General Chat

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 :-)

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.

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

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

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

Have had some problems getting onto the site to-day.

Have just returned from doing the weekly shopping, the visitors all gone, oh all the washing. I had so many towels and the weather is not goodfor drying at the moment, cloudy and cold, so after washing the towels I decided to send them to the laundry to be dried.

Our laugh for the day - my daughter has her workshop attached to our house and to-day she had a computer delivered here in a hearse! Not sure if that was symbolic of the state of the computer.

Good to hear that Jet has recovered Bridget.

Ann, I had a look at your photos, stunning!. You have a beautiful garden, thanks for the opportunity of looking at the pictures.


Val.

3.11p.m.

Glad you enjoyed them Val. Maybe gives you some idea of what the UK is like this time of year.

Any idea why the computer was delivered by hearse? Very strange.

Ann, the computer belongs to an undertaker, but so strange that they brought it in the hearse or didn't ask daughter to collect it.


Val.

4.58p.m.

creepy I'd say Val, having a hearde turn up outside your office/home.

Hi Not feeling so good today, had an emergency appt at the dentist, cos I have an abcess !!!!!!!!! So now on anti=biotics, eating baby food...no seriously my oH makes the most wonderful scrambled eggs, its out family cure all....bless him...hope to be feeling better and sleeping in the next few days

It was rather disconcerting having it pull up in the driveway.

Sorry your are not feeling well to-day Greenfingers, hope to-morrow will be better.


Val.

Greenfingers, I hope that the antibiotics kick in quickly and that you start to feel better. I am such a coward re visiting the dentist. Isn't it helpful when our OHs are able to help?

Valerie, you must have been rather surprised to see the hearse draw up and head for your house......

Guiness cake is now cooking in the oven, and OH has told a friend that I will make one for them for tomorrow. Men!

The weather here is getting wRmer and warmer day by day,dare I say a little rain would be welcome...... Overnight would be good.

Greenfingers perhaps you should put you husbands way of cooking scrambled egg, it is not as easy as it sounds, to produce a really good scrambled egg.

Well oh is now taking Jet and Joe for their evening walk so I must get the coffeepot on, so goodnight from me.

20 23 hrs Spain

It is just aFter 8 am and the weather this morning is cool with a light breeze which is welcomed with open arms as the last few days it has been very hot indeed. Jet and Joe are still asleep as is OH. The trees are swaying and occasionally I can hear a dog barking in the distance. I wish that I knew more about birds for this morning they are coming closer to the house, I must have seen at least 4 different types of bird. I can also hear the songs. A beautiful morning.
The sea is looking quite dark but calm, and the fishing boats went out early this morning. I find the views and peace and quiet here very therapeutic at this time of day. Does anyone else have a time of day that is special to them?

We have a glut of fruit at the moment and yesterday I gave three friends a bag of oranges, lemons, limes and apples. I had not grown the apples, they came from next door, but the rest were from my garden.

My pear tree now has about a dozen lRge pears on it but as it is so long since I grew pears I am not sure when they are full ripe.I am looking forward to eating the first one picked.

Has anyone got any ideas about what is easy to grow during the winter, herbs, spices, veg etc.

L..e my eldest son has confirmed that his trip to India to provide drinking water holes so that more people can survive and become self sufficient is beginning to gather some momentum, this son is always so aware of people who are living in awful conditions etc and feels he must do something to help.he has no real interest in personal items, but never seems to be lacking in genuine friends and the number of letters he has from people thanking him astounded me when I was shown them by his girlfriend.he even has three from the Spanish Police which he never mentioned to me.
I am so lucky to have children who whilst they want a pleasant home also remember those less fortunate than themselves. They are far from perfect though and have caused some of my grey hairs!!

Someone asked me yesterday how would I define my view of tranquility, what does tranquility mean....I said I would think about it and ask some other friends, spool "what is tranquility for you,how would you describe it,"

Greenfingers I hope you Re feeling a little better today, Valerie,I hope that you are well.

Tees,where are you and how are you?

Best wishes to you all

Forgot to say that I did my quiet time earlier this morning so if you would like me to add anyone one to my prayers and positive thoughtsm
, p,ease let me know.

08.40hrs Spain

Hi All
Sorry I have not been adding for a few weeks but I think I am a puddle ! I agree with Bridget oh boy it is HOT. My problem is I leak without doing anything - when I do the housework I leave drips everywhere !! Still weekends are good when we go in the sea and have breakfast on the beach afterwards. Also having plenty of bbq's which hubby does all I have to do is salad etc. The problem is bbq is on roof terrace which is our only large outside space so it is up and down 2 flights of stairs. Must admit I try not to forget anything.
Greenfigers hope you are feeling better today.
Well this room is so hot I am off downstairs to sit in the small courtyard and hopefully cool down a little.
Take care all
Love Mary xx