General Chat

Good evening all, I hope everyone is well. I'm glad to see that you're coping well Sylvia. Edith I hope that you're all rugged up and that you've got plenty of wood for that fire.

Best Wishes
Ian

Hello everyone. Seems all of Canada is freezing again.

Hopefully we will warm up for Valentines. Yes, Ian staying warm by

reading a lot. We have electric heat in the building so no wood fires but we

are warm.

Great to see all the posts and to know you are all well. Waiting to hear

from Fred soon.

The 1911 Census is addictive isn't it.? Found a few more for my tree

also relatives who lived next door. Seems they stayed together in those

days.!!! If they did move they more than likely emigrated.

Many of my ancestors lived less than a mile from one another, made it

easy to find them!!!!

Must get back to my book so bye for now. Edith XXXXXXXX

G'day all,well the prolonged Christmas Holiday is over lol,and it's back to the grindstone[not].
Liz and i had a great time in Blackpool and Fleetwood ,where we did a bit of sightseeing as well as shopping.
I discovered a great Home bakery in Cleveleys that bake all of their own products,the bakery is right opposite Tescos ,on the main drag ,and it was a place of delights,i tried a meat and potato pie which was do die for,pure steak,i think ,skirt ,layered in the pastry with sliced potato[like a hotpot top],and then covered with more steak.
They were soooo good that i bought three of them home with us for tea Saturday.
My son says that they also do a veeeery mean cheese and potato,so,next time down ,i will try one of those too.
The cakes in the place looked heavenly ,but i thought of the diabeties and left them there he he.
The new camera works well too,i took a mundane piccie of the big ferry at fleetwood as it left the harbour ,and pulled it in so far it filled the frame.
Mary old buddy,i treated myself to a new Tom Tom after your recommendation ,thinking of my return toCyprus and the car hire,it has the whole of central and western europe on it but for some reason Cypres didn't load,so i have sent an email to support asking for advice .
The rest works fine ,and i have to admit it is far better than the one i had,and when we came home from blackpool it actually showed us the drive of the house and told us we had arrived as i pulled up inside the gate .
Last evening i made the greek tomato salad i had while in Cyprus ,beef tomato,onion rings ,and a balsamic vinager /mint dressing,that's all there is to it ,but lovely and refreshing.
Today it's a full green salad with feta cheese cubes and hard goat cheese cut in thin slices,drizzled in a little olive oil and mint chive dressing ,lovely ,just the job to go with A Summer B B Q.
It isn't a bad morning here ,a little damp,but pretty mild,a far cry from the weather Edith and company are having in Canada ,and the northern states of the U S a are getting,but never mind all of you.it's OUR turn next ,for the balmy weather while parts of oz and the place over the pond will be getting.lol.
Time to go ,or to get the lappy out as Liz wants my puter [waaah] lol,sorry by the way that i didn't get on line in Blackpool ,which doddery old git forgot the power lead [doooooh]
Fred,Hissy and Liz,hissy has forgiven us for being away for so long ,largely because my son and Chris came by every couple of days and sat and played with her ,bless 'em,will be making it up to her today ,he he ,the fish is in the pan lol.

Hello Everyone and thanks to you all for inquiring about how I am getting on.I am not doing too badly thanks, except for a few tears every now and then My family are all very supportive but not one of my neighbors has spoken to me or even asked how I am, but I expect you remember how nasty they were about the retaining wall that had to be built a few months ago. I am not letting them worry me though. As long as I can drive I can get out of here and visit friends or the shops.
I had some very bad news this week, a very dear friend of mine has just been diagnosed with Liver Cancer. She and her husband were our first neighbours when we came to Australia 35 years ago and we have been good friends ever since.
The weather is still quite warm here, but is only 30C today which is just nice.
Thank you for phoning me Joan. It was so nice to speak to you.
Love to you all from Sylvia XX

Morning all.. YYaaayyy we have rain..well a little anyway...

Dont fancy the poor things in the tennis in the Australian Open..gonna be 40c for the next 4 days,,not real tennis weather..bad enough now to see the sweat pouring off them during a match...and its only in the 30c's..

Glad to see you are ok Sylvia..sorry to hear about your friend..big hugs..

Fred. My Tom Tom mate....glad you are happy with it..my brothers all have Tom Toms and would not have anything else..I am using the nice English mans voice and love it when I bamboozle him by not turning when he says..hee hee hee..The good thing is if you do make a mistake it soon gets you back on track..Glad you had a nice holiday..Those pies sounded great..nice when you can actually see some REAL meat in them..a chap I know went into a shop in New Zealand and asked for a meat pie..The lady said sorry we don't have any meat pies,,he said..what is that in the warmer,,she said,,Oh they are MINCE pies..looks like the Kiwis call their pies by a different name..hee hee hee..and only put mince meat in them..

Ian Nice to see you popping in..Hope you are coping with the heat.

Les Has it arrived yet...

Edith My snow bunny..Are you out in that white stuff and shovelling it off the car still ,,lol


Hi to Christine and Dorothy...

Well I suppose I had better get some of this dreaded H..,,,k done..Have a nice day or night and roll on winter as this heat is to much..

Love Mary xxxx

Morning all from sunny [not] Newcastle where Fred is wishing it was a bit sunnier and warmer ,i am longing for the spring mornings when i can sit out back among my birds to eat my porridge or toast.
We discovered some jams ,and marmalade in Blackpool that have a greatly reduced sugar content,but stil tasty,so i can have toast and whatever now,and not just vitalite .
Yeah Mary i can see where you are coming from,the english language strikes again he he,over here if you ask for a mince pie you get meat,if you wan't the other sort [fruit] you have to ask for sweet mince ,very confusing for a lot of people.
I took some of my corned beef down to the sister in laws,AND,some home made peas pudding which for some reason you can't get down in Lancashire [funny lot down there'lol.] they don't know a good thing when they see it ,but ,i suppose ,they have nice things we don't have up here,like the Lardy cake ,which i shouldn't have but hadn't had since i was last in High Wycombe.
I bought home two little tv tables from Blackpool too ,and thought they would be handy for supper by the fire,nice when we occasionally have a sarnie or something with toast while watching something on t v.
But ,i have another use for mine lol,it's just the right size to sit my lappy on ,complete with mouse which is a lot faster than the onboard one.
Chris is plased mind ,he can now shove his grandad out of the way when he is here ,and hogs the puter most of the time,which is why i decided to go wireless ,plus a mobile internet connection,i can even use it in cyprus as Sean has a wi fi connection too,best of both worlds.
Nice to see you back sylvia ,take your time Lass ,a little at a time is the best way,and we all like to hear from you ,as ,and when you like.
Poor Edith ,all that snow ,and there's our Mary hogging all that sun [shouln't be allowed ] when us canucks are all freezin' our butts off.
Not to be dismayed though ,we are sliding our way towards spring ,while mary slides tother way he he,the shoe will soon be on the other foot har har .
Hows Ya Doin' Les,you managed to get your car out of the drive yet,or are you still snowed in?,weve been lucky here ,not much snow at all,thank goodness,once Christmas has passed ,if i don't see any until next November it's too soon,which reminds me ,only another 11 months to Christmas [here ,Fred ducks to avoid all the missiles coming this way he he.
Just in case ,i will bog off now ,and do some house work lol.
Be back later peeps.Fred.

Hi Gang,

Good to read all the news. It snowed again overnite and this morning so now, on top of the ice field which has not melted, we now have more of the white stuff. Had to take Norm to the chiro. as he has hurt his back. I drove...very slowly...and I could hear him chuntering under his breath...too bad I say.

Have just finished two special order aprons. One I was able to please myself with and I will email you a pic. It is quite lovely altho it did take about a day and a half....not much money there eh!!

Now I want your advice. I have helped so many people with their trees that I am thinking of offering a genealogy service. Altho I was not able to help our Mary and that's because those buggers are living under rocks or something!!! never-the-less I have others that I have been amazingly successful with, to say nothing of my British Home children and that I was able to locate the descendants. Does anybody have advice for me re: this. I am not thinking of you guys but I am wondering about placing an ad...and where would I place it??? and what would I charge. All advice from you, my best buds, will be appreciated.

At the moment I am doing a little Quebec research for one of my apron clients. I won't charge her, but Norm's right...my time is valuable right??

Mary, calendar arrived. Norm and I drooled over the beaches.

Edith I owe you a phone call...this week I will try.

Sylvia. Ignore the idiots living in your complex...they all need a boot up the you know where.....hobnail preferably eh? Fred!!

OK kiddies I am off to retrieve my lasgna from the oven...it is smelling too good. Fred it is a low fat version and if you want the recipe let me know.

Luvs ya all
Lesxx

Hi Les' sorry about,Norm's back,and know how he must have been feeling ,i often have to take the missus to the doc's when she hurts her spine ,which is easily done due to her bone disease,sometimes i can catch the look on her face as i hit a bump in the road,but have to say she bites her lip,and iv'e never heard her groan even under her breath [she's a game old bird] lol.
Yes Les,i think you hit the nail on the head with our Mary,i bet when she goes fossiking ,it's to the opal mines up country where they have their living quarters underground out of the heat ,so as you say ,hiding under the rocks sounds about right. he he.
Iv'e tried to find some of her tribe too ,also with no success,not easy to admit when the north east of england is a hotspot for Patterson's.
I agree as regards the condo where Sylvie is living too,what a load of sados,nothing worthwhile to do with their lives but gripe and whine about everything and everbody,deadbeats ,the lot of 'em.
Get yourself out and about Sylvia ,and ignore them all,every dog has it's day and yours will come.
I take it our Edith is still in the grip of winter too,but at least she is safe from the maraurding bears while they are asleep lol.
Fred is off now to make the tea,a greek salad with pasta,with all of the trimmings [feta cheese,a hard goads cheese sliced thinly,olives ,black ,pitted,sweet peppers ,green and red,tomatoes,the big sweet spring onions cucumber,done in balsamic vinager and basil olive oil drizzle ,and all tossed tobether in a medium size glass bowlwhich will be wiped with garlic AFTER the wife has gotten hers out he he.
Yes please Les ,any low fat recipes greatfully recieved.
Catch you all later Fred.

The bears are up!!! awake!!! and strolling around town!! They didn't sleep much this year as they likely went to bed hungry....not a great berry crop and not a lot of salmon. The biggest problem is garbage. People will leave their garbage out in the alleys. They are supposed to keep it inside until pick-up day but obviously that is a concept that eludes many people. The problem is that as the bears come in for a nosh, sooner or later they are deemed troublesome and then shot. I find it all very upsetting. Now they say that bears are getting "unafraid" of us humans and take liberties. One woman told a story of how the bear was looking thru her window at meal time and smashed his way in to get at the food. I think that is sad!!....for the bear!!

I think I am to have a sewing day today. Need to get lots of stock on hand for the artists "day" early in April.

Hope you are all keeping out of mischief. Lesxx

Evening All!! Everyone sounds in good fettle!!! Sylvia don't take any notice of those rotten lot, obviously they haven't got anything better to do, ignore them.... Fred all the talk of Greek salads, olives, garlic sounds lovely and Les I feel sorry for the bears, it's not their fault!!
I was thinking about what you said Les, about starting up your own research business, it would be very good to make a little money out of a hobby (which you obviously are very good at), its just that I think that once you start being paid for it, its a lot more responsibility, therefore, may take a lot of the enjoyment out of it for you., if that makes sense. Its something to be thought hard about.
Must dash son needs to use computer for homework!! Take care

Morning all.. We have HOT again today,, but not as hot as poor Tony in Melbourne who sent me a photo of his thermometer on his back veranda,,it was 48c so that is what I call hot,,The tennis got so hot some of the players were not coping so they closed the roof which made it so much better,,why they didn't do it from the beginning to the 40c heat I don't know,,It is going to be 40c for the rest of the week in Melbourne poor things,,Bring on winter,,I think I have changed my liking from summer to winter,,where it is between 9c and 20c most days,,
Fred Don'T fossick for Opals,,To dangerous going down mines,,My love is gold fossicking,,Just wandering around in the bush swinging a gold detector around and hoping to come across a nugget of gold,,It is so peaceful in the bush and watching the kangaroos and birds is a great pastime..Looks like you have found Greek food..We fell for it when we went to the Greek Islands and just love it,, I used to have a Greek salad every day for lunch and then a nice dish in the evenings in the Taverna with a bit of Retsina to wash it down..
Les Go for it girl and if you can help anyone that is good.. But I think you would be expected to visit the archives and libraries also,,not only Ancestry,,as people would want copies of certificates and such,,I have never used a professional researcher but I think Veronica has so ask her what they charge and what she got for her money..looking forward to the pics of the aprons..glad you liked the calender,,Might warm you up just looking at it.hee hee hee...

Sylvia How are you going..Ignore the stupid lot in the units and just do what you want to do. Hope you are coping with the heat ok,,xxx

Well better get some lunch so have a lovely day all..

~~~~to Diane,,time to buy son his own pc..hee hee hee..

Love Mary xxxxx

Hi all, Time to move the thread up a bit. We are now on the warm

side of the scale. One day -30 next -5. We have a lot of sick folk in town

colds, coughs ,fever etc. I don't think any "body" can change as fast as the

weather, some folk just can't adjust as fast as others.

I have been watching the temps in Aus. and they are on the other side of

ridiculous. Our earth is rebelling methinks.!!!

Sylvia good to hear you are hanging in there. I'm sure I told you to take it

one day at a time and it sounds like you took my advice.

It really was the hardest thing I ever had to handle but it worked out well.

Fred still cooking I see. Have a great fast recipe for Mango Salsa.

Real good with most meats and has lime juice in it making it very

refreshing. Will send you the details if you want.

Our bears are still snoring Les, but we have a lot of deer raiding the bird

feeders and fox who show up every evening for dinner. They love

dry old cheese buns and spaghetti, so Edith just made a big pot of spag

for them and will dole it out all week-end. I know "really" !!!!!

They are fun to watch though.

Ian ,here's hoping you have aircon I would perish with those temps.

Stay well. Time to go and feed my pals outside so bye for now.

Edith XXXXXXXXX

Hi Edith, this is Marie from Oz, I see you have a lot of the aussies from the Wattle club I hope you dont mind me barging in.Yes it is very hot and victoria is havine a bad time. My family have gone camping they left yesterday, they are out at Dunns Swamp it is a wonderful place in the area of the National Park where they found The Wolmi Pine you have probably heard of it. The Swamp is a large area and is very deep and the water is cold, they took lots of tarps so that they would have plenty of shade.
Like you i think that climate change is already here, if only we could get Govenments to listen.

Hi Edith, this is Marie from Oz, I see you have a lot of the aussies from the Wattle club I hope you dont mind me barging in.Yes it is very hot and victoria is havine a bad time. My family have gone camping they left yesterday, they are out at Dunns Swamp it is a wonderful place in the area of the National Park where they found The Wolmi Pine you have probably heard of it. The Swamp is a large area and is very deep and the water is cold, they took lots of tarps so that they would have plenty of shade.
Like you i think that climate change is already here, if only we could get Govenments to listen.

Hi Edith, this is Marie from Oz, I see you have a lot of the aussies from the Wattle club I hope you dont mind me barging in.Yes it is very hot and victoria is havine a bad time. My family have gone camping they left yesterday, they are out at Dunns Swamp it is a wonderful place in the area of the National Park where they found The Wolmi Pine you have probably heard of it. The Swamp is a large area and is very deep and the water is cold, they took lots of tarps so that they would have plenty of shade.
Like you i think that climate change is already here, if only we could get Govenments to listen.

re ancestors I dont think i have any in Canada just like reading the posts and meeting people . Hi Mary from Sydney also Lara linga aaaalonga and i think I saw Tassie Devil we miss you on Wattlers tassie Girl
(((((((((((hugs to all ))))))))))))))) marie from OZ.

Mornin' Marie ,you barge in any time you like,new faces are always welcome on here ,no matter where you come from.
Nice to see you Edith,you sound as though you are having a busy time feeding those guests of yours ,you want to watch out though ,you may go out back one evening to find a menu written out for you .
The Salsa sounds good yes please ,something nice for the late spring days when i'm sat outside on the patio.
The grandson will be here shortly,so i am going to get the burns night Haggis out of the freezer to use up,it's too much for one person ,and he loves it,whereas the missus dosn't she dosn't know what's good for her].
I am watching the weather too,looks like we are in for a cold snap,so i will be laying in a spare gas can for the heater,candles ,fill my ten gallon water can up [just in case].dig out the heavy tog covers for the beds,and sort out the camping stove and bottle out of the shed ,just in caase we lose the power,and last of all .keep the lappy well charged up ,in case i have to go mobile if the electtric goes off.
I will go out back shortly and pull some kale leaves and dig up one of my big leeks,,champ is on the menu along with the haggis ,an irish ,scot's menu lol.
Look after yourselves all ,and keep warm all you canucks [apart from the kiwi,and oz lot ,who are warm enough already ,and would more than likely like to be somewhat cooler.
Catch you all later.Fred.

Hello everyone again. It is terribly hot and humid here in WA. The temperature is about 38C outside, so I am staying indoors with the air-conditioner on. I was going to visit Noman's grave today, but it is 20 minutes drive away so I don't think I will go in this heat. The trouble is, I feel guilty if I don't go every week, so can someone reassure me that it is OK for me not to go.
I did take your advice Edith and am taking it one day at a time. I quite enjoy being on my own but can't help feeling guilty. I suppose that is normal?
I hope you are all keeping well whatever the weather and wherever you are.
'Till next time, love to you all from Sylvia XX

HI everyone.. As usual we have Hot ,Hot ,Hot, and no rain in sight..butter...

Sylvia Please don't feel guilty,,That is a no,no,,,You did all you could for Norman and he would now be the first to admit it,, so as Edith said take one day at a time and relax and try and get things sorted and back to normal,, Well as normal as they can be, and see as much of those lovely grandies as you can...big hugs..

Sad news on our front..Our son in laws father died this afternoon,,I have been busy minding grandies while daughter and son in law have been looking after hospital visiting and Phils mother, who is a good age and needed her family around her at this sad time..Phils father was a lovely man and the kids loved him and will miss him..


Glad to see that Edith is feeding the wildlife..hee hee hee...and Fred is guzzling the haggis,,(yuk).. Keep up the good work..hee hee hee..

If you would like some of our hot I will trade it for some of your rain or snow..We have another week of this weather...butter..

Love to all Mary xxx

Hi! again. Mary, I am so sorry to hear of the death of your son-in-law's father, and my sympathy goes to Phil's mother and the family.
I would have gone to see my Grandchildren today but they have bad colds and I don't want to risk catching it at the moment, but it is Kate's birthday on Tuesday, so I will be going to see them then anyway. She will be 3 years old, hasn't the time flown?
I have had a very restful day except for making a few scones, the first time in years, but I will enjoy them.
I hope the weather will cool down soon for you Mary, and for me.
Love from Sylvia XX

You have to get that idea out of your head straight away Sylvia,i can see where you are coming from but you are punishing youself for nothing.
I havn't one relative burried in tyneside,my mum ,sis are buried in Linc's,and my dad,grandad ,both nans and aunts are all in Bucks.
If i felt guilty because i didn't visit every month ,i woul;d be in a hell of a state.
The fact that Norm' is only a few miles away makes no difference ,so long as you THINK of him,he understands okay ,and is no doubt watching you with much love in his heart.
You need to get on with your life until you are called to join him.
The grandson enjoyed his haggis Mary,but being of scottish extraction you should be ashamed of yoiurself he he,fancy saying yuk to a traditional dish,besides,you should know that the scot's waste nowt lol.
It all goesin the pot so to speak,hide horns and bellow he he.
The missus is on the other puter again ,sothe lappy was a good buy,and iv'e just had a thought,if she and i have a spat,we can hurl insults at each other without opening our mouths he he ,how cool is that.
Sorry to hear about your loss Mary,it seems to come in lumps dosn't it?,my neice lost her mum last year ,lost her husband a couple of weeks ago and now has her dad in hospital with heart problems,so ,she isn't too cheerful at the moment.
We are doing the laddo mince and dumplings for dinner todaqy,i like to make sure he has a Sunday dinner before he goes home because his dad does meals at odd hours which is no good for a growing lad.
That' it for now ,time to get some work done lol,see ya all later.Fred