Happy Mother's Day.  It was great to see Mum today, she was in good spirits and had been to an early service at Church.  The visiting priest told a true story about a magnificent woman who took the place of a 16 year old girl to go into the 'showers' at one of the concentration camps during the holocaust.  That reminded me of Parkinson's interview with Jerry Springer last night, I mean I never knew that he too was a young victim of the Nazi' holocaust, and at 5 years' old crossed the Atlantic as a young immigrant to the USA.  I was heartened by his anti-Iraq war stance against George Bush's foolishness in storming into Baghdad "the world had already stopped him....with 'no go fly zones, weapon inspectors, he was already on the run hiring 'lookie likies' the guy spoke a lot of sense, and if I was an American, I would be happy to have him as president.  The pope is still recovering in hospital, but both Jerry Springer and Patsy Kensit another Parky guest had had audiences with him, Jerry helped out in the Ethiopian crisis, and it was also heartening to hear that not only Catholics but jews and moslems are praying for his recovery from the recent throat operations he has had.   Jim and I took Mum to the White Rabbit in Maidstone for lunch and we caught up with each other, there 's no booking system there so we had to wait c45mins for a table, but it was worth it, and the Australian Cabernet Sauvignon slipped joyously down our throats.  There is still quite a bit of snow around but it is slowly melting.  Charlton drew away to Fulham yesterday, ah well at least they didn't lose and are still in the top half of the Premier Division.  Oh, and at 2.20am this morning I finished Jim's scarf I have been knitting since Christmas, I was determined, what with the wintry weather around at the moment. It looks very snuggly on him, but after all my stalwart effort, he managed to jam it in his coat zip, and so I had to repair it when we got back from lunch!!  It's as good as new and nobody will notice too much as it was knitted by the 'Drop Stitch, Careless Knitting Company'!!   OK, I will now attempt the second set of photos for Aunty Jean and Uncle Reg, as the originals of my party were disposed of by a 'thug' at Christmas down a drain  along with most of the residents on the block's Christmas Cards.  So... better late than never.

19th February 2005

Sunday Jim and I went to see an old friend of his family Laurie at a spritely 79 looks amazing for his age, quite unlike I had imagined with shoulder length white hair, a wicked sense of humour and despite rattling with pills a great guy.  We nestled in the Dukes pub in Wanstead for the best part of 2 hours them supping beer and me whisky macs to keep the cold out, my goodness it's chilly today.  Yesterday there was a smattering of snow, and the forecast is for more this week.  But Fanny our Fiesta is keeping us both warm on outings, and was hoovered out today for the first time since she was bought last October!!  She now needs a good wash.  I christened her Fanny for fun!!  Well she does keep you warm inside her, is a fast little mover, is automatic in her movements and makes a good ride.  I could go on, but I won't.  I've also been doing a fair bit of cooking this weekend, I made a huge beef stew that's big enough for 7 meals and broiling away at the moment is hot chicken chilli.  They just slip in the freezer when done and maximise our time during the month.  Jim and I had a Chinese supper at our local restaurant.  I still haven't seen any tits on our new 'Tesco' special £1.99 peanut bird feeder yet, and Jim has also added a 'fat ball'!!  

11th February 2005

Well it's been a while since I saw you all and much has changed, for the better I might add!!  I have a fantastic boyfriend called Jim and my brother has made it to New Zealand on his yacht 'Finale' and has started his new business in what he does best Sailing and Photography.  I still have a permanent job which is amazing since I had temped for so long I had forgotten what permanent means!!  Last year I went to Spain once, Crete and Italy twice.  I had a fantastic year and reached the half-century mark, and the occasion was celebrated with my family and friends at my sister Judiths.  My Thai English student Lanee became a British Citizen and passed her English test with flying colours.  I have got some wonderful pics of my hols etc.  And will set up a few more pages.  I hope you are all as happy as I am.  Good luck William with your new business, William's new website is here:  Oceanphotography.co.nz
Monday 3rd May 2004
Saturday, 1st May 2004, was a most auspicious day, it was the day that the European Union expanded, but more important to me personally, it was the day that my nephew Daniel married Leanne, and what a lovely wedding it was. I have written a piece about it here: The Wedding of Daniel and Leanne 1st May 2004 By Marcia Kramer (Daniel’s aunty) It was 1st May 2004, and the sky promised rain, ‘I really hope it doesn’t’ I thought. I had no idea what I’d wear, most people had planned it no doubt months before, but I, just didn’t know, I’d got my hat the previous day a black one with a huge pink rose on it, making it wedding ‘OK’. The hat was however, not rainproof, being 100% recycled paper and ‘italian’, so I packed it in my back pack wrapped in double plastic – I’d probably be able to wear it in church if the roof didn’t leak!! My regular wedding guest dress was far too flimsy for the weather, black, black, black, my dress had to be black, and my legs had come up, so it had to be long and with the chilly weather it had to be warm. My fall back crushed velvet long black skirt was just the thing along with my work and do anything in it cardigan – then a thought, the funny top crocheted thing I’d had bought for me by a guard’s officer a few years ago – don’t ask, yes that would go I thought, it had crocheted pink flowers on it to match my hat!! Anyway, I hunted through my wardrobe and there it was. So that went on – by the time I’d finished dressing I could easily have posed as a trendy witch. Well, I didn’t mind, being a witch, as witches are deemed to be wise, and any wickedness I possess is of the best possible type!! The Network Rail timetable showed a one an hour service, with a change at London Bridge, but of course as always my train was late, and pulled into London Bridge leaving me just 12 seconds to make my connection, the guard was already blowing his whistle as I lumbered down the stairs, shouting ‘wait for me!!” I had made it and sat down heavily and drew breath again, a man with a wooden stick sat opposite in grey flannels that were far too tight, I’d established that Ifield falls on the right-hand side of the rail line, and on the other is Gossops Green. How do I know, because I asked where the ‘church’ was, I was asked ‘which one there are two’, but on describing it as 12thC, was pointed to the Ifield side of the line. I walked and kept walking, I couldn’t see a church, and was reassured 4 times that I was on the right road, and eventually I got to the church, which as all old churches are was positioned opposite a pub. I’d wanted to go to the toilet for ages, and towards the end of the ‘getting-there’ part, I’d contemplated trees, bushes and garages tucked away in well-to-do Suburbia. It was a relief to reach the pub, so I said a speedy ‘hi’ to the other guests who had gathered in corner huddles, and made a beeline for the toilet. The pub was thick with smoke, so as I had no wish to be smoked like a kipper before the wedding, I made my way outside. I made so many faux pas without my glasses on, I didn’t recognise my niece, who was a stunning blonde bridesmaid, nor her boyfriend Steve, who had grown his hair long and looked a bit like Ray Davis from the Kinks. When my sister’s old school friend Mary arrived, I thought she was related to the bride and only just managed to stop myself saying ‘you must be Leanne’s mother!’ what had come over me – I think it was ‘time’, how time passes by, and like christenings, and funerals, marriage reminds us of our own mortality, the cycle of life and the importance of making the most of it, and the importance of real love to see us all through from start to finish and beyond, well beyond if we truly believe, and I do. I cannot ever imagine not seeing all my loved ones again one day, and I am sure that my Dad, David, Nan, Mamie and Uncle Fred, and all those who have passed before us were there in spirit. Leanne looked beautiful in her tiara and long flowing train, a fairytale princess in a dress of lace and beaded bodice and Daniel looked fit and handsome, and I was glad to see he’d trimmed his sideburns, which at one time I thought would takeover his face. My mum shone like a star in her pretty turquoise and cream outfit, her modest makeup and her bright eyes gleamed, she always looks lovely, and all my sisters looked great too, but all of us had a tear and a wrench in our hearts that our brother William and his family could not be with us all, for they were stuck remotely on their yacht thousands of miles away in Colon on the Panama Canal, generatorless. The vicar, was a matronly bright spark of a lady, who had obviously had a long and happy marriage herself, and told the happy couple that they should always talk to each other, and make up before they went to sleep at night. I am glad that women can be ordained, and it’s been a long time now since I attended a service held by a man now. The rain stopped for the departure from the church, and I shared out my basmati rice amongst guests who wanted to through confetti over the couple, with the weather the way it was, it would probably not be long before a paddy field sprung up!! John my brother-in-law along with my sister, mum and Trix my sister’s mother-in-law, such a graceful and smiling kind person, made our way in John’s car decked in white ribbons to the reception at Ghyll Manor at Rusper. The setting was perfect, a lovely old house set in grounds with a lake, and flowers. There the guests enjoyed buck’s fizzes and chit chat, while children hared around the place and played in their world on the floor. There were tiny babies and toddlers, old dears and young ones. My nephews Edward and Tristan looked so handsome in their suits, with jelled hair, and Edward was an usher; at dinner he showed me he was wearing the little silver rugby ball cufflinks I’d given him for his 18th birthday. It is pure pleasure for me to see him moving around, to look at him you’d never have thought he’d broken his back in an accident, and it seems a long time ago now, God and my dad must have been watching over him that night. My table was no. 8 very auspicious in Chinese = money. Our table competed for the most noise with Judith’s table that guffawed loudly, so we did the same, and frequently raised our glasses to the members on the top table who reciprocated. The food was really good, and the wine Australian red for me was excellent. The best man was Robby a mate from Uni. He looked like someone more at home in a funeral parlour, but when he made his speech, it reminded me that looks can be deceptive, and that you should never judge a book by it’s cover. He was witty and his speech went down very well. I had to leave the happy throng early as I was once more at the mercy of Network Rail. Luckily I managed to get a lift in my brother-in-law’s brother’s people wagon to Crawley. As I had done coming, so I also had to dash to make it to my train home, from platform 10 at Victoria station arriving late at 10.10 to platform 3 where my train was leaving at 10.11. I yelled, ‘hold the bloody door open mate’, to a man who had thought he was the last person to make it, he did and the whistle blew and I was off, and home. My sister was now a ‘mother-in-law’ and soon I hope she’ll be a grandmother, and I a great aunt, just like my great aunt Mamie. A lovely day.

Saturday 24 April 2004

Long time since I wrote I am having to do everything in HTML at the moment so please bear with me. William and crew are doing well, they've made it to a place called 'Colon', no jokes please about the back of beyond etc., anyway they seem to be having a great time. My new job is going well, I just hope it stays that way, Daniel my nephew is getting married on 1st May (I still can't believe he's old enough!!) I went to see Gerry Springer the Opera this week, it was fun, but incredibly 'rude' not the kind of place to take sensitive people! I lost count of the number of times the F word was used, and there were choruses of the 'c' word - after a while you become bliaze to the bad language, I'd love to see a live Gerry Springer show. I met up with my friend Joy and her new baby Hayden, they are back from Australia for a while, but now that they've got Australian citizenship, they'll be off again in September this year. It is great weather here in the UK right now, so sunny and bright, I just hope the weather stays this way for the wedding next week and for all Bank Holiday in fact!! Well I am going to go and get on with my chores. I'll chat again soon.
Sunday 8th February 2004

Glad the silicon barbie doll Jordan has got her marching orders at last - whats a pair of silicon implants doing on a jungle trip!  I think it will be a close run thing but Kerry is likely to win - well that's my opinion. 

I spoke to William about two and a bit  weeks ago in St Lucia  and he passed on his good wishes and love to all he and the crew are fine except he had woken up with a rather large 'hangover' although he swears it was a headache.  He is planning on going through the Panama Canal within the next 6 to 8 weeks and I think Edward must be home now haven't had a chance to catch up with his mum my sister yet.

Last night I went to see the Doors tribute band LA Doors at a surprise gig in the Red Lion pub just outside Faversham in Kent. It was their penultimate gig before they split, perhaps their decision to split is because the surviving members of The Doors are back together again.   The lead singer bears a surprising resemblance to the late Jim Morrison the lead singer, and they did 'Fire' complete with sparklers - when we arrived there were just a few cars more than usual in the pub carpark , but by the time we left the carpark was over-flowing and the place was heaving as word had obviously got out that they were playing for 'free' at the local.  Brill evening thanks boys for keeping the Doors memory alive so long.   It's bloody cold here in Kent with  strong winds and last night there was  a brief blizzard of snow and sleet.   Jim took himself off to the Winter Ale festival in Dover yesterday and consumed 8 pints of 5% plus stuff!!    I am sure he'll go out in a coffin made of beer barrels shaped to fit his huge jelly belly!!  Talking of death - although not a good topic - its life and I would just like to extend my condolences to the family of Fred a life time Tottenham Hotspurs supporter who died at 49 on his way to the match on the coach  a couple  of weeks back  12 miles from Manchester City football ground.  Fred had never missed a match in 12 years, and despite having as it turned out pleurisy and pneumonia he made the effort.  A memorial service is being held on the 16th February 2004, at a local church in Chelmsford and then back to the Queen's Head in Baker Street Chelmsford for drinks and I think the landlord is doing a buffet.    May the soul of Fred rest in peace and those of the exploited cockler pickers on the sands at Morecombe - tragic.  I just hope that the gangmasters are caught and that justice is served.   How desparate those chinese  people must have been. 

Oh I have found a really good Indian Restaurant in the most surprising place of all with an ME postcode - The AGRA in Snodland - you'd think somewhere in a place sounding like something that needs a hanky the food would be yuk, but it was very good.  Well done the Agra Tandoori for tantilising my taste buds enough to get a mention on this page - I had their 'Garlic Chicken' and my friend David has his usual tester the 'Meat Vindaloo' and we both agreed to give it our top mark! 
.

Last weekend was the 18th Birthday party of one of my nephew's girlfriend.  It was a great night and a good disco and buffet laid on at the Village Hall in Bluebell Village in Kent.  Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and the DJ concentrated on Elvis and some oldies - and I have to say it was the 'oldies' who danced more than the youngies - but  then we don't mind we aren't shy anymore, and were the first handbag dancers!! 

Sunday 11th January 2004

William and crew are now headed for St Lucia.  Friday night was the belated Company  Christmas Party, and it was great fun - held at Battersea Park in a huge marquee with  twinkling sky illuminated cieling, floor shows and side-shows and the theme was a night in Bangkok, so yes there were the Thai Bar girl pole dancers too.  I had my tarot read, which was very revealing and positive and now feel relieved that things are going to begin taking shape for the better for me this year.  The drinks were dreadful, probably good for cleaning oil off an engine but were an insult to the glasses, I'd rather have had one decent drink than 3 cruddy ones, but c'est la vie.   Well I have discovered that Marks and Spencers now do Rhubarb and ginger jam so I am going to grill some toast and try it out!!  Catch you all later.


Saturday - 3rd January 2004

Well what a a fab New Years time I have had - stayed for 2 nights with my friend James in a nice cosy place with a bottle or two  to celebrate.  Today, I went  with James and my mum to see sword dancers, mummers and singers at the quaint old pub called the Queen's Arms - at Cowden Pound - brilliant place untouched by time, but you will not get any ice with your drinks, they only have one bitter on tap and that's Adnams "a light hoppy bitter in excellent condition" quoth my CAMRA friend James.   Mum loved the singing and joined in too.  Also heard from the Finale and crew - who seem to be having a great time. For latest missive click here.

Miss you lots Will, Kate, Edward, Tom and Patrick and send my love to you and hope you have a safe passage to Martinique.  Happy New Year xxxxxxxx

MONDAY, 29TH DECEMBER 2003

Well Christmas has come and gone and I have enforced holiday  until the 5th January 2004.  Temping does have it's down side.    I had a fantastic Christmas with my family and we all missed William, Kate, Edward, Tom and Patrick, they are never far from our thoughts.   My prayers and thoughts are with them, Alex, Neil and Gordon at this difficult time.   Looking forward to the New Year, this is the year when I will get a permanent job if I can, and the year I turn the big 50!!  This is a time for reflection, I am contemplating a get together for my Birthday in September, preferably in Italy - but we will see.   In a way it's good for me not to work this week, as although there are pressing things that must be done at work, like putting together the new 'website'  I am happy to have a pause to catch-up on all the things I need to do indoors so I have a clear conscience and a clean and tidy place to start the New Year.   I had the pics back from my recent trip to Italy (Sept/Oct 03 Click here to see Antonella, me and Lucy at a Villa with Lake Garda in the background  on my 49th Birthday)), and those I took on my brother's yacht in May this year.  I am going to celebrate New Year with lots of champagne in the country, lots of walking to get over the Christmas indulgence.  On that note I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous and Peaceful New Year..  


Tuesday 28th October 2003

The weekend weather was for the most part  sunny, although the afternoons clouded up a bit.    I spent most of the time keeping warm and filling in applications!   Mum returned from Holland, and my friend David enjoyed a super chicken supper with me on Friday, and I am surviving on virtually nothing, but surviving nevertheless, and enjoy working in the GM's office of the Millennium Hotel in Knightsbridge, (see Trip Advisor Review) the GM is great, and his staff a good bunch.   James returned from Guernsey yesterday evening, and his friend Kevin with whom he shared a room was getting 'better' having put his back out, quite how that happened we will never really know!!   So far I have lost over a stone in my efforts to lose weight, and today received a nice card of encouragement from one of my sisters.   I also received a news-cutting from my Aunty which showed one of my old Commerce teachers Mrs Downy celebrating her 100th birthday - I just couldn't believe it!!  It makes you think, and wonder how many of the teachers you knew are now dead, and how time passes!!!   I am sure I will have more news later, oh and I think an interview for a job is being arranged for this coming Friday, but my biggest hope is that I get the local job, but shortlisting for that doesn't take place till Thursday this week, so fingers crossed.  I am a great believer in 'something' turning up. 

Sunday 19th October 2003

This week has been busy, and has been about trying to get a job, I managed 75wpm typing, and got rated Advanced on Excel and PowerPoint, I am already that on Word, but it's nice to have what you think confirmed!  Well, I do have a PA job now, but only 4 hrs a day for 3 weeks, which barely pays the train fare, but needs must!!  I had a good interview on Friday, and so I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will be successful.  Que sera sera - Life and it's ups and downs 'eh', the thing is to always remain positive and pro-active.  Big hugs for David.

Well last week was good, I went to the theatre with my friend James and we saw the Edinburgh Fringe 'Highlights' it was 'OK' but some of it just wasn't funny to me, and I don't think you need to swear all the time to be funny. 

On Friday night, I went with my friend James to the Royal Academy in Piccadilly to see the latest exhibition of Andrew Lloyd-Webber's private collection. I enjoyed the ethereal and fantasy  of it, with vast numbers of pre-Raphaelites on show, and very Victoriana.   After our soiree we succumbed to the temptation of the downstairs restaurant, as always the pianoist played soothing tunes in the background - 'Memories', 'As Time Goes By', 'Strangers in the Night' and I drifted and clapped and we ate two courses and slurped a nice spicy Merlot wine.  The first course was rocket and Parma Ham with fresh figs (lively). The main course was a leg of duck in a redwine sauce with fresh veggie and mash.   This meal was in strict contrast to the 'greasy' plate of penne pesto pasta I had tried to eat at lunchtime, and the combination of the two fought in my stomach and neither won as I threw them both into a waste black bin liner bin on the way back to Victoria Station.  I wondered if any sea-food had crept into my RA meal, since I am allergic to it and am not good at dairy food either.  But - great instant diet!!

Well today is William's birthday and he'll be 39 years old, and by the time he comes home, he'll be almost as old as I am nowish (how can that be 28)!!  For 28 is the age I've decided to be forever.  William was almost a birthday present for my mum, who will have her birthday on the 21st October 2003 and she too is 28, or is it 21 I always forget!!!!!    (Click here for latest Finale news) Hello to Willy and Miriam in Holland, mum is looking forward to seeing you again.     Welcome back Chris, glad you enjoyed the thrills and spills of France, beautiful country isn't it, and superb culinary delights.    Well with the ever present household chores to do I must 'get on'.  A big 'Hi' to Kul  and Mr Giri my friends in Nepal - who are  having a bit of a rough time, the country is in turmoil once more with the Maoists beginning their killing spree again, I hope and pray that things will return to normal soon, and Nepal will be at peace.   How can needless killing ever solve anything.     

7th October 2003

It's been a busy time for me since my last missive.  In less than 1 month, I've seen the Rolling Stones live concert with my wonderful eldest sister and been to Italy and back where I had a fantastic time, getting back on Tuesday last week and finishing off my job all on  the same day  after which I went out to Wetherspoons for a drink-up and continued my day by teaching and having an excellent Thai supper with my student, getting home by train took 3 hours, but as I sat at the Bat and Ball Station where our train had diverted to I contemplated that it had taken less time to get back from Venice, and only that morning I had been  whizzing around the Lagoon on a No.82 waterbus and just making my airport bus by a nano minute!    Now I am out of work!!  But, hopefully not for long, and I welcome any suggestions for work that is legal decent and honest!     I took a typing test yesterday for an agency and rattled off 71wpm  - so not bad.    Last weekend was wild - Friday night I went to see the 'Counterfiet  Stones'  really good fun and then on Saturday I stayed at a wonderful B&B in Cowden in Kent, a converted barn at Becketts farm, the brekkie was fantastic  and the the hostess Jacqui was an angel rescuing my friend and I from Chiddingstone Castle Inn at midnight  (great food and wine - very extensive wine list - can be expensive with some wines for the experts at c£400 a bottle!!) 'your in the country now' she exclaimed, and so anyone contemplating a night out without a car in Chiddingstone should make sure that they book a taxi when they arrive for their return.   Sunday was spent walking through vast fields dotted with  thistles and cowpats  in open toed sandals not to be recommended, but the view was spectacular.   I have received a missive from my wonderful brother's motley crew.  I hope the back heals William!  Getting bikes off the boat (a likely story)!   Well done Kate with the manual plumbing tasks. (see bottom of screen for full account link)

Thanks to all my wonderful family and friends who remembered my Birthday, as I haven't really been around I am going to get rid of my 3 weekends worth of overnight bags and then find space to put my cards up and celebrate a week or two late!!   For those who have a strong stomach try my draft logs -travel logs on Singapore and Malaysia. (click this link)

Catch up with you all again soon xxxxx  Oh and as always a big 'hello' and hugs  to my wonderful Italian friends Antonella, Lucy , Georgio, Il Capitano Tisiano and his brilliant story of the sailing Count in the 'Nudo'!!  When I get a job I will get the pics developed!


      May the roads rise
      to meet you
      may the wind
      be always at your back
      may the sun shine warm
      upon your face
      the rains fall soft
      upon your fields
      and until we meet again
      may God hold you
      in the hollow
      of His hand.


Pics of Tunisia are now up on my Tunisian Travel page.....
Anyway hope you like my pics.  They may take a while to download, but I left the ones of the interior of the 'Lezard Rouge' train in full so you get a feeling of the beautiful inside - like popping your head round the door!