Oxted - Big Freeze Pictures

Just found a whole load more pictures on my mobile of the snow, I popped all of them on Flickr (over here, if you like this sort of thing, along with the ones from Earlswood from earlier in the year), but here are a selection (these give you a much better idea how deep the snow actually got) -

- this was Morrisons car park (a JCB was running *continuously* for all three days to try and clear the parking spaces - making these huge piles) -

- one of the 4x4 cars that managed to make it into town (complete with radiator icicles) -

- speaking of icicles, these were the ones gradually growing from the roof of my folk's house -



- and a few shots of the garden (absolutely buried - two feet deep in places)...

Pictures of Snow - Oxted

- the only commuting taking place was by sledge, to the shops where there wasn't any bread -

- (apart from French sticks being baked in Waitrose) tractors and 4x4s could just about limp around (no buses at all) -

- and the tracks they made meant you didn't have to wade through foot-deep snow -

- make it as far as the station and the signs weren't very encouraging-

- all the "ghost trains" being diverted to trying to keep the lines between Brighton, Gatwick (which was closed) and London...the broken down train stuck for days at Lingfield didn't help much either... ;)

...and we've still got loads of snow at home, heaps of it, mostly now turned to ice...Brrr! I put the hood back on my snow coat this morning, put on a jumper *and* wore a hat...most unusual for me... ;)

Happy Christening Thomas

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A magical day welcoming Thomas into the church, celebrated with close friends and family at St.Mary's, Oxted. Followed by a wonderful celebration with lots of yummy food and glorious sunshine. I'm sure Fink will write everything up soon, but for now just a few photos to celebrate the day.

Commuting from Oxted

We're a couple of days in now, so what's it been like commuting from/to Oxted? Well, good and bad actually...my first journey there (on Monday) I managed to pick up the 1808hrs from London Bridge (a fast train, literally stopping at East Croydon and then Oxted), super quick, and the luxury of being able to then just walk for 3 minutes and be at the front door...total bliss...Tuesday morning on the journey in we lucked another fast train, but there were no seats (for me) until East Croydon where about 50% of the people on board flew off to find connections (Flyingpops was able to flash her "Baby on board" badge as soon as she got on board and a kind lady moved for her), so not quite as good in that respect, as there are always seats from Earlswood...the other bad thing is that (as we were last night) if you are late, the trains get rather far apart (like half an hour apart) instead of the excellent rush hour 10 minute gaps between trains, and unlike being able to nip to East Croydon and catch the next Redhill service out of Victoria, with Oxted trains there really is no alternative but to wait...so actual journey, largely much better, as long as we get out reasonably early...

One thing that really bothered me yesterday (and I have no idea how my sister put up with this in the middle of the summer), is that her old room (where we are lodging) has thin white curtains with no backing...at 5am when the sun came up the room got bright extremely quickly - waking me up - at home we have blackout curtains or blackout blinds on all the windows (pretty much) meaning the sun doesn't get a look in until it's allowed, but this morning I actually found myself quite enjoying slowly being woken up by the sun rather than by a blast of (far too early in the morning) pop music from Radio MurkyMercury...the other really nice thing about being based in Oxted town centre is the proximity of the shops and restaurants...we really are out in the sticks at home, having only one small shop within reasonable walking distance...I'd forgotten what it's like to have everything right on the doorstep (not had that since I lived in Dorking)...

Flyingpops is loving it, she prefers the mattress as it's slightly harder than the one at home, meaning she doesn't sink so low and moving around is easier, the bed is also smaller (and in a slightly bigger room) than at home, meaning there is a gap on her side of the bed so she can get up more easily if she needs to in the night, and (of course) we just happen to be surrounded by all the things we have bought for the baby (this is where it is all being stored while we do the decorating) - she sorted out all the baby grows twice last night, while I was watering the garden-

- which seemed to take ages, it was actually getting dark by the time I finished, but it's all in a good cause, as Kipperfrog's wedding reception is due to be held there, so we can't let it all wilt while it's our sole responsibility! ;)

Bathroom and Nursery, weekend update

It's been another busy weekend, I finished off the plasterboard skimming in the nursery on Saturday (and because it was so hot it was a bit of a nightmare) the sanding took much longer than I thought and was harder work than I thought, but it was well worth it, the wall is really smooth and jolly even now (even if I do say so myself)...probably shouldn't have worn black clothes though, when I came out it looked like I'd had a collision with a sack of flour, all in my hair, in my ears and up my nose...took ages to clean up all the dust, starting with the vacuum cleaner, and finishing up with a damp sponge on the walls themselves (a surprising amount kept on clinging to them even after repeated wiping)...on Saturday night, instead of watching Britain's got talent, I made a start on the painting, but gave up after a wall and a half as the finish looked terrible (really disheartening after all the effort I had gone to), oddly in the morning it had all magically straightened itself out (could have been just the electric light playing tricks with my tired eyes, but I definitely concluded to get some better paint would be a sensible thing to do, the stuff we have is way too watery)...

Sunday, for once, I actually had a full day of rest (even fell asleep on the sofa at about 9pm)...! This week it's going to be chaos at home, the bathroom is going in - and we are going out (to avoid the upheaval)...we are staying with at my folks place in Oxted, the only bad thing is that they aren't going to be there as they are off on holiday...So this morning we loaded up all our clothes and wash kits (etc) into Poppy the Beetle and after work I'm heading straight there, the next time I see the house (which will be at the end of the week, just before we go off on our mini break to the South West), the new bathroom should be installed!

Christmas Update

So we then had a few days off, including my Birthday (unfortunately had to work on Christmas Eve, but that's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes) got an absolutely huge number of games (including everything I wanted from the Chrismas releases for the 360 - most played of that little lot so far are probably the most recent COD (which is like the older ones rather than COD 4, which is a bit of a shame as COD 4 was rather good) and Fable II (which has completely absorbed me to the point of stopping my replay of Fallout 3) although I've nearly finished that already with all the hours I put in over Christmas)...!

Christmas morning (after enjoying Midnight Mass at St Peters in Tandridge where we got Married earlier in the year) -

- we awoke at home (for the first time ever) to presents under our tiny live Christmas tree -

- rather later than intended (don't think we woke up until about 10am!) and had a lazy breakfast of four minute eggs with soldiers -

- before heading over for a fantastic meal of roasted goose at my parents and even more piles of pressies in the afternoon (very spoilt)! ;) Boxing day was another roast dinner (beef this time) at Flyingpops folks and then with barely a chance to catch our breath we were busy packing the car ready for an early start to begin our New Years break in Cornwall, first stop over was to go and visit Flyingpops' friend Dawn (who has recently moved to Okehampton) about an hour away from where we would be staying...

Ring-Necked Parakeet, Oxted

Check this out - my folks have got a couple of rare Ring-necked Parakeets that come to visit the bird feeders in the garden! Rumour has it that there were a number of escapees from Gatwick Zoo when it closed down back in 2002...I don't think anyone really expected them to survive, but they have adapted by stealing Green Woodpecker nests to hide in (not ideal for the native population, admittedly) but an amazing sight for a chilly autumn day in Surrey! ;)

Productive Weekend and 4 sleeps to go...

Had haircuts on Saturday morning (by our friendly travelling hairdresser), then played a bit of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on the PC (I'm still amazed that my video card was up to it), which is actually extremely good, plenty to do and see, excellent models and textures, intuitive spell casting system (with mouse gestures off, anyway), I'm just trying to find and assemble all the members of the DA in the Room of Requirement at the moment...Saturday afternoon we stripped Colin the camper van right down to his essentials (ready for Cornwall in a few days time) then that evening watched X-Factor (it being the funny early episode with all the terrible singers) then I tried to find a copy of the movie Apollo 13 somewhere (actually *everywhere*) in my house and failed completely (and made a right mess in the process)...I could only locate the VHS copy and didn't fancy watching it like that (Help! I've become a video format snob, the days of being happy with VCDs are obviously behind me)...

Sunday I got up early and did some paperwork that I've been meaning to do for a while now, then we went over to Oxted to take a look at the (almost) finished new community hall (where we plan to hold the wedding reception) and it is *awesome* - the perfect size (a little larger than a badminton court), everything brand new (right down to the fold-away stage, tables and chairs), big kitchen with industrial-sized cooker, dishwasher and giant American-style fridge (caterers should be happy with that little lot!), then stopped at my folks for a spot of lunch (crunchy greek salad (with home grown cucumber), hot chorizo and crispy bacon chilli salad and pan fried new potatos with rosemary and garlic, served with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar), then off to do our shopping at Oxted Morrisons (bought *far* too many sweets and crisps for Cornwall), got home mid-afternoon and went up in the loft to get out the surf boards, wet suits and camp kitchen, out into the shed to try and find a ground sheet (found a huge tarpaulin that will do just fine) and then finished off packing the last few bits into the camper. Just need clothes and wash kits now and we are ready to go...anyway, I then cooked us a lovely roast dinner (lamb with all the trimmings), checked out the long term weather forecast on the Met Office website (high pressure all next week over the south and west, good outlook!), and then it was time for baths and bed...

Oh and I also finished the third Harry Potter book, so today it was on to number 4...zero inconsistencies in books 2 and 3 (well, that I spotted anyway)...

Only four more sleeps to go, then it's sun, sea and sand for a few days R&R...thank *GOODNESS*! ;)

St Peter's Church, Tandridge

A few shots of the church (taken over the Easter weekend), this is the likely venue for the ceremony early next year... ;)

Christmas 2006 update!

Sorry, been getting really behind with all this, Oblivion (the game) seems to have become my new life! ;) Anyway, back to Christmas eve quickly, after zooming around in Colin (who was being very badly behaved and not starting when we wanted him to) dropping off the last few pressies (mostly in and around Dorking) we went to see the Christingle service at St Martins church -

- then back to Flyingpops' folks house for double duck dinner -

- (which was delicious) and then a few drinks (only one more sleep to go!)...the morning arrived with a bump almost before I knew it and we tore open our stockings and drank hot tea in bed, then downstairs before the hour of eight to open all the rest of the gifts (pics for those involved on flickr), then back into Colin for the drive to my folks for lunch where preperations were already well advanced -

- for a feast of roast goose with all the trimmings -

- followed by Christmas pudding, then on to the *second* haul of presents of the day!

- Full and happy we settled down to spend the rest of the afternoon and evening watching TV, DVDs, listening to gramaphone records -

- and then at about half eleven we all piled out to Colin, put the stereo on far too loud with all the subs pumping and managed to break the back seat...hehe...great day! ;)

We slept over at my folks on Christmas day night, then the next morning helped little Alexander (who can now say "No" and "Ta") to open his presents, then drove to Flyingpops' grandpops' place for some cold cuts, drinks -

- and to watch little Emily open *her* presents (and baby Oliver dribble disinterestedly at his), play "pass the parcel" and then finally back home for some well deserved rest (but not before drifting off at Flyingpops' folks when I collapsed into the chair), kids can be such hard work...! ;)

So yesterday we popped down to Worthing with Colin to drop off the last Christmas pressie -

- (after spending most of the morning trying to get him started, and failing miserably, first time he *really* hadn't wanted to start), finally called the AA out and the guy adjusted the tick over (up a bit) discovered that the distributor cap had somehow been installed back to front(!), the battery was half the power required to start our size of engine and one of the HT leads wasn't connected to the spark plug...He said it was frankly amazing poor Colin ever managed to start at all! He showed us a trick with the leasure battery where we could jump start him without another car and set us on our way, and with all the cylinders now firing, and not all firing back to front you can imagine that the engine now sounds rather a *lot* better... ;)

We bought some industrial jump leads and a 96 Heavy duty battery to replace the 44 that was in there, but Colin is staying at home for New Years as we really don't have time to re-wire him now...

Today, we are setting off for Cornwall (5-ish day break, see how it goes), back to Hedley Wood for their New Year celebration, almost certainly no Internet access, so this may well be the last you hear from me until 2007! :(

If so, HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!! :)