42nd Anniversary

To celebrate we went to Frodsham to look round the charity shops and the antique emporiums. Didnt' find much. I got a couple of Japanese films on DVD. Hazel got some fabric and a jumper. Nice walk aroud Acton Bridge whilst waiting for the pub to open. Found this post box in the village. The Hazel Pear is very nice , quiet and friendly. Average pub grub.

Hazel's collaged card to me.

Birthday Weekend

Hazel's sister's birthday yesterday and Hazel's today ( also our 13th wedding anniversary ) so lots to celebrate. Nice to have Archie and Meriel here to celebrate too. We sat in the summer house yesterday and tried on silly hats.

Hazel's Birthday and Our Anniversary

Delightful wander with Hazel , Archie and Meriel -down to the orchard and fishing ponds after a day of wanderings. Our 12th anniversary and Hazel's birthday today - yesterday it was Audrey's birthday and some gardening and cake. A fun packed two days.

35th Anniversary

It's November 5th again so must be anniversity time! Blimey, the years just fly past! Pictured is the lovley embroidered Ferdie The Fly and Love Token from Hazel and my collaged card. Not one of my best efforts I must admit. Hazel is poorly with a nasty cold so we didn't go out to any fireworks - luckily the local display could be seen from our back garden so just popped outside ( as it wasn't too cold ) to see the few rockets and whizz bangs. Hazel was off work today as she still felt awful. Hopefully I won't catch it! Flu jab on Thursday - just in the nick of time! Maybe last years jab is still working - hope so! So it's warmed up potato and cheese pie I made the other day and some salad. Perhaps a home made mince pie for dessert.

34th Anniversary

Celebrated our 34th year together by going to the indoor boot sale in town. Didn't get anything but Hazel found a few bits and bobs including some wool for her train knitting project ( another quilt I suspect ) , folding coat hangers for her coat hanger collection. slap bell ( the sort they have on desks or counter tops ) needles and tin toy. In the afternoon we went to Granma's and Audrey's for some coffee and chocolate fingers. A lazy afternoon followed by the fireworks in Gadbrook Park which is always a treat ( and only a quid to get in! ) despite the quagmire and the noisy kids! Our first date was at a firework party in Alsager so hard to forget.

32nd Anniversary

Nice day with Hazel out for a drive before it got too wet. First a stroll round the Flashes ( filled in salt workings - now a bird sanctuary ). We hadn't been since it opened 6 0r 7 years ago and amazed at how all the small saplings planted then had grown into small trees. We tried to catch the falling yellow leaves but they were too quick for us! Bumped into a few solitary men with dogs carrying overlarge sticks. One turned his head to negotiate the eccentric gate - his owner said "He's quite intelligent!" My boots were beginning to pinch a bit - still wearing them in - so glad to get back to the car. Drove to the nearby Salt Barge opposite the new Lion Salt Works museum. They hadnt quite opened - busy preparing a hog roast and bonfire for the evenings festivities. We were seated inside and ordered our drinks and later when the cook arrived we ordered lunch. We thought it sounded like a light lunch - omelette and salad - Hazel had battered king prawns and salad and side order of chips. But two huge platefuls turned up that were delicious but we couldn't eat it all. Bang goes my diet again!

Another Weakly Snet

Did I mention it was our 27th Bear Feeding anniversary? No flies with rucksacks but some chocs and the usual enigmatic cards. I gave Hazel a Blurb book of collages which seemed like a good idea to try. I somehow managed to duplicate tow of the pages- whether through miopia or dyslexia or just excitement I don't know!

Sneezing and sniggling all day long. Sniffing too. A nasty cold which lasted for days - still have it in fact as I write this. Archie has it too and had a day off college.
managed to drag ourselves out to celebrate anyway - a nice meal at the Crafts Centre posh restuarant. Looked round the antiques afterwards. Hazel bought some postcards.
Up all night with coughing and calls of nature. Not sure if its the cold or the prostate. I was due another check up anyway so went to the docs the next day and he sent me to the Infirmary for the usual blood test etc.
Not heard anything yet.
Archie went to London on a college trip. Had to get up and the crack of dawn with Hazel and get a train to Stockport and another to Crewe to join party. Hazel had to drive to Crewe later to fetch him. Luckily she had no college the next day so was able to get some sleep.

Not sure why these photos of Southend's old bandstand are here. I could not find anything else.
Missed the annual charity market due to feeling awful and full of cold. It could even me Man flu - never quite sure of the difference.
Catching up with DVD's Ive bought recently as felt too lethargic to do anything else. Watched a good Orson Welles film "The Stranger" which I'd not seen before - a film noirish thriller about a nazi hunter played by Edward G. Robinson. Also an amusing animation called "Planet 51" and another "Rain With A Chance Of Meatballs".

Beer Feeding and Ferdie The Fly Day

Yes, it's 26 years since Hazel and I first went out together and we've been together more or less ever since. We choose the 5th November for our Anniversary as it's quite easy to remember and the evening that sparks flew at the bonfire party in Alsager. I think we did meet up a couple of times before that with friends tagging along - at the Postal Museum in London and in an Alsager pub. I can't remember where Ferdie made an appearance but he seemed much larger then and wore a handy rucksack with a tin bottle of what flies like to drink best. He seems to have lost some weight and aquired a handy embroidered bag with his name on. On the reverse it says "For Mickle xxx"
The Bear Feeding is also an "in joke" of sorts that only very good friends can possibly understand. Come to the Beer Feeding and bring some sparklers. There will be toffee and cakes. Ferdie is welcome too as long as he doesn't sit all over the jelly!