Wetiring but not shy

Red Bush, "Fluffy" & Liz

Comrade Ralli & "Bill"

Your corrosondent, Ming & Ming

So, south of the border for the retirement of our dear chum, who as careless blogging costs jobs, will remain disguised on this occasion (we shall call her “Fluffy”). After having been endowed with an ipod case and a bottle of wonky vodka (or should that be a wonky bottle of vodka) for her six and a half years hard labour, our chum proceeded to produce a flawleth display of hostess-ship, with hot and cold running canapés and more champagne than you could wave a big sthick at, as it was important to celebrate the fact that at last, the metaphorical “witch is dead”, and Fluffy can dedicate the immediate future to Phillip & Fern, Jeremy Kyle, a trip to the homeland for some voluntary work and the supervising of a refit for the flat. Good luck Fluffy, and well done.

Don’t Look Back in Anglia

If you are feeling in any way nostalgic for the halcyon days of life at the old alma mater, may I recommend the “listen again” feature accessed by the following link. An opportunity, if any were necessary in these days of broadband, to look back in Anglia. And if you’re anything like me, almost burst into tears on several occasions.

The patter of tiny feet

Peter’s Friends is delighted to announce that Helen Jenkins gave birth to a daughter, Sara Elin, yesterday evening at home, weighing in at 7lbs 11oz. The message, from HJ, announces that “We’re all doing well!”. There is nothing Peter’s Friends likes to announce more that the safe arrival of a new child, so well done Helen and Paul.

To Lord’s with Harry F****r

Taking shelter from the rain whilst ensuring that we didn't go thirsty

England in the field on Saturday morning

Dickie Bird & Sober at Lord's on Saturday

The full Monty? Dave and a cardboard cut-out.

On the day that the new Harry Potter book was released, your correspondent & Sober ventured to Lord’s on Saturday for a curate’s egg of a days play, watched by large numbers of the great and the good, and old Harry Phucker himself, Daniel Ratcliffe, according to press reports. Sober was rude enough to enquire when I went to Lord’s with Shteeeeve in May whether we were having jerk chicken again for lunch as usual? Bearing in mind that it’s either me or Shteeeeve who invariably provide lunch on such occasions, I thought it a little rich that the repast I habitually produce was subject to satire, so I produced for lunch tandori chicken chapattis with raita and mango chutney, bhajis (no samosas obviously, as they have peas in them), fried chapattis with mashed spicy potato in them (courtesy of Comrade Ralli’s recipe) and poppadoms, all washed down with Cobra & Cava (not very Indian, but the local sparkling wine is not particularly well thought of in the sub-continent).

The England bowling on Saturday morning was described as “outstanding” in the Murdoch today according to Christopher Martin-Jenkins, a view with which I would readily concur, and although it rained, resulting in only an hour and a half’s play after lunch, the day was not ruined, as it gave us an opportunity to sate our thirsts and belatedly chew the cud, Sober having been an infrequent visitor to Howards’ End this year. He still managed to trash our recently renovated spare bedroom, however, as per usual. Oh yes, and it apparently took him 4 hours to get home after work on Friday as a result of the floods. Guess how many of those hours were spent in licence premises? Give yourself a prize if you guessed anywhere near three. Priceless.

Wake up, it's a beautiful morning....

Always take the pith if you have the opportunity. Especially out of .....

Ellison during her recent visit to London

It's good to talk


Straight from Mr Ralli's mouth. You have been warned!

This summer, we will be mainly

Growing a baby - Angela (Mrs Shteeeeeve)
Pulling pints and changing nappies - Angela (Mrs Osborne)
Going to shee Shpursh play Derby in Augusht - Shteeeeeve
Dusting off his safari suit to go camping in Kenya - Steptoe
Retiring (briefly) – Toto
Praying for a renaissance at Leeds – Scott
Hopefully moving jobs – Me
Going to the cinema for a change - Dave
Visiting Downing Street with the boy - Comrade Ralli
Not flying from Heathrow T4 by BA (“the handlers are crap”) – Muk (baggage handler at Heathrow T4 for BA)
Buying more cheese and visiting estate agents – Bush & Ming
Ringing old friends – George Best
Looking forward to the Spice Girls reunion – Buuuuuud (Baby) and Jo (Ginger)
Posing half naked for the blog when we visit in August – Bear Grylls

By George! Eye’s a commin!

More hair than his Father, you know.

Isaac in his favourite position - batteries not included on this occasion, hence his look of dismay?

The hand that rocks the cradle - Bush & Isaac ( Check out the vice-like grip on his tiny legs.)

Your correspondent is delighted to report that Comrade Ralli is back in Brentford after her period of recuperative post-birth residency in Hounslow, witnessed yesterday evening by your correspondent and Liz, Bush & Steps. We were well fed and watered by the new parents courtesy of a trip to Asda, recently awarded “Britain’s lowest priced supermarket”, an award they have received for the last 10 years no less. Pizzas were the order of the day, although as a retailing experience, Anita was not best keen (she prefers Somerfield, generally). Suffice as to say she won’t be “Buying George” again for a while. Well, not unless nappies are on offer again, anyway. And so to the boy, whose splendid head of hair I am delighted to reproduce here. For those who have not yet had an opportunity to see the boy, although he is slight (but not unnaturally so), he has very long legs and doesn’t make much noise, which is helpful. He is very thirsty (he was fed three times during our 2 hour visit), and looks like a human being (albeit a small one) as opposed to a baby.

Apparently, baby Yahya is to be known as Isaac Amam ( with possibly “Rafa” as a third name, although he has not been registered yet). Not unsurprisingly, the name has not met with universal acclaim by the grandmothers. Rather surprisingly, they have chosen to share their reservations with their offspring. Anyway, Granny Ralli is to know the man-child as “Amam” and Granny Yayha is to know the boy as “Shankley”. After his father, of course. Which is nice.

Skegness 2006

I have just found Kirsty’s Facebook page, and am delighted to include today for inspection a picture of Kirsty I have shamelessly nicked from her page without her permission. Never before has the east coast looked so picturesque, as I’m sure you will agree. Further pictures to follow if I can be so inclined, unless I get bored first.

Susan predicted a riot

Another quiet day with Sweens & Susan

Cheese

I blamed the Danes myself

And then I chose to blame Susan

Your correspondent forgot to include pictures for inspection by Peter’s Friends of the recent visit by the Howard’s and the Osbourne’s to Hyde Park to see the Kaiser Chiefs and full supporting cast. Unfortunately, all most all of the day’s festivities were missed by your correspondent due to his feeling tired and emotional as a result of an allergic reaction to alcohol, whose condition was not improved by his adding 10 pints of fuel to the fire. Everyone else seemed to enjoy the day, though. Which was nice.

The sun has got its hat on

Is she taking the pith?

Just like old times - Kirsty on the Thames at Henley



....and again with a chum at Live Earth


It elicited a few stares on the towpath, and one round of applause

The wife and I went to Henley at the weekend, as did Kirsty at the end of last week, so for your inspection I am delighted to present pictures of Kirsty with her dress up around her waist and your correspondent in his new WRC Shemagh, as requested by Kirsty. As you can see, it didn’t rain on either day we visited, and Kirsty and I were obviously in some form of telepathic contact re our headgear on the Saturday she attended Live Earth. Spooky, isn’t it?

Shteeeeve & Angela, the expectant parents. Geddit (see below)?

I’m sure all of Peter’s Friends are delighted to hear news of the launching of a stalk in the direction of Roysthhhhhhton, which has currently been flying for 13 weeks and is due to arrive in January next year. We wish Shteeeeeeve & (particularly) Angela well, and hope that Shteeeeeve manages to maintain sobriety for the next 6 months as is customary for the expectant father, as Susan, Scott & Muk can no doubt attest. Or not, as the case may have it.

Isaac Yahya & family

Isaac, Anita & Muk just after the birth of Isaac

Mother & son in hospital

See what I mean?

The Coven & Isaac

Courtesy of his Father via Toto, I am delighted to present for your inspection some excellent photographs of Isaac Yahya and his family (blood and otherwise). Unlike most children, I’m sure you will agree that he looks like a real person, only smaller. And what an excellent head of hair he has - must have tickled on the way out.

Seperated at birth (and by the referee)?

Susan on the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path

Bear Grylls on the banks of the Amazon

Who do you think would win a fight between Susan & his twin brother Bear Grylls? I don’t know about you, but I bet it would be a close run thing.