Today I've mostly bin...

[LAT]

.......travelling!

Some years ago when we had been on holiday in Cuba and Luke and I were on our way back (OH and daughter were already home again - long story!) there were armed men guarding the security checkpoint. I walked through first but Luke was wearing those cargo trousers that had loads of zips and he set the alarms off. I turned round to find two men pointing their guns at my just 13 (that day) year-old son

[MBH]

a really fierce army type coming over and telling us they had a strict rule on same sex dancing, because it "encouraged homosexuality"!!!!!!!!

Ha Ha!!! Because it EXCLUDED dancing with THEM is more likely the case About what you'd expect from the Americans [Interesting comparison between the bases though]

[Bunnylump]

Well that was the completely ridiculous thing. We pointed out that we didn't have any choice, since it was our boyfriends / husbands who were playing the music. We were told "well, there are plenty of men here you ladies could dance with." Yeah, right. Having witnessed the all-but fornication occuring on the dance floor with the bused in slappers, I DON'T THINK SO.

[giraffe]

.....to a Christening.

[gill216]

And I've just been invited to a christening.

This one is very good news indeed. My grandsons other grandmother became a grandma for the second time at the beginning of December. Except Dylan wasn't supposed to arrive until last week. He'd stopped growing at 21 weeks and arrived as a tiny tiny bundle. As they are Irish catholic he's had his blessing already. He's now home, and tradition is the babies are christened quickly. Its nice to have been invited as he is no relation of mine except that he's my grandsons cousin. I get on well with grandma but don't have a great deal of good to say about her eldest son!!! As it happens neither does she

[giraffe]

This family had tried to arrange for their fourth child to be christened and it has taken 18 months to complete all the formalities. They had to go on two pre Christening courses, because their other children were Christened in another church that is now vicarless. It's no wonder people don't go to Church as much these days when they are made to feel so unwelcome, despite attending services on an intermittant basis. (They do go, just not every week) Anyway it took so long to arrange that fifth child is now four months old and was done as well!

[gill216]

I was christened methodist, as was my daughter. The vicar actually said at that time- 35 years ago- nobody does this anymore, are you sure you dont want to leave it to her to decide.

As a result, my son hasn't been christened. I expected problems when he was asked to be Daniels godfather, Daniel was christened in the Irish catholic church. To be honest, it mattered little to our side of the family as none of us are churchgoers, but it did matter to daddy's side. All Mandy asked was that if Daniel was christened as an Irish catholic then he'd be allowed to learn about their point of view BUT she didn't want religion forced upon him. I pointed out that catholic schools have the second best educational records next to private schools and that maybe a compromise was a very good idea.

I was pleasantly surprised at Daniel's christening. The babies were dressed to the nines, everyone else in jeans and t shirts. It was all about the babies, very relaxed and very welcoming. No starch present.

Maybe I have an odd point of view. I hail from the dysfunctional family. I'm methodist, my half siblings are catholic and my step sister is C of E. Religion wasn't something we could ever get upset about and we all had no choice but to respect the others point of view.

[giraffe]

When F was christened the vicar was a bit funny about godparents who hadn't been confirmed, but since one had, one hadn't and the third was a vicar we got away with it.

[dramaticat]

I was asked to be godmother to my best friend's daughter. I said no, because I'm not a Christian and wouldn't be prepared to promise to do a whole load of things I didn't believe in.

It caused some surprise at first, but most people were quite impressed once they'd thought about it.

I did go to the christening though

[Laura]

...trying to NOT organise a Brownie activity day for the Easter holidays. We have a leader who is training, who needs to do it for her warrant, but she's doing her A-levels. And I'm sitting here at home this afternoon, with a list of things that I know need to be done, and the time to do them. It's so difficult trying not to just take over and get it all done!

[clvrlad]

walking round Madrid

sunny, no clouds in the sky and warmer than blighty

just wish the symbles for my smilies where in the "right" places

[tricia]

Have a grteat time - that sounds like fun

Tricia

[Bunnylump]

Sounds brilliant Clvrlad. Have fun.

[clvrlad]

it has been so far just wish the phone could download to a computer.....

anyway i think ive worked out a way to upload my images.....
(text them to face book.... yes i know some of you hate it....
but with out a memory card/blue tooth/download i cant think of anyother way to upload them)
but thatll be after im back

[Bunnylump]

...STILL completely unable to speak. Third day. I even went to the extreme measure of taking yesterday off work. Weds I just didn't go to most of the lessons because none of the children could hear me. The only one I was there for (initially) on my own I ended up writing on the board in big letters
I HAVE NO VOICE. BE QUIET AND GET ON WITH THIS WORK. MESS ME ABOUT AND I'LL RIP YOUR ARMS AND LEGS OFF AND BEAT YOU ABOUT THE HEAD WITH THEM. AND NO, NOT JOKING.

Do you think that was clear enough?

[kathlyn]

very clear, they need some one to tell it as it is

[tricia]

Its Ok Bunny we'll really get worried if you cant post on here

Get better soon

Tricia

[Bunnylump]

Yes, that's a point. Just have to hope I don't catch leprosy as well so my fingers fall off...(I've had everything else going I think*!!)

*Yes, wallowing, I know, I know.

Oh and I have a dental appointment in an hour. So that should be fun. I won't be able to scream.
I can honestly say that although I am really prone to bad throats (have had Glandular Fever twice, for a year each time)I have NEVER had no voice AT ALL for such a long period. Starting to wonder if it'll come back at all?

[gill216]

You'll make a wonderful granny Bunny I dont know how I managed this (never worked with my own!) but I have a wonderful relationship with my grandson and my god daughter. We have fun, but if I say it, I mean it- and they know it!!! My grandson was barely able to talk and I overheard the the conversation on the phone. "Don't ring grandma- I'll be good- too late I already have" I had words with my daughter along the lines of "you will have this child terrified of me". She replied- "No, he listens to you and does what you say and still loves you to bits- and he has to listen to someone!" My god daughters parents asked me to move in with them for a week to sort Katy out.

It is just tell it how it is -or how its going to be, and stick to it- but I'm glad I dont have it on a daily basis

[Laura]

If you haven't already, I should get that checked out Bunny, if it's out of the ordinary for you. It does seem like a long time to be without any voice at all. Hope you're back to normal soon.x