Welcome To 2003, Thora - Part 1

Happy New Year everyone and welcome to a revived blog. I've been away from a PC over Christmas, hence the zero updates over the last two weeks, and I've got to say that I haven't missed the net one bit.

Vic and I had a smashing Christmas and New Year. Here's the abbreviated version:

I picked my new glasses up and have been shocked and amazed at life's little details ever since.

We went to Emma & Scott's for a party the weekend before Xmas. Simon brought along his Dreamcast and Samba Des Amigos game - you shake your maracas in time to the cartoon South American Ricky Martinesque mouse. Gav, Tam, Jacob (3 year old nephew) and Holly (6 month old niece) stayed with us that weekend, and although we didn't see much of them due to the party and early start on the Sunday, Jacob's excitement - and stonker of a cold - rubbed off on us.

We were up at the crack of dawn on the Sunday for our trip to Carlisle via North Wales. Our little detour to pick Vic's nana Beryl up from Colwyn Bay added a mere two and a half hours to the journey time. Her first words to me were not "Hello... how are you... nice of you to come and pick me up...", but "put my suitcase in the car". When we arrived at Vic's mum and dad's Beryl then told me that I was "looking old and fat". In between she attempted to crush me to death with her car seat.

The week we spent up in Irthington was very relaxing. Dazza joined us on the Monday. Walks with the dog were the main feature. I managed to watch the Two Towers in full New Specs-o-vision on Xmas Eve morning. We had duck for Xmas dinner. We played lots of family games.

The dog was sick twice - in the middle of the present opening.


The highlight though was this Christmas Day chestnut:

Beryl struggled up off the sofa and announced to us all that she "really needed a Thora Hird", before disappearing off to the toilet.
The rest of us sat in stunned silence for a minute before I built up enough courage to ask if what she'd said was Cockney Rhyming Slang.

While we were killing ourselves with laughter, Ann explained that Thora Hird apparently advertises chairs for the old and infirm that tip up and help their occupants out of the seat.

No matter, we now have a new catchphrase.

I'll give you part 2 and New Year later, but right now I'm off for a Thora...