General Chat

I'm back! Son drove me into the city, so I was able to collect a book from the libraryI had requested.

Then went to a Wholesalers son has got a card) to look at TVs Still haven't made my mind up.

I want an LED one somewhere between 32inches to 40inches. The set I have at the moment is rather small and old.

Can't read small writing on the screen and lose part of the picture as screen is the wrong shape.

Bridget, didn't you do well! I bet it all looks great. It obviously made you feel good too.
No wonder you felt nice and relaxed at your special time this morning.
Hope that the Ten Pin Bowling went well.

Greenfingers/Jan, at least you have now got your decorating under way. It will be worth the chaos (I hope).

I still haven't got organised after having replastering done in my two reception rooms late last year.

Have got some paint colour charts, but not made my mind up yet. Haven't been to thw Wall Paper Shop either.

One of these days I shall sort myself out.

Gerard, accept a pat on the back, on getting some work. Hopefully you will be able to increase your hours, when it suits you.

Berona, the floods in your part of the world sound terrible. I hope thatit stops raining soon and that things return to normal.

The lady who helps me to clean the house came back to work yesterday. She had been of for around three months as she had broken her wrist. (Fell on black ice) A terrible break, she had to have a plate put in her arm, and is still attending physiotherapy.

Take care everyone, If I don't speak to you before Saturday

"Happy St Patrick's Day, to all of Bridgets Buddies"

Tess

Good morning to all of Bridget's buddies / Cyber friends.

First I must congratulate Tess for being the first on this new page.

Tess, I hope that you find the right TV soon. I am not sure where we would be without the TV, OH is an ardent Supporter of West Ham United, has never wavered since he was about 7 years old and will be 64 this year. We both enjoy watching Tennis, Rugby, Boxing, Cricket, and all our sons enjoy some of these sports plus, motor racing, etc...

I hope that you are able to decide what decor you wish to have, we do not
have wallpaper on our walls. Like most homes in Spain the walls are plastered with a very slightly rough finish and are then simply painted and again most people have white walls, or just one wall painted in a different colour and then add paintings, photos and all sorts of pictures etc.

Today I am sitting indoors as the weather whilst warm there is also a very heavy mist which is blocking out most of the views and it looks like a cold winter day. I can hear about 5 or 6 different birds chirping away, the trees are very still and Jet are still asleep on their blankets on the settee.

Well, that is all my news for now, nothing exciting or extra special but I really do enjoy this thread and learning about people in all sorts of cities, towns and countries. Just had a thought about that sentence...... Would anyone be interested in writing something about where they live and where they would like to live and why?

Best wishes to everyone from

Bridget
 

Good morning dear Cyber Friends, I hope that you all had a good day yesterday and that some of you may have time to add a message.

Not a lot of real new news, so here goes with some updates.

Yesterday we decided that the voile curtains we bought recently are so good and add a splendid dimension to the rooms that we would buy a set for our bedroom and the second sitting room come study. This room has windows around three walls and has some spectacular views of the sea and the Papa Luna Castle. Not wanting to destroy these views we decided to only hang the voiles on the door which leads onto the balcony. So off we went to the shopping Mall. This time we bought two sets which are very different to the kitchen and sitting room.
Both sets have outlines of various flowers and butterflies and finish the rooms very nicely. No more curtains required. The lowere part of the house has traditional curtains, not voiles, to give better privacy in the summer when the pool is being used and the BBQs are on.

Today my son and his family will be visiting for the weekend, and we are looking forward to seeing them all again.

well that is all the news from here, I hope that some people have the time and inclination to add some news today.....

Best wishes to you all

Bridget

Yesterday morning my son woke me up with a cup of coffee (a rare treat from him)!

I fell back asleep and when I woke, coffee was cold. :-(

Thank goodness for modern conveniences I thought, went downstairs, popped cold cup of coffe into microwave.... It made a loud noise!! :-0
Although turntable kept on turning, on coffee didn't get hot :-(


Ended up going to wholesalers with son again. Came back with new microwave and new tv.

Now I just have to learn how to use them :-S
Very tired today so have had another lazy day.

Off shopping with the Ring and Ride tomorrow morning (early).

Will be back when I have rested and brain is back in gear.

Bridget, you have done well with all your shopping. Sounds beautiful too.

Good morning to all my cyber friends.
A sad day for us. A couple of weeks ago a friend of ours was admitted to hospital. At first we thought it was only for an investigation. Sadly he died just a couple of days sgo, aged 61. He will be sadly missed by many people both where we live and his family and friends in the UK.

He was married for many years and had an excellent and successful furniture company in the UK. Sadly his marriage broke down but ever the gentleman he handed the business to his wife and children and kept the business he had here. A few years later he met some else who is English and a business lady who had divorced her husband some years ago.

Today we go to his Spanish church to say goodbye and it will be a full service.
Then he will be taken back to the UK

Please say a prayer for him and his family and friends.

Thank you

Bridget

Hello to you al,

Well we have just come back from the above service and I must say it was very well attended. Our friends sister and brother plus a friend came from England to represent their kin.
I think that every Brit within 15 kilometres came to the service. The priest was very good and spoke in English from time to time but the language used most was Latin and those of us who are Catholic, including my none believer husband was able to fully join in with th necessary responses ......isn't it strange how these things never leave one.

We were invited to follow the coffin to the undertakers to see our friend but about 10 of us decided that we did not want to do this and so came home.

Now the sun is shining, jet and Joe are very quiet in the shade but near to the sunny stone as well.

This afternoon we are going to watch a football match which OH wants to see at the English Bar .

Well that is about all for now

Bridget

Isn't it strange how there is sadness and tension at the funeral, then when it is over and people gather together, the atmosphere changes to that of being relaxed?

I still remember after my Dad's funeral, people gathered at his house and they were everywhere from the front patio to the lounge, dining, kitchen, back patio and back lawn. All relaxed and 'chatty', with great neighbours keeping the platters of finger food and tea and coffee coming continuously.

Just after 2pm, I noticed that the crowd had depleted drastically. Surely they wouldn't have gone home without saying 'goodbye'? I went looking for them - and found all these ladies crowded in the lounge room - watching TV!
Even my Dad's sisters couldn't miss their daily dose of "Days of Our Lives"!

Just popping in before I start the dish-washer (at cheap rate) and go to bed.

Have now worked out how to operate the new microwave. Two pages of the instruction book were stuck together when I tried to understand the instructions earlier> So I missed all the important bits.

Will be going to a funeral of a friend of the family on Wednesday, so a bit of a sad time.

I suppose that as we get older, the more funerals we are likely to attend.


It has rained quite a lot here today and temps are down again. Maybe we will get more blue skies tomorrow.

Bridget, I was bought up a Catholic and well remember the Latin Mass. Very useful for understanding the service anywhere in the world.

Sweet dreams everyone,

Thank you Berona and Tess for your entries...your kind thoughts are very welcome.
I suppose that because of my lifetime occupation I have been at the side of people who die and attended many funerals. Being of the Catholic faith since I was born, have left sometimes but always go back, I am quite used to seeing many peoples reaction.
I agree that most people appear to be more alert and less distressed after the service of any denomination , and I believe that this is because the last thing anyone can do for the deceased is torovide a suitable farewell .......nothing more can be achieved and memories are what is left.
Tess, I will offer a prayer for you on Wednesday.
You mention that you were brought up as a Catholic but it reads as if you no
longer have the belief......for me it isn't really about a particular Domination but about caring about others and not deliberately hurting others, I just happen to like the Catholic fundamental approach...mind you I do have big reservations about some parts of how the church is managed!!!
Did you do Latin at school, it is an amazing language.

Berona, I understand what you are saying about after funerals and how people behave...I think what you have described is the way people react shows the strength of normality comforts people.

Well, the weather here is grey, so we will not be going out today, we are going to relax and "chill out, keeping ourselves occupied with our hobbies,
I am putting all my photos on the vomp...I think it is going to be a long haul and then I will down load them onto a disc.... And put the originals in acid free folders which I think will be obtained by birthday and Christmas presents

Bye bye for now


Bridget :-)

Hi Everyone

Well the first full week of my two-hour evening work is complete. I think I must have impressed - got to do an extra half hour on one day and getting paid for a full hour. Also I seem to have more time than work as each day goes on :-)

Sad news on all those funerals - prayers were said and candles were lit on Sunday. It is weird how we all act, never really knowing what to say or do, I think for the family it is just nice that people are there to pay their respects.

Such a tragedy at the football on Saturday evening - at Tottenham - well it it is the critical time for him now - we are praying young Fabrice pulls through. He used to play for Arsenal too!

OH and myself made a Quorn and vegetable pie for lunch on Sunday - well at least I put the pastry on the top!! It was absolutely delicious - I think you have a thread for recipes don't you? (with the left over pastry I made some cheese biscuits!)

Had a new contact in Australia on Saturday - managed to get her (and about 200 of her relations) on my tree by today - but I think we are very very distant cousins (and that's not just because she lives in Australia)

That's all for now - keep warm (cool) - keep safe - thinking of you -
Gerard <3 <3

Gerard, Culinary Delights , is the recipe thread I started and pleased to say from time to time new Recipies are still added.
I look forward to seeing your entry.

Bridget :-)

Good morning all cyber friends, I hope that you are all well. Going out in a few minutes but will be back this afternoon.

Bridget

Sorry to take a few days to get back here.

Funeral went well yesterday. It was very well attended. Stan was alovely man, doing workfor charity, active in the community and his church, as well as a popular member of a choir. He also liked a laugh, so was very good company.


Bridget, although I was bought up Catholic, I no longer have a belief in God.

We travelled a lot when I was a child, as Dad was in the army. Most of the scholls I went to were Cathloic. However, I didn't pass the eleven plus. So dodn't go to a Grammar School.
The only language taught in my R.C. Sec. Mod. School was English.

I am by no means a linguist (though I wish I were), so probably didn't really miss out on anything.

I picked up some Malay, the second time I lived there. (Malaya).

If I thought that I had the aptitude, I would have looked into the possibility of learning Latin. Especially as it had an influence on so many other European languages.

Off for a body massage tomorrow, and hope that it may lighten my mood. I am getting this free, as part of a special package of having my hair cut a few weeks ago! I was very lucky, as I didn't know about the special offer, was having my hair done anyway, and the hair-cut was half-price.

Gerard, I think that we were all touched by what was happened to Fabrice Muamba. More so thise of us that are footbal supporters and especially those who have seen him play.

He seems to be making remarkable improvements, long may it continue.

It is wonderful making new contacts. I ahve been really lucky in that regard. Have actually met some "cousins" and am in contact with a few others.
Trouble is that I am now pulled in all sorts of directions re which branch of the family to concentrate on next!
But it is all good fun.

It was quite warm and sunny here again now, has been for a few days. Central heating is off. Only need a little blast of electric or gas fire, once in a while. Skies are blue. Washing has been drying on the line again.
I should be giving thanks for all these blessings!


So "Thank you World!"

Good morning to you allfrom Peniscola in Spain....the sun is up, the trees are still, no noise apart from the twitter of the birds and and the occasional bark of a dog...Jet and Joe are still asleep.

We found a good buy yesterday, we needed a reasonable looking chest of Draws for the second bed room,to god on oneside of the bed, now we did not want to buy anything. Dry expensive but nevertheless les something that would not break easily.
Weren't to Lidle as usual justtoseewhatwas new...sometimes we find great dealsandothertimex "nada"
We found a doit yourself chest of draws for just under 50euros...brought it home and OH put it together without any hitches and it is very sturdy....it must be those newtoolsi bought him. Looks good and I shall start using it from today.then the man came tool okay our pool as theatre is leaking away but stops just an couple of tiles lower than the lights. We had been concerned as to how much it would cost...the chap stayed for about30 minutes and then told us it would not be a problem to get the pool.clean,repair the lights, regrout where necessary and would not be more than 3 hundred euros in total!

The palm tree will be looked after next weekl, cutting off the dying bits , removing all the spores etc and then the garden should look good again....once this is finished the Estate Agent will come to view the house and I await with bated breath to see if we can afford to sell it....no mortgage thank goodness!

Today we will just "chill out)" no visitors, no shopping required etc.....soi may just get another group of photos on to the comp and then download them all..
After that I shall share them with my children and not yet decided who should have the very old documents going back to the early 1800s and old Army records going back to the mid 1800s

Tess,I have read your reply twice and I simply want today that you writing is excellent your grammar, choice of words etc put shame on me as I am always rushing together everything written down. I am most certainly not a linguist, but my children are linguistic so must get that from their father!
I do enjoy writing but am always rushing ahead so have to check quite carefully...

Well,time to go and have a coffee or two and start my work on my photos.

Thanks Bridget for your words of encouragement.

Had my (free) body massage yesterday, it was wonderful. Left me feeling relaxed.

This morining got up early to go shopping with the Ring & Ride. Was rather foggy in the West Midlands.

Bus en=ventually arrived, as I was the last passenger to be picked up, we were soon at the shopping centre.

Trundled round with my trolley, looking for special offers (I found a few!) Then got into a (very short) queue at the checkout. Unloaded shopping while the previous customer was being served, then found that I didn't have my credit or debit cards!! :-( :-0

Luckily I did have £15 cash, so was able to buy some things. Chose the ones that needed to go in the fridge. (Inc the special offers) and then had the rest put back in the trolley for collection later.

Boy, was my face red!
Son finished work at 3pm (having worker overnight) and the lovely lad collected (and paid for) the rest of the shopping for me!

We seem to have gained some cheese (which won't go to waste) and a jar of curry sauce has somehow been opened (I will have to throw it away). But all-in-all, I am lucky that things turned out so well.

These days I just can't manage to carry shopping on a regular bus.So with out help from my son and co-operation of the surermarket, I would have "lost" a lot of shopping.

I hope that the rest of you are well.

Tess

Hello All,

Been off line for a week and only just catching up ! router went kaput....
Can't possibly make comments about everybody's entrys, but it made interesting reading.....what would we do without e mail, having just found out I didn't like it at all, felt like my right arm had been cut off !!


Decorating finished...hooray, house back to normal, still clearing up dust, but it all looks nice, OH now staining outside windows, as the weather has been phenomenal here in very sunny Norfolk, and extraordinarily mild. Whilst decorator here the garden was given some welly ! and the ground elder ugh, the same treatment......it is all beginning to look very smart. My Hellebores are the best they have ever been this year

Anyway will sign off now,

Regards to all Jan

Another warm and sunny day in West Midlands UK. It is almost t-shirt weather.

Went into town to the College again today. Had my hair cut and finished for only £1 :-D

I was very lucky again, as I was booking the appointment anyway, even before I knew there was another (extra)special offer.

Need to sort some paperwork, write some letters (snail-mail and e-mail) tomorrow.

By the way, have all the UK people heard that First Class Post is going up to 60 pence a letter?

Jan, great to hear that you have done all the decorating. I am still hesitant about what colours to use. Have even thought about using wallpaper.
Popped into a "Decorating" shop last Wednesday, just to have a quick look at Wallpaper available. Leafed through two books (big mistake), saw quite a few I loved!! All 25% off. But they still cost around £29.


Think that I may have to stick to paint after all.

Then just have to get "a man who can" (decorate) Then chose carpet
Might get some new paint colour test tins in the next few days.

Off to make some phone calls.

Hope that everyone is well.


P.S. Gerard, I like the sound of those cheesey biscuits :-)

All that decorating makes me envious, Tess. Here in Oz, wallpaper is not as popular as it was a few years ago. I had it in my previous home, but the current trend is more for painted walls and polished floors - with carpet only in bedrooms, if that. I still like carpet but now that I'm in a villa, I have it only in the bedrooms and ceramic tiles in every other room - so I have big rugs in the lounge and dining rooms.

Just popping in to say hi

Hope you are all enjoying this nice sunny weather. Still very chilly in the mornings tho. But looks like its getting colder for Easter which is a pity.

Hope this goes on as been having prolems like most getting in and on threads.

Well just off to put washing out front on clothes horse. Dont get any sun front or back, but it comes in smelling nice.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~to everyone

Hazelx

Tess ......if you are of a certain age you can get a discount card for B & Q 10% off on a Wednesday. We paid 12.95 for our rolls of wallpaper, got more than we needed, but you have 28 days to take back which is handy, and I can thoroughly recommend their emulsion, cheaper and very good...so try them ...I have to say my decorator, who only did the living room with wallpaper (we live in an old house with "crap" walls so need paper, reckons that B & Q's own paper, is far superior to the expensive sort.

Hope thats a help Jan