Our Coffee Ladies group started when our children moved up to Secondary School five years ago. We used to see each other in the playground and chat when they were at Junior School but once they went to Secondary School we weren't taking or picking up from school any more. We missed our chats and decided to meet for a coffee instead and we now try and meet once a fortnight. It doesn't always work out and there are times when one or more of us won't make it but when we do all get together it's good to catch up.
We go for a Christmas lunch each year and today we had our lunch at the local Arts Centre, Chequer Mead.
L-R: Carol, Sarah, Karen and Carol.
Sarah and Karen
Carol and Carol
And finally, a group photo of all of us. Unfortunately it's turned out blurred but I'll still be using it in Project Life :) Unfortunately, Kathy couldn't make it today as she was unwell and Pam works at the school and wasn't able to make it either.
This morning felt really chilly when we got up and when I mentioned this to Emily once we were downstairs, she checked her phone and said "There's a 30% chance of snow this morning!".
Looking outside it didn't look like this was likely but I thought it would make a good shot to put in my Project Life so I took a screen shot. A little while later, as I was talking to Claire on the phone, I looked up and saw snow flakes falling. Claire picked Alice up to see and I could hear Alice saying "It's snowing Mummy, it's snowing!"
The snow started to fall more and the flakes were getting bigger. Alice wanted to go outside but Claire had been going to wait until after breakfast. I suggested it might be better to take Alice out then and there because we didn't know how long the snow would last and she could come in and get dried and have something to eat after.
Although the snow continued to fall for a little while longer and did settle briefly on the road, it wasn't going to be anything that was going to cause a problem. By 10am it was all over and I headed in to town. First snow fall this Winter - I wonder how much more snow we'll see over the coming months!
xx
PS Claire has just started a blog and is doing well posting. If you'd like to drop in and see what she and Alice are up to, the link is in my "Blogs I Read" bar - Our Daily Life
My nephew, Max, has been staying with us since March this year but yesterday he flew to Australia to spend a year over there with his Dad (my brother, Iain who featured in my catch up post). As Sunday was his last night with us we decided to have a kebab take away before he left.
I have to admit, this morning I was downstairs and I heard an upstairs door open and thought Max was up early ;o) - it was Jon coming out of the study to get a coffee. I think it's going to take a little while before it sinks in that he's no longer here.
And, as all three of our children were here, I thought a photo of them with their cousin before he leaves would be a good idea for Project Life ;o) (I have to take my photos where I can at the moment!)
Safe trip Max and we hope you have a fantastic time in Australia and that everything works out the way you'd like it to.
Before you go any further, if you don't have any interest in Jason Mraz this post might not be one you want to read ;o)
Saturday dawned fairly bright and, more importantly, dry if somewhat chilly. Emily and I had been looking forward to going to see Jason Mraz for a few months and finally the day had come. We got up to The O2 in London (perhaps a little too much) earlier than necessary but had decided we were going to go and get something to eat before going to the concert. TGI Fridays is always a good choice!
I did have to smile when I was going through my photos later and saw this one. I guess Emily was trending on Saturday night ;o)
We both opted for burgers - mine with a side of Jack Daniels sauce!
When we finally got in to the arena we were quite happy with the seats we'd got, especially considering we were late to the game when we booked and I ended up getting them off eBay. The only thing we were hoping for was screens so we could actually see what was going on properly.
We needn't have worried because the screens on stage were fantastic and we could see without any problem.
Unfortunately, the opening act wasn't fantastic - he had a good voice but his songs weren't quite to my taste (or that of a number of other people in the arena if the response was anything to go by). However, as soon as Jason came on stage the atmosphere changed and it was just fantastic!
He was telling us all to get comfortable and kick off our shoes if we wanted to, then told us he'd taken his off and the camera's panned to his feet just as I took this photo - lol!
The band was brilliant and they all genuinely seemed to be having such a good time.
I loved it when they sang Lucky - such good vocals. Not long after he did a bit of chat about the women in men's lives and mentioned Francine. Next thing we saw a woman in the audience up on the screens and her boyfriend proposed to her. She was so surprised and, fortunately, said Yes! She certainly won't ever forget the proposal, will she!
A few more photos from the concert, it's so difficult to put into words how awesome it was (and that's not a word I normally use) and how much we enjoyed it.
Emily and I had to buy the hoodies (never mind the t-shirts, it was really cold!) to show we'd been ;o) and after the concert, continued to listen to the CD in the car on the way home (Emily's just corrected me on this one. I listened to the CD as she fell asleep within a few minutes of getting out of the car park ;o) ).
Had to take a photo of the guitarist, he was cute!
And when Jason sang "I'm Yours" the whole place sang with him :o)
There was a point where Jason and the band left the stage. A lot of people got up and left but we stayed because they hadn't turned up the lights. A slow hand clap started, then there was foot stamping and people calling Jason's name. After a few minutes they came back on again and sang another 4 or 5 songs! So glad we didn't leave - if I'd been one of those people I'd have been kicking myself. This last photo was the last song they played and everyone was having a fantastic time.
A M A Z I N G!! That's all I can say about the concert, absolutely A M A Z I N G!!
If you have read to the end and don't know who Jason Mraz is, have a watch of this video - you might like him too :o)
xx
