Thursday 28th. February

well, that's another month gone.....March tomorrow. The weather really needs to change soon....this cold and damp is really not nice at all......and no particular change in the pipeline.

Puppy training tonight...Ma and Bex went along.....lots of pups there apparently...."too many to do anything constructive" according to Mum......we take that to mean "Jessie didn't behave very well". Apparently the fact that she has had very little lead walking during the last week hasn't helped. We're not sure what she's had to eat today but boy does she smell tonight......the kitchen has been abandoned twice now.

Another interview for Bex...she has done about 3 or 4 now. Let's hope all these interviews end up in some sort of work experience. She even has an appointment at Cyril Le Marquand House...Dad hasn't passed comment.

dad has made good progress with his field....apparently we may know something next week....but whatever it is, he's laying it pretty close to his chest. We've got used to the fact that, these days, he can't tell us everything anymore.

The digger is sort of going.....but still more to do. We even had our first request for a "loan of said digger".....not surprising really....everyone wants to "have a play in their garden". We're not really sure if it's good enough to be loaned out yet.....maybe a bit more work required first.

Builders are busy...but not much of a noticeable difference. It won't be long before the new roof starts going on. we think that maybe the demolition may be nearly finished, after which we switch into construction mode. 

All heading for bad early tonight.....fireman back on duty in the morning, Dad in meetings, Dan making coffee and working on boats...just another normal Friday.

Wednesday 27th. February

Dad's day didn't start well......he was "maxed out" on his credit card before 07:00 (apparently....no one else was up!!!!). Today was "a day that he had to get things done", and the old man was up early with bills to pay before he left for the big town. He "just forgot" that he has a limit on his daily spend....and after sending off some money to the builders he then started getting the "you have reached your limit" messages......."not impressed" doesn't begin to start to explain his mood after that. He'll be back for some more tomorrow, and apparently he may be up to his limit again....insurance for the boat and a couple of other transfers loom.....If Mum is thinking this week might be good one to ask for an increase in the housekeeping she may be sadly disappointed!!

More parts have arrived for the digger and have been fitted, but as is usual for us, it's one step forward and two steps back. Jack has discovered that the slack in some of the controls is a bigger problem that we first thought.....more parts will have to be removed in order to access those parts "that most other digger mechanics can't reach". There has been talk that a pressure washer might be needed....or even purchased (we don't have one at present).....do we go electric or petrol? The boys will have to make an executive decision......those with boats fancy the petrol version as it will be far more useful....we suspect that Dad will want electric, like that it may not go off the property and will stand more chance of still being here by the end of the summer.

A question......does the word "plums" sound like Minieggs to you? Well, it did to "the men" at tea time tonight when Mum said...."those plums need eating up for pudding"......sorry Mum, did you say "those Minieggs need eating up?"   .....ah, okay then....pass them round!! The iphone came out with a quick calculation for calorific value.....no one was really interested, well.....none of the boys anyway! It is any surprise that the politician is feeling like he needs to go on a diet....Dan came back late from the gym.....your dinner's in the Aga....."oh, well it will be my second dinner then" (he hadn't told us he was eating out)  ...but Dan being Dan, he coped easily!!

A major panic this evening after a call from our favorite accountant....apparently it's the last day for company reregistration tomorrow. Much running around ensued with Dad searching out his company details. Tom was even less impressed.....it's his first year for renewing his registration and he hadn't realised that companies need to be renewed every year. He wasn't really impressed....and even less impressed when he was informed that, not only do you have to reregister, but you have to PAY for the privilege. One unhappy company director was left muttering about "red tape" and "flipin' bureaucratic nonsense"....

The field opposite alongside the Village Green has come up for sale. Dad is working frantically to try to find a way for the Parish to "come up with" the money to buy it......plenty of emails flying around the ether this evening. Dad's subject matter for tomorrow includes radon, seaweed and planning.....what a varied and interesting life he leads!!

Tuesday 26th. February

The dog is still chewing her way through the "tanker mooring rope"....every once in a while we hear a "scrunching" noise as she bites through yet another strand....but she's a long way to go. This will without doubt be a record for Jessie.....having said all that, we're just very glad that she hasn't turned out to be a puppy that has to eat everything in sight. Certainly the ex-farmer was concerned at the outset that, after "taking years to get this kitchen right", the new dog was about to eat most of it! as I type, the dog has been given one of those "indestructible" dog bones.....it will be gone in 10 minutes tops!

Now that the new book case is "up" there's much chat about what we put on display. Mum has dug out some Limoges pottery that had been put away "for decades"...but the boys are not happy. They would prefer photos of tractors and engines (in frames, of course).....or Dan has a good idea that he would like to put out his collection of old cameras......is he normal?  In order to justify the display of the said pottery (as opposed to a display of cameras) daughter has been instructed to power up the internet so as to get a value on the vases, jugs and plates.....10 minutes later, the best we can apparently manage is a value in Australian Dollars.....so we're no further forward...I mean, how much is Aussie $ worth? ......more importantly, who cares?? ......Mother has been on about the book ends again.....and came back from a dog walk at la Coupe the other day to tell us that she had found "some nice stones" that would "be perfect for the job". A long lecture followed from the engineer about the principle of book ends.....and how they work. It was pointed out to her that the chances of finding stones on the beach that had perfect 90 degree angles was "pretty bloomin' unlikely".....the stones have gone back to the beach without the boys even agreeing to look at them. 

The builders have successfully taken the other half of the roof off the outbuildings today. It's funny how there's so much more light in the garden.....but it wasn't funny when Mum suggested that it "would be lovely to leave it like that". Given how much Father has spent on plans and engineers so far we don't think that was the most tactful thing to suggest after a "full on day in town".

Ma and Pa both went to a meeting at Macmillan this evening. They are part of a small number who are going to set up a "Gynaecological Cancers Support Group".....quite what they make of Dad we don't know....it can't be easy being a man in a "woman's world". In all seriousness though, it must be important to support everyone who is effected by this type of cancer...and that includes carers as much as sufferers. Their first official meeting will be next month.....look out for the publicity. 

We suspect that the puppy has eaten her "chew"....there is now a row going on as to where it's gone.....Mum and Bex are asking the "clever" questions.....how can she have "eaten" it?   surely she must have hidden it?   it must be around here somewhere?.....the boys are quite clear, two quick bites and it's gone!   Heaven help the person that gets to walk her in the morning.....we can see the headline in the JEP tomorrow night....."Mad woman and small dog involved in environmental disaster in St. Martin....pollution officers in attendance".

Monday 25th February

The traitorous (??) badminton player has been relegated to the subs bench this evening...so the "A" team can take over again. Normal service can be resumed.....

Another Monday, another week, and another day of overcast, cold and damp "sparkling" Jersey weather...can't see much being done outside by the boys....but at least we can prepare. More digger parts have been ordered...more diesel has been purchased....and more plans have been made. The builders have started properly (did we mention that the "staff quarters" part of the house are being renovated?) and the first thing that has happened is that (in order to put up the scaffolding in the garden) half the shrubs have been not very unceremoniously "pruned" by the scaffolders....as in chopped off at ground level....you can certainly tell why they're scaffolders and not gardeners! Well I suppose it's one way of clearing the site....and less for "him and her" to do when they eventually get to start spring cleaning the garden.

Half the roof has been removed today....and the usual "builder's discoveries" have begun..."we've discovered that one of the walls has a bit of a bulge" and "we've discovered that the inside walls aren't as straight as we thought"......after quite a bit of building over the last 5 years or so we were expecting it I suppose. We watched Grand Designs on the TV this evening.....the next few months are going to be a little like our very own Grand Designs.....and probably just as expensive, according to the man with the cheque book!! Keep tuned in for daily reminders as to why it's far easier to build from new rather than renovate from old.

There was a general exodus this morning with 4 different cars leaving at 4 different times for town....don't say we're not trying to save the planet!!...and one "night shifter" returning home. Tom was left to house sit, and supply paperwork for the builders (the asbestos survey was needed to accompany the tiles off the roof that were being taken into town)..... but it turned out to be the "wrong day" for asbestos type material to be dumped at La Collette....so it ended up in a heap in our back yard. The politician (that makes the laws) didn't know whether to shout louder about the way la Collette is run or the heap of "asbestos type stuff" that's now sitting outside when he returned home at 19:45.....he'd also had a "polite telling off" during the day from Jersey Harbours for leaving his boat on the wrong pontoon....some thing else for him to fit into his "hectic schedule tomorrow" apparently (but we know differently....do States Members ever do any work?) He has French at 8 tomorrow morning....so more moaning this evening because he hasn't done his home work (again) and "hasn't got a spare second this evening" to try to get through it.......it's amazing that they let him carry on......we don't know what the French word for Dunce is, but we can just see him sat on a small stool in the corner muttering unintelligible foreign swear words (and boy, does he knows some....). As he tells us sometimes......he's "effluent in all languages"...and that about sums it up!

"Shall we go to Amsterdam?" was the call from Mum tonight when she thought Dad was listening....goodness knows what she's thinking about.....something to do with the new Blue Islands route....and then, "Look up Aston Apartments in South Kensington"....Father was less than impressed but was still pretending not to hear, especially when daughter got the iPad out and started quoting all that the said accommodation could offer.....when she got to shouting out the price of a "triple studio penthouse" the "Old Man" suddenly woke up and made an "executive decision".....I don't think they'll be going somehow!!

It must be the silly season for holiday dreams......but Mum hasn't forgotten that Dad promised her a trip to Wimbledon this year....he's now claiming that, while he's happy to go there, he never mentioned that it would be while the Championships were taking place. We can't see Mum putting up with that....mind you, if he persists with that approach, at least he'll lose weight.....Mum won't be cooking for quite a while if she doesn't get to see Andy Murray this year.       

Sunday 24th February

Sunday 24^th February

You’ll all be pleased to know that Jersey were triumphant in the inter club badminton tournament, so despite my best efforts to assist Guernsey I failed, (mind you they didn’t really help themselves either!).

Hubby shot off to the café at 7.10am this morning- he said he had ‘an important meeting’…… I think it was with a bacon roll, so much for the calorie counting.

I did rout him out when I took Jess for a wander along the breakwater and through the woods a little later- although I let him off as there was no visible evidence of food…and he did then buy me a bacon roll if only to appease his own guilt!

I managed to squeeze in  45 minutes of aerobics with the lovely sisters before dashing off to badminton ‘trials’ for the……..veterans. Despite there not being many of us we had some good games, and had some coaching tips from MC which was really helpful.

Needing to stock up on food it was a supermarket shop on the way home before I finally had lunch at 2.30pm.

Son no 1 has been out watching sports of some description most of the day, in fact most of the family are VERY good at WATCHING sport they just don’t DO any themselves!! No 2 is on a night shift and went off with a tray of eggs as they were going to cook a ‘toad in the hole’ for supper…..allegedly!

No 3 has been steaming milk and roasting beans and smiling a lot (hopefully) at customers down at Coopers at Castle Quay, and to be fair to him he did then visit the gym on the way home, that was before he stormed in ravenous and then bemoaned the fact that casserole was his least favourite meal ( I had waited for him and was just about to serve) , and really the best bit of the meal was the roasted butternut squash.   I wasn’t smiling.

A special mention to my lovely friend Jdlh who is another year older (and wiser as she is a super clever nurse) today- happy birthday!!

“Owners of dogs will have noticed that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they will think you are god. Whereas owners of cats are compelled to realize that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they draw the conclusion that they are gods.”
― Christopher Hitchens,

Saturday 23rd. February

University Challenge was on the "box" as three of us had lunch today.....that meant the usual competition to see who can answer the most questions. After 5 minutes it became apparent that the one with 3 degrees from university had a healthy lead.....we suspected foul play. After much laughter it turned out that we were watching a repeat, and (as Thomas told us he had watched it) it was really just a question of seeing how good his memory was!!

The kitchen then took on the usual comedy look, as the fireman went on his laptop to source more ski apparel for his forthcoming holiday.....the comedy came from the fact that he was sat there at the kitchen table with his ski goggles on....bashing away at the keys. night shifts for him again tonight and tomorrow...

The badminton player has taken the family to new lows today. She was at a tournament all day...an annual club match against their Guernsey equivalents. She ended up playing for them.....yes, THEM! words have been said....all her washing has been dyed green, and we are making arrangements for a wholesale delivery of carrots for next week. I'm not sure that we have ever been so embarrassed....she came home not even knowing who won....she might at least have "thrown" her game. Can we ever trust her again?

Other embarrassment today occurred at Church, where "the organist" had been asked to play for a Girl Guides Annual Service up at St. Martin. He turned up early (even going this morning to practice) and everything seemed to be going fine, until the second hymn. No one had told him that the service sheet had one less verse than the music hymn book.....he carried on playing, after everyone had finished singing, oblivious to the fact that everyone had stopped ...."a classic fail", as he was informed by us (in between bouts of uncontrollable laughter) when he got home. 

Friday 23rd. February

......over the years our family have got used to having their own "individual" breakfast times....Dad (well) before 6, Mum a little later and then children at staggered times depending on the stage of their education.....that is, as a student, the older you are, the later you get out of bed!! Consequently, when more than 2 of us find ourselves in the kitchen at the same time, first thing in the morning, things can get "strained" and we take on the ability to argue about anything. This morning was one of those...and there were 4 of us (not a recipe for a superstart to the day). the only discussion, if you can call it that, was on the replacing (or not, as the case may be) of the milk in the fridge...... let's just say that father was less than impressed to have his routine questioned. As is the case more and more these days, we had the "It's my house, my fridge and my food and if you want to buy it then fine!!".......great grumpy git came to mind, but no one had the nerve to say it..........tonight was better, even though the politician had not eaten all day and needed a swift asprin infusion to bring him around......the buzz words tonight were fish, bulk and shed.

Bulk was the suggestion for the way we should buy our food....the "food buyer" stated  that we had tried that technique in the past but it didn't really work....apparently the more there is the quicker we eat it...us boys couldn't understand.....especially super appetite man Dan, as he asked if there was any more main course....and just before he had a plate FULL of meringues and fresh cream.

Fish was for the suggestion that it would be nice to have a fish tank in the kitchen....even the cat pricked up his ears as he stalked around under the table, hoping that some one would accidentally leave the dishwasher door open for him to dive in to lick plates (he's lucky to be still alive...it's always a race to see if he can get in before he's forceably removed by a boot)...anyway, fish.....another great idea, and as ever, suggested by the one that would be the last to feed/clean/top up/test water and all the other things that fish need. Needless to say....we won't be "going there".

Shed was for the "beach hut" that's for sale down on the harbour at Rozel. Needless to say, it's proximity to the beloved Hungry Man makes it a very attractive proposition to anyone who loves the best outdoor food on the Island (it's just a shame that it's not in St. Martin)......maybe someone we know should pass a law and "move" the parish boundary a couple of hundred yards. What a buy it would be....stagger out of bed, into the road and there you are....the best bacon rolls just "there". Ma and Pa were more impressed by the view from the balcony on the roof...that's "olds" for you.....no appreciation of the finer things in life!!

boys and cat all out tonight...girls and dad and dog in, although the way the dog is performing in the fumigation department there's a chance she may be outside as well very soon.....the description of the smell by the "teacher" would probably result in this blog being taken off the air......we all blame she who is responsible for feeding said dog.....too many "doggy treats" in a vain effort to train her to "heel".....

.....snow tonight?......we'll all be asleep. 

Thursday 21st February

….and there we were, with the male writers in the family thinking (that with zero “comments” about the new blog) that nobody reads the pearls of wisdom dropping from their fingers on to the keypad every evening….how wonderfully rewarding to have such a resounding endorsement of ones efforts. 

Dear Anonymous… the cheque is in the post….indeed, there must be some very sad people out there if they actually look forward to hearing about the daily escapades of a dysfunctional St. Martins family.

We started the day with a wonderful clip on the news about someone who has trained an otter to play basketball. The dear little creature swims up it’s pond and jumps up in the water to “dunk” the small ball it is carrying into a hoop that it’s owner has strapped to the side of the pond…..she who is responsible for training our dog was almost beside herself….”why, if an otter can play basketball, can’t I get Jessie to walk to heel”….we males suspect that there isn’t enough food involved….everyone knows that (when it comes to dogs) “doggy treats” bribery will (usually) get you anywhere……… as opposed to men of course….someone quite rightly reminded us that, if you think the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, you’re probably aiming about 10 inches too high…

Conversations around the table are now becoming dominated by “calories”….how many? How often? etc. etc.  and there’s been a few interesting discoveries….not least one involving the senior male who should be using weight. As we all know, he has French lessons from 8 until 9:30 every Tuesday morning….yesterday he told us that he had bumped into a particular person in the bakery on the way to “French”….what are you doing in a bakery at 07:45 was the immediate question?????.....it turns out that, as a Christmas treat, their French tutor had brought in croissants…..and now they feel that they need to keep the tradition going….. to make matters worse, the old man has a “pain au chocolat”!!!...... and the damage ?  “big chocolate croissant = 400+ calories”……if Dad was on a 5/2 diet (according to him there’s absolutely no chance) then that chocy croissant would be two thirds of his TOTAL intake on his fasting day……you can imagine the language.

Anyone who thought the debate had finished on the issue of Electoral Reform would have been sadly mistaken if they had been in our kitchen this evening…..oh boy do we know how to have a “politically correct” conversation…one of us in particular wondered why the Luce family couldn’t have been left in charge of deciding the wording for the referendum…..the mind boggles! Much discussion about supporting the Constables (we all want to) but also about the super constituencies…..or stupid constituencies as they are known up here……we’re not happy about having “outsiders” to represent us here in Rozel…..

The Fireman didn’t get to drive his big fire engine today (maybe tomorrow)….but Tom did get to drive the digger……he spent hours fitting the new part….got it running eventually (boy has it been cold outside today!)…moved it around to a point where he was going to try to dig out some old tree stumps…..and promptly ran out of diesel!!   He who has purchased said digger was not amused…..the engineer had been told specifically that the machine needed a good “check over” before being pressed into action….apparently looking at the fuel level doesn’t count as part of that!!

Snow on the forecast….half of us are panicking about being able to get to work at the week end…..the other half are panicking to make sure the oldest 4x4 in the yard has plenty of fuel in so it can be used to “go out and have a bit of fun sliding around”….never a dull moment up here…    

Wednesday 20th February

http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/teamjillyluce

This is the link for my Race for Life ....please feel free to pass it on, and any donations would be gratefully received!

I have been 'allowed ' to write the blog tonight, it's been far too long winded and political for my liking, people reading it say it takes an hour to read a weeks worth!

Lots of adrenalin burned today by various members of the family, daughter had an interview (it went very well apparently) and Son no 2 passed his HGV- phew!

The engineer managed to fix the new 'ram' on the second hand broken digger, no mean feat, considering there were many small parts and no instruction manual!

Hubby and I attended a funeral this morning, a very lovely and kind parishioner, she will be sorely missed by all who knew her.

Tuesday 19th February

It was frosty this morning…or at least that’s what we have been told. Dad, for some completely unknown reason, was a little late, rushing around everywhere ….. and even later when he got outside to find the car windscreen was properly iced over…. He pointed the car into the rising sun and, as soon as there was the smallest gap in the ice to see through set off around the yard…..only to come very very close to smashing into the second car that had been carefully positioned ready to be towed to the scrap yard this morning!! As you might expect of a “sensible person”, he then stopped and waited for the screen to clear completely…. on driving up the road the radio presented was going on about “not rushing” and taking time to clear your screen before setting off……

Apparently the budding linguist spent his French lesson this morning discussing his potential visit to Bordeaux to look at the asbestos factory (all in French, of course) whether it will be of any use is still to be seen….he’s waiting to hear if they really do want him to go.

Mum is “subbing at netball” this evening…..firstly for the first (yes, first) team, and then subbing for the seconds….we can only think that lots of young fit netballers have either been delayed on returning form half term holidays or that St. Lawrence Netball Club have had a really bad string of injuries….it’s not April the 1^st. yet, is it??

The budding IT student has an interview tomorrow which is keeping her thoughts occupied this evening….studying websites of the company and generally “swatting up” to make sure she knows what the company does and how they do it…..let’s wish her luck.

Much discussion about wage rates this evening….with the politician being ribbed remorselessly about how much time the States spend deciding their wage rates….as you can imagine, Father wasn’t too impressed…he kept repeating that if he didn’t have some sort of pay increase he would just have to increase the rent from children. The fireman made a few comments….but given that he has the new bedroom with the new bathroom ensuite he has the least to worry about….and no cats sitting on his bedroom window ledge either.   

    

Spag Bog was tonight’s offering, and had been left by the netballer for others to organise….but was it beef? Who knows….the stories that keep coming out in the press keep us wondering if we really have had any idea over the past few years. Maybe we should all start being vegetarians…but then again may be not.

During their continued clear up, the boys have discovered a large old tank that might well (when turned upside down, with doors cut into it) double as a very suitable pig pen/house….do pigs we need pens? We think so….and will they need additional feeding in the winter? We think so again….and will they escape if the meadow isn’t properly fenced….judging by our efforts with cows and sheep we feel sure that pigs will want to get away just like all the other animals. It’s just as well were having this big clear up…if only it stays dry we can keep working away in the wetter parts of the meadow.

No sign of any digger spares yet….and Tom hasn’t managed to take any more parts off it in the last two days…phone calls to be made tomorrow….there’s plenty males around the house who can’t wait to get out “playing diggers in the field”.

Monday 18th February

No cats on any window ledges this morning…so the day got off to a fairly normal start. The Politician was off early for a series of meetings this morning and a “public hearing” this afternoon.

 The TTS Minister was “on the stand” to answer a series of questions….the subjects included Ash, Asbestos, the bus service (if that’s the right word to use…not much of a service if you live in St. Mary’s according to the old man), road resurfacing (another of Dad’s pet subjects at the moment), Skip sorting areas, Taxi regulation (or over-regulation), Drains and Scrap merchants……..so just a normal day at the office then.. They were all still talking after the meeting apparently…

One car made it as far as the scrap yard this afternoon…..and a few “comments” on the internet from people who spotted the boys towing said car down Victoria Avenue. They were given a “ticket” by the guys at the yard that supposedly entitles the owner to £9.10….If the “blonde from Australia” wants to come and pick it up her money it can be found in the till at the Hungry Man!! 

Another car to go tomorrow and then the fun really starts…..how to clear various other bits of “unwanted debris”. Scrap metal, old toilets, sinks and baths....old plasterboard, various “plastic items” that we can’t burn…..calls will have to be made to ascertain the best option….a man with a “very big skip” looks favourite at the moment. That just leaves the last of the unwanted farm machinery….again, the scrap yard looks like it will be seeing more of us in the coming weeks. Other bits of equipment may well find a home among our many farming friends….

Dad may be going to Bordeaux….there’s a small group going down there to look at an Asbestos recycling facility…..the old man gave the TTS Minister such a hard time about delays in visiting the factory that the suggestion was made that maybe he should go as well. He was asked if he speaks French….apparently “he can read menu en francais” so he may have been given the job.

Mother has started sorting out books for the bookcase today…so there was quite discussion about what was, and what wasn’t, suitable to put on display. Some of the books we have we would never want to admit to reading!!  We discovered a book entitled “60 years our Queen”…turns out it’s book that was owned by GreatGrand Pops, and still in an homemade brown paper cover to protect it. We need book ends…so a visit to our local antique shop is on the cards….we also need tables for the lamps that were moved to make way for the bookcase. Isn’t it funny how you move one thing and all of a sudden the whole house needs refurnishing!! Dad is well impressed.

Bex had a call to do an emergency stint at work tonight…she’s too kind…boys would have politely told them that they “were busy doing other stuff”. She’ll be tired tonight after she gets back, but somehow a small helping of a rather good rice pudding has been left for her….we wonder if her “calorie counting iPhone” will have mum’s rice pud in the programme? Dad is not finding the diet easy…..in desperation he apparently only bought ONE chicken and mushroom pasty for lunch…..wonders will never cease.

More sun tomorrow, but a bit of sleet and snow on the forecast for later this week. The joys….. 

Two questions....

Question 1….Is it possible to play badminton with a broken fingernail?

(Answer….. NO!!!)

Question 2....Is a car male or female?