General Chat

Thank you Island and happy christmas to you too. :-(

Oh Island, so sorry I missed you there. Up to me elbows in all sorts.
Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Julia in Derbyshire

PS Only one month left now to the return of the young whippersnapper Young Master Piers, from his sojourn to foreign parts across the sea LOLOL

Julia, will be having ham, egg and chips tomorrow (our normal Eve dinner) will be having goose when son recovers from swine flu!

That's why I used caps Julia, so everyone could see through all the steam and teary shallot eyes LOL.

Yes, plenty to do after the festivities, homecoming flags to be stitched for Young Master Piers LOL.
You'd think he could have found an interner cafe to send christmas wishes wouldn't you? I hope he isn't busying himself too much with other offerings in the cafes.

Cheers everybody.
its Boxing DAy 10am

hope you are all having a fine Christmas.
we had a great day together, Oh , me, son, daughter, and grandson.
I watches Carols by candle light from Melbourne on christmas EVe, and made the potato salad.

Christmas morning I got cooking the fish, and decorated the table, gold and red to go with the tree.
Daughter came with the dessert, berry cheesecake, then she made the garden salad.

Before we eat we open the presents. I will enjoy 2 books, chocolate, Music CD, bottle of Chardonnay, and a tin of licorice, over the coming weeks.
Grandson is happy with his metal cricket stumps, and the 'to make' castle with knights.

In the morning it was fine, but as we sat down to eat I heard thunder.
within half an hour we had another rainstorm, and the back garden is saturated again.
We all sat down at 12.30 had a drink, pulled the bon bons, and had a leisurely meal.
Son1 rang from Maine and talked to his sister and brother. I talked last week so just a quick hello from me.
Usually we drive around on Christmas night and look at all the homes decorated with lights. but it was too wet, too many mosquitos, and hubby was too tired.
Children have gone back to their homes now and its quiet now.
Looks like we have a blue sky day today, well for the morning anyway!

Best wishes to everyone
Annette

A very good morning to all,
hope everyone had a lovely Christmas day.
We had a houseful all day so couldn't get near computer!!
I've had some lovely presents including books I wanted so I'm a happy bunny.
Will have a quiet relaxing day today and enjoy yesterdays leftovers for lunch (OH makes the best bubble and squeak) curl up in the warm and read a bit.
Have a good day everyone,

Cath xx

HI catherine,
Hope you have a great day.
Im looking for insipation for leftover turkey:)

Found a turkey goulash and risotto.

Teresax

Hi Teresa,
Turkey Goulash sounds rather good. We have quite a bit of Gammon left but not much turkey so at least we won't be living off it for days !! The dog will probably be grateful tomorrow, lol.

Cath xx

Sadly, we lost our little pooch last month, so no-one to eat up the left overs. She always had what we ate, and the amount of meat I always bought was bought with her in mind.
Only got half a chicken left, so not alot to get rid of. Will have some bubble a squeak, with cold chicken and some home made pickles, this evening.
Hope you think of something, to use up your leftovers.
Julia in Derbyshire

Oh Julia, how sad. Don't know what to say, can't imagine how I'd feel without my 'Gypsy' around. Will you get another dog or is it too soon.
(((((((hugs))))))) for you

Cath xx

Sorry for delay Catherine 2010
Molly ,a Black Cocker Spaniel had skin cancer, amongst other things, and I realised that no matter how much money we threw at the vet, she was never going to get better. Indeed, on her last couple of days, she became doubly incontinent, and this was not her. So we had to make the decision.
At first, both of us were so heart brokern that we said never again, but after a couple of days, we realise how empty the house, and our lives was. After a couple of weeks, we were both looking in the papers to see what was available. I finally got the OH to agree to a couple of pups, because, Molly being an only one, as with a child, the OH had thoroughly spoiled her. We managed to locate a breeder in Leicestershire that wanted to re home a bitch that was just over 2 years of age. OH went to have a look at her, and liked her. However, after giving it some thought, we decided that she was abit to old to 'de-kennelise' her.
We have now gone back to the original idea of a pair of pups, that can be housetrained from the beginning, and are fervently looking into this.
When you have been used to a dog, life without can be abit of a let down, especially at our ages. These would be the last dogs we have, so want to get it right.
Julia in Derbyshire

Julia good luck in your pup search. When you are used to a dog about the house its so empty without one isn't it. Would love to know what you get.
Best wishes to you

Cath xx

Ann, I hope you did manage to get to your daughters for Christmas.

Cath xx

Catherine 2010, I will keep you posted. Had a visit from one of the daughters today, who lives in Preston, and has two Cocker Spaniels of her own, and has just lost a Field Spaniel. She gave me some more ideas as to where to look
So, fingers crossed.
Take Care
Julia in Derbyshire

Hello to all,
I am going away for new year so if I dont get back on here before I go, I wish you all a very happy and healthy 2011.

Cath xx

Sorry for my absence and thank you for keeping the thread going. Over Christmas there were so many people and laptops around that it just became too difficult to get on line, then I ran my battery down and couldn't get to a plug to charge it up again. Anyway we came back yesterday, the paths and road and our drive were still snow bound. However today and last night it rained and washed to snow away thank goodness. We had no trouble getting down to Hampshire other than freezing fog over the Cotswolds.

We had a great christmas, good to see the three grandsons and eldest's fiancee again.

Christmas Eve five of us went out to a nice Indian restaurant not far from their place for a meal, son in law's treat.

Christmas day, nice to have a leisurely start with no small children to wake us up this year! We started the day off with son in laws tradition of pork pie for breakfast, then had bucks fizz and bubbly while the presents were opened. Son in Law cooked a lovely lunch (that is if you can call 2.30pm lunch). Turkey, stuffing, sausage meat, chipolatas, bacon, red cabbage, roast carrots, potatoes and parsnips, broccoli, sprouts with ham and cream and bread sauce. Then we had the pudding my neighbour made in 2009 which was delicious with cream and brandy butter.

I had lots of lovely presents, a couple of favourites were a photo of the whole family plus eldest grandson's fiancee taken on second eldest's 21st and a photo of Eldest grandson and fiancee taken last year all dressed up for her 21st. Both photos in nice frames. Of course I had a few more that were more expensive but the photos were personal and special. Thankfully I had a cover for my kindle from daughter plus several other bits and pieces, jewellery from OH (2 pairs of earrings, a gold chain and two 'bead charms' for my bracelet) plus books and craft stuff and pyjamas. From son's family a beautiful book on the artist Clive Head that I had seen while in London but couldn't afford and another bead charm for my bracelet. (We are very much a present giving family). I had perfume, smellies and socks from friends so I feel very grateful.

Eldest grandson and fiancee joined us around 5pm to open their presents and chat, then in the evening there were the usual cold cuts and nibbles.

Boxing day we all went to Eldest grandson's house as is the tradition in his fiancees family we took left overs plus some chicken wings freshly cooked for the occasion. Her family were there too with their left overs and her Dad was cooking a huge amount of bubble and squeak in a large wok with all the left over veg. There were thirteen adults and three young children (who were sooo good) and we ate buffet style the cold turkey, hot wings, ham chipolatas and beef with the veg, red cabbage and mashed potatoes. We then had the choice of a baileys cheese cake (so rich but lovely) or a chocolate roll which OH said was delicious. Two lots of chocolates were doing the rounds as well. In the evening back at daughters we just managed a few nibbles and some cheese and biscuits.

Monday we came home and had to stop at the supermarket to get some food. That is the worst part of going away, no left overs to use up, so last night we had fish pie.

New Year we are here on our own so Thursday night I shall cook a large chicken and a small piece of gammon then New Years Eve we shall have our cold cuts with cheese and pickles etc. Either New Years Day or Sunday we shall have duck.

Now it is back to normal for a few days, I have been trying to tidy this office as in a week or so we have to lay a new carpet in here which means shifting out six shelves of books, three 3 drawer sets of craft stuff etc.

Hi, I don't often reply to threads just read them. I love reading ever since I was a little girl and my Dad would take us to the library I have always had my nose in a book.. I live in Portugal and Amazon now deliver for free if you order over £25. We also have a monthly car boot sale so there are always plenty of books to buy

Have a Good New Year everyone and keep up the chats

Jane

Nice to 'meet' you Jane and please do reply to threads, If everyone just read them there wouldn't be any threads. At least let us know you are reading! You will be made very welcome if you join in.

Hi Ann, Your right you have many reples since putting in the statement about threads. The heart still appears to be there. I have a lot of probs staying on line as I am a nurse who does night duty so Im either asleep or at work at this time of night its just gone 2am. But its nice to know that there are people who are out there to help with queries or just a chat. I am on FB too which is great but different the people arent all into GR. And even if I dont partake its good to read what others are saying.But I can hear my hubby rolling around and snoring so I should go to bed,
Just hoping that all extended families are ok in places of snowing in the US and in the floods on the other side of Oz and Around Carnarvon here in West Oz, SO good night to all ,.Looking forward to chatting again,

From Corinne in Western Australia,

Hi to Jane and Cos, glad you've joined us.

Ann its good to have you back and I'm so glad you managed to get down to your daughters for Christmas. It sounds like you all had a lovely time.
Ours was the usual madhouse on Christmas day but Boxing day was lovely and peaceful, just OH and myself for most of the day although the tribe all turned up for their bubble and squeak. Started reading one of my new books, a thriller by Liza Marklund called Red Wolf, its very good and I find it hard to put down. Got 2 copies of 'Kite Runner' so will give one to a friend who also reads a lot.
Going to Portsmouth on the ferry tomorrow evening to spend new year with our dearest friends, I hope the sea stays calm as its a 13 hour trip via Jersey. Not taking my laptop so will be missing until 4th january.
Best wishes to you all,

Cath xx