WLM Member Monday – Anne Wine O’clock Durrant
Victoria Twead: Look out! It’s Member Monday and I predict a lively day today as the lovely Anne Wine O’clock Durrant has kindly agreed to answer all our questions. Anne will choose two winners for ebooks from the header at the end of the day.
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: Good morning lovelies – I am sat here coffee to hand (yes you did hear correct – well it is 9am) Let the fun begin xx
Alan Parks: Where did you get your name?
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: I used to play Bingo on line and struck up a rapport with a group of nutters – much like WLM really, we always seemed to have a glass in our hands while we were playing and chatting – so it just happened!
Alison Teeshirts: having recently got rid of my campervan i’m interested to know where you are planning to ‘hippy – off’ to?
Rowena Cardwell: Hi Anne Wine O’clock Durrant, you love all kinds of crafts – do you do any crafts, and if so, which ones?
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: We leave the UK on 30th March and will take 5 days to have a relaxing drive down to Arillas, Corfu, Greece.
— In the past I have done, knitting, sewing, crocheting, jewellery making, scrapbooking, greetings cards, pottery, metalwork and flower arranging. I still keep my hand in and make a rather lovely card in a box for special occasions.
Janet Hughes: Here’s some more coffee, roll up folks, there’s plenty for everyone! Milk and sugar on the table.
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: This was the card I meant to post!
Janet Hughes: So, what are oil jetties?
Julie Haigh: So you’re writing a blog about your adventures travelling–will you be putting it into book form?
Victoria Twead: What about biscuits? I have a yearning for chocolate hobnobs. More coffee Anne?
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: LOL – when I met my husband he was in the Merchant Navy, he was Chief engineer on a tanker – delivering petrol and diesel to Oil Refineries all around the UK – I was a sort of groupie – driving all over to see him. I saw some lovely jetties – Milford Haven, Saltend, Ellesmere Port just to name a few. When we got married I was able to sail away with him though.
–Good question Julie – I may put it into book form – I will have to take advice about that – do you know anyone who would advise me lol.
–Thanks Victoria – trying not to eat biscuits at the moment – oh go on then just the one.
Julie Haigh: Great. I will look forward to reading it if you do write it. All the best with your travels x
Charlotte Smith: Morning Anne Do you have pets now and will they be going on your adventures with you?
Cherry Gregory: You say you are a pet lover (so am I). Have you any pets and will they be travelling with you in the camper van?
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: Over the years we have had many dogs and cats. We knew we were ready to retire and downsize so now we only have one dog, our beautiful Border Collie – Poppy – and yes she is coming with us, and is why we bought a campervan because we didn’t like the idea of her flying in the hold + it was very expensive for her to fly.
Janet Hughes: Sorry Victoria, this is all I could find in rural Spain. Hey Julie stop pushing, there’s more under the table. Woofie, is that your tail I can see wagging down there? Victoria, stop drooling over them… yes you can have 3 chocolates ones, but save some for Alan Parks!
Victoria Twead: *can’t speak, mouth full*
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: Janet stop it – I am trying to cut out biscuits – but those on the left look so yummy xx
Alan Parks: For a short time you could get hob nobs in Carrefour! There was an English section, but the biscuits were expensive. They seem to have stopped it again now though No more English sausages.
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: Is that all you miss from England Alan – hob nobs and sausages?
Charlotte Smith: Lucky Poppy I hope she enjoys her trip. I flew my dog from the Middle East to the UK last year and promised him I would never put him in the hold again. We recently drove him from the UK to Spain and he loved the journey.
Alan Parks: I’m not in to hob nobs even Anne lol. KFC, chip shop chips, football with my mates….but not too much. (Should say my family too of course )
Cherry Gregory: Wow! Your dog Poppy is wonderful. Bet you’ll have fun with her in the camper van. She’ll have a great time, I’m sure!
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: Poppy loves being in the car – just hope she enjoys 5 days in the campervan too.
Charlotte Smith: If she’s with you she’ll be happy
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: When I am in Spain or Greece – the thing I miss most of all my Hovis seedy bread. Phil loves Spain because he can buy ‘sin azucar’ biscuits – he is diabetic. The ones you can buy in England make him
Cherry Gregory: Is Poppy well trained?
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: Yes Cherry – when she was a puppy we both went to training classes with her. The first thing the lady said to us was ‘I have come to train you two’ and Poppy was a great learner – she is excellent we are so proud of her.
Cherry Gregory: Poppy sounds wonderful. Made me laugh the thought of you being trained in the puppy training too. I wonder who was the best student?
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: The lady trainer was very strict with us, not even sure that she liked us – but she adored Poppy
Cherry Gregory: I bet you forgave her everything because she adored Poppy.
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: It was money well spent – we can take Poppy anywhere and know that she will be good. The thing I love most is that when she greets you she sits at your side, usually on your foot and looks up with her big beautiful eyes waiting patiently for a pat and fuss.
Micki Stokoe: Poppy’s lovely! When are you setting off on your travels, Anne? Have you always wanted to be a hippie?
Diana Delahoy: Christmas party in June sounds great! Is it at Lyme Regis?
Mary Griffith Chalupsky: What’s this Christmas party in June all about? Will Santa be there? Will you give him a message from me? I want a handsome, 60 year old man for Christmas. Santa can send him to me right now and not wait until Christmas. Don’t need the instructions…I know what to do…LOL…..Oh, and Poppy is a beautiful dog…
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: Hi Diana – no it will be in Arillas, Corfu – we have a bunch of crazy mates – we do something different each year – this was 2 years ago. We were going to do the Xmas party last year but my hubby had 2 heart attacks + heart by-pass operation, so he couldn’t fly.
–Ha ha – yes Mary Santa will be there – Phil has his outfit already – I will be sure to post a photo for you xx
–Micki Stokoe we set off on 30th March. I was a teenager in the 60’s but seemed to have missed out on everything interesting. It just seems right to do it now before we get too old.
Julie Haigh: Alan-english sausages on costa blanca as my brother-in-law is a butcher and works at a butcher’s shop and makes sausages, burgers etc. can’t remember name of village where shop is, will have to check.
Micki Stokoe: Sounds good to me!
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant : I am just popping out to take Poppy for the ‘W’ word – I won’t be long
Fay Kearney: Hi Anne, do you think you will be able to cope with the heat in Corfu living in a camper van? Oh, and the mosquitoes!!
Laurie A. Grundner: Will you be visiting the nudist beach in Greece?
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: Hi am back – Fay – we have rented an apartment for 3 months. The campervan is just for travelling to and from there – because of taking Poppy with us. Laurie A. Grundner probably
Valerie Robson: Hi to Poppy from my Kylie, with lots of whiffles…
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: Poppy says woof woof
Cherry Gregory: What’s the strangest thing you have sold, Anne?
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: I cant think of anything really strange – just so many different things
Nancy Gould Gomoll It is morning here in the US! Good morning everyone!! Had my coffee but those biscuits look SO yummy! Anne Wine O’clock Durrant your trip sounds wonderful. Just the kind I would love. Hope you and hubby (and Poppy) have a fantastic time. Will look forward to hearing about it. By the way, Poppy is adorable!
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant Good morning Nancy Gould Gomoll and thanks xx
Woofie Wotsit I just popped in to show support… You rock, Anne
Janet Hughes Phew, this is thirsty work… Cocktail anyone?
Janet Hughes: Alan Parks! Chocolate Hob Nobs! Come and get them
Terry Bryan: Good morning, Anne…you just broke my heart…I thought y’all were camping all over Europe…and now I learn you bought an expensive dog house…will you camp some?
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: LOL Terry yes of course we will be camping as well. When we come back to the UK in July we plan to tour all over the UK too. Those biscuits look so good!
Janet Hughes: Help yourselfsh, I’m having another coshtail *hic*
Terry Bryan: Goodie….these expensive dog houses need lots of travel…we let ours sit too long this winter and now have to get a new battery. You have restored my faith in you as you seem quite adventurous. Now, what’s on your Kindle?
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: Shall we rename ‘Mercy’ to the dog kennel lol? All the books on the header + every James Patterson, Patricia Cornwell and lots of other obscure ones too.
Linda Kovic-Skow: Hi Anne Wine O’clock Durrant. I love your free spirit! Can you tell us a bit about your family?
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: This is my youngest son Andy and his family. He is a Web designer for 3M, his wife Sarah is an Estate agent, Lucie is 11 and Emily is 8.
–This is my eldest son Gary and his family. He is a Clinical Governance manager in the NHS after doing 22 years in the British Army, his wife Anja is a nursing assistant in a doctors surgery. Larissa is 24 and a Manager at Macdonalds. Sammy-Jo is 21 and between jobs – she is a carer. I don’t have a more recent photo of them – they are all so busy and dont seem to be in the same place at the same time.
Linda Kovic-Skow: Awww, they are both nice looking families. Four children too – lucky girl! Do they live nearby?
–Oops, I meant grand-children!
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant : Gary lives here in Grimsby and see them a lot, but Andy lives 250 miles away – so we don’t get to see them as often as I would like – but now we are retired……………. if we are not off on a trip When we come back from Greece we are selling our house and moving into a granny-flat over Gary’s garage.
Linda Kovic-Skow: It looks to me life you are enjoying life at the moment. Good for you Anne Wine O’clock Durrant. I enjoyed learning more about you today.
Susan Joyce: Anne Wine O’Clock Durrant, greetings from South America. Love reading through all the questions and answers. What an exciting adventure you and your hubby are getting read to begin. Trip of a lifetime. I also look forward to reading all about it. Are you packed and ready to roll?
— BTW, those chocolate cookies went fast.
Jill Stowell: Just back. been helping a friend pack up her home. Been reading through the thread, might have missed it but nobody seems to commented on the elephant in the room – How, why are you an expert on oil jetties Anne? Is it like train spotting or a weird fetish? Do you take photos? What…?
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: I did answer it Jill but here it is again – LOL – when I met my husband he was in the Merchant Navy, he was Chief engineer on a tanker – delivering petrol and diesel to Oil Refineries all around the UK – I was a sort of groupie – driving all over to see him. I saw some lovely jetties – Milford Haven, Saltend, Ellesmere Port just to name a few. When we got married I was able to sail away with him though.
–Susan Joyce we are getting there – each day something else goes into the pile. I am reading Karen McCann‘s blog on packing.
http://www.enjoylivingabroad.com/…/10-best-things-i…
— I have updated my blog today – just in case anyone wants to have a nosey – http://annewineoclock.blogspot.co.uk/
Jill Stowell: Sorry Anne didn’t go back far enough. But glad to know that there is a reasonable explanation, I was concerned about mental capacity, being in charge of a campervan, dog and husband is a weighty responsibility. Will follow the blog with interest from the safety of predictable Kent.Susan Joyce: Anne, I like your card designs. Do you give them as special gifts to friends?
Susan Joyce Janet Hughes, can we have seconds on the cocktails?
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant This is our spare wheel cover Gary bought us for Christmas to put on the campervan
Susan Joyce: Fun photo! Loved seeing photos of your handsome family also.
Mary Griffith Chalupsky: Like that cover….They can surely see you coming and going…
Susan Joyce: Enjoyed your post. Always good to have no regrets and to know when it’s time to move on.
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: Susan Joyce yes I love making special cards for family and friends – I did use to sell some, I sold quite a lot of my home made ones in Spain – they went down well as English cards were not available to ex pats in our community.
Susan Joyce: Original art cards are always a special gift.
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: I just looked at your profile Susan Joyce so I can make you a special birthday card. I notice you are 1st of April….so is my eldest son Gary – but he is no fool – and neither are you
Becky Corwin Adams: I missed most of the party since I was at work. I am glad to hear that you were a Tupperware lady,so was my aunt. I still have the Tupperware I got at my bridal shower 40 years ago.
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: Welcome Becky – yes I still have the Tupperware cereal dishes I bought when my son was born and he is 46 this year.
— I think it is time to go down the cellar – well the sun has gone down!
Becky Corwin Adams: My son had the Tupperware train. It kept breaking and my aunt replaced it every time. She is the one who gave it to him.
Terry Bryan: While I’m thinking of it, be sure y’all have screwdrivers that fit your van…on some camper vans the screws aren’t standard.
–We made screens with gauzy material and magnets.
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: Will do Terry xx
Susan Joyce: Anne, thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with us. Every time I see your smiling face, I think how the world smiles with you. Happy trails. Keep smiling!
Becky Corwin Adams: Thanks, Anne!
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: Does anyone remember this particular piece of Tupperware – a pill container?
Becky Corwin Adams: Yes. I never had one, though.
Fay Kearney: We must have had drinks at Tupperware parties or we wouldn’t have bought it!! Can’t recall what though, before I started drinking wine I think!!
Terry Bryan: I’ve seen one somewhere…some Tupperware selling teacher must have had one…
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: When I was doing parties – it was usually tea and coffee – no one could afford wine in those days. I used to do a demo for my parties – Tupperware trifle – and so simple to do. A jam swiss roll sliced up, tip a tin of strawberries in syrup over it, top off with cream and a few sprinkles – voila – Tupperware trifle.
Valerie Robson: There, a recipe for the nook… xxx
–Nook/book tssk… xxx
Julie Haigh: Great all-day-chat Anne. Cheers x
Cherry Gregory: Thanks for the interview, Anne. Great learning more about you.
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: Thanks Julie – I have enjoyed it
–Thanks Cherry x
Victoria Twead: Anne, fantastic Fred! Thank you so much for being our Monday Member, and you make sure you pop in as often as you can when you begin your travels!
Micki Stokoe: Just got back from choir! Enjoyed catching up on the Fred. Thank you Anne!
Terry Bryan: And here you worried that nobody would come play with you…you have a lovely family and a wonderful doggie…thanks for letting us in your life. Enjoy your travels…not long now! and.
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: Thanks everyone – you have all made it fun. Her who shall be obeyed has asked me to choose 2 nosey people, oooppsss sorry – 2 people who asked interesting questions. Well I will choose Terry Bryan and Becky Corwin Adams. Thanks again and goodnight xx
Micki Stokoe: Well done, Terry & Becky!
Frank Kusy: Damn, three minutes too late, she’s gorn to bed? Sorry Anne, I been out selling Indian stuff all day, just got back. What a wonderful interview, I read it all, so nice to learn more about you xx p.s. I was going to ask you your favourite film and book, am I too late?
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: I am still here Frank watching you fill up my page with likes lol
–My favourite film is Ghost and my favourite book, other than yours is The Island by Victoria Hesslop xx
Julie Haigh: Well done Terry and Becky!
Terry Bryan: Lullaby Illusion, please…thought I had it…booboo.
Cherry Gregory: Well done Terry and Becky.
Janet Hughes: Congratulations Terry and Becky
Alison Teeshirts: Loved catching up over my morning cuppa. Hope you enjoyed your day
Sue Clamp: Me too! Good luck for your journey to Arillas! I’m sure you’ll have a whale of a time.
–Congrats to Terry and Becky!
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: I had a lovely day you were all so kind – I was worried I might end up as Billy no mates – I loved the way Woofie Wotsit popped in, whilst on her travels, bless her. Frank Kusy just made it too, what a star he is. Thanks to you all my lovely WLM mates xx
Fay Kearney: Great chat Anne, looking forward to hearing all about your travels. Well done Terry and Becky xx
Victoria Twead: Terry Bryan, your prize has been sent, Susan Joyce will be smiling. Becky Corwin Adams, which book would you like?
Susan Joyce: Thanks Anne! Great fun, getting to know you, getting to know all about you. Where’s the orchestra when I need them. Terry Bryan, thanks for choosing my book. Hope you enjoy it.
Terry Bryan: I’m sure I shall, Susan Joyce…as soon as I get Tony James Slater across Australia.
Valerie Robson: Orchestra not necessary! just say UPTISH like the cymbals at the end of the circus… xxx
Peggy Penn: Thanks Anne for giving me an insight into your interesting and amazing life, and getting to know you and the lovely family more.
–Good luck on your travels and look forward to reading about it….With all good wishes – try and stay sober.
Frank Kusy: You still here Anne? ‘Corse I bin filling your page with likes, wot’s to unlike about one of the most likeable people on Facebook? p.s. I (secretly) love Ghost too…don’t tell my missus though, she’d confiscate my Kleenex
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: Does she not like Patrick – I thought all the ladies liked him
Frank Kusy: No she does not like Patrick. She thinks he’s gay. Though tbh she thinks three quarters of all men in movies are gay
–When do you come back from your travels Anne? And will you have wifi to keep connecting with us? x
Valerie Robson: Frank, who cares who is gay? xxx
Susan Joyce: Not I.
Anne Wine O’clock Durrant: We come back at the beginning of July Frank and then heading down South in August. That will be a little sad as we are going to scatter Phil’s mums ashes at the same place we scattered his dad – Pendennis Point in Cornwall. Yes we will have wi-fi at the apartment we have rented for 3 months. So I will be able to update you on a regular basis
Frank Kusy: You’ll have to excuse my missus, ladies, she’s foreign and uses the word gay for anything that is not…ahem…’manly’. She wouldn’t even go out with me until I grew a beard!
–Sounds wonderful Anne, and so glad you can keep in touch. Let me know when you’re scattering the ashes, I’ll put a little chant in for Phil’s mum
Susan Joyce: What nationality is your wife?
–Frank?
–Sounds great! I look forward to reading it. Aha, I can guess where this is going. Exciting!
