Apple Laptops.

This week, a contestant in The Weakest Link was asked by Ms Robinson, 'What have you achieved in life?'
'Well,' she replied, ' I have bought myself an Apple laptop.'
What do you think, is that a major life achievement?

The Apple Shop

Last week I found myself at a bus stop on Regent Street in London, opposite the Apple shop. Two of my children have bought their laptops here. One of them arrived to find a pipe band performing in this area. He kindly phoned me - mobile to mobile - to let me enjoy the sound of the pipes. The last two photos are where I was at that moment!

I wonder what this building was in its former life - and why all these paintings are there?

I think it was Loch Long to the north of Dunoon.

Beautiful Silk

This is a piece of fabric my friend Marion J brought me as a present from her trip to Hong Kong en route for Australia.So far I am only taking it out to admire - and stroke it. What would you do with it?

Ballet Recital

Last Sunday I went across London to see my granddaughters perform. Due to the Olympic site preparations it took me rather a long time nearly 3 hours. First the hair had to be moussed and plaited and pinned up and sprayed...

This was during the interval to get her used to the view from the stage.

Cass Cass excelled at the free style dancing - she's in the middle at the back, in white.

I was thrilled to see how Lissa Lou held herself so straight and listened to the music. She is 3rd from the left and Cass Cass and her BF are behind. Lissa's BF is 2nd from the left. There were girls from 3 - 15 years on stage and I suddenly remembered how lovely it is to watch the disciplined movements of ballet.
At one point Lissa Lou whispered to me that it was a bit like sign language and I thought 'wow! at 6yrs old she's worked out for herself what ballet is about.'

Things I have made so far in 2010.

This is a knitting pattern I found by putting 'dinosaurs' into google.
This is Mr Broccoli made for Jo Jo to celebrate his being able to say 'dinosaur'!

Then his sisters got in on the act - this is Miss Marigold who now belongs to LissaLou

and Miss Snowdrop who belongs to CassCass

and these are made from material bought in Guadeloupe.
When the slave trade ended, workers were needed for the sugar plantations and refineries. Replacement staff were brought in from India. They brought this fabric pattern with them. It is very similar to the patterned fabric from India and known as Madras.
I am sure there must be a Scottish connection too - its so like tartan!

6 years old !

Can it really be a whole year since we celebrated 5 years in Guadeloupe? Or indeed 6 years since we made marmalade waiting for this lovely grandddaughter to put in an appearance? The photos here are of games played. This one was organised by Tatie Evie and is called 'Master of the House'.

Grandpa had to check that no one was laughing!

Mummy had organised a treasure hunt. The younger guests had picture clues while 6 year olds had to read theirs! Another part of the hunt was in the garden. In the end there were a number of pieces of a picture which had to be sorted like a jigsaw puzzle.

While we were outside we had an egg and spoon race with deeper spoons for the younger ones, and a game of hide and seek. No wonder we needed frequent intervals to consume the three different cakes! All of them chocolate and all with 6 lit candles! Thanks for having us Heather - it was a great party! ( Even if one of the guests put on the fridge that you love Arsenal!!)

Half Term

Had a lovely time with our regular half term visitor - our grandson.First of all he got his strength up doing his exercises...

Then it was out on the road (and fields and paths) for the final stage of his grand walk around London. This is a long distance path - 150miles+ which runs right round the capital mostly inside the M25, which you hardly ever see or hear. It runs through some lovely countryside. I have done the whole thing - twice - but on this occasion only went to see them finish and see the boy receive his reward. Can you guess what it was?

The fresh air and countryside made me want to do it again - bu t I couldn't keep up with this speed!