EVERYONE LOVES A PARTY!!!

Over the past few years we have renewed friendships that we made when we were at school both primary and as it was then secondary school. Connecting up on Facebook, love it or hate it like most things in the world today it does have it's good and bad points.  and I suppose we all can choose what we read or not. I won't go down that road apart from saying the friends who come from the village I grew up in have reminded me of the school parties we had when christmas came around
Framfield Church of England primary school, being attached to the church always had a  carol service, we would get very excited and be lined up in pairs to walk from the school to the church and then if we were lucky get to read passages of the bible with familiar carols between each reading. I can't ever remember being chosen to read probably not good enough, what I do remember though was loudly singing " While shepherds washed their socks by night, all seated on the ground, a bar of sunlight came down" etc etc or maybe " We three kings of Orient are, one in a Taxi one in a car" I won't go on. Watching our grandchildren when they were at school showed us how much things move on and now schools put on lavish productions of the Advent story, of course now with a multicultural flavour. But as usual I digress,so back to school in Framfield, each year we would have a party whoopee, preceded by a trip to the Hippodrome in  Brighton to see the latest Pantomime, It could have been "Jack and the beanstalk,Cinderella,Puss in Boots" we didn't much care we had a ride on a coach and 2 hours of fun and magic. Oh no you didn't Oh yes we did!!!! with a top star singing and acting the fool not forgetting the sing a long time. Wonderful happy memories and it didn't end there, when we got back to the village there was a party to end the day, sandwich spread, cheese, shippams paste sandwiches along with orange squash, crackers and paper hats all topped of with a plate of cakes, I remember meringues with cream as big as well, well a football!!!, maybe I exaggerate a bit,this was all finished off with a visit from Santa and a present for everyone. We all love a party.

Dagmara made some opening remarks

Prizes were awarded. Strangely after this Dagmara dissapeared.
I WONDER WHERE SHE WENT????

Bringing this blog back to reality, Friday (18th) was the last day of school and it just had to be party time. Children were given the morning off and dinner was scheduled for  14.30 and at the appointed time the lunch bell was rung and we all enjoyed our christmas dinner, believe me there wasn't  a lot left over, it was very simple but very tasty.
Some parents had come along with their children and were waiting in the school hall for a concert performed by teachers and children, with each class coming up with a sketch, song or something else.Dagmara the school principal made some introductory remarks and some prizes were given out, and then the fun began

A song from one classe

This is Father Christmas, not to be confused with Santa.

Youngsters doing a very nice waltz

Sometimes we are able to follow the plot other times we just enjoy the antics the children come up with. When the performances were over all of the children assembled on the stage for one last song as it finished there was a terrible banging on the entrance door,someone was dispatched to find out who it could be, well there was no one there at which point a loud banging on another door was heard again no one there, who could it be????? a third time BANG BANG BANG!!!!! and a third time no one there, strange very strange. A teacher suggested that the children might have some idea who was playing tricks on us all and called for the children to shout as loud as they could to get this mysterious visitor,well with stamping feet and the loudest shout you will never guess what happened.             
                                                      behind all the children on the stage a knocking was heard on the hall windows and there he was waiting to come in, he didn't come down the chimney he didn't come through the door, how Santa came through the window 20ft up is and still will be a complete mystery and who said christmas magic was dead.

Santa came in by the wind

A party piece for Santa.

After Santa had talked with the children and played games it was time to distribute gifts and again each class had a party piece for Santa performed  in exchange for a large sack of gifts.
There is no escape if you want a present from Santa everyone teachers included  must entertain him, so we [that is, Valerie and I ] sang him a song.called "It must be Santa"
All to soon it was time for Santa to hitch up the reindeer and head off into the night, his little helpers had brought his sleigh round to the school entrance so I am glad to say he left safely by a more conventional route, Maybe just maybe if you look out in the coming evening you may see him heading in your direction,but only if you  have been good.
Party time was over all the children and parents headed home in cars or the school bus and the teachers all enjoyed a well earned rest in the staff room.[with nibbles and a little drink  of course]

A smile after our performance, more relief really.

As we leave you with 2016 looming on the horizon Valerie and I would like to wish you all a very happy christmas and a God blessed new year.

  

OF CELEBRATIONS and WALKING ON THE WILD SIDE!!

OK so I had a new post all ready to publish, just had to add some new pictures and then it all went down the drain. Following the instructions I added the pictures I had chosen and bingo!!! they all went into the blog in the wrong order and wrong place and as I endeavored to move them so the writing shot all over the place some went to the top of the page some to the bottom. In the end I became fed up and deleted the lot. Does this sort of thing happen to you?? I know I'm rubbish with modern technology.
But as we were taught at school " if you don't at first succeed chuck it in the bin!! no no try try again !
So here we go

Waxwings flock feed on the berries
 left by the summer visitors.

Pretty well all of our migratory birds have left us to find warmer quarters for the winter months, but this leaves room for others to come and feed in the garden and for us to take more notice of, like the flock of sparrows which mob the table when food is put out and sit happily in the bush next to the table waiting to pounce, even the magpies seem to be dressed in their finest when the sun shines on their black feathers and turns them into shades of green much as oil on water does. My favourite though has to be the waxwings they don't stay long but the colours have to be seen,close up, from shades of foxy red through dusky grey-pink to a black tail with the brightest yellow band that flashes as they fly, perched in the fruit trees you can see the cockatiel like crest, they are so pretty. 
We did have a smattering of snow last week which was quite nice for our son and daughter-in-law who were on a short visit here,and then as soon as they had gone the sun came out for couple of days which gave me the chance to finish protecting some of our more tender plants,our roses this year have been wonderful ,they give

 so much value for little money. I can remember when I worked in a garden centre customers complaining that there roses had died  and when asked how long had had them , oh it must be 20 years or more.But they were good ones costing 7/6d thats about 37p today. 20 years of flowers for 37p can't be bad can it? But I digress all of our roses are now covered with a blanket of saw dust created when I cut our logs this year and our iris have a covering of fir branches                
                                          

Such great value for money 

 But please don't ask what variety they are

 If only you could add a smell to  the pictures!! 

You can't see them now  but come next year our iris will make a splendid show.
I know we shall probably lose a few plants but if the snow comes soon before the ground freezes to deeply we should be OK.
On one fine day I decided to take Lilja along the river for  a walk and took my camera with me in case we might find something worth a picture. All around our area the workmen have been busy clearing trees from close to the overhead powerlines and there are now new views to be seen just up our road.
                                                       

hopefully power cuts will be a thing of the
past this winter 

Now our little river Misa may not be the largest of Latvia's rivers but we do have a waterfront, and I do catch fish in it. There are Pike, perch Dace and Roach in it. 
We can also boast of beaver,fox,deer,pine marten and now racoon dogs moving across our  land http://www.factzoo.com/mammals/raccoon-dog-night-wanderer.html

Maybe the start of a new beaver's dam? they build their lodge away from the river reaching it by a tunnel dug into the river bank below the waterline and on more than one occasion have found myself falling through the roof of these tunnels sometimes they can be over a meter deep which makes a walk along the river quite an adventure. More neighbours seem to be keeping their stretch of the river bank clear.

Looking towards our property who would
could guess what monsters lie along it's
banks and under the water

As there is a strip of common land running alongside the river who knows one day we may have a pleasant riverside walk to enjoy.    

 I left these two just where I found them,collecting mushrooms is a whole new ball game over here, and we have discovered  that the ones we like are best gathered in Maxima or Rimi.
Here is an interesting example
of recycling,a pop bottle used as a beaver guard on a small sapling  
However the highlight of the last month, must be the celebration of our Golden wedding anniversary, yes we've been together now for more than 50 years if you count our courting days.

Where is that man, he always disappears
when I've got a job for him!!!!! 

We had a small celebration with our family whilst we were visiting the UK and it was lovely just having them with us all be it for such a short time. The actual day of our anniversary was the 13th of November, but on the 12th we had a visit from the Vecumnieki registrar and Stelpe council leader who brought us flowers and gifts which were very much appreciated.  We had thought of having a small party with ex pats we have met since moving here, but decided to do something a little different. No not bungee jumping from the cable car whilst renewing our vows in Sigulda, we choose instead to treat the whole of Stelpe school, from students to cleaners to a special dinner, we left the choice of menu to the dinner ladies. 
Well they did us proud with soup,chicken with salad, potatoes and sauce, bananas,hot chocolate and of course cake, leaving us with many happy memories to cherish of our school family here in Stelpe.

Just some of the children and teachers enjoying,
our special celebration lunch.

I close this with some pictures of our special day 

Greetings from our very dear friend Rita
the english teacher

With the whole school assembled Dagmara took the
opportunity to say that marriage is about love,understanding
and commitment.

Always hugs and flowers

Both from children

And teachers

It was all a bit much for someone.

Says it all.

A quick trip to England

We decided on a spur of the moment trip to see family in England before winter really sets in, and after finding a home for Lilja (more of that next time) and someone to feed the chickens we locked up and headed for Riga airport via a friend who would drop us off and pick us up when we returned all for the princely sum of 24 oxo's.We've been home a week and are now already five days into November,it seems as if we have never been away. I think the question we are asked the most when we meet those we know and sometimes those we don't, is what do you miss most living where you do. I phrase it that  way as still in this day and age of instant communication and of course google so many people have no idea where Latvia is and what it is like. 
Of course we miss family most and it was good to see our grandchildren they make us feel really proud when we see how much they have grown since we last saw them and how mature they are becoming, Oh my,!! the opportunities they have and the places they go just wouldn't have happened way back when we were teenagers. Katie our eldest is off to South Africa on work experience as she is studying exotic animal management ( I think???) well she wants to work with animals. Thomas next,he has just landed the part of the tin man in the wizard of oz, we also met Anna his girl friend, she has our seal of approval ( Valerie is waiting a while though before she buys a new hat ha ha !!.) Olivia comes next' she washed and blowdried Valerie's hair,but was under strict instructions, NO colour, :) this happened at  Bath college salon where she is training  to be a hairdresser, I was going to grow my hair long so she could cut mine but no chance " we do mens hair next year grandad" I was told, but she did trim my eyebrows. Now Joel he is studying plumbing at Trowbridge college, As I say we are very proud of them all,they are growing up to be really great young people,   but it's a job to keep up with all that is happening.
We were able to spend time with all of our children  we stayed with Anna and Clinton,and Mark and Shelly came up one day, Andrew, Michele,Thomas and Anna another,[and we had a lovely pub meal together] and then Katie drove her dad up to see us the day before we left, which made us realise how blessed we are to have such a great family.
I did enjoy a trip to the cinema [part of my birthday present,]with my son in law  Clinton, to see  "007" in  "Spectre" , brilliant film, altho it was extremely loud, 
We went to our old church on Sunday, and met up with some old friends,which was great and we caught up on all the news over a cuppa after the service. On Tuesday we made a surprise visit to Con Brio choir in Bradford on Avon, [the choir i used to sing with],they invited me to sing "Amazing Grace" with them. We are so grateful to them as they still remember and support Stelpe school.
I visited a well known high street pharmacy as they were offering free hearing tests, Valerie has been telling me for a long time that I need help in hearing what she says, to which I would reply " If you spoke more clearly and didn't mumble, I could hear you fine" as you can imagine this has led to several periods of intense silence. Anyway back to the visit to the pharmacy where I was told the audiologist was at another store and anyway he would have gone home by now.OK we will try again after the weekend same store different town besides a cup of tea and a cream cake were calling far more loudly than a hearing test. (No pun intended)
Monday morning found us in Swindon, in another branch of the same store I was told sorry no appointments until Wednesday and besides that we would never do a 15 minute test and a consultation the same day, WHAT!!!!! I now admitted to the receptionist  "I know I have a problem it doesn't need a test to tell me that. Sorry but Wednesday is the earliest you can be seen. I explained by that time I would be winging my way back home, did it make any difference? did it heck. Not to worry we will try somewhere else,you obviously don't want my money.
100 yards up the street was another shop offering hearing tests so in we went, nice lady met us, Hearing test? no problem the audiologist is with someone at the moment but give him 45 minutes and he will see you. Well the long and short of it was  he popped me in the sound booth did the tests, found the problem, talked me through all the options, programed a pair of hearing aids, fitted them and relieved me of a fair amount of cash. Problem solved and sorted. The best bit is peace is restored in the household, and when wearing them they are not even noticeable. It's one piece of modern technology I can fully appreciate. If only we had taken note of the advertising "I should have gone to Specsavers" in the first place. 
The last couple of times we have visited the UK we have used National Express  to get us from  the airport to our daughters, no complaints there the service is very good, but my oh my the traffic!!!! nose to tail on the M11, the north circular and through Golders Green into central London stop start all the way and all on the wrong side of the road.[for me now anyway!!] and  the return journey was the same plus diversions for accidents and a big fire in Finchley.  and  do I have a desire to drive to England??, NO !!!  I do NOT,,
Our time went by so quickly and before we knew it we were on the plane heading for home, pictures this time are memories from summer 2015 as there are none of our visit.

Me with Valerie and  Valerija

How many men does it take
to open a bottle of wine?

Back streets of Riga

Cobbles everywhere 

And no tourists 

 

The title over the door reads
"Christs house of prayer"

 Wooden sculpture complex “Christ the King`s Mount” 

Aglona Catholic Basilica 

We visited a school in Rezekne and this is some
of the pupils crochet work

More crochet work

No it's not an earthquake it's Rezekne art centre. 

It's good to talk

When I worked in a garden centre I asked my employer, What did a public school education do for you ? and what good was learning Latin to you in this modern time. His reply came back, well the three R's everybody needs: but Latin, it has helped me compose the garden centre catalogue, how? from the Latin names I can first list the correct botanical name of a tree or shrub, then I can give it it's common name and a description of its distinguishing characteristics. Ummm I thought, great but what use is that to me?
Hence the following tale

The new tropical glasshouse
at Latvia's Botanical Gardens

Those of you who are friends on Facebook or have read previous blogs will know one of our greatest delights to us here in Upes Iela is our garden apart from when it under 2 foot of snow there is always something to see. New life emerging from the frozen earth,some plant breaking into new life or no matter how large or small a flower be the color and shape always are a joy to see.
However at the moment the garden does look a little sad as the frost has wreaked havoc with the plants,and we sadly lack some autumn colour. with this in mind Valerie and myself headed off to the Latvian National Botanic Garden in Salaspils where from spring to autumn there is a plant market once a month and just the place to buy some plants to give us the color we want. 
Having met the gardens director on a previous visit and being given two free passes ,we were on to a winner. The gardens themselves had a tent with  a small selection of plants for sale, they were almost sold out by the time we arrived but we managed to buy a nice Acer in full autumn colour and a  Ptelea trifolia ( common hop tree)  

Our new Acer

Now at this point I must say that my opening comments all come into play now

Hamamelis mollis
witch hazel

Quercus coccinea
scarlet oak

Ptelea. Hop tree 

I asked if the gardens might have a Quercus Rubra ( Latin for Red Oak you see)
One phone call and we had our answer, yes, if we would like to go to the other side of the gardens and find Dzintra she would show us and if we liked it we could buy one.Great!!!  how do we get there? not sure the answer came but try the back entrance someone might know. OK we were on the right track or were we? When I need to find somewhere my first plan is ask, (can't be doing with one of these satnav things.) God put a tongue in my head and it's there to use.The first person we saw put us straight, take the second turn on the right ummm is that a hard road or dirt track, I'm not sure she smiled back Don't worry I can always ask! and off we went only to find ourselves in the car park, close to the new greenhouse complex which opened this year. One of the staff is sure to speak english I'll ask there. A nice lady greeted me on my entry,a sort of meet and greet like Asda  or Tesco's. Do you speak english I confidently asked, no she replied and disappeared into an office and made a phone call. At this point I must confess I am a bit like my mum she would talk to anyone, when on holiday when our children were small we would leave her on a park bench while we went to get the makings of a picnic or fish and chips only to return to find her chatting to some complete stranger. Any way I digress back to the plot, while I stood and waited I saw a young family sitting in the greenhouse. It's a pretty good bet that most young people speak some english so I asked, sure enough and so I now had a translator, by this time more staff had come and one young lady spoke excellent english and so we were moving along nicely at this point. But did she know Dzintra? no she didn't but she would take us to find her ,,problem solved! well not quite she knew where well roughly, but she had only just started working for the botanical garden , but in the administration block ,,so she said she would be happy to meet some of her colleagues. So off we headed.

Quercus rubra
Red oak

Spotting someone working amongst some container grown plants, could this be the elusive Dzintra??? of course not,, nothing could be that simple,but she did show us some Quercus, but "Dzintra knows where the best ones are, let's go and find her" she collected her bicycle and rode off across the grass while we hurriedly got in the car and took off round the track after her finally to find this lady { Dzintra}who knew where the best red oaks were, and she did !! At this point we were like kids in a sweet shop before us were many varieties of trees and shrubs all growing in the open ground, choose which one you want and we will dig it up for you, well this one and this one and have you got any Hamamelis mollis (Witch hazel) yes just over there just choose one, by this time the 2 ladies had spades at the ready and were lifting our plants all of which had to fit in the car, and the largest oak was about 8ft tall with a rootball almost 2ft across and weighed a ton, oh yes we also found another Quercus coccinea (scarlet oak) and a low growing Euonymus atropurpurea (spindleberry) all of which are now planted around 13 Upes Iela with the promise of rich autumn colours for years to come.

In all we met 10 of the nicest folk you would wish to meet, nothing was to much trouble all because as BT used to say "It's good to talk"                                     The moral of this story is, I am glad I listened to my boss all those years ago and learned the latin names of plants as when talking to Dzintra and her colleagues we had a common language with which we could communicate.






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I'll be back,or will I ???

The weather here in Latvia has turned very cold and autumnal. So with the long winter months stretching ahead my thoughts have turned once again to my slumbering Blog and hope to kickstart it into life once again.(given enough encouragement) Keeping the post's shorter, but more frequent.
So what do you think shall I or shan't I that is the question.