It Never Rains in California

Here I am in Los Angeles. My passport came through at the 11th hour and I was able to make the flight on Monday. Olivia is an absolute doll. She's gorgeous and beautiful and wonderful. Her parents are amazing. They are naturals. She is a lucky little girl. Pictures later.

It is extremely hot here. My menopausal self is really suffering. I had to go out and buy sandals and shorts. That means getting a pedicure which I will do on Saturday. Tomorrow is my birthday. We are having a small party here at Daniel's tomorrow evening.

The Ideal Job

Yesterday I started working for Charlie. Here I am, Queen of the Shed. People come to MMF (Medley Manor Farm) to pick strawberries and other soft fruit. My job is to weigh the produce after they have picked it and take the money. The really nice thing about this job is that I get to talk to lots of people and eat raspberries while I'm doing it. I got confused at one point and the lady I was serving suggested that maybe I shouldn't try to talk and make change at the same time! Since the customer is always right, I shut up and gave my full attention to the cash box. I don't know how often I'll be working. I think I have to start at the bottom and work my way up. There is probably an inner circle of sheddies who have first rights. I tried to go to live in the bothy (farm labourer's cottage on the farm) so I wouldn't have to commute on those days I was working but the rent was beyond my means. Oh well, maybe next year.

Coming to LA

I sent my passport in for renewal and did not expect to have it back in time to travel next week. I rang up the Home Office on Monday and told them about Olivia and how desperate I am to see her. I had a sympathetic beaurocrat on the end of the line and she agreed to push my application forward. The passport was supposed to arrive today but it didn't and it turns out they sent it to the soliciter's office in Wembley. It hadn't arrived there either but we are still hoping for tomorrow. In any case, I'll be coming next week as soon as I actually get the passport in my hand. I'm very excited to see my new grandchild, oh, and the rest of you as well.

BIOBANK

I went along last evening to the NHS Biobank. I and thousands more have been recruited to be measured and computerised. After a lengthy questionnaire (done with a touch screen - very efficient) I had my blood pressure taken. Of course it was up but I assured the sweet little nurse that it was 'white coat syndrome'. Then they tested my grip strength and my bone density. I was supposed to have a lung function test but they waived that, thank god. Finally finished up with blood and urine. I have bad veins so he had to use the one on the inside of my wrist. When I worked at County Hospital in LA we used to call it the 'intern's vein'! Chloe came with me and waited for 1.5 hrs. We cheered ourselves up with a trip to Pizza Express. Then it was home for a little telly and off to bed. She assured me that she didn't have any homework. I hope she wasn't pulling the wool over my eyes. Tonight we are going to the Dong Dong Noodle House. Tomorrow she goes home and I start working on the farm. I'm the backup when one of Charlie's regular workers can't make it. I'll report later on my strawberry weighing skills.

JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE TO GO ON THE INTERNET - I'M BACK!!!

I have solved the posting problem. It was all to do with cookies; too many cluttering up my machine. Such a liberated feeling knowing that I can talk about myself whenever I feel the need. Don't be alarmed; I will keep the ego-blogging to a minimum. I have to go now. As you will see by my calendar, I am babysitting for the Gee's.

Goodbye for Now

Unfortunately, my blog master refuses even to upload my posts. It was one thing to do without the calendar but it makes no sense to try to have a blog without blogs. I’m getting Alison to put this up for me.

I had some friends round for dinner last week. Once again, the excuse was trying out the new square table. It's still wonderful. No picture this time. Rachel brought asparagus and strawberries from the farm. We started with one and ended with the other. In between I had made a lamb hotpot which wasn't very good - too little meat and too much synthetic sauce. The food, however, pales into insignificance compared with the company. I've been warned against putting people's names on the blog so I won't tell you who was here. They know who they are. The next morning I had to sit through two hours of a Wagner class. Actually, it was very appropriate. The one thing it is hard to do is sleep through Wagner. I went out yesterday and bought a couple of Wagner CD's. I'm impressed with myself and I'm listening as I type to highlights from The Ring. Okay, I know that no Wagner afficionado would ever listen to highlights but I have to start somewhere. I think the full ring takes about 17 hours to play. I rest my case.

I'm still having trouble with the format of this blog. There are some things I simply can't do, like access the Calendar. Alison and Sian will be up for a weekend at the end of the month and I'm sure they can sort it out. But I miss my calendar.

5 May 2007 Alison

I was carried away yesterday with the wonder of Olivia and I forgot to blog about Alison who has excellent news. She had her 13 week scan yesterday and her little one is fine. Apparently just the right size and something about the back of the neck being just right. So hooray Alison. Only another six months to go and Olivia will have one more cousin. There is a coven of cousins now but I still have enough fingers to count them on.

Another note about Alison - how can I find out why my computer is so nasty to me re blogging? I guess I have to find a geek which is fine with me but how and where? In the meantime, you can keep my calendar for me. I will e-mail you my diary and you can be my secretary. Fair do's for having my ID and password!
Love, Mum

4 June 2007 Olivia Rose Hacking

Olivia Rose was born today at 8am. She weighed in at 8lb 10oz and is 21.5in long. Apparently she has a big head so it is just as well that she was born by C-section. Her dad reports that she has been yelling and kicking her way through the first day of her life. They are so proud and so am I. She is my 8th grandchild, 3rd granddaughter and I am thrilled to have her on board with this generation. She has wonderful parents and lots of excellent cousins. I can't wait to see her in the flesh but in the meantime, keep the pictures coming, Uncle Frankie. They are a treasure.

Daddy Dan

Momma Michelle

The Princess

Shaker Boxes

Alison sanding

Anne hammering

Sian and Pat looking good

1-3 June 2007 - The weekend was spent at Earnley, a tiny village near Chichester on the south coast. They run residential courses in all manner of things. Alison, Sian, Pat and I signed up for the Shaker Box weekend course. I almost panicked when I realized that this was going to involve power tools and semi-heavy machinery to say nothing of a level of manual dexterity with which I have seldom been acquainted. I can sew and paint but those activities do not run you the risk of losing a finger. In fact, we were well taught the safety rules and regs and nobody lost anything. I came home on Monday afternoon with two boxes and a tray. They are not large and they are not perfect but they represent a fine effort at a craft which is satisfying and quite beautiful.

The actual finished boxes

In addition to an excellent learning experience, we enjoyed two nights in residence. Pat and I each had our own rooms and Alison and Sian shared. All meals were included and this meant cooked breakfast, cooked lunch and cooked dinner. There were also tea and coffee breaks with cake and biscuits. You simply turn up in the dining room at a given time and there is food ready and waiting for you. When you're finished someone else clears it away and washes up. In the evening there is a bar so a few bevvies can be enjoyed. The course itself takes place around the eating and drinking activities. We made the mistake on Friday evening of enjoying many bevvies both before and during dinner not realizing that the evening class (the first class) would involve actual manipulation of wood and tools - not power tools but Stanley knives and other pointed thingies. However, all went well and we came away on Sunday afternoon with heads held high and all fingers intact. It is a definite "do again" weekend.