General Chat

Just showing the flag. Nothing much happening here but at least the temperature is beginning to move up to normal. Nice day coming up with clear blue sky and a possible 27. Not like what I hear from your side of the world. Hope you are all able to keep warm.

Cold outside today but lovely sunshine so was able to get out and fill all the bird feeders. OH put up the outside lights as well.

Then..... The Christmas tree lights which have been on the fully decorated tree for four days, blew and we can't find out why. They are quite old so will have to buy a new set, not sure quite how we will manage that.

Then, I am really not looking forward to our turkey now. We went To S********s because our T***o only had Bernard M Turkeys and I won't buy their meat. We only wanted a really small bird as we didn't want to freeze left overs or waste it and it cost the same for our small bird as a much larger one. OK I know that is not unusual with turkey. What I am now upset about is, having bought a taste the difference one, I have just read a tasting report in the DM and S's only scored 2 out of 10 for their turkey when cooked. I had initially said we'd go to Wai**** but our only one is a trek away so we didn't. They scored 9 out of 10 for theirs, all the rest were much lower except M&S who scored 8.

All I can hope for is it was their cooking!!! I shall have to try and jazz it up a bit because they said it was tasteless.

Yes I am also sorry to hear about the twins hope they will be OK.

Its perishing here, the wind chill factor is pretty bad, and its that penetrating cold.....BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR Sitting in front of a log fire and thats helping

Jan X

Good afternoon from rather chilly but sunny Spain. In fact just as I wrote that sentence OH lit the gas fire. It is very efficient.

Sorry to hear that the twins are back in hospital, I will say a special prayer just for them. It is so worrying when such young children are in hospital.

I am busy with my family tree both on GR and Ancestry, and have found some conflicting info. About 98 % is absolutely correct on Ancestry 10% isstillquite. a lot of people and places!

Hi Everyone

Havent read everyones notes.Just popping on here to have a rest of packing my things in boxes ready for Monday when they start decorateing my flat.Where i am putting everything i dont know.

Twins where rushed to hospital again 10.30pm Thursday night.Was told have to stay in but dont have any beds there,so may have to go to another hospital which could be anywhere in the coutry. Well they did find beds for them and went up to a ward at 9pm next night.So had been in A&E all that time.
Its all to do with this Bronchiolitis they have wrong with them I looked it up on google there is no treatment for it.They on oxygen and tube feed.Hope they get better soon and be home for christmas.

Had frost here this morning, Taking its time to go,sun is out but i dont get sun on my flat at all.So garden is still bit white.

Hope everyone is well if not here are some {{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}for those who need them.

Hazelx

Absolutely freezing here today.....the wind chill must be phenomenal...that wind is very very cold.

Hope everybody is keeping warm, glad you are better Bridget

Regards Jan

Thank you everyone for a) keeping the posts coming along and b) for your concerns re my migraine.
I have noted everything said and I think it may have been caused by some anxiety at not hearing from one of my sons, as it is he has just been busy and secondly I have eaten more chocolate than usual...just fancied it butI will go back to only eating it occasionally.
Feeling much better today.
My granddaughter was 12 yesterday and she sounded so excited at all her presents...I think we have spoilt her this year but those who read my thread about her will know why.
Had a nasty experience with the computers this morning but thanks to OH we have managed to save everything and added new protection....aren't some people awful with the way the hack into others emails etc and leave the most disgusting material, of course it is well nigh impossible to catch who they are but OH does know how to manage.

Well lunch is about to be served by OH but I may be back later.


:-) feeling better smile!

Good evening all. Good morning from me. It's supposed to be summer here, but apart from two very hot days about a week ago - nothing. We are back to weather usually known in late winter/early spring. Yesterday was our coldest December day in sixteen years. (Felt like it!). To-day forecast to be the same.

Bridget - I sympathise with you. I used to get migraines a lot when I was younger but only once since I went onto blood pressure tablets and began to wear glasses all the time. That 'once' was when I had not refilled my B.P. script. Since then, I rarely get a normal headache unless the humidity is high, I am over-tired or eat chocolate/cocoa. Don't ignore your headaches. Have a checkup.

Sorry to hear about your migraine Bridget...never had one myself, but my daughter is a sufferer and I know that it does to her...she has these new tablets which help..but a darkened room is the only real solution, hope you are back to normal soon. Ann you obviously had a good time out .....

Regards Jan

Sorry you have been not well Bridget, the migraine sounds nasty, especially coming on so suddenly and lasting so long. Have you been overdoing things do you think? Or eating something different? Anyway I hope that you feel better now and will soon be back to full health.

We have been away for the weekend to Bristol. We got home around 1pm, today, stopped at Cribbs Causeway outside Bristol for a couple of hours, could have stopped at Cadbury World as we do want to go there and we passed it today (came out of Bristol on a different road but wanted to get to cribbs before the car parks filled up.)

had a lovely break, hotel was very good and the weather stayed mostly fine although cold. Had a slight shower while shopping Sunday. South Pacific was OK, Not what we'd call a sparkling show and not one I would want to see again. Samantha Womack was really good as Nellie but I didn't much like the person who played Emille, I didn't warm to him as the character and didn't think his voice was right for the part - too deep and gravelly. The trouble is it was a great film and the stage show seemed to lack the scenery to make it atmospheric. Being a London production now out of tour we thought it was a bit lack lustre.

Shopping in Bristol was very good as well, a lot of people around and we went to a new restaurant on Saturday before the show called Za Za Bazaar. All you can eat, loads of different 'stations', Indian, Italian, English, Chinese, Burghersetc, Salad and sweets. Not cheap on a Saturday, apparently cheaper mid week. about £15.99 each plus wine (also not cheap), but a different experience and the food was mostly good. ate in the hotel last night and that was good too.

Hello,
Sorry that I have not been on here in the last few days. Felt out of sorts a few days ago and then was in the kitchen the day before yesterday, just doing the usual tidying when I suddenly had a really bad Migrain develop. Full on flashes of coulors and shapes, balance just disappeared and the top of my head was so tender but painful. OH helped me to the bed, and pulled the shutters down.........it lasted until yesterday late afternoon and still feeing weak today. I have not had a migraine this strong for a few years and had hoped that I would not have any more! Still feeling tired and lethargic.

Hope that you all have a good day

Bridget

Is everybody OK.....its been very quiet on here....have you got addicted to Line dancing Bridget...it is fun, but not something I can do now I have two hip replacements !!! It is good to try something new or different once in a while...its very cold here today...but bright so cannot complain too much.. Look forward to hearing what fun things you have all been up to....I don't think doing two lots of washing, making lasagne and individual tuna flans is very exciting

We had a really good Christmas Evening last night, very demanding, but everyone who came had a good time, the readers put their all into the emphasis and meanings...a few less than last year, but all round where we live there are more and more do's going on..We like to be pro-active as they say, and ensure that everyone who comes through the door gets a warm welcome . It doesn't take a lot to be pleasant to others... our church is known for this and it is a blessing that everyone gets on. We hope to build on a kitchen and loo in the very near future......it will be the first building work of a structural kind since the church was built in 1100 or thereabouts.

Its miserable here today, no sun, dull and overcast... typically December....my OH and I wrote out the Christmas cards today....so that is another job out of the way...Fence going up on 20th, not sure when the tree is coming down,,,,waiting to hear from tree surgeon.

Regards Jan

Good morning to you all.

I now do not sit outside on th verandah as it is far to cold, so here I am sitting in my favourite armchair, with my feet up on a matching stool, two big cushions behind me, still in nightwear , with long dressing gown and new slippers. Just finished my coffee, and Jet and Joe are gently snoring away on the favourite blankets.
Daylight is beginning to appear but with grey sky, yesterday was a crisp but sunny day.

Went shopping yesterday and check Bank balance and my frugal approach to using every item of food we can has really paid off.....yippee I now have a reasonable amount so if I stay frugal I may be able to save some more. Now by "frugal" I mean, hardly anything is thrown away or deposed of. So I shall continue to have that approach.
We bought lots of wine from" Lid.." which has some amazing offers at the moment, and a set of new saucepans. They are reasonably heavy but I can still lift them included in the pack were five saucepans, one steamer, with a separate lid, and a frying pan. Also a guarantee and full instruction if needed. All this for 68 euros. The others which were cheaper were not so good and there was one large heavy box which cost 350 euros, talk about from the sublime to the ridiculous.....and I did not recognise the manufacturer.

Tried out one saucepan last night when I made a curry, and no problem..so I am very happy, I cannot think of what else I need apart from a bigger Kitchen and that will not be happening!

Now I wonder what everyone else has been upto in the last couple of days.

We went line dancing for the first time, what fun we had, but have decided that we will go to the Monday sessions at lunch time so we can join the other two new people. I really do not know my right from my left.....

Well that is about all for now, I hope that you are all well and I am looking forward to reading your entries

Bridget

Unfortunately, Gerard, one sycamore coming down will not make a scrap of difference...we have a wood at the side of us and a village green which is edged with trees.....so zillions of leaves to clear up !!!!!!!!!! Its a thankless task at this time of the year....so now we are in officially winter whoopee !!!!!!!!!!! I hate the cold, the only up point is having an open fire and wearing pj.s !!!! We have our Christmas evening at our church tomorrow night, so will be busy all day, decorating the church with greenery, just like they used too. We have about 12 readings, funny and serious about Christmas and it is very popular, we also have seasonal refreshments....will report back how it went over the weekend
I am sure Bridge that you have made the right decision......sometimes it is better to sit back and wait to see what happens.

Keep warm regards Jan

Well would you believe it the first day of Advent - My tiny piece of Cadbury's Dairy Milk was devoured avidly!!! Well it's December, and the weather is still pleasant in London. Not a hint of frost, no cold wind, bet we are in for it later!!!!

Took OH to work as usual this morning, car still going, no worse than when I got it back, fingers crossed it will last a bit longer. I went into voluntary work this morning as an outside company was using the computer room, and I was on hand to help out in any emergencies, only for a couple of hours though.

Spent most of my day on Family Tree adding more names - getting out of hand 22,327 names to date, of course it never stops, unless you want it to, plenty of room to go back in the past and lots of unexplored families to explore.

We have bought all the ingredients for the Christmas cake, except the butter, soon be time to soak the fruit in brandy (hic!). Not sure whether to add icing or not (got the marzipan though!)

Off to an Advent discussion group later (with the church) - we are investigating Genesis and the creation and what it means to us today - this is the third week, and discussions have been very fruitful so far. Hoping to take OH to the Science Museum tomorrow, or perhaps a second visit to the V & A, whichever, either will be interesting.

Not sure if I will add to the thread further this week, if not, prayers and candles as usual, every one keep safe and warm (or cool if you are Berona!) and look after yourselves/

Gerard :-)

Good morning everyone from me, in a grey day in Spain. Not raining, not snowing, no sunshine so far but grey clouds as far as I can see. The occasional bird singing, the church clock just rang to let us know it is 08.30 hrs, Jet and Joe are still asleep and snoring away as is OH.
So here I sit in the main living room, with a mug of fresh coffee writing to you all.
We had a truly great time at our friends fare well party, with 82 people present. The extra two were a couple from ???? As no one knew them, everyone thought that someone else must have brought them along. Very kindly our friends just paid for them as they were chatty and friendly but only
spoke local dialect of Spanish from down south!!



We, and I do mean we, somehow agreed to join the line dancing which is held in the evening at 18.00 hrs. Should be fun, I was amazed when OH said he would like to join in!!
The restaurant was excellent, the food was delicious and the wine etc flowed...but having been out the night before we were somewhat prudent about the alcohol. !!
What we did not know was that the Restaurant is actually only one part of a large site, so we took a walk around and could not believe what a good place it would be for friends and family to use or even stay in.
Lots of different types of accommodation from cheap rooms set in delight
rows right up to houses one can live in more or less permanently, not sure why but the can be used by a family for 11 months of the year but not 12 months!
Amazing mobile homes, from the truly magnificent to the small caravans .entertainment available includes a very large swimming pool which has a roof, a couple of smaller pools, keep fit club, saunas, beauty salons, childrens club, childrens swimming pool, a wonderful aviary and monkey house, doctors on site each day, and all of this about 15 minutes away from where we live!


Not a lot more to add at the moment,

Bridget :-)

I wrote a piece on here just about 15 minutes ago ...... So where is it??

Oh well, the sun is shining, Jet and Joe are quiet , sitting on the floor beside me. OH is on the computer and listening to. BBC programme at the same time.
We are both a " little tired" due to having good fun at the party last night, we ate to much and imbied too much wine.....I know it was naughty and today we have to go to the big party which I mentioned a day or so ago.

After today I must get back to our healthy eating, in time for Christmas.

Berona, your description of the Christmas on the beach and in the garden sounds wonderful but, I feel strange at times not having the winters we used to have when I was a child. I recall so much snow falling it was never difficult to make a snowman, to watch the flakes of snow falling on the windows and of course trying to catch the flakes which almost instantly disappeared.
With this of course are other memories, cold fingers and toes, Wellington boots which chaffed ones legs, ice on the pavements and slipping over on them, throwing snowballs at each other and occasionally they hit the wrong person, and we would try to run away....

I am rambling again so will stop now

Enjoy your day, everyone,

Bridget



:-D

Good morning from me - good evening to you!

Gerard - your comment made me smile. I spent ONE Christmas in London. I was hoping to see snow but all I got was cold with the sun shining and no warmth coming from it! Snow came about ten days later.
You probably find it hard to imagine Christmas and summer together - well, we get disappointed if we don't get a bright sunny day. We do get the heat and sometimes summer showers, but it doesn't stop those who want to have a barbecue lunch (with all the trimmings, of course) and there are still many who keep with the tradition of our British ancestors and have the roast turkey, etc.
It's the English back-packers who congregate at Bondi Beach on Christmas Day - loads of them. Yes, some Aussies have a Beach Picnic, but that's because we are moving away from the traditional hot roasts. They don't suit the climate. Most of us have a day with the family - and some have a cold lunch (with lots of seafood, ham, turkey, duck, etc) followed by the hot roast for the evening meal - or one meal only at around 4pm with a mixture of hot and cold food - (take your pick) - but with so many 'trimmings' and the hot weather making us not want to eat a lot - there is always plenty left over for the next day - or week!

Bridge! People have been know to receive my look of sustain for calling me this. BUT I will forgive as I make mistakes.

I have decide not to take the task on mainly because of the great numbers of people who have gone back to the UK. So only about six of us left so not much chance of doing anything.

Just on our way out so must go.

Hope you have a good day.

Bridget :-)