Keeping busy. . . (From Hereford Times)

Keeping busy. . .

5:57pm Thursday 25th January 2007

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With hubby working all sorts of hours at his temporary job sorting the accounts out of a solicitor's office in Cardiff, I find myself with time on my hands. My scrap books are caught up through the end of last year, I can't start on 2007 because I am out of supplies so will have to wait for a trip to the states to get affordable replacements.

So, that leaves me with the ancestry project I've been working on for 2 years and then some. Fascinating stuff family trees. The only trouble is, the generations that cared about keeping records and telling a story down through the years is gone. My generation couldn't be bothered to sit down with grandparents and document their memories. I kick myself everytime I get started on the research. I think about how, if given the chance for a "do over" I'd sit down with my grandfather and pick his brain for all of his memories. I have just this week found that my grandfather's great grandmother was 100% American Indian from the Cherokee tribe. I've had three cousins who all heard the same story early on in their lives so I don't doubt it's veracity. All along I thought my heritage was mostly Irish with some German and English tossed into the mix and now I find there's a bit of something more exotic as well. Who knows what other research will reveal as time goes on.

And then there are the lovely Red Hat ladies to keep me occupied. Especially this week when the restaurant I booked couldn't accomodate the extra numbers I've added thanks to the Hereford Times and thier publishing the photo of our Christmas meeting. We were going to have to sit at two different tables in 2 different rooms. That doesn't work when you are all trying to get to know one another so I've had to scramble to find another location who would take all 18 of us. . .that's right you are reading the correct number, in a month's time we've gone from 9 to 18 and I couldn't be more pleased. I am on the search now for a vice-queen who can share the decision making and help sort everyone out when something like this happens.

I do have to say that I am very disappointed with the restaurant I had booked with. I do understand that they have other groups that night as well but felt they could have been a bit more accomodating in that my husband and I are regular customers but it seems that our regular business doesn't really matter to them. As a result, they are losing 18 customers next week and probably even more in potential business as I am not in a hurry to go back or take future guests out there where I feel rather unwelcome.

So, with Big Brother over (I never watch it) it's on to American Idol for us. The insipid Paula and OTT Randy are not the reason I watch it but Simon Cowell who in spite of being marked as a big meanie is the only one capable of telling the truth on the program. Ironically he was accused this week of being a disgruntled "red coat" who never got over losing the Revolutionary War. I laughed until my sides hurt over that one. . .obviously the speaker didn't know that Simon is just as nasty here in England.

Oh and by the way, the New Year's Resolutions I didn't make . . .I've lost nearly 15 pounds. The battle of the bulge continues but I am not giving in, we have a very important wedding this summer and I refuse to be the fat lady on the end of the photos.