General Chat

Bridget,
Did the links for Denmark and Germany that I gave you not yield anything? How disappointing.
Weather today is absolutely wonderful...worth having a few days of rain for.
Been shopping today, only the supermarket so nothing exciting. Had coffee with friends beforehand and caught up on the 'gossip'. Going later to look for a new tv type cabinet, but not holding my breath on finding something that we BOTH like. Ah well compromise is the name of the game I suppose.
Enjoy your games of scrabble, Val, and your friend's visit.
Take care everyone.
Frances.

A quick message of Apology to catchthecat Frances.

I did start to look and became so confuddled that I went onto another side of the tree and haven't gone back..

I am on my knees begging forgivens, will try to find the time and patience when back in the UK


Bridget

Good morning to you all and I hope you all have a good day.Share your thoughts with us or your worries or happy events and where necessary we can support each other.

Well my last visitors for this year have just left, looking nicely relaxed and tanned. They seem to have enjoyed themselves and have already made arrangements to visit when I am in Hastings. Just think this time next week it will be me leaving for the airport!

Jenxx

My special thoughts will include you and your family, please accept my condolences on the loss of family during this year, it must be evry difficult.

You sound delighted that the 375 slabs are all in place, that must have been a lot of hard work but I expect that you are delighted with the outcome.

I am sure that you grandaughter will have a wonderful time going to see Cinderalla.


Yesterday our visitors took as out for a superb lunch. They could not have chosen a better restaurant, it is called the Roc a Mar and is on the beach level with glorious views across the sea and round the coast. It was hot again yesterday around 34c and the slight breeze from the sea was a bonus. I had Spanish Ham with I large slice of Pineappla and of melon, and a little tempting spoonful of caviar, OH had the same.

We all had fish for our main course and my sole was absolutly perfect, OH chose the wine, and we sat chatting, eating and feeling very good. Because all the food is cooked to order we were able to relax and enjoy the occassion. One of the things I enjoy out here is that one is never rushed to finish the meal...In total we must have been there for around two and a half hours and it was soooo relaxing.
We then strolled along the promenade, shops all closed until 17.00hrs so simply enjoyed the company, weather and a grand sense of well being.

We came home for a coupleof hours and then it was all out again for OH to do his fortnightly quiz. He announced that the next one would be the last and a huge groan went around the venue, it seems everyone enjoys coming to the quiz but no one wants to prepare and present the quiz.

This is rather sad really as I started this almost 6 years ago and OH took over when I went back to work. Very different style to mine but also very successful....ah well maybe someone will change their mind.

It is quite chilly at the moment and was vey dark until about 10 minutes ago and daylight is now arriving.

The fishing boats sounded very loud this morning and I could not see them, well I could see their lights, but could certainly hear them.

Jet and Joe had their run around whilst I had my coffee and sat indoors this morning before our visitors were even up and went through my thoughts and hoped that all those who appeared to need an extra positive thought or a little prayer are now feeling better even if the result was not what they expected or wanted at the time.

Does anyone else have a special time for themselves each day?

Sometimes I am so rushed I have to do my thinking whilst ironing or cleaning the house and other times I can wander through the garden, sit on a terrace, or be weeding the garden...

I look forward to hearing what you have been doing etc



Best wishes to you all and enjoy the day, rememebr tomorrow never arrives, it is always today or yesterday.



I am now going to have a quick glance at the news, and the start on the washing etc



Bye



Bridget

Good morning everyone
am looking forward to weekend its grandsons Birthday hes 4 on Sat
it should be fun He can be a hand full but he does may us smile
the poor dog hates him The dog just looks at him and runs lol
Any way its been a good week at work things are starting to get easy again so thats a good sign i must be getting back to my old self If thats possible We will just have to carry on and see what happens

back tomorrow

Hello everyone,

My friend and I have had a lovely day down at the beachfront, although most of the 200 stalls were rather disappointing. There were a number of food stalls, none sold anything out of the ordinary, there was a lot of junk being sold and only a couple of stalls had anything worthwhile buying which was rather disappointing. We found that there was too much of the same. The atmosphere,however, was lovely. There was a steel band which we thoroughly enjoyed and also other types of music being played. We had lunch in town which was also nice. All in all a most enjoyable day. The weather was kind to us as it was neither too hot or too cold.

When the weather is good I like to sit outside to think and sometimes I find the bathroom to be the quietest place to think of those around me .

We played scrabble last night which was nice. I don't often get to play as Jimmy doesn't like playing.

Enjoy your time with your grandson Keith, I bet he keeps you on your toes. You sound positive and that's good.

Take care .



Val in SA.

Hi everybody,
Apology accepted Bridget, you can get off your knees now!!!
I am very late today because we have been to the beach, the weather is so gorgeous and it is very hot so we decided a sea breeze was called for. Feel as if I am glowing, in a pleasant sort of a way.
My quiet moments happen at any time, particularly in the garden as I am a potterer...
Enjoy the rest of the day,
Frances

Just catching up, I seem to have missed this thread for a couple of days. All this talk about warm weather and sea breezes, makes me want to be on holiday again!!

Keith, My son in law still has problems with his short term memory, the rest of us have to have a sense of humour sometimes but he is still managing to do the job her did before which is insurance underwriter so he is coping OK. I think it is a case of accepting it and coming to terms with it and having a lot of support from family. enjoy your weekend with your grandson, they are a joy.

Ann
Glos

Hello everyone

I am feeling very tired today, not sure why as I slept well, maybe it is what my mother used to say "gallivanting around"! Friend popped in last night to look at his tree, this is the one with the lost brother and we are trying to find him. Anyway he sayed for about 2 hours and rememebred more than he thought he would. He was very surprised atthe time it takes to check et and asked how much he owed me. I said nothing, but when I am in UK I would not have the time to do anymore. He asked how much it is to joing Ancestry or GR ans was very surprised at the cost....I felt a bit mean . Has anyone had this happen, do you think I said the right thing, it has been worrying me today.

Ann, I didn't realise that your son in Law had memory problems I shall add him to my candles when I go up to the church this afternoon.

It is a lovely day here, the sun is shining, not to hot, a slight breeze and the sky is a lovely blue. The sea is calm and I can see about a dozen sailing boats moving up and dow.....I am going to miss this view.

Beginning to feel a little nervous now about going back to UK I have enjoyed living back at home for the past 3 months or so. I shall be glad when OH joins me.

VAl in SA how was the shell festival, do tell us more, I have never heard of them before you talked on here a little while ago.

Anyway I hope that you enjoyed it.


Keith just as a reminder don not stop coming on here, I wish we could nudge you not just this thread,


Well I haven't much to add right now maybe I will be inspired this evening and at least it will give you all a break from my normal epistles!!!

Take care


Bridget

Hi Bridget, SiL had a bleed on the brain about 3 years ago after hitting his head when the car boot lid came down on it, he had an emergency op, couldn't drive for a year but is fine now except that it has affected his short term memory, it is not drastic but annoying for him sometimes, luckily he is quite laid back and he (and we) have a sense of humour.

Hello everyone, home from the Malvern Show. Got there at 0915 and left at 3.15pm, daughter and S i L still not home, they have more stamina than us and always stay longer. The weather was great and it was packed, they must have made a packet at £15.50 each for entry, plus what they take in stall rental.
There were loads of stalls to see, we started with the food hall and bought a Welsh oggie (a huge one to share between the two of us) and a Steak and kidney pie for this evening (sort of a tradition to buy a pie when we go to the shows). We also bought a bottle of cider to wash down the oggie. Then we went and had 'breakfast, a sausage and egg bap in my case, bacon and egg for OH, similar for daughter and S iL.

Then we split up and I found a rather good craft stall in one marquee and bought a few bits. We also bought some grasses, pansies and miniature daff bulbs, a bird feeder, I think that was all, waiting to hear what daughter bought.
We went back to the car for lunch and after a rest attcked the show again, this time T and I went round the show tent and looked at all the wonderful (huge) Dahlias and veg, I looked at the WI flower displays, some I liked some I wasn't keen on, took a few photos. Then we stopped for coffee and watched the heavy horses showing how they used to pull the plough. another demonstration was from dogs, I think mainly spaniels and retrievers fetching a 'dummy'. One little black one was so sweet, her mistress threw the dummy (blue), at the same time another one (red) was thrown for another dog, they were in a circle, this little one, when given the instruction to fetch, shot off and brought back the red one which was round the circle to the right, she brought this back, looked at her mistress, wagged her tail and immediately shot off and fetched the blue one.

We looked round a few more stalls and by then were feeling tired and footsore, especially T who has had a poorly foot, so we came home. It was a great day, thoroughly enjoyable, not cheap but I think we got value for money.

Ann x

A VERY GOOD MORNING TO ALL
Today looks like its going to be warm here so i may mess about in the garden
But 1st i shall go out with my son to the woodland down the Road to stock up with logs for his log burner
They have cut down a lot of dead trees and lots of peeps are using them for their gardens the farmers near by are using them for their fires which must save a few bob on wood and coal
Anyway hope you all have a good day and keep doing your family tree ,.bfn

Hello all. Just popping in to say hope everyone is well and happy....I don't have much to report.
We had a very unusual day last Wednesday. Woke up to what I thought was a car backed into my garden - I could see a red glow on the window-sill. On further investigation found the red glow was everywhere - sky, buildings, streets, people - like a thick fog, only all red! I've never see it before although it is said it happened about seventy years ago - but no colour photos available from that long ago.....It was a dust storm coming from the western side of New South Wales and bringing with it the red soil of the 'outback'....There is no red soil for hundreds of miles from here on the coast!....Continued to blow all day, and even though my house and garage remained closed all day, the dust seeped in somehow. I had to wash my car windows to see out of them - the dust had seeped in over the top of the rolladoor.
It has been windy since then, and more dust is getting into the house although we can't see it now.....It's very hard to get rid of too...I have dusted a few times each day, but it still comes in, and when I wipe it off, it leaves streaks....We could do with some of that rain you are having. Send some over, will you? It would help settle the dust - and clean everything. Even the plants need to have their leaves wiped - it just won't hose off.
Hope we don't have another day like that for another 70 years!

Berona

Your description mad eevrything so real. I saw some info on the news and also on my News page on the comp...there was a photo of Sydney Harbour Bridge and it could hardly be seen..... Does this dust stain and how are people managing who have breathing difficulties....

Keith gad to hear from you and hope you are enjoyed yourself with the grandchildren..
We have a log burning fire which we use in the winter and it is so relaxing and gives off a lovely heat.

To everyone thanks for the interesting messages.

I am busy as I am trying to pack ready fro the next adventure, working in UK for 6 to 12 months, OH is joing me at the end ofOctober so I will feel much happier then. Having never lived in rented accommodation before I am wondering what I shall find. The people who own the aoartment live in France and the agent calle dto see if I could delay my arrival, when I explained the situation the couple called me and told me not to worry, they would make alternative arrangements...now wasn't that good of them.!


Have more recipies to put on my Culinary thread today, so am going to be busy.


Today the weather is calm and warm, the sky is beginning to get that slightly grey blue colour which indicates that the Autumn is approching, the sea is very calm and the town is quiet, in fact not mush happeing here at all. Even the dogs who are left all day are quiet, No i do not mean my dogs. Jet and koe have had their morning run around and are now sitting quietly beside me, in fact one of them is asleep !


Trying to pack is becoming a nightmare as the luggae limitation on Ryan Air is not great...never mind will simply have to do some shopping!!!

Bye for now


Aand have a happy day everyone


Bridget

Hello everyone,

I am popping in again .

On Friday evening we went to my daughter for supper and my friend, Meryl, and I played tennis and tenpin bowling on the Wii, we really had such fun.
We had just arrived back home at about 10p.m when our electricity went off so we sat around for a while by candle light and then decided to go to bed. Well the electricity came and went off again twice more during the night which is par for the course here.

Meryl and I went down to the festival again yesterday and listened to the steel band. There was a brass band and a parade down the main street in the morning, but no fancy costumes. We browsed round the stalls again, I believe there were 200, and had a lovely time. I thought I would treat Jimmy to some turkish delight which he likes, but nearly fainted at the price R130 per kg so he only got a few pieces!! The crowds all seemed to be enjoying themselves.

We had a little rain during the night and it has been drizzling on and off throughout the day and is actually quite cold.

I heard about the dust storm on the news Berona, it must have been quite an experience.

Happy packing Bridget.

Bye for now,



Val.

Good morning,

Although the sun is shining it is quite a crisp day, slight breeze and no rain not even a drizzle. After the rain we had yesterday everything in the garden looks fresh. The mimulus which I planted last week are beginning to flower already, bright yellow flowers. My lobelias are also looking lovely.

How's the packing going Bridget , I have never mastered the art of travelling light so it's lucky for me that I don't do much flying.

I will be attending the funeral of an elderly relative to-day. This means travelling again as it takes place in Port Elizabeth.

According to a newspaper survey published at the weekend the crime in JBay has increased 76%, this is really scary.

Off for some tea.

Have a good day.



Val in SA.

Good Morning All
Yesterday we went for a walk down to Oliva Marina - went in the car, as the sky was very grey. but managed a small walk by the sea which was quite rough and grey looking. Had a glass of wine at the bar looking out to the sea - I never tire of gazing out to sea whether it is calm or rough. Came home and had lunch of bread. chesse and obviously a glass of red wine. Sometime around 5 o clock the heavens opened - thunder and lightening - and oh such heavy rain. September has been a very wet month and if I remember correctly so was last year. I just hope it all clears up as my mom is coming out a week on Wednesday and she would prefer the sun.
Anyway, the thunder went on until the early hurs of this morning accompanied by the heavy rain. And guess what ??? It is still raining now - no washing been done in this casa today.
Bridget - hope the packing is nearly all done - when did you say you fly back to the UK ? Will you still be able to keep your BBs Daily Diary going - I do hope so.
Well I think I will go and have a cup of coffee - hope you all have a good Monday.
Love Mary xx

Good morning to you all.

We are haqving a major storm here. It started around 20.00hrs last night with thunder growling all around us, that went on for a couple of hours becoming ever more loud. Just before midnaight the lightening started and it was or appeared to be so close it was amazing, then came the rain, torrential have rods of rain,. It has continued alll night, and had a small hiatus which lasted about 15minutes and now it is just as bad.

We were going to a beachside restaurant with some friends. They invited us out because I have started a family hoistory for the husband and he is so delighted that they are treating us to lunch. He called a while ago to say now the will pick us up at 13.00hrs and we are going to an Italian Restaurant instead and as I really enjoy Italian food all has turned out well.


Jet does not like storms so he found himself a tee shirt belonging to my OH and is now sleeping on it, he will not let uis move it. Joe has got his favourite toy with him and gives a gentle groan if we pretend to take it away,

Well there goes another hefty clap of thunder so bye for now, take care of yourselves


Bridget

Hello again, Bridget - and all who post on here.
That red dust is still everywhere. We still have wind, but it's not bringing the dust with it now. However, the forecast is that it could happen again.

Yes, people with breathing problems did have a bad day in the wind. The health authorities were broadcasting advice all day. I hope it doesn't happen again. Very interesting to look at - but a menace to clean!

Hello all, for once we seem to be having the best of the weather today, Don't like thunderstorms so wont swap you and certainly would not like the dust storm which seemed horrendous, I do hope it doesn't return to you.

Our day is grey and very still, complete cloud cover but not cold and doesn't look like rain. We have had a very dry September this year with some really lovely sunny and warm days so no complaints here.

Not doing anything much today just things around the house and maybe make a few cards later.

Ann x

Good Morning All
Although it is so dark I feel like saying good evening !!! We have, yet again, another thunderstorm going on - very loud, also lightening and it is raining cats and dogs. As our house has a flat roof hubby keeps looking for leaks - and he found 2 - both in the bathroom upstairs but as luck would have it both over the bath !! Well if you can call it luck. I do hope it all clears up soon as my 86 year old mom is coming out a week tomorrow and she will not be impressed if the weather is wet.

I did have the foresight of doing what washing was in the laundry basket on Saturday so I have now got a little bit of ironing to do and it will not get done by just looking at it - unfortunately.

Hope you all have a good Tuesday whatever you are doing.

Love Mary xx

Goodmorning Mary and anyone else who comes along,

As we were approaching JBay yesterday afternoon we looked across a the sea, it was a beautiful blue with absolute white breakers, too lovely.

Today is cloudy but I did manage to get one load of washing done, not too sure whether it will dry though.

I plan to do a bit of gardening later, have a few more lettuce to plant out, hopefully the snails won't get to them again

Don't have plans to do much.

Take care,



Val in SA