Home this morning after a three week holiday in France and Belgium. One half day of rain in twenty one is not bad considering the weather in GB. Have missed you all 
grandmanorm Congratulations 
How I envy you!!
I have been going round in ever decreasing circles all day, packing and unpacking for my trip, firstly to D1 and D3 tomorrow and then on to Sydney next week. Why can I never decide what to take with me - it will all be the wrong stuff, so I will have to go shopping once I get there 
It's all very strange this time, going it alone.
Really enjoyed meeting Annobel and bags who are both delightful people. We had plenty to chat aboutover lunch (including you lot!!! ha ha!!!) and went away with smiles on our faces. Very enjoyable!
Aah - how lovely, When and Annobel.
Hmmmm...you would think we could swing it for a pub lunch with French cuisine, eh Butty?
when - I wish!
when, we could organise a tour around our Continental grans and spend a lot of time having lunches... 
Anno - I think that's a grand idea! I'd never thought of myself as a 'Continental Gran' - I think it has rather a nice ring to it!
and
Today I've been receiving fabulous photos of the grand-kids at their 4th of July Parade. Sent by phone across the miles - just love this kind of technology.
Annobel when bags What fun! Wish I could have joined you.
Today, I've been posting birthday cards, shopping in Tesco and other ordinary every day things.
Thought I'd tell you about our journey to see wee man in London.
Having done battle with an army of midges, we boarded the coach to Glasgow at 7 am. The journey was trouble free. Three and a half hours later we were in Glasgow city centre. Caught local bus to the main railway station. Wandered by hoards of travellers looking somewhat worried. Didn't know why. Went for a coffee [and a wee dram] in order to prepare for the rail journey. Having enjoyed a break, we made our way to what had become one of the longest queues we've ever seen...it snaked out of the station, up the road, and around a distant corner...
Informed that the queue had journeyed from Edinburgh Central because a landslide had closed the east coast track. Nice man took pity on me [with crutches] and ushered us into the waiting room. There, I comforted a lady who was hyper-ventilating due to stress. Eventually taken to waiting train. Could not have seats we'd booked...but hey, who cares! A seat's a seat, and we were overjoyed to have anything [at that point].
THREE HOURS later, the train hadn't budged an inch. Garbelled info messages twanged across the air-waves. No one could translate. We did catch such phrases as - signal out of order - cables down - trees on line!
After a further 30 mins a man asked us to vacate the train...it and all others,
had been cancelled.
Asked to queue [for a VERY long time]. Fleet of coaches and taxis were to transport passengers to Carlisle. The elderly [not me] and lame [crutches in tow] were directed to a taxi. Two and a half hours later, we hit Carlisle. No one had a clue about what to do next. the platform swarmed with puzzled looking passengers. Staff were hiding. Eventually, boarded a small, over-crowded train [on which people were standing]. Was offered a seat and found ourselves surrounded by a party of highly-charged [with alcohol] Glaswegian youths. The language was colourful! The number of times one or other lurched and almost sat on my knee, were countless.
Got off at Preston. Again, platform heaving with perplexed travellers [many of whom we knew very well by that stage]. Went into buffet. All food was greasy and not to our liking. Asked a man, from which platform the train to Euston would be waiting. He sucked his teeth [a very bad sign] sipped his flat lager, and said with some glee...'No use you getting that train...there's a body on the line...happens a lot...will be stuck here for ages!'
Found a man [in uniform] who directed us to a far flung platform. Met up with our travelling buddies from the Glasgow sit-in. We all tried to giggle...it was tough. Train came. Not in quiet carriage, but by that time we couldn't care less. Told that ALL sandwiches had been sold out. Had a packet of crisps and a glug from the wee hip flask.
Called son. Cancel our meal together at the hotel. We were running just a little late! Arrived Euston at just gone midnight. Normally reach station for six o'clock. Hundreds of passengers milled around waiting for taxis...they were in very short supply. Taken by nice man [in a buggy with flashing light and a hooter] under tunnel and deposited by a deserted taxi rank. Eventually one came. Motored through the busy streets to Hammersmith. Signed in at the hotel reception at 1 am.
So, why were we not "put out"? Well, a few hours later, we were to be reunited with our adorable wee man. From thereon we had such fun. Will upload photo if we discover that we have a good one.
soop you were with us in spirit and we did mention you over lunch. bags described how near you live to her, yet how far! We made reference to your wonderful paintings - I now know you are mainly self-taught- you have a very good teacher
What an epic journey that was, but the motivation behind it would have spurred you on. I'm so glad you had a happy time with him. Looking forward to seeing the photo
Blimey soop - that was some adventure!
Good to have you back and looking forward to seeing the photo too. 
Butter have discovered just three photos good enough to upload. Lots of views but best of wee man coming up shortly.
Wee man, like every little child, likes to take advantage at bedtime. His mummy therefore introduced an egg-timer, hoping to make a game of going to bed. The timer pinged after 15 mins playing at putting trains to bed. It was reset for 15 mins story time. Followed by an extra 5 mins for getting comfy in the new bed with the favourite soft toys lined up in proper sleep-time order. And then Nana is invited to put wee man to bed. 15 mins train-time went according to plan. We then went to his room for story time. Wee man was very edgey. He got off my knee, strode over to the timer and said...'I don't like this. I want to hide it.' I asked where would he hide it. He pulled back the curtain and said, 'behind this curtain!' Anyway, I weakened and put it out of ear-shot. He selected an armful of books, climbed back on to my knee and murmured...'that's better!' By the time I'd read the last story, he was flopped against me and fast asleep. A lovely, happy memory.
soop what a special time you've being enjoying. Hope you get many more whilst he is storing up all these lovely memories. My 12 year old grandson still asks me to read to him!! I hope he'll read to me when I'm in my dotage - we have such laughs together
when and Annobel Mega
Have just uploaded portrait of Pepper in the primulas. Pepper is the darling cat belonging to number...a right beauty [the cat] naturally!
Just gorgeous soop. I have a picture on my wall (trompe l'oeil) which is an open window with a ginger cat looking out. I'll try and put it on my profile - it's nowhere near as impressive as your cat, but I'm quite happy with it
when I look forward to seeing it. ...and now, I've to catch up with all the jobs I should or would have been doing [if I not otherwise engaged with you lot on this computer.]
Done it soop. I'm quite proud of myself - first time I've uploaded my own photo!
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