These were taken at Taronga Zoo.









Duck-billed Platapus.

View of Sydney from the Zoo.

More of Paula's photo's.
These taken at the zoos she visited in Australia.
Australia Reptile & Wildlife Park.

This is a Tawny Frog-mouth, it's a very strange bird, a bit like our Nightjars.

Daughter & her Partner are on their way home from Singapore, they will arrive at Heathrow around 6 a.m. our time tomorrow. She said they will be home early p.m. She got the day wrong as I thought they were flying home tomorrow & back in England Saturday.
I am looking forward to her being back.

My Daughter & her Partner are now in Singapore. They are staying at the Pan Pacific hotel for 4 nights, before flying back home on 15th. I have missed her lots, but they will soon be home.
More photo's will follow when she processes them.

This should really be my Daughter's blog as the photo's are hers, taken with the camera I gave her & some of the images she took in Australia. I expect there'll be more later.
Hongkong. They were there 3 days on their way to Australia.


Sydney.


Blue Mountain area.



The Stebbings of Australia Family dog.


Beaches in the Killcare area...

Killcare.

Australia Birds.
Magpie.

Lorrikeet.

Daughter Paula & I are off tomorrow on our once yearly jaunt to an Antique & Collectors Fair outside our area.
Two years ago we went to Ardingly & have decided to go back there this year.

Last year we went to Newark, we stayed at a nearby Travelodge for 3 nights, but it is a long way & quite honestly we were not terribly impressed, high prices way out of our range for most things & several stall holders from Ardingly there also. It also poured with rain during our stay, which didn't help & part of the showground got waterlogged.
We did find a brilliant Antique centre in Linconshire, not far from Newark & there we bought a few items. So it wasn't a wasted journey.
We also found, not far from the Travelodge we stayed at, a brilliant pub that did 2 evening meals for the price of one. Total cost for both of us, each night £15 including a sweet. Which was good for OH, Mick as in a very rash moment he said use the CC & I'll pay for all your evening meals.

http://www.hemswell-antiques.com/centres.html

Hemswell is a nice place to visit.

Anyway this year it's back to Ardingly, at the South of England showground for the two day fair & on the way we are visiting Winchester. On the way home, Weymouth.
I hope to take lots of photo's, in between looking for bargains, of course.

Ardingly Fair.
http://www.iacf.co.uk/index.php?page=ardingly

Daughter has a sat-nav, Tomtom, so we very rarely get lost.

I should have written this before the drive photo, but have had to have time to come to terms with it.
My Mother died on 9th December 2009.
Suddenly, in her sleep. She was in an OAP's home for respite & tests to see if they could do anything to help her, but we certainly didn't expect after only 10 days there she would die. She was 93 & her body gave up on her.
Traumatic time having to clear her bungalow but we managed it, Tony & Jackie were down here staying at the bungalow & they did a lot too. It is very saddening packing up a persons life for disposal.
T & J took some things for themselves & Mum's clothing as Jackie is manager of a charity shop. I kept Mum's jewelery & a few personal items. We also boxed up items to sell on Daughters & my stall at the market.
We left the bungalow furnished, until it was sold, (it sold fast too), then had a house clearence firm take what we didn't want.
Since then most things, we can't use, are sold on, a few left, but I'm sure we will sell those eventually.
It still seems very strange to not go & visit the village & her house which is what we did every week, most times twice a week. End of an era!
Her ashes in their casket are buried with my Dad's in the churchyard. We will try to make the journey there at least once a year, to remember them both.

We have had the drive redone with block's. I wasn't keen but next door wanted to do theirs & as the drives ajoin, it would have looked odd if we hadn't had ours done as well. Damned expensive though.



Our house is on the left of the pic.

It was my Mothers 93rd Birthday on the 21st September. My Brother Tony & Sister-in-Law Jackie came down from Yorkshire where they live to stay with Mum, for a few days.
We had a family party for her, the Sunday before, just us, Mick, Me, son Michael, daughter Paula & Mark, Paula's partner & Tony & Jackie of course. Jackie got the food, a finger buffet, Tony bought the wine.
I think Mum had a good time, she opened her presents & ate, for her, a good meal.
She is marvelous for her age, looks after herself, with assistance from a private, not state, home help. Sadly she can't walk far now, due to various health problems, but she is very well, for her age.

I had to share this with you all.........
At 20 to 7 p.m. Sunday evening. I stood at the top of our drive, for nearly 1/4 of an hour & watched literally hundreds of Swallows & Martins, flying South, feeding as they went, above my head. They looked like black clouds in the sky, untill they turned & the evening sunlight caught the lighter colours on their undersides. Magical moment!

I am back here again with some of my doings....

The Saturday, over a week ago, we sold at a fleamarket at Exeter's livestock centre, I have to say most of the stalls were very antique orientated, with a few others plus ours, selling no antiques, one stall, next to ours, actually sold meat & his sausages were very tasty, I kept going back to get samples as he'd cooked a few, for customers to try.
We did OK, about the same for sales as a mixed market at Tavistock, which that one usually clashes with, but as it didn't this time, we were able to do it, it was only our second time there though.

Last Saturday we had our usual Tavistock fleamarket & we did extremely well for sales. Everyone was in a spending mood & there were a lot of foreign tourists around too, also buying things.
I even met a pen pal who lives in Cornwall, but unfortunately she didn't turn up till we were packing up, so we only had the chance of a very brief chat, then she went off to find her Sister, who had brought her.

Wednesday, we, Daughter & I, are off to Newark, to the big antique fair there, this time purely as buyers, if we can find something to buy that is.
We are away for 4 days. Staying at a Travel Lodge outside Newark. We hope to see something of the town as well, neither of us have been to that part of our country before. Luckilly Daughter has a SatNav, Tomtom. I will also take the road map of GB, in case.

It's a while since I put anything here.......

Yesterday we Daughter & I, had our 1st Saturday of the month fleamarket in Tavistock. The evening before, I decided to sort out some scrap gold I'd had for years. Mostly broken earings, broken chains & an old ring worn right through in one place, too small for my finger anyway.

I gave it to the jewelery lady to examine weigh for me, as she buys scrap gold. Then went back to our stall. An hour or so later she came back & said a couple of the pieces weren't gold so I could throw them as they weren't worth anything, then.....

she handed me two £50 notes. Well! To say I was gobsmacked is very true. I was absolutely amazed.
She thought, I think, that I was shocked at the notes denominations & hastened to say they were fine, as she had just got them from the bank cash point. That wasn't the reason, I was astounded that a small handful of scrap gold could be worth so much, though my Daughter did point out, although most of the gold was 9ct, the ring had actually been 18ct. Even so it was a brilliant price.
So ladies & gentlemen, if you have any scrap gold? Do go to a reputable buyer & cash in on it as I have done?

We had a good day for sales in the market as well.

Today OH wanted to get some plants so off we went to the cheapest garden place. On the way there I spotted Orchids growing on a grass verge on a minor road. Now, I have a particular fascination with wild Orchids, so, I got OH to stop so I could take a photo or two of them, here are a couple, these are, I think, Southern Marsh Orchids & not as I expected the Early Purple species, plus the bonus of a Common Blue butterfly that happened to be on the same patch of grass.

Monday we went to Weymouth, OH & I for a two night break. The weather was lovely, sunny & warm, but a very strong wind blew the two days we were there.
It didn't stop the bird watching though.
Radipole gave us the best birds. Lodmoor was rather quiet & there wasn't much at Ferrybridge or Portland Bill either.
Birds sighted list follows......
Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Herring Gull, Greater Black Backed Gull, Blackheaded Gull, Gannet, Fulmar, Guillemot, Gadwell, Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, Bearded Tit, Dunlin, Sanderling, Ringed Plover, Rock Pippit, Meadow Pippit, Linnet, Shellduck, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Whimbrel. Little Tern, Greenfinch, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Blue Tit, Great Tit, House Sparrow, Collared Dove, Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Magpie, Robin, Wren, Dunnock. The best was a rarity, American Hooded Merganser, totally in the wrong place.

Not a bad total for less than two days birding & not consentrated either.

Photo's of some of the birds taken at Radipole....

Hooded Merganser, preening.


A pair of Tufted Ducks

Gulls on the fence

Whitethroat

Mallard Duck & Ducklings

Coot & Babies

Gulls on the Roof.
Last year a pair of Herring Gulls tried to nest on our & next doors attached roof. (Next door have had a chimney set into the side of the roof near us, as they had a gas fire fitted.) They were discouraged, so went off elsewhere.
This year they are back & trying again. We heard a kerfuffle & went out to investigate, the couple where there, but so was another Herring Gull, male, as he & the 'husband' were dueling with their bills, wings & feet, 'hubby' saw him off, then tried to get his mate interested in romance. He was picking up moss & offering it to her. She didn't look too impressed.

Then in swooped the other male, thumping into him & nearly throwing 'hubby' off the roof, who retaliated equally roughly. 'Hubby' flew off with his mate following, leaving the usurper alone on the roof & screaming his frustration very loudly. It was so funny to watch.

If they seriously try to nest again this year our neighbour will stop them.

Back again, after a while.
Easter Saturday, Daughter & I tried a new, to us, Fleamarket to sell at, this one usually clashes with Tavistock & we are loyal to that one so hadn't been to the Exeter one before, it didn't clash this time so we thought we'd give it a go.
Didn't do badly considering it was our first time there. We 'knew' a lot of the other stall holders too, from other places.
We will probably do it again, when it isn't on the same day as Tavistock.
Tavistock tomorrow, mixed market.

On the bank holiday Monday we sold at a car boot, got rid of a lot of rub....I mean useful items. That car boot, Haldon Hill, is a very civilised start time, sellers let in at 11 a.m. buyers at 1 p.m. It's usually on Sunday p.m's, but they are doing the bank holiday dates there as well. We usually go as buyers on Sundays.

Twice in two days Cor!...

Today my friends Fiona & Helen & Me, went on the bus, with our passes, to Totnes for the day. Lovely weather warm & sunny. I took my jumper off & stuffed it into my bag, but had to keep my fleece on as it was too bulky to stash anywhere. Actually the wind up Totnes's hilly street was a bit nippy, so I was glad of it at times.
We had a good day out, bought a few things. I found a John Denver CD in a charity shop too, a compilation one as he died in 1997, this one was produced in 2003 & has different songs on it to my others.
We stopped in cafés three times, cappuccino & toasted tea cakes on arrival, lunch was egg, ham & chips, plus another cappuccino, then just before we caught the bus home, yet another cappuccino in the first café we went to. You can see I have an addiction here, I guess, to that famous Italian coffee type. My friends drink tea, Yuck!
Bye for now.

It's a while since I added to this...

Mick, though his other hip is going, it isn't bad enough to warrent an op. So Doc, from the pain he's in, said it must be trapped nerves in his back & has sent him for physio, whick is easing it a bit.
His cataract op was fine, a total success.

Daughter is still having tests, they don't think the lump is anything sinister though.

I am still coughing, had another cold, so I guess it'll take a while to go again. I am still smoking.

Son is still fine.

Yesterday was a lovely day, Summer had arrived. It was so warm in the afternoon that I shed both fleece & jacket & wandered round the afternoon car boot in t-shirt & jeans, had shoes on too of course.
It was lovely to take off bulky clothes for a change & not be all bundled up for the weather. We, Daughter & I, spent a lot of money too, as all 3 car boot sales were heaving with sellers with things we wanted to buy & at the right prices.
It's warm here today also, but not as good as yesterday. I have my fleece on.

We, Daughter & I, have sold at a few Fleamarkets, with mixed results. The last one was the best. People actually buying at that one.

Nothing else has happened so I'll close here.

Here I am again.

Mick (OH) is to have a cataract op on his right eye, Monday, at the eye infirmary in Plymouth. Daughter will take him & fetch him as he won't be able to drive for a few days. He has been for the pre op assessment. It's a day visit, he won't need to stay in.

Daughter has an appointment on Friday afternoon at Derriford hospital due to a fatty lump on her leg which she has had since birth, it appears to be growing & changing, they are putting her through the scanner there, so they can find out what it is. I'll go with her.

Mick also has a bad hip, so he's waiting for his Doc to get back from her holiday to assess the x-ray he had nearly two weeks ago. He had a hip replacement on his other leg 15 years ago & that is fine.

I, apart from this cough, seem reasonably healthy at present. As does Son.

This entry is a tale of unhealthyness. I'll keep you informed of developements.

We did OK, at the Toy Fair.
The new man, Steve, had given us our usual spot, we probably had slightly more room than usual as he'd spread the tables out, giving more space between neighbours. We thought that a very good idea as it also moved the lines down the hall & made it look as if there were more stall holders than there actually were.
We saw & chatted to, some old friends, stall holders & customers, sold a fair amount, including some big items. All in all it was a very good day, if somewhat tiring.

We, Daughter & I have a Toy Fair again Sunday. This first one of the year, is the first one with the new owner/organiser. I'll let you know how we do there.

I have been without the net for three days, but I seem to have it back now.
A note to say GUTTED is being televised tonight on UKTV Style at 8 p.m. for those who a) bothered to read this & b) can get UKTV Style

I had an email today, from the nice lady at UKTV Style, telling me the programme GUTTED, is being transmitted on the Style channel on the 14th December.
No time given though.
It will be interesting to see if they've cut out my piece to camera.

This is a good idea....Here goes with mine......

Last week out of the blue, I had a phone call from a girl called Lisa, she said she got my name/phone no. from David who runs the Toy Fairs we sell at, we had one, Sunday in Exeter.
She asked me if I could go to an auction in Exeter, last Saturday, as they were filming a pilot for a reality series. She said there were lots of toys at this auction & no reserves on them.
I got in touch with my Daughter & she said why not, so we went, loaded the borrowed van with our Toy Fair stock, as we always set up there in the early evening, to save us going back home.
Arrived at the auction house at 11.30 a.m.
The programme they were making is called Gutted. The production team were from UKTV Style. Basically a husband, fed up with his wife's clutter calls in the Gutted team, they strip the house of her clutter & take it to the auction house, they also do a mini make over inside, paint walls etc, the wife knows nothing of this till she gets home, to find her husband & the programme presenter there & all her things gone, hense gutted, because she is.
She is then taken to the auction house, where they allow her to take back some of her things.
We got there just as the husband & wife arrived. The auction wasn't supposed to be open to the buying public till 1 p.m. but as they wanted to film the couple outside, they let Daughter & I go in. We had a quick look at the lots on offer, there were some nice things there.
Then the couple came in, cameras still rolling & we had to go outside again, through the side door.
We could hear the arguments going on inside & the language too I guess a lot of that would be edited out of the final programme.
They let us back in at 1 p.m. We noticed that most of the good things we had seen earlier were gone. Of course no one who had turned up later had seen inside originally.
We looked around & as we were looking a camera appeared in front of us, we were chatting to David, the Toy Fair organiser, at this stage, the interviewer started asking me questions on what I collected & I answered. Daughter moved away slightly & said nothing, though David said a few things too.
They interviewed a few others who were waiting for the auction also. Then the auction started. My daughter was bidding & she won 6 of the lots, so I think she was on camera too.
After the auction, the couple were taken outside & the wife was allowed to decide if she wanted her things back, or the money. She chose the money, so the lots were ours to keep & pay for. A very different type of auction to a normal one.
We had free drinks, biscuits, chocolates & sweets the whole time we were there, but had to pay for the proper food.
It was certainly an interesting experiance & fascinating to be a part of, though my bit could end up on the cutting room floor.
We paid for & collected our won lots, then left for the Toy Fair venue. We set up our stall & got home at 10 p.m.. It was a very long day.......