Not really a secret, it is just I am such a boring old fart no-one ever reads it! These are the thoughts and doings of Glyn Cotterill. Ah but he hastens to add they are definitely not reflected or in any way echoed by his long suffering wife Susan who thinks quite independently!
Sunday, 31 July 2011
Dates for July 2011
5th Louisa is 29
7th Natalie (Louises Daughter) is 12
11th Philip is 60
12th Richard is 42
30th Joseph (Louises Son) is 18
31st Lainie (Stellas Daughter) is 7
Wedding Anniversary.
21st Nathan & Claires 4th wedding anniversary
Thursday, 30 June 2011
Dates for June 2011
2nd Sarah will still be over 21 (Martyns wife)
5th Brett will be 15 (Garys son)
6th Laila will be 6(Garys daughter)
Sunday, 5 June 2011
Excuses
As many of you will have noticed I have not touched this for many moons. The reasons are many but the main one I think is that on the 15th June 2009 something happened that made it seem like my world had started falling apart!!! It continued to fall apart for many months.
Over the next few weeks I will slowly recount all that has happened since that time in graphic detail telling it as it all went on (as much as this old brain will allow) haha.
PART 1: JUNE TO OCTOBER 2009
PART 2: OCTOBER 2009 TO MAY 2010
Well the first place we went was to the CAB (Citizens Advice Bureau) to see what we could do and basically to cut a long story short they took over the handling of our debts and negotiated with our debtors to bring everything down to a managable level.
The only problem that we still had was the mortgage!!
I approached DWP (Department of Works & Pensions) who agreed to pay the interest on the mortgage. I then went to our motgage lenders and asked to have the mortgage changed to an interest only loan on the understanding that we would sell the property before the term of the mortgage was finished to pay off the capital, this was duely agreed and the done.
Well the DWP with their usual efficiency, and problems with staffing, had a backlog? This went on with no payments from them by February 2010, despite repeated phone calls from me and being passed from pillar to post and things came to a head with the mortgage lenders!!!!!!!!!!
Early in March 2010 we started to get threatening letters from the lenders because there was by this time considerable arrears owing which we were assured by the DWP would eventually be paid.
Sue & I by this time were getting very frustrated with the DWP and not being able to speak to the person dealing with our claim.........................
Enough is enough and by March we had certainly had enough, so we decided to hand the keys back to the lender and move into rented accomodation, thereby saving court costs etc.
Where to move to was the next question?
There was no longer a need to stay in the area we were in due to the fact I no longer had to travel to work so we decided on the Devon/Cornwall border area as we had friends there and knew of a good church there so while we holidayed in the area in March we looked around!!!
We found what I considered to be a lovely bungalow in a village location, but Sue was not too keen. I felt the reasons were twofold, firstly it was a really dull day and secondly it was the woman from the estate agents who was really obnoxious. I, on the other hand could see past all that and felt it was the place for us.
Well we looked at a few other places and nothing was at all suitable.
We went back home at the end of the week having found nothing and I was quite despondent as Sue had not seemed to go for the bungalow!!
We agreed to go down a couple of weeks later and have a look at some more houses and flats but nothing seemed like the right place and Sue agreed to look at the bungalow at St. Giles-on-the-Heath again. Well this time the weather was beautiful and even the woman from the estate agents was pleasant. I think that the latter may have been something to do with the question I asked her in the shop in front of her manager "do you have to work really hard to be that obnoxious, or does it come naturally?"
Well push coming to shove we had all the paperwork done and the move date was 4th May 2010. We moved in on that date with the bungalow full, as was the garage having the overspill.
The keys were posted registered post to the lenders a few days later and here we reside!!!
As a postscript by the time we moved we still had received no mortgage interest from the DWP.
You may think that that is the end of the story, alas there is still more to come which I will continue another day!!!!!
PART 3 :- BANKRUPTCY! May 2010 to June 2011
Well we settled into the bungalow well but still had the enormous debt problem!!!
On advice from CAB it was decided that the only coarse of action for us was bankruptcy.
How to pay for it was the next problem? £450 each, total £900, (had to be paid in cash as courts trust no-one lol) the only assets we had left were the car and my beloved motorbike!! Well the bike had to go and sold quite quickly as the spring is a good time of year for it.
All was arranged and on the 11th June 2010 we attended Newport (Gwent) County Court and were duly declared bankrupt with debts of around £60,000, Sue understandably found this a real trial but bless her she coped and was much relieved when it was all over.
So off back to Devon to get on with our lives, we both had found it very hard dealing with what we imagined to be the stigma associated with bankruptcy, but it seems that that is no longer so bad as it was years ago!!!!
We have very much kept ourselves to ourselves since the bankruptcy as this is a village after all, although the locals have been very welcoming we are still concerned about what they may think of us and what we have gone through?
We have been very reliant on God to provide for us over the past few months which He has done with great goodness and at times even generosity. Also I am so pleased and thankful for the support and prayers we have had from members of Launceston Community Church which we regularly attend.
Another bonus has been how much we have seen of family since we have been here as we are only a short distance off the main A30 they call in to see us on the way to and from holidays in Cornwall, they also come to stay this is such a beautiful area close to Dartmoor.
Well back to the subject! In Feb 2011 the house in Wales was at last sold and all the debts attached to that sorted. We are now asset free except the car which is essential here as there is no bus service to speak of, also it is very necessary to get Sue around with her arthritis getting worse all the time.
So on Friday the 10th June 2011 we are being discharged as bankrupts by Newport CC and will be totally debt free from that date!!!
Also from that date we will no longer need to look back, all the trials of the past 2 years can be forgotten and we can look to the future!!!!
We have a 3 week holiday planned in Scotland in Sept/Oct with my wonderful brother Mike who has become a great friend again.
Finally some thanks for help and support over this difficult period of our lives,
Our families
Launceston CC, especially Mervyn and Rachel, Chris and Jayne and the support of the house groups
Also I thank God daily for what He has done in financial and moral support and encouragement, even His forgiveness because I still try to do things on my own even though I know I should rely on Him more!! After all HE HAS BROUGHT US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY, THANK YOU JESUS.
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Dates to remember for May 2011
20th Louise (Glyns daughter)
23rd Freya (Lees daughter) who will be 10
24th Sue (Glyns wife)
24th Elizabeth (Glyns daughter)
Just 1 Wedding anniversary
16th Wayne & Debbie who have been married for 8 years.
Saturday, 20 June 2009
My visit to Chichester
While I was down there I managed to catch up with a few old friends, Brenda, Lin, Linda. It was very good catching up with them all had some good natters.
Tony is now on the road to recovery so have come home to look after the old man once again.
The weather was kind to me while I was away which made it all the better. Must admit it is lovely to be home.
I am looking forward to going on holiday in August with the children and grandchildren.
Peace perfect Peace!
There always seems to be a plethora of birds singing all the year round and just sitting listening to them is such a joy.

Wild flowers such as Primroses, Cowslips, Violets & Bluebells are all there in abundance.
Behind where my bike is parked there
is a path that leads to a stream with a bridge over it and there are logs that have been made into seats the other side, you can't even hear the traffic from there, what there is of it!!
I always call here if I come home from work this way as it really is my chill out place. It is a forestry commission picnic site and therefore has a name which I forget (senior moment, but will write it down next time I am there).
It is a place that I just feel at peace with God and the world and so close to nature. I also find it is easy to wonder at God's creativity where there are so many of His wonderful creations in one small area.
Tuesday, 19 May 2009
Dwi um tryoch siarad Cymraeg
Here I am at 60 years of age trying to come to grips with a new language??? Actually I only started last Thursday 14th May and I am finding it quite fascinating.
I was pointed to a web site by a welsh speaking friend (Lois) who still does not know what she has started!
You do not learn to read or write in welsh, just speak it. I can therefore do it at work as it is all in down loadable mp3 format. Just put it on a mp3 player and away you go.
Below is the link to the web site so that you can have a go, believe me it is quite easy once you get started.
http://www.saysomethinginwelsh.com/home/
Below is the link that will take you directly to the downloads (I am doing the southern version)
http://www.saysomethinginwelsh.com/lessons/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11
I am on lesson 2
Dwi um tryoch siarad Cymraeg, by the way, means in welsh I AM TRYING TO SPEAK WELSH! I do not know if it is spelt right but that is how it sounds.
Monday, 27 April 2009
Well who would have thought it!
Well who would have thought it. After having Oscar for all these years we discovered at 1830 last night that HE is a SHE and we have to call her OSCARINA.
She proudly produced an egg and we expect at least 2 more before she finishes. Of course it is infertile as there is no male involved HA HA!
Is that a virgin birth?
We started to guess that something was different a couple of weeks ago when she started cooching (Welsh slang word for cuddling) up to me and bit Sue quite hard, something she had never done before. Though of course we never guessed at the time but hindsight is a wonderful thing!
So let me introduce you to OSCARINA though I should imagine that we will have a bit of a problem getting her to say it after she has been calling herself Oscar for all these years.
Saturday, 25 April 2009
Allotment update
The runner bean sticks are up and ready, all beds are ready to be planted and just one bed, the fruit patch needs forking over around the bushes that are there already (see below).
Runner beans in pots ready, 4 rows of potatoes in, a row of cabbages in, tomatoes & cucumber in grow bags in the greenhouse.
I got 2 gooseberry bushes in the fruit patch to go with the 2 blackcurrant bushes already there.
Rob helped me with all the heavy lifting that had to be done putting the slabs down in the greenhouse etc.
Showers and sunny periods today and my bald patch got burnt enough yesterday!!!!!!!!
Again Many thanks to Rob Evans who has the plot next to us!
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Off Sick
Tried to rest it over the next few days but in the end had to go to the docs today (Thurs) and he laughed and asked if I really expected it to heal in 5 days?
As I said to him "you can always hope". Well he has signed me off until next Thursday and said it should be OK by then!
I AM BORED ALREADY! any suggestions as I cannot even get up the allotment. We are going out later to get peas, runner beans etc. to start off in the greenhouse but there is so much more I would like to get done up there. Well at least most of the heavy work is done so it is only pottering and I have no doubt Sue will have to come up to "keep an eye on me".
Well happy days at least the sun is shining.
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Sharon, Danielle & Natalie, Race for life
It is on 31st of May in Milton Keynes and all donations will be very gratefully received.
As this is a charity close to all our hearts lets be generous!
Donations can be made (very simply) online, the link is below, it must be easy because I did it!
We look forward to some pictures and a report from Sharon when it is done!!!!
http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/sharonhowe1
Thursday, 9 April 2009
March 2009 Holiday in Splatt


Sunday, 5 April 2009
Friday, 27 March 2009
Tresmeer (North Cornwall Railway)
As many of you will know I have always had a healthy interest in railways so recently we have been holidaying at a place called Splatt in Cornwall.
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
Sarah
Sarah is a very pretty girl who has a wonderful personality and is very easy to get along with.
Well as time went on she became delivery manager and moved to the new shop on the retail park when it opened.
While she was there after a while I noticed Sarah was losing weight, that was fine to start with but it just went on and on! I was starting to feel that she may have some sort of eating disorder? As I only go to the shop to deliver periodically I supposed I noticed the difference more than those who saw her every day. One day I got there and she was looking really drawn and ill and again I spoke to her about it.
Well to cut a long story short the next time I went Sarah was off sick!
Unfortunately at that time I lost contact with her as I had no phone number or anything. I thought & prayed for her often.
Well I was delivering to Cotton Traders at Wilton yesterday and to my great surprise and delight Sarah came up to speak to me as she was there having gone out to get a bit of fresh air.
Next have terminated her employment as she has been off so long which I must admit I was disgusted about when I heard it from her work colleagues, as were they!
Well it is a eating disorder but Sarah has now put on a stone since she has been off work and is now looking forward to the future. It is still going to be a battle and an uphill struggle.
I am still praying for her and would ask all those who read this to do the same.
We can at least keep in touch now as we swapped phone numbers and she is going to look for me on Facebook so hopefully keep in touch that way as well.
Sarah may be coming near us to a clinic in Bristol as an in patient for a short while so I will obviously go to see her and take Sue to meet her.
Well God Bless you all
Glyn
Monday, 16 March 2009
The Late Lee Bourne
Our thoughts & prayers are very much with Andy & Jojo and their families at this sad time.
If anyone would like to add to this feel free to leave a comment or email me a photo and I will add all to this post?
Sunday, 15 March 2009
24/01/2009 The late Berkely John "Jack" Dowdle (Updated)

I have very fond memories of him and have had a lot to be thankful to him for over the years.
After an accident, some 2 years ago now, he spent much of the time in a nursing home in Trowbridge and I know he will be very much missed by us all.
Rest in peace Jack.
If anyone would like to add to this feel free to leave a comment or email me and I will add to this?
Sunday, 8 March 2009
Monday, 2 March 2009
Siskin (updated 16/03/09)

Now up to 7 of these very pretty birds started to come into the garden during the recent bad weather. They seem to like the thistle seed feeders and so far have stayed.
Although smaller than the 8 to 10 goldfinches that are resident with us they do not take any crap from them and more than hold their own when the goldfinches try to chase them off the feeders. It is quite funny to watch them at times.
This is a male and as is usual in the bird world the female is nowhere near as colourful.
Sunday, 1 March 2009
March dates to remember
12th Joel (Martyn's son) Is 2
31st Nicky is getting OLDER (all of 38) lol
18/02/2009 Lainie's Big Night
03,05 & 06/02/2009 Snow in Trevethin
Snow drifts on the bridle path in Lasgarne WoodsSnow on holly leaf

Outside back door
21/01/2009 Karis Annie Hornby
After the sad miscarriage last April (see earlier post) she had a very healthy Daughter born to her and Nick by C. Section at 0559 on 21st January 2009.
Mother and Daughter doing just fine as we understand from the 6 week check up that Lindy had last Friday.
Karis Annie

Karis & Lindy (Just call me Rudolf)
14/01/2009 Diabetic Clinic
My average B/S was 7.9 and a bit high so I have been put on yet more tablets to try and get it down. I am now just 1 tablet a day short of going onto insulin!
This is where the Dr had me in tears as she told me the fantastic news that N.I.C.E. have just passed a new synthetic insulin that does not induce hypo's so therefore it can be prescribed to ONLY those people whose livelihood depends on their licence, eg. LGV & PSV drivers.
It is apparently very expensive but as a LGV driver I qualify and can get it prescribed. As prescriptions are free to me it is great news and a great relief hence the tears.
I can only say THANK YOU Dr. BALBOA for the news and the hug!
Catch Up
I will try to get them in chronological order as far as I can?
SO HERE GOES!
Thursday, 11 December 2008
Number 31
Thursday, 27 November 2008
My Jesus
Thursday, 16 October 2008
Holiday to Cornwall
Thursday, 2 October 2008
Dates for October, sorry its late
3rd Keaton is 14
4th Lisa (Glyns foster or 8th child as she is just like one of my own) is 24
7th Alice (Liz's Daughter) is 12
18th Wayne is the BIG 40
19th Ben (Richards son) is 19
19th Ashleigh (Richards Daughter) is 13
29th Nick (Lindy's partner)
31st Nathan is 35
31st Martyn is 33
Wedding Anniversary's
30th Lee & Lucy
If you know of any more please let me know?
Footnote. Do you realise it was 4 years ago on the 24th that Uncle Doug died?
Wednesday, 17 September 2008
I've Been Busy!
Bathroom beforeThey say while the mouse is away the cat will play so I thought we would have a new laminate floor in the bathroom as it has been fitted for nearly a year now and looked a real mess.
Sue found it a nice surprise on her return except she now has to decorate it and then I can fit the finishing trim and beading.
If the basin looks at an odd angle, it is because I used a fisheye lens to get more in the picture.
Monday, 8 September 2008
Dea & Amy's visit to Jersey
Saturday, 6 September 2008
Thursday, 4 September 2008
6 Years of birds at Trevethin
21 House Sparrow
5 Greenfinch
8 Chaffinch
5 Starling
3 Blackbird
1 Wren
2 Magpie
2 Song Thrush
7 Great Tit
4 Blue Tit
2 Coal Tit
1 Sparrow Hawk
10 Goldfinch
5 Dunnock
1 Pied Wagtail
4 Brambling
3 Robin
2 Jackdaw
1 Crow
1 Rook
2 Blackcap
2 Jay
2 House Martin
2 Swallow
2 Bullfinch
7 Long tailed Tit
2 Siskin
3 Collard dove
2 Linnet
1 Nuthatch
We have seen many others around here including:- Green & Lesser spotted Woodpecker, Tawny Owl, Peregrine Falcon, Chiff Chaff, Goldcrest, Buzzard & Swift to name but a few.
Monday, 1 September 2008
September & summer (what summer)?
As to the allotment it is also a washout and it has been alot of hard work for very little return, (yet again). Last year was a very wet July and this year not only a wet August but also very cold. So far only 2 tomatoes in the greenhouse have ripened. We should have been picking and eating for at least the last 4 to 6 weeks. It is making us wonder if it is worth all the effort as we start 3 to 4 weeks behind anyhow due to the altitude.
Saturday, 30 August 2008
Dates for September & they are many
Birthdays
4th Lennon (Gary's son) is 5
8th Alex (Sharon's step-son) is 8
8th Robyn (Wayne's daughter) is 17
9th Sharon is 41
12th Emma (Gary's wife) is over 21 again!
15th Debbie (Wayne's wife) is also over 21!
15th James (Sharon's son) is 17
24th Damon (Gary's son) is 16
25th Gary is 42 (if I remember correctly)
25th Lucy (Lee's wife) is not as old as Gary!
Wedding Anniversary's
27th Mark & Nicky's 11th (Sue's son)
30th Martyn & Sarah's
30th Glyn & Sue's 14th
If you know of any more please let me know?
Footnote from Mike
"I have to spend the day in hospital on 9th and 16th of Sept. for further tests on the old ticker".
Pray that all is well and goes well for Michael.
Love to all
Glyn
Saturday, 9 August 2008
Fuel Shortage
Apparently this seems to be a growing trend nationwide as the price of fuel increases according to the police and csi who came yesterday.
Still when I had time to look at it properly this morning it all went back together just fine and apart from a crack in a bit of plastic is perfectly rideable. They even left me the reserve (3 1/2 litres) to get to the nearest garage, bless them!
Glyn
Wednesday, 6 August 2008
St Fagans with Liz & Co

Emily, Liz & Alice.

L to R, Sue, Alice, Liz & Emily. (bodies not heads!) lol
We had a curtailed visit to to St Fagans with Liz, Alice & Emily last Friday, curtailed as it was wet in the morning so got there just in time for a picnic lunch.
You must think we are getting fed up with going there, but not so, as we still, after so many visits have not seen it all as it is so big. Also Sue & I not being so good on the pins as we were take so long between places and have to rest more. It is a good job there is no entry fee!
Thursday, 31 July 2008
Denise & Andrew wedding anniversary
Alas I had forgotten. You see you have to tell me these thing as old age does not come alone and I am not telepathetic (telepathic) lol.
Happy 34th Wedding anniversary
Denise & Andrew!
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
News from Dea about Emma
Emma has been accepted for an internship for worship leading at a Church in Cheltenham called Holy Trinity. http://trinitycheltenham.com/ They seem a big church with four main services a day, they get together as a church on the race course, as the church building is too small for all to meet together, personally I had never heard of them until Emma talked about them.
Emma has accommodation through word of mouth, Sue at church has a friend at Cheltenham church who told a friend who told a friend who told a friend resulting in a phone call that afternoon to offer accommodation. All she needs now is a part time job to support the 15 hour internment placement within the local community.
Emma is due to start there on 1st October, (which is two weeks after the others), due to her job not being completed until the end of September, she is coming across to join in with an inauguration service for it on 14th September so we thought we would join her with that, it's at 5pm.
edited by Glyn
Saturday, 26 July 2008
Lindy is pregnant!
After the disappointment in April they are thrilled.
She had the scan yesterday and everything seems in order.
Congratulations to Lindy and Nick!
Get plenty of sleep while you can lol
Love to all
Glyn
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
Michael's holiday in Egypt
Mike & Camel
Mike & Wayne
Just to say I had a lovely holiday in Egypt, as I thought it was far to hot for me between 36 and 44 degrees.
We visited the sphinx and pyramids in Cairo and had lunch on the Nile. We also saw the gold of the Pharaohs and King Tut in the Egyptian museum, a fantastic place to visit.
We also went on a glass bottom boat to look at corals and fish some wonderful colours.






















