Whats in a name ?

A rose by any other name, would smell as sweet ........

What is in a name ? I was reading Lyn's journal UK GALhttp://journals.aol.com/ukgal36/Britsblog/entries/1597/A, Yesterday,and she was talking about names ....it set me thinking

My late husbands name was actually Leonard Michael,he was his parents eighth child so they must have used up many favourite names before Mick appeared,the story according to my late dear mother in law was ,as follows ,They had decided one of the new babys names should be Michael ,but Dad was told as he set off to register the new baby, that he could choose the second name,as he sat in the office waiting to fill in the form the registrar asked him is there a second name,looks out the window and on the corner of the wall out side he read Leonard Street ,so Mick was officially Leonard Michael,he hated it ,and was always known as Mick ,to everyone except his Mum who always called Michael .

And then my name ...Janet Althea ,which I dont mind, but when people ask what the A stands for are usually a bit dumb struck  when I tell them ....so we decided when our first born son was born ,one simple name was the way we wanted it ,so we had Mark ,our second son is called Derek two very simple but masculine names that ,suited them as little ones and suits them now as men ,When I gave birth to a little girl ,I was so delighted , I must have forgotten our rule ...Mick wanted Jayne,remember Jayne Mansfield?(I wasnt about to indulge his fantacy lol ) So our little girl was called Sharon Jayne ,four years later ,I had another dear little girl ,and we called her Catherine,back to the one name rule again ! but figured Catherine was a big enough name for a little person .....

All went well until Catherine was about four ,she wanted to know why her sister had two names and her only one ,with result she was told to go away ,and think about a second one for her self ...in due course she informed us her second name was to be 'Rhubarb',and it stuck ,she had all combinations of that... Catherine Rhubarb ,sometimes Ruby !

Now she is known as Kate ! I once rang her place of work ,and asked to speak to Catherine and was told ,sorry no one with that name works here ...her e-mail address is however Rhubarb !

And while we are on the subject of names ,a few come to mind ,as a little boy Mark called his buttons ~bobboes ! and I forget who it was requested a gin gin biscuit (when they wanted a ginger one ),but needless to say it stuck ,Iwonder what your family names are ,Iwould be interested to hear .....With love from Jan  xx

More Birthdays

I love this applique graphic ,made by Donna who also made the lovely sewing machine in my sidebar, which is my all time favourite .

Yesterday, was my dear second Grandson Stuarts twenty first birthday,I know you have seen the pictures before ,its just to let you see who I mean ! I should have done this entry yesterday,in fact I tried but as you know there was an out- R- age ! so passing quickly on ,Stuart didnt go in to work ,not because he was celebrating ,the poor boy/man had a migraine,but is feeling better today ,Congratulations and Happy Birthday Stuart ,love always xxxGran or as he used to call me when he wanted something 'Granmate ',now twelve years ago,on Stuarts birthday,not only were we celebrating his  birthday,we had a new Baby girl ,a little girl after six Grandsons ,can you imagine it,Yes yesterday, was also Charlottes birthday,she was born on her brothers birthday ,and whilst her Mum my daughter Sharon was in hospital having her ,I was at home looking after her three  big brothers . Iain, Stuart and Paul I have vivid memorys of that night ,it was so exciting sleeping at Grannys house, all together ,far too exciting wasting it by sleeping !!Huh ! I went to see Sharon when Dad took over the boys and Sharon cryed at me ,whats the matter says I ,I wasnt there to see my little boy open his presents and cards this morning she said ,well you were a bit busy ! and we couldnt make him wait ! of course we laugh at that memory now ,(he got roller skates that year )and a baby sister .A little girl can you imagine ?Iwent out and bought the prettiest dress I could find ,and Sharon has it still,So happy Birthday to you too my dearest lovely Charlotte  twelve today (going on thirty),a teenager next year Oo er  !   Have a lovely evening every one with love ....Jan xxxxx

  Thank you Donna for yet another appropriate graphic

The Queens lost handbag

Hello again Everyone ,Did you watch the match? England beat Ecuador 1 -0 .We watched it ...well some of us did!..... I was sitting at the computer,and Maurice kept drawing my attention to it ....Ooh look Jan ..look,so I did ! and saw the goal,and then I saw it again,David Beckham is a clever fellow,I saw him score that goal from every angle......about six times but he actually only  scored once !

We kept the TV  on and after the football match.Was 'The Childrens Party at the Palace ',it was a celebration of childrens books,the shows highlights included a specially written play called 'Who has stolen the the Queens handbag?'and featured more than 80 classic literary characters,Thomas the Tank engine ,came in with Sophie Dahl,whose Granfather Roal Dahl had written The Big Friendly Giant,for her ,The Blue Peter team were ,The famous five complete with Timmy the dog ,Enid Blyton was well represented with Noddy and friends ,there was Alice in wonderland and all the characters ,Beatrix Potter characters ,Robin Hood,PeterPan ,Cruella DeVille was on the trail of some corgis !....and so many others,The theme running through was to find the royal handbag, because it contained Her Majestys glasses ,without which she couldnt read her speech (cant help thinking if she'd gone to spec savers they would have given her a spare pair ,but then there wouldnt have been this lovely story! ) The programme Crimestoppers got involved and the handbag was found,The Queen and Duke came onto the stage and was presented with her handbag by Tracy Beaker ,The Queen opened up her bag,pulled out her specs held them up in the air with a cheeky grin , (playing along ,just as a good Granny does ?)Then went on to thank everyone for a lovely Birthday performance ,and point out to the children,what a wealth of enjoyment knowledge etc was to be gained from reading ,and God Bless her do so agree .

All this took place in the palace grounds and they were blessed with a lovely day ,There were thousands (well it seemed like it )of Children and their familys and it was obvious they had enjoyed them selves ,They ended singing Happy Birthday to you ,to her Majesty with such gusto....I hope this entry works I took the pictures off the television.........With Lots of Love and

                                               Jan xx

A Warm Summer Sunday

 Sorry its a' link to entry 'posting again ,because its wide !!

I hope everyone is having a good day ,the weather here is extremely pleasant ,its not too hot ,but warm enough to shed the old cardi'We went into Huntingdon yesterday,which was nice I bought a couple of nice knitting patterns ,wouldnt allow myself to buy the wool ,until the present project is complete ! as we passed by the market ,we heard the vendor calling 'Strawberrys ! two punnets £1.80p'....Hmm we'll get some on the way back ,we did! by then it was two punnetts a £1 ! After tea ,Glen came round we  had a  companiable  evening chatting ,and enjoyed a big bowl of strawberrys and cream .....Glen was watching me dragging my new mouse around ,it was never really a success , I've got a wireless controlled one I dont use he said ,shall we try it ,well he did and its excellent .....

When I was a young girl,I suppose about twelve,maybe even younger ,I sang in the church choir ,so went on the choir outing to Skegness in Lincolnshire  each year ,Skegness is a seaside town ,how grown up we felt, going on a bus trip without our parents ,on the way there we would invariably stop at Boston ,and go and visit the church , its known as the  Boston stump ,and from the the tower you can see for miles especially on a clear day ,and we would climb the steps inside the tower and then walk around the out side ,viewing the country side for miles.Thinking back it was a big adventure ,but I couldnt do it now if my life depended on it !

I scanned this from a book Jean ,or rather Pete lent me , 'MiniStorys from the fens',I told her she couldnt have it back yet as there are some items I'd like to share with you ,and she agreed....well I think its time a made another coffee for me ,tea for Maurice, and take them and my knitting into the garden ,I hope you are all having an equally relaxing day ,With Love From  

                                              

P.O.E.T.S. Day !

Yes  blue jeans ,means no white shirts, which means no ironing ...Maurice has gone to work tonight and is off then  until next Tueday evening ,so we get a whole week end together ,the weather man,is promising better weather for the next few days ,although I have been wearing some of the skirts you might remember,I made last year ,with tee shirts ,I have needed a cardigan , summer came and it went ,so I shall be pleased if it got a little bit warmer ,we have had no rain though ,quite often its looked cloudy ,but alas no rain so I have had to continue to water the garden ....

Oh if you have read this far and this entry is wide ,scroll down to the bottom of this entry ,and click onto "Link to this entry "....it will take you back to the beggining,but at least you can read without getting what Joan calls 'tennis neck '! Joe from Magic smoke is explaining why this happens ,something to do with pictures being too wide or the text ,is wrong ! I have to go back and digest just what he is saying ...talking of digesting ,Cadburys are having to recall some brands of their chocolate ,due to where some of it is made ,has had a leak in a water pipe that is infected with salmonella ,this is as a  precaution  only  I understand. So I suppose the  big bar of Galaxy ,I bought today,and planned to nibble on tonight ,will be ok,as I curl up with my knitting and watch Taggart ,the Taggert is a repeat but prefarable to football,Oh  and I might as  well'fess' up to buying a packet of Wagon wheels too ,but they cant be fattening either ,because they are so much smaller than they used to be or is that my imagination?....So have a good week end every one with love from

                                          Donna I love this siggy.

Royal Ascot ,or home with my knitting ?

Donna 's designs often grace my journals ,Donna can be found in my side bar,do visit her for a treat  ,  I love this new one ,she calls it Royalty house ...isnt it lovely ,look at the reflections in the water .. ..Talking of Royalty ,I have been tuning in to Royal Ascot on the TV the last couple of days ...I love to look at the fashions of the ladies at this famous race meeting and not least the Queen,yesterday she looked lovely in sea green ,today she wore a yellow coat and hat ,the commentater was saying ,the queen doesnt specify an outfit is for a particular occasion  ,she works with her designer with a whole lot of out fits  ..she must be up all night deciding what to wear tomorrow ....Do you think ?,and then if its not quite right ,does she chuck it on the chair and try something else... do you think ?There is however a royal protacol

Royal Enclosure Dress Code
Ladies are required to dress in a manner appropriate for a formal occasion. This means that: a hat must be worn; strapless dresses are not permitted; midriffs must be covered; and trouser suits, of full length, must be of matching material and colour. Gentlemen are required to wear either black or grey morning dress, including a waistcoat, with a top hat. Overseas visitors are welcome to wear the formal national dress of their country or Service Dress. Please note those not complying with the dress code will be asked to leave the Royal Enclosure. Children, Girls must wear a dress or skirt, Boys a suit or jacket and smart trousers with a tie. Jeans and trainers are not permissable.

What is the top picture all about ,I have just started to knit a gillett,and it occured to me ,I wonder how many of you dont knit anymore because ,the steel needles hurt your arthriticfingers ,I have discovered bamboo needles , they are so much more easy on the fingers .Well I guess thats it for today ,Maurice has gone of to work ,I'm going to make a cauliflower cheese for my dinner/supper ,and then get on with my knitting ...With Love

                        

Dianna made this Siggy ,Will it do for Ascot...do you think ?Thankyou Dianna

The Mid summer Solstice

Good afternoon ,on this longest day of the year ,The Midsummer soltice ,so that means the nights will begin to get dark a little bit earlier each night ,so tell me where has this year gone ?Is it really six months since Christmas ?when Iwas reading all your lovely journals and was so envoius of those of you putting lovely graphics on them !I made it my new year resolution to learn to do it myself .....and as its six months since Christmas ,it is also six months till the next one ...Ouch

Well England drew last night ,I dont know ,why I'm telling you this, because those of you that enjoy football ,already know !      I am looking forward to watching a programme tonight that is part of a series of four,the second part tonight is on BBC2  at nine o clock .Four women suffering a variety of personal crises  leave their everyday excistence behind ,to live as  nuns at the conventof the Poor Clares  in Arundel,they give up material possessions and normal routines for fourty days and nights,in a bid to learn whether the traditional values and practises of the sisterhood including seven services a day,can help them find a purpose to their existance,some of them struggled with the regime but some took to it  straight away,The nuns themselves made some interesting observations too ,'different shoes with each outfit' ! so its certainly a two way experiance ........Have a good day everyone ,With Love

Jan xx