General Chat

Mother's Day here today ......... and a bit of different one for us. We don't do anything special now ..... as OH says "I'm not his mother!!"

BUT ...............

Our power went out at 11:30 am this morning (Sunday) ....... we had high winds overnight, and we obviously had a very short power outage at some point as 3 of the clocks in the house (2 radio alarms and the microwave) were flashing when I woke up this morning, but other clocks (including the oven one) were all working OK. That was very strange, because usually they all go out. The strangest was that we have 2 radio alarms on the same fuse circuit .......... one went out, the other was working. :-0

I heard on the radio that 2,000 homes were without power in our area as a tree had been blown down on to power lines.

Then ours went out ........ first estimate of getting it back was 4:00 pm. So we went ahead with our plans for dinner ........ got the lamb roast out of the freezer to thaw. We reconsidered when it was still off at 4:30 pm, and decided to BBQ, charcoal bbq, first time this season ......... meant OH had to find everything in the basement, using only a torch to see (only have small windows down there).

Then to the store to buy fresh meat to bbq, and get fire starters.

The power was back on when we entered the house at about 5:15 pm ........... but only just back because my computer was still in its turning on phase. I'd been using it when the power went off, but fortunately had just saved everything.

We had a lovely dinner of BBQ'd pork chops and salad ........... roast lambs, nugget potatoes and veggies tomorrow night:-D


It was the phone that got us ............. we don't have cell phones. The phone I have upstairs is a mobile on a base, and we have a landline still connected in the basement.

The mobile of course was useless. OH brought the landline phone upstairs and plugged it into the one and only phone jack upstairs ...... in the bedroom. The cord wasn't long enough to reach this room ..................

Daughter phoned and said the phone rang 12 times before OH finally heard it and answered. She was wondering what was wrong ............ no answer, didn't go to the answer machine, and "Mum knew she'd be calling".

It's Mother's Day here and "she'd promised" :-D

Sallie so pleased that Alun's op is over, now we need to hear that he is recovering well as I am sure he will.
I hope that Christi's problem turns out to be nothing major and that she is soon better too.

Sylvia yes, we are all thinking about the poor people affected by the horrendous fires. Awful to lose everything but good that so many have escaped with their lives.

Oh my goodness Sylvia, I have seen the devastation over there, caused by the fires. The flames in some of the bits they showed were horrendous, it must be frightening for the people trying to escape.
I do hope and pray they can get it under control soon, whats needed is a heavy downpour to alleviate the situation a little.
Those poor people have lost their homes and all their belongings, and have nothing to go back to.
Thank the lord you are in a safe area my love.

Sallie my darling girl, thank goodness that Alun is in the road to recovery. But what a shock about Christie, hopefully she will have good results, and it's something that can be easily sorted out for her.
If she had had a mini stroke it should have shown up in blood tests, so fingers crossed that it was just an infection or something simple. Did they give her any medication to take my love ?
Stay strong sweetheart, Alun will soon be home with you. xxx

Good to hear that Alun's operation went well. xxx

All best wishes to you all.

And hope Christie's test are all positive.

Hi girls,

Hope you are all okay. Things have been a bit stressful here over the last couple of weeks,with one thing and another.

Christie was in work on Wednesday morning when she fell ill, so they sent for an ambulance that took her to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, where they thought that she had suffered a mini stroke. They sent Richard a message at work to let him know, so he went to the hospital. They did quite a few tests, by which time she started to feel better, so they told her that she could go home, but she had to go for an MRI scan this morning, both her and Richard were at the hospital from 9.00 am until 1.45 p.m. She will receive the results in a few weeks time.

Alun, received a phone call from the hospital on Wednesday afternoon, to confirm that he had his pre op the following day( Thursday ) and that he was having his operation the following day, which was today(Friday).

So he is in hospital and he had his operation this morning, which went well, and is now in icu,and according to the doctor and the nurse monerating him, he is going along well. Although he was still sedated ,he was starting to respond to our voices around the bed. He has started opening his eyes, squeezing both Jennie's and my hands and wriggling his toes, so hope he will be more alert tomorrow when we visit him again.

Richard and Christie came up this evening until Sunday, so that they can visit him. We didn't mention it to Alun, we thought it will be a nice surprise for him when they go and see him tomorrow.

Just hope that he will continue to improve each day now, so that he will not have to stay in too long.

I hope you are all okay, I haven't had a chance to read back,but hope I can get the time over the weekend.

Take care everyone.

Love and best wishes to you all,

Sallie. xxx <3 <3 <3 <3

Hi everyone


We're having lovely weather here. Gave in, and now have my summer clothes out of storage .......... don't usually do it this early, but then we don't often get 25C temperatures in April and early May!

Mo .............. don't worry, I always keep a couple of long sleeved turtlenecks out in case it turns cold, or we go for a little holiday in the mountains.


The fires in Alberta are terrible, and there are more in northeastern BC that are causing great concern .......... one has just crossed into Alberta, and BC fire fighters will continue to fight it in that province. Firefighters don't usually cross provincial borders unless they have been specifically asked to do so ....... but the Albertans have their hands full with Fort McMurray.

That's not to say that BC fire people are not busy .......... we have so many fires in this province that we couldn't lend people to help out there.

The latest news (literally just listening to it on the radio) is that the Alaska Highway has been closed in north-eastern BC, and 1000 people are under mandatory evacuation orders. That's caused by a separate fire from the one that has crossed into western Alberta.

It's bad, and likely to get even worse .......... there are bone dry conditions, and high temperatures, causing high to extreme fire risks in all the provinces west of Ontario, and moderate to high conditions from Ontario east to New Brunswick.

El Nino once again :-(


But don't worry about me ................. we're on the coast in the southern part of BC, nowhere near the extreme danger areas.

There are a few members of GR in BC and Alberta ....... but none, I think, in the danger areas.


We buried our friend's ashes with her husband's yesterday afternoon. Just 4 people there, a glorious sunny day, we were very quiet but had a few laughs. Nothing "service-y" about it, as she had forbidden that!


Sunday is Mother's Day over here :-(



Take care everyone

Lol Mo, yes lots of sea food, and 'see food and eat it' too!

A few photos of Madeira on the photo blog, not really got time to put more on at the moment but will do in a couple of weeks (I took over 600!)

Ann, you were very good only putting on one pound, all that lovely food that you HAD to eat. LOL
Such a nuisance being held up at the airport though.It's a good job your daughter was prepared, otherwise you could have had an emergency on your hands.
When we go away, we make sure we take something for Roly, just in case it's needed.
Don't talk about the washing, good grief, how could the two of us make as much washing as we did, when we were only away for the four days.

Sylvia, don't get to many summer clothes out just yet, it would be just your luck for the weather to worsen as soon as you did.
6 to 12 months is quite a long time to wait for your endoscopy, but lets hope they fit you in pretty soon. No matter how much people say to us "Don't worry about it, it will be fine" worry still does creep in. At least you have a good specialist, who you know and trust, not like us here, we have to take pot luck, and could well up with the butchers mate, instead of the butcher himself. LOL

If our weather forecasters are correct, they seem to believe that our temperatures should be up to the early 20c by the weekend. Perhaps I will leave my liberty bodice off for a change.
Take care girls, hugs to you all, Mo xxx

Hi all, just to say we got home at 10.45 last night, roads very busy but thankfully no rain. Tired today but lots to do before the weekend. First wash load in. Holiday was good, liked madeira a lot and ,despite all the eating only put on a pound (all those hills I guess).

Airport was horrific due to early morning winds that meant some couldn't land. several flights, including all easy Jet flights were cancelled. we had to wait in the downstairs part, couldn't go to departures/security until our flight landed which was difficult, hundreds of people and not able to get food, which daughter needed being diabetic2. Luckily she always carried emergency food. Jet2, we couldn't fault, aborted first landing so was a bit late landing but took off more or less on time and landed Manchester on time. Now gearing up for the next one, better get some toast (no cooked breakie this morning!). :-D :-D

Hi all ..............


the weather has been so good here that I am seriously thinking of changing all my winter clothes into summer :-0 I did go downstairs and pull half-a-dozen short-sleeved tops out of one of the boxes 2 weeks ago because it was so hot back then.

It seems really strange to be doing this os early in the year ................. "ne'er cast a clout fore May be out", as my mother and grandmother always used to say!!!


Sallie ........... the wedding sounds lovely, and Christie's dress sounds beautiful. I am so glad that all went well.


All is well here .......... I do eventually have to have an endoscopy (camera down the throat), but it's a 6-12 month wait as I asked to go to a guy who turns out to be one of the top men in Vancouver. OH has been going to him since he had his bout with colon cancer back in 2005, so we trust him ........... that's why I asked to see him. I take the wait to mean that they are not worried, and that I am not a crit8ical case .................. so I refuse to worry!


Sallie ....... hope that all goes well for Alun on the 5th and then the 11th xxx


Huia ..... glad that you navigated to the church OK. Funerals have always been the place for family to meet up .............. they uses to be classified as good, bad or indifferent based on the amount and type of after refreshments / dinners / lunches provided. That was both back home in Lancashire for me and for OH in Yorkshire and Cheshire

I remember hearing people say ........ "eee, he had a reet good send-of. There were a reet good ham salad at t'lunch" :-D

It's always the same isn't it Huia, we seem to only meet our relations, at either weddings or funerals, and sometimes christenings.
You are brave using a map, we use our satnav if going somewhere strange to us. Mind you, even that has got us lost before now, so perhaps you have the right idea love.

We have had a simply glorious day today, bright sunshine and temperatures up to 19c, now that's quite warm for this country, considering how wet and cold it was last week.

We were thinking about going down the coast tomorrow, but we shall wait and see what it's like in the morning.

See you all later girls, love and hugs, Mo xxx

Good evening to you all.

It took me an hour to get to the church for the funeral yesterday as I had to keep stopping to look at the map with a magnifier to make sure I hadnt missed it, but I got there with time to spare. The cousin who died was a bachelor. He had been very shy all his life, lived with his parents until he was 40, but when he moved to Auckland he attended the church and took part - albeit silently - in some of their activities. One of our other cousins lived nearby so she kept an eye on him, and I learnt he had another cousin via his mother's sister. So there were 5 of his cousins there, along with quite a few younger ones. It was a nice family gathering. Seems to be one of the few occasions we meet up these days.

Hello my lovelies, tis me the nuisance, back to annoy you all again. lol

Sallie, it's lovely to hear that the wedding went well, and that you enjoyed yourselves.
The bride and grooms outfits sound wonderful, and matched each other. Did they have any bridesmaids ?
Thank goodness Aluns appointment has arrived, bless him he will soon be on the road to recovery love.
I daresay, that helping your cousin packing, helped to ease your mind from other problems a little, like the wedding preparations etc.

Our holiday went well for a change, it was rather blowy, but at least it was dry for once, and we didn't have to come back early.
The caravan was really nice, and had central heating as well as a gas fire. And believe me we needed both on first thing of a morning, it was rather chilly willy.

See you all later, take care dear friends, Mo xxx

The wedding sounds lovely, so glad everything went well for one and all, I look forward to seeing the pics.
it will be good to get Aluns hospital visit over and done with, he will be fine I am sure..
I have to see my doctors shortly to have my ears syringed, I have to have new aids, but ears must be clear for them to fit new ones...
and also we need to have our eyes tested, its all go go go. ;-) ;-) ;-)

I have put the card making on hold for a while, so I am going to do some die cutting and do some stencilling,its a long time since I did any...

J has brought the rest of my scrapbooks from our old house, my carers love looking at them and all the memories come flooding back :-D :-D :-D :-D

my laptop seems to have righted itself so thats good news...

tea and toast has just arrived so see you later, take care

love Jean xx <3 <3

Hello girls,

Jean, yes thank you I enjoyed the few days in North Wales with my cousin, although it was a break from being at home with the family, I was very busy helping her to sort out and pack glasses and china ready for her move to Chichester next Thursday. I shall miss seeing her as often as we have been able to, with her living further away from us from next week.

Thank you all for your lovely thoughts about Christie's nan, I have passed them on to Christie and Richard, they said thank you, and they are much appreciated.

We all had a lovely few days in Hailsham, for the wedding. It all went well, thank goodness, and we all made a special extra effort to make it a happy occasion for Christie and Richard. Christie made a beautiful bride, she wore a white lace dress to just below the knee with a navy blue sash tied into a a lovely bow at the back, and she wore white roses in her hair. Richard's suit was navy blue,he wore a white shirt with a light blue and navy paisley tie.

Instead of having a DJ, they hired a juke box with all the songs and music they wanted, so we all danced ( well mostly the women) to a good selection of the music they had chosen.

Richard and Christie spent their wedding night in the wedding cottage in the grounds of the venue, and they invited all of us to have breakfast with them on Monday morning,before we all started our different ways home.
When we get some some photos we will try and put them on your photo blog Ann, if that is possible.


When we arrived home there was a letter waiting for Alun, letting him know that he has to go for his pre op assessment next Thursday 5th May, and has to go into hospital by 4 p.m. on Tuesday the 10th of May and has his operation the next day, the 11th.
I shall be glad when it is done, but also dreading it.


Huia, hope you had a safe journey to your cousin's funeral and that it all went well. Sending you my condolences.


Mo, hope you and Roly are enjoyong your time away and that the weather is okay.


Sylvia, hope that both you and your OH are both going along okay, and that all is well with your family.

Will speak to you all again soon.

Take care everyone.


Love and best wishes to you all and your families. Sallie.xxx <3 <3 <3

Hello ladies. We are slipping off page one. I am off out soon to get the WOF for the car. Tomorrow (Saturday) I will have to be up early to find my way to Mt Albert for my oldest cousin's funeral. I hope there are not too many roadworks/accidents on the motorway.

Hello everyone, Iing to get on line for ages, now D tells me that I need a new laptop,
so I will have to count the pennies and see whats on offer, Cant do without a laptop
Sallie me love, hope you had a noce break and are coninuing to get better each day,

Sylvia, I wonder if you have been on your planned trip, or have I missed it...
hope it wasnt to upsetting for you...

Dash it the b****y thing is playing up again I am about hurl it through the window :-| :-| :

so see you when I can . take care , love Jean xxx <3

nice to hear from you Sallie. Enjoy your visit with your cousin. xxx

we're off to the Island for a couple of days next week ............. principally to pick up our friend's ashes from the one who picked them up from the crem. Hopefully, we'll get them in the ground in the next 3-4 weeks.

But we will also see other friends while we are there.

How lovely to hear from you Sallie.
We are all thinking of you darling,just enjoy your time in Wales with your cousin, and know that we wait to hear of your fun times with her.

Speak to you all very soon girls, love and hugs Mo xxx

Sallie, enjoy your time with your cousin and return home refreshed. I am sure it doesn't help the situation to have Alun's operation hanging over you.

I am pleased that Christie is to have photos of her grandparents at the reception

While being aware of your mental health problems, focus on the fact that you are having treatment that is making you better. I read today that depression is like a large cloud. Imagine a cloud that comes down over a mountain. Then, before long the cloud lifts again and you can see the mountain is still there. The mountain is your life, it will still be there when the cloud lifts. You have to brlieve that. We do! <3 <3 <3