Saturday October 26th 2024 "Are YOU feeling a bit 'crinkly round the edges' today? A lot of us are, aren't we!"

Just a quick post today, because Lois and I are packing to go away for a few days, so it's just "a wee postie" as the might say in Scotland.

Oh dearie me !!!! 

Yes, we're going to be spending a few days in Hampshire, looking at houses. We're both "old codgers", and a bit "crinkly round the edges", not to mention somewhat "crumbly on the insides", a little like two pieces of Lois's critically-acclaimed fruit cake, so it's definitely time now for us to be nearer the support of our daughter Alison (49) and her family. [You're certainly 'fruit cakes' all right, no question about that! - Ed]

We do manage to squeeze in a whatsapp video call this morning with our other daughter Sarah (47) who left this area - Worcestershire - also leaving the UK last month, to start a new life in Australia (again!) with husband Francis and their 11-year-old twins Lily and Jessica. That's some of the twins' ex-toys in the picture above. 

Sarah started a new job in Perth last month, but it'll be a while before the family can buy their own house. They're only renting at the moment, and only gradually getting the furniture they will need. They haven't even got a sofa yet, so we tend to see Sarah and the twins lying down on their beds when we call them, and today is no exception.

Lily and Jessica won't be starting school down there till February, which, weirdly, is the start of the new school year. 

It's nice to know, however, that the twins are getting excited about Halloween coming up next week, and this morning they showcase for us the pumpkin they're going to be carving. It's weird to think of celebrating Halloween in the summer, but I guess they're stuck with that.

Poor Aussies !!!

And what a crazy planet we live on !!!!!

the twins showcase for us the pumpkin they'll be carving next week

The twins have certain beloved stuffed toys that they couldn't manage to fit into their hand-luggage when they jetted off from London's Heathrow Airport at the beginning of September, so Lois and I are looking after them on the twins' behalf.

And no whatsapp video call is complete without the twins giving a wave to Buckles the Unicorn and Rover the Dog-faced Pony, plus Black-and-White-Cat, and there's much tear-brushing-away on both sides of the planet at that point.

Awwwww !!!!! 

Poor Buckles!!!! And poor Rover!!! And poor Black-and-White Cat !!!!!

That's all I've got time for today, so byeeeeeeeee!!!!

Oh, and see you tomorrow !!!!!!!

Will this do???

[Oh go back to your packing, Colin!!!!]

18:00 We go back to our packing.....