My wish...

...is that everyone has a wonderful new year, and the happiest of coming years.

May your life be full and glorious...

May your business succeed, may your home be happy...and may our team win.

Happy 2010, one and all...

We are...

...on the whole a resilient bunch. When you live in the middle of nowhere, you don't expect to see the gritter lorry pass your door, so you're not disappointed, you just get on with life. The local farmer gets his plough and digs a way through the top layer of snow, you go for walks, meeting neighbours, following tracks, until the sun is shining enough to venture into cars and travel.

We don't have anything as easy as snow chains, we just slide our way out.

Now the main road you do hope the grit lorry might have found that, but here...no, no such luck, so you slide your way, albeit a little faster, towards the lights of town.

New snow I can deal with, it's the ice and the promise of cold nights and bitter mornings that keeps me huddled in my village.






So I'm discovering delicious sounding paint colours for the rooms in our cottage, thinking of kitchens(we're moving it), the one we have at the moment is the only room that doesn't get any sun, so is naturally dark, with dark brown floor tiles, and dirty wooden units(and smells, however much I clean)...and warming myself on a reclaimed AGA sometime next year. It's going to the back of the house where the sun pours through windows and stained glass french doors...we're knocking a small sitting room through to a tiny utility room, to make one reasonably sized kitchen...having free standing furniture...reclaimed mostly...we've found a great shop in Dereham called Steptoes, who only sell second hand furniture...and pieces picked up as we go...

Then there's the outside to paint...and the sitting rooms...and the...oh, I've loved moving!

I should...

...have had a new electric meter installed today, alas he couldn't make it down our road...and this is why...

Our garden..

Our cottage

St Andrews and lane

St Andrews

A rather beautiful reason...though next week would've been nicer, and we would have had an "official" white Christmas...and as I type, the snow is falling again.

Our cottage...

...I promised some photos...and gradually I'm getting there...


When the drawing room extension was built, the owner had the wonderful idea of placing this in the corner, it looks out over the entrance to the house, and sparkles in the evening...



We have no idea who and when this was placed in the cottage...a "yet to be discovered" element...I love puzzles...



And our fireplace...or inglenook, and in this weather, a warm refuge.

Several...

...weeks ago, or rather months ago, I was asked if I'd make some bracelets as presents for a wife and a mum. With the move and some photos of colours coming, the making was delayed, but now they've been sent and approved, I'm happy to say.

My brief was to complement a ring and necklace of sparkling gems, so gathering the colours together I made the below crystal charm bracelet...

I do love this silver heart chain, it just gives a special touch...don't you think? Especially for a wife...

And Mum, I was told, likes bold, black and white and chunky...so the two below were designed and made...




And I have a happy camper...hoping the recipients are as happy...

Thank you...

At last...

...I've met another neighbour. The couple who live on the corner, which is next door. They have the post box outside, and when I had cards to post and saw the lady of the house hanging her washing...I had to say hi.

They were very nice...we had a chat about this and that in the village, which houses are holiday homes (which seems the majority are). I'll be interested to see who comes for Christmas...and about the Carol Service on Christmas Eve and all back to the manor house for nibbles after. One thing she did hint at though, our lady of Norfolk has put her house on the market! And yes, sure enough it is.

My home is beginning to sparkle. I've got my tree all decorated and lit, and anyone who knows me will tell you, this is early for me...and the logs were delivered earlier this week, and now I have fires in the evening, keeping us all snug...

How happy and contented life is, when you know you've done the right thing...

Yesterday...

...was the first visit to Norwich since we've moved. It's strange how being a "local" gives you a whole new view of a city, and you don't feel as though you've got to cram the whole city into one visit, that you can make another visit next week.

In our visiting around we were looking at sofas, for next year you understand! Ha...it doesn't work like that, now does it!? We have two sitting rooms, one has beams, and our current furniture is great for the traditional feel, the other room is a newer extension...and that's where we needed the sofa for....and this is the one we've found...it's not as matt grey as this photo, it's more slubbed and mottled greys...and is in fact a sofa-bed with a proper mattress...
It's coming early February...so I need to get my pots of paint out! The fabric for the blinds is(at present) going to be..."Silver Birch"...again not as grey as this shows, but with a more creamy grey background.

The windows are reasonably large and give views right through the garden. With wooden flooring, a large chunky rug...and splashes of colour brought in...it wasn't going to be the first room thought of, but you just have to do these things sometimes, now don't you!

I've decided...

...we've bought a house in it's very own "Brigadoon"...I'm sure everything will disappear at the new year.
Speaking to real locals in Fakenham, which is five miles away, they've never heard of our village. A cousin who was looking for the village before we moved in, asked a policeman there and he had to get his maps out to find it. Yesterday I had a delivery of glass via Parcelforce and she looked at me saying I could have had it Tuesday, but she couldn't find me...we're not on their records, though the normal post gets through, but then I get others too! The chimney sweep has never been here and he's lived three miles away all his life.
So, if you decide to stay in either of the two holiday cottages, or the bed and breakfast opposite, then make sure you come prepared to disappear...it might be a hundred years before you surface again!

It makes you...

...wonder. I've discovered and heard about our Lady of Norfolk. It seems she's thinking of moving! Yes...you read that correctly...she's seriously looking at moving! Having had this house on the market for four years, and pulling out of several sales, she's now thinking about trying again. She must be very unhappy where she is, or...who knows!
At last I've placed an order for more glass. I didn't think it would happen, but having sorted everything out, I can now start ordering again...and making! My space is basic, but it's there...and with lots of natural light...and the frilly bits will happen soon enough.
I've been looking at colour charts...with only one room that I can think of decorating without any mending or changing, the smaller of our two bedrooms will get a facelift...I can only take ice blue for so long. I bought a beautiful pink mohair throw this week, and that will lead the colour change. I think pretty and feminine. Having sons, and grandsons, I now want pretty and feminine...something for the two young ladies in our family...and my sons lives. Just to keep things from getting too female orientated, I've also bought some polish and wax remover along with some wire wool...the lobby doors are in for a shock...
My team drew today...after having one Sodje sent off for a foul as the last man, his youngest brother scored our equaliser and could have scored again...I hope we have the chance to sign him in January....I think he'd be a good signing. We play Bristol Rovers on Tuesday...we need to keep the momentum going, stay ahead of the gathering pack, and not too far behind Leeds. Also a huge salute to every one of the Charlton fans(1700) who went to Yeovil today. Getting drenched in a stand with no cover, and cheering the team...thank you for flying the flag....

As the wind...

...howls around my eyrie in the roof of our cottage(the upstairs is in the eaves), I'm sitting listening to the commentary from the Charlton match and getting my Etsy shops back up and running.

With the darkness gradually drawing the cosiness of our cottage closer, the trees dancing a frantic weaving dance, it makes me content that our house isn't very tall, and we're in a little hollow...where before the wind would whip down the fields behind of our old home, battering at it's back door, it whips over our new one. The fact our house has sat here for four hundred years, must mean it's fairly happy where it is.

Okay, having just been interrupted from my tapping by my hubby, Charlton have scored twice...we are now leading 5-1...let's hope this continues and gives them the confidence that's been sadly missing the last few games. It hasn't been luck, it's been good football even with the windy conditions and MKDons scoring first...

Opposite our cottage is the village church of St Andrews, and we've been told has a Christmas Eve carol service, when the church...as it hasn't electric supplied, is lit by oil lamps...so wrapped in jumpers, scarves, gloves, and thick socks...we'll be going...

My cinema...

...the local one, is in Fakenham and is a very rare commodity. It's an independent and not affiliated to anyone or any others... It has three screens, though from the outside I'm still trying to work out where and how they're housed.

It shows the current crop of films, but has special one day screenings. You can get your popcorn, hire it...it has vouchers and accepts 2-1 Wednesdays...

I might try it...I fancy seeing Dorian Gray...

Wow!! What a time...

...It was crazy moving, the removal people arrived Thursday to pack, and supposedly half load the lorry..except the starter motor had gone on our particular lorry...so they packed, and then had to finish packing and load Friday, the day of the move, with me cleaning each room as they vanished from it with the last box. Hectic wasn't in it!! The solicitor side of all went through fine, and I came up to get the key at about 3:00, meeting everyone else back at the house...our new home. The removers left at just after 6:00....having worked their socks off for two days. Our lady of Norfolk had left bits everywhere...towels, tablets...pictures, anyway, that's all packed up now, and we're mostly done. The bedrooms are sorted, so's the kitchen(no AGA and so small....lol), and the main sitting room, the one with the beams...I'll take a photo and show...at some stage...the other sitting room is home to what's left of the boxes, which is fine as we've got to get a sofa bed and bits for there...and everything needs decorating! It'll get sorted slowly...along with some new window frames and a moving kitchen...

I did have an interesting conversation with her solicitor when I collected the key....she only wanted to back out that last Monday! She visited her solicitor in floods of tears saying she didn't want to do it, it was a mistake...she was told a few home truths, like how much it would cost her...and no judge would find in her favour, as she'd had over six months to change her mind, and six weeks since exchange, he'd tell her to move anyway. I also found out she had the house on the market for four years on and off, others wanted it, but then she'd back out....I guess it was just waiting for me...and my bloody mindedness!

So....I'm back!!! Yup...definitely here! That's another of this moves stories! How many twists can there be, I hear you say!? Well, we did have a land-line for the first weekend, and then dear old BT cut us off! It took them ten days to re-establish the line...with a new number, and then our provider made us wait until Monday to take our order...and today is the first day back...in fact about half an hour ago is our first time back! Oh and if you know Norfolk, you know it hasn't got the greatest mobile reception in the world...so all the time BT are leaving messages on my phone, I'm running up to the end of the village to listen to them...

Oh, and the chimney's swept...so a log fire tonight. I don't care if it's not cold enough!!

Now all I've got to do is catch up with everyone and everything....think I might have a bit of reading to do!

Confirmation...

....came in the form of a telephone call from our solicitor. Our lady of Norfolk is moving on Friday! She has signed the last of her papers, paid some fees she needed to...and friends and neighbours are helping her pack. So it seems we will have a home on Friday...

I'll be off to Fakenham to collect the key from her solicitor, whilst hubby waits for the removal lorry to appear...

We just need to take our key to our agents today, and then....our sons are coming to say goodbye to the house tomorrow evening. It's not where they were born, but they were twelve and ten when we moved here, it's where they met all the friends they have now, and if we hadn't moved here...I wouldn't have the two beautiful women in their lives...nor my two amazing grandsons.

My team play Huddersfield on Saturday, and after a bit of a stagnant time recently, three points gained would be good. It would take us top...as Leeds don't play until Monday, but will have two games in hand. We need to keep those nipping at our heels just there, behind us...so no giving free or easy points away...our support needs to be strong, the team need to know the supporters are with them, not picking holes in what's going on on the pitch...or decisions made. The game agains the Gills...Gillingham, will be interesting as there's no love lost...and we would like their front man to call our own, and they'd like one of ours. Unfortunately for different valuations...and they don't really want to lose theirs...though, if we're still strong at the January transfer window, that might swing the balance for the player...we'll see, we still have October, November and December to negotiate first...

Well, the computer gets dismantled tomorrow morning and with no access for awhile, I'll say adieu...wish everyone happiness, a lovely weekend...and may you all give me lots of reading to catch up with.

Take care
Love Su xx

PS...and the plans for Sunday...a walk on the beach.

She came...

...she measured, and we had tea...

Our buyer came on Friday with her tape, having ordered some furniture to be delivered next week (it fits). We went over where the stopcock is, and how to light the Aga (sob)...how the boiler timer works, and...to show her where the heating thermostat is (their surveyor told them we didn't have one). She's so excited, having been in rented accommodation for two and a half years, when they originally thought it'd be for six months...

But, that visit made it all very real. I think because it's been so long in coming and we'd had so many issues and setbacks, it had become just something that was in the future. Well, that future is this Friday...

Oh boy!!!

You know...

...when you titivate...just do what's necessary and not the whole. With the removal men coming on Thursday to pack most of the house into their lorry, we have a big clean planned for that evening, so my buyer is visiting today!

I could've said no...but that seemed a little churlish, so...anyone know where I left the vacuum!?

A plethera...

...of phone calls yesterday, had us accused of having had the lady in Norfolk's phone cut off!

Several calls later...dear BT agreed we couldn't have done, as we don't own the number...and heaven forfend they got things wrong.

It seems they have our ownership of the line starting the 16th(as advised by us)...and we will have a completely new number(as she's taking the old with her), so no hint of ownership of the old. They are saying it had to come from Norfolk...they wouldn't have done anything on the say so of someone not listed as owning the number, and would've written warning of the impending cancellation. Who knows what to believe!

In amongst these conversations we have been given some slightly (still to be confirmed) good news though. It seems our lady of Norfolk is now looking forward to moving on the right date...having been advised how much it would cost her not to.

Hopefully by next weeks Friday evening we'll know, and be happily emptying boxes...though my husband tells me we are eating out!

Against...

...the views of most of my teams regular bloggers, we earned a hard fought, well deserved draw against Leeds. Of course, I'd have loved a win...

But it's a good result (a win would've been icing)...it keeps us in touch with them and ahead of Bristol Rovers, who lost to Norwich.

No wonder Parky left the field with a smile on his face....I had a mirror version...

We've also nearly finished the clearing out. A hard working morning, several trips to the local tip and a load of old rubbish has gone. Also a call to one of the charities and some furniture we don't want to take with us will be going on Wednesday...we can begin to see the end...we just need to know we have a home to go to!

Looking back...

...over different times(moving does that), I realised how long I've been researching my family history. I actually drew up the first map before I was married. I think it must have been something at the later stages of school, a project or something.
I gradually added children as my cousins produced descendants. Then I had my sons and the plan went away until a younger cousin was told I'd started, and asked it she could continue. I gave her a copy, and got on with growing sons...
Several years later I started to help my husband with his tree...as they knew very little about their history other than immediate family. Again, time ran out on our searching, and it was also put to one side...
We both had family stories, tales told...legends grew...and things changed just like Chinese Whispers, but what was the actual stories of these names, these peoples lives...who were they, and by definition who are we?
Nearly seven years ago one cousin decided to have a family party, just as we had when we were all children...and he set up in one corner a basic tree...the one I'd given to someone all those years before...with added anecdotes and photos. It was strange seeing us altogether again...but, time passed by, until my father died suddenly four years ago and I thought about my family, and all those ancestors who I'd never known. I mean, my wider maternal family were out there too...so, I started on a journey to discover who these people were, how did they live...what made them move from place to place....these people who have made me...and my sons and grandsons... I have unconfirmed details going back to the 1400's...now I have to visit parish churches, and kindly vicars...and county record offices...
For the lads in my life, I've also been researching my husbands family...with some surprises for them...and now! I've just started on my daughter in laws family...with the help of my grandsons...and for them...

The continuing...

...saga....

A call from our solicitor, confirmed some thoughts. The guy at the top of the chain won't change...which we expected as he'd wanted the move in August, and had been quite verbal about things at the beginning, by all accounts, and...our lady is on holiday, travelling down a canal in France. She's due home later this week...after a fortnight away.

Strange how a fortnight rings a bell somehow!

That leaves us with neither of us agreeing to the delay, and not knowing how she'll react until she gets back.

My team are off to Colchester tonight, and again I won't be going to cheer them on...I'd love to be, but time is slipping by. It's a tough week for them, meeting Leeds(current league leaders) at Elland Road on Saturday...that game will be tense. Tonight I'll be watching the England v New Zealand cricket match...see if we can make it four in a row, with the Charlton commentary hooked into the ear-phones!

Yesterday I had a wonderful time...wandering around the V and A...one of my favourite museums, in and out all the fashions, and remembering some of them! Standing in awe at the delicacy and intense colour of the needlework, even after hundreds of years. One carpet, laid out, is over a thousand years old! It leaves you gasping... There were some items I could easily have sneaked out...except they're very securely behind glass... And if the textiles left me gasping, so did the ingenuity of some locks...secure locks, with little counting dials telling the owner if they'd been opened without his knowledge...now those sound useful, to me!

My visit was completed with a terrific meal in a Mexican restaurant...relaxed and fun...simple but good...and (I am told)...daiquiris to die for!

You know you've...

...got issues, when you're greeted by two solicitors!

That's what happened to us yesterday. We had an appointment to talk over our impending predicament, and were greeted by two solicitors.

Best case scenario...we move on the 16th and no hassle, the worst...we will be homeless on the 16th...and no way of getting any money back off her. And we probably won't know until the day...

Ah well...best foot forward...as they say...the family are coming today to cook me dinner, and have a last gathering at this house. Have a good weekend...it's only my birthday...and it's a house move, not worse...

I just...

...can't settle. All my enthusiasm has left, and I can't settle to anything. I just want to vegetate...except the brain won't switch off... I could go for a walk, but I'm expecting a call...and, I've lost interest...I could go and spend some money, but I can't look at anything without it being attached to the move, even if money allowed.

I am going to France for a day in November though, so if you see a red mini with English number plates...and three females in it, just wave... It's Mum's eightieth and she wants to go through the tunnel, and we know a beautiful restaurant just along the coast... I also want to get to the Country Living Christmas Fair. It's the same week...I just need to spread myself thin...and those two weeks are pushing my dates...

Is it me, or are there a lot of "wants" in there!

Why should...

...I be surprised! We have another chapter to our extended house purchase saga. It's getting nearly as long as one of the northman sagas, and if it continues, it might have the added addition of blood too!

Now, we have been asked if we'll push back our move for two weeks. The lady from the house we're buying, or trying to...had a minor operation six weeks ago, and now appears (after exchanging over three weeks ago), to be requiring more time! My concern is how the people she's buying from will react, they didn't like the late date in October anyway, and wanted September! And our buyers started to let people know immediately on exchange, as some letters we've received warning of our accounts being closed already show. We started last week...the removal men are booked...etc.

We see our solicitor Friday to "chat" it through...

A new...

gallery is in full view on my website.

Wayward Rose is showing the colour range of spacers available...(though it will grow), once my move is done. The colours are there for people to ponder over. If anyone is smitten, just contact me via the site.

I need to pack all my glass away, dismantle my bench and shut up the bead making from this weekend. My Etsy shops should be remaining open until the 13 October. I also won't have access to the internet for at least a couple of weeks after our move, so plenty of time to set myself up at our destination.

One regret...

...I have about moving to Norfolk, is I'll be further away from one of my favourite shops.

Warm tides wash over you as you enter Lottie Muttons, with all those little pieces that make the world go around.

Her window display entices you into this little shop on two floors, the lower ground being the interior design studio, or was the studio...she has expanded, with her design studio moving to a separate space. Set around four rooms, her new shop is lined with sumptuous fabrics. Silk curtains and beautiful wallpapers abound...the visual art wafts the senses...

I'm eager to see what they do with the original shop...hopefully expand their collection of "must haves".

My move won't stop me visiting completely...I have the excuse of family in the town...

Next time I visit, I'll remember to take my camera...

Don't do...

...unto others as they do unto you!

Did I mention the problem with my car? The leak through the replaced windscreen, which dripping onto the dashboard below, made the electronics and control boxes seem like Blackpool illuminations. I had warning lights flashing, telling me all sorts of things were happening. A quick call to the glass company...the insurance approved one, and the next morning(Sunday) I had another replacement screen, and confirmation that their workmanship had led to the leak. The Monday they agreed to pay the cost of the repair, but it had to be a mainline dealer...and duly the car was taken away, and a hire car stood in its place.

Three weeks later I am still without my car. Last week I was advised that the bill had been paid(the repair garage), though there was a bit of investigating on their part to find that out. After chasing them, I was told it was ready to collect yesterday, and having arranged my lift there...I went to collect it....to be told...

I couldn't have my car! The bill hadn't been paid!!

I was very good, though seething, I didn't lose my temper, it wasn't the fault of the lady who had to tell me this. But somewhere, someone has been lying to me...

There's more, but...well, I'm still too angry to write coherently.

Suffice to say, I have two cars, because the hire car was supposed to be collected yesterday and it's still here, and having told the garage I had no way of getting home, the lady arranged a courtesy car for me, and when out of the office, thanked me for not shouting at her...(I find that a sad reflection on our intolerance today).

From home I left a message on the designated number, with the glass company...and I had to phone again this morning, because they hadn't found my message!

They are both now investigating...and who's caught between the two organisations?! Only the innocent party...

One week...

...ago today, we had just exchanged contracts on the Tuesday, and two items came to our door. The first was a copy of our estate agents bill...less than twenty four hours from the said exchange, and the other...these...





From the estate agent in Norfolk...for "hanging on in there"! I know which I expected, and I know which I prefer...

What a beautiful thought.

One...

...wardrobe down and the rest to follow.

All things became a reality this morning, as one piece of furniture was taken away. With no space for wardrobes in our new house, we had to find homes for the two we have, and this morning our youngest son came and collected the smaller one...hopefully he'll find a temporary home for the larger one...he has five weeks!

It feels strange to see items of furniture disappearing...though, I better get used to it! The house in Norfolk has completely different room space to our present one.

And brilliant Charlton news, Jonjo Shelvey has signed an extension to his contract. It keeps him at the Valley until 2012, at least. This is a terrific fillip before the game in...less than an hour, against Brentford...as rumours abounded during the summer of his imminent departure.

Phew...

...whatta day!! I'm exhausted....

But, we've EXCHANGED!!! It nearly didn't happen, as our Norfolk lady came back from her weekend away having second thoughts...again, but...we exchanged contracts late this morning. Now, we've just got to get through the next six weeks, and then we'll be in Norfolk, with all the excitement of sorting out a new home.

I see Charlton made some signings today too...an experienced forward in Leon McKenzie, a young winger Luke Holden...from Rhyl, on loan at present with a view to signing permanently in January, and an old face at the Valley...defender Sam Sodje, a freebie after Reading released him last season. Two went out on loan too...with Stuart Fleetwood returning to Exeter on a years loan and Moots going to Motherwell for six months. It's great to see those players being mentioned in papers as having "followers", are staying with us...for that I say thanks, and long may we continue together.

And the beads...all cleaned and sparkling...

With weeks...

...of fiddling about with bits for friends, and the odd sale(my mind has been elsewhere, sorry about that), I finally got down to some serious bead-making yesterday. I had an order for eighty treacle pud spacers for Texas, which just have to be cleaned and listed ready for September. But, it showed how much I've missed serious making. I've also got some new ideas for jewellery, but those will wait until I'm set up in my new studio.

Photos will follow...

It's the village fete this afternoon. It's a big event in the village calendar, a very good one and our last as villagers. Three of the village organisations gain from it...the WI, the cricket club, and the village hall, plus a charity of choice...the WI arrange the teas(to die for), wine tent...craft plus saleable items, and cake stall(which groans with the number). The cricket club's responsibility is the beer pavilion...and bbq...and then others fill in with car park detail...duck dabbling...swings...etc... There's also a dog show before, with terrier racing...and a boot sale all day... Book, other craft and general stalls are around....so...

If you're ever in the area of the last village in north west Essex on an August bank holiday...come along...and have a good time!

With the...

...final whistle, we find ourselves still top. Four goals makes very nice reading, especially as Tranmere weren't able to respond. It sounded a very one sided match, but I'll leave others to the full analysis...

Leeds (our closest rivals and tipped to be champions), also won...with two goals, but Colchester managed to score one against them.

So, it's still only goal difference, and nerves will be jangling over the weekend to see if we both can keep our top players.

Roll on Tuesday...5:01pm!! For two reasons...

See...

...I just knew I shouldn't have mentioned our house move!

Having expected to exchange contracts this last week, what does our lady in Norfolk do? She vanishes...having left her solicitor a phone message over Thursday night, saying she's gone away for the weekend and will be back Tuesday to exchange! Her words. She knew everyone had it all set for Friday, after the messing about on Thursday, but...no, she couldn't tell or mention it then, she just went. If it doesn't happen Tuesday...that's it, the top pulls out...and no one moves. I won't tell you my reaction...

I noticed this morning that Wade Small, who Charlton had signed on a non-contract basis, has signed for Chesterfield on a years contract. We play against Tranmere Rovers this afternoon with an unchanged side.

My oh my...

...maybe my house sale and move is mirroring Charlton's takeover saga! Though I do think ours has been in negotiations longer!

Needless to say...this week's been as convoluted as all the others, with the top and bottom of our little chain arguing over a difference of eleven days! The top wanted to move on the 7th October...the bottom(our buyers)...wouldn't budge from the 18th...but that's a Sunday. Having suggested the 16th, which our solicitor thought a good idea, I finally got the phone call at 5:10 last night...everyone had agreed that date. Too late for the money to transfer...now I'm just waiting for the second confirmation call, saying we're all done and dusted....and we have exchange!

I tell you...after nearly twelve months from the first viewing and offer on the house we're buying...I can't believe we're within touching distance of the last hurdle...we won't cross the tape until October! Chickens and counting come to mind!

I see from other Charlton blogs, there's some anticipation that Charlton may have a done deal soon too...and not before time either! One of their youngsters Yado Mambo has been allowed to join Welling United on a work experience basis, which means he can still play for Charlton reserves...it's a good idea for him, with a lack of experience at his tender age...this will only help. But, by allowing it...we have no proper cover for central defence, we only have the ability to resuffle who (Youga and Semedo) we have already playing, and cover their regular positions! Maybe this means Parkinson will have the money to sign cover...

Aiming for...

...another win, our fourth consecutive one. We find ourselves entertaining Walsall this afternoon. We will be one player light, as Andy Gray has (at last) landed his transfer to Barnsley. The young man has had an unsettled stay at the Valley, when his wife became seriously ill, and he then had a pelvic injury. He is now heading back to where his heart and family are...north. I hope he does well...as although things didn't work out with his venture south, and we didn't see the best of him, there were things conspiring against that. He has signed initially on loan, with the permanent deal being signed next week.

Several years ago...more than I care to remember, I started writing out my family tree. At that time, before the days of the internet and television programmes about the hows, I just asked questions of those members of family that were closest. It really only consisted of family members of memory. Now, with access to numerous websites and books...family history societies, etc, you can dig backwards for several hundred years with relative success. About three or four years ago I signed up to one of these websites, and started piecing my tree together. With a maiden name of Smith...I have constraints. Anyway, my tree now consists of over a thousand names, as I've gradually widened the search with cousins families. Along side of my tree, I started my husbands...his tree hasn't too many of the more common names, but has other complications. One of which gave me, with my sister, a visit to the London Metropolitan Archives yesterday, and although I found the archived book/register...it didn't provide the answer I hoped. So now I have to visit the London Records Office and trawl through their records for 1860/61. We were also trying to check for one of our Mum's ancesters, who was a freeman of the City...we couldn't find that, but will return to the search armed with more information.

My husband works just down the road from the Archives, and meeting for lunch we went to The Peasant in Clerkenwell, and had a very nice lunch of roast cod... We can recommend it, it's away from the main areas of the City, and a busy, yet peaceful eatery. We walked back down towards the Clerkenwell Road, there are a few little shops, and as a lady who can't resist a "few little shops", I dragged my sister into one, you know the type...those little gift type shops, the type which through just at the end of the road my husband works, he doesn't know exists! In there...sweetness that she is, my sister bought me an early birthday pressie. A bracelet of lime seed beads, strands and strands of them...and I love it! My family are all reluctant to buy me jewellery items, because I make...but, who can't resist a gift. It's simple but beautiful. Thank you so much...I do love it!

We continued on our way, to complete our day's research in visiting the area in which our great grandfather was born...St Bartholomew the Great, at Smithfield (see photos below)...and then walking through to the Museum of London(under refurbishment). It's a great place to visit, though better when it's all open, which will be 2010. It's the museum which houses the Lord Mayors golden coach...has a whole section on the great fire of London.

Whilst walking to the museum, I had a phone call from Norfolk. It seems that all is now speeding along and we're seeing our solicitor this week. After all this delay, the people who our Norfolk lady is buying from are pushing, and wants things completed and all of us moved early October...we should get our answers this week...hence the visit to the solicitor. If she'd filled in forms months ago, we'd have been able to sign contracts a couple of weeks ago, and there'd be none of this pushing or panic from her. Maybe now we'll get to sign something relevant! And those little pink flying things might actually land...

Smithfield Market entrance

Archway to St Bartholomew's the Great

The old and the new. Part of the old priory.

Entrance to St Bartholomew's the Great - Smithfield.

The postman...

...knocked, but I was already at the door, opening it before he had time to let the knocker loose. There in his hand was a box, I couldn't keep the grin from spreading...he must have wondered what I was receiving, as I said thank you, quickly closed the door and disappeared back into the house with my parcel.

I placed it carefully on the table, gently peeling the tape away...and opening my box. Pillows of air surrounded a cone of blue tissue, tied with red twine, threaded with, aptly, a blue bead. I pulled the bow apart, gently unrolled the tissue, and there...looking up at me was my beautiful goosey.

She's wonderful...so beautiful...and utterly gorgeous. Gretel is amazingly clever...all her art is gorgeous, but...my little goosey is special.


Thank you so much for her...and thank you for your cards...it's made a wonderfully bright morning...

su xx

I think...

...I want to hit my head on a brick wall, or rather...I don't want to, but that's how it's feeling!

The paperwork duly arrived with a later than normal post this morning(always the same when you're waiting), and eagerly I opened the envelope to discover the completed forms within.

Okay, read the covering letter, and checked the contents...that's the first thing that didn't tie up, some copy letters were missing! *sigh* Then, skating through the different forms...the first made sense...the second made some sense...the third, which rooms were which?! Dining room? What dining room? There isn't one! Anyway, whichever dining room is being talked about, the fitted carpet is seemingly going...which is fine, if we know what we're talking about...and the same with some of the curtains. Of course, all these forms weren't signed either. Now, these have gone through the hands of two sets of solicitors, and I find they're not signed! Though ours did mention he still hadn't got the answer to two questions asked at the end of April, but her solicitors have not been able to get the answers either. I contacted her estate agent, and they're now on the case. Frog-marching was mentioned!

A condition of her purchase is she acts and signs quickly...yeah, right!

I'm now going to drown myself with Ben and Jerry...

Keep your...

...fingers crossed, we know some post is coming from our solicitors, and we know some post arrived at theirs from Norfolk on Friday. So, you never know...we might just be a step closer, but then....we might not!

A new start...

...and a fresh game.

Yesterday saw the opening game of the season for my team in red. A strong start...not quite on the Colchester (1-7 against Norwich in Norwich) scale of openings, but still a win, and I'll go with those anyway they come.

A strong and positive start saw us two goals to the good, but scarily they came via a defender (Dailly) and a midfielder (Bailey), but two goals are two goals! Then Llera clashed heads, and had to leave the field for eleven stitches(can someone on the official site please tell the writer how to spell stiches!), and we sat back and tried to mess the ball around, and that's when the opposition scored. Semedo seemed to be going from midfield into defence, and then back...trying to cover two positions at once. The second half, again we showed well, but Wycombe had that goal and it raised their confidence...until we scored our third, again from a defender(Llera), before they came back at us again, after some loose play. Towards the end of the game Gray(substitute) had a chance, but he was already down and the stretch was a little too far to get force into the shot, and it was an easy clutch for their goalkeeper...the referee was also substituted, Mr George coming on for Mr Deadman(sound like characters from Dickens), and Rob Elliot saved our dignity in some goalmouth scrambles, having made a couple of questionable decisions during the early part of the game, but he wasn't the only one...there were nerves showing...I'm sure the players know how much depends on this season, and what this coming week could hold. There's got to be some tension around the club...and we were also carrying some injuries at the back. It's being reported Dailly has a damaged rib from before the match, and Richardson was injured at half time. So three of our back four have injuries...and we're not the strongest in that department. The midfield needs to tighten up too...and I felt sometimes Shelvey played as though he believed all the hype surrounding him, other times you could see his understanding of the game, which belies his tender years. You tell me which seventeen year old who wouldn't be affected by what's been said about him all summer.

All in all, it's a good game to have got under our belts...we showed we can play good football, but we also showed we can dig deep and pull together. It also showed some of our vulnerabilities...now we just need to take the positives and work on the negatives.

As I've said, we're not season ticket holders this year, and we watched this game from the Upper North Stand, rather than the Lower...surrounded by people(most having moved seats) who enjoyed the match, were friendly...and had fun. It's where I'll be watching any further games from, I'll also be ordering my tickets before the game, as I understand there were queues for match day tickets(crowd of 16500). We also visited the Royal Oak...and boy, was it humming...with punters spilling outside. The landlady will do well, if that continues.

A busy journey home ended the day...

And now to...

...Great Dixter, the family home of Christopher Lloyd...one of this country's great gardeners.

The house is mainly medieval, with additions by Sir Edwin Lutyens, who was commissioned in 1910 to remodel the house by Nathaniel Lloyd, Christopher's father. He kept to the faith of the original building, by dismantling "modern" elements, and adding/saving half another medieval house as a wing. You can't see the join.

The house itself is filled with the normal household items found in an Edwardian home, Christopher had more modern tastes and commissioned several pieces from Rupert Williamson...whose furniture I fell in love with.

But...Christopher Lloyd is most famous as a designer of gardens, and his own at Great Dixter has a wealth of inspiration. He was no follower of convention, but ploughed his own furrow...even digging up the rose garden, in whose place now sits an exotic one, with banana's growing where roses once bloomed. He was not keen on roses, but you do find the odd one dotted about the gardens.

I hope you enjoy the views...












And although Christopher Lloyd died in 2006, his choice of successor in Fergus Garrett is seamless...having worked together for several years .

We might have...

...light at the end of this tunnel. I'm not talking about the closure of one of the Dartford bores today, but the fact that it seems our solicitor has received some paperwork at last from Norfolk, regarding our house purchase. It's only taken since the beginning of April, when the standard questions were sent north.

Now it all rests on how fast three sets of solicitors can work. The theory is we would be moving in October...now, we've just got to get that into practice.

On another front, it seems things at Charlton have been moving...the players swapping squad numbers, with the reallocation of some, and the disappearance of others. Plus, Nicky Bailey has been made captain...that tends to indicate he'll be sticking around for a while, despite some fans pessimism over his imminent departure, all summer. Who knows, he might change his mind...but, I'll keep the faith...as I have so far this close season.

A further light has been muttered in the SLP, with a further report regarding the takeover of Charlton...announcement next week, if they're right.

Wycombe...

...we'll be watching. Eventually, I've ordered our tickets for this weeks opening game at the Valley!

Sky Sports are also looking for a blogger to be their FanZone correspondent for Charlton. I know several people I'd love to read, but...it's time and commitment to the cause.

Our days in

...East Sussex...

At last, I've uploaded my photos taken when we had our short break in Udimore, East Sussex. The village is nestled between Rye and Hastings, and just away from the coast behind Winchelsea. Although only there for two nights, we made the most of our one day...by spending most of the morning in Winchelsea, one of the Cinque Ports and then the rest of the day at Great Dixter...the garden designed by Christopher Lloyd. It's an amazing cacophony of colour, both subtle and riotous...with plantings you'd never consider. It's somewhere I've promised myself I'd visit for too long, and how glad I am to have been now...but, Winchelsea first.

Winchelsea Museum

and the town well

St Thomas the Martyr

Strand Gate

The town inn...

To the sea

The view to Rye

The view to our B and B

"No comment!"

It's a beautiful town, well worth a visit, and we were lucky with the weather, having a gloriously sunny day, when all around us had been torrential rain.