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Buffybee, Just catching up oniPlayer with Mrs Wilson. Not at all sure what I think! Well acted though.

We have had Labradors living with us for the last 26 years. Just one now, who is convinced she is 2, not nearly 8!

Yes Ardwick's still there Rufus
Buffybee: Thanks for that! Even Baden St.? I understood Ardwick had been obliterated by landmines, but obviously would have been rebuilt since. Our Uncle Percy, an LMS engine driver, and family lived at Gorton and he delighted in taking my younger brother and me to Belle Vue Zoo after hours (I never knew how he managed that!) to see the rats cleaning up the lions' left -overs! Sorry about that! I wouldn't be surprised if it all looks tatty these days. Remember seeing Blackpool Tower, (where our family went regularly for annual summer holidays), as an adult and having all my childhood dreams shattered. It looked a mess; litter everywhere.
To the more pleasant subject of dogs, although unfortunately I now have none. Jessie, a kelpie, died Easter 2016 at 15 yrs and I reasoned I couldn't properly take care of a replacement at my age. We had some great conversations and I still miss her terribly.
Vera and me had had dogs all our married life, one after the other over the years, from a lost dogs home. Our first border collie Dougal, named after a kid's TV "star" I think, was followed by Rufus 1, after a few other varieties, hence my nickname.
Anyway I must stop rambling. Discussing memories is very therapeutic, especially coming up to Christmas; my dear Vera died Christmas Eve 2015, four days after our 62nd wedding anniversary, so a few bottles of Shiraz will help our commemoration. Cheers

Hello I am Lauren from Kent, UK.
I am working as a Social Entreprenuer. Now let me tell you what is the social entreprenuer means. Social entrepreneurship is, at its most basic level, doing business for a social cause. It might also be referred to as altruistic entrepreneurship.

Hello lauren, your job sounds very interesting, looking forward to hearing more about your life.
Rufus I believe they have Greyhound Racing and Stockcar Racing on the old Belle Vue site, yes I'm sure Ardwick has been regenerated over the years. Manchester City moved from Maine Road to the Ethiad Stadium near there, as I'm sure you know.
The Apollo Theatre is still going strong, I saw the Beatles there in 1964
When did you move to Australia and where abouts are you? .I was over there for six weeks in 2016 visiting my friend in Brisbane.
At least we have the good memories of all our dogs, mine are buried in different spots in my garden. Luckily a big garden as there are quite a few and luckily I still have Buffy.
Regarding Blackpool, I believe it did have a down turn a number of years ago but you'll be glad to know, is now absolutely thriving and looking great again.
I'm sorry about your dear wife, 62 years, a long time.

When did you move to Australia and where abouts are you?
Buffybee; We were always told "only tell a lady your name and your birthday; never your phone number or email address and never, ever where you live"
But in this case an exception to the rule should be OK!
We're in Melbourne; arrived by Qantas 707, 28 Feb. 1971 and stayed in the same house ever since. Apart from that initial 12,000 odd mile shift we haven't moved around very much! Son No.1 lives in Brisbane with DIL and 4DGCs: Son No2 lives 15 min away with DIl and one GC. (Acronyms are very impersonal of course, but save on typing) Both families have dogs, maintaining the family tradition!
Thanks for the welcome updates on Etihad and Blackpool. Uncle Percy also loved taking us as kids to the motorbike speedway races, but learned not to stand opposite the bend, otherwise you could get a faceful of cinders as the bikes slithered round the bend!
Blackpool trams were always a holiday fascination. I'm regularly looking at my DVD which also includes the end-of-season Blackpool lights. Lovely memories!
Forgive me for asking, but are you the same Buffy member of recent vintage? I only ask, but during my research for something else your nickname popped up; she was a licensee (pub I suppose) and my Uncle Harold ran a pub in Longsight, many, many, years ago. City are playing Bournemouth today; it will be a case of being very diplomatic if City thrash our Michelle's team.! Good Health and keep warm!

I’ve never been to Manchester but Mancunians seem a friendly bunch too
Sophiesox; Of course they are; you should cross the Pennines and pay them a visit, even if only to cheer on City!
Had our usual phone conflab with our Michelle (of beigegate!), but no mention of cardis, hoodies or coiffures. It was mainly about the impending visit of Tashie, one of my 4 GCs in Brisbane and friend Sophie to England in 4 days time. Michelle's daughter is a bit of a high-flyer in finance circles in London, so I'm told, and will be putting the 2 girls up at her flat in London, for 2 weeks, which is extremely kind of her, before they then fly on to Germany to spend 4 weeks with a host family. Both girls, 18, are Vegans so Michelle's daughter is in for a bit of a change! Both girls have a thing about seeing Stonehenge! I ask you! In mid-winter! Never mind; they're young, but they'll soon find out what "cold" is!
Good Health and take care up there in the N.E.

Yes! Rufus I am that same Buffy, an ex licensee and owner of a Wine Bar and Bistro called Pickwicks from 1987 to 2002.
Very much the "Yuppie" era!
Great fun and I loved it!

Very much the "Yuppie" era!
Buffybee; Awesome! You must have a catalogue full of exotic drinks! Just in time for Christmas too! You sent me off on a Dr.Google search to find "20 exotic drinks from around the world". I'm still reeling just looking at the recipes. Do you still practice the art? But the Canadian "Sourtoe cocktail" doesn't do anything for me; (yuk) Think I'll stick to Shiraz!

My favourite was a Tequila Sunrise which is pretty difficult to make as you need to keep the colours of the Orange juice and Grenadine separate in the glass.
Mmmmm! Might have to try it again this Christmas!
Cheers Rufus!

Hi!

Just joined - I'm 50 next May and I don't have grandchildren yet ?I wandered over from Mumsnet by accident, and it looks lovely here- I do hope you'll let me stay! Despite the lack of grandchildren...

I live in Hertfordshire, but am from Yorkshire. I have a son at university, and another son doing GCSEs this academic year.

I also have a rescue dog (13) and a horse (18). I work in healthcare, and also sometimes at the stables as a groom when they are short. Lots of fresh air and exercise! I'm very light, but have arms like Fatima Whitbread due to yard work. I love books, radio 4, crafts, snow sports and martial arts.

Hello ... just stumbled across this while looking for some general info on grandparenting. I'm 54 from Cambridgeshire, work full-time, and have 3 grandchildren ... 2 boys and a girl aged 8, 6 and 18 months. I am paternal grandma to all 3 and feel like I'm the 2nd class grandparent as I am the mum of the Father. This is what lead me here. Look forward to joining in.

Welcome Jackie. . Lots of grans in a similar situation. I'm sure you will find lots of support and constructive advice.
I'm a paternal gran, but we have the opposite situation. The maternal grandparents are interested. , so we try to support DIL as much as we can.

Hi Pony and Jackie and welcome.
I've not been here too long myself but I've been made very welcome.
So have a rummage around the threads and post if you feel like it, or start your own thread.

Hi Marydoll and Buffybee thank you for the replies. I don't understand a grandparent not being interested in their grandchildren at all. I'd give my eye teeth to be in a position where I had all the reasonable access I could have as I love mine to bits.

Jackie, you just have to do the best you can. We treat our DIL like our own daughter to try and compensate for her disinterested parents. It's not always easy and we don't always get it right.
However, also we don't want to make the other grandparents look bad. It's so difficult at times.

Marydoll indeed it's certainly not easy at times. Like you say we just do our best ?

Hi, I am a newbie. Didn’t know ‘you’ existed, but knew about ‘mumsnet’ so just took a chance and googled ‘gransnet’ and bingo there you were.

Welcome Pearl!
Have a good browse around and play some of the Games, if you're into them.
Post for help if you have any problems, you may get mixed advice and much kinder than Mumsnet vipers.

I had never been on mumsnet, just wanted a friendly group of hopefully ? like minded, similar aged peeps. Thought you had to be a granny to qualify, but apparently not. Oh well, I am a granny of soon to be 5 little ones. ☺️☺️

.......that’s not quintuplets ??, that is 4 with one on the way.

Hi, just joined tonight, hello to all you happy Grans and granddads out there ?

Hello and welcome all the new GNers.
All human life on here but a bit gentler than mumsnet (I'm told)
I'm a grandma and love it.

Welcome Happy60!

granddads out there ?
Happy 60; Welcome and thank you for your greeting. You seem to be another night owl judging by your post.