and playing swingball in the backgarden!! We also went a bit mad buying in drinkies...and stayed in, had a takeaway, and watched DVDs and played on the XBox. Perfectly relaxing and just what I needed....downtime without rushing around.



Wednesday we went in Fleetwood Prom, and D spoiled me with a portion of chips. We sat on the front looking out across the river and sea...gorgeous sunny day....actually lovely. Visited his Granny and then went for a lovely meal at a local restaurant, Gurkha, Nepalese Indian and Chinese food....Yuuummmm....

Thursday we chilled out, again, more sunbathing!!!




The weekend has been rainy (waaaah), which is typical Tonight going to watch Billy Connolly on Tour- playing Blackpool! So nipping for a meal first, then going to the Winter Gardens. Can't wait...he's a brilliant comedian.
Just wish it hadn't decided to throw buckets of rain down today, after a scorching week! Typical! Poor Billy...visiting Blackpool and it's hissing down...

We'll let you know how it goes!



xx

Here are sum catz....

After another exciting journey to the Vet's this evening, I started to ponder the wonder of....happy cats. Contented cats.




And their relative scarcity.

My cat, Greebo O'Neill esq., has apparently had gastroenteritis. Cue being poorly (both ends) and very very grumpy. However, the poor creature's discomfort was about to be further compromised by the Vet.
A thorough examination followed, and Greebo seemed 'rather unimpressed' with the female Irish Vet checking his temperature.

His eyes bulged.
I swear they watered...

He is still ignoring Darren and I as I type. Except for when begging (screeching and bouncing like a rabid sheep) for food he forbidden to eat for next 24hrs except for pills thrown down his throat.

So... as an antidote to 'Mr Happy-draws', here are some fab photos of cats from a mad site called lolcats.com (lol is short for Laugh Out Loud)...












This is Tracey Holt and I (school re-union 1988)

Didn't realise Tigz across the road worked in IT...

and, of course, Snowy (Ann's 'Mistress of Ev-il' cat).

If you're really unlucky, my next Blog shall be about Cats, their habits, and the all important Humans: Pet or Pest? debate.

xxxx


xxxxx