h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have never heard of a Labradoodle, sounds a lot like a most uncomfortable medical procedure involving long tubes and rubber gloves.

Anything less than a standard is far to 'yippy' for my taste but that's what inbreeding can do, just look at some of the royals scampering about. I won't be sent to hell for that bit of fun will I? Maybe bricked up in 'The Tower' and forced to watch endless re-runs of 'Are You Being Served' and eat kippers that have gone slightly off?

Why a donkey sanctuary? Is there a problem with donkey overpopulation or are they part of a exotic animal fad that is now over? Really, I have never heard of such a thing! But I am happy that they have a place to live and people to love them, adoption is one of the most rewarding things a body can do and the visits must be a real treat for man and beast. Good for you and I mean that most truely.

I've gotta run as I am late doing chores due to a forced run to buy a new microwave oven. Hope the coffee and tea go well and I'll talk to you more on the morrow.

Brad

Dear Brad,

Actually it is a sad state of affairs here in England that many people care more about donkeys and other animals than they do about the mistreatment of children. The Donkey Sanctuary is a lovely place. Dr. Svendsen began her sanctuary back in the 1960s - she found donkeys being mistreated on British beaches. When I was a child the highlight of my seaside holiday was the donkey rides. The poor things trudged up and down the beach all day long lugging children (large and small) on their backs. She also found that some donkeys were ill treated and starved by their owners, so she stepped in and began to rescue them. She has been the subject of many TV documentaries as her organisation (EST) Elizabeth Svendsen Trust, is now a world wide busihess. She rescues donkeys from Africa and all over. There is a town in Spain where they find the fattest man they can and make a poor donkey carry him around until it drops, apparently. But they fight bulls too don't they?

Now, I think that it is wicked to be cruel to animals but the EST is the second richest charity in England. Loads of people leave all their wordly goods to it. I would much rather see the money given to the NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children)or Cancer Reasearch or The British heart Foundation - something to benefit people. In my book, although I do like animals, children and people come first.

I won't tell the Queen what you said about her family! I would hate to see you tortured on the rack! or having your head cut off! Though that would be preferable to "Are you Being Served" I should think!

Bye now, have a nice day
Carole

Thank you, I had no idea that donkeys faced such indignities. We have a large Amish population round these parts and no one I can think of would consider donkeys, mules or horses to be anything but valuable assets to be well cared for.

I'm in full agreement on the sorry aspect of animals recieving better funding than needy children. My wife was adopted from an orphanage in Athens, Greece as was her brother. When my inlaws first arrived to see them and start the paperwork they found that the children were subsisting on on a mixture of 3 parts water to 1 part milk due to lack of funding and no medical attention or supplies what so ever.

My brother in law is not all there, functional in society and able to live alone and hold a job but at 43 has yet to have been on a date or so much as kissed a girl. He's not gay, just ill equipped to handle life with a brain that was par-broiled from birth. I'd be just as happy if he were gay, any kind of companionship would be preferable to a life alone.

Thankfully my wife is better off though truth be told she suffers from the effects to a milder extent. It did nothing to her soul though and that is what drew me to her in the first place so it all works out in the end.

For the record we donate to many different shelters and rehab ares for a wide varity of critters. We also help with the funding of of many charitable human works, from orphanages to educational grants for the less fortunate. I'm far from well off and truth be told these donations are part of the reason but it's important and worthwhile.

I do not give one red cent to the church though. I fail to see how using the pulpit to extort money from me using every concievable tactic can be considered right. Give, give then give so more they preach. Is it my fault that the gas prices have risen to a point that they must pay double to fill the tanks of their Mercedes and Cadillacs that they commute to and from there gated communities to church in? I think not!Nope, God gave me a brain and a heart and with them I choose who deserves my hard earned ducets. Tithing with common sense I call it.

Opps, got off on a rant there but it is a subject which does tend to get my dander up!

As ever yours,
Brad

Dear Brad

I do so agree with you about religion. So many horrific things have been done and are still being done) in the name of religion I am afraid I cannot believe there is any kind of being who would allow it. I think religion was just invented to keep the unruly, unwashed peasants down, by threatening fire and brimstone if they stepped out of line and got uppity. And, as you say, we peasants are now able to think and make up our own minds about what or what not to believe.

I have seen, however, how friends have coped with life crises by believing that Jesus is there to help them. I wish I could believe that he can help me but I don't think so. So I get through life crises by relying on my friends and family, who are there for me.

How interesting that your wife is Greek. I love Greece and the islands and have spent many happy holidays there, even learning a little Greek so I could try to communicate. However, they mostly speak better English than I do so I didnt get to use it much. But the Greek people were fascinated that I was trying to speak their language and very helpful when they managed to get up off the floor laughing at my attempts. Which is more than could be said for the Spaniards when I tried to order an orange juice in Spanish!

How awful about your wife's brother (and her too of course). How thankful I am that I had a good childhood. I lost my father when I was 8, which has had a devastating effect on me, but I still had a wonderful mother who worked all hours to raise my brother and I to happy, healthy adulthood. And somehow, don't ask me how, she managed to give us everything we needed. We never felt deprived.

Going back to Greece. There is an example of the wealth of the Church and the poverty of the people. The opulence in the Churches on the Greek islands is sickening when you see how some of the people are living.

Well, must get back to painting and gardening - only 9 days to go!!!!
First born arrives on British soil, for the first time in 3 years, on 19th June! Somehow I can't help thinking he has timed his visit to take in the beer and the footie! (I k now he misses them living in Oz) Still, no matter what the reason it will be glorious to give him a big hug again.

Bye now,
Speak soon
Carole

How goes the battle? Clean as an operating room yet?

Can you beilive we're having a sort of mini-meet here stateside? It's to be at our esteemed president Hypatia's house over our Independance Day celebration. Folks from every corner of the states will be there so it should be quite the time! See, we'll both get a chance to see people that our usually seperated by great distance

And with that I'm off to eat my supper, ricotta cheese stuffed manacotti with italian sausage sauce.

Talk to you soon,
Brad

Dear Brad.

Oooh your supper sounded lovely - was it? I love Italian food. Are you of Italian ancestry? Sily question really = I love Italian food but have no Italian blood in my veins (as far as I know).
I love Greek food too, and Chinese food and Indian food. Come to think of it I just lurve food. And I love cooking it.

It is our Village Fete on Saturday - old English tradition The Village Fete. We raise money for the little Church in the Village and for our Village Hall. Although I don't go to church (you know my views on religion) except for the usual things like most people - weddings, baptisms Christmas (sometimes, Harvest Festival (sometimes etc. I would not like to see our little church closed and I like to help because there are people in our village who do go and get comfort from it.

My friend Babs and I run the cake stall, so we are cooking cakes like there is no tomorrow (as well as sterilising house and garden for Ozzie visitors! Yes, nearly there - only the lack of days left will stop me - they arrive next Monday 19th)) The weather forecast for Saturday is great too - we are having a heatwave in England at the moment - so it looks like being a good day.

Wow that is fun, meeting up with all your H2G2 buddies. I believe they do it here quite a lot, but I have never met anyone yet. On our Glum thread the four of us have talked about meeting up. We have got to know and love each other so it might happen. Of course one of them is my daughter who I have known and loved for 38 years!

Well must go - off now for Coffee Morning with friends again - we do this every Wednesday morning (it is my only time off from fumigating! - that and Scrabble on Tuesday afternoons!)

Speak soon - bye Carole

French, German, Norwegian and Swedish in equal parts. My mother-in-law was Italian, born in Naples in fact. Her 'authentic' cooking was simply dreadful, at least to my palate. I prefer northern Italian cuisine as southern style is too bland with a bais towards tomatos, obviously due to the economic differences between north and south. I enjoyed traveling Italy and spent quite a bit of time there during port calls while a sailor.

Your little church sounds lovely, and that you do for it out of compassion rather than some feigned sense of piety speaks volumes about you as a person, doing what is right because it's the right thing to do, my hat is off to you m'lady.

Does it resemble St. Bart's like in 'The Vicar of Dibley'? You have to understand, my visions of your isle come from memory and most of my time was spent in Suffolk as well as London, the only real exposure to rural settings was from the windows of a train. And there is what we get on TV, documenteries and comedies being what I see most so my views may be slightly off kilter.

Meets stateside are as rare as hen's teeth, the distances far too vast for anyone to just 'get together'. We've been discussing this meet since late last summer and it may be the only time any of us ever meet again and so we will relish each second.

I would recommend meeting your friends given the opportunity though you may want to shy away from some of the general meets they have in London unless drunken debauchery is high on your list of 'Things to do in the big city'. They get quite rambuncious I understand, though the organized meets are far more civilized.

Ours is to be of the sedate variety with a float down the river and a ghost hunt in the haunted woods, a tour of Hypatia's library and a party with all her kin folk on the night of the 4th with fireworks, homemade summer wine and good old fashioned barbeque, relaxing fun with new/old friends.

I'm on my way out to do some cleaning myself and will think of you as I polish .

Yours till the next installment, Brad

Dear Brad,

That does sound a good Meet - lovely. Hope the weather is good for you. Wish I was visiting my brother in Virginia and maybe I could make it. But I am not - I will be with my son instead.

Am hoping to visit my brother some time in the not too distant future though.

I don't like the sound of the drunken debauched Meets in London. I am far too old for that sort of stuff and even when I was young that was not my style. Yours sounds much nicer.

Our little Church is even smaller than the one in Dibley. It only seats about 60 people and when a big wedding is held there they have chairs outside in the churchyard and loudspeakers to relay the service outside.

My first grand daughter was baptised there on a beautiful day in May 1995. I have to say that was very like Dibley. The vicar (a man) came round to see us at our house the day before. Charlotte (who was almost 1 year old at that time) was pulling herself up to a standing position on the coffee table while he was running through the order of service. She was clearly not a babe in arms and he said "Oh my, she is advanced for 5 months"! Where did he get that idea? Then, in the part of the service when he hands over the candle (The Light of the World or whatever it is) he couldn't find the special decorated candles and went off into the vestry to search. He came back with a common old white candle - the kind that you keep under the sink in case of a power cut! But it was a nice service - very homely and everyone clapped when he poured the water over Charlotte's head, she screamed and he pronounced her part of God's family or something!

Well, take care, speak soon
Carole

Now there is a service to remember

There is a church just across the steet from my house which, coincidentally, was the former parsonage! I've not seen the inside of that particular establishment since 1982 and am perfectly comfortable with that.

I had a group of Mormans stop by just last week but was too busy disscussing gardening with a lovely lady and had no time to warp their perceptions on God and the universe, something which gives me an illicet sense of joy. No, I'm not the , it's just that they all, regardless of denomination, seem so very sure that they and only they have the 'answer'. They never fail to leave with dazed looks and shaky steps after a chat on my porch, enough so that the seminary/bible collage has put me on the list of places to be avoided at all costs. Seems my views have caused some discomfort among the brethren, they being unable to refute clear evidense nor answer pointed inquries from returning students with other than a less than satisfactory "It's simply God's will" dodge.

Have you had an opportunity to see the film 'Kingdom of Heaven' on your side of the pond? One of the greatest movies in recent history in my most humble opinion, a work from the same folks who produced 'Gladiator' starrring Russell Crow (also from Oz coincidentally) If not you simply must rent it as it is truely moving and produced on a scale not seen since the days of those epics from the 50's, vast panoramas and a cast of thousands complimenting a story line based on fact.

Now it's off with me as this break has run on a bit and I feel as if I'm cheating on my garden and I'd hate for her to grow jealous. I know, I'll lull her with the truth of who and why, expounding the virtues of your own garden and it's shell backed denizens. The garden fairies are sure to become as enchanted as I with such a wonderful lady and her amazing to ponder

As always my best to you and yours'
Brad

Dear Brad,

Silver tongued as ever I see!

We don't get many religious converters along our road as it is a main A road and they daren't walk along it (there is no footpath on our side!). That is one (probably the only) benefit of living on it. But in Kent, where we lived when the children were small) we had lots of Mormon and Jehovah's Witnesses. When I was very young and a new mother I stupidly invited a JW in and 4 hours later was still trying to understand what she was getting at! Fortunately my small crawling son got into her briedfcase and strewed her books and papers all over the house - she didn't come back!

Lesley has a local JW (an elderly Irish man who wobbles up to her house on his bike). She loves to argue with him but never makes the mistake of inviting him in. He calls sometimes when we are there looking after the children and Lesley has gone ski ing. But I just tell him she is away, I can't be bothered to argue with him - as you say they always have some crazy answer for your questions. I particularly cannot understand why the JW's would let their child die rather than give it a blood transfusion.

I will look our for "The Kingdom of Heaven" though I hope it isn't like Mel Gibson's film "The Passion of Christ". I simply could not watch that. I think I left after the first bit of flagellating, Luckily we had it at home on DVD so I could leave without causing a scene at the cinema. Some Catholic friends of ours (in Melbourne) told us what a wonderful film it was and how they had (even Noel and their son Mike) cried. Ugghh too violent and graphic for me. I didn't cry I was just disgusted - even if that did happen (and I am sure they did those horrible things - the way our ancestors cut people's heads off - and they still do in the Arab countries) but I do not want to see or even think about it. And 20 minutes of hitting someone with a spikey ball is not my idea of a pleasant evening's viewing (nevermind nailing him to a cross!)

Our Village Fete was "The Best Ever Fete in the History of Fete's Ever"! (Just like Dibley be we didn't get Kylie!) The sun shone all day, the music made us dance behind our stalls and we sold £260 worth of cakes!. A rough calculation makes us think the whole thing has raised more than £3,000 - half for the church and half for the Village Hall. We were all exhausted by 4 pm but most of us found the energy to walk round to one couple's house for a barbeque and chill out evening at 8pm. It was a perfect end to a perfect day.

Now we have a bit of clearing up to do and I have a bit more planting before we go to London tomorrow when Number One Son (only son actually)arrives at Heathrow

Thanks for being my friend
Carole

I'm happy to hear that the fete was such a success, even with the hectic baking schedule leading up to as well as the days efforts you could still have a good time. Now that's community spirit, the kind that not only keeps things tip-top now but sets an example for the youth to follow, securing the future of the village for generations to come.

And now tommorrow comes the big day. I suspect it'll be a while before you're back to chat and that is exactly as it should be. Treat each and every day that the kids are around just like the fete, singing, laughing, dancing and loveing life. There will be plenty of time for chats and reminiscing after they've returned home, and I will be here to waiting to hear all about it.

So, your mission Carole, should you choose to accept it, is to live in the moment for the next few weeks. Relish it. Enjoy it. And for the record, there are no thanks needed for me being your friend. The pleasure is all mine, and a pleasure it is indeed

Have fun,
Brad

Dear Brad,

Yes here we are on the morning of The Big Day.

We will have fun I know - meeting little Katherine now that she can talk to us will be great. Meeting Helene again (now maybe she will talk to us!! = who knows?)will be???

I am trying to push to the back of my mind the fact that in three short weeks they will be leaving again and that one of the reasons for this trip is to sell their house in England. However, I asked him outright during one of our calls whether they were selling up here, so I have had time to get over it. What I didn't want was to be faced with that news over the breakfast table one morning (that is what happened when they were going to Oz in 2003). If that had happened I would have left the room sobbing and that would have been a fine "How's Yer Father" and not at all conducive to Happy Families. I am desperate not to spoil the holiday for any of us. And am deffo not going to Heathrow to wave goodbye this time. Can't go through it again And I used to love Airports!

But there will be plenty ofin the next three weeks. Lesley's Anniversary, Ollie's Christening, Our Anniversary, my birthday and Chris was 40 last month, Jim's birthday, Cherlotte's birthday - so we will have a month to remember.

Speak soon, meanwhile you enjoy your month too,
Your friend Carole

You'll do fine Carole, this time is far to precious to waste one second on regrets, besides, you're far to sharp to fall into that trap. With the schedule ahead of you, all those anniversaries and birthdays tumbling into your lap like goodies from your stocking on Christamas morn, how could this be anything other than a time to remember, something which will bring smiles at each thought forever and a day?

All my best to you and yours, may this truely be a time of magic for everyone. So till your return, take care and most importantly, enjoy

Brad

Dear Brad,

Hi, time for a catch up as lovely son and family have gone to visit friends in T'North for the weekend - we will meet up again tomorrow.

It wasn't going too well for the first week (although the Christening day was magical - our two eldest grand daughters - Lelly's children - sang in the church. Not a dry eye in the house!)

By Tuesday morning with the imminence of Chris and family's visit here to us in Devon, I had to clear the air and had a long chat with him. Asked why his wife hated me and his Dad so much. He said she doesn't, but that is not the message we receive from her. He said she thinks we hate her because she took him away to the other side of the world. I told him this simply wasn't true (we hated her long before that!!!!).

Anyway he must have had a word with her on the journey down to Devon because she really was on her best behaviour while they were here. We even managed to talk to each other! So much so that I have offered to go out to Oz when their twins are born in December (did I tell you about the twins?) She is insisting on a Cesarean because she had a hard time with Katherine, in which case she will be really stuffed because she won't be able to lift anything or do much at all for 6 weeks. (No change there then!!) I did it as a gesture of goodwill and "not giving up on the situation". I don't want to lose my son metally as well as physically. He is going to "run the idea up the flagpole and see if it flaps". I might be the last person on earth she will want helping her and if so, that is fine. She only has elderly grandparents in Sydney who will not be of much practical help.

So we are all meeting up again tomorrow for the last few days together (at Lesley's house) and on Thursday it is time again.
I do feel better now though for having spoken to him - he knows she has a problem and we all know that it stems from her rotten childhood. Though she would never admit to having a problem - she slags off other friends who have had similarly abusive childhoods saying they have to get over it and move on like she has! I don't think she has.

There is a limit to how far you can keep bending over backwards though and I had almost reached the point where I was not prepared to bend any further. But here I am almost horizontal!

Hope you and yours are all well
Speak soon
Carole

Dearest Carole,

I'm just recouperating from the journey to the great Hillbilly Meet, 12 hours by motorcycle each way. The meet was wonderful by the way, lots of conversation on a myriad of topics and a good time was had by all. Now however, I am overjoyed to be home! Nothing like your own bed and pillow to make everything right in the world once again

As arduous a journey as I had, it pales in comparison to the task you have undertaken. Clearing the air was nessesary, but the courage to do so, well, that shows a fortitude above and beyond, something surely not lost on Chris. It is not something likely to be overlooked by your daugter-in-law either, and that may be just the skeleton key which opens up the relationship that you should have. It may require a fair amount of bending from both sides, but just as the wind bends the tree the roots dig deeper and the trunk grows the stronger for it.

My own wife comes from a rather troubled family background and was herself unprepared in her dealings with mine. One just comes to expect the negitive under such circumstances, often more leery of the seemingly positive as it often leads to even deeper betrayals once the true nature is revealed. It is a tough road, but you've done exactly what was needed, providing a ray of hope for both of you.

It's just a suggestion but perhaps the two of you could start a little email chat of your own, something such as we share. Sometimes it's much easier to say what needs saying when there is a little distance rather than eye to eye or even voice to voice over the telephone. It allows one time to stop and think, saying what one wants in the way one wants, thoughts and ideas expressed in full form rather than misworded and misinterpreted as sometimes happens when discussions get 'deep'. You both have something in common, you both love Chris. If that isn't grounds for mutual understanding then what is?

Don't worry, it will all work out. Love has a way of mending such things though sometimes it takes far more time and effort than it should. Maybe it's because the three old crones must share the eye while weaving the threads of fate, or perhaps it is is because we keep changing the design and pattern of the web with our actions, creating a tapestry which reflects the what was far more acuratly than the what will be.

As always I have nothing but the utmost faith in your making the decisions which will be best for all, you haven't failed so far and there's no reason to believe your record will be blemished anytime soon. Funny how that 'With age comes patience and wisdom' thing works isn't it

Yours as ever,
Brad

Dear Brad,

Back home for another breather. Thanks for your, as always, kind words. I like to think I am pretty sensible and it really does take a lot to wind me up to shouting point, which happens very rarely. And, yes, you really do get older and wiser. Jim always says you should be born old and get younger - it would make a lot of sense!

My son has now been back in Sydney for a week and we have spoken twice. Little Katie, grand daughter, has also spoken to me on the 'phone. At least now she will remember who grandma is (and her aunties and cousins too). She was too young in 2004 when we met her for the first time.

I asked Chris yesterday if he had mentioned my offer to go to Sydney in December to help when the twins are born. I thought that I would probably be the last person Helene would want around. Well I think I was right. His answer was "If we have moved into a bigger house by then otherwise we will not have room for you". Well to my mind it would have been very simple for me to sleep in Katie's room with her. I am a very small person and do not take up much room wherever I go. Jim and I slept there quite comfortably in 2004. So it seems like an excuse to me. However, I told him that I had offered and would not be offended if Helene doesn't want me to be there. I shall not mention it again - I offered the olive branch and the ball is now in her court. So it seems that, even though she made a supreme effort to be nice for the last two weeks of their visit, things still have not changed. Ce la vie!

We also talked about all meeting up in Thailand or Penang for Christmas 2007 - Lelly and her family also. I wonder whether that plan will come to fruition? Somehow I think not. I thank heavens every day that have Lelly and Richard and my three lovely English grandchildren here, I am very lucky and have far more than many people.

Anyway, enough of my miserable ramblings. I am so glad you had a good meet, especially as you had such an arduous journey to get there. Were you meeting your fellow Hootooers for the first time? I am glad it went so well.

Well, J and I are off today to spend a week in the Cotswolds (Gloucestershire) with some friends who live there. Planning to see National Trust houses and gardens in the area and visit Bath and the famous American Museum which has loads of Shaker furniture and artifacts. Going back to religion - you know my views - but if I had to choose one I would choose to be a Shaker (apart from the celebacy rule!) They were such nice, sensible, gentle, hard working people. We went to the Shaker villages and museums in New England when we visited in 1992 and found out a lot more about them.

So I shall be away for a few days but will pick up when I get back.

Hope you are well and that your life is happy again now.
Carole

Hi Spy,

Are you busy or are you annoyed with my negativity?
Have decided to visit my brother in Virginia this year so I am making flight enquiries at the moment.

Hope you are well
Regards
Carole

Annoyed Poppycock!!! (Is that a curse word? I don't think so but one never can tell with Trans-Atlantic slang )

Nope, it was a combination of busy and heat that was keeping me mumm. Sadly it's still hotter than Hades here, draught conditions and all yet I must toil away in my sweatbox of a shop full of welders, lasers, flame cutters and other sundry bits of overly hot apperatice day after day. It does make me lust after a nice cushy (ie;air conditioned) office job, even if it did require being stuffed into a suit each day and enduring those dreadful office politics that seem a part of the game.

Not often I hit the post rather than preview key, just chalk it up to the heat. Now where was I?

Ah yes, about to put you up for sainthood for your efforts with your daugter-in-law. I am aware of your views, but think how awful it would make Helene feel to have snubbed someone diefied by the church, St. Carole, Patron saint of Good Mother-in-laws.

I think you've done about all that you can on that front, but at least you can have a clear conscience on the matter. To not have made such an attempt would most likely have caused pangs of guilt latter on, even if you already knew the answer prior to the asking. So is life indeed.

No reason not to have a wonderful holiday with the rest of the family though, maybe even nicer considering the lack of those less inclined towards the rest of you. I hear Thailand is fabulous, and that's not the sailor in me talking either. Rich culture, fantastic cuisine and relitivly inexpensive compared to some of the other asian countries. Wish it was me

And a trip to the good old USA as well? My, aren't we the jet setter Really though, I miss travel more than just about anything and and happy that you can do so. Retirement does have it's rewards, now you can camp out in someone elses B&B, soaking up the good life with a smile and some champagne

My wife and son are off to Virginia as of August for two weeks, back to visit with her dad and brother. My son Brent is finally old enough at 15 to appreciate places like Old Williamsburg now and historic venues are heavy in the plans while they're away. Sadly I must remain to care for the critters, no rest for the wicked I guess.

More tommorrow as duties call me away for now. Till then

Brad

Dear Brad,

Sorry to have thought you might be annoyed! No Poppycock, although it sounds rude is perfectly acceptable in polite company!

I do not deserve Canonisation! I can be as horrid as anyone else believe me, but, as you say, I have done my best with Helene and if she chooses to snub me then that is her loss. I know my son appreciates my efforts because he told me so and that I all I care about.

It is blumming hot here too - we have had very unBritish temperatures of ninety degrees F and over for the past 6 weeks. And now we too are facing dought restrictions in the South East. Talk of standpipes is rife.

However as we are retired we can go places to keep cool. I am so glad not to be struggling with beds and toilets and ironing this summer - I got out just in the nick of time!

Last week we went to the Cotswolds (Gloucestershire) to spend a few days with some old friends - we visited Bath and the American Museum which is a fascinating place (maybe you have been there). It is the history of America from start to present day and we particularly wanted to see the Shaker section. Our friends hadn't been there either. It was lovely except that it was so hot we didn't have as much energy as we would normally have had. And, Dave, the male half of our friends, has throat cancer, which makes him tired too.

I have always been interested in America since I was a child and used to dream of visiting places with odd names like Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. (It was always New England that called to me). Strangely enough I discovered (only recently) that my brother had been similarly affected and he now, of course, lives there.

Well, must go - today is Coffee Morning and I am hosting it thic week! Lots of goodies to prepare when I have cleaned the house, Mind you today I think we will all stay in the garden.

Take care of yourself - try to keep cool in that hot environment (what does your factory make?)

As ever, Carole