just so busy

well it's a long time since I wrote a blog. don't seem to have had any time. Graham and I went to a really neat village and went in their museum to learn all about the civil war. Then there was the kerfuffle with Billy the dog, He ate the meat loaf that we were meant to be having for dinner. He was absolutely in the doghouse!! Mikes house is up for sale and there are people coming to view tonight. In America you have to be out of the house when the estate agent comes to show them around. Mary sue and I are going to take the dogs out until they are gone and then we are having take away barbeque!
Spoke to Gina this morning and was a bit upset that she has been so ill and we didn't know about it. However Sonia is going to keep an eye on her and will report back. Gina sounded a little brighter so she may be on the mend.
got go now and round up the dogs. more later.Sheila xx

snow!!BRRR

Last night we went to a restaurant in the town and it was very nice too. I had grilled artichokes for my starter ant they were delicious. Today, as Mary Sue was busy we went out in the car and only got lost a couple of times. We found the Walmart and the whole food shop so we were able to buy things for dinner, I made pasta and roast chicken and then we tried to catch up with our e.mails. If farmer Joe is reading this .............could you please e. mail us as we can't get on to our address book and we would like to hear from you (but not if it's any bad news!)
The dogs are missing montana Mike although I am doing my best to keep them entertained, including running through the rooms with Billy!
I'm off to bed now. more later Sheila

kansas city.

Well here we are in the good old U S of A at last. The day seemed interminable and it was about 22 hours before we arrived in Kansas. The flights were good though and apart from the ridiculous security in Orlando everything went swimmingly.This is day 3 and it has snowed 4 inches overnight but there is glorious sunshine.Yesterday we went to the health food shop which is where my nephew buys all his food. I could respect that if he didn't continually eat chocolates and toffee!! I am partially to blame as I brought him loads of Thorntons and other goodies!
Last night I was playing with the dog Billy.This involved running in a circle.I suddenly changed course and Billy ran straight in to me nearly breaking my leg.A lump the size of an egg appeared on my leg and I needed to have an ice pack on it! Tonight we are dining out.Mary sue is keeping us entertained but as soon as the weather improves we will use my nephews car to go out exploring.
more later. Sheila x

The morning after!

We were invited to a small soiree at our neighbours last night. I didn't expect to be coming home at midnight though! It was most enjoyable. Topics of conversations ranged far and wide and they both have a good sense of humour, which is not always the case in Lincolnshire. We Sheffield expats are much more abrasive and sarcastic and it doesn't always go down well!!
Anyway we had some lovely sausage rolls (some of which I was given to have for lunch today) and drinks and nibbles and I think a good time was had by all. We are very lucky to have found such good neighbours considering our experiences in Sheffield.
Had an early morning phone call from my niece to say that my sister has been taken to hospital with broken legs and things. More later when the news becomes clearer.
My other sister rang to say that the garage won't lend her a courtesy car unless she shows them her driving licence. needless to say she can't find it anywhere and she's not sure if she's left it in Australia or America.!
Must get on with my packing. It's hard to know what to take for a month in two vastly different climates. The best thing is that nobody knows you so it doesn't matter if you wear the same thing. We are looking foward to going to Kansas though, because we felt so at home there last year.Maybe we can be a bit more adventurous this time, weather permitting and go out and about, leaving the Montana two to get on with their own lives. We'll see.
Thats all for now. more later. sheila x

spring cleaning

Had a good night at the pub last night and didn't get home till almost 1am. I thought we would be exhausted this morning. It takes us oldies longer to recover, but we had to get up, graham to do his posters and me to spring clean. Yes I know it's not spring yet but I am working on the clean underwear in case you get run over theory. If anything happens to me on my journey to U.S.A people won't find me to be such a slut! So I have spent the last 7 hours cleaning the kitchen and environs.Poor Graham is out doing his posters, which he has to have done before Tuesday so that we can take them to Sheffield when we go. Its absolutely freezing and each time he comes in it takes him half an hour to thaw out despite being dressed like" nanuk of the north"
I determined to eat healthily today and started off well with Porridge, toast and fresh orange. However I soon fell off the wagon at lunch time by eating a roast beef sandwich with beetroot followed by a chocolate brownie, followed by a piece of Turkish delight followed by some nuts!! For dinner tonight it's pasta and grilled fish. I wonder what I can spoil that with?
Have just taken delivery of some new saucepans which I ordered online from John Lewis.They seem much bigger then I thought they would be but they are all nice and shiny!!
Thats all for now as we are going to watch Man U on T.V.

not going out!

This feels like about my fifth day of not going out. I am still seeing people but they are coming here. However...... we are going to the pub tonight to meet our ex pat friends. The new landlord is also an ex pat and a friend of Mel Stirland and other footballers so Graham, who hasn't met him yet, will have a chance to do his usual banter. I shall not be drinking so that I can rein him in should the need arise.
Have just opened the telegraph to read about the Norwalk disease virus that is sweeping the country(Sickness of a projectile nature!) to find a picture of our friend in Sheffield. She had it over xmas and was really ill but thankfully it only lasts for 3 days (unless it kills you!)
It seems everyone is thinking about getting slim. I can't be bothered, although I'm probably the only one who should! My bloodsugar is sky high. I look forward to all this healthy eating in Kansas. I actually do eat healthily. It's just the extras that I should leave alone!
I hope S&S have arrived back safely in OZ and will soon start their blog. I should like to know what they do in their daily lives.
Not much else to report until after tonight so will write more later.

Happy new year!!

Well here it is! 2008 ! Wow (or not as the case may be) Where we are it's as though every thing is shut down, even the traffic is barely coming. Is everyone still in bed with a hangover?
Just had a conversation with an aunt, my mothers only remaining sibling,She is full of woe but soon cheers up. I managed to get her singing. The song is "goodie goodie" for those of you familiar with the genre, and now I suppose it will be in my head for the rest of the week!
I should be getting on with things but feel a strange torpor and long to sit on the sofa and do nothing. Maybe I will suggest to Graham that we have a walk on the seafront and look at the waves.
Anyway I hope all our readers will have a very happy, healthy,prosperous and above all peacefull new year. love Sheila xx