Sue's Blog

Happy New Year Everybody!!

suechotoye — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:42:27 +0000

Well here we are at the start of 2012, lots of exciting things to look forward too…Omar, Hannah, Adam, Robby and Kemela are due to arrive on 1st April, please don’t let it be an April fool! Ha! To say I am excited is an understatement, when we started planning our new home we knew it would have to have 4 bedrooms so that one day…. all our youngsters could visit us together! We have lots to celebrate; Hannah and Robby’s marriage with the family, Adam and Kemela’s recent engagement, Omar’s 30th, KC’s 60th, Hannah will celebrate her birthday en route most of it at Heathrow airport, Adam flies home 3 days before his ….so it will most definitely be PARTY TIME!

We have house exchange plans for Cheltenham in the summer and London for Christmas…so watch this space!

2011 was good to us, we had a lovely 3 months at home, Glos. will always be home. Thank you to Paul for his great hospitality. It is always good to spend quality time with family and friends… Hannah and Robby came over from California and we had two wonderful weeks out there with them. We enjoyed a trip up to Manchester to visit Omar, helped Adam and Kemela move into their new home and a house exchange in Nailsworth, where I grew up, lots of walking and catching up with friends. In August I spent a few weeks at home, Omar and I flew out to Poland for Joseph and Kasia’s wedding and a family celebration in Wales. Adam and Kemela let me have their home for two weeks, which was lovely for entertaining friends and family in Cheltenham.

We had four lots of exchangers out here during 2011 and all enjoyed their visits and we got to spend some time with them all. And last but definitely not least we had a lovely visit with Christine and Robyn.

Happy New Year Everybody!!

Another New Year ….nearly!

suechotoye — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 07:18:45 +0000

Well it is nearly another New Year and I have been thinking about new years resolutions and whether I should make them at all. I would like to think I could be more patient, less lazy……. but changing my personality traits at this stage in my life is very optimistic. So I have decided for more practical measurable resolutions, so my resolutions are to finish my story, write my blog more regularly (this is only my 3rd blog of 2011) and to paint more. It is good to have these things written down, to remind me!

I have just read my review of 2010 and it was lovely to look back on, so now I am blogging regularly (fingers crossed) a review of 2011 will be my first blog of the New Year.

This is it nothing happens next

suechotoye — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 06:20:13 +0000

I did a pile of ironing this morning; those of you who know me will know that this doesnt happen very often. Ironing does give you time to think though, well it is so tedious you have to occupy your mind with something.

Above the ironing board is a large poster that says ‘this it is, nothing happens next’. In many ways I agree with this statement I am not religious and believe that at the end of my life that will be it, nothing else, so it follows for me that I have to make the most of here and now, which is not always easy but….

Anyway this is where the thinking bit came in, I thought This is not it! From this moment, in my life, lots of things may come next, mostly positive things I hope, but one has to be open to opportunities and take chances and seize the moment every once in a while because who knows what is just around the corner.

Another New Year

suechotoye — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 06:22:03 +0000

There are things I like about new year and things that I would rather avoid! I like the feeling of another clean page a chance to do things differently, better. But in reality how many of us do things better we are still us with all our strong points and weaknesses and it is difficult to change that.

I have never enjoyed New Year celebrations, Chritmas yes, families and friends getting togther, gifts, cards, roast dinners sat around the table chatting and sharing. But in contrast New Year seems brash and forced and I was very happy last eveing to sit quietly with my lovely hubby a bottle of local wine, a meal a deux and watching the fireworks from our roof top.

Looking back 2010 had lots of highlights, we started the year with Omar and Hannah here, which is the best start a year can have. Next year hopefully all five, well 6 of us now, will manage to be together for Christmas, and who knows maybe 1 or 2 more! That is the best thing about New Year who knows what is around the corner! Hannah married Robbie, in May 2010 and started her new life in California, and we were not expecting that this time last year. We can’t wait to visit and spend time with them in March.

We started house exchanging which has been a marvelous experience I can hightly recommend, staying in people’s lovely homes and making new friends. It has been a really positive part of 2010. We spent a wonderful three months in England spending time with family and friends old and new and received some amazing hospitality, thank you to all of you, you know who you are! We look forward to welcoming a few more of you back here this year.

Life has become more settled, her, and friendships have developed, our dream house has become home. I have become involved in several ventures joining a group of lovely ladies teaching English in a local school and becoming involved in an exciting new venture Eli Africa…watch this space.

Adam visited us for 3 weeks in November which is always a joy, it is rather nice, now that this is home, not do the touristy bits but enjoy life in the sunshine, drinks and chat around the pool and on the beach and a few games of golf, the highlight fo KC!

And in ten days time we wil be winging our way across the world for another trip what a brilliant start to another year.

Happy New Year Everybody!

And that seems to be all I have to say about that…..

suechotoye — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 16:21:44 +0000

Well, I have decided I should blog! Just looked at Omar’s and Jennifer Heidi’s blogs, (the only two I regularly check out) Omar has gone very pictorial a man of few words these days, not quite my style though he gets his message across and Jen who has a much more literary approach (not sure that is the right word) but well she writes a lot! And I thought I am just going to start writing and see what comes out………

I believe I am a Humanist

suechotoye — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 08:43:47 +0000

I have been listening to the discussion on 5 live this morning, as I frequently do, and I have discovered this about myself. I have known for a long time that I have no sympathies with any religious beliefs and had labeled myself an atheist. But listening to the discussion this morning, stimulated by the popes visit, I decided to look up Humanisim and this described just what I believe; so I think I must be a Humanist.

suechotoye — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 08:04:54 +0000

I am sorry but I don’t like Mr Blair, I never did, but I thought once we had lost him as a prime minister well I wouldn’t have to read about him in the newspaper every day…don’t read it you say , I honestly try not too but well …. you know how it is!

I think I used to have socialist leanings but since Blair and then Brown ….(And the new lot lining up to be the party leader don’t imspire me either!) Well I feel I can be forgiven for wanting a Conservative governemnt! (Apologies to my Mother and grandfather)

Interestingly enought twice in the last 24 hours have I heard; once from a dear friend and once on radio 5, labour people saying I never thought I would support what a consevative government government is propsing…. So maybe the tide is turning or maybe the liberals are mellowing conservative views…..we will have to wait and see!

Todays offering in the Independent for those of you with the stomavh to read it!! http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/matthew-norman/matthew-norman-blair-the-benefits-scrounger-2019797.html

P.S. last week I found a book on the history of the Stroud Valley and there was a picture of my dad, looking very young and handsome, carrying a young conservatives banner!

Sound advise

suechotoye — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 21:34:46 +0000

I was reading an article about Kate Silverton today and part of what she said is… be happy with what and who you are and, if you don’t like something, then you should think what you are going to do to change it. Change what you can change and what is beyond your control, let go. Laugh at yourself if you need to and don’t take yourseld too seriously!
Just made sence somehow.

This is it!

suechotoye — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 05:39:48 +0000

Those of you who know me will probably know I am an atheist! I don’t think this makes me a bad person, I’d like to think that actually it makes me better, because I believe ‘this is it’ this life is the one and only chance we have of happiness and I don’t think that is a selfish thing because if we are happy in this life hopefully we are more likely to make partners, family, friends and those we meet along the way happy too!
Not that I am always successful in my quest just ask my other half LOL! But I do try (very trying I hear him mutter)!
Anyway yesterday I decided that I would stop reading and listening to the news; it is so depressing, on the whole, but I have no staying power so that lasted well 12 hours and for a large part of that time i was asleep! Anyway this morning I was perusing the main papers and came across Johann Hari’s Heaven; A fool’s paradise which ‘inspired’ (Ha) this blog, and I think its worth a read.

Also yesterday, during my browsing I found a lovely picture of a friend and neighbour…also worth a look!

Kindness

suechotoye — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 12:04:01 +0000

A couple of conversations with my nearest and dearest very recently have made me think about being kind! I googled kind; mild, benign, benignant, gentle, tender, compassionate, gracious, kindhearted, implies a sympathetic attitude toward others, and a willingness to do good or give pleasure. Kind implies a deep-seated characteristic shown either habitually or on occasion by considerate behavior!
I think we should all be kinder to one another; family, friends, partners and I suppose really to anyone one meets and perhaps most importantly of all be kind to oneself! I think being kind is vastly underrated! Wouldn’t the world be a better place with a little more kindness?