General Chat

You sound as if you are having a busy day Val, but at least the washing will blow nice and dry in the good weather. I love the smell of newly blown bedding when it has been in the garden, it cannot be the same when dried in the tumbler and I do not like to use to many artificial smelly things.

In the UK everyone who works has to pay into the NHS and then they can still go to private hospitals if they want to. when I was working, not the last job though, I was always covered but was amazed some years ago when I learnt directly from the Drs' at one of the well known private hospitals in London that at night there are NO DOCTORS in the building and also they do not just work in their specialised areas.!
However we do get very heated when foreigners who come to live in the
UK never contribute but use all the facilities. A subject for discussion???

Glad that your friends are having a good time in Australia I expect you will be poring over the photos when you next see them.
well bye bye for now
Bridget

17.20hrs Spain

Hello everyone, 8.55 a.m. here. Another hot and windy day - nothing new there!

Nice to see you back Tess, please do write about the housework, I'm sure it will make interesting reading.

Penny, apart from a niece who lives in Australia my family are all in SA. It is a beautiful country and if only the crime and the corruption were not such major problems it would be wonderful. I think my computer repair equals about 30 Pounds (I can't find the pound sign!) which when I say it doesn't sound so much!

Congratulations on your son's new job and such a nice increase. I must say your A&E sounds much like Casualty at our state hospitals, some people wait all day and are not seen. Our government wants to introduce a NHS here and it has been said that we can stay members of our medical aids but will have to pay the NHS contribution as well, not sure how that will work or how that will affect the private hospitals.

Had an email from friends who are holidaying in Australia and they are having a really good time.

Off to hang out the last load of washing.

Enjoy whatever you will be doing to-day - and have a fun time at the quiz to-night Bridget, have a glass of wine for me!!


Val.

Good morning everyone I hope that you are all Hale and Hearty and if not, please look after yourself and I will add you onto my 15 minute quiet time each day. The sky is the grey blue coulor today and the sea is dark blue. There is not much of a breeze so maybe we will have a dry day today....

Welcome back Tess and we are looking forward to seeing you on here as often as possible. My goodness you read a lot to catch up no wonder you had to rest your eyes. Anyway having been so thorough I am sure that you can comment on many of the entries!!
No discussion is ever finished in my view so I look forward to your next entry.

Penny, South Africa is a country I would have loved to have visited, I know it is very large so would only have seen parts of it but I guess that is the same of many countries. In fact thinking about it I haven't been to all of the UK. That is I haven't been to all of the cities etc,
In the 1970s I thought that my husband and I were going to live there, My husband was a charted accountant and he was offered a fantastic job by the company he worked for. Another couple we knew from the same work place was also going, I was so excited but just before we were to book the tickets he changed his mind!!!

The quiz night is tonight I was a day ahead of myself, will let you know tomorrow how it goes tonight.

My eldest Grandson was 14 yesterday, we had a good chat last night and the two presents that he was delighted to have was a camouflage tent from his Army Uncle and a dart Board and he can't wait for his granddad P..er (my husband), to see him soon so that they can have " a good game" . OH was delighted when told.

Ann in Gloc, if it begins with a W and ends in an R then you are probable right. My son loves the life and is doing very well and enjoys every moment of life, He is quiet as all my children are but also very sociable and respected by his men and the ladies as well as his superiors.
Good news My army sons' twin brother was head hunted and has been for ywo interviews and been offered a new job, much nearer to home and ....wait for it... £5000 extra per year,,,, Yippee he really deserves some good luck. He called me to ask my view...Then a couple of hours later he called again to say that he had cut his finger, had been in A&E for three hours and was told he could be there for another 3 hours before he could be seen!!! I told him to go to the chemist, buy some plaster strips and to go to his GP surgery this morning and have a tetanus jab...now this is nothing special I can hear you all say But now I await a call from Army so, who is in A.....y with his wife, on a ski-ing week and I am waiting from a call from him to say that he has also done something I hope it is a minor accident!!! The twins always follow each other in aspects such as this.
Well it is time to go, so have a great day everyone I shall be back later.

Evening all, a little earlier tonight, bit tired so am off to bed soon. It's been a glorious day here today and warm for the time of year. Have been busy today, washing etc and a semi spring clean, will get round to the rest as and when he he.
Val, that sounds an awful lot of money for a repair, but like Briget not fully conversant with exchange rates. Hope you can cope with your running repair. Do your family all live in SA? From what I have seen it looks a beautiful country, but like everywhere it has it's faults I presume.
Bridget so glad you are feeling a little better, yes my eyes are fine today thank you for asking.Hope your quiz night went well. Well all am off now, Take care Penny

Hi Everyone, have spent this afternonn reading the "My Participation Threads"
Now need to rest my eyes. 9and brain). Have got up to 3rn March (or was it the 4th) on this thread.
Will read the rest tomorrow and then join in the Housework discussion (I hope that it is still going)

Sorry to have been away so long,
Tess

Bridget, I guess that your son is based at the same place that my OH spent time at in the late fifties when it was not army but RN.

Nudge Nudge

Good morning everyone.
I slept much better last night and feel that both my cold and my eye are on the mend!
so in order of who posted when her are my comments for today.! sounds pompous but not intended to be, just trying to think of a different way to say Hi!


Jacqueline, thanks for your post. I can fully understand how different it must be living in a small country place compared to a city or large town. Have you met many neighbours yet, and are there any activities going on around you that you could join?
I was bought up in London but would never wish to live in a city again. I left London around 1971 and have moved quite often but always w=to somewhere by the sea or in the countryside. I found that by joining a local activity even if only for a year or so I met and made friends.

Penny, I love my grandchildren very much but my goodness when they were younger I was exhausted after I had looked after them for a reasonable period of time. Part of this I am sure is that I was trying to hard to do things the way my daughter wanted and perhaps not quite as I would have done. Not that she ever said anything to me. Also i could see every danger possible , once they got to three we just sailed along...

Hope your eyes are more comfortable today but as you will be aware it really is important for diabetics to have this test, so well done. Hoping that you had a reasonable sleep last night.

Val,Looking forward to seeing your new recipe, I wonder if we can persuade Jacqueline and Penny to add to my Culinary Delights thread, I do hope so.

My husband still cleans our windows but the way our house is designed,
he can reach both the main part of the house and the ground floor as that is at the same level as the swimming pool level, and where we spend quite a lot of our time in the sun during the summer time. Talking of which we are normally outside a lot of the day by now but the weather is still cold and wet which is very unusual. Please Sun come back soon is my mournful request.
I am not sure what the exchange from R2900 to Euros or Stirling would be BUT it does sound an awful lot of money so hang on to the way you are managing for as long as possible.

Well I must go and have another coffee so goodbye for now

I hope that you all have a pleasant day

Tonight is quiz night and that means that today we shall have our main meal at Lunch time and so far I haven't decided what we will eat! that suggests to me that it will be something simple and quick.


Bridget

08.02hrs Spain

Gpod morning, 8.00 a.m. here, cloudy and cool.

So glad that you both enjoyed the Bobotie Bridget, I will post another recipe later to-day.

I got the quote to repair my laptop - R2900. - Apparently he backlight cannot be replaced the screen must be replaced, so I will continue with the present situation which is working very well.

Penny, another thing I remember my mother doing was rubbing the soles of our feet and chests with camphorated oil..

The window cleaners came yesterday and during the night we had a few drops of drizzle, enough to mess up the lovely clean windows! We have the window cleaners once a month as some of our windows are quite high and we are both too old now to be climbning ladders. I also don't want my domestic helper to climb the ladder in case she should take a tumble and get injured.

Have a lovely day.


Val.

Evening all, hope you are all ok. Glad to hear that the vick may be working on your cough Bridget, it seems to have worked on my family too. Glad you also had heard of it Val, as people might have thought me strange!!!
Not done a lot today, looked after my grand-daughter for a couple of hours this morning, she's 18 months and a little cutie. Then a trip to the Dr's to have my eyes photographed ( am diabetic) Then not a lot after as they have to put drops in your eyes, and vision is very blurred for a few hours!!! Supposed to clear in approx 3 hours, mine always lasts for at least 10!!!!
Well ladies will say goodnight. Take care Penny

Good evening everyone. Typed my last post then lost it lol.

Spanisheyes although I do like living here in Zeals it is a lot different way of life to what I am used to as I am a town girl born and bred and life is certainly a lot quieter here.

AnninGlos yes Fareham is quite near Southampton although originally I am from the North East of England.

Going to say goodnight now as it is rather late. 11.30 pm here in Wiltshire.

Anninglos. My army son is based near to Winchester and in May he will be having his wedding Blessed in the church The Hospital of the Cross, I looked it up and the history of it is amazing. Last year he and his wife were married in Winchester Registry Office and then walked through the town to the hotel were we had a small beautiful reception. They married because they were offered a house on the base.

My cold seems to be improving, so maybe it is the vick remedy working already.

OOH the sun has just come out for the first time today, we are supposed to have rain all day but so far has been boring weather but no rain so seeing the sun is a good sign

14.10hrs Spain

Good morning everyone. It is a bit grey today but not cold sow e are hoping to get some gardening done.

Hello Jackie, hope you are settling in your new home. My 'home' where I grew up was Fareham, so not so far from Southampton. Daughter now lives near Winchester and Grandson in Swaythling.

OOOPs APOLOGIES to Jackie, I meant to mention you as well and as I pressed the submit button I realised that I had not said good morning to you. So Good Morning Jackie!

Are you enjoying living in Zeals? I know it reasonably well from the time I used to be able to visis the area but now I am in Spain it is almost impossible to go there as bye the time I have seen my family I have to come home.
Do write on here and let us know how you are getting along in Zeals, what your intererests are etc, we always welcome new people.
Enjoy your day
Bridget

Good morning everyone and thanks for the updates from Val and Penny.

Val we had the Bobotie last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a nice change for us as we bith enjoy fairly hot foods but the change was good and my husban sadi he would like to have it again..I explained that it from one of the ladies I "chat" to each day and he sends his thanks. Praise indeed.
So any more recipies Val.?
I have also decided to buy some ready mad pastry and see what it is like, most people tell me it is very good. I haven't got so far as to even think what we shall have today..I think we will try to use up the remaining fresh veg, and anything that is in the fridge!!! We hate wasting food and try very hard not to.

I am one of those sad people who really enjoy ironing. I first learny to iron when my grandmother was looking after me for a holiday and she used the old fashion irons that stood on a hot fire stove to wardm up, I had the smallest size iron and did all the hankies, I was so proud to help Grandma. Then when I had mey children when they had their afternoon nap I used to do the ironong whilst listening to a programme on the Radio called Woman's Hour. It used to discuss various subjects and then half way through a chapetre ot two of a book would be read or a short story would be on instead. How I loved those times, they kept me sane asa working mum with her own business and husband mostly abroad with work committments.

Penny I do have some Vick so I am going to try this and my sister in the UK has said that she thinks that my eye problem is a blocked duct as I descibed exactly how her eye had been sometime last year. She was told by her doctot to have some hot water and add a tiny amount of a well known baby shampoo to bathe her eye and it worked, so off I go to undo our baby case, (for the grandchildren!!
I hasten to say) and try this as it is quite uncomfortable. There is no sign of infection or a sty so that is good news.

Today is very cloudy, and quite dull, the weather forecast for the next 3 days is for more rain!! Oh well at least we are warm and comfortable and can keep oour selves occupied.

Bye for now

Bridget

09.52 Spain

Hello all, 7.25am. here, another sunny day, with a bit of a breeze.

Penny, my mother used to rub vicks or something called Puma Balm I think on the soles of our feet when we were children - that was many years ago! I used to do the same for my daughter when she was small. It does work. You should really give it try Bridget.

I have just finished my ironing - sheets are not my strong point they always seem to look worse when I have finished.

I shall be phoning for a quote on the repair of my computer to-day, hope I don't collapse from shock when I hear the price.

To-day I am making pies for lunch , am using bought pastry though.

One of our local supermarkets has introduced a scheme whereby shoppers get one point for every rand they spend and once 1000 points have been accumulated they can be exchanged for cash to do shopping, I haven't heard what 1000 points are worth in monetary terms yet, I shall find out when I do my weekly shopping.

That's all for the time being.


Val.

Val, your recipe sounds lovely. Must try it sometime, though I must admit I am not very adventurous with food, or with much else come to think of it!!!
Glad your daughter managed to sort out your computer, even if it is only temporary. Have to get my son in law to sort mine.
Bridget, sorry to hear you are not too well still, remedy for your cough Vicks vapour rub or similar decongestant rub. Put it on the soles of your feet when you go to bed at night. Sounds strange, but it works !!! Hope your film evening went well.
Well thats me for today, take care all. Penny

Sorry I should have posted the recipe, just another senior moment! I hope you will enjoy it, it's not a very strong curry flavour, I don't like things too hot.

Have a lovely time to-night.

12 noon. SA time

Val I found a recipe for this and have posted it on my Culinary thread. We are going to try this either tonight or tomorrow.

So pleased to hear that your computer is now working albeit it with a different keyboard. There is nothing the same as your own comp is there?! I become very cross when OH uses mine even though I know I have nothing to hide.

I am beginning to wonder if this cold is ever going to leave me, It is going but oooh so slowly. However have been told that there is/has been a nasty bug going around and so a lot of people are in the same boat as me. I am not the best patient in the world, it must be because of my nursing days.
Strange weather here today. the sun is up there somewhere as we can see it now and again but the sky is that pale unintersting blue/grey colour and there is a slight breeze. Some gardens around us are being looked after and someone is using an electric saw but I cannot see which place it is.
Jet & Joe have been out had a run around and come back in doors. I am not sure if it is age creeping up or simply that they have become much quieter than they used to be. Jet was 7 in December and Joe was 7 in Januar,. we were wondering last night what the general life span of a Cocker Spaniel is? Must see if I can find out on the interent.

Well film night tonight and already two couples have called to make sure that all is well so obviously a success at least during the out of season months, if you know what I mean.

Must go now so will look in again later

10.32hrs in Spain

My problem has ben solved temporarily, my daughter has connected an LED Moniitor and a keyboard to my laptop so I can use it. I will have to get used to this keyboard as it is so different. Much better than using my husband's computer!


Val.