General Chat

Bridget, I hope that you are feeling rested.
I think that it is positive news that your daughter is eager to see you. I hope that you are able to work something out.

Gosh, the boiler going like that must have been scary, not to mention dangerous. At least you hsve noe got it sorted.

I often have emails ststing that my bank account has had an "unauthorised transaction" or words to that effect.

Most of the time it is supposidly coming from a bank that I don't deal with, i.e. I am NOT their customer! So I know it is a scam. Once in a while, they hit lucky and send it "from my bank" As my bank does NOT have my email address, I know that these too are a scam.

I ignore them completly, they are in my Junk Folder and will eventually disappear.

Also have phone calls from people stating that they are phoning on behalf of my provider and they have got the solution to my internet connection being slow.

This is another scam!!!
Do not go on line and do as they instruct, they are theives.

I am pleased that your OH has had contact from his real bank and has been reassured by thm.

Another warm day here, on leap day (around 52 degrees f.

Had my second head massage yesterday, not able to complete it all as I had on of my nausia (sp) and weakness turns. Only missed a few minutes of the massage though, the young girl looked after me very well, to make sure that I soon felt better.


Feeling a bit better today, am off to get the photo copies of the death certs (at last).

One of them is for my great uncle who died at the end of 1918, aged 38, with the 'flu.
It is his descendants that I am trying to contact.

Mary in Spain, that IS expensive, trying to get back to your Mum in the UK.
My nephew, who went to watch Stoke play Valencia, last Thursday, went with a Stoke Supporters Club.

Eveything was laid on. They just had to get to the Stoke Griund (Brittania Stadium) where they caught a coach to Manachester airport. From there, a chartered flight to Valencia, and then a coach to the town/stadium. Made everything very easy for them
He got back home at 3am on Friday morning, So rather tired. But he loved everything (except the result).

Tess
Have a great time when you get here.

Good afternoon all
Well it has been ages since I contributed and I do feel guilty. Our weather has improved so much and is so much warmer - but not much rain to speak of so I am sure we will pay for this. The winter has been so dry which is most unusual. I cleaned my windows last week so I am expecting a downpour !!
We have booked a trip to UK for May - wanted to go over for my mom's 89th birthday - as a surprise - but a week ago she told me my sister - who she lives with - had booked a weeks holiday 19th May - so I rethought and have booked for 18th to 23rd May so she will only have a few days to look after herself instead of the week. I looked at flights from Alicante to Exeter and nearly fell off my chair over 500 pounds for the two of us. Eventually managed to find one to Bristol with Ryanair - cheap and cheerful - which cost 220 euros for the two of us. Mind you then the cost of hiring a car pushed that up by another 100 pounds but heyho it will be great to see my mom again.
Well hubby will be home soon for lunch so must go and heat up homemade soup.
Will try and contribute more than I have been. Hope you are all ok
Take care
Love Mary xx

What a lovely lot of messages to read through and I hope that you are all well.

We have been having a horrible time followed by a good time!
Money has been flowing out at a speed which is to be recommended!

Our main hot water boiler died, not gently with some warning, oh no, that would have been easy....no we suddenly saw water coming out of the veg and bits and pieces room..hot hot water which within a few seconds was flowing across the kitchen and very hot! Thank goodness OH was here!
He managed to get into the room whilst I took everything I could move into the kitchen. He closed off the water and then removed the screws and lifted the 100 litre boiler down onto the floor....
Fortunately we had managed to deal with much of the water before then! Plus whist it was technically for 100 litres the scaling which had developed and was very thick
.
Of we went to buy another...what a shock the cost was!! €1000.00for one the same size as that which had died. We bought a 50 litre instead and eventually with help from friends everything turned back to normal......total
time from start to finish was about Six hours.

Then OH had an email saying that 999.00euros had been taken out of his bank.....we had not authourised that this money could be taken out......two calls to the the bank, in India we gave up. An hour later we had a call to say
that there had not been any transitions and the message was someone trying to gain access to the bank from overseas, Africa!!!
Not sure what to say about such people.

Have decided not to go back to the UK for two weeks to see my new granddaughter and my other grandchildren, the cost for flights, care hire, etc is just to much
I told my son and his wife who fully understood and we are going to Skype each other on alternate days. I then told my daughter who is dissapponted
and then she called me back to suggest that I looked for two short visits,
Thursday to Sundy for example then car higher,travelling costs across the country etc would not be necessary......so I will try this for early April

Well I have now run out of time....sorry about the rambling. If I have made spelling errors I apologise in advance!

Best wishes to you all

Bridget

Meant to go up the road to photocopy a couple of death certs. to send to cousins.

Also should have given the kitchen a good clean.

However the "Jelly Legs" came back, so just given the kitchen a quick tidy.

Tomorrow I am off to town again to have the second of my Indian Head Massages. If I get two buses I can sit down for most of the journey, i.e just a very short walk to the bus stop, and there is a shelter with seats. So I should be ok.

My nephew, (by marriage) went to see Stoke play in Valencia last week, he was very impressed with the stadium, says it is much better than Wembley.

I will be phoning my (ex)sister-in-law up later this week for a full report.
(Only heard about her sons thoughts, via a message board site).

Has been wet here today, but still great for febuary.

hope that you are all well,

Hi everyone

Have got medcal today for my benefits. I have found a way to get there without having to use stairs. There is no parking in the centre or anywhere near the place that i can see.

Going also to pick new glasses up be for i go. The later someone is taking me to pick new laptop up :-D So will enjoy playing with that tonight.

Hope all are ok.I am hoping if i am up to it tomorrow to go to the TNA at Kew. As helping 2 people with they tree and they have ask me to carry on working on it for them.So hope body wants to work so i can go.

Not so nice here this morning cloudy and they siad rain, :-(

Hope you all enjoy your day.

Hazelx

A mild sunny day today (Sunday) here in the West Midlands, England. Have had washing out on the line again, lovely.

Also been working on my tree, as at last have been able to get some more info. from 1911 Census.

Haven't heard from my second cousin once removed (member of GR) yet, been nearly two weeks.

I know that isn't very long, but have now found contact details from a second cousin, who put them in her local magazine.

May well email her in the week if I haven't had a reply.


Also managed to do a little vaccing today, so quite pleased with myself.

Ann the question master was really good, he spoke clearly and slowly, repeated each question, and told us to ask him to ask the question again if we hadn't heard.
This was probably because most of the people taking part were in their seventies. A lot of them wearing hearing aids.


Will be back soon, hope that you are all well.

Here in Oz, we have had the wettest February in many years. Only yesterday, we had a shower-free day and a top of 31c. To-day is expected to be fine and 27. That's more like the last month of Summer - but a bit late! Yes, I agree that over 27 is too hot (and we had many days around 40 last year). Our Spring and Autumn are much nicer. However, last winter, we were waiting for the heavy rain and it didn't happen. In fact, we had a very mild winter, so we don't know what to expect when it comes around again this year.

When I don't hear a question properly (under any circunstances, not only quizzes) but think I have heard what is said, I often get funny looks when I give an answer.

(To a completly different question than the one asked)

My comeback is "Right answer, wrong question!"

Tess, yes lovely to be able to hang the washing out and it all smells lovely.

You did well in the quiz. I don't enjoy quizzes, mainly because with my hearing I often miss questions which is not a lot of help.

You have had a busy week. And I have got everything crossed for a reply for you.

Ann, You have tired me out just reading about all the things you have done today.
But isn't it lovely having the right weather to hang the washing on the line.
I love the smell of washing that has been dried this way. (I use a non-perfumed laundry liquid and don't use a Com- - - t type thing.)

Last Saturday (my mums anniversary) turned out ok. I had forgotton when I wrote on here about it last week, that I was going on a Quiz Night with my sister and brother-in-law (Organised by the choir he belongs to).

The evening started with a fish and chip supper. Then the quiz. Our team (the fives and threes) answered most of the questions, we came fourth, six and a half points behind the winners. So came away feeling quite pleased with ourselves.

On Tuesday I went into the town (Birmingham) called in at the Library, to return books and get some new ones, including two for the readers group.
Then went to the local college and had the first of three Indian Head Massages (Special Deal - three for the price of two , only £14).

Thursday, went shopping with the Ring and Ride (special bus).
After all this activity I was rather tired yedterday pm and today.
Pretty sure I will be more up to the mark tomorrow.

It has been quite warm here, with some rain, so weather is brightening up at the moment, just hope it continues.

Have also been working on my tree, after finding new info.
Have sent message to a genes member, who I believe is the daughter of my second cousin.
Haven't had a reply as yrt, so please cross your fingers (or antthing else) for me.


Gerard, although not a church goer anymore, I well remember the inside of a church during Lent. Followed, of course by the wonderful Easter Sunday, with its profussion of flowers, and all ststues pictures etc. uncovered. Well done to your other half.

Green fingers, thank you for your good wishes. I am sure that your thoughts have helped.

Tess
:-) :-) :-) (now with a smile)

Hello All, well done Gerard to your OH for extending her hours.

I have had a busy day today doing the dreade H*******k.
OH has cut the lawn and tidied and weeded the garden, I have cleaned the bathroom, lounge, bedrooms, changed bed etc and had a line of sheets out in the windy sun. Black cloud loomed though so I rushed out and brought them in, nearly dry. Gone very cold.. Oh, also bought 10 fuchsia tots and 10 surfinia Petunias this morning ready for the hanging baskets. It makes me feel as though Spring is on the way even if it will be a month or so yet. At least we are nearly at the end of february. Lots of spring flowers out in the garden anyway, crocus, Dutch Iris, Helebores, pansies, primulas, daffodils and the Mahonia bush is in full flower. :-) :-)

Sorry I haven't been on for ages - but I have been reading all the threads. I am so pleased that Genes have relented and given me my old tree back - I can get my names on so much quicker now.

I am writing this from London on a beautiful, if chilly, February day.

Well OH has got work for another two hours every day - that makes 30 a week - and she is finally free from the Jobcentre. I am really proud of her. She is going to need a rest in the afternoons, but I will make sure she gets that.

Things are looking up all round - I am feeling optimistic this week.

Trust every one is well - I look forward to reading more good news about new babies and the like.

Prayers will be said and candles will be lit = Lent is upon us and the Church looks bleak with no flowers and bare with the Lenten array covering the altar, the rood and all the pictures - but Easter will arrive soon and all will be on view again - something to look forward to.

Lots of Love
Gerard
<3 :-) <3 :-) <3

hi everyone,
I am tired but ok. Will be back tomorrow


Tess :-)

It was a balmy 19o C here today in sunny Norfolk ! It was warmer than some of the summer we had last year............!!!

Finally finished decorating our conservatory, just a few tweaks now with putting stuff back. Have also been under the eaves in our attic room, getting rid of a load of rubbish. Only two more cupboard to go !!!!!!!!!! Very cathartic, getting things sorted...no more hoarding.......will recycle loads and give some to charity shops.


Bliss can be an empty cupboard I have decided !

Keep well everyone X

Hello to you all and my apologies for not being on here recently. I have felt very tired some days and rather lethargic, so took my own advice and did just what I could and triied not to worry. Feeling much better now.
I had a Skype meeting with my new grandchild earlier this evening,,,she has gained weight and is now nearly 7 lbs. She certainly likes her food and whilst bot=h parents look very tired they also look very happy.

I will say an extra Prayer for all of you who are sad, or feeling down for one reason on another. Must say that my prayers are not always those you might think as quite often I get a bit cross with my person and I feel comfortable they were very clear to be able to do so...Must be that Convent that I went to and the Priest we had...the Jesuits!

At last we have some warm weather in fact we did not have to wera heavy coats when we went to the shops and that was very uplifting.
Well I am going back to the sitting room now as there is a coffee waiting for me so Bye Bye for now
Bridget

Oh Tess, so sorry to read that you are down, sorry too that I haven't been on here for a few days. Been decorating..

I am sure though that you have lots of lovely memories of your Mum, and those are very special, and yours alone. It is 11 years this year since my son died, and I miss him every day,, but I cherish deep inside me all those memories , that we alone shared. I sorted out his photos finally the other day, and kept the ones that really mean something to me....I only got tearful over one photo, and that was because it was a particularly poignant.

Do hope you are feeling better now ...hug down the line X

Oh everyone I have been so busy, sorry I have not been on here but will be late afternoon as we are just about to go out
Bridget

I am a little down at the moment. My usual (very) low energy plus depression and anxiety plus tomorrow will be the ninthe anniversary of my Mum's death.

She died while I was on a "holiday of a lifetime" with my brother.

My Dad had been in the army, one of the places we lived in as children was Malaysia. I was making my fist trip there since we left in 1960.

Was looking at many of the places we knew, plus met some old friends and neighbours. I was longing to get home to tell her all about it...

Except we got a phone message (while in Penang) to say that she was very ill and likely to die.
She died before we got home.
So I was never able to say good-bye ot to tell her about all the things I saw, (and smelt and heard and ate).

I had been longing to say "do you remember ....." about an awful lot of things. It just didn't happen.


A long time ago on this thread Bridget (or Ann) suggested we write about our "Holiday of a Lifetime" well my dream holiday of a lifetie would have been to go on this holiday with my Mum (as well as my brother).
She could have experienced all these things for herself. I know she would have loved it.

Sorry I am so miserable, just needed to talk to someone.

Tess

The current trend here in Oz, is to have a gas cooktop and electric oven. When my previous home was built, the area was new and didn't have gas, so there was no choice. Everything was electric. For the next (almost) fifty years, I always used electric stoves - even though gas was brought into the area. I had become so used to all-electric.
When I sold the home and moved here five years ago, I couldn't manage the gas stove top at all, and was scared I would gas myself - until my son followed the line of pipes and found that whoever installed the stove had failed to switch the gas ON!! There was only a tiny flicker of flame coming out of one jet and nothing from the others. Once he turned it ON - hey, presto!!

It must have been very scary when you heard the BANG!
How fortunate noone was in the kitchen at the time.

At least with mine, the heat part of the oven just stopped working (part-way through cooking a meal).
The light and fan are still working fine!