Ashcombe

Another bright morn here in Torbay but with Autumnal chill. Trees are starting to change colour, heralding the "Season of mists..." etc!

Nothing like birdsong in the morning!

"Liking" this post seems inappropriate so just want to say what ghastly news and such timing! Hope your wise brother can offer some support. Good luck! Speaking of support - thank you to all those kind folk here who have recently offered me welcome messages. How very kind! And yes, Olddudders and I do have history, having sung in our School Choir in the Sixties. Friends Reunited lived up to its name in bringing us together some years ago!

Surely you drop the halo occasionally and indulge in a cooked breakfast for a treat, perhaps when en Angleterre?!

Yyes, I do have a (so called!) smart phone so I will investigate the apps you recommend, thanks. We certainly notice the difference on our regular trips to our mobile home in rural France where the few street lights that are in place do not remain lit all night, so star gazing is amazing.

Similarly clear skies over Torbay last night. Wish I knew more about the stars and could recognise the various constellations. Magical.

Like many others on both sides of Le Manche, I'll be keeping you in my thoughts. Tears and laughter will be close companions today. x

There is little I can add to the warm, supportive messages on here. As someone has said, the pain is over for Deb but for you the healing will take longer. And it can be the little things that can start the tears. But that is part of the grieving and cannot be denied. Along with your many friends on here and beyond, I'm sending caring thoughts. I'm sure you find all the concern being shown of great comfort. Look after yourself and I hope you continue to receive helpful advice from the Funeral Directors et al as you deal with the aftermath of your loss. It must be eight years this week since you and Deb moved to France! Strange to think of these "anniversaries". Take care, Ian. x

And there appears to be no dress/hair code either!!

There's no place like home

You Need Hands - Max Bygraves (how embarrassing that I remember that!)

The other side of the coin? I know this is a discussion about illogical answers but customers can present illogical requests, according to my son who used to work at Burglar Thing. He often served overweight people who, having ordered a long list of (inevitably, given it was a burger bar) unhealthy, fattening items would round it off with , "Oh and a Diet Coke, please!" to which he would liked to have quipped, "Is there any point?" In fact, he considered suggesting to the management that they should adopt a policy of refusing to serve those who appeared to have had more than their share of fast food, much as bar staff might refuse to serve a drinker who appeared to have had one too many! Sometimes, customers would insist that they had previously bought a particular meal deal at BK which had never been served by that chain. Rather than enter into a prolonged debate, the staff would generally say, "Oh, we've stopped doing that option now."

We hired a Kia Picanto in Cyprus last year and found it very economical, comfortable and surprisingly roomy - I don't travel light when on holiday! It coped well with the variety of terrain and the unpredictable roads surfaces of the island too.

So that you can sleep easy in your bed tonight, Olddudders, I can reveal that the couple are the Beckhams who've just had their, I think, 4th sprog.

Some pensioners - male and female - are still attractive.

Up here in the backwater (to some!) of the Midlands, Somerfield survived until a couple of years ago. If anyone's interested, the Co-p are great for funerals.

Desirable men!

Fascinating as all these comments are re savings (or not) to be achieved from insulation, surely the real issue is about the cost to the planet? Hence the Government (past and present) is actively encouraging householders to improve loft insulation, install cavity wall insulation, etc., with a view to meeting its targets re lower fossil fuel emissions. Financial incentives to do so are available, even for retired public servants like me with my wonderful pension!!

By the Rivers of Babylon

on a Bridge Over Troubled Water

Never on a Sunday - Connie Francis

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun -Cindy Lauper

but subsequently rejected

to unwary punters

under the fence