Quotes for the day...

A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man. Lana Turner

Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy. Benjamin Franklin

If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn't sit for a month. Theodore Roosevelt

I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by. Douglas Adams

Jack Frost

Yesterday was the first day of heavy frost this winter.  It was also icy as a couple of car drivers discovered when their vehicles failed to stop at a junction and smashed into each other.   

Many of the trees are now bare but a few are still showing their autumn glory.

And the berries and fruits are ripe.

The sun helps any season to look good.

Sir John Everett Millais

Sir John Everett Millais, 1st Baronet, PRA was an English painter and illustrator who was one of the founders of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.

Born: June 8, 1829, Southampton

Died: August 13, 1896, Kensington, London

Spouse: Effie Gray (m. 1855)

Children: John Guille Millais

These are two of my favourite Millais paintings and they sit next to each other in the Lady Lever Art Gallery on the Wirral 

And 'Bubbles'

The addition of the bar of soap...

Autumn Colours

It's been a splendid Autumn.  Mists and mellow fruitfulness and all that...

Soon they will be like this...

Ain't That Swell

We sometimes visit an antique shop in Birkenhead called Amorini Antiques.   It's a great place to wander around room after room and pick up bargains.  While GB was staying with us we went into the vintage tearooms there for the first time.

It's called 'Ain't That Swell' and it certainly was swell.

The coffee was excellent and plentiful, the home-baked cakes are large and great value for money.

I had a scone which was a perfect consistency.  (Note the traditional Times2 crossword in the background - we have a target of finishing it before our coffee break is over and, as usual, we did).

They also serve soup, sandwiches, teacakes, and so on.  Although we didn't have any of those, I am sure they will be just as good as the cakes.

Using a Second World War ration book as a menu is a nice touch.

The service was most pleasant and the background music lovely (and not too loud).

We shall undoubtedly return in the very near future.

Mickey's Birthday

Only three Disney characters have official birthdays – Mickey and Minnie Mouse and Donald Duck.  Mickey and Minnie are said to have been born on 18^th November 1928 which was the release date of ‘Steamboat Willie’, the first Disney cartoon with sound.

Did you know that Mickey’s ears are always circles from whatever angle they are viewed?

Meeting Katie Rose

Last week Partner-who-loves-tea and I visited Exeter to become acquainted with Helen and Ian’s new arrival, Katharine Rose.  We stayed at a farmhouse nearby and had three separate visits to the happy threesome.

Meeting my first granddaughter…

Three generations (and a cat)…

Grandma’s turn please…

Pass the parcel – back to Mum…

And on to Dad…

All this being admired is hard work…

Another day – another game of pass the parcel…

Safe in Mum’s arms again…

Oh No! Those people are here again – I bet they’re going to play that game …

I was right – and it’s so boring…

Last year there were only two of these at Hallowe’en…

Bye for now…