General Chat

Snow joke Edith He He, just a postscript to my last message ,tried the oatie crumble topping ,and have to say it was yum,so i think a little cinammon may be added to my home made crumble mix in future,it adds a whole ,new dimension ,i forgot to ask the wife to take out the cloves from the fruit mix before using it ,so it serves me right that i found two in my pudding grrrrr.,but it was lovely just the same. making creme of Tomato soup this afternoon ,so i will be having a bowl of that for tea ,along with some buttered french stick ,[result .lol] Fred xxxx

We are still raining here altho no flooding so far. They do say that perhaps the lower part of the city may flood today as we have an unusually high tide....ah! weather....what would talk about with out it!! Meanwhile it is almost 9 am. here and the sky is so dark and overcast it could be nite time.
Well good to see that Edinburgh will get their roads sorted, will this work for your family, Veronica?
Fred I send my Dad a food hamper, usually from Tesco, about 3/4 times a year. I used to send one from Wiltshire Farms but my Dad said the meals from there were too big for him. I order this all online...pretty cool.....you can even get fresh veggies and meat. My dau always sends her Grandad stuff from Marks and Sparks or Cadbury's and she does that online as well.....gotta love computers!! My Dad loves to get the Cadbury delivery as it comes in a purple box and makes all his neighbours a little envious. Sure wish I could get a Cadbury delivery here.....A big box of Milk Tray and a tin of "choccie bickies" woohoo!!
Edith I haven't eaten xmas cake in years so have a slice for me. My Mum used to make an amazing fruit cake, then she would "paint" it with melted jam, cover it in marzipan and ice it with royal icing. (Ya know royal icing is an art which I used to be pretty good at but you never see it anymore. Everyone seems to use fondant instead.) When the cake was all set she would put the frilly ruffle around it and together we would "glue" on the Santa and the sleigh etc...great memories of christmasses long ago.
Well if you can believe this.....I am still writing xmas cards and I must get them in the mail today....so onward....
Lesxx

Hi Les

Check out Wiltshire Farms again, late last year they brought out a range of smaller meals they are listed as Mini Meals and I just checked, they have even more variety than when my Mum had them. I was getting them online for my Mum and she loved them. They where just enough and I stocked her freezer with them so that the home helpers that came in could micro one for her for lunch for a change.

Unfortunately unless the army goes across the Forth road bridge to Inverkeithing then it won't be any help to Gwyneth and her neighbours, but it will hopefully mean that Gwyneth can get into Edinburgh by bus and train to check on her Aunt and make sure she is OK.

I like the sound of the crumbles Fred, I like oats in mine but since I got colitis I can't have them - I really love oatmeal raisen cookies and its a no go for the mince pies and the christmas cake and christmas pud - not allowed the dried fruits. I thought I would be clever and have a mini spotted dick that our local English shops sells - bad idea!!! spent half the next day in the loo. You live and learn. But I might just take a chance on one of my friend Jill's mince pies when Keith and I stay over on New Years Eve.

Keiths trip is going well and he is missing the worst of the weather, he has to cross the Penines to go to Goole tomorrow morning and the chap he is visiting emailed him to say the roads are good so fingers crossed.

All for now

Veronica

Just got a call frim my cousin Gwyneth in Inverkeithing. The temperature rose in the last 48 hours from -15 to +8 and a torrent of water is flowing down the hill. Enough snow has melted that she was able to dig out her car and with the help of her neighbour bring it back up to the house and put it in the garage. On the way they went around by Tesco and got a big shop in as they are forecasting another big dump early next week.

Gwyneth called Tesco about her Aunts delivery and discovered that her 89 year old Aunt had forgotten to click on the complete button on her on line order for Tesco so it was hanging in limbo and would never have been delivered. Tesco told her that the drivers had been making special efforts to reach the very elderly clients on the route and that if she had completed the order then it would have been delivered even if they had needed to walk in from the bigger road. Nice to no. its a shame that she didn't complete the order as she has been doing it online for a while and always got it right. Anyway Gwyneth is going over by car tomorrow with a load of shopping so she is fully restocked.

Good news for the lady who is expecting, at least she can now get down the hill if she needs too.

regards

Veronica

Morning all, Well the last folks out of town left the door open and we are now in the frezzer.!!!!! -31 this a.m.
Most of the snow has been cleared away so the cold has decided to visit.
My car would not start yesterday so had to plug it in. Will try again to-day.
The "joys" of winter are hitting us early this year so we will hope for an early spring and a nice warm summer.
Might as well wish the year away heehee too D___cold to do any thing else.
Good to hear they finally got help in Scotland Veronica. Hope they prepare a bit for the next time.
Les, I see where Port Alberni got 170 mm of rain (on Canada weather channel) You must be sloshing about in high boots !!!!
Many of the locals have now chosen to spend Christmas in warmer places.
Florida and Arizona are favorites, so the exodus will take place about the 22 or so.
Time to start my day so bye for now. Edith XXXXX

Finally put the tree up yesterday and this morning one section of lights in the middle has decided not to work...grrrrr!! I haven't got the ornaments on yet but if I have to unwind all of the garlands and beads and then fish out those lights I shall be a tad peeved....and that is being polite!!!!
Yes Edith, lots of rain, pineapple express again last night. I always worry about the basement....fingers crossed, eyes and legs and all that!
Norm and I went into Nanaimo and did our big shop, came home broke. Ah! well xmas comes but once a year!!
OK I am off to fix that tree. Have a good day.
Lesxx

hi all,well this lot of snow has about gone ,but there is more on the way for the back end of the week ,so we will slip out later this afternoon ,and top up on supplies in case we get hit hard again.
We have decided on a leek,and chicken pie for dinner today,which is really a glorified Shepherds pie of sorts because there is no pastry,but a topping of potato ,with a little cheese sprinkled on top [optional] but anyway the whole dish is cookable in a mic saving energy on a large gas oven.
I was soooooo pleased to hear of our Mary's news ,re husband John,i hope this means the guy will be fully mobile before Christmas ,and has the best time i bet they have had in a couple of years.
Isn't it a pity though ,that doctors don't take more notice of their patients,in that Marys hubby knew what was wrong with him but the doctors took no notice.
Mine wouldn't believe me when i complained about the arthritis in my right hip ,saying how do you know what is wrong with it?,so i said ,well ,seeing as i have had osteo arthritis in my left ankle for ten years ,i reckon i know what arthritis pain feels like ,don't you ? he he ,i sharp got ex rayed then and when i got the result that i knew i would get ,i just raised my eyebrows as he read the report,and he cleared his throat and said ,you are right ,lol.
Hope the council keeps on top of that hill as the snow returns Veronica and dosn't let it get that bad again,it would be indeed a help to ALL residents ,if the stores could get their vans in and out to deliver groceries and fuel.but were i your rellies ,i wouldn't hold their breath,our council has admitted that they blundered ,and didn't order enough grit in the autumn ,nothing changes.does it?,Three years of bad winters ,and they STILL havn't learned.
Have to go now ,but will be back later ,take care all ,and stay safe ,Fred

Hi everyone..remember me,,,LOL..

Do hope you are not all frozen or snowed in..You sound like you are having dreadful weather, and we are getting a months worth of rain in one day in parts of OZ,,We have been lucky and escaped it all and our weather has been quite nice..

Lovely to see Veronica back and so sad you had to cancel your trip.. never mind put it off till the spring..

One good thing has happened is that John has got a new specialist and he put him on prednisone and he is making slow but good recovery..it is lovely to see little bits of progress each day and after he has had the tests that the doc wants done he will at last know what is wrong with his legs..The doc says one thing he has is fibromyalgia, so we will wait for the test results to see if anything else is found..We are very happy and its a good Christmas present for us..he has put up with this for 5 years and was nearly in a wheelchair,,he could barely walk,,but this evening I took him for a walk around the village and he was fantastic compared to a week ago..The age of miracles is not yet over...

Well I do hope you are all well and do keep warm ..Poor Normie..do hope he is on the mend and big hugs for him..good old Bella..

Love Mary xxx

Hi All

Mary, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia 10 years ago and the treatment was different then, I was given and anti-inflamatory and a muscle relaxant that worked for me and after about 3 years I went into remission. It is part of the arthritis family.

I thought it had returned only worse in October of last year but in January was diagnosed with agressive rheumatoid arthritis which has been treated for part of the time with prednisone - its a wonderful drug but has some nasty side effects, not least, as Keith found out a change in personality, it can make you very agressive at times and also you can have terrible lows as well. Poor Keith never new what to expect some days! the mood swings where dreadful but have gone away now I am off the prednisone.

Fred, I agree with you, the doctors really don't listen sometimes, we know our bodies and if you had been diagnosed with osteo arthritis then that should have been the first thing they checked.

Haven't heard from Gwyneth for a few days and Keith's trip has gone incredibly well. I expect Gwyn will have stocked up again, she had mentioned that more snow was coming.

We had our first real snowfall last night, but again we dodged the bullet, all around got several inches and we got about an inch but nasty black ice is underneath it.

all for now, I'm having potato and leak soup for lunch and the youngest daughter is coming to share it so off I go.

Veronica

Still raining here and more high winds. Usually the neighbours patio roof manages to sail into our yard but so far it is staying in place....thank goodness. I am always concerned that it will fly thru the kitchen window.
On Friday last week I spent an afternoon cuddling and dancing with Audrey (a year old). She loves to dance with me and we snuggle and giggle....but she had the sniffles. Well now I have a full blown cold probably the first in maybe 3 years, so I am a tad grumpy!!
Managed to get all the cards sent, snail and email, the tree looks lovely, now only the pressies to wrap, the house to clean, the baking to be done...oh! it just goes on and on.
Mary pleased to hear about John. It will be less stress for you as well. Too bad these things sometimes take so long to sort out.
Short and sweet today my loverlies, places to go etc.
Haven't hear from JA or Christine for a long time. Hope they are OK.
Lesxx

Morning all, The crazy weather continues I see. Les, hope you can stay afloat with all your water, we are still undercover(lots of sweaters) etc. for the cold.
Fred, is between storms it seems but gearing up for whatever is next!!!
Went to my last Christmas party last night. D.I.L from Thunder Bay came up for the company she works for and as my son was in the north, I was her "escort". Lovely meal and loads of fun. Prizes like I have never seen
Many Ipads being given away!!! Most of the kids got I pods Wow.
My luck continued and so I won none of the above.
Had a great time tho' so won't complain.
Happy to hear of John's results Mary. It will make life much easier for you both.
Time to get some housework done so will get on with it.
Back soon. Edith XXX

Hi Edith ,we went out yesterday morning ,found our big piece of corning beef ,and a cut price large gammon ,joint ,topped up our veggie store and came home well satisfied.
I made up the pickling brine in the afternoon ,and got the beef into it late last night,and put all the veggies in the greenhouse [cooler you can't get .he he.
This morning it started to snow at 8 am ,and has continued off and on all morning ,into the forenoon,so it would seem we did the right thing in stocking up when we did.
Made a nice red Thia curry for the dinner ,and a nice batch of celery soup for tea,and now ,finishing up on the puter before battening down the hatches,before the snow starts in ernest .
Back later [i hope] lol.
Edith ,NO swearing on this thread please ,HOUSEWORK? ,Phoeeeeey .he he Fred.xxxx

Well the pressies are wrapped, the tree is wonderful and my daughter is baking the cookies....yea!! We are getting there. Meanwhile Bella has discovered the joy of sleeping on the white fluffy stuff UNDER the christmas tree. It amazing how she can wiggle in there and not even disturb the ornaments. I will try and catch of pic of her....silly girl!!
My cold still lingers, maybe by tomorrow it will be better. Think I may resort to some Vicks today....that should help. Most of the day I look quite attractive with a great wodge of Ponds cold cream surrounding my nose!!
Norm made potato latkes last night...naughty but oh! so nice. He makes the traditional jewish ones....so yummy.
Today I may attempt a little housework but like Fred says....wouldn't want to swear too much.
Later, Lesxx

Sorry Fred, I had no other course, after all the "do's" I have been to my poor apt. was very neglected. Also the dust bunnies were having far too much fun, multipying far too quickly. Mass slaughter with a swiffer was the only answer.
They are now under control and the dreaded word will not be repeated!!!!
Thank you for the lovely card.
It sounds as tho' you have everything ready for the holidays.
Off to do a bit of shopping bye for now. Edith XXXXX

Morning all ,looks like OUR heavy snow won't be arriving until the weekend ,so i may slip out later this morning to top the car right up before it sets in.
After the email i got yesterday regarding Starbucks snub to all the troops from all countries involved in the Iraq, Afgan wars ,and their very shoddy treatment of the survivors of the 7/11 outrage of the Twin towers [they ,Starbucks actually charged the fire and rescue services for water to take to shocked and injured survivors] i am asking all you peeps on genes to boycott Starbucks until they change their attitude.
I will never go in one of their outlets again for anything ,even piddle on them if the joint catches fire.
Well ,it looks as though Edith is bunkered down for the festive season,someone else who is well organised ,lol.
The Celery soup was ace ,with enough left for tonights tea ,so simple and quick to make ,just a dash of fresh chopped Corriander [optional] salt ,pepper ,ten sticks of celery ,and a medium onion, couldn't be simpler.
be back later when i thaw Hissy out ,he he,she has come in ,poor mite ,shivering ,and jumped straight onto my lap in front of the fire ,so normal service will have to resume later.Fred.xxxx P S any chance of that potato dish recipe Les ?

Morning all From gardener Fred who has just about thawed out from yesterdays outside work in the freezin' cold lol.
it was too good to miss folks ,the ground frozen solid from the heavy frosts ,but as yet snow free ,so i thought ,yeah ,get on with it fella ,so ,on with the winter clothing ,like an Eskisnow ,to pairs of socks on ,feet stuffed into the wellies ,and two pairs of mitts,out in the front garden ,towing the garden waste bin behind me.
People from over the road ,looking at me out there ,shaking their heads,but with huge grins on their faces ,as i pruned the roses ,and decimated the snow ruined young Willow ,leaving only the trunk to rip out when the ground thaws.
Then into the back garden ,more roses pruned ,leaves picked off the veggie haulms,again leaving the stalks until the thaw,and came back indoors ,frozen to the marrow ,he he ,but satisfied ,and another job done.
Into a warm bath that the darling wife had run for me ,and soaked for a good half an hour before redressing ,and getting the tea ,a nice warming country broth that the missus makes so well ,before settling down to watch a film.
Thanks for the recipes ,Les ,both will be tried out in the next fortnight,and both sounding rather scrummy.
Just in time too ,my new electric frying pan ,cum rice dish ,curry dish cooker being put to first use ,he he,it shopuld be nice and simple to use [he says hopefully].
Just got the garden done in time ,as it turns out ,the third band of snow is heading our way ,after the second band hit the west and south us missing it,so ,no complaints.
Liz can't go outdoors while it is so cold ,because it knocks her for six,so when i go shopping i now leave her in the warm ,hmmmmm ,looks like our jaunts now have to be after March ,and before November when the heavy frosts come back again,but ,no matter ,we can't have it all ways.
Dinner ,today is a practice for next week ,Turkey breast,brussels ,carrot,and potatos [baked] stuffing ,and a nice onion gravy,just right for the two of us.
Have to go and get it started,but will be back later God willing ,look after yourselves all ,stay safe ,and warm.Fred.xxxx

Good morning Fred, and all the others.
Welcome to the world of snow, talking to friend in London and they are not too amused with the snow there. As usual Fred nothing keeps you down for long. Did you make a Snowman too???That would surely send the neighbours into a spin hee hee.
Seems a lot of the world is affected by the nasty weather, watching folks in airports waiting. Home seems the best place to be right now.
A veg/beef soup is on my menu for to-day. Will make some baking powder biscuits to go with it, and make sure the others in the building have some as well.
There are 3 old "geezers" who do enjoy home made soup hee hee.
Time for my breakfast so will see you all later.
Edith XXXXXXX

Good Evening All,

Hope you had a nice breakfast Edith - I'm just about to have supper.
The weather is beautiful here - little sister who is across from the UK is lapping it up. It's doing her arthritis a world of good - nearly 50 degrees difference between here and the UK.
Must go and have supper and then bed - only 7 hours until I get up for work.
Best wishes to eveyone.

Ian

Edith, you must have read my mind or me yours, I am just about to get a pot of beef and veggies on the go. Actually as I write, I think I will braise the meat with tomatoes and onions, then mashed spuds...very comfort food! I made mexican food last nite complete with salsa chicken, mexi rice and refried beans.
Fred, you take it easy out in all that snow, get inside and keep warm. I have an order from Tesco's going to my Dad on Monday, I wonder if they will be able to deliver it OK...he is in Huddersfield.
We have some sun today but hopefully that doesn't mean it will get colder. They did call for snow but we are hoping not, so that our kids can get here safely and then get home safely.
Well I have decided to go for the gusto with these aprons of mine. I am thinking I may reorganize the upstairs space and set myself up, up there out of everyone's way. It is a bit cold up there as the heat from the woodstove doesn't rise that far (2 floors) so I would have to have a heater of some sort...however I think it will all work out well.....new year project!! I ordered some fabric online today and some bead trims....so will be good to go.
Have a good day, you lot.
Lesxx
Les

Good morning all, Finally ready for the next few days. Have had 3 very grey days but hopefully the sun will show up to-day.
Gifts are wrapped and under the tree and all the other stuff ready too.!!
Seems things are a bit better in Britain, my cousin says the snow has mostly gone where they are so she is a hap[py bunny for now.
I guess you are still under snow Fred and Liz??
Crazy weather all over the world really !!!!
Happy Christmas to everyone,
Blessings for a safe and happy New Year.
Edith XXXXXX