Thursday 18 October 2012

Up North again

I should have included in my account of my birthdy celebrations that daughter J organised a `beauty treatment` for me (rather a lost cause at 82 but it was the bushy eyebrows and a face massage), a roast gravy dinner, and an impro party in the evening which was as usual, hilarious.
Coming home from Up North on Tuesday, the couple sitting opposite whipped out two printouts of the Guardian cryptic crossword,which is what I always do too , so the journey flew by as we all puzzled together and swopped clues. It reminded me of the time a man got out a chess set and challenged me to a game on that very same train.
I had the usual hectic, hugely enjoyable time with babies galore and family visits and outings. Sister J `s furniture came back while I was there after the floods in June. What a relief, she has been coping with a garden chair and table since the floors were finally replaced. The piano has been repolished and look a treat.
At the Infants yesterday I learned some interesting facts about crocodiles: the sex of their young is determined by the temperature as their eggs are incubating. I learn new things every week, last year it was the Gunpowder Plot.

Friday 5 October 2012

Third Age Power in Ditchling

A new U3A group has just started up in Ditchling and Hassocks We had the first meeting today.  About two hundred turned up, all as keen as mustard, signing up for every sort of group from archeology to Sunday dinners (I wondered about that one, do you have to cook, eat or talk about them?)
I signed up for computers ( I`m still having trouble with the moodle) museum visits, and poetry.  I am not sure what happns next.  They seemed  a very lively bunch.
My eighty second birthday has come and gone, fairly low key this year, perhaps next year I will organise a proper knees up, if I`m spared as my dear mother in law used to say.  I had a lovely lot of cards and texts and face book cheery messages which were very heartwarming. .  Son C and family took me out for lunch to a pub in Firle near here which is where the vicar who is on TV lives, Peter Owen Jones There he was large as life in the pub with his battered hat and a slightly crooked dog collar over a pink shirt. In one of his programmes he travelled around trying to live without any money, but had to give up to pay his car insurance.
I was impressed with Ed`s seventy minute speech without notes and the smacking kiss he gave his wife at the end. I have great hope of him and he does really try not to be too much of a toff like the other lot.
Ditchling film society started again last night and we had a lighthearted French film called Potiche. It was good feminist stuff. I enjoyed it.