General Chat

There you go Cherry, make yourself cosy in the Coney fur hat and coat. I know it is not acceptable these days, but nevertheless, they do keep one warm.

Don't sit too near the fire in it, it may start to move by itself. No, of course it is not infested, just a little cold by sitting in the fur fridge for too long.

Well dear, church was wonderful this morning. I had done the flowers yesterday, and I must be honest and say they were a picture. Even the newer ladies in the WI commented that they did not think I had it in me to arrange them so well. I shall take that as a back-handed compliment!

Beatrice played the organ, and sang along too. She has a magnificent contralto voice, and it played around the rafters, and then down to us. Even the vicar stopped singing to listen to her........................who would have thought.................she is such a tiny woman.

Lunch with Georgianna and Mr Georgianna, Octavia, and Beatrice. How civilised it was to sit at an oak table, with freshely laundered white linen. Pretty china and silver cutlery. Old ideals, but always acceptable.

I see the Ponsonby's have left proper now. The curtains have been taken down, and a load of rubbish has been left by the bins. I don't think they were ever PLU, just social climbers. One has certain standards to keep, doncha know?

Have a good evening ladies, Midwife is on tonight. I must arrange myself on the chaise longue before that, and seek out a box of choccies to help me enjoy the story.

Keep warm dears.
Auntie Petunia

CONEY ??????????????????? ooooh it looked better on the rabbit.
*drops fake furs on the fire .......*

Yes I have heard Beatrice singing. She has a rather pronounced Adams Apple, dont you think? And her menopausal facial hair gives me cause for concern.

The rubbish left by the Ponsonby's bins will be gone by tomorrow morning, which is quite good considering the binmen wont be round until Friday. It's the times we live in ....... some people make a living out of raiding dustbins and carting off other peoples' junk, no doubt to sell at Flea Markets which is where I think that coney originally came from.
*scratching furiously*

I bought four of the Jennifer Lee books, written as Jennifer Worth, three of which detail her nursing experiences. The fourth book is rather "reflective", and thought provoking, about life and death.

I'm noticing with this second series that the script writers have started bowdlerising, creating stories which dont totally match Jenny Lee's narrative. But there was a Mave and Meg, and the twin daughters grew up just like their mother(s), running a market stall in their adult years, just as close to each other, and just as hostile to everyone around them ... so it says in the book.

The BBC scriptwriters did that with Lark Rise to Candleford, in the first series putting in dialogue where Flora Jane's book was pure narrative. And the second series of Lark Rise was a pure silly creation that didnt match Flora Jane's books at all, I noticed Brendan Coyle disappeared from the second series, he probably didnt want to be connected with anything so naff. After about episode 4 I couldnt watch any more of it.

It's bright outside, but seems rather chilly with it. My kettle is calling me .... a cup of tea must be due

have a nice Monday, folks !

Ah ladies please put another chair leg on the fire and get a nice cuppa Rosie lee on.

What a week I have just had. I'm glad it's Monday at last.

The gremlins have been residing with me whilst OH was working away.
In no particular order these things have happened.
The car headlights failed whist I was on the way to paid toil in the dark :-|
The central heating gave up the ghost and FYY and I were without for two days :-|
I burned my arm on the oven :-| :-| :-| it hurts :-|
The washing machine come to its final standstill :-| :-| :-| :-|
The lights fused downstairs :-|
The TV channels on the devils digital networked stopped working for three evenings in a row :-|
FTY announced he had exams all this week, he had not told me nor revised at home
:-| :-| :-| :-| :-| :-|
I have now been bitten on the neck by a mossie :-S

Glad you are now up and running with the washer Cherry :-D also thank goodness Auntie you have got rid of that woman from the organ :-D

I do hope all is well with Lesley. I have not seen her for a while. Also hallllo to Susan busy being a MOB :-D


Awaiting my steaming cup of char

Teresa

Hi Teresa, I'm a bit concerned about Lesley's silence as well.

As for the washing machine, its not fixed yet. the engineer is coming tomorrow - assuming he really does turn up.

Two thread titles on the board at the moment made me smile - both by the same poster.

first Thread title :
I am listening to .....

and underneath, second thread title :

a flock of seagulls

Put that together and we have - "I am listening to a flock of seagulls". How noisy and just imagine all the droppings !! LOL

a couple of thoughts to ponder :

why do people leave their expensive motors parked on their driveway, and keep all their rubbish in the garage?

how long a minute is, depends upon which side of the bathroom door you're standing.

Hallo Cherry :-D

Thought number one has a good answer

There is no room for a car :-D

A minute in this house is measured by the following:

Instruction to FTY
"It's time to come off the x box"

Answer
"Ok just be a minute"


This can be anything from two minutes onwards ;-)


Teresa.

Good afternoon Dears,

Teresa dear, install a metronome. Then you can set it, and count the seconds down to exactly a minute. The devils box must be constantly monitored. Too much devils boxing is not good for one. I am thinking of RSI for instance.

Cherry dear, you are ungrateful, that was a perfectly good coat. A little lively I grant you, but nevertheless it would have kept you warm.

I see the pile of blankets have down a bit, are you snaffling them in the evening when I am taking my repose?

No, there has not been any sighting of Lesley, perhaps she is enjoying a jolly holiday. I do hope there is nothing amiss.

Now, our MOB is probably very busy. What with dress fittings, jam jar filling, and general excitement. I have had a new decision on my attire for the cyber ceremony, and would like to run it past her. I think as it is Springtime, I should wear sunshine yellow. I just wouldn't want to clash with any of her real guests.

More snow is forecast dears, out come the tennis rackets again!

Shivering in my shoes
Auntie Petunia

LOL Teresa, my "just a minute's" are the same as your FTY, and can end up being anything up to an hour later ...........

Another thought for the day. This stems from recent publicity regarding Alfred Hitchcock and Tippi Hedren, as seen in a recent TV docudrama, and the newly released movie Hitchcock. In fact it's not so much a thought, as a question.

What is the answer to Hitchcock :-D ;-)

*

Well I am sure I did not mean to offend you Petunia dear. Yes that Coney would certainly have kept me warm. It would also have kept me company.
*scratching furiously*.

No its not me taking your blankets? Perhaps Pat rish aaaaah is making a nest in the basement, ready for when the coalman comes again.

Errrr - should I be investing in a pair of Raybans, in readiness for your Sunshine Yellow dress fitting?

Oh that wind has been blowing cold today. Anyway - I am pleased to report that the washing machine engineer has been and gone, and I am up and running again. So far I have done three loads of laundry, and got them on the airer, and very soon the fourth load will be ready to hang. The engineer told me that another one of his customers told him she'd been waiting for a new drum since before Christmas.

Had some disturbing news yesterday ...... when OH came home he said there will be some redundancies at his place of work. I am praying the finger wont be pointed at him. He has faced redundancy four times in his working life already, and he wont get another job at his age, and we need his part time earnings to supplement our pensions. I've told him he will have to start selling our belongings at car boot sales, like other pensioners have to. First in the car boot will be his ruddy Pink Floyd and Jethro Tull records and his boring car books!!! :-D

Not Jethro Tull CC :-D, man I used to play Aqualung up so loudly tis a wonder I have any hearing left...... My OH loves car books... He has a stash, and many a car magazine :-(.

I am pleased to hear your machine is at last fixed.. Twas more than 'a minute' you had to wait.... Hopefully Teresa doesn't have such a long wait.

The sun is shining again today afte two days of the wet stuff and high winds... Fruit, pup and I have have our constitutional this morn, was very nice out in the sunshine.

Today is a national Holiday so we have a day off work. I am determined to get out into the garden and try and tidy what used to be a lovely garden... I have neglected things far too long. I shall have to try and get a few new bits growing tout suite, in time for the 'day'.

Petunia, bright yellow will be quite acceptable. It will be early Autumn here, so you will blend in well with the autumnal hues. Just bring a 'cardy' along too, could be a tad chilly... I hope not too chilly as I don't have a cardy to match my posh frock.

~~~~ to Lesley, I do hope all is well with her world :-).

Teresa, FTE must be sailing our way by now?. My Mama and Papa have set sail for the Islands. I keep thinking about them and hoping all is well... I haven't dared check the weather for possible tropical cyclones.. It is coming to the end of the rainy season up in the Pacific.... oh dear :-D.

I had better get a move on and make the most of my day off. I shall not be celebrating the day, per se.....

Toodle pip
Susan

Coooeeee one and all.

I am at paid toil which is not paid toil so to speak :-S Poor FTY was sent home yesterday, after I had a call to pick him up. Now as you know I do not allow illness in this house but he has turned in to rip van winkle with a horrible cold, red eyes and chesty ness. I have supplemented this sleep with regular nudges to drink and administered good old calpol and steam inhalations.

The fruit did manage a little soup earlier and has now gone back to bed. Must be bad as the x box hasn't been mentioned :-S :-S

On the good news front whist I am tending the sick here I rustled up a batch of biscuits. They are robust and absorbent enough to used to plug up the window drafts at Motie towers and would indeed be marvellous to absorb any condensation :-D :-D :-D

Failing that I'm sue the birds will eat them as long as they do not get swept away with the wind which is blowing like billi o outside.

Hope your day is good Susan :-D FTE will be in your area soon. I do hope your Ma and Pa have a good trip.


Teresa

Glad you are up and running Cherry, be careful the washing doesn't blow orfff the line. If your wind is as bad as ours is here you could be having problems retrieving your garments :-D


Teresa

good afternoon ladies. I have been cosssetting myself today. I got up this morning, and shortly afterwards went back to bed as I felt rather poorly. Inbetween the reclines I pottered and did dusting and laundry of which I have much to catch up on. I was supposed to do shopping and banking today but I figured that one day in bed now, might prevent several days in bed later. I had a nap this afternoon and started to feel a little better but am still not feeling 99.9%.
Dont worry about my washing Teresa - nothing goes outside to blow in the breeze, because it comes back in covered in blackfly, the joy (not) of living near a river.

Good evening ladies,

CC, I trust you are feeling 99.9% by now. We can't be having you under par.!! Plus Teresa doesn't tolerate illness :-D.

I have been out in the much neglected garden again today. Oh dear, I am feeling ashamed of myself.. I have filled the trailer with cuttings so have come to a halt for now. I need to get a bit of colour into the garden tout suite... I think the seasons may be against me. Too late to plant summer annuals and possibly too early for Autumn plants. It is a beggar being a 'reluctant' gardener. Oh for a greenfingered fairy to pop into my life :-).

I am a little cross, today I received my order of cookbooks (paid for ), three ordered ( one each for me, and each fruit). Two only in the parcel. :-|. I have emailed the supplier and will wait for their response.. Luckily I had kept the order confirmation. Tis a cookbook full of healthy recipes... Pretty pictures ;-).

I have just opened the book at random and lo, a recipe for Brussel sprout medley. A hot salad by the looks , yum indeed. I will have to wait until winter for fresh sprouts. I can't imagine my OH will eat the salad.

Oh and I have been invited out for dinner on Saturday evening, hurrah, one meal I don't have to cook... Any meal I don't have to cook tastes delicious !!. Ladies, do your OH's ever cook?. I don't think my Papa ever cooked a meal for us either. I have one friend whose OH does most of the cooking. What a luxury.

As my tummy is rumbling, I had best get on with preparing our evening meal.

Have a pleasant day :-)

Susan

My OH does a good fry up and Christmas dinner Susan, he once made toad in the hole, the toad was raw and the hole burned.

Humph the bad fairies are here. I to am under par, FTY has passed his devils germs on to me, I am armed with vic, tissues and many cups of tea. I will cook a hearty turkey casserole tonight to ward orff the flipping thing.

Hope you are feeling a bit better Cherry dear, sending some cyber chicken soup down the hatch.

Teresa :-D

Dons surgical mask. Green gown, and white gum boots.

Oh dear all these germs, I will not allow them to penetrate the walls of Motie Towers.

I have locked Cherry in her room, I can hear her sneezing behind the closed door. My ear trumpet has picked up dear Teresa too. I will not have illness in these quarters.

I shall send Pat-trish-aaaah to tend to you both. She seems to know her way to Essex well enough now. Just make sure you send her back again. In a decent skirt!!!!

Very cold today, I have been peeking from beneath an alpaca blanket, I cannot bear the cold weather, and would seriously hibernate if I could.

I am pleased you are comfortable with the outfit dear Upsidedown Susan. I would hate to do anything that would mar the Big Day. Counting down now dear. I am soooo excited.

Take care in this inclement weather dears, mind out for webbed tootsies.

Pip Pip
Auntie Petunia

good evening ladies, a rather damp one where I am. No, not that. It's spitting with rain outside.

Thanks Susan for your kind get well wishes. As things turned out, it was just a 12 hour virus, so dear Teresa will not be troubled. I couldnt believe how it went, from waking up yesterday morning feeling very ill and "virusey", then following an afternoon nap starting to feel better very quickly. This morning, I was my usual self, and after lunch I shifted my buns and did the banking, fetched some shopping, and ran various errands which mainly comprised of wandering in and out of charity shops. And, naturally I inspected M & S as part of my regular stock rotation audit !!! :-D

My poor garden is suffering from the excesses of winter. Never mind, spring will be sprung very soon, because my bluebells are peeking through. Do enjoy your Dinner Out on Saturday.

To answer your question, OH cooks the occasional meal. If he hadnt been willing to cook I would have starved last year when I got back home from hospital following my operation. My Dad used to cook, and dont tell my dear lady mamma but I preferred Daddy's roast potatoes to mummy's!! Dad's special recipes included a meaty broth with pearl barley and dumplings, and his baked apples stuffed with sultanas, and custard, were to die for.

Guess what I am eating tonight. No not duck a l'orange. I fancied a bread pizza. One crust of bread, topped with Sliced mushrooms, carrots, sweetcorn, green beans, covered with cheese, and grilled to melt the cheese. With a "side serving" of pimento stuffed olives. Yumm!! I havent done one of these in ages.



Thank you Teresa for the chicken soup. I hope the Rabbi blessed it first before I ate it. Lochshen soup has long been considered most beneficial in helping to cure ailing people. No doubt it was the soup that restored my equilibrium. But I think the strepsils I sucked yesterday morning played a part too :-) Not to mention your excellent nursing skills.

Perhaps its a case of physician heal thyself? I hope both your and FTY are soon recovered. But, you didnt catch anything from me.

Following on from the shaking and shivering, and ice cold feet, of yesterday morning, I have today purchased a pair of M&S ankle slippers. MFH considers them to be quite "lairy" but none the less he put them on my feet as I was struggling to "get down there".

The Dreams were back in force last night. One was influenced by family tree research. The other involved a puma in the back garden. And I hadnt even been eating magic mushrooms. After my Bread Pizza, I wonder what I will dream about tonight ....... ;-)

Come along now Petunia dear, you can wear your normal clothing. I am fully recovered.

Now let me out of my room !!! The sneezing is not infectious, its caused by dust motes because Pat rish aaaah keeps scarpering off to Essex instead of doing the cleaning.

*hears door being unlocked". Aah, that's better.

Petunia dear, I accidently opened a letter addressed to you. It is from a gentleman called Richard Plantaganet Broome Rex, who writes that he has been framed for murders he did not commit. He has just been released from prison and will no doubt be seeking compensation for his long incarceration. However, he hopes you will read his letter and advise him on how to reveal the true killer who he believes to be a gentleman who bears the name Henry Tudor and was considered by many to be an upstart but Henry took over the company that Richard had previously run.

Richard is of excellent breeding, descended from forebears of excellent breeding.

Henry however was not so well bred, so he married a lady whom all considered to be well born (and she should have run the company after Richard). Alas her mother was quite common and as if this wasnt bad enough Henry's bride's father (Edward Four) was not his fathers son but the son of a peasant who Edward's mother met in Rouen. This was well hushed up at the time and only came to light when someone went poking through French parish records. Richard however was the true son of his father and had every right to inherit his father's mantle, had Henry not ousted Richard and taken over the company.

As if things werent bad enough for Richard, Henry and his "not so regal" wife had four offspring who went on to run the company, giving themselves Heirs & Graces, when in reality they were descendants of that lowly peasant through their mother's father, Edward Four.

One of these offspring was called Margaret, and she was married off to James Stuart and its her reputed descendant who is in charge of the firm today, so as you can see it is a very long-established family business - except, that Margaret Tudor Stuart herself was a descendant of that peasant - which means that the CEO of the business may also be descended from that peasant.

What is Richard to do, he asks, should he warn the current CEO, or should he just let the matter go. And how can he prove that Henry Tudor committed the crimes?

Well Petunia dear, I am inclined to believe Richard is innocent. He sent a recent photograph, and I think he is rather handsome. What do you think?

Good King Dick.................doesn't have a ring to it, does it?

Almost as bad as the catchline from Dick Whittington, but we will not go down that road. Not will it be paved with gold!!!!!

I am sitting here watching CDWM. There is a young man who cannot wear a shirt. He is walking around in a vest..........................apparently showing his non existent muscles. He is very pleased with his little self! How deluded he is!!!

Talking of vests, did you see that nice Mr Willis the other night. I cannot quite make up my mine if he was being rude, or ironic.

I may be missing tomorrow dears, I am dusting the rafters of the roof, apparently it involves trusses and pullies. I shall let you know how I get on.

Pip Pip
Auntie Petunia

Good evening all !! After an afternoon visiting two emporiums - The Range, and Hobbycraft - my credit card began feeling the strain and I had to return home ... and here I am now, with a cup of Redbush tea, warming the cockles of my heart. And probably in the nick of time as night has fallen, and the rain started persisting down as well.

Petunia do please be careful dear when you clamber up on to the rafters dear, couldnt you persuade Pat rish aaaah to do the dusting?? Trusses ??? surely the roof doesnt have a hernia?

No I never watch Mr Bruce Willis, if I can avoid it. The thought of him not wearing a vest ... no, perish the thought.

I wonder what Mrs Berry is cooking for our dinner tonight ....... I rather fancy a thick meaty broth with pearl barley and dumplings; followed by baked apples and custard.

Stop Press .... Martin Clunes has confessed that he would love to be in Downton Abbey. Well, Lady Mary is going to need a new love interest, isnt she, after she has recovered from her bereavement of course. :-D :-D