General Chat

I have just five minutes to be able to say good morning as it is nearly mid day.

I had a lay in this morning and did not get up until 08.30am somewhat late for me. We went to the local super Market to buy some fresh veg and fruit. When we came out the heat hit us and now it is mid day and almost to hot to be outside. Our Liverpool friends, who live here for half of the year, are coming for a BBQ, they want to do the cooking and at sometime we shall be in the pool just to cool down.

My eldest son who lives in Barcelona will be 40 in September, and his brothers wanted to know if he was having his birthday at our house. Yesterday he confirmed that he will be in India! He has organised a Water Run, this means that he and some friends have volunteered to go to parts of India to provide water wells so that people will not die from poor water. He is busy getting everything organised including Sponsership from 5 euros upwards. If anyone is interested in helping by providing a small donation please send me a PM. I am not sure if I have made clear that this is through an international organisation.

So what do we do for his birthday......I think I shall leave this for his brothers to organise a party.

Sometimes I ask myself why are my children so adventurous, it certainly isn't from me. Their father was not adventurous, even though he had some wonderful offers, come to think of it maybe I am adventurous, because I tried to persuade him to take some of the offers, but he always changed his mind.

Well enough of my ramblings, I have to go and make another Guiness Cake by request from OH.

Jet says thanks for your kind concerns he is feeling much better and he and his brother Joe are having a haircut on Friday. Woof woof,

Well I have really lost it now, talking dogs ???!!!


12.25 hrs Spain

Lovely to see that you are back, Greenfingers. Your favourite dress sounds delightful and I can understand why you felt like a princess.
I do sometimes feel sorry for girls today the seem to spend so much time in jeans and trousers.

I feel tired tonight so will go to bed soon so good night everyone, happy days to you all

23.12 Hrs Spain

Hi Everbody, sorry hav been quiet no excuses I am afraid. I am coming along slowly but surely at least I think so, its frustrating not bening able to do all that I did before, sometimes I think no one else knows how I feel except me....

My favourite dress was a red velvet cord dress and bolero which my gran had made for me and I wore it with a pair of pinky red sued shoes. I loved that outfit, I wish I had a picture of me in it, I felt like a princess...both my grans were difficult women but they loved me and I loved them....gosh I'm getting maudlin now !!!!!!!!!!

The weatther is still very warm here its lovely 3 weeks to go now, I think I am more panicky than my daughter

I expect the barometer is decorative and so worth keeping. And also if it has sentimental value why throw it away? I will PM you the blog address Bridget.

A quick good morning to everyone, I will be back later today.Ann in gloc, please will you let me know where I can view the photoblog?

It is already very warm here, I broke the outside thermometer yesterday so must buyba new one. We have a beautiful out doors barometer which does not work but it belonged to my mother in law and we simply cannot bring ourselves to throw it away! Daft I know but there you are, it has sentimental memories.
09.O8 hrs Spain :-)

Glad Jet recovered Bridget, as I was reading that I also thought it could havbe been caused by the heat.

We have had the coldest weather ever, the temperature dropped to 4C at the weekend, unheard of here. We have had a lot of rain, last night it rained hard on and off and at the moment it is raining.

Thanks Ann, I will certainly have a look at the photos once our visitors have left. Your photos are amazing.

Best be off to do something about breakfast for everyone before they think they are not getting any!


Val.

7..40 a.m.

Bridget, glad that Jet perked up. Maybe it was heat exhaustion. Sounds like you all had fun in the pool. I do envy you that facility.

Val, you had the photoblog address I think. there are more photos on there now.

Good afternoon everyone from sunny Spain.

Yesterday we had lunch with our friends and another couple were there as well. The meal was a traditional roast beef meal which had been cooked by the host. He is an excellent cook and always willing to try new recipies.

We sat out on the verandah, not only for lunch but also pre lunch drinks and after the meal as well. The conversation flowed from the Tenniso results to the boxing match which the men had watched, to where to go for a long weekend, politics, and were to buy the best value wine! We are a chatty bunch!!!

We came home at around 19.30 hrs and could not find Jet. Now I am sure that you will all know by now that we love our dogs, they really are our pets rather than guard dogs. I called and called his name, walked up and down our road, whilst OH looked in the sheds, etc...no sign of Jet. However we both thought it was strange that Joe was not howling, nor did he seem overly concerned. After an hour or so just waiting to see if he would wander back, I went back into the garden. This time I searched behind all the bushes and found him. He looked so sad, could hardly open his eyes, did not move and at first I thought he had died,
. I literally dragged him out of his hiding hole and lifted him up, he just about opened his eyes but did not try to move. I managed to carry him halfway up the stairs and then had to call my OH for help as I could not carry him any further.
We tried to use a popster to get some wTer into him, he would not open his mouth. I sat with him for a long time and then needs to go to bed. We laid him on an old blanket on the floor of our bedroom and eventually fell asleep.
When I woke up he had moved to another spot. I got up refilled his water bowl, and put his usual food ready for him. He came with me and I stayed with him and lo and behold he ate all his food and drank all his water as well, I could have cried with delight.
Joe was so good he also had an extra hug and a small treat of his favourite biscuit.

Gradually throughout today Jet has got back to his normal self.

We still do not know what caused him to be so lethargic.

I expect that some of you may feel that I am silly being so distressed about a dog and I may have been like that once.

This afternoon some friends called in with swim suits in one hand and wine bottles in the other! We have had a great time in the pool and even I the none swimmer had a fun time. The wine has been saved for another time as we decided to drink soft drinks and water as it is sooo, hot.

One of our friends had brought the Ti Chi cd with them and I had my first lesson which I thoroughly enjoyed. I am going to try to do this everyday, it is gentle exercise. Does anyone have experience of this method for fitness and relaxation?

Well time to go now, so bye bye everyone until later today or tomorrow.

Cool day here with showers. Bridget yesterday afternoon the temperature here was 4C, to-day 17C. This is the coldest weather I have experienced here in 17 years, usually about 18-20C in winter, sometimes as low as 10, we don't get frost here at all. It can be very windy, previous winters we did not often find it necessary to have the air-conditioner on but this year has been different. Summer is very hot in the low 30s. We have had quite a bit of rain over the past weeks but our restrictions remain in place.

This morning was cloudy as the sun was rising, the sky was streaked with pink, rather lovely.

Tess, I remember also having patent leather shoes and long white socks. Our orange tree is at the back near to the washline, so when the tree is in flower the scent of the blossoms is lovely while hanging out the washing.

One lot of visitors left on Friday and the next lot will be arriving to-morrow, this lot usually arrrive in time for breakfast.



Val.

3.00 p.m.

Got to the library and changed my books. Unfortunately the top floor (archives) was closed due to a strike. Will have to go another time.
Also went to my bank to get £10 worth of twenty pence pieces. We are now charged 60p per journey on the Rinf & Ride.
This by the way is a special bus service, for those people who cannot get around easily.
On good days I AM able to use public transport (which is quite good in my area), however, I can't get on the bus with shopping.
Have now cut back my books from the library to four paperbacks at a time, otherwise they are too heavy to carry.

Also managed to change my bedding, and get my washing dry (but not ironed).
Yesterday I mowed the lawn, and dug up about five weeds! There are a lot more to dig up, but just didn't have the energy.

A lazier day today, dug up another five weeds, using a trowel and pushing it into the soli with my left foot (which is a lot stronger than my hands) Just as well no-one was looking.

My son and oldest grandson have gone to a music festival in London. Son has some friends there, so he will stay with them for a couple of nights.

I will have to think about clothes that were special to me. Onfortunately I wasn't anle to buy many clothes as budget wouldn't allow it.
tended to save my pennies for holidays instead.

However from my childhood ---

Aged about three I had a lovey pair of black patent leather shoes.
They were very shiney and fastened on the top of my foot with two straps meeting in the middle and a black shiney button.
Usually I hated shoes (and still don't really like wearung them) but these I loved.

Will give it some thought and get back to you.

Wow1 growing citrus fruit trees in the garden sounds great. Do you get a nice smell from them?

I am taling my gardening one step at a time. Want to make sure that I can cope with what is already there, before adding anything else. But hope to plant something this year.

Val, it sounds as if you had a good day. I try to imagine where you live and wonder how cold is cold. Is it less than 10 degrees. Is it frosty, windy, wet, damp etc. Is it cold enough to need central heating on?

Here in my part of Spain it has been in the high 30s but today it is sound 32 and did not get hot until late morning.

I am feeling very tired asis OH, we both caughtba cold from Roberta and we cannot shift it although pleased to say that R is free of it now.

Yesterday I did all the bed linen and towels from their visit and ours as well. I was lucky as everything dried out in the sunshine. Now all the beds have been aired, the cot cleaned and packed away, for the next visit. High chair similarly cleaned and all the toys. The two bedrooms upstairs have received similar treatment and I spring cleaned thevwardrobes and chest of drawers etc. Everything in the right place again.....I wonder how long that will last.?

For lunch today we had Lasagne and salad, and addresses we had ice-cream because it was easy.
Tomorrow we have our lunch with our friends, you may recall we eat at each others home on alternating weekends.

Not a lot to talk about today, I am blaming the weather!!

Tess, I hope you got the items from the library that you wanted and thatbyou feel up to posting sometime soon.

Greenfingers, how are you?
Berona, how has your weekend been, good I hope

Take care

1859 hrs Spain


:-0 :-D

Cold again to-day although warmer than yesterday.

We had a church fund-raiser this morning - a sing-along and then soup and rolls and milk tart, it was most enjoyable.




Val.

1.26.p.m.

Just popped in, without reading the recent posts. Off to the Library in town in a little while. If I still feel fit later today will come back here. If not it will be tomorrow or Saturday.

Tess

Good morning Val,

It sounds as if you are going to be very busy for the next few days, with all the visitors. Do take care of yourself,
.
We all went out last night, including the little one who had a long sleep in the afternoon. We were supposed to be out for a short while only!!!
We finally came home at 01.30hrs and the sensible people went to bed. Not me though, I stayed awake with three of us and we chatted about anything and everything, and finally I made it to bed at 03.20hrs. Now have a really horrible headache!
Will be back later

Bridget

Very cold and windy day here. Have had a busy couple of days in the house. Am expecting visitors this morning who will be spending the night here and then more in Monday also just for one night -Oh all that washing!

Lovely to have so much fruit on the trees Bridget, our orange tree did not have much fruit this year because of the drought, not many grapefruit either.
We made some tomato jam the other day as we managed to get lovely tomatoes at a reasonable price. So now stocked up with marmelade and tomato jam.



Have a lovely day.


Val.

8.46 a.m.

Oh Tess, I know I shouldn't have but I did laugh at the comment about the bus, the traffic and the hearse
Jan,I have enjoyed reading all about you wedding outfit. It sounds beautiful and I am trying to picture you in it. I wool be so happy to wear long dresses as you describe but height etc does not allow me to.
I am 5 feet 1inch tall ( maybe I should say small). When I was barely 7 stone that was fine but not now, I blame the passing of time. ,!!

This chat has made me wonder if we could recall our favourite dress,and where we were and who with when we wore it...hmmmmmm got me thinking now.

Some where I did write about my favourite dress as a child,but cannot recal
Which thread it was on. So this time maybe we could write about our favourite clothes between the ages of 20s to 40s and then 40s to 60s,etc, other suggestions appreciated.
this morning is very peaceful here in Peniscola. The sun has been shining through for the last hour or so,there is a very slight breeze and the birds are surprisingly quiet.
The sea is as flat as a pancake and there are no clouds in the sky. Yesterday the temperature reached 36 c down on the lower part of our garden and even I went into the pool, the water was warm and I enjoyed about half an hour in the pool playing with Joe who loves jumping in swim ing around and the he climbs up the steps. Jet however does not like the pool so much but swims and swims if he is in the sea.
I felt good after coming out so hopefully I will have the courage to go in again today.
As I have said previously most of the houses around us are holiday homes for rich,Spaniards, French,and Germans.
Last week the shutters were being raised and cleaners were obviously working hard to prepare the houses for the owners visits,which started this week.I must say it is good to see the same people arrive year after year, but at the same time a shock as the noise level increases, and sometimes it is rather as I imagine the Tower of Babble must be,
.the children squeal and laugh, with an occasional skirmish,the men mostly sit in the garden and chat whilst the ladies bring out the food and drinks and then the cleaners are back each morning....now why don.t I have a.cleaner I wonder and the answer is "I cannot justify it" .

Yesterday as I walked around the garden(s), we have three different levels, I noticed that the pear tree,which is producing pears for the first time now has 10good size pears on it,I wonder when they will ripen. The lemon trees are drooping with the weight of the Lemons, and the orange tree looks very heavy with the second crop of oranges starting. I think I will have to go to Culi ray delights and find some inspiration for preserving these fruits.
A friend looked T my Kumquat tree and has assured me that the fruit is just as it should be.......I will not buy another one as the fruits are so sour and I am not sure how to use them. All suggestions for new fruit trees to be planted in Sept to October very welcome.

Not much happening at the moment,son and partner went out last night and arrived home at about 03.03 hrs, they said they had a great time. Their friends who had gone out separately came back somewhat latter, but were very quiet, I only heard them because the door handle to their room needs to be oiled.

Dear OH sent me off to bed at 01.30 as I kept dozing off. We had Roberta in her cot and in her room downstairs, but did not have to sit there all the evening as a portable gadget picks up every move and sound she makes. Very clever indeed.
I am now goi g to make a coffee, so will sign off wishing you all a good and happy day.

Bridget

08.07 hrs Spain


:-D :-)

I am going to have an early night, so just a quick catch-up now.

Still had some rain tomorrow. Am hoping if we get a dry spell to sit in the back garden tomorrow.
Have just had some photos via an email from a school friend who has moved to Greece. They are of her garden and the views from it. I am (almost) jealous.

Went out today to post a letter. Was walking along a busy road, large bus was pulled up at a bus stop, then indicated to say it was pulling out.
The driver in the vehicle behind the bus was too impatient to wait a few seconds, so pulled out to overtake, notwithstanding a row of traffic coming the other way. Luckily the bus driver noticed and stopped!! The on coming traffic also stopped or slowed down.
NOthing remarkable in that I can hear you think, except................................. The vehicle in question was a hearse ... complete with coffin!

Will chat again tomorrow,

Tess

Thank you all for your good wishes. Tess no I didn't get a reward for having the clips out ! Not even a sweetie !! It was as I remembered last year BBBBBBBBBB painful. But better out than in !

Yes Bridge I do have my outfit, bought weeks ago before I got too immobile.
Hard to describe but its got a hankerchief edge and is full length and floaty with little straps the colours are ...wait for it khaki,green and red Yuk I can hear you say, but it works. The pattern is sort of like a plam tree leaf thats the shades of green, and the edging is red. I have a lime green shrug which covers up the horrible bits at the tops of my arms, one of the pleasures (oH No) of getting older. Boom Boom. I have red wedge shoes to go with it and green necklace and earrings. It looked good the last time I wore it... I also have a borrowed hat from my sister in law, which goes a treat. The wedding is on 25th July so not much longer now. They are so happy, you can see the poem I have adapted for my daughter on the Poems and Sayings thread.
I shall be a physical wreck !!!!

Haven't been out in the car yet, still getting my sea legs and learning to walk properly again is wearing the old leg muscles out but I shall get there.

Many thanks for your good wishes have a lovely weekend

Jan

Good morning from a bitterly cold JBay, it has been raining on and off during the night at times very hard and there is a very strong wind blowing, definitely not the weather to be going out.

Happy Birthday to your OH Bridget, hope he has a wonderful day and that you all enjoy your birthday meal to-night.

It is a year to-day since my brother passed away, so all those memories come flooding back.

Hope you are feeling a bit better to-day Greenfingers.

I am going to try and trace one particular ancestor to-day, hope I have some success.

Enjoy the day.


Val.

9.23 a.m.

Good morning from sunny Spain, where the sun is shining and the temp is in the low 30s the sky is blue as is the sea and it is very calm.
OH has opened his birthday cards, and just a few moments ago set off for the station so that son and his friend can catch the train to Valencia for the grand Prix. R, son's friend has taken his Scottish Flag safely tied onto some bamboo sticks. Men never really grow up, do they? They were going to stay overnight but the hotel prices were extortionate so the will be back tonight and then on the train tomorrow.

We are simply going to chill out, and then this evening we are going out for a special meal with OH.

Greenfingers, when does your daughter get married, you must be very excited. Have you got your outfit yet.....do let us know.

Tees, has the rain stopped yet?

When I was working in Attleborough, I used to get the Park and Ride bus into Norwich. It is such a good idea that I wondered if there is park and ride across the country? Nothing like it where I live! I did try the bus once to go to the Market in Benicarlo, but the noise that the Spanish ladies make, they all talk at the same time, and are very loud. It felt like Bedlam, and they squeeze so many people on one bus,it was scary.!!

Well I have just heard OH park the car so will finish now but will be back later.

Bye bye

08.49 hrs Spain