ToadyI have been mainly Vol. 7

A veritable catalogue of disasters .

I on the other hand have taught my three grandchildren to sing (to the tune of 'She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain') that old Scottish classic

'Oh ye canny shove your granny off a bus' accompanied by MiL on the tambourine. My ears are ringing.

Or, alternatively - *shampoo?

PS That was to kittyl

A couple of good things today. I met my neighbour who I thought was on her last legs and she told me she was in remission from her cancer. Then the manager of the CAB where I was a volunteer came with a card and garden vouchers from my former colleagues - I was very touched. I had a chat with DGD2 who is 11 today. I gave her a red satchel and DS says she decanted everything into it before she went off to school. DGD1 says she is missing me which is mutual, so I will have to go down to Sandhurst soon.

I went into town today for the first time in years, with my friend, and we had the most delicious s/salmon sandwich (poppyseed bun actually) that we've ever had, in Selfridges, served by a very charming young man.

Then I had a facetime call from ds, with my dgd eating a chocolate cornetto, which was all over her little face. She was munching away and grinning at me

When and I went to Annecy, strolled along the canal, wandered round the market, had a lovely lunch, then went for a cruise on the lake, all in brilliant sunshine. Then I drove her up to a ridge above Geneva, from which we could see Mont Blanc to the South and the Lake to the North.
I ran out of petrol just at the entrance to the car park of my flats - luckily I have a spare gallon in a plastic container in my ski locker, so I will put it in the car tomorrow morning and it will get me to the garage in the next village. More or less the same happened when I was taking Anno a long drive through Chamonix in May - then, I ran out of petrol right outside a garage. How does the car know? Memo to self - fill up as soon as warning light shows!

You were lucky. Imagine being stranded on a ridge with When all night!

I'd actually forgotten that episode, Greatnan! How could I?

In the process of tying up all the lose ends at work in preparation for leaving this week. Realised yesterday that I would no longer be able to turn up at work, walk in and make myself a cup of tea which feels almost like being shut out of my own home. Mixed feelings now about leaving because I know I'll start to forget the bad bits once I've left; until recently I really used to love my job. Never understood before why people struggled with the idea of retirement.

Oh I do hope you and When are having a ball, Greatnan!

Tegan, I hope your last few days go well. A few anxieties are natural, but you'll love retirement! Good luck!

I reckon they were talking so much they didn't notice the fuel warning light!

I've been away staying with my son for a few days and since I got back I've spent every spare minute role playing interviews with my two Afghan boys. (They have job interviews for their work placements coming up.) So, I haven't really caught up with what's been going on here on GN. Lovely to find that when is enjoying Greatnan's hospitality. Tegan thanks for your lovely comment about my boys (on another thread, but I can't find it now). I'm sure that once you've retired you'll soon be wondering how you found time to work!
Today I planned to go swimming so I put my swimsuit on under my clothes when I got dressed this morning - the day didn't go as planned, so I've been wearing my swimsuit all day! It's actually been quite comfortable, if a bit awkward at times.

Gosh grannya the mind boggles!
Tegan give yourself a project..... Might I suggest visiting every Racecourse in GB ...... enjoy your new 'me-time'.

Thank you, hummingbird - we certainly are - non stop chat and driving round with a very appreciative passenger.
Anno - It was the very steep mountain roads that upset my calculations - I had forgotten that when the car is facing upwards all the petrol runs to the back of the tank, where the gauge is, so it looks better than it is! I have telephoned my breakdown service and they are sending the local garage with extra supplies - they do all my repairs, so they know me!
We are off to Yvoire - with camera!

Was so tired yesterday I actually got back from work and took something to help me sleep but [this is typical of a Wednesday which is my day off] they started drilling a hole at the end of the road early this morning which woke me up. Something like this ALWAYS happens when I'm planning a lie in! I'd even opened the bedroom window for some fresh air last night [haven't done so all summer due to mozzies] which made it worse. Mind you, was glad to wake up as was having a nightmare that someone had stolen my car and my handbag had been inside it with all my credit cards and phone etc. This follows on from last weeks nightmare of an axe man chasing me [a la Jack Nicholson in The Shining ]. Best to stay awake me thinks...

Dreams reflect our inner fears. While you are staying awake, tegan, work out what the real bogeyman is that is chasing you and stealing your transport and identity. Is it losing the identity you had at work and being pursued by a barren life at home? If it is, then you can do something to defeat it - find a new purpose and fulfilment.

Interesting that Elegran because, in the dream I'd just nipped into work to pick up something and had left my bag in the car because I wasn't going to be long [which is something I never do] only to find it gone when I went back to the car park. Must say that dreams do fascinate me.

Greatnan and when have a great time together.

Today I am going to take me Sis-iL to the theatre with my free (I love that word) tickets - thank you GN! OK the critics have panned it, but who cares? They were also universally rude about Redgrave and James Earl Jones in Much Ado About Nothing which I saw a fortngight ago at the Old Vic. They might have been right about that one!
Hope to go to National Portarait Gallery too (Laura Knight exhibition) and generally have an afternoon and evening OUT!

Greatnan - what did your fuel gauge show when you were going downhill?

I have had an extravagant morning! My old reclining chair is falling apart to the extent that it's getting dangerous! I put on my best trousers and went to the poshest furniture shop in Cheshire - Cestrians may know where that is! I'd seen on line that they had some high end recliners on offer, so I bit the bullet and bought one! I may never emerge from it all winter. Then a search round M&S revealed a long black cardi such as I'd been looking for - definitely not cashmere though!

Are we talking A's in Macclesfield? Very posh,hope the chair is wonderful.

If it is "ABs" in Macc, the building itself is a work of art.

You've got it, annsixty and Nellie Not only is the building a work of art, it's also a labyrinth!

Anno Do they still do those wonderful cakes in the cafeteria? [yum emo]