What a week or two its been.

I seem to have been on the go for the past two weeks and now I'll need a holiday to get over it. After the school trip I was looking forward to basking in the sun at Great Yarmouth, only nobody had told the sun that it was supposed to be shining, so we had a week of rain, rain and more rain. One night we had a real thunder and lightening storm which woke up the dog and gave us all a disturbed night.


We still had a nice time, but being able to get out and about without freezing would have been better. We were only able to get on the beach with full wet weather gear with full coats!!


One day we visited the Pleasure Beach which was great. The rides were all open and there were no queues, so the kids went on time and time again, in fact they really got their moneys worth the rides were quite expensive £2 a go, so the wrist band at £16 each was reasonable value and they had around £50 worth of rides each!!!

Just popping in and off again.

Beth on the Coach.


Had a very exhausting week on the School trip, need to sleep for a week to get over it.


Now off to Yarmouth for a weeks break much deserved and needed!!!
Discovery Centre.

We're off

Today I am off for a 5 day 'break' the plus is it hasn't cost me anything, the downside is its with 28, 10 and 11 year olds!!! So wish me well I have taken my ear plugs!!!
The itinerary is day one science museum, day 2 deer sanctuary and ramble (??) Day 3, Windsor castle, Day 4 Legoland and the pinnacle of the trip, day 5 Gadebridge park!!!! (gadebridge park is like a 'local' park Why??)
Wish me luck.

My Town Monday - Bank Holidays and Morris Dancing

Here in England we have public holidays known as Bank Holidays, they happen throughout the year but we have two in May. The one at the beginning celebrates May Day, and that happens on the first Monday in the month. This means that we get a long weekend. The banks don't open. The second is at the end of the month and that's Spring Bank Holiday that is the last Monday in the month, this year its the 26th of May.

The Spring Bank holiday is celebrated in some parts with public fairs and gatherings and an outing for the 'Morris Men'.

So Who are Morris Dancers?

Music, movement, colour! If you’ve ever watched a show of Morris dancing, it will have contained all of those elements – and a lot more too. You have witnessed the result of more than 500 years of the evolution of a dance. Morris dancing was known well before the Spanish Armada, the Gunpowder Plot and even the Wars of the Roses. Among the most frequently asked questions of any Morris dancer are: Why is it called Morris dancing? Where does it come from? How old is it? And someone always asks: ‘Which one’s Maurice?’

The term Morris probably developed from the French word morisque (meaning a dance, the dance), which became morisch in Flemish , and then the English moryssh, moris and finally Morris. The earliest confirmation of a performance of Morris dancing in England dates from London on 19 May 1448, when Moryssh daunsers were paid 7s (35p) for their services. By Elizabethan times it was already considered to be an ancient dance, and references appear to it in a number of early plays. Many called for a dance or a jig to be performed by the leading actor.

Throughout its history in England, Morris dancing has been through many manifestations. Five hundred years ago it was a dance for one or two; today it is for four or more. Accounts of Morris dancing can be found throughout England, making it a nationwide phenomenon. The History of Morris Dancing, 1458-1750 is John Forest’s scholarly description of early Morris, providing images of early dances, but the origins are ‘lost in the mists of time’.

From my personal view I think they are slightly odd looking, off the wall men looking for an outlet for their often middle aged energies and desire to wear flowery hats!! (think martial arts with bells and sticks!!) Good Clean fun!

SATS week.

This week is a highly charged one, Beth is doing her SATS and Carl starts on his A levels, so its a touch on the hectic side at home. So far Beth has said that the science and English have been OK to good. Tomorrow is the final day with the Maths tests. Unfortunately that is not Beth's favourite subject . She finds the mental maths all a bit daunting, she has been having a tutor at home and has come on leaps and bounds. So I am hoping that tomorrow goes well for her.
Carl Has his first A level on Friday, but he seems pretty laid back about it all, so fingers crossed for him as well!!
This week has been a hard one work wise and its not over yet. Its had a real low with the death of a colleague on Monday. We have also had lots of unfinished business which has taken a lot of time up and I have come away feeling as if we are not in a good place. I suppose I will have to grow even thicker skin to deal with it.
I am looking forward to Friday, the last day at work before two weeks leave. I am going away on Monday with Beth's class for a school trip to Streatley Upon Thames, taking in Windsor Castle, Legoland and a deer sanctuary. I haven't stayed in a youth hostel for a huge number of years!!The week after we are off to Great Yarmouth for the spring bank holiday.

My Town Monday - Milkmen!

They get up at the most unthinkable hour, go out in all weathers, trundle along at the speed of a tricycle - and they still manage to smile.
The UK's 10,000 milkmen and women are little short of a national institution, a cultural practice that has been unique to this country for many years. They were the first green road users with their quiet electric driven milk 'floats'
But with the growth of supermarkets, and their price wars, the sound of milkmen clunking and trundling their way round our streets in the small hours has become increasingly rare.


A pint of milk in superstores averages 25p-30p, but delivered to your doorstep it's at least 10p dearer. Only just over a quarter of all milk bought is from the milkman; the bulk is from the shop.
The number of milkmen and women have been falling by 8% a year. And now, a threatened consolidation of dairy produce giants could put a further squeeze on the nation's milkmen.
Predictions of the end of the milkman have been made for some time.
But now the milkmen are beginning to fight back, thanks to a combination of new technology and sheer inventiveness. Around the country, milkmen - either employed by dairies or running their own franchises - have realised the way forward is to diversify their range and provide better services.
Many now offer deliveries not just of milk, but also eggs, fruit juice, bread and potatoes. In some cases, the range even extends to nappies, potatoes, Cornflakes, flowers and boxes of chocolates.
Milkmen have often raised the alarm for housebound people in trouble, they notice when the curtains are drawn and there is milk from the previous day on the door step.




Locally we still have at least two dairies that deliver and I am proud to say that I support one of these, Braziers dairies. These are truly local, supplying locally produced milk. I personally think its worth the extra money to get up to fresh milk every day. My Milkman knows everyone and everything!! A very useful attribute!


Children at school still get milk supplied at school until they go into the juniors (7 years old) When I was at school it arrived in mini bottles with a waxed straw and was always 'warm' Now our school keeps the cartons in the fridge, ice cold milk is a lot nicer!

I believe that the milkman is one of those strange 'English' customs not in too much evidence in other parts of the world!

Fun of a Hot day!

Today Beth has been playing around at Heathers. Really she has been playing with Emma and Sophie. Its quite sad really that they will all be going to different schools next term. On the plus side they all go to Guides so will be able to stay in touch there. The weather has been beautiful today and we a lazy day at home. Once the sun started to go down we had a walk in Moneyhole. I was surprised at the number of people there!!

They are replacing the playground stuff. I suppose that's a sign of me getting old as I think this is the 4th refurbishment since we have lived her. This time they seem to have gone the whole hog and changed everything. In the past they have added to and removed broken stuff. So far it looks as if it might be quite exciting, there is a huge frame which looks like it may be a swing and the area they have fenced off is three times as big as last time. Happy days!!

Well Done Carl!!

Today Carl found out that he has been voted in as the schools Deputy head Boy for next school year!!! We are so pleased for him, he got a call from the school tonight to say that he was the teachers choice, and only narrowly lost to the winner. There were other contenders, but in the end it was narrowed down to 4 boys. I am sure he will do a great job.

Today I have a claim to fame as well. I was driving to Borehamwood for another meeting (its strange how my meetings seem to cluster around one area for a while and then I don't go anywhere near there again for ages!) When I became aware of a 'special' car behind me. I was being followed by the Hertbeat Radio Car being driven by Cookie!!! I have several Hertbeat Radio stickers in the back of the car, so Cookie waved to me and then said hello to me via the radio just before I went out of radio range. I'm famous now!!!

At last a Beautiful Day!!

Today the weather has been glorious, the sun has been shining and there has been a warm breeze. It was so unusual for a Bank Holiday to be so nice.
We decided to go out for lunch with mum and dad, we decided on the John Bunyan. Unfortunately for us it seemed that every bike rider in Herts had headed for there as well!! There was one bar man serving and people were queued 5 deep at the bar. It didn't really matter that we had to wait 45 minutes for the food to appear because we were sitting outside watching the world go by.

I took some photos of some of my violas, I bought bowl of them from Lidls a few weeks ago and they have flowered and flowered. I think they are so pretty such an unusual mixture of colours.

I think I am going to try and grow them on outside.

My Town Monday - Panshanger Airfield.

Panshanger 1941.


This is a really local land mark for me, I live on an estate called Panshanger which has a long history, although its now quite a modern part of town!!



The Airfield was built as a decoy to lure bombers, now a thriving GA airfield.Many of Britain’s airfields date from World War II and many played an important role in that conflict. Some have made it through to the 21st century. Panshanger Aerodrome is one of the few that’s survived but only after a determined effort by the current operator and owner of the flying club based there, Israeli pilot Haim Merkado.When Haim took over in 1993, as an out-of-work commercial pilot, it was the height of a UK recession, not perfect timing for a new venture. What’s more, the airfield was in a state of disrepair, full of debris and with an illegal gypsy camp. Determination and the help of club members meant that Haim managed to overcome these problems and nowadays Panshanger is a thriving recreational airfield.

Above is a shot of the totally derelict control tower before the whole airfield was renovated.

In 1993, there was just one resident aircraft, 13 years later there are 35. A lot more has changed as well. The grass runway has been relaid at a cost of £25,000. A ramshackle collection of WWII buildings has been converted into a modern clubhouse with café, BBQ and outside seating. The clubhouse is full of training and flight aids including an Elite Pro Panel flight sim. Maintenance is now available on site – run by former Hatfield engineer Stuart Reeves.What hasn’t really changed is Haim. Anyone who has met him knows that you either get on with him famously, or not at all. He’s a big character, extrovert, direct and often a bit abrupt. He can seem overbearing at first. But the members of Panshanger’s club, North London Flying School , are incredibly loyal to Haim – to the point of piling in with their specialist skills to help develop and renovate the facilities.

Today the Airfield is a thriving venture with a cafe area and garden.Every Sunday we are constantly disturbed by pilots practicing airobatics, it always concerns me when I hear them stalling the engines as part of their routines, I think it happens far too close to my home!

He's back......

And my kitchen is now a washing mountain. Smelly cub camp washing, slightly damp,muddy, well smoked and minging!! Last year we had to go and rescue him from a foot of water this year he has got sunburn on his arms, face and ears!! Still he has had a good time.
Hope the washing machine lasts the course!!

Had a Busy week

I have no idea where this week has gone, part of it was due to a busy time at work and part of it due to lots going on with the kids at home. Carl is at Cub Camp and although he sorted most stuff out himself, the place was awash with kit. Washing up bowls, blow up bed, sleeping bag, you name it it was all over the place.
Beth is turning into the typical year six child with all the dramas that seem to go on at school in this last term. They really do get to the age where they need to move on!!
Tom has been trying to paint the garden fence for the past week in between rain and working. We are nearly done 5 panels left.
Hunny has been running around taking all the mayhem in her stride.yesterday she took a bold step and jumped onto the trampoline!! Once she had done it the once, she kept on doing it!!
Here she is preparing to launch herself onto the boing boing!!



Beth still loves the trampoline and she talked me into playing on there with her, even got a couple of poses from her!



During the week we have had some heavy rain, I tried to get some action rain shots without much success, it was simply too heavy to get anything worth keeping. While we were replacing the fence I rediscovered the wind ornament that had been hanging on the fence years ago. I washed it and put it back. I love the way it looks shiny and wet against my beautiful new fence!!

My Town Monday - Coat of Arms

Well us British are into our history and it seems that just about every town in Hertfordshire (the County where I live ) has a coat of arms. I suppose its very useful for making your headed note paper look official, but I am not sure that the general public in this day and age would have any idea what it was about apart from sometimes looking pretty.
On looking into our towns coat of arms, I have found out what the various 'bits' mean, so here is the official description of the Coat of Arms, this enables it to be drawn by someone who has never seen the crest providing they understand the terms mentioned!!

ARMS: Or a Fess wavy between in chief a Bar wavy Azure surmounted of two Willow Trees couped and in base an Oak Tree couped fructed proper.CREST: On a Wreath of the Colours within a Circlet of eight Roses Gules each charged with another Argent barbed and seeded proper a Garb Or between two Wings displayed Azure.SUPPORTERS: On either side a Hart Royal proper that on the dexter charged on the shoulder with two Pairs of Dividers in fess inverted and extended the interior points contiguous Argent and that on the sinister with a representation of a Roman Wine Jar Or within a Cage Sable.BADGE: On a Bezant environed of a Torse Or and Azure two Pallets Azure surmounted of a Bar dancetty of two points downward counter-changed.
Motto 'BY WISDOM AND DESIGN'.Granted 11th February 1976.
There, that was fully understandable wasn't it????

The more interesting bit though is how the various 'parts' were included in the design and what they represent.

The blue wave on a gold background represents the River Lea, with the narrower parallel wave for the River Mimram. The two willows from the crest of the Welwyn Garden City UDC and the device of the Welwyn RDC are in reference to the origin of the name Welwyn - meaning 'willow'. The oak tree is from from the crest of the Hatfield RDC. The shield thus suggests in a simple visual pattern the River Mimram flowing through Welwyn and Welwyn Garden City, and the Hatfield area south of the River Lea.The eight Tudor roses (five visible), from the arms of the Hatfield RDC, refer to the many associations of that period with Hatfield Palace, including the sojourn of the young Elizabeth and her presence at Hatfield on learning of her accession. The gold wheatsheaf, represents the agricultural pursuits of the area, flanked by two blue wings alluding to the local aircraft industry. The wheatsheaf is also a feature of the crest of the ancestors of the Cecils of Hatfield, particularly Lord Burghley, Queen Elizabeth's famous minister and father of Robert Cecil, the first of the family to reside at Hatfield.The harts, like those of the County Council, are a reference to Hertfordshire. The two dividers shaped like a letter W are from the arms of the Welwyn Garden City UDC, emphasizing its character as a planned development. The Roman urn from the device of the Welwyn RDC, typifies the historic antiquities of that area.The motto is that used by the Welwyn Garden City UDC.

So there you have it, you can now look on coats of arms with a knowledge you never had before!!

One Busy Day!!!!

We had been planning for a while to replace our garden fence this weekend. Our neighbours had bought all the panels, posts and post mix all we really had to do was supply the labour. Yesterday I was up bright and early to take dad to the hospital for his hernia op, so when I came home I made the most of it and cracked on in the garden.
First of all I had to trim the rose bushes right back as I didn't want the workers getting shredded by the thorns. Once I had started I could stop and ended up taking one bush out entirely. We also had a very rampant ivy growing up the fence, and that took me a fair while to strip off and dig up. Some of it is still hanging around but I'll finish it tomorrow.
Anyway the 'men' have replaced 9 panels of fence plus the posts. I was sent out to buy a new gate but bought the wrong sort so I need to swap that tomorrow. The garden looks so much better and for the first time in a long time I am going to be able to go out and buy some new flowers for my patch of green. (plus I want a nice table and chairs set, a smart bistro set would do!!) The final bonus is that I put the old panels, which weren't broken but were mismatched and tired looking, on free cycle and they are being collected in the morning!!
In between all that mum and I went to collect dad from hospital, his hernia all fixed, now he is getting ready for his hip replacement!! (getting his money worth out of the National Health Service!!!)

Well would you believe it???

Today I received a 'red letter' from a catalogue company that I bought some T Shirts from at the end of last year. My account has been fully paid up since February, so to get a red letter was a bit of a surprise!!

It said ;-
Dear Mrs Dee,
Having tried to contact you on several occasions you have failed to maintain repayment of your account. We are prepared to help you, but you must take responsibility for clearing this debt. The debt will not go away on its own. You must pay the arrears within 48 hours to avoid action being taken to recover the debt via the courts.
Please make the minimum payment of £0.00 within 48 hours to avoid court involvement.

At the bottom of the letter was a useful payment slip which showed a minimum payment of £0.00 to clear the balance of £0.00 !!!

I am now worried that all the other companies out there that I don't owe any money to may also come calling demanding payment, will I need debt counselling?? will I need to consolidate my debts with one loan of £0.00 to reduce my monthly outgoings?? I am not sure what to do now !!!

Happy Blog-a-versery to me.

My blog is two today, I can't beleive that I have been doing this for that long. Its great to look back at the memories!!!

My Town Monday - A Famous Son.

Today I am going to tell you about one of Welwyn Garden City's famous son's, We don't have too many so I am going to pace myself!!

Nick Faldo - Local man and one time golfing champion.

Faldo was born in Welwyn Garden City, England. He borrowed some clubs from his neighbours after watching Jack Nicklaus play the 1971 Masters on television. While working as a carpet fitter, Faldo won the English Amateur Championship and the British Youths Championship in 1975. He turned professional in 1976 and quickly achieved success, finishing 8th on the European Tour Order of Merit in 1977 and 3rd in 1978 and winning a European Tour event in each of those seasons. In the former year he became the youngest player to appear in the Ryder Cup at the age of 21. Faldo was one of the leading players on the European Tour in the early 1980s, and he topped the Order of Merit in 1983.
However, feeling that he needed to refine his game in order to become a regular contender in major championships (British tabloids even dubbed him "Nick Foldo" after collapses at the 1983 Open Championship and the 1984 Masters), he spent the mid-1980s remodelling his swing under the tutelage of David Leadbetter. His performances dropped off for a couple of years as the changes occurred, but by 1987 he was playing at an even higher level, and he claimed his first major title at that year's Open Championship. He managed to beat American Paul Azinger by one shot even without getting a birdie in the final round (he parred all 18 holes), after Azinger bogeyed the final two holes of the tournament.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Faldo was considered the best golfer in the world. He was noted for being remarkably composed under pressure, intimidating to his opponents, and won more of the four professional major tournaments (Faldo won six) than any other player in the world from 1987 through 1996 (Nick Price was second with three major victories during this period; Seve Ballesteros, a contemporary of Faldo's from Spain, won five majors from 1979-1988). He won the Open Championship again in 1990 in St Andrews, Scotland by six shots, and claimed it for a third time in 1992, outplaying American John Cook. He also won two more majors when he won the Masters Tournament in 1989 and 1990. At the 1989 Masters, he shot a 65, the low round of the tournament, to get into a playoff with Scott Hoch. He won the playoff after holing a somewhat lengthy putt on the 2nd playoff hole (Hoch missed a 2 foot putt to win on the first playoff hole). At the 1990 Masters, he came from behind again to get into a playoff with Raymond Floyd, once again winning on the second playoff hole after Floyd pulled his approach shot into a pond left of the green. Faldo spent a total of 98 weeks altogether at the top of the Official World Golf Rankings, and claimed the European Tour Order of Merit a second time in 1992. During that time, Faldo said of his success: "The run doesn't have to end. If someone is going to beat me then I'm going to make sure they've worked for their victory. Let them come and get it from me." That year, he had worldwide earnings of £1,558,978, breaking the existing record.
Faldo was named the PGA Tour Player of the Year in 1990 and the European Tour Player of the Year in 1989, 1990 and 1992, and has won 29 European Tour titles. As Faldo entered his forties, his form gradually declined and he devoted more time to off-course activities. The last season that he played regularly on the PGA Tour was 2001. Afterwards, he refocused on the European Tour, but has consistently played less than a full schedule. His most recent top-10 finish in a major to date (and quite probably the final of his career) was a tie for eighth place at the 2003 Open Championship. As of July 2005, his career European Tour earnings are just under €8 million, and his PGA Tour earnings are over $5 million.

Faldo started his playing career at Welwyn Garden City Golf Club, and that is where my connection comes in. I have booked the golf club to celebrate our 25th Wedding Anniversary in

June this year.

The tooth Fairy has officially retired,.

The tooth fairy has made her final visit to this house to carry away the very last baby tooth. Beth finally lost her last baby tooth yesterday, so now she will only visit if one of us loses a tooth by traumatic means!!
Quite sad really isn't it?

Pretty Little Birdie.

Its amazing the wild life that visits the back garden, all winter we have had a lovely fat hedgehog rumbling around spooking our dog!! I just hope that Mr hedgehog has eaten all the millions of slugs that we seem to have. Now its Bird time, I have spotted, in the last week, magpies, chaffinch,blue tits, sparrows, blackbirds, thrush and this morning a robin. It was singing loud from the top of my Jacobs Fir tree. I now realise that Robins sing loud and in scribble!! Their song seems to change as the feeling takes them.
This Robin was in the tree long enough for me to get a few shots of him, on full telephoto stretch .
I wonder if he'll be back tomorrow??

Flower Swap.

i have just hosted a 'flower swap' on a forum that I am a member of, and these are the lovely flowers that have been swapped between all of us!!

I think I'll leave them in the vase for a while and then I'll use them in my scrap books!! Thanks Ladies they are lovely.