Remember, I used to do a Blog???????

My last Blog (Surprise, Surprise?) was in August last year  Where does the time go?
Have I been too busy? No.........
Nothing to Blog about? No.........
Computer broken? No.........
Excuses? No............

Well, I'm ready to Blog again. Oh no, some of you might say, or think. Hopefully, you have missed my stories, my thoughts, my waffling. Stories about my life, my family and my past family. Well here goes anyway........

Remember? Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.

In my last Blog I told you about my Grandson, Joseph, surprising me with his visit to Australia. Fantastic few weeks. Well the surprises didn't stop there.

For my birthday, (6th August, if you want to put it in your diary) Sue surprised me with a present that I really didn't look at properly, It was a home made invitation announcing that we were going on holiday back home to England.
Yes, I knew we were, sometime in 2015.
"No, read it properly Gazza" was the response (plus a few choice words), "in a few months time." I had a few tears, I don't mind saying.

You may have seen the many photo's and comments on Facebook and I apologies for repeating just a few, but here goes..........

The surprise for Sue's mum on her 70th birthday, she didn't know anything about our visit to England.

Some of our Family and Friends

Sorry if I missed a photo of you, I really couldn't put all the photo's on my Blog, but I want to thank all of you for making it a fantastic holiday in England. A special thank you to Lorraine, John and the boys for putting us up (or putting up with us) for those weeks.

Cheers to you all 

Remember? Before you criticise someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticise them, you are a mile away and you have their shoes.

Whilst in England I had to visit my football team, Stoke City, and managed to see a few games at the Britannia Stadium.

I also went to see a Blackburn game, but the least said about that!!!!!!!!!!

Remember? New product available. Corduroy pillows: They're making headlines!

We came back home to Australia in November and prepared for Christmas and the New Year celebrations.

Remember? Honk if you love peace and quiet.

Christmas came and went

Don't ask!!

And the New Year was here 

Goodbye 2014. Welcome 2015

Remember? Barbie? If she was so popular, why did you have to buy her friends?

My 'Allotment': I mentioned in my last Blog about the 'Square Foot Garden Bed' System for growing vegetables. I have now moved this to my veggie patch area as it gets a little more shade. I have also put shade cloth over the area to try and reduce the effect of the suns rays.
With all this and the middle of summer (December/January), and the weather averaging around 38-40 degrees, everything in the vegetable garden has struggled to grow. I have also noticed that fruit and veg grown above ground, such as Lettuce, Beetroot, Cucumber, Chillies, Peppers etc. grow better. I think this is because most of the 'soil' is really sand, very compact and doesn't allow other vegetables (carrots, potatoes for example) to thrive.

The one good thing about being in the garden during this hot weather, time for a dip. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

We are now into Autumn and the weather is cooler, 25-30 deg's with the nights even cooler. I have now decided to raise the walls around the 'allotment' and add better garden soil/compost so hopefully I can produce better crops.I'll let you know how it goes.

Remember? Wear short sleeves! Support your right to bare arms!

Meanwhile; The rest of the garden is really growing well. The native Australian plants love the hot weather and give a really good display.

Remember? There are 3 kinds of people: those who can count and those who can't.

I mentioned that we are now in Autumn and the cooler days and nights are upon us in Australia. As I will be doing less outside in the garden etc. this is my opportunity to sit at my desk and look closer at the Nickisson Family Tree.
Information continues to come from many sources to allow me to update the family tree and this has been ongoing throughout the summer. Facebook is a source that helps me in many ways, adding dates to a birth that where I previously had only just the year. Marriage details, such as dates and locations and the sadness of a death in the family. I remember particularly my Auntie Muriel who died in March this year.
Other online genealogy sites continue to update their websites so there is always opportunities to find new or additional information. I also have a list of various certificates to buy that will help me to update the Nickisson Family Tree. Looking forward to it.

Remember? Love may be blind but marriage is a real eye-opener.

This year we are going on holiday to Penang, Malaysia in August for our 20th wedding anniversary. Another story to tell!

Remember?
A couple was preparing to head out to their fiftieth wedding anniversary celebration.
"You get your purse and coat, I'll pull the car out front and lock up the garage" says hubby, thoughtfully.
When his bride comes out onto the front porch, she sees him leaning against the car staring wistfully at the front of the house. She walks over to him.
"What are you looking at?" she asks.
"Oh, I was just looking at those bushes over there... Remembering."
"Remembering what?" she asks'
"Well, you remember the time your dad caught us in the bushes? He pulled me out by the scruff of my neck, threw me against the wall and said, "Either you're gonna do the right thing and marry my daughter or you'll spend the next fifty years in jail!" he answers.
"Yes, I remember it well. what about it?" she said, with a twinkle in her eye.
"Well," he replies, "I was just thinking". I'd be getting out of jail about now'"

Diane (Sue's mum) and Allan will be visiting us again for Christmas this year, looking forward to it. Again, another story to tell.

Remember?
A man and his wife are awakened at 3 o'clock in the morning by a loud knocking on the door. The man gets up and goes to the door where a drunken stranger, standing in the pouring rain, is asking for a push.
"Not a chance," says the husband, " it is 3 o'clock in the morning!" He slams the door and returns to bed.
"Who was that?" asked the wife.
"Just some drunk guy asking for a push" he answers.
"Did you help him?" she asks.
:No, I did not, It's 3 o'clock in the morning and it's pouring rain out there!"
"Well, you have a short memory" says the wife. "Don't you remember, about three months ago when we broke down, and those guys helped us? I think you should help him and you should be ashamed of yourself!"
The man does as he is told, gets dressed and goes out into the pouring rain.
He calls out into the dark, "Hello, are you still there?"
"Yes" comes back the answer.
"Do you still need a push?" calls the husband.
"Yes please" comes the reply from the dark.
"Where are you?" asks the husband.
The drunk replies, "over here -- on the swing!"

Speak to you soon