General Chat

I saw my granddaughter this evening.....she is tiny but beautiful, and was being feed by her mum and my son was looking very tired and very happy.
Evie is tiny, it so obvious as she has lost more than a pound in weight but this was due to her weight at birth being a lot of fluid and her parents were told that she would loose quite a lot of weight. The nurses are visiting everyday so no concerns about her being monitored. My daughter in law looks very proud and soooo tired, in fact both parents look exhausted ........

It was amazing to be able them so clearly.

Jan, do make sure that you keep warm, and you Hazel,,,,I have several layers of clothing on as I find that tjis is much warmer than a thick jumper or Cardigan. I also wear warm slippers they look like low boots....I think younwill know what I mean... It is my hands thatnget so cold I have even wondered if I can buy gloves without full fingers....does that make sense...?? I have arthritis in the offending fingers and they are bending in one direction...but I consider myself lucky compared to many other people.

Well time to go, wishing you all happy days and good health


Bridget

That must have been wonderful for you, Bridget - to see the baby so soon and so clear, too!... When my youngest grandson first saw me on the computer, he tried to climb into their screen to get to me!

We are having a strange summer here in Sydney. I have never known it to rain in January before and we have had lots of rain. Only light showers here where I am, but they have been happening often. We also usually have temps of 30+ - up into the 40's on occasions - but not this year. It has rarely reached 30 - and yet, we had the mildest winter I have ever known too. I'm sure that if this continues, it will only be a few generations away that the Brits will be going to the beach at Christmas whilst the Aussies will be playing in the snow!

Good morning all from a damp cold Costa Blanca. February is known to be the coldest month and the temperature is set to drop to low 50's - but still not as cold as UK.

We have decided to go to the UK in May for a few days for my mom's 89th birthday - only told our sons at moment but once I have found flights will let mom and my sister know. So that is something to look forward to.

How great to see your new grandchild Bridget - modern technology is wonderful. I expect you will be booking flights to UK soon.

Yesterday I had the 'thrown away' bug - it is surprising how much stuff you keep in cupboards that is no good. Found a few canisters without lids - know what use are they - hubby said I will have them they may be useful !!! So I told him he could keep them so long as it was not in my kitchen cupboards !!!

Today is food shopping day so will have to make a list of what is needed. Hopefully Saturday we are going shopping to see what the Sales have to offer . assuming they are still on. Also want to go to Iceland to top up on a few English items I need - like Oxo cubes and red kidney beans for chilli. I am sure I will find something else I want too - usually buy a couple of tins of corn beef.

Well have a good day everyone and take care

Love Mary xx

Hi Everyone

Well things are looking up, even though it is bloomin' cold at the moment.

Firstly our money has been sorted and backdated, secondly the Council Tax problem is being sorted too (hopefully), the last problem is the job. Good news there, I have an interview tomorrow, I am a bit pessimistic, but OH gave me good news this morning that the possibility of working with her was getting closer, as my government clearance is nearly complete.

Berona - Global warming is to blame - people are complaining about the cold here but when you tell them that it is Winter they glare at you as if you were the moron. I don't know what they are expecting in February, but some are still dressed for summer (Hot pants, short skirts and T-shirts)

Bridget - great news about little Evie - I have Skype but no camera or microphone, but it is great for chatting.

Hazel - Knock, Knock ? Who is there? Sam and Janet! Sam and Janet who? Sam and Janet evening, you may see a stranger, you may see a stranger cross the crowded room!!

Talking of dieting - OH and I are following Weightwatchers on Line, (me reluctantly) as from yesterday. Last week we both lost weight without trying, so we expect good news when we are trying. Weigh day is Wednesday AM. Always best to keep to a particular day and time, as your weight can vary from day to day and hour to hour!

Mary - thought I'd mention, OH and I have "let's keep that it might be useful" bug, our spare room is full of spare stuff - mind you some of it has come in useful!!

Haven't been to voluntary work this week, unfortunately the centre is too cold for me (they can't afford heating) and my bad ear has been playing up (must be the cold wind)

Love to everyone, prayers for those that need them, keep warm (cool if you are Berona) keep smiling :-)

Lots of love
Gerard <3 <3 <3

Gerard - I'm pleased to know that you are receiving good news and hope that one of the job prospects eventuates.....If not - keep trying. Sounds like you are getting close to having good luck.

Dec to Feb is our Summer. I have never before known it to rain here in Sydney in January, but we have had plenty in the inner city and now, floods in northern NSW and drizzly rain where I am (we don't usually get much rain, even in Winter). Last week, I couldn't sleep comfortably because I was too hot and threw the bed covers down, leaving only a cotton sheet on me. Then, last night, I had all of the covers on which I used throughout the winter (bed socks too) and I awoke because I was cold! I didn't wake during the winter because I was cosy with the same covers on. We should be getting temps of 32 to 40+ but all we get is 21 to 23. I find myself checking the weather forecast before going to bed, to know how I should dress for bed and what covers to remove or keep! I've never had to do that before.

Bridget are you receiving the writing group pieces. If not have you changed your e mail? Have you checked your spam. I have sent out many pieces and not heard a word from you so wondered if they were reaching you.

Oh dear!
Many apologies to AnninGlos, I am on my knees asking for forgiveness !!

Yes I have been receiving the stories and they are all so ver good, in fact a sent a message to the person who wrote about Ireland, it was so well written and brought back so many memorries.
There has been quite a lot going on in the family which has taken up most of my time.
I will try harder to do what I should, so can only say sorry :-( :-(

Gerard, good luck with your quest for work, keep us informed.

Berona, look after your self, keep warm.

Now here is a little question for you all, dear Cyner Friends. Are daughters more difficult to bring up than boys and does this last forever....??
I have an excellent relationship with my sons and the wives/ girlfriends but no matter how much we love each other my daughter and I do not have the same rapport........

Well the wind is still blowing hard, the sun is still shining, and it is still cold, but I must go and do some housework and check tha no damage to my trees and plants.

Bye bye for now.


Bridget

PS. For those of you who remember Izzy and her son who suffered dreadful injuries whilst serving in tne Army .

I am in fairly regular contact with Izzy and she asked me yesterday to let you know that she is well but working almost full-time on the Invicta project . Her son still requires more surgery but the good news is that he became engaged at Christmas. No wedding planned yet.

:-) <3

Hi Bridget no problem. Would it be possible for you to just send a 'received' e mail so that we know that you have got them, otherwise it is a bit dispiriting not knowing. As long as the e mail address is OK. On the other hand, if you are too busy would you prefer us not to send to you until you have more time?

Thank you for the news on Izzy, people on her thread were concerned they had not heard. Would you copy that to her thread please? Or do you want me to do it? :-)

glad to hear everyone is OK. Glad you saw Evie, Bridget.

snow has been threatened but we will see

Have a lovely weekend everyone

Jan X

Bridget - I don't think there is one definite answer to your question about girls being more difficult to rear than boys. I think it depends upon a lot of things - the personalities of both children and parents and whether they blend or clash - also the amount of time the parents have to spend on the children - if they have plenty of time to be with them or are they busy?. The position in the family could have it's problems (middle child, baby of the family, etc). I had three boys, then one girl.

I do believe that I was lucky in having a husband who could manage the boys. He involved himself with their weekend sports and later with their choice of following one of the avenues of engineering. He was an engineer.
My girl was never a problem for me. She is now 41 and is close to her 14 y.o.daughter just as I am to her. One daughter in law is a 'gem' - an only child who still thinks (after 16 years) it's great to belong to a 'family' whilst still being very close to her own Mum. Her dad died while she was young. The other two DIL's come from a broken family and a family which is always fighting about something. They think we are queer because we don't fight - never have fought. It's just not our style - so we don't see much of them - not that we mind that.

I know this is a long way of saying that everyone is different, but if you feel that you want to be closer to your daughter - why not talk to her about it? Work out something between you so that you can get closer. If anything 'bugs' you about each other, be honest and say what it is, so that it can be ironed out. Take her into your confidence and tell her any 'secrets'. Let her see that you trust her. Knowing that someone trusts you implicitly, is a good way to being close to them. You will probably find that your daughter also wishes she was closer to you!

Hi everyone

Gerard :-D :-D We have hid the books :-D. Glad money is being sorted now.

Bridget glad you saw granddaughter.Hope all is well with them all

Its freezing here like it is most of uk. I have my hot water bottle in bed with me. Plus lots of layers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~to everyone Keep warm. Take care if you have to go out.

Hazelx

I AM still here!
Sorry I have not posted for so long. Computer and I have both been a bit down at various times..

Have also been spending longer doing housework (sorry for the language0. i usually have a friend who helps me with the cleaning two hours every week. Just to make sure that I don't disappear under the rubbish etc.
Unfortunately, she slipped on ice before Christmas and broke her (left) wrist. A really nasty break, has had to have a plate inserted, and bone splinters removed from muscle.
So having to do all the housework myself. (can you hear the violins?).

Some sad news in the family too. A dear cousin died in early December (on her 69th birthday). She was the sort of person who made you smle, just by seeing her. A really lovely lady.

Other cousins are not well, so sort of waiting for bad news.

Have been reading all recent posts (ten pages of them). Last time I tried to catch up, Inhad nearly got there, when my computer "Frooze" instead of turning the page to no. 94. It ws really annoying.

Good news about Little Evie, she must have had her thumb up during the scans!

I hope that you get to see her in the flesh soon.

Gerard, pleased that you have got some of your money sorted out (and back-dated) Hope that the rest is done soon.

hazel, sorry that your Christmas didn't go well. I think that we sometimes put too much stress on to yourselves, re Christmas day and everything being perfect.
I was on my own, after son called in following night work, on his way to his family home.

Hadn't bothered getting turkey and all the trimmingsfor just me. In the end, it was a "non hungry" day. So didn't eat much at all!

It is freezing here in West Midlands. Have got a bird feeder in my back garden, which includes a dish for water.
It froze solid, so have tipped "ice-disk" out onto sunniest part of the patio (x 2) Will have to check replacment water when it is light.
Ice disks are still solid, perhaps I will end up with a little family of them.


Think that I will now go back to bed, in the hope that I will be able to sleep this time.


bye for now,
and a Happy 2012 to everyone.

Tess

Good morning dear cyber friends! It is really cold here, not a day for going anywhere unless it is essential.
Berona, thank you for your very interesting reply to my question about daughters.
We have had such conversations but unfortunately she has always believed that I prefer my sons to her. Cannot explain why, just feels it. She remains very angry that I left her father and married again. She does stay in contact by email and the occasional telephone and is a very good mother.
I will always be there for her but she has someone else she turns to and who acts as her mother and as a grandmother to my grandchildren.
However I will never loose contact because I love her and her children far to much to do that.

AnninGlos

I do really enjoy reading the stories so please keep sending them, I will acknowledge them all.
I had hoped to be writing again but it hasn't worked that way yet, births and marriages plus I'll health in the family etc simply got in the way. I will have a try next week ........but do not expect anything as good as those currently sent to mr...... :-(.

However I might improve with practice!!


Well off to make a coffee, feed Jet and Joe and wrap up warm. It is freezing here !!

Bridget :-( :-) :-( :-)

Where is everybody? Have you all hibernated?
I hear that the UK is having the coldest night of the year. Hope everyone is keeping warm.
We, here in Sydney, are having strange weather. We didn't see much of summer as we know it. Where January is usually dry and very hot, we have had many showers and lower than normal temperatures. Not that we mind that - January temps are usually TOO hot, but this year were quite pleasant. This is continuing into February - so instead of having many days of 30 to 40 temps, we have been having mostly around 24 with the odd 'hot' day reaching only 29 - and not many of them. I'm not complaining! I like it that way. I just wish I could send some of it over to those of you who are feeling the cold.

Berona, thoses temps. sound ideal to me, not too hot to move around.

Still not spending so much time on computer as rather busy doing other things (or sleeping).

Meet my sister in the town today, she wanted to buy a coat (which she got). I wanted a cardigan, wasn't too bothered about colour or style but wanted one made of natural fibres, not easy to find.
In the end I gave up and came home

We had snow on Saturday, but most of it melted away on Sunday, hoping we don't get any more.

Bridget, sorry that you didn't have the same bond with your daughter that you did with your sons.

I too, was convinced that I was the least favourite child of my parents (sometimes with good cause). My parents were NEVER demonstrative, didn't hug any of us or tell us that we were loved.
I found out in later years that my (older) sister and my mum were both thought that even as a little girl I was tough and didn't need anyone!

I think that this became a vicious circle.
Don't know if this helps at all, in later years I got on well with my mum, and I get on with all my sibs too.
Being treated differently, or feeling that we were treated differently, could have much worse consequences.

it is after midnight here now, so I am going to turn the dish-washer on (cheap rate) before going to bed.


Tess

Good morning dear Cyber friends.
I have just read the latest entries as I have not been on here for a few days
Nothing wrong just busy doing family history. When do you all stop adding and what do you do about distant relatives? A simple example..........
M joins the P family who are blood relatives. M has many siblings as do her parents, result for me became 854 people! When I add what the relationship is for many of them it is along the lines of..great aunt of second cousin twice removed!? ? ?
It is bitterly cold here, it is difficult to stay warm, fires are lit, we are wearing several layers of jumpers etc. Woolly sox and good slippers. Even Jet and Joe do not stay outside for very long!.
We took some friend to Castellon two days ago. The male is nearly 90 years old and quite big in built as is his wife who is in her late 60s and she is also
tall and very well built. I am pleased that I am sliming down as our car felt the weight!
We were assured that they knew where to go but insisted that we left early......yes you are all right, they had no idea.....however he upstairs must have felt sorry for us as I suddenly saw a sign for a road that I thought was
right and it was the right one!!! Eventually we found the building, parking was not a problem. We left them to be seen and had a really good walk around the town, then went into a few shops and I bought another electric blanket, now we each have one at the temp we prefer.
3 hours after arriving they were ready to go....they were there to claim a special parking ticket for the disabled.
On the way back they insisted that we had lunch with them as a thank you....
Ooh what a mistake.....the lamb was over cooked and swimming in oil....the veg were soft and awful so we tried to eat and then the waitress came...thank goodness she took our plates quite quickly

Yesterday we shopped for veg and fruit and then came home.
Tonight we go ten pin bowling again which I am looking forward to.

OH is busy watching the cricket and finalising the questions for the next Quiz


Take care of yourselves if you are in wet, icy conditions

Best wishes to everyone

Bridget
:-D :-)

Sorry, been away for a few days with OH and his sisters, it was a thank you from one sister , who was 70 last month, and has been undergoing chemo for breast cancer. It was a lovely treat, and my oH took us 2 days earlier, to one of our favourite places on the North Norfolk coast. Had about 3 inches of snow, but quite mild, came home yesterday..everything alright, a friend had been up to check on our house for us. Heating went on extra time, and lit fire.....wonderful. Been catching up on the washing since !! Also been to dentists today, had a filling fall out before we left. my lovely lady dentist fixed me up, but I have a numb cheek and lips and ears !!!

It used to worry me that people went back to the same hotel, now it doesn;t because after one day, its like you have been there for a long time. Food and service excellent, haven't been there for a while because I wasn;t fit enough. But it hadn't changed thank goodness.

Keep warm those in the UK and the others in the warm, I'll try not to be envious !!!

Jan X

Where are you? Are your fingers too cold to type?
Our weather is still the same. More showers forcast for the next week or so. Floods up north receding - hopefully - with a lot of cleaning up to be done, once they go down.

Below freezing, some snow and ice, not very nice.
Having difficulty getting on GR this past few hours, also problems adding info.

So now got my knickers in a twist.

Solution, go to bed and sleep!!

Hope to be in a better frame of mind tomorrow, after I have had my hair done.

I will be back later today

Bridget