Posts

Showing posts from 2008

Jingle Cats What Child is This

Just for fun

Why You Should Be Catholic

Why I became Catholic

This echoes some of my own thoughts

What Every Catholic Needs to Know About Hell

O Come O Come Emmanuel

Keep the Mass in Christmas

I picked up on this phrase from a fellow blogger: http://gkupsidedown.blogspot.com/ I think it is so much more apt than the one 'Keep Christ in Christmas' that is on some posters - and fridge magnets no doubt - at the Christian book shops. Perhaps as a Catholic convert from the evangelicals it says more about what catholicism means to me - the heart of my faith. Another blogger also has some good thoughts on 'what she loves about being a Catholic' - catch up on some of these here: http://catholicprodigaldaughter.blogspot.com/ which include all the sacraments and echo some of my own thoughts on the richness of the Catholic faith. At this time of year, that richness is self evident with the wealth of readings and reflections and traditions available for reflection on the Advent season and the coming of Christ. Even the O antiphons can be used for reflection on the nature of Christ. The O Antiphons are used at daily prayer in the evenings in the last week of Advent. Each

What I am reading.

Mother Teresa's Secret Fire by Jospeh Langford - The Encounter that Changed Her Life and How It Can Transform Your Own. Publisher: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division, 200 Noll Plaza, Huntingdon, IN 46750. Book Review to follow - hoping for some time to read this over the Christmas period.

O Come O Come Emmanuel

Wednesday 17th December

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Had a surreal start to my working day in the parish as the bus was empty when it pulled up and the driver was dressed as Father Christmas. As I got on it felt like I was about to go on a "Scrooged" experience and return to Christmas past, present or future! Still it did brighten the start of the day up and apparently my daughter had the same driver on her way home. Managed to get a bit of Christmas shopping after work and so to brave the post office queues tomorrow and help my grandson choose a present for his mum and dad.

Happy Birthday Emma - 23!

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I can't believe I have a daughter who is 23! She has a good heart for people. Happy Birthday Emma! Hope you have a great 2009!

Third Sunday in Advent

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I can't believe it's nearly Christmas. I seem so unprepared. My grandson knew we were going to light the pink candle today. And now we are one week nearer. Christmas is a busy time in the Church and as I am helping out in the parish office there is plenty to do! I still haven't got a tree yet. I didn't put up the usual artificial one (which we started using after one year we had a disaster with the tree ending up bare and surrounded by needles) in favour of a more traditional christmas and the smell of pine through the house. We have a Christmas party invite for tomorrow night so that should get the Christmas mood going again. We also took my grandson to a Christingle service this afternoon which was a lovely time for him and a nice time for reflection for the children. There was a beautifully lit Christmas tree in the church and it was also the church I got married in nearly 26 years ago.

Second Week of Advent

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Well we are into the second week of advent - even less time this week for reflections so far. Have been to my sisters for the weekend and had a lovely Christmas party with family and friends and dancing the night away followed by a morning walk around the garden centre to inspect Christmas trees and decorations. I bought some baubles and a few nic-nacs but left them behind - so now my poor sister has to post them. Unfortunately she can't post the bottle of wine I also left behind which we won at the Christmas raffle - oh well there is always next year. I have some decorations up including the Holy Family in the fireplace and the advent wreath and candles but the other half are littering the house waiting for a sudden spurt of energy which hopefully I will have at the weekend when we go to get the Christmas tree. This year we are opting for a Nordman Fir so I hope it keeps its needles longer than one we had one year when the whole tree had to be stripped and replaced with a new tree

The First Week Of Advent

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The host webpage is http://uk.wrs.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0WTf2oLWjhJBNEAWRNWBQx./SIG=12cucdf3l/EXP=1228516235/**http%3A//www.mph.org/leader/Archives/Advent04/Advent04.htm for the picture below (in its original context) I love the purple vestments and the lighting of the first candle to signify the start of this special season. A time for reflection on our relationship with God and Jesus and where we are at this time in our spiritual lives. It's harder than I thought to set time aside for reflection on the scriptures and so many things push for our attention. There are lots of helpful booklets with reflections for us to meditate on at this time. Maybe it is a time for setting aside some of those things that crowd for our attention - the television, the computer, that unread book and spend some time in reflection. Our Church has been making the annual Advent wreath as a start to the Advent season. And there are a series of reflections and prayers for the season to help people take time ou

A New Catholic Convert

Congratulations to my sister who was received into full communion with the Catholic Church on Thursday 27th November at the 10 am Mass - her confirmation name is St Bridget.

Bike messenger rides with one leg

This story is inspirational - picked it up from my fellow bloggers: http://catholicprodigaldaughter.blogspot.com/ and fellow blogger here with the link back to my post and art :) One Legged Inspiration

What I am reading.

Saint Gianna Molla, Wife, Mother, Doctor by Pietra Molla and Elio Guerriero, translated by James G Colbert - Ignatius Press
Here are the comforting words of Mother Teresa, -from another Blog - http://asksistermarymartha.blogspot.com/ = check her out - she's great! the perpetually abandoned nun who worked with lepers and mind bogglingly sick and poor people. She did not originate these thoughts , but this is her version of them. The version found written on the wall in Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta : People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway. If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway. What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway. Give the best you have,

Saint Thomas Becket - TODAY!

Our Lady Help of Christians, Folkestone - Saint Thomas Becket, Bishop & Martyr, His Life and Death. "What is his message for today?" A Talk by Father Richard Whinder, BA, STL from St Joseph's, New malden, Surrey, Church Historian THURSDAY 27TH NOVEMBER 2008 AT 7.30 PM. In the Parish Hall, Guildhall Street North, Folkestone There will be time for questions & discussion and Night Prayer of the Church and refreshments. ALL ARE WELCOME

What type of Blog am I?

The Doers The active and playful type. They are especially attuned to people and things around them and often full of energy, talking, joking and engaging in physical out-door activities. The Doers are happiest with action-filled work which craves their full attention and focus. They might be very impulsive and more keen on starting something new than following it through. They might have a problem with sitting still or remaining inactive for any period of time. Check out http://2catholicmomof10revisited.blogspot.com/

Quiz time

[b]There Are 0 Gaps in Your Knowledge[/b] [img]http://www.blogthingsimages.com/doyouhavegapsinyourknowledgequiz/brain.png[/img] Where you have gaps in your knowledge: No Gaps! Where you don't have gaps in your knowledge: PhilosophyReligionEconomicsLiteratureHistoryScienceArt [url=http://www.blogthings.com/doyouhavegapsinyourknowledgequiz/]Do You Have Gaps in Your Knowledge?[/url]

The Priests singing

I want this CD!

Life!

In the 60's people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird, people take prozac to make it normal"

Children and the pill

I read in the paper today that they are proposing that "girls as young as 13 will be pressed to have contraceptive jabs under Government plans to "urgently" bring down teenage pregnancy rates". Not content with the vaccine for cervical cancer - they now want to give our children contraceptive jobs and no talk of the side effects. Is there no end to the government's continued sexualisation of our children? The government also wants more school clinics to administer the jabs, which can make girls infertile for up to three months. Teenagers can receive the injections or implants without their parents' knowledge. More and more teenagers will be persuaded to act on issues which they may not be mature enough to make an informed decision about without their parent's knowledge or advice and maybe only their peers for support. Opposers of this new scheme say that it will actually promote promiscuity and that injections and implants will not protect against the

Lord of the Rings - Fall of Gandalf - Mozart Requiem

Monty Python - The Bishop

In The Steps of Jesus

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A Year in the Holy Land: An illustrated talk by Fr Ian Vane, Parish Priest in the diocese of Arundel and Brighton. THURSDAY 13TH NOVEMBER 2008 AT 7.30 PM Our Lady Help of Christians Parish Hall Guildhall Street Folkestone Time for questions, refreshments, Night Prayer of the Church - ALL WELCOME

Crazy Baby!

Lucas 2

Crazy Spinning Baby

Lucas

Kristen Ashburn: Heartrending pictures of AIDS

Matt Monro - Born Free

I loved this film

Johnnie Ray - Just Walking In The Rain

The year I was born

David Cassidy (Partridge Family) - I think I love you 1970

Gosh I was 14 that year!

Politics

I thought this quote from one of Pope Pius XI's encyclicals was very apt for our day too: "Whoever exalts race, or the people, or the State, or a particular form of State, or the depositories of power, or any other fundamental value of the human community—however necessary and honorable be their function in worldly things—whoever raises these notions above their standard value and divinizes them to an idolatrous level, distorts and perverts an order of the world planned and created by God; he is far from the true faith in God and from the concept of life which that faith upholds."

Catholic Vote. Com (Grassroots)

National Geographic - In The Womb 4/10

National Geographic - In The Womb 3/10

National Geographic - In The Womb 2/10

Pro-Life Issues

For more pro-life topics check out these fellow bloggers' sites: http://mulier-fortis.blogspot.com/ http://2catholicmomof10revisited.blogspot.com/ ABORTION will kill 120,000 Babies today Did you know? Abortion kills more than 46,000,000 babies every year.

National Geographic - In the Womb

See more of these videos on You Tube - great documentaries

Dave Allen Funeral Sketch

More comedy

Dave Allen on Religion

Let's have some comedy

In Memory

"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee" - Jeremiah 1.5"

Can I Live

I love this video

Flipsyde-Someday

Some nice guitar.

Flipsyde - Happy Birthday

Says it all

Voting

Here in the UK we have been caught up in the debate on who we would vote for if we were in the US - MCain or Obama - Obama because he has social values and is for peace or McCain because we are pro-life. It's been quite hard with arguments on both sides, the youth favouring Obama I think especially for peace. But for me the quote by Mother Theresa (top left) made it clear - "how can we tell other people (Obama) not to kill one another - if we can accept that a mother can kill her own child."

slideshow of babies on abortion song by flipsyde

You have a choice with whom to sleep with, and the choice to discuss what actions both parties would take should a pregnancy occur. You have a choice to carry to term and adopt. You have a choice not to have sex, or to take steps to prevent pregnacy and STCs (Sexually transmitted viruses) A woman has a choice. The baby has no choice except what choice you make for it.

Aborcja

How can I be anything but against abortion and for protection of the innocent.

Bloggers respond

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I would like to know why there is such a strong feeling/emotions from the pro-choicers against the pro-lifers? Any thoughts? Picture is of me as a baby with my nan.

You Tube

There are all sorts of nefarious videos out on You Tube but I do find it useful for catching up on any nostalgic trips down memory lane or picking up some old EWTN favourites. However, I have see there is a clip out on You Tube for a comedian who is using 'abortion' for his comic routine. Now I don't mind satire and I know there are whole web sites out there dedicated to satirising Christians - we must make good fodder for them! But surely even some subjects should be off limits to a comedian. I cannot see anything funny in this subject and there must be a wealth of good material out there for a comedian with any talent. Nobody would find the subject of paedophilia or child pornography funny when innocent children are being exploited - there must be some limits otherwise we might all as well have been born with four feet instead of two!

Audrey Hepburn -

Nostalgia time.

Links

Some recommended links if you want to know more about the Catholic Faith: I recommend the Catholic web site: http://www.catholic-ew.org.uk/ which is Welcome to the Catholic Church in England and Wales. And www.lifeforseekers.co.uk - Life4seekers is for those people who want to improve their life and find a new sense of fulfilment, a fresh energy and joy of living. If you are searching for happiness, a sense of purpose and new direction in life, life4seekers is the right site to explore. Quotes, comments, viewpoints, pauses for thought... and much more! Also the newspaper site: www.totalcatholic.com which opens up some discussions. http://asksistermarymartha.blogspot.com/ - you might like this blog spot. http://joannabogle.blogspot.com/ and this one. And this blog spot: http://2catholicmomof10revisited.blogspot.com/ http://www.cts-online.org.uk/ is the Catholic Truth Society and they do booklets and things as well. So if you get some spare time check out these websites. I can pos

Halloween

I see that they are selling elderly masks for halloween in Woolworths - that is good as I will be able to go out as myself! "Ask Sister Mary Martha" on her Blog thinks nuns can be pretty scary especially to small children - so perhaps I could go out dressed as an elderly nun for halloween. 'Nun' offence intended!

Joanna is going to Butlins next week with the family.

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Snippets - Fish

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Had a bit of a clean around the kitchen last week. Sparked off by the Edam smelling out the fridge and having to take everything out and clean the whole fridge because my house smelled like a cheese factory when you opened the front door. This coupled with the smell of the dog who really need to go to the beauty parlour and the left over cat meat was not very pleasant. Decided also I had better wash out the water filter jug as it had turned a lovely shade of green as my kitchen gets lots of sun and resembled the fish tank on the other side of the kitchen – which also needs cleaning. And discovered that the bottom of the jug was also a lovely black colour (on the outside I hasten to add!). I think it’s safer to drink bottled water at my house or probably drink out of the fish tank!

Snippets of Life - Mistaken Identity

Had a rather bizarre conversation with a woman in our local church the other Sunday morning who I thought knew me but was talking half the time in a foreign language, perplexed but not put off (as I have a Spanish friend who does this!) I carried on responding in English. Then she introduced me to another man, Robert, saying this is Michelle and she speaks French! And them proceeded to tell me that his ‘famille en France’ in French again! Too perplexed by this time to put her right I nodded and smiled and scurried off to find a seat and make a mental note to go to my normal Parish Church next time where people KNOW me! I was hoping that the real Michelle didn’t turn up or I could be accused of impersonating a French woman. Worse, next week if Robert met me he may well try and converse with me in French. I’ll have to keep my head down in town - either that or brush up on my school book French. Pardonne moi – je m’appelle Joanna! It was a bizarre day – I’ve also been tagged as a

Into Great Silence clip

Andy Williams - Can't get used to losing you

Andy Williams - The Village Of St. Bernadette

some nostalgia

66 British babies survived abortion

Connie Talbot

Elvis Presley - Amazing Grace

Family Day at the park

I like this video - it reminds me how great it is to be a grandparent!

The Simplicity of the Catholic Faith

Anniversary

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Joanna is baptised a Catholic 7 years tomorrow! How time flies! I can't believe it has been that long and yet there is so much still to pray, read, learn and do! Clearly the person who accepts the Church as an infallible guide will believe whatever the Church teaches. — Saint Thomas Aquinas

Matt

Check out Matt's site at: www.wherethehellismatt.com

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008)

This will make you smile!

Catholic Vote 2008

For my US friends

St. Jude Novena Prayer

Thank you St Jude for answered prayers.

Eucharistic Adoration

Fr. Stan Fortuna jamming it out!

You are my God

On the Third Day (Matt Maher)

Matt Maher - Empty and Beautiful

Great worship

Adore 2097 - Your Grace Is Enough

Paul Newman

A Class Act

Subtitled: Eduardo Verastegui's Dura Realidad (Hard Truth)

The pictures of the aborted babies are on the Spanish version on http://www.durarealidad.com/ but they are very graphic - so viewer discretion recommended. I can argue for or against war but I can only argue against abortion.

Jesus, Take The Wheel (Music Video

Coming Talks at Our Lady Help of Christians

1. Saint Paul - His Life and Witness by Father Dominic Rolls MA STL (Parish priest, St Joseph's Dorking, Surrey and Lecturer in Sacred Scipture, St John's Seminary, Wonersh. Thursday 2nd October 2008 at 7.30 pm, Parish Hall, Our Lady Help of Christian, Guildhall Street, Folkestone. 2.Christ and His Church: Why Infallible? Thursday 9th October, 7.30 pm 3. Women Priests? Thursday 16th October 7.30 pm The last two talks given by Father Roger Nesbitt M.Sc. Same venue. ALL ARE WELCOME There will be time for questions, discussion, Night Prayer of the Church and refreshments. Tel: 01303 252823

Joan Baez - Where have All The Flowers Gone

Joan Baez at Woodstock - We Shall Overcome

Happy Birthday Jenny - big girl now! 18 this week!

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Have a great party!

Don't worry be happy

Satan Worshippers

Satan worshippers kill and eat four Russian teenagers after stabbing each of them 666 times By Will Stewart Last updated at 2:48 AM on 16th September 2008 Daily Mail Famous last words: Andrei's father said last night: 'My son said he had Goths and Satanists among his friends. 'I wasn't scared. I thought, "Well, let him spend his time sitting around in a cemetery, there's not much harm in that is there?" One of those arrested is alleged to have told police: 'Satan will help me to avoid responsibility, I made lots of sacrifices to him.' Another, Alexander Voronovic, claimed the gang had previously dug up a grave and eaten the heart of the girl buried there. One of the gang, when asked what made him do it, is claimed to have said: 'I tried to turn to God, but it didn't bring me any money. 'I prayed to Satan, and things improved.' You can't play with the devil - he will destroy you - like the Witches in MacBeth - he will tempt you

Teach

Two of my children were home schooled for a few years but it seems if education is going the way it is, more UK Catholic and Christian families will have to home school their children as is more common practice in the USA I think.  In order for children to have the values that parents want them to have or to spend more time outside in nature.  Or simply to bring out their individuality.

CLIFF RICHARD --- Thank You For A Lifetime

Thank you Cliff!

Missions Work

Babies

How can you say there are too many children? That is like saying there are too many flowers. - Mother Teresa If you want to know more about what an abortion entails then go to this blog here: http://www.markmallett.com/blog/?p=736 But it contains graphic images and links to graphic images. And more about Prayer for Life here: http://www.blessedlife-c.blogspot.com/

Paul McCartney - A Day In The Life [Live at Liverpool, 2008]

Prayer from another Blogger

"O St. Joseph, grant me what you yourself would pray for were you in my place on this earth, with numerous family and financial difficulties. O good St. Joseph of Mount Royal, harken to my prayer." It is a prayer of the Blessed Andre Bissette. You can check out the Blog this comes from here: http://onionboy.typepad.com/luminousmiseries/

The Beatles

When I find myself in times of trouble, mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be. And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be. Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be. Whisper words of wisdom, let it be. And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be. For though they may be parted there is still a chance that they will see, there will be an answer. let it be. Let it be, let it be, ..... And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light, that shines on me, shine until tomorrow, let it be. I wake up to the sound of music, mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be. Let it be, let it be, .....

the Beatles-Let It Be

"Mother Mary Comes to Me - there will be an answer - Let it Be." For all my Bloggin friends

Hot Chocolate (I Believe in Miracles)

Just a little light humour.

Sickness

"He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His Love than in your weakness." Mother Teresa That is so true - often when we are at our weakest, it is then we have more time for God.

Memorae

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Remember Oh Most Gracious, Virgin Mary! that never was it known that anyone who fled to Thy protection, implored thy help or sought Thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence I fly unto Thee, Oh Virgin of Virgins, my Mother! To the do I come, before you I cry, sinful and sorrowful. Oh Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions but in Thy Mercy hear and answer me!Amen.

Glorify Thy Name 2006 SCRC Worship Song

Julie Andrews - 1991 Tony Awards

John Denver - Leaving on a Jet Plane

John Denver - Country Roads

Annie's Song Photo Video John Denver

Starry Starry Night

Joanna's feeling maudlin.

Marino Restrepo - Testimony Part 4

See more of this testimony on You Tube

Pro-life Anti-Abortion Video: Development of the Unborn Baby

Marino Restrepo - New Dawn Conference 2007 Part 3

Marino Restrepo - New Dawn Conference 2007 Part 2

Hope to go to New Dawn next year.

Catholic Conversion Story - Mark Rutherford

A longer conversion story for the men!

Catholic Conversion Story - Cathryn Torgerson

A slightly longer story if you have time!

Catholic Conversion Story - Anna Dickey

Good Video

Where am I?

Joanna Bennett can also be found on facebook, my space and bebo - so send me a friend link if you have one! I am on Yahoo 360 but very rarely look at it.

Kev's 50th party

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Other Blogs

Hi friends - I can also be found on Yahoo 360 and MSN and Bebo and Facebook - so if you have any of these send me your email address or contact and I will add you!

Don't Stop Me Now

Mary Poppins

Padre Pio - Celebrates the Eucharist

Eucharistic Adoration

Talking with Sea Lions

Just testing

Eucharistic Adoration - Part 1

Eucharistic Adoration

Wait for Me-Rebecca St. James

I Have to Believe

Praise To You O Christ Our Savior - USC Catholic Center

New CD

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Great Music!

Faith Summer Session

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Our Parish Priest has been away at Faith Week at Woldingham School in Surrey which has massive grounds. Two friends were there for the week as well - Sandra and Shirley. My husband managed to get up for a visit on the Wednesday with another church friend - Andrew. The talk in the morning was on the Church as the Bride of Christ and in the afternoon on Chastity. The Summer Faith sessions attract a lot of youth to learn more about the Catholic faith from the excellent lectures. There were also a number of seminarians present. Father Nesbitt is - eighth from the left of the photo in the front or seventh from the right but that is counting the gentleman on the far right who migth actually be in the back row! Either way he is just to the left of the priest in full 'frock'.

What I bought

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Great family film: version of Louisa May Alcott's novel with Winona Ryder as Jo. A look at life in New England during the Civil War. Following the family as they split into the world, ending up with the most independent, the outspoken Jo (Winona Ryder).

Life at Home

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Some more photos.

Lathe Barn

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We went down to Lathe Barn the other Sunday. The donkey is no longer there but as I have been going there since the children were little and the youngest is soon to be 18, I guess he was a very old donkey! Lucas loved the tractors - it must be built in to a little boy.

Wingham Wildlife Park

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We had a day out last week at the local Wildlife Park; I used to go there when my own children were small but there weren't quite as many 'loose' birds around which used to be quite frightening - especially if they were after your food. There didn't seem to be a safe sanctuary away from them at the time. The peacocks seemed quite friendly and Lucas was not frightened of the geese at all and let some baby goats feed out of his hands. A good day was had by all! Vicky was there but she was taking all the photos!

What We Bought

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CD=Mama Mia and DVD = Sense and Sensibility (I already have Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley). I did have this on video but no longer have it - so great to have it on CD now which always gives a much better picture quality anyway.

More photos

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Holiday photos

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More to follow

Varina and Isabel and Dad's family

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Think dad tried to get in on the picture too!

50th Birthday Party

The Birds

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My home town resembles the Hitchcock movie 'The Birds' at the moment. As the seagull babies have now hatched out - when I go for a walk with the dog - there is a seagull on duty on every lamp-post and chimney pot in town. This is alright as long as they stay there but currently we have to dodge 'mama' seagull every time we go in and out of the house as there is a brown baby seagull in the front garden after it fell off the roof. It's already swooped at the cat and my husband. I might have to resort to going in and out with an umbrella up! Though my husband thinks a tennis racket might be a better idea. My daughter and I were in town the other day when suddenly my hair was full of flapping wings - a seagull just swooped down and took the burger out of my daughter's hand that she was eating as we walked to the bus stop. Currently I have opted for the safer option and am taking the dog for a walk out of the back garden gate.

Fun in London

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L O L

Lucas

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You're so cute!