Getting to Know Princess Royal Hospital

So, normal life has not resumed!

Just a quick catch up in between hospital visits. My lovely daughter was in so much pain that she was admitted yesterday. We had a full day of it, first one hospital, then the next, and finally, after several doctors had seen her, and after blood tests and an x ray, they kept her in. 

David and I are cat sitting, and looking after our grandson in between hospital visits. We will, hopefully, know more about Jo's condition, later in the day. It's a worrying time, but, as they say, she is in the right place.

On a brighter note, we were treat to a wonderful firework display on Saturday night, as we arrived back at the flat. We watched from the comfort of our lounge as sparkling cascades of florescent mushrooms, broke into droplets of white and silver flashes in the sky, amid booms and rips, and the whoosh of rockets. I think the display came from the park, but there were some private garden displays also lighting up the dark November evening. It was quite something. Of course, I did think about the money that was just going up in smoke, but isn't it worth it to put a smile on your face?
The Round Table organised this display, maybe next year we will attend the event and join in the fun.

We did have an hour or two to ourselves on Saturday, so we went to the cinema. We could not get a seat to see the Tom Hanks film, Captain Philips, so we opted to see 'Philomena' staring Judy Dench and Steve Coogan. We enjoyed the film, good script, good human interest story, and of course, well acted, but probably not as thrilling as Captain Philips. If you haven't time to see the film, then here's a brilliant short cut, Philomena the Official Trailer.



Maybe I should write a film script of my book, I recon it could raise a few eyebrows. Look it up on Amazon, Tears from the Sun - A Cretan Journey It will make a great Christmas present too!

And before you go to bed tonight, think nice thoughts. There are enough evil bastards out there, let's make sure there is more positive energy released then negative.

I wish you a happy Monday, wherever you are, and whatever you are doing today.

Love and hugs,
Jane x

STOP! Hospital Visit, Normal Life Will Resume A.S.A.P.

STOP. HOSPITAL VISIT. NORMAL LIFE WILL RESUME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

You couldn't call it an adventure, it was more of an experience!

This is a photo of the Princess Royal Hospital at Lochs Bottom, Orpington, where David and I spent the day last Friday, while our daughter had a small operation.

All went well, and she is recovering nicely, feet up and lots of love over the weekend.

Anyway, although there was an hour or two of waiting in the reception area of the hospital, David and I did take a walk out to investigate the surroundings. We walked the High Street of Lochs Bottom, had a coffee and cake in a lovely coffee shop, did the tour of the charity shop, and, well, that was about it really. There was a pub on the corner, but we didn't fancy a pint, and there was a big Sainsburys near the hospital, but apart from that, not a lot else.

You can imagine concern during the day, so neither of us felt like whooping it up very much, and after a sobering sit in at the hospital, we got Jo home and tucked up in bed, put our feet up and watched 'Skyfall,' the James Bond film.

Things are not quite back to normal, but I dare say I shall rally myself for choir practice tonight, and a good sing should shake away the negativity. So, forgive my not as chirpy as usual self, it's nothing that a good night's sleep won't cure.

Hey Ho! It's all part of life's rich pattern!
Love and hugs,
Jane x

Want a good book to read? Check out this one, Tears from the Sun - A Cretan Journey it is based on my adventures in Crete. Available now from Amazon.

Good Hair Day!

Meet Jonny, my favorite hairdresser. Credit where credit is due, Jonny transformed my very bad hair day, into a very good hair day. 

I managed to find a spare hour at the end of a very busy day, decided on the spur of the moment to get my hair cut, and popped into the Headmasters' salon in the center of Bromley. Sometimes it is good to give yourself a treat. And a treat it surely was. Thanks, Jonny, loved the head massage!

I suppose I should have taken a picture of my new hairdo, but I'm sure you would rather look at the lovely hairdresser.

And in a state of very bad hair day, I spent the afternoon together with my poet friends, at the Ripley Arts Center. It was the first time I have read one of my own poems to the group. The readers section and the writers section, joined together to listen to each other's work. I did enjoy being able to show that I could turn out a decent, well crafted poem. I also enjoyed listening to some splendid renditions. 

Tomorrow I shall visit the gym again, (oh dear) it is not my favorite thing to do, but I do want to be fit for my adventures.

Time for my beauty sleep now,

Night, night,

Love and hugs,

Jane x

Wedding Bells to ring in Beckenham

Congratulations to James and Rachel, who surprised the congregation of the Methodist Church, on Sunday, when they announced their engagement. The wedding is planned for 31st May 2014, an event I am so looking forward to.

Now, I know I still haven't got round to telling you about my adventures in Crete, but I have to tell you about more recent happenings, first.

Well, no sooner was I back from Crete, than my friend, Mary, came to visit so that we could practice our music for this coming Sunday. We are going to play together, piano and cello, at a Christening service which is to be held at the Clock House Methodist church. We spent a lovely afternoon going through our pieces. 

Next came choir product on Monday evening. Only one more practice now before our concert on Saturday. Don't miss this Autumn Charity Concert of the Beckenham Ladies Choir. We are performing at Penge Congregational Church, High Street, Penge. Tickets are £7.50 on the door. All profits from this concert will go to charities supported by Beckenham Rotary Club: Young Carers of Bromley, CASPA, Demelza, Petts Wood Play Group, Phoenix, BAT, Maypole. So get out of that armchair and come and support us!

On Tuesday afternoon I hopped on a bus to Bromley, changed buses there, and got myself to the Ripley Arts Center for 2.30 p.m. It was the fortnightly meeting of the Shortlands Poetry Circle, of which, I am a member. This week we grouped together to read excerpts from long poems. I read from Omeros, by Derek Walcott, some people read T.S. Eliot, The Wasteland, and from the Four Quartets, there was a touch of Alice Oswald, The Dart, and other long poems. I must confess, I much prefer shorter poems, but I certainly admire and respect the work and artistry that goes into writing a long poem.

On my way home from the poetry group, I stopped off in Bromley to pick up a flip chart and an easel. It is all part of my upcoming talk that I am preparing to give (exciting stuff) in Greece, AND in Greek (Yikes!).

Anyway, more of that later. While I was in the Glades, I was stopped by a couple of customer support personnel, one of whom offered me a chocolate, and the other took my picture, they were Darren and Dee. We had a little chat, and I went on my merry way. A nice little interlude!

Now, it is Thursday, and David and I are going to take a little trip into town to buy our fruit and veggies. So, be patient with me, I promise to tell you about Crete, and what I am going to talk Greek about on my next trip. 

Take care dear reader, remember to do a good deed whenever you can, let love be your watchword, and we'll get together again soon.

Love and hugs,

Jane x

And don't forget, if you haven't read my book, Tears from the Sun - A Cretan Journey, now is the time to get your copy from Amazon. 

(Click on the above title)

Laughter all the way with Jane and David

Have a laugh and watch our funny video. This is where it begins. Sorry about the tissue, but it's what people do. Hope you notice the Tears From the Sun T-Shirt, I had to get that one in.

Have a good weekend everyone. Love and laughter, Jane x

Jane Making Music in Denver, Colorado.

One minute I'm in Beckenham, and 22 hours later I'm in Denver, Colorado. The purpose of our our trip was to attend the Empower Network seminar. David and I had a fabulous time, met some awesome people, and learned such a lot. The weather was scorching hot but inside the Colorado Convention Center we were nice and cool in the air conditioned auditorium of the Bellaco Theatre. That is where all the action took place, although I have to say that there was a lot of action in our break time too. Best of all, I got to promote my book, Tears from the Sun - A Cretan Journey.

Here I am on the streets of Denver doing what comes naturally!

 All the people on the stage were celebrating their successes.

 Hello Hard Rock Cafe, where we had a great party.

 Here, David spotted a 'Welcome to Denver,' sign from Empowernetwork.com

Our Team Leader, Tissa Godavitane and his lovely wife, Carolyne. They worked so hard to make us feel welcome, and make sure that we had a good experience.

One of the speakers who impressed me so much, was Justin Verenggia, a young man with a vision of 'freedom for all.'

I have more photos, but I think this will give you an idea of the huge adventure that I have just had in Denver. Of course, we are resting today, sort of. But last night we had fun making a video to promote our own business. I'll let you see it tomorrow.

For now, I wish you, my reader, a great day, and look forward to telling you more about our great 'American experience.'

Awesome Birthday Adventure

 If you ever wondered what happiness looks like, this is it: a wonderful partner, a trip to London, and a glass of champagne in Champagne Charlies. But that was just the start of a fabulous adventure.

Yes, it was my birthday, yesterday. David has come home, and I have resumed my role as wife, hence the bigger than normal smile. And, please note the badge, 'Perfect Wife,' it came with my birthday card, and I wear it with pride.



Well, I did ask for something exciting for my birthday, and this is what David came up with, two tickets for the Thames Rib Experience, which was indeed an unforgettable journey along London's world famous waterway, on a thrilling, roller coaster speed boat. We went all the way down to the Thames Barrier, taking in the sights. Oh, it was FUN!

After putting on coats and life jackets we boarded the twelve seat speed boat.

 The skippers, Andy and Mark, made sure that the trip was exhilarating, and they even played 'Happy Birthday' as we sped past the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, The London Eye, London Bridge, HMS Belfast, The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Greenwich, The O2 Arena, up to the Flood Barrier and back to the Embankment.

Big Ben and The Houses of Parliament

 Exciting, or wot!

The London Eye

The Shard

The Tower of London

Tower Bridge

The Thames Flood Barrier

 And, of course, a family meal to round off a perfect day. Here we are at ChomChom in Beckenham, with Jo and Jack. Hopefully, we shall get together with our other grandchildren, Star and Jade, very soon. Thanks to Skype, I am able to see our son and family, and hope to make a trip north to visit them very soon.

Thanks my perfect husband, for a wonderful birthday.

It's Not That Cold Up North!

I'm just home from an excellent adventure! Four days with my good friend, Pauline, in Marton, Middlesbrough. Not only did I get to meet one of my Facebook friends, Jay Tee the famous Middlesbrough film maker, but I also managed to do a bit of book promotion at the Marton library. Pauline treated me to the delights of the area, which included a night at the Bingo, a trip to the Transporter Bridge, and Fish and Chips at Saltburn by the sea. And it was fun, fun, fun the whole way. We ended up so tired that we almost fell asleep watching The Rolling Stones at Glastonbury, and I doubt many slept through that.                      

Pauline took me on a Magical Mystery Tour

 It's a long time since I last played Bingo, but I soon got the hang of it. Pauline supplied me with a dobber, I called it a dibber, but it didn't bring me luck. Never mind, we had a laugh.

 It's a good job I took my mac because the next day was slightly inclement. Not to be deterred, we headed for the seaside. I really loved Saltburn with its Victorian Spa feel, the Valley Gardens, and the Funicular lift up the cliff side. We called at the cafe bar in the gardens and had a lovely hot chocolate, then we walked to the Smuggler's Inn, and went onto the beach to do a spot of fossil hunting. I learned that this was the Jurassic coast, and after that there was no stopping us. We both found fantastic fossil specimens of crustaceans from millions of years ago.

 Of course we had to walk along the pier (in the pouring rain) with our fish and chips. There were lots of schoolchildren enjoying a day trip to Saltburn. And when we had washed our sticky fingers, we went into the arcade and had 50 pence worth of slot machine fun.

The Funicular lift as seen from the pier.

 Ticket officer, Paul, and lift operator, Adrian, tried to explain where the boundary of Yorkshire stopped and started. It is all very confusing, but most people I spoke to liked to thing themselves as being Yorkshire. The 50p ride up the cliff was well worth the money. And at the top to open the doors was another Paul, Paul the banjo player. He even gave us a tune, and a little ditty, before we headed off into the wind and rain, in search of the famous chocolate shop.

 Oh Yes! Chocolate!

 And the next day the sun came out, right on cue for my book signing morning at the Marton Library. There I met Jay Tee, a local film director. We have been Facebook friends for a couple of years, and never met. It was a good meeting, and after the event we went to the pub for a jar and a natter.

 I was happy to promote my writing, and I got into conversation with lots of lovely people. It was the first time Tears From the Sun - A Cretan Journey had been to Middlesbrough.

 On the way home we took a close up look at the famous Middlesbrough transporter bridge. It's a true dinosaur, thin at one end, fat in the middle, and thin at the other end.

 We laughed at this sign. It was placed at the beginning of a graveyard we passed.

 This photo was taken before the choir arrived on stage. The Concert was given at the Town Hall in Middlesbrough. It was called Coronation Celebration, and the orchestra was the Mowbray Orchestra, conductor John Forsyth MBE. The Choir was the Cleveland Philharmonic Choir. How marvelous that my friend Pauline should think of me and book seats as a Saturday night treat. It was wonderful to sing Land of Hope and Glory with the audience, just like the last night at the Proms. (Well almost).

 And then we needed beer. After church on Sunday morning, we changed into our country garb and headed for the dales. We parked the car at Cobbydale and walked along a bridleway, about 2 miles, to a pub called The Eskdale. It was an easy walk in God's own countryside.

We saw lots of Tumuli, I have to look up the history of the area. I forgot to tell you that we did visit a museum at Redcar, and we saw the exhibition called The Saxon Princess. Fantastic jewelery that had been found in a Saxon graveyard, in a field not far from Redcar. The owner of the jewelery had been buried in a bed. Other graves produced more beads and gold broaches etc. Thoroughly fascinating!

To round off my trip, Pauline took me to Guisbrough Priory, or what is left of it. And then we went home to a hearty meal and a game of scrabble. It was the end of my stay in Middlesbrough.

Now I am back in Beckenham with all those memories of my little adventure North. I missed choir practice last night (bad girl) but am now raring to go, and have spent a good two hours practicing my cello today. Tomorrow I have to visit the dentist, and then I had better do a bit of shopping, I ended up having boiled eggs and baked beans for tea tonight, the cupboards are almost bare. Still, Pauline fed me so well that I'd better cut down a bit for the next few days.

I traveled to Middlesbrough on the train. I booked on-line with EastCoastTrains, making a good saving by using my Senior Rail Card. So I can thoroughly recommend you get one if you are entitled. And I am already planning my next adventure. Follow me again soon, to see where I get to in July.

Bye for now, love, peace, and lots of fun,
Jane x

I Found Me A Bentley!

Add caption

 What a great week I have had. I had chance to pull out all the stops at Beckenham Methodist Church, when I was treated to spend an hour trying out my skills on the big pipe organ. It was a bit scary, but David, one of the regular organists, explained the ins and outs of the levers (stops) and what went on with 'feet'. He then left me to it. I was able to practice a few hymns and provide a bit of background music for the coffee shop clientele, but I don't think I am ready to be unleashed in front of a congregation. I'm happy with the electronic Yamaha that I play at Clock House. The experience was great, though, and I can go and play some more whenever I want.

After my volunteer job at the coffee shop, on Monday, I decided to walk back home via Kelsey Park. It was delightful, full of green, green, and smelling of excited cytoplasm. Birds were twittering, squirrels were darting about, and wood pigeons shyly strutted in the shade of tall trees. It was the stuff that poems are made of.

 So, speaking of poetry, what do you think to Carol Ann Duffy's poem for the Coronation celebration in Westminster Abbey. I thought it was a lovely poem, brilliantly crafted. And I liked it even better when I saw it written down.
The Crown

The crown translates a woman to a Queen –
endless gold, circling itself, an O like a well,
fathomless, for the years to drown in – history's bride,
anointed, blessed, for a crowning. One head alone
can know its weight, on throne, in pageantry,
and feel it still, in private space, when it's lifted:
not a hollow thing, but a measuring; no halo,
treasure, but a valuing; decades and duty. Time-gifted,
the crown is old light, journeying from skulls of kings
to living Queen.

                                           Its jewels glow, virtues; loyalty's ruby, blood-deep; sapphire's ice resilience; emerald evergreen;
the shy pearl, humility. My whole life, whether it be long
or short, devoted to your service. Not lightly worn.

Of course I may be a bit bias, but Carol Ann Duffy was one of my mentors way back in 1993, along with Mathew Sweeney, both excellent poets.

If you missed watching the service with all it's pageantry, music and fashions, then I urge you to pop on You Tube and select one of the many recordings made.

So, after a relaxing day at home with the Queen, my cello and a few episodes of The Tudors, on TV, I slept soundly, and was up at the crack of dawn this morning to do a bit of housework and get ready for another adventurous day.

10.30 a.m. Coffee Morning at Abbeyfield, where I was invited to offer a rendering of one of my poems, and talk a little about my book, Tears from the Sun - A Cretan Journey. And after that I went to the Jolly Woodman with my new friends from the Beckenham Ladies Choir, to fill in an hour before heading of to Chiselhurst where we gave an afternoon concert.

As you can see I had an attentive audience at Abbeyfield.

And then to the stuff that dreams are made of. As we came out of the residential home, full of tea, biscuits, and Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend (part of our repertoire), I couldn't help taking advantage of a photo with this parked Bentley. You may not know this, but this car is on my vision board, I just had to touch it, very lightly of course so as not to leave a smudge. Personally, I think we look good together!
Well, dream the music and the tune follows! Dum-de-dum! Bye for now, I'm off to my kitchen to sizzle up some sausages.

May the sun be shining on you wherever you are.

Bye for now, love Jane x