Good morning, hope you're all keeping warm.
We have a bit of sunshine this morning, not sure how long it's going to last as the clouds are rolling in thick and fast.

My neighbour's garden across the way is a riot of yellow daffodils and I noticed the roundabouts on our main roads are all springing (no pun intended) to life.

Our roundabouts down here are sponsored by different companies which means we have something cheery to look at when we're stuck in traffic. It's like having little gardens in the middle of the road, all with differnet themes.
We actually had some foreign tourists who parked on one of our busiest roundabouts and got out to picnic on it.

British Summer Time begins officially on Sunday, I wonder if someone could point that out to our weather.

Me too. Ah, John and his jacket, what memories that line brings back.

Obviously a different jacket to the one that got 'alf inched by the GBF.

Hi, waves to ellemay.

Hi ucra, thanks for bringing that over.

Mark Webber's gone back to Oz to take his board out and think about things. Pretty sure he won't be with the team next season as Vettel will always have the last laugh at Red Bull. I saw a piece in the paper today that said Vettel's naughty step is the podium, which I think sums it up.

I notice RB's boss is already suggesting that maybe team orders should be banned again.
Of course the reason the rule was abolished in the first place was because teams still managed to manipulate a situation albeit at times in a clumsy manner (looks in direction of a certain prancing horse)

Wonder where Mark's surfing, maybe he'll pop in John's shop.

I am glad Mark has gone away,that is what he needs right now.RB are just doing damage limitation.Team orders are there to benefit the team,avoid unneccessary accidents,bashing cars and safety of drivers.They havent managed Vettle,that is the problem not the team orders.He is out of control and doesnt respect anyone.McLaren or Ferrari could do with Mark tbh.

Jeremy Metcalfe has been in this situation and it completely destroyed him

afternoon all...


this F1 sounds so clumsy, I sort of understand the point of team orders, to save the cars and engines, but cant help but feel it doesnt really add to the sport, which is meant to be about racing cars, as well as the engine fine tuning......


its sunny today, but there are still bits of snow left on the grass and its bitterly cold. And those poor lambs etc...

It is a team sport as well as individual.What about the constructors championship?The teams employ the drivers to drive their cars so it is up to the team to get the best out of their pair.Drivers cant disobey team orders for their personal gain.The cars belong to the team.There is no point in risking accidents,performance ability,tyres and overall costs of running cars because of individual drivers ambitions.You can only be a racing driver if there is a car to race.

thats true, but as a pure spectator, I dont really care that much about the constructors championship.....

Good evening jjat

it soooooooooo cold still
if its not Spring outside with the weather
it is now inside
i've filled the house up with tulips and daffodils

don,t watch motor racing sooooo i,m just going to agree with lena and ucra

love zillie tweet also, she does make me laugh

i see mugs is unwell , so wish her all the best and a speedy recovery xxx

Hope your treatment went well Nyannie and everyones is good

Morning all.

Sun is shining, tulips are coming out and snowdrops still look happy and healthy. I'm going out to breakfast with a friend.

It was FREEZING yesterday. I can't believe that my course is almost finished. Last one next week and then we meet 1 month, 6 months and a year later. We have all exchanged emails and we will go out to lunch in May. We had to go somewhere by ourselves for an hour and I stopped to have a drink - chose hot chocolate - BIG mistake! For some reason I was so full and couldn't eat anything for the rest of the day. Feel much better today!

How are we all? Gettting ready for Easter? Wonder if John will get a nice egg from someone.

Well, o/h about to leave for work so I'd best see him off.

Sun's been shining all day here hurray! Felt just a tincy, wincy bit warmer today.....which means it's still bloomin' cold.

In the garden the bluebells are more than 8" out of the ground now and the lilac is starting to sprout leaves so I guess spring must be near? I'll just keep telling myself that.

At least the days are longer now, turned 4pm and I can still see the sun above the Downs. Clocks go forward this weekend.

Get well wishes to muggins, hope you're getting plenty of rest. Not the easiest thing for you I know. Hope Laura is feeling better.

Bought Easter Eggs yesterday, not sure about John nyannie, do I remember him saying he didn't like chocolate very much?

Nyannie, just to let you know that my laptop is working properly again. Have sent you the details on what to do.

I have to say the CT has been a hoot.
Bet John's glad he got his jacket if he's seen the latest pics.

Wonder what the weather is doing in Oz? Guess it must be heading towards autumn there now.

Thanks for this Lena - the language is so easy, even I can understand.

Sun again this morning and a few brave daffodils are coming up.

Off to the dental hygienist and to do some banking this morning. Hopefully back later.

Morning all. How are we all?

Thanks for the reminder about Summer Time - at least we will have Monday off.

For those of you who expressed interest in meeting on the 1 June, please look at Cafe des Amis, Covent Garden website and let me know if you would like to go there or our usual place by the 10th April.

Please bump this message.

If I don't hear from you I will book Cafe des Amis.

Good Morning jjat

will do Nyannie
i shall have a look a little later
by the way, a big thanks for all your work organizing these things

busy day today, of out any minute
going shopping and lunch with my eldest
need to get him some shirt

because...... wait for it....... YES ..... he got a job

be back later

Good luck with the hygienist
Me......don,t like a clean

Love the court
very funny, but also, a interesting read

bumping message


afternoon all.....

Isnt it silly how much time it takes to do just simple things......I dont think i stopped yesterday.

now ive just had older daughter on phone needing a lift....just as id sat down as well


her car isnt working......


back soon....

Congratulations to your son. You must be pleased.

Will he continue to live at home? My neighbour's daughter is back from university - she goes back week after next. We are taking her out to tea on Wednesday - some place nice.

Sometimes I wish I was a student again, life was so much simpler then. . .

Thanks Nyannie, very pleased

no he will be living in london, its where he wants to be,
he also loved being a student, had a great time at leeds

student life was a dream

Morning all.

I hope Georgy, that your son makes the most of his time in London. I know I did. Had some of the best times of my life living in London. Hope you will cope with being an empty nester.

We are having friends for the weekend so best get going and clean up. I really hate housework. As soon as you do it and someone goes into the room you've just tidied, it looks messy!

Happy Easter John, hope you get a nice chocolate egg from someone.

morning nyannie,

I loved living in london as well, and didnt take as much advantage of living there as I could have done, mainly cos most of the time I had tiny children, before we moved out.....


I used to love the museums

Hi all

Another late night missive from me

Nyannie, Café des Amis sounds good, I fancy that...but I'll go with the majority

Georgy, great news about your son's job And at least London isn't far away

I loved living in London, moved there before having children so made the most of restaurants, theatres, parties, etc.....ah those were the days . Then even with kids I found it a great place to be, lots of parks and always plenty of things to do. And of course the parties continued, we had a baby-sitting circle and a big group of friends. In those days we all seemed to feel (or express ourselves) more passionately about everything, from politics to leaf-paintings!!!

To be honest I have never felt the same since we left, and that was 24 years ago (counting every one!) It's peaceful here, and.....well, what?? For me, I don't get why people live in the middle of nowhere, I'm a social animal and I need people.

If we lived by the sea that might be different, there's something dramatic about the ocean, but the meandering lanes of middle England...yes, okay, they're pretty but they're not for me .

Sorry for the rant, it's just how I feel Some people love the countryside, I know....maybe some of you do?

Daughter coming up from London tomorrow, perhaps that explains it a bit. Part of me always wants to go back with her .

I feel very similar to you about towns Lindy, trouble is I spose if I still lived there, id start to find the problems again. As well as enjoying the social side.....

our biggest one, was the car pollution from the Romford road, My O/H ended up with asthma, and although no source could be proved, the car pollution was a likely cause, and his asthma got a lot better when we moved out of the city...


cars are very useful, but have a lot to answer for.......

Morning Augusta

Funnily enough I had my first asthma attack after we moved to the country.....ah well.....know what you mean about traffic, though. I do take relatively quiet roads for granted now