SHALL I CONTINUE

ONE GETS USED TO WRITING IN THE BLOG.. AS I SAY LIKE A DIARY.. BUT NOW THAT LIFE, I HOPE IS GOING TO RETURN TO NORMAL SHALL I CONTINUE TO POST STUFF? the Knee is far from finished.. so there will be news bout its progress.. but aside from that it will be just stuff about my life here.. If there is a desire for me to continue.. let me know .. either comment on the blog or write me on email.

third night of being at home

We ll the return journey was different. When I went through Passport Kontrol in Germany they officer looked at my passport for quite a while and then said, who did you get permission from? Permission for what said I ? My daughter wanted me to stay longer.. so I stayed.. said I. Finally it transpired that I should have only stayed 90 days. I was amazed having stayed in Europe over the many years of visiting for long lengths of time, much longer than 90 days. The attendant who was with me said, well they have 4 choices.. jail, or large fine. or restricted from visiting Europe for 2 years, OR maybe they will just let you go. The supervisor was called and after a conflab they said. well as you were only in Germany 2 hours on either side and you were in and out of Switzerland and France we are just going to stamp your passport and let you go… I kept thinking of the problems .. first of all, what would have happened to the dog? What about all the arrangements for people picking me up etc etc. Anyhow.. reasonableness prevailed. Apparently this is something to do with what they call the shengen agreement. It is newish.. like 4 to 5 years old.. and has to do with Switxzerland which is not a member of the eec.. but who has a tax free status or something. On arrival in Yvr.. there were a series of mixups. Thedoors at the end of the ramp leading up to the body of the airport were locked.. and altho there was someone on the other side she said she did to have the authority to open the doors… eventually the whole plane load of people were standing waiting for the doors to be opened. I was waiting for a wheel chair. EVentually me and 3 other ladies waited on a bench 45 minutes later we moved on in a cart. When we got to the baggage carousel there were very few bags.. there had been a blockage .. and so another 45 minutes passed.. the last bags to come off were the business class bags. Meanwhile I could see Anna in her crate peacefully waiting. I phoned Linda, thank heavens for cell phones.. and was able to reassure her that I was there but waiting. Finally bags came.. walked to check out when the woman stopped and asked if the dog had been checked. No.. so off we went to another section of the airport where finally an officer took pity of me and pushed us through. So the plane landed at 1130 and I left the airport at 1330. After that every thing went very smoothly. Home by 530.. a friend came and helped to unload. I looked with dismay at the 4 months worth of mail.. another friend had left a seafood gumbo for me.. I climbed into bed at about 1930 . and slept through most of the night. SUNDAY\Woke this morning to a snow storm. Large flakes falling straight down. Phone call from colleague with whom I work the water pump houses.. she has the most terrible cold, has had it for 3 weeks.. would I please go up and check not eh temperature of the pump houses… Got me out of the house, took the dog for her morning run. SATURDAYYesterday saturday, walked to get eggs.. and then watched a lot of The Fringe,on net flux.. am not sleeping during the day.. had two people to dinner, fish. Friday morning woke at 7 and decided to go to town. Did big shop, bought lots of fish.

Wednesday night

Packed.  Cannot believe it. Twisted my other leg,,,am hobbling

Thank heavens I arranged a wheel chair

Weather looks good

All should go well for trip

Up at 0400

Ouch

Curtains and cakes and celebrations

wednesday

Well the dogs crate is in the hallway and funnily enough the dog immediately went into it.. but now it is washed and vacuumed.. hopefully all the debris from chickens and dust etc have been removed. I can hardly believe that I am leaving.. it has been so comfortable here. Yesterday was a great day with the twins performing at their school assembly along with their class mates. It was so strange to see Ciara, lanky, blonde, keeping to the rear trying not to bring attention to herself.. I was taken back to an earlier time and say Sarah, my eldest.. who at the same age would have behaved exactly the same.. they have the same hair colur and body shape.. whereas Naomi was front and centre.. making up plays and words and funny.. she lead the dancing and has fabulous rhythm The best present for them was James coming home and in feat trepidation we waited his opinion on the curtains.. he was delighted!! The bunny cake was well received and in carnivorous joy we ate the bunnies ears and legs and arms. The twins each got scooters and today are out scooting along.. it is terrific exercise. I am making the lunch as C is with G at the dentist.. this being wednesday the little ones do not have school. Gemma has a half day. I am packing.. reluctantly.

the twins birthday…

This is part of the reason for my staying on until late february, Anna went up stairs to wake them up and some of their presents were hidden in her bed. The clues as to where the presents were … poor anna her bed is so uncomfortable time is ticking by.. ( so it was in the bottom of the grandfather clock) I had to make brownies for the class, the birthday person is allowed to bring cake to class for the recess. Then this evening we will have chocolate roulade cake stuffed with nutella whipping cream.. At lunch C is to make a bunny cake.. The best thing will be that James comes home this afternoon from Chicago and that will make them happy to have their Dad for the celebration. At english school this afternoon they are putting on a play so we are all going, we are picking up James at the airport and taking him straight to the school. Yesterday we hung the new curtains, a friend came over and installed the hardware but we found that the colour of the curtain rod was too cold so we rushed off and changed it for brushed copper.. it looks much better. The curtains make the room look finished. I shall try and take photos which may do them justice. Now only two evenings before I leave. Dreading the very early morning start on thursday.

the weekend

Well on thursday C and I had to go shopping.. groceries etc but more importantly we looked for fabric to make more costumes for another school event, finding nothing suitable we went to a boutique designer store and there, much to the delight of C were drapes/curtains .. already made up and for 50% off. These curtains were an arm and a leg .. even with the reduction and one pair in particular C had been looking at for 3 years! So we settled down while a nice young shop assistant brought us all the curtains for sale.. these curtains hang on a straight rod , the curtain s have large grommets imbedded in the top of them. There also was a cushion that looked in the shop like it would go perfectly with her new sofas.. so we bought 5 curtains and the huge cushion… but within seconds of being in the house one could see that the cushion simply would not do.. so back it went. Friday C and the the class of the twins went skiing. It was cold wet and at about 3 pm C phoned asking that put on the sauna. So when she came home and after putting away all the ski equipment, dived into the sauna. Then wih the twins having a sleep over, Gemma at orchestra we went Friday evening shopping for the hardware to hang up these curtains. Saturday we woke to a "ƒøne" in others words a chinook.. the temp was plus 16 and the wind was strong bbut warm. But by the evening the wind got even stronger, the dog decided it was evil and would not go out in it.. the house groaned, the fire place chimney sort of howled and this morning, sunday we woke to smasses of new snow on the Jura and the temperature is at 0. We are going out to the neighbours for lunch and then there are only 4 evening meals before I catch the plane for home.

steam ovens and apologies for MINT MONT BLANC

When I am baking I have discovered that the steam oven has a setting called professional baking..I made a cake yesterday and today a lemon loaf and C said.. you put the item into the steam without preheating. So I did. The steam come on immediately for a while and then the heat begins. apparently the steam aids in the rising of the item.. obviously would be great for bread making. Anyow.. so far the items have emerged cooked and fine. Interesting eh?

School gates

School playground with pol larded. Trees

One small church

I

This is the only church in the village and you can hear the bells calling the faithful several times during sundayand early I the morning most days

This is the small tower on top of the children's school

Mint Blanc

Usually there is a cloud covering the top of mint Blanc but not yesterday

Thursday. A week to day

This doorway we pass daily 4 times at least and over head it dates 1839It was a beautiful day yesterday so went for a long walkw with dog and my iPad so that I could take some photos of some of the buildings with dates imprinted over head, I did not go up to the farms on the mountain where I know the dates begini the 1700 s

But still there r some that r interesting,

Ciara making a date for the afternoon

monday

rain.. torrents of rain.. so wet that C actually picked the girls up from school at noon.. fed the extra children and then C and I went out to SHOP for new flooring for her study and the bedroom I am occupying Made potato latkes for supper for the children with bacon and broccoli and shepherd pie for adutls.. it really apparently should be called cottage pie as it does not contain lamb but was made with left over beef. hence cottage pie. Upon looking up the recipes there were several articles written about the origin of the terms. I also wrote to Ken Follett today, not that he will come to a smart stand still and say.. my heavens.. but I was upset when he referred to a character in his book The Winter of the World , a women, being a Rhodes Scholar.. Women were not allowed, or should I say eligible to apply for the Rhodes Scholarship until 1977… I hate it when facts which are easily checked are allowed to slip.. is that the job of the editor? I know from personal experience that Women were not eligible as a very very good friend worked very hard in order to qualify, had top marks.. was good at sports etc.. and when she sent in her application was told.. no women need apply. This was in the '50s. And his book is set in the 30s and 40st.

Art class results

CNaomi did this one

Ciara did this one

sunday 9 feb

February is the month of birthdays now three have passed with today being my eldest grand daughters, she is now 17. Yesterday here in France the eldest became a teenager, now 13, her father is teasing her describing her in the following manner.. teenager opening fridge door, looking and saying duhhhhh. etc. In actual fact she had two girls over for the evening, home made pizza and a cake made to look like the Tardis.. at nearly midnight they were in the sauna and this morning they actually slept until late. Sending presents long distances is easy with all the on line services but timing is not always the greatest. Today sunday it is catch up with homework. Masses of it and long hours by parents and children. The life is complicated by having the two disciplines to catch up with, long essays now in english and then grammar questions, long and complicated in french. At the moment this is the 5th hour of constant homework and it is math. I am learning to enjoy rugby. James is watching it in-between the olympics, France is beating the heck out of Italy and it is interesting to watch the game.. fast moving and lots of gorgeous strong legs of the men. Some of them wear a head covering, a padded helmet which they tie under their chin. Apparently it is the players individual choice, but it does help against concussion. The english are thrilled to have won a first medal ever won on "snow" '"

Naomi the Corpse Bride

Little boy Paulo from next door, Ciara a pokemon figure, dog being crushed in hug from Naomi

Grandma crimped  my hair I did not want my photo taken