Oh PS!

I am going to do what Granny's do best and that is boast about their grand children. I received an email from my daughter saying that India had had her 2 year check and they had said she is above average on speech (she has to get a word in with her Mum and me!), that it is was brilliant she is potty trained, and she has the cognitivie ability of a four year old! She is a credit to her Mum and I am very proud Granny/Mum


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Something is getting worked out...

I'm sure of it - because my thighs are aching and my calves feel the same. As the evenings are drawing out it means there is no excuse not to go out for a power walk before one of Mr M's gorgeous suppers! He keeps saying it's all good fresh vegetables and fruit but I am thinking the amount I am eating of it means I will need to start jogging on the spot whilst I'm on air. Although I'm thinking that might sound a bit like a dodgy phone call (breathless)!
A friend is going out to Kabal as a journalist so we are going out for a meal tonight and I shall cheer her on her way with a glass of something white and cold. I think she is very brave and I will be sending her good vibes for her three month assignment.


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The weekend was fab!

we had my grand daughter for the weekend whilst my daughter and friends went to a party in Bristol with one of their old schoolfriends. India decided that sleeping really was not much use at all when you are staying at Granny's house and so I was beside myself by 3.30 in the morning! She then snored happily, as did Mr M in the other bedroom, so I ended up in the lounge on the sofa grabbbing a hour here or there dressed in my Ugg boots wrapped in a blanket!
We went to Royal Victoria Country Park on the Sunday for a trip on the minature railway ( I love that!) and then on to a bouncy castle and a carousel which was set up in the grounds. She may only be tiny but India can certainly push her way through a crowd of older children when it comes to going down a slide! It was funny to watch them all lining up behind her allowing her through.
Mr M cooked a gorgeous roast dinner for us all when my daughter and her friends got back from Bristol, which meant they had a lot more colour in their cheeks from when they had arrived!

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Who are we to judge?

I say this because of my guest Kim Martin who joined me on the show this afternoon. Do you think that she is best remembered for the fact that being in a wheelchair means she has overcome many obstacles? Or the fact that she worked as an escort? I' ll leave that one with you. Too often we are quick to judge the situation and not the person, and that was what came across. I am sure you will let me know if you feel differently!
We have got India my grand daughter coming to stay this weekend so we are looking forward to that. She is getting to the age where she can phone me on her own, and yesterday she left a message which said to my answerphone 'I'm TRYING to phone my Goggy' !
Pure gold.




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Don't start me on that one!

by that I mean trying to sort out a mortgage! It seems that everyone is running scared. I took two days off to sort out the mortgage, cleaning the oven, etc etc and also to slip in a day trip to Ikea (more of that later!). Gone are the days of just saying yes, I can pay that, which of course is why we are in this state of affairs anyway, but a good job and never having missed a mortgage payment is not enough it seems grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! So I pay the privilege of a higher interest rate for the next year before my fixed term expires. Oh I feel better for getting that off my chest!
We ventured into Ikea and back out again - too many people! My mate and I found ourselves having a leisurely Italian instead (meal that is)!
And yes, my first Valentine's day with Mr M was lovely. Twelve red roses and a card that meant a lot to me - hope yours brough everything you wanted too.




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I hope you hear those words...

whether it is I love you, je t'aime, or ich liebe dich I hope you hear the words of love this weekend. make sure however that the feeling continued throughout the year! That seemed to be the mantra of listeners today. We all love receiving roses, and helium balloons with teddies in them but the thought of a daily cup of tea by the bed is perhaps far more important.
Whatever you are doing have a great one - I am having a lond weekend with Mr M which I am really looking forward to so see you on Wednesday! The lovely Alina Jenkins will be in the chair till then so make her very welcome.




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Wayne Sleep

joined me in the studio today - he is playing Emcee in Cabaret at the Mayflower in Southampton and what an extraordinary performance he brings to the show. I hadn't seen the show/film before and Mr M was very good at not telling me anything about it so it was a real shock as the story unfolds. Utterly gripping, and as Wayne was saying on air today the true horror of Auschwitz is brought home in the most incredible way on stage.

Needless to say throughout this I had sweet eating man next to me who rustled his way through a family pack of Maltesers (other brands are available and less noisy!)





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Facebook!

I have now got a Facebook page for the Charlie Crocker Show and I am LOVING it! Fantastic to hear comments on the page and to see some piccies of my lovely listeners! Keep them coming!
The snow has been incredible today in Dorset and I am quite concerned about Harry oure reporter, last heard of without mittens or bobble hat, looking for somewhere to stay for the night!
I am a judge for the Rotary Young Chef of the Year tomorrow which I am really looking forward to - I get to taste all the puddings and possibly find the next Gordon Ramsey (or the female version)! But of course without the swearing!
Seeing the girls on Sunday - India has had her hair cut into a Pob just like Posh - that girl is a budding fashion icon hahahahaha!
Have a great weekend


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Charlie's Show on Friday 6th February

John Barrowman is on the show!

We had a lot of fun with him last time he was on the show - so I'm looking forward to catching up again.

Send me any questions you want me to ask him ...

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Noisy neighbours will not know what has hit them!

Mr M's guitars have arrived at last so we could be heard singing everything from John Lennon to Simon and Garfunkel last night. I was particularly good at a Rod Stewart song which I belted out whilst Mr M accompanied. Wait till my grand daughter India joins us on the drums and the band will be complete and my noisy neighbours will have real competition! Talking of which my daughter said that one of our kind gifts at Christmas, a recorder, strangely found its way straight into the dustbin when we left on Christmas evening.........mmmmmmmmmm

I also cleared out my knicker drawer and to my embarassment discovered that I have 71 pairs of knickers - now either this means I don't have to wash any for 10 weeks or I should start wearing two pairs at a time in this cold weather. Tonight I am tackling tights and vests - no not string ones, the type that you wear underneath something so you are not revealing too much when you bend down (unless you are very slim you will know what I mean!)





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On the Charlie Crocker Show on Wednesday

I'll be talking about step-parenting on the show on Wednesday.

How easy is it to take on someone else's children? How do you build bridges, and set boundaries, as a step-parent?

I'd love to hear your stories and experiences from 1pm - call, text, or e-mail me your thoughts.

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Charlie's Show on Tuesday 3rd February

Do you pre-judge gypsies? Do you know anything about their history?

Charlie will be looking at the traditions and tales of a New Forest gypsy community on her show on Tuesday 3rd February.

6% of the New Forest's population are gypsies and a local campaign is trying to increase people's understanding of their roots and culture.

Share your views with Charlie from 1pm on Tuesday on BBC Radio Solent

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Let it snow, let it snow

Whilst Mr M's Australian coastline struggles with 45 degrees in the shade, we get the coldest and snowiest winter on record for 18 years! He doesn't believe me when I keep saying 'honestly it isn't normally this cold'! I have purchased a goose feather duvet which I think is the best thing since sliced bread, and he suffocates under - why are men so hot?!?!
We travelled to Essex and Sussex over the weekend and the snow seemed to follow us - it is utterly mesmerising whilst you are driving isn't it, and yesterday we decamped into a very nice pub/restaurant and sat like extras from Miracle on 54th Street as the snow came down. One fish and chips and posh hamburger and apple and blackberry crumble with hot vanilla custard later, we felt able to brave the blizzards whilst Mr M muttered under his breath ' I may be some time' as he wandered outside to smoke a cigarette.
Which reminds me, I need to book that hypnotherapist for him....