General Chat

Gerald, good luck with your interview today, I hope things turn out as you would have wished.
Your Pantomime sounds great, shame that you don't live close to me, then I could be there to shout "Oh yes you are!"

Hazel, what lovely grand-daughters you have! They lookso good together. Of course they are used to being close to one another, so this should give them a sense of normality in the new and very different world they now inhabit.
By-the-way, when I was a little girl my (two years ) older sister would only let me play with her and her friends if I anewered to the name Hazel! (As in "come along Hazel")

After a very wet night, we have now got some blue skies, so my washing is on the line.
Am also dedicating myself to tidying up. Firstly all my paper work, with had got so bad that all the different piles had converged.
Will also be tidying generally, and putting away stuff that I don't need at the moment. Hope to have some plastering done in the two reception rooms soon.
Will find out later today how much and when.

Bridget, I hope that your return journey went well. I am sure that Joe and Jet will be delighted to see you both.
As to moving back to the UK, perhaps a visit in the early new year, with miserable weather and few hours of daylight, would be a good idea, before making the final decision.

Hope that everyone is okay.

Tess

Good morning to you all. I have just read through all the messages since my last entry. Your kind words, thoughts and prayers fo my Granddaughter are very much appreciated. Gerald, please keep the candle going for my granddaughter, I find it very comforting. At one time in my life I lost any sense of religion etc but about 20 years ago I realised that the belief was still within me and lighting candles has always ment to me that my faith is true and strong.
My granddaughter has now arrived and is being worn so the next stage of recovery begins. I telephoned my daughter last night to let her know that we are home. Now, our relationship has been very difficult sinc she was 18 years and one week. This is etched in my brain! She is now 37 and on this visit to her she hugged me so hard I thought I might be fainting if she went on!
Last night I thanked her for being so delightful, for her consideration and for giving me the longest hug I have had for a very long time. Her reply was " I suddenly learnt Mum, just how much I love you and need you" did I cry, of course I did. So out of a terrible time comes great news.

Grandson has not been left out of all this drama and whilst not one of the most clever children he is well mannered, pleasant to be with, charming when in company and is determined to go into the Army. My daughter is not sure that he will be successful in his desire and is herself not sure that she wishes him to be in the Army. He is very protective of his sister, can chat to anyone who is willing to listen, and to my mind is a typical lad of his age. Even I had forgotten that hebis only 15 in March not 16 !! As he is now 6 feet 1 inch tall, I think we expect to much from him!!
I will be back later today, I am going to try to get back to sleep now. I woke at just after 02.00 hrs withna dreadful headache but it is abating now.
So night night

Bridget

Hi everybody,
have offically finished making chutney...run out of jars...should'nt need to buy any for some time...veggie patch doing well..was given some leeks and they seem to have settle in....onions coming up and broad beans romping. Haven't had time to come on here because of all the above, and re-modelling a bit of the garden that had been neglected. It now is weed free but needs some other plants..will probably put in some shrubs in one area.


Time to watch Doctors !!

Jan

Not long until we reach page 90 by looking at the entries.
Congratulations Tess for being first on this page.

I have got all the fruit together in a large bowl with plenty of Sherry in it and it will be looked at and stirred for three days before I go to stage two of my Christmas Cake. I have a new recipe this hear it is from Mary Berry festive Baking in a well known magazine this month.
I now wish I had bought even more fruit for cakes when in the UK.

Slow cooker is also in action as OH made a chilli for dinner tonight, I have strict instruction " not to interfer"!

Bye for now

Bridget :-D

Hi all

Got back from Teri's last night. Had a very busy weekend. Looking after Caitlin friday night. Then Had Arron from Sturday afternoon until Sunday afternoon.Done cooking with Caitlin, And helped her sort her room out.

Twins were to come home this week sometime but have had to have feeding tubes put back in as wont take from bottle anymore.Doctor said they just lazy.So hoping they will start back having bottle then can come home. I hope to go and see them be for i go away.

Not read all other post yet, will do late

Bye for now

Hazelx :-D :-D

Hazel, do not worry about the twins not feeding so well, this happens quite often. My smallest one was only allowed out with his brother when a close friend explained that she had trained as a midwife and knew how to use a special pipette which gave him only 2 or 3 ounces if we were lucky. Now guess which one got through to the vigours of gaining a place at the most famous Army Training College in the world,

It sounds as if you have been very busy, look after yourself as much as you can.

Best wishes

Bridget :-)

Hi Bridget

thank you for that.Yes my friends daughter was 12wks prem and if you saw her today you wouldnt have guess she was on 2lbs 10oz. and she wouldnt take bottle.She does now at 29yrs old Ha Ha

I have spoken to they mum tonight and she said they taking the bottle again.So if carry on doing so be out end of week.But i am hoping to get over to see them on Wdenesday afternoon..They in the same cot now as well all the time. :-D

Hazelx :-D :-D

Hazel, what a lovely photo of the twins!
I can clearly recall how many people used to see the twins in their pram, it was a Marmet large pram, no one seems to use these now, and they could not believe how tiny they were. If only they could see them now!

I keep saying a little prayer that the son who is the one who was so tiny has twins next February,, but the photo only shows one, maybe next time??

Do keep us all informed of how they progress,

Best wishes

Bridget in Spain
:-D

Hi Everyone

What a gorgeous photo - glad the twins are doing well - I can remember my big pram (only because I have seen a photo of me in it) - I was assured that the Queen had one identical for Prince Charles (HM must have copied us because he is a bit younger than me)

Well done with the garden Jan - I am finally getting round to doing our back garden - it looks like some waste ground at the moment - but since we erected the shed it means there will be less to weed and therefore easier to manage - I have just been lazy before - the Green Bin men got another sack of weeds for composting this morning

Bridget - How was the uninterfered with Chilli - occasionally we have the vegetarian option - my OH isn't too keen as it's a bit spicy for her.

I made my first Christmas Cake at College when I was 17 - and I remember it took ages to make it - but it was worth it - to be honest I haven't tasted a better one since - but of course it was made under the tutorship of our Senior Chef tutor - so how could it go wrong! I do remember lots of dried fruit and brandy to soak it in - We bought our own ingredients - so we got to take the cake home after we had iced it and then shown it at the Christmas Fayre (My Mum was never very good with cakes (cold hands) but pastry (Yummy Mince Pies) yes) - Me, I have warm hands great for cakes - not so good for pastry!

Not heard from Berona since I gave out the Sudoku link - you don't have to do them all Berona!!

Off to voluntary work shortly - it's my usual Tuesday stint looking after the Car Park - OH is coming after work later too (glutton for punishment) - then tonight we have adult confirmation class for OH - I will remember Bridget's granddaughter again - and will say a prayer for the safekeeping of those lovely twins too!!

Bye for now
Gerard :-)

Hi all

It was nice and sunny when i first got up, now cloudy but still very windy

Thank you Bridget i am hoping i can get a beter one of them so can see both they faces. Hope to go Wednesday still.Then i can put it on here that night.

Off to shopping centre today Age UK have something going on over there, Also got family history thing on as well.So will have a nose at that be for doing shopping.

Been looking up what record centre me and Pat need to go to.Looks like the same ones which is handy. Both about an hour from where we are in Hasting.

Have a nice day all of you

Bye for now.

Hazelx :-D :-D

Hazel. Thanks for your message, so you are in Hastings!! Well I never!

When I was about 3 1/2 years old my mother became I'll due to pregnancy. My father could not care for me and go to work, he knew the Mother Superiour of the school named as Sandrock Hall. I was there for about eight months!
My last place of work meant that I had to find accommodation and low and behold it was a flat in Sandrock Hall. So I had my 4th birthday there and then my 65th birthday there as well. It felt rather strange. It was the stress of the work that lead to my breakdown.

Enough said, me thinks!

Gerrard, the Chilliwhat was far from being "chilly' ! However we both enjoyed it and I froze what was left, strangely I find it is even better second time around .
The fruit is doing well absorbing all the alcohol,. I always make a large cake and then we can have some at New Year as well.
I do not like Marzipan so not sure yet how I will decorate it, any suggestions??

I am eagerly awaiting my new oven and then I will try my new style cake
Tins which are some form of flexing material.

Autumn cleaned the house today, well one floor of the house, inspired I think by having to thoroughly clean the freezers and pull them away for the wall, and I thought I kept the house clean!
Have a good evening everyone and I hope to be back tomorrow.

Bridget in Spain :-)

Bridget i am not in Hasting yet going on holiday there next week.Wish i was down there now. I live in Uxbridge,Middlesex.
When you getting your new oven?

I am having my daughter Teris one when she gets new one in the new year. I had to have a electric as flat i was in first didnt have gas.I hate cooking with electric. So i dont cook very much here and when i go over to Teris i do alot of cooking(which they love)

Trying to get in the mood to sort rest of info out to where i need to look at when away.Plus got case out to start to pack.Job i hate doing.

Bye for now all

Hazelx :-) :-)

Bridget

In some parts of Texas according to my friends from there chilli is left cooking for days and is classed as better each day..!!!!!!!!!

Gerald hope the gardening gets on alright...perhaps now we have had some rain the ground will not be like cutting thru concrete !!

Regards Jan

Hazel - Electric is not something to cook by - it is so difficult to control and so wasteful. Living in Uxbridge I bet you can't wait to go down to Hastings, mind you there is some nice countryside around and you've got Denham!! Love the new picture - as you promised we can see both faces now!

Jan - thank you for your gardening encouragement - unfortunately my back garden seems to be full of rubble from the original outside toilet, which was demolished and covered in a little topsoil! :-( Hopefully I can improve it a bit with soil I had to dig out for the base of the shed.

Bridget - I was imagining your arrival back and how Jet and Joe would have reacted - I do believe spaniels have a habit of getting very excited. I continue with prayers for both ZZ and your dear granddaughter who was so horribly burned and of course for the new twins. It makes me feel comfortable, calm and assured knowing that He is watching and looking after us all

Tess - You were absolutely right - Now I have to learn the rest of my lines - I seem to be grumpy all the way through the bit of the panto that I am in - so not much acting required there, as my OH would say!!

Yesterday I had good news about my interview from last Friday - I am being called in for a second interview on Monday - fingers crossed for me. OH got her first payslip today - she seemed pretty pleased with herself and so she should be.

On Saturday a small group of us are walking from our church in Primrose Hill to Westminster Abbey on a pilgrimage to St Edward the Confessor who is buried in the Abbey, at least we will be able to get the bus back.

Very busy at the moment, so I shall be looking but not contributing for a few days - Hope everyone is well and stays well

Bye for now :-) <3

Morning everyone

GTM yes looking foreard to be by the sea. Yes there is some nice countryside round here as well. Glad you like the new pic. I have got 2 couldnt make up my mind what one to put on. So will put other one on be for i go. Glad someone else agree with me about cooking with Electric. That wlk sounds intresting, I wish i could walk more. But sadly cant. As i have seen lots that i would like to go on.

Well took me all morning to find a number of a rally i want to go and see while away.Couldnt find it in draw,had flat apart then looked in draw again and was there all the ime.Never mind at least i found it,will phone her tonight and hope she will be about next week.

~~~~~~~~~to everyone else

Hazelx

Hazel - your photo is beautiful. Twins always remind me of my twin aunts - the last of a family of ten. All the others have passed on now, but the twins are going really well - at 86.

I always used electric stoves from when I was married and looked forward to using gas when I came to this place, five years ago. The stove has a gas cooking top and electric oven. However, I couldn't get the jets to light and I was so frightened I would gas myself or blow myself up, I just used the oven and my microwave for everything. It was only a few months ago, that I told my son and he pulled out drawers until he found where the pipes led to the stove - and found that whoever installed the stove had not bothered to turn the gas ON! The tap was very slightly on and allowed the odd 'flame' which didn't last - that which had been frightening me all that time!
However, although I keep intending to use the gas top - I have developed the habit of NOT using it and keep forgetting to use it! ..... Silly me.

Good morning,
Sorry I have not been on here for a day or two but have bern busy making Christmas Cake, had to first learn how to put my new mixer together etc.

Also made a few other cakes, ready for when son from Holland arrives to fit my new oven in November.

Feeling a little under the weather but not sure why. Rather tired but cannot sleep for very long, husband has a bad cold so maybe that is what has affected me.,

The Quiz Night went well, lots of fun, but the numbers of Brits living here is dwindling, mostly I think because of the high cost of living compared to even a couple of years ago.
Went into town yesterday and had coffee , talking to the owner and her husband who are Dutch, but have lived here fo almost 20 years, it became obvious that this is the worst year they have ever experienced. In the past, for example, October was a busy month, mostly with people who no longer had children at home. The town would be full of visitors, especially on Bank Holidays as it was on Monday, but this year every where is very quiet, cafes are closing up for the winter, others are only open for a few hours in the morning and again in the evening.
The fear of the local people is almost tangible, they are worried about the younger people getting jobs etc.
On a personal level we are so pleased that we do not have a mortgage. Many peop,e thorny we were silly, a few years ago, but now they are worried about the finance.
Of course it is not all doom and Gloom! The sun is still shining, we still have good food to eat and good friends, happy families, and reasonably good health.
Oh dear, I feel that I am rambling on today!

Yesterday a friend and her husband came to use our comp as theirs had stopped working. " No problem, we said" oh such famous last words. She managed to order her 70, yes 70, boxes for their move back to the UK.
Then she asked if she could send som emails. Aaaaaaaaah!

Suddenly they stood up, said thanks, left a bottle of beer for OH and left rather hurriedly!! Warning signs should have been notivpced by us, especially as she asked if she could see my iPad?????

Five minutes later OH was fuming, all comps, yes we have three, and my iPad were no longer working......... :-( :-(

It took just over 4 hrs to get every thing working again, OH not very amused, but we should not have let her use the comp as this nearly always happens and then she says, as they are living....." I'll go home and try my Computer" AAAHHH.

Enough of my sad entry, will try to be back later, looking forward to one of my friends coming for a chat this evening, just for an hour or so.

Army son and wife have now been told that their baby is not due on the 29 th February but a week earlier....knitting needles are out and today I shall start to knit a shawl.

Granddaughter who was injured now has her special vest, and is managing very well.


Bye bye for now,

Bridget in Spain where we are expecting cooler days and rain .
:-)

Goodness me, Bridget - what does your friend do to your computers?
My grandson, just turned 8, has been using my computer to play his games on for the past three years - brings the program up and closes it down too - and never a problem. When I changed to a laptop with a new version of Windows, - again not a problem - he worked it out for himself.
So - it makes me wonder what a grown adult can do cause such chaos for you!! Whatever it is - it's a lesson for you to be ready next time she asks to use it!

Berona, we have learnt our lesson, friend will no longer be using our computers!
there comes a moment when one has to say " no" and that time is now!

I am off to bed as now have a migraine.........haven't had one for ages.

:-( Bridget in overcast Spain

Good morning everyone,

I went to TNA at Kew yesterday had a good day finding info that i was after for my mate Pat. And got few bits for myself.

I am waiting in today for my daughter Teri to bring over a better bedsettee over for me. Just got to get rrid of other one now. That have to be done when i get back from hols.

I have been lucky in getting a lift from another friend most of the way to Pats.With the underground half closed and the line i need :-( to get across London not running. Thats tomorrow morning be going. :-D

Well its sunny but very chilly here this morning.I hope it stays like it rest of the day.or untill Teri has been with settee.

Speak later have a good day everyone

~~~~~~~~~~to you all

Hazelx

Ps Will say bye for now off away tomorrow.Have a good week everyone. Keep safe

Hazelx