General Chat

Morning peoples ,just a quicky today [he he ,i should be so lucky ]ouch.
Off to town this morning ,paying a visit to the bank,then off to find the wife a pressie,i think i will buy her one of the new cam corders,half the size of her old one ,and much lighter to carry and use.
I have seen another Sony that i like the look of with built in sound,and a mini disk in ,instead of tapes,so the pictures will be really sharp.
The old one i will take to a charity shop for resale,it's the size of a house brick ,and just as heavy but is in a carry all,with five spare tapes and two batteries,so i reckon someone will buy it.
Brekkie today will be the two remaining Warbertons crumpets ,with the remainder of the beef paste from yesterdays tea.
This laddie,i don't know where he puts it all,i reckom he is going to be as big as his dad,16 and a half stone of farmer lol.
I made him roast pork yesterday ,with brussels ,sweede ,cauli' and broccoli,home made apple,sage,and rosemary stuffing,with small yorkshire puddings,and he STILL asked about tea two hours later lol.
We have plastic plates for the freezer and mic,with tops,so that i can freeze what's left and use it at a later date ,so this gives me at least one cook free day a week,just the ticket when i feel like a lazy day [which is often]
We Fly from Manchester on the 10th of Jan' Mary,and the wedding is midweek so i'm told ,so we will have a few days to relax in some gentle sun before we come home again.
I suppose i had better go now ,and feed boss cat before i get attacked for not being quicker ,she is a real delight now,lying in wait in a passage ,or,lurking between chairs ,coming out as you pass ,with a yowl,and wrapping her legs around the nearest of yours he he,but ,never with claws extended,and she spends hours on my knees each evening..Catch you all later ,Fred.

Hi all We have had some lovely warm days..(sorry Fred.) but not enough rain for my liking...

Not long now to the trip Fred.. I hope you and Liz enjoy it and really relax and eat up big...Dont forget to take the camera and we want photos please..,,

We are going up to Orange to the daughters for Christmas and John wants to drive so that we will have a car while up there.. I dont like the idea as it is a 41/2 hour drive .. but never mind..I will take my new lappy so I can log on whenever I like and dont have to battle the grandies for a turn on the puta..lol..

The Wattlers have the Sydney Christmas meet next sunday , and that is a hour drive away but I have my Tom Tom now so shouldnt get lost..I hope...hee hee hee..

I suppose you are all busy with your Christmas shopping, but I dont have to do anything till I get to Orange on or around sunday week,,

Hope all are well and those eyes are on the improve Edith..

Love to all

Mary xxxxx

Darn it cannot get to last psoting
JA

Well this will be a learning curve!! If you click on last post it takes you to the first post and then click again and it seems to take you to the last post.

There is an old saying....if it ain't broke, don't fix it....hmmm!! maybe GR should have paid attention to that?

I managed to get my snail mail cards sent and plan on starting the ecards this weekend....I have over 50 to send...how can that be?? Have not put up the tree yet and as each day goes by I feel less like it. Nobody is coming to visit so why would I bother....well for me!!! must get at it!!

Good to hear from everyone. Keep well and not too busy.
Lesxx

hi from barrie oh I don't like this new look took me ages to find the site as you say if it is not broke don't fix it, bye for now dorothy

Cor ,blimey you bunch,can't say as i like the new layout,and agree with J a and a few others,if it ain't broke ,lol.
Even the family tree section takes some getting used to,and the background colour euuuuuck disgusting .
Off to town today ,to try and find a new dining set,the boss has at last agreed with me ,that the one we have now is far rtoo big and heavy,for us.
Seems we have come up witjh a new Larner Family in oxford ,whereas the wifes tree starts in ireland and northumberland it's gonna be interesting to see if the two families have a common root.
My My,it's freezin' here again Mary,and i would even put up with a little of your rain ,if it was asa warm as yours he he.
Yes old friend we will be taking the new camcorder,and my little digital camere ,so a few nice picckies are on the cards.
The cat has plonked her bum right in front of the puter screen,a hint that she hasn't been fed lol,so.i will see you all later.Fred.

Hi guys not sure where this post will go the new GR is a challenge
JA

Good morning, Well GR is testing our old brains again.
I have this theory----people in charge are like bored housewives
they just have to keep moving the furniture around. The local
supermarket here is doing the same thing.
Seems our "cold"spell is over for a few days and snow is
moving in. Still behind in the prep for Christmas however it
will work out. Always does !!!!!
Fred,I think you have our weather. You are welcome to keep it
for us. Although I like the snow this mush we are getting is a
pain.
On a cookie making spree to-day. Have some friends who need
some cheer for the holidays so will wrap them up and deliver
later.
Stay well everyone. Bye for now. Edith

Hi everyone.. We have had a lovely day of rain..But its back to hot tomorrow..34c..sunday will be a better day in the low 20c'snice for the BBQ JA and I will meet at.. It will be so nice to see her again as it is a long time since we have met up...

Been having a quiet time of it for a while but we had a nice dine in at the Club restaurant last night for our usual Christmas Dinner ..enjoyed by all..off to Orange sunday week for Christmas wit the daughter and family..will be nice to be there with them..

Dont like this new format,,To fiddly and hither and dither...The new membership price is a bit steep..only 6 months for the price we got 12 months for..its all about money isnt it..

Got my brother and SIL coming for the weekend so that will be nice..havent seen them for a while..

Have a nice weekend, and keep well..

Love Mary xxxxxx

Hey Mary, I didn't get any info on the price increase. So what is it? 20 pound for the year. Still a bargain when you consider the amount of contacts you could have on here.

Say Kiddies, it is snowing here. Some flakes are as large as eggs...I kid you not. You would think that because it is very wey snow that it would not stick....but it is....butter!!!!

Send the sun Mary, we need it.

Off to make three more aprons for the three girls in my life. These are easier as I only have to decorate the basic white chef apron....might be a fun day.
Take care. Keep warm
Lesxx

Hi Everyone,

Mary, please send us some warm air!! It is freezing here in Calgary, with a high of minus 24 today and a wind chill of minus 36. It was very cold at work too. Bob dropped me off so I wouldn't have to go out and start the car mid day. I hope it warms up soon. We had another good dump of snow on Friday too, must be about 8 inches so far in the last week.

Christine, the Calgary Stampede still takes place every July for 10 days. Lots of fun.

Edith, I am glad your eyes have improved. Keep up the good work.

I am off to watch the late news and then to bed early as I work again tomorrow.

Stay warm everyone!

Teresa

goodmorning it is quite warm to-day in barrie it is 8 degree's!!!!!! my sister called yesterday from calgary to up date me on the bad weather there oh for some sunshine, we had out christmas dinner in the building I live in last evening and it was very good turkey dinner with all the trimmings and we had a good turnout, and a good mixture of young and old fun was had by all, this is not a seniors building so I enjoy the mixture plus we can have pets so you have a mixture of dogs and cats the people across from me have just bought a new puppy all paws and legs my two old cats look at him in horror if they are having a sedate walk in the hall and he comes pouding by he is so happy to see them but they are not so keen, my cats were used tobeing on a lead as before I sold the house they would go for walks with me I kept them on a lead so they did not go dashing into the road etc. bye for now dorothy

Hello to all, sounds cold in most people's neck of the woods, but then again it is winter - taken some more winter clothes into the dry cleaners here as may need them in the UK when I have to go as my father's health deteriorates.

We had 24 hours of gentle rain here last Friday - first time for over 7 years - so the world looks clean and fresh

VP and Edith I gave Mary that big hug at the Wattler BBQ yesterday you asked to give her. She sends big hugs back

Will send pickles tonight. And to you Badger - or maybe you ahve them already you lot lol

Anyone else who would like them send me your email addy via GR and I will send to you

Take care all

JA

Well.hello all ,i have just finished doing the windows ,as in removing the condensation ,which seems to lurk in the top of the patio door ,no doubt due to the frame being white ,brushed alluminum instead of wood.
I'm afraid that if the yearly membership premium is going up to £20 ,then old Fred is def' out of here,what a ruddy cheek expecting this site to pay for the other one[ the school reunion one] they should be paying their own way,and i have emailed genes to tell them it's not on.,maybe it's time to go to a new site?
Anyway ,i have uploaded my family tree onto disc as well as having a copy in the verbatim external drive [just in case.]
There has been a hard frost here overnight,the poor plants outside are looking very sad ,leaves drooping ,with a white coating ,still ,the brussel should taste far better now they have been frosted,and a lot of the nasties in the soil will now be dead lol.
We are lucky where we are ,somthing in this area seems to protect us from the worst of the flooding ,snow ,and very low freezing temperaturres,although at the same time ,we get lowere temperaturres in the summer too,swings and roundabouts ,he he.
I made a nice batch of soup yesterday using a lonely leekman onion and potato,changing my mind at the last minute after blitzing it,adding tomato purree,spaghetti and a few herbs and turning it in to ministronie [sort of] ,however ,a taste confirmed it wasn't half bad ,so dinner today will be a largish bowl with a dumpling apiece ,just the job for a winters day.
Dinner went well yesterday,my hand was okay after the blister started to harden,so i managed to do the vegies for the missus,and prepared the chicken we took out of the freezer.
I stuffed two small oranges up it's bum,after putting some salt in first.and followed the oranges with two shallots ,[oinion with oranges would have been too strong} oiled and salted the breast and put a little streaky bacon over the top and thighs [the birds ,no mine ,] you funny bunch od so and so's ,he he.
We had some stuffing ready made ,so that saved me making fresh.
I prepared some fluffy roast potatoes and parsnip for the head cook,along with white cabbage ,brussels ,and a little calabrese,which went into the the steamer,along with the potatos for the mash
All the boss had to do was turn it all on at the right time,and she did well .everything came together at midday.
My new meat is doing well Mary,anotherday should see it reverting to it's pink colour .and ready in time to cook Christmas eve [i hope ].
Did i get the Piccies of the meet ? yeah,they are already in the pictures section on the hard drives for safe keeping .
Looks like my blackbird is wanting his bread ,so i will leave you all now .see ya later.Fred.

badger I paid 19 dollars something for 12 months the other day -sometimes it is best to ignore what people say:))
Thought Mary would send pickles, sent mine too - to you Teresa thanks for addy and to you Badger but not sure I got the right addy -send me the latest

Cheers

JA

Morning all, Thanks to J.A. and Mary for the pics. What's the tale behind all the bears Mary has????
Looks like a great sunny summer day !! Thanks for passing on the hug.
J.A.
Our weather is far from summery, we have been down to -40 already and now a fast snow storm went through. May warm up a bit before Christmas
Here's hoping.
My eye is really coming along, I can read a bit but am being patient as told
by the grumpy Doc.
Fred, the soup you put together sounds good, I find the best ones are
the ones with leftover bits of food. Sadly all my indoor herbs are finished but I have a lot that I dried this fall. They really are just as good.Time for breakfast so will see you soon. Edith XXXXXX

hi do any of you (canadians) remember the reciepes that used to be in the telegram newspaper years ago for make ahead mashed potatoes and turnips (swede) the turnip had applesauce in it I have made it for years but have lost the folder that had the reciepes in I did go on line and found some good make ahead mashed with cream cheese etc but would love to find the swede on any helpers out there thanks in advance dorothy in barrie

Hi everyone.. We have had such a lovely warm day..sorry Canucks and Brits..hee hee hee..

Edith the bears are the clubs mascot..The little yellow one is our clubs one and the other two are one that were sent out from the uk and a hospital is wanting to know where they go and what they do so that the children in the hospital can read all about their adventures..Rather lovely I think..So they will be sent round to other members of the Wattlers to tell a story about his adventures..The yellow one is Wattie the Wattlers mascot..

We had a great meet and you should have seen that JA putting that red wine away...core she half cant drink...pmsl..he he he he ..I was good and stuck to orange juice...(only cos I was driving)

Fred glad the meat is coming along..You shoould go into business doing it for others..Get them to put in their orders and make some money with it..

I hit the brick wall with my little toe and I think I have broken it,,probably for the third time ..poor ;ittle toe gets a beating as I dont like wearing shoes in the house..grew up inthe East where nobody wore shoes unles they were going out,,to hot..

WEll I better go and get some dinner,,Hope all are well..

Di sends her lovel to everyone..they have just become ggrandparents and John is now fighting fit again..

Love to all Mary xxx

Hi Everyone,

JA thanks so much for the pictures. It looks as though you all had a fabulous time.

Mary, please, please send so warm weather this way!! It has finally warmed up to minus 11 today but we will be back in the low minus 20's the rest of the week. This cold weather has come much earlier than we are used to.

Fred, every time I see your name on the boards I can't wait to see what you have made for dinner, my you must be one heck of a cook. Did you do commercial cooking at one time or just pick it up along the way?

How are you Les, I saw that Vancouver Island had snow yesterday too. Did you have to dig yourself out?

We are going to have our smallest Christmas ever this year with only 18 around the table instead of the usual 29 or 30. Son Michael and girlfriend Stephanie are off to Palm Springs to take a break from Law school (Stephanie is doing that course) and others are off to their inlaws. Still, at least we have Angie home this year instead of her being in OZ. She says she is going to work in NZ for a while next year, we call her the drifter these days.lol.

I have only 7 days of work left before being layed off until gardening starts up again in April. I am looking forward to the break.

Stay warm all you Canadians (Brits too who are having cold weather).

Teresa

Thanks for the pics JA and Mary...what a nice looking bunch you are. Now Mary I don't believe about the red wine and JA....I thought it was just me??? LOL Maybe that's why we are such good friends eh??

Teresa it snowed heavily for about 3 days and now is bloody cold, didn't get above minus 10 yesterday even tho the sun was shining. We are not used to this at all, this is palm tree country right???

Talked to my 94 year old Dad in Yorkshire this morning. He was telling me that a storm broke off his TV antenna (Had the same one since the earth was flat...he's a Yorkshire man right!!) anyway this nice man came and fixed him up with a new antenna and a scrambler box so he is ready for digital BUT the cool thing is that he now gets full cable, about 80 channels. I think he spends his days surfing thru all of them. I told him that at 94 he could become a couch potato...it would be OK. bless him.

Dorothy, wish I could help you with the turnip recipe but have never heard of it. I like to mash my carrots and turnips together...thats pretty yummy.

Now for all of you that have a slow cooker...I have this new (to me) recipe. You need a small roast, I used sirloin tip, about 3 lbs., a can of low fat cream of mushroom soup, a packet of onion soup mix, 3/4 smallish spuds cut into thick wedges and about 4 carrots cut into chunks. Chuck it all in the slow cooker stir it around so that everything is coated (I stirred the two soups together first) and cook on low for 8/9 hours. I put that on early this morning and it smells amazing. Stole the recipe out of a magazine while getting my winter tires put on yesterday...naughty Les!!!

That's me for today. I am off to get real warm in the shower. Luv to all.
Lesxx