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Hi, Rusty!
Yes, you are very fortunate in that both sons are so close.
But we are not doing so badly in that one daughter is only roughly 40 minutes away, our son lives in South Croydon, and our elder daughter is in the Midlands.
It could be worse.......Australia for instance!
Some family members find themselves very far apart, due to various circumstances.
That is good that your book has arrived - and is in such excellent condition.
Are there many photographs included of the chapel?
I haven't ordered any further books since "This Mum Runs", written by Jo.
I used my Amazon account to buy some online Christmas presents for my granddaughter, so have run out of money!
As I am expecting vouchers for Christmas, I shall wait for those, before choosing any more books!
I am considering Miss P's books - I enjoyed the novel that I read about the little boy being adopted.
It was very thoughtful and sensitive.
A lovely story.

Hello, Elle!
I have several cousins living in USA.
There are no photos in my book, but there is dialogue, which I do not like the sound of.
The author appears to be inventing conversations of 70 odd years ago!
How could he possibly know what was said then?
I have not started it yet, but will read a few pages and any invented conversations and it will be going in the bin.
I am reading "Young Stalin" just now, and a biography of Vincent O'Brien.

Hi, Rusty!
Ah, yes. We, too, have relatives dotted about here and there.
Several quite far afield, in fact!
I didn't make it clear , did I, that I had meant immediate family members, when I made that observation?
So have you been to the States to visit your cousins?
Your new book sounds a trifle odd?
Has the author made up a "story" around the supposed facts?
I can see that you will not like it if it does not stay strictly historical/ factual
Why do I know the name Vincent O'Brien?
Is he someone you will have mentioned?

Hello, Elle!
No, I am not going to USA.
I am content here.
You have it in one, Elle, it looks as if the book is historic fiction.
I shall bin it.
I have several more on order, though.
Vincent O'Brien was a great Irish racehorse trainer.
He created the stables at Ballydoyle, where Aidan O'Brien now trains.
They are not related.
Vincent died a few years ago.
He trained the great Nijinsky, and many more champions.
Still quite mild here!

Hi, Rusty!
Wet again, here, and extremely mild!
Most unChristmas like!
We shall just have to be like Bing.......and dream!
We have had a bit of bad news in that one of my cousin's is about to lose his wife.
She has had a severe stroke on top of lot of complicated very recent illness, and is not expected to last till Christmas Day.
Sadly, there is always trouble for someone........
What a pity about your book...it sounds as though it was badly presented?
I have nothing of particular note planned for today.
How about you?

It is mild here too. Yesterday I had a bronze free range turkey delivered (frozen), keeping it in its polystyrene with ice packs to defrost slowly. Have now had an email to say they are delivering said turkey today (as was the original plan). If that happens, what to do with it? Would love to get it to people who need it but no idea how.

One year the local butcher didn't deliver the turkey at all on Christmas Eve in spite of several phone calls (luckily had something in freezer). They went to the wrong house, who were pleased with it!! (we knew them). Now may have two.Three days banged up with 2 dead turkeys! No room in freezer.

Rusty - maybe bin your unwanted book to a charity shop- or do you do that already?

Good morning, Elle!
Very frosty and blue skies here!
Cracker of a day, in truth!
That is very sad news indeed about your cousin's wife.
Seems worse at this time of year, too.
I have a piece of good news.
My daughter-in-law's Mum had three stents fitted in or around her heart on Tuesday and got home the following day, as right as rain!
I was amazed.
She said as soon as they told her the first stent was in place, her pain simply vanished.
I was out early today and got my steak pie for my Christmas dinner.
Butcher was busy!

Hello, Rosalind,
My book has gone in the bin.
I would not inflict it on anyone!
I regularly pass books on to PDSA, though.

Hi rusty

One man's dreadful book is another person's favourite! I agree about not giving fictional speech to historical figures, though.

Stents are truly amazing. My daughter-in-law's father has just has one (he needs another but they are going carefully) and was as right as rain straight after. Brilliant.

Sad news for you, elle

Hi, Rusty!
You are being very lucky with your weather!
We have a hint of blue sky now, though not enough to make a sailor a par of trousers!
But the pavements are not drying up.
That is great new about your daughter-in- law's mum!
I know of several friends who have had stents fitted, and they do seem to " do the job"!
I've just been talking to younger daughter on the phone - she had been to Bexleyheath last - minute Xmas shopping.
I am glad all mine is finished.
Well done on your steak pie!
What about Christmas pud?

Hello, Elle!
I appreciate our fine weather, and....I think the daylight starts to stretch from today.
Summer, here we come!
The stents seem to be the "biz" right enough!
I think the NHS is wonderful!
I am glad I have my steak pie.
I shall possibly get an Asda trifle for a pud.
Been coming to an arrangement with Miss ATW about Christmas morning.
She wants me to go to her Dad's which suits me grand!
Now, I have heard of Bexleyheath, but no idea where it is, I'm afraid!


Hello, Rosalind,
You are quite correct about folk having different tastes in books.
I was maybe a tad hasty in binning the offending item!