teachers...how to stop getting colds

Spoke to my daughter the teacher today. After a week back at school she's coughing and spluttering from a cold caught from one of the kids. This is a regular occurrence with her.... I suggest that all teachers go round wearing a mask! My daughter ...wearing a mask in a church of England school!!! If only she had listened and worn a hijab when she started getting these colds! A hijab is not just for modesty! Are you listening Jack Straw...she didn't want to catch your cold!!

Haven't heard back from 'wedding No.2 couple and my email. But it seems its all on track. 'It's only a Wedding innit' is the working title for the movie. I know I want Meera Syal to to play the Aunt! She could in fact play ALL the Aunts. Dev Patel is a bit too young for the grooms role. The only good thing is that he is from Harrow , has the same surname as the groom, could be family, maybe at the wedding ....... he will do and we might get a discount!
since its family. The bride and brides mother are tricky ....it will be safer if I don't comment just yet! Did I mention that I have to make a speech at this wedding....! More to follow! My poor teacher daughter will be in stitches... at least her sinuses will clear and she will call home to thank me!!

Wedding N0.1 in Suffolk is also on track. The title for this one is "'Back of your Head".. ..mother titled this one as she see's her son walk of into the Suffolk sunset with his love. Since he hates surprises I am sure his siblings will plan something! Since I am on the main table there is no way I am getting involved on the day!! I might throw out a few suggestions - like cling wrap ...kippers...!

Plans to visit London are also in progress. We have to attend an interview at the US embassy regarding our Visa ..... I might just go direct and write to Barack! I have never been a fan Bureaucracy!

Grandson is here today to stay the night. Grandmama is in her glory. Dada has been relegated once again.... but I do have a secret weapon ...CHOCOLATE and thats for Gradmama!!! She is off tomorrow to a Presidents Teaparty. The host is from St Lucia, the other guests are American and she will be the only English person there and not a cucumber sandwich or clotted cream in sight despite subtle hints!!!It should be fun!
Men have not been invited so you see.... the sun still shines out of my big florida blog!

Still an optimist...on the edge

It's been a few days since my last blog......I sound like I am stranded on a desert island and am only able to entries into my diary when the 'natives' are asleep.
I have only one follower on my blog...my daughter and she doesn't read this often. So until I circulate this more and adopt followers it's a diary I suppose.
Whats been going on...well I made peace with one of the children... via email after they did a wobbly over the wedding. My reply was tempered with some good advise... as always. The most important for me was that I would not tolerate rudeness or bad behaviour from my children. So plans for wedding No.2 are back on track. For wedding No.1.... I have been told that I am on the top table. This is a surprise, an honour that I do appreciate. It has made my wife very happy. On track also is that if all goes to plan we will at least have the five chilren, their spouses and grandchild all in one happy family photo.
On a personal note I am trying to lose weight, get fit and look good for the weddings.
A sign of the econmic down turn is that we were informed that our Health Insurance cover will cease at the end of the year and we will now have to find new insurers. Should be a 'breeze' with our health history!! I am an optimist by nature but this kind of news niggle .... atleast I am in a boat with lots of others for company. Obama might get it right ....man plans but God is the bigger planner! So by his will ....the sun still shines out of my big Florida blog.

Today was a family day out ...to the dentists! Teeth were pulled , filled , scrubbed and polished. The credit card maxed. The dentist quipped as we left " if there is any pain take some Ibuprofen". Back next week with my son for more of the same!

The idea of turning the weddings into a movie is getting serious! I have started to write the 'father of the bride speech' .....in my head. I have done this a couple of times before , so third time lucky I might get it right! The problem is that with this one I am waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat! I keep saying to myself " don't worry , it will work out, she will get married". Amidst all the hullaboo I will look for inspiration...better still a hut by a lake!!

Musn't worry..what with my new 'teeth' I can say the' sun shines out of my big g(l)ob!

There is a new movie in the works...

My blog got the thumbs up from one of my daughter today...she can't believe that her dad has a blog.
Wedding plans for "two weddings and a massive headache" are in full progress. The extended famililies have all thrown in their fifty cents worth of ideas and opinions. Transatlantic phone calls start at dawn and go on...thank God for Skype. With the different religions and cultures involved there is a movie in this somewhere ....a Bollywood comes to London style will be a winner. So I am now on to a working title... The one that comes to mind immediately is ' A Family in crisis' but that sounds to serious. Then there is 'Its only a Wedding innit!!'
There is always the chance to revive the Carry on tradition also ... we have two months so there is time to even work on a script and raise the finance!! Anyone interested?
I'll be someones favourite dad or get disowned!
Received an email with good news that our friends Cheryl and the Doc won a a radio competition for Cheryls photo on love ...taken in Uganda. Congratulations , they deserve the win. Despite the cold and wind the sun is shining in Peoria,Ill.

Jan 29 blog recovered

Jan 29,This is a first time blog - so its all new and to say that I know what I am doing is an understatement. It won't be long before I start calling in assistance. Today is a special day. It is my son's Ahmed birthday - he is twenty four. He also celebrates this day with his late grandfather who would have been ninety. We spent the day together with my beautiful wife Maggie and twenty month old grandson Trey at Disney's Magic Kingdom. Trey is a delight and kept us 'going' all day and into the evening. He blew the candles out on Ahmed's birthday cake! When I know how I will add a photo to this blog. I also spoke to my two daughters who live in London. So all in all you will understand now why the sunshines out of my big florida blog!!! Actually it also rained quite a bit today ! Until the next time....
draft
1/29/09
by Uncle Norm

Muhammed Ali lets his guard down

Saw an awards evening last night that reminded me of another living hero...Muhammed Ali. A great boxer an even greater man with the courage of his convictions.
When I see great men like Muhammed Ali I am reminded that there is hope for us all if only we were prepared to let done our guard down from time to time and let the sun shine in!

Head up...

I am still trying to keep up with my blog ...the problem is deciding on what news to share with you all !! Our grandson spent the afternoon. When it was time to go home he wanted to stay the night ....so we must be doing something right!

We are hasve a good few friends visiting Florida in February so I maybe able to expand my blog and share it with them.

Business continues to be slow but we want to remain optimists for as long as possible. Uncle Arthur ( 94 years young ) told my Broker son .."the door to success has PUSH on in it" so from the mouth of experience that is what we are doing.
Spread the word...www.floridahomefurnishings.com and morethanproperty.com....believe me you will feel good as you click on it and forward!!! Also as a bonus you will receive 7 years good luck!!!

We are planning to be London in April to attend two weddings.....our son and daughter are getting married two days apart! Our son in Suffolk and our daughter in London! I am grateful for my experience in logistics but know only to well that while I plan The Almighty is the bigger planner!! The 'children ' with a combine age of 64 remain oblivious to the feelings parents go through at a time like this Head in the clouds ...more like head up.... a good time to say that despite where their heads maybe the sun still shines out of my big Florida blog....

Heroes and hope

Our grandson had his first sleep-over last night which thrilled grand-mama to no end. He kept us going all day and late until the evening. He was up at 7.a.m. in a good mood and raring to start a new day!Such energy...and amazingly no tantrums. It maybe a proud grand parent boast but this child has an incredible vocabulary for twenty months. I only hope that grand-mama can keep up! He does bring endless joy.

I think I am slowly getting into blogging and hope to keep it regularly up dated. Maybe I will be brave and throw out some comments on world events of interests and start a debate. Nothing heavy but certainly something that brings understanding amongst people from diverse backgrounds..irrespective of race, creed or colour.

My heroes include amongst others my parents - for obvious reasons and more. My wife...again for obvious reasons. Taking me on with all sorts of baggage you need to be someone special. I promised her that I would not write about her on my blog....not even in jest so I will say no more!! The children know why.

At the top of my other list of living heros is Nelson Mandela. I will , I think slowly add to this.

I want to also add President Obama as I believe he does have the makings of a great statesmen and that he will help make this a better world. The BUT is will he be able to stand up to those who are blinkered and only see what they want. So for the moment though President Omama is on the short list the sun continues to shine with hope in my big Florida blog!

To be continued.......
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Bonjour..kids rule

Some good friends and their grandchildren arrived from France. Met up with them and took along our grandson. Within minutes the children were playing and sharing.....adults have to learn a great deal from children. Our grandson has learnt two new words....bonjour
and au revoir !!!

www.floridahomefurnishings.com and seven years good fortune!!

Our new business website went live yesterday.. so we are hoping that the good folks out there will keep forwarding www.floridahomefurnishings.com. You will receive our sincere thanks and up to seven years ..at the very least ....good fortune!!

My good friend Cheryl has entered a photograph in a competition . Please go to http:familyfriendly915wcic.blogspot.com and vote for photo # 9. It is the best one there and its all about love and supporting a good friends!...Again seven years good fortune so don't miss out!

The weather turned cold for Florida..but you guessed it ...the sun shines in my big Florida blog!!!

Slumdog Millionaire..out of the brutality of poverty

Went to the movies last night to see Slumdog Millionaire.. Great movie all round and deserves the acknowledgement it gets from Hollywood. It is good to know that out of out of the the brutality of poverty there is still humour, love, honour and hope. The movie is highly recommended.

Yesterday a movie set in Mumbai.....today an email from Mumbai to confirm that our company has secured a contract to furnish a vacation home in Orlando!! My wife also won Powerball yesterday...$7 , not enough to retire on but again ..the sun shines out of my big Florida blog..