General Chat

I am getting my wet days and my hot days mixed up!
We have had both over the last few days.

Hoping to be able to get into back garden to mow the lawn tomorrow, if it isn't raining or too hot.

It is The Birmingham Carnival tomnorrow, a biennial event.

usually it goes passed my house, lorry after lorry, all with their own music blaring out, and followed by dancers (and prancers) in colourful fantistic costumes.

This year they are going to my local park. and will not pass my house.
A shame really as it is so enjoyable, and makes us all smile and bop to the music.

It just won't be the same without the procession.


I hate wearing shoes (of any kind) my feet like to be free.

I usually but a sort of slip on wedge heeled type thing.
No need to bend down to take them on and off and no need to wear rights, stockings or

Tomorrow my only daughter will be 37, how time passes. I recall every moment of her birth, and she is the only one of my children to be so easy to look after.

I am very proud of her.

Bridget

20.10 hrs Spain :-D <3

After a day of cold an wet weather the sun is shining to-day although it is still chilly.

Like you, Greenfinges I was an Imelda Marcos too when I worked, not quite so bad now that I have retired but I still love high heels.

We are looking after my friend's (the one who passed away) budgie while her husband has gone off to visit his children and grandchildren, not sure how long he will be away. It is quite nice to hear the bird chirping away happily inside.

Visited the towel factory shop this morning and bought some nice towels at very reasonable prices. There is talk of the factory(which is in another town) closing down, that is sad as it means more people out of work. I am hoping that this doesn't happen.

I made a batch of diabetic rusks yesterday but must say they are not all that wonderful wiithout sugar, next time I will try more sweetener when I make them.

Enjoy your weekend.


Val.


12.05p.m.

Been to daughters home today....very hot here.....to cut their lawn...with all the rain and sun everything has gone mad..they are in Rome now and it will be very hot there. Got a bBQ to go to with friends on Sunday, just hope the weather stays nice....wore wedge shoes again today...oh the joy...fed up with flat ones...I am a bit of an Imelda Marcos when it comes to shoes and not being able to wear them as you can imagine is hell.

I know what Bridget means and I am a Newbie,,,,,,,but I would miss you all as well

Regards Jan
Norfolk 5pm

Good morning to everyone,

I have been up since 07.00hrs so missed the early part of the day when I sit with my coffee and watch the Dawn. I am not sure why this is my favourite time of day,maybe it is the new beginning, maybe it is the peace and quiet, maybe it is that no today's are exactly the same...who knows!
Val, I did smile to myself when I read that your weather is 27, this would be considered rather good weather in the UK.
Grenfingers we have never been campers, I went camping twice with some of my friends when I was a student nurse and once with my first husband...never again!!

Oh wants the IPad so will be back soon

Bridget

Talk about crazy weather! To-day's forecast is 27, with very cold conditions and snow in some parts for to-morrow.

The sun this morning was a huge red ball in the sky with the reflection on the smooth sea. The birds were twittering away at such a rate this morning I thought they must be wanting an early breakfast so they have been fed already. Later I will ask the gardener to clean out the bird bath and refill it for me.

The cineraria which I planted out some weeks back are growing so slowly, I am eager to see them flowering but I'm told that won't happen until early next month.

Sounds as though fun was had by all, Bridget.
Tess, hope your grandsons have a lovely camping outing. My daughter has recently been interested in camping and the equipment can be quite expensive, she will be camping again next month when she and some friends go to a Dog Show.

This afternoon is the memorial service for my friend.

Tha's all for now.


Val.


7.41 a.m.

This heat is sapping my energy! And I didn't have much to start with.

It must be a sad time, thinking of your son, Jan. As you say, he was around you at the wedding.

I was going to be looking after my two youngest grandsons next week, but now they are going camping in Cornwall with their dad (my son).

As they haven't camped properly before, my son is now trying to dash round buying all the equipment he will need.

He is now trying to track down a camping stove. At least there seems to be plenty of stuff available in the shops, but he hopes not to have to buy everything brand new.

Off to have a shower to try to cool down.


Tess

Good evening everyone. Have read all the latest postings and the realise that we are now on page 80!!! I am truly amazed that we hab=ve gone on so long and I for one would miss you all if it ever comes to a full stop.!!! So a big Congratulations to Ann for being the first person to post on page 80.

As I said yesterday we were going out at 21.00 hours to meet with friends in town and then to watch the Fireworks at midniight. Well we set of for town which is just about three of four minutes away by car, (the roads are so steep to go from where we live into tow very often. Walking down is OK but walking back is very difficult with my knee problem, which is not a new condition. Just as we were about to set off we realised that neither Jet or Joe were in the house. Why is it that they always know when we are going out without them?
We could not find them anywhere, OH was becoming more and more cross, I shook the biscuit box, called their names looked through all the rooms and then decide to lock up and go. Afterall they do not get out of the garden so they had to be hiding in the busehes...Ha ha..

We had to find a side street which we could park in as the tow was heaving by 21.30 so we eventually parked behind the Crematoriam at least we were not disturbing anyone!

I am sure that not onlly were almost eveyone from Peniscola were in area but also hundreds of people from other towns and villages.
Luckily our group of friends had grabbed a table opposite the sea for us and we stayed there chatting away until we were informed that the beach areas were now available to go on to.
Given the number of people all heading in the same direction everything was very straight forward. Parents with young children and babys in prams, young children chatting away with their aunts, uncles and grandparents, every one who knew us were stoping for a moment or two with kisses on each persons cheeks, the atmosphere was wonderful. Then on the dot of midnight the show begain with the music from The Brandenbergh Concerto (Hope I have spelt that correctly).
It was a stunning performance, and the firework display wes the best I and OH have ever seen, OH and I agreed that it was even better than the one we saw in France some years ago.
The Police were there in force and all eating and drinking places had to be closed by 23.30 and could reopen again after the fireworks had finished.
we stayed in town with some of our friends sitting outside becaus eit was so humid and hot until 02.30 hrs. we could not believe how late it was.

we arrived home safely and found that Joe had been in thehouse all the time and jrt had been outside, so you can imagine the fooirst thing we hhad to do....will not elaborate but remember they do not like fire works!
Today we have been very tired and lathargic althoough the normal jobs were done and meals prepared and eaten. It is muggy here today although we have also had some very hot sunshine.

well time to go will be back tommorow

Bridget
20.02 hrs
Spain


:-D

Well, its boiling here and was yesterday...the decorator was painting the outside of the conservatory and nearly melted away. I all looks very nice and clean, and finally all rooms are clutter free, amazing how doing one room messes up another !! And everywhere is clean and dusted...had a lot of harvest spiders this year...small body and very long legs Yuk...........

Jan
regards from Norfolk UK
5.29 pm

Crazy isn't it? Your are quite right Ann, it is winter here.


Val.

6.23 p.m.

There's Berona in winter with 21 degrees and Val also (I think) in winter with temperatures at 23 degrees. And here we are in summer and only this week have reached those temperatures.

Good morning Ladies,

Another beautiful sunrise this morning. The temperature for us to-day is supposed to be 23, with more very cold weather forecast for the weekend, snow in parts of the Eastern Cape as well as other parts of the country.

The Garden Service has just arrived to cut the lawn, so that will look good again to-day, I love it when the grass has just been cut.

Off to feed the birds.

Have a lovely day.


Val.


9.47 a.m.

Hello from Oz. Nothing much to report - but then, that means that everything is going along smoothly.

This week and the previous one have been exceptionally warm - although the overnight temperatures are normal (2 to 7 where I am). We have just started our third month of winter when temps average 2min/14max, but whilst the minimum temps are normal, the daytime temps have been up around 21 on most days. Not that I'm complaining, of course, but I wonder what is in store for us? Will we get a cold snap, or will we stay warm and go into a very hot summer? We can only wait and see what happens.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts.....Jan

Good morning to you all from slightly cloudy Spain.

It was with great trepidation that I went to my computer this morning, "will it or will it not be working" kept buzzing around my head. Well now you know it was and still is! Yippee.

It is very peaceful here and the birds are singing and one is making a very strange call, it is rather similar to a 2 second drum making five or six beats. Hmmm not a very good description.
The sea is blue and very still, the sun is just about peeking through,and the stillness is tangible. I enjoy mornings like this and can never avoid desriping them.

Jet and Joe are well, have had their romp around the garde, and are now sleeping again, it makes me wonder where does the saying "it's a dogs life" come from?

OH is still asleep, well dozing I would call it. He has become quite the expert inuring the period of the lack of telephone connection etc. He now goes to the telephone box and can sort it all out in a much faster time than the telephone man did. He worked out what was causing the problem,plastic bags over several connections which of course were causing a lot of condensation. I am not sure how he managed to explain this to the Spaniards but had no problemexplaing it to the French. Outcome all the occupants of tne flats above us have either used him to sort their box or done it themselves. Of course you could not do this in the UK but here not eventhe lock to the main box had been put on...well there is one now.

We will have a quiet day as tonight we are going into town to have a meal and watch the fireworks.is there anyone else like me,I love watching fireworks?
We will not take Jet and Joe as they really do not like the noise.we have tried to keep them quiet in past years but never managed to do so.the vet gave us some tablets once or twice to make them sleep but they did not work. So we are going to put them in the downstairs part of our house ,gurneys tv on, make sure that nothing breakable is around and close all the shutters and hope that they are not to upset. Even if we stay at home we would have to do the same.
Has anyone got any other advice or tips?

Well OH is now up and about so time to say goodbye so I can make coffee and find out what sort of breakfast he would like.

I will try to look in later today to see who has posted.

Mary not long now until you are on holiday,I expect you are well organised and have everything in hand. I am sure that once you are on the road the excitement of knowing that you will soon be seeing your family and friends and the time will fly by.

08.35 hrs Spain

Thinking of you Jan today.

Greenfingers. (Jan)

I was unaware that your sons' anniversary was so close to the wedding. I shall add you to my prayers today. I only know that no-one ever comes to terms with the death of a child, but they do learn, generally to live with the knowledge. As you say he was with you all in the wedding, and how wonderful your daughter had him mentioned in the speeches.

Take care of yourself

Bridget
18.46 hrs Spain

Yesterday was the anniversary of our sons death ...its been 10years and yet it seems like yesterday he ws here...he would have so enjoyed his sisters wedding...but he was there i am sure of it and he was mentioned in the speeches...of how we miss him............................

Take care everyone love Jan

Hi All
Hope everyone is ok and enjoying their weekend.- I agree with you Bridget about the weather here in Spain - weird or what !! We were having a bbq on Friday night and could see lightening flashing across the horizon - then it started to rain so we put the sun brolly up and finished our meal. It was so humid - after 30 minutes or so we had to give up and go downsairs. Yesterday started cloudy but cleared up early evening and we went down to town and had a lovely meal out sitting under the trees We start our journey to UK a week on Thursday - hoping to be at our friends in France by Friday and staying with them until Monday when we catch the night ferry from Roscoff to Plymouth. For some reason I do not get so excited about holidays like I used to - perhaps it is because my life is almost like a permanent holiday now that I live so close to the sea. But looking forward to seeing family and friends.
Well must be lunchtime so I had better go and sort something - Grand Prix is on this afternoon so will be watching that.
Take care
Love Mary xx

Good morning to you all from a calmer Spain. The weather has been very strange with a great deal of torrential rain, hot air with the sun coming through late in the day, telephones and computers down for days on end and then just as we got them all back on line another terrible storm and down it went again. So I have had a word with him above in the sky to say whatever we have done to cause this please STOP taking our good weather away. I think he is listening !!!!

No great news except yesterday my stepson called to ask if it was OK to bring an almost brand new cooker for me when they come to visit in October...the couple who came with them for a holiday just a month or so new that I had been looking for a new cooker, mine is a very good German one but also very old.. and they have decided to have a range and so do not need the virtually new cooker in their new home...I offered money but they will not accept any as they had such a great time with us.....I think that is such a nice gesture.

Please take care of yourselves and I will try to come back latter today

Bye for now,

10.26 hrs Spain