General Chat

Teresa you really must refine your Aging System.

When you reach the age of 25, you stay there for 10 years.
When you reach the chronological age of 35, you admit to being 30, and you stay there for 5 years.
.
when you reach the chronological age of 40, you admit to being 35, and you stay 35 for 5 years.

etc etc.

When you reach the age of 70, you start counting backwards. Sooner or later, you will undertake your Offspring, which is very useful as they will be obliged to look after someone who is much younger than they are.

Of course, they could always just dump you at Shady Pines ........ :-S

A'very good Mothering Sunday to all you dear Ladies.

I know you all have the benefit of offspring, I hope they have been good to you all. I trust you are all sitting with your feet up and being waited on hand and foot. Who tutted then?

It is days like these when I think of things may have turned out, if they had not been different.

If only my dear Patrick had been the gentleman I thought he was, and not the bounder he became. My only keepsake of his now, is the cameo brooch, and that is always pinned to my heart. Stifles a small sob, and blows sedately on a lace edged hankerchief.

Church had a wonderful service this morning, in recognition of Mothers everywhere. The children in the choir sang on their own, and there was not a dry eye in the church anywhere. Nothing like a soprano singing Morning Has Broken to bring a tear to a glass eye.

I think there is to be a double whammy this afternoon of both Rugby and Football, so that gentleman along the road will be yelling his head orft. How common!

Why do they not do synchronised sewing? I would watch that. I watched a demonstration of a shopping channel yesterday, some lady teaching us all to knit. She cast on with one needle and her thumb . I had never seen that before, and it made it look more complicated that it need be. I use two needles and have never seen the need to look elsewhere for inspiration.

Mrs Berry is having lunch with her brood today, as is most fitting, as she is like the Old woman who lives in the shoe. Pat-trish-aaaah is cooking luncheon today. I believe she has gawn to dear old Marks & Sparks and bought a meal deal. I must say it smells lovely, and we will be having a traditional British dinner of roast beef and yorkshire pud. No bad for a gel who was brought up on the Spanish coast. The only think that detracts is the use of olive oil rather than dripping. But beggars cannot be choosers.

Come now Cherry sit down and we will be eating soon. I think it unnecessary to hold your cutlery up until the food is served dear, but if that is what suits you......then so be it.

Toodle pip to both Lesley and Teresa. I hope the east wind is not biting too hard.

Dear Upsidedown Susan, countdown is on its way. Soo exciting. What news dear?

Salivating at the thought of a PROPER dinner.

Auntie Petunia

good afternoon Petunia dear, I know you like to stick your oar in ... errrrrrr............... organise good works, and help people, but did you really have to organise such cold temperatures and sleety rain for Mothers Day?

We went to Potters Bar, to an antiques and collectors fair which is held there monthly. Fortunately, no one wanted to buy this old antique so I came home again.

My daughter cannot visit today, she has to work tonight, and if she'd come here it would have meant her paying for a minicab for just one hour. So I told her not to worry. She said she will come over Tuesday night. I know she's bought me a nice card, she always does, and she put an e-card on my Facebook page with a mothers day message.

Roast beef eh? are you sure Pat rish aaaah didnt choose the pack with the mad cow disease in it?
;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-)

"Cherrrryyyyyy. how old am i now???????"


Aunty dear I too am sitting here on my own. Despite the wind and snow, tutttty tut tut, the devils football game is on. My dear husband has hithered orff to take FTY to his place of footy. I have decided to stay toasty warm at home. It is mothers day after all so i can do as i wish today :-D

Do not dispare of that bounder Patrick, just imagine having your routein upset and having to share your sleeping arrangments. Some Gentlemen, I am told, are very joyful when they make noises with their bodily functions. They appear to be proud of such things. You have had a lucky escape my dear

I have joined the on line merry band of St Rosemary of Conley :-) I know I said that I would not be joining any more devils slimming clubs but I really must as the weight is creeping up and up and Im now heavier than i was was FTY was in situ so to speak. It seems a better idea to weigh first thing in the morning at home and follow the dear Ladies advice on line. I have also joined the local Council run swimming pool which give discounted rates for those who do paid toil. The facilities are very clean and people very friendly. I was supprised to see how many people I know there. FTEs mate was there the other day and we had a good old catch up. I also swam 20 lengths :-D :-D :-D :-D

Watch this space :-D

Do enjoy your luncheon Ladies, I will be following the miniscule portions of the sainted Rosemary but it will all be in a good cause.




Sorry to disapear like that, FTY has just phoned, They are on their way home from the Devils football game and have lost 3-0. Glad i stayed at home now ;-)

We have had communication from FTE. The Fruit has been to Japan and visited the memorial in Nagasaki (i think it is spelt like that) I think she is on a quest to visit all the war memorials about the globe. She has been to the one at Pearl Harbour this trip as well. The Fruit always liked history so is seeing everything she can.

Im orfff now to visit St Ro's site and do a little more of the cross stich birthday card i am fashioning for my friend.

Tootle pip for now


Teresa

you are brave Teresa ...... St Rosemary indeed. Much good luck in this quest. While you're at it, could you please lose some of my weight as well? I sure dont want it.

If your eldest fruit enjoys history she may wish to visit the Richard III exhibition when she returns to these Blighty-ed shores. Richard did not murder the Princes in the Tower. It woz Henry wot did the deed - all I need now is the evidence that it was Henry. Perhaps your fruit could start digging. Then again, she might find she is digging up Richard IIIs horse in a Tesco car park.

War Memorials are an excellent way to remind us all Lest We Forget.

My daughter has mentioned on occasion what her OH does ... the noises he makes which are most inappropriate and should never be heard outside the bathroom. Including lavatorial singing and whistling. Then again, it is said that if men dont whistle in the bathroom they wouldnt know ......

oh, arent I allowed to repeat that joke here? ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-)

Good upside down morning Ladies and peeps,

I have been outside for an hour , before the sun came up, watering our new lawn..... My tootsies and fingers are a tad cool now. I have had to done my woolly slippers.. The man who laid the turf told me half an hour of watering would suffice. I don't think so, sprinklers are currently banned so it is a handheld hose job...
Haven't had the bill for the turf yet so had best try and keep the ruddy stuff alive until we at least own it.

Ladies, I ironed the 'dress' on Saturday... I must say, with my heart in my mouth lest I ruin the thing. :-D. Happily, the dress survived and my heart is back in my chest beating quite normally. Twelve sleeps to go..
My fruit checked the long range forecast, oh dear, one site has rain on the 23rd. After months of no rain... still, the forecast could be wrong.

The whole country needs rain deperately, but please weather gods, not the 23rd :-S

I hope all the Mothers had a lovely day. We don't celebrate Mothers Day until May..
Sadly, the whole thing has become far too commercialised. Leaflets in the mail from every retailer around, note to retailers: I DO NOT WANT A SMALL ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE FOR MOTHERS DAY, OR LARGE ON FOR THAT MATTER.... grrrrrrrr... I want my fruits to at least phone me and say hello. :-).

Petunia, your roast dinner sounds vey nice. I too use olive oil for my roast taties and the like. Much better for ones heart apparently. It is so hard to find a nice piece of beef to roast. I am a dab hand at cooking a leg of lamb, beef I tend to dry out.. My fruit makes a lovely pork roast with crackling crunchier than a crunchie bar. Delicious...
I didn't know you had a glass eye? Which eye is it? Be careful of those tarot cards, you might misconstrue what they are telling you..We can't have the blind leading the blind. No one will ever find their way..

Teresa, I have one of Ms Conleys books in my cupboard. Diet and recipes. I once followed her diet, no fat, cheese or dairy. I lost a heap of weight but I was always hungry... Sometimes unlimited fruit and veg just doesn't fill the void like a nice choccy bar does :-D.

Glad your fruit is enjoying her travels. OH and I visited the Pearl Harbour Memorial many years ago, I must say it was very eerie. Knowing we were standing above a body filled wreck. There was still oil seeping to the surface...
When will you see your fruit again?

CC, enjoy your daughters visit. It is always nice to catch up with the fruits. I hope to catch up with my male fruit over the Easter break. I shall have to buy him an Easter Egg and maybe one for myself ;-). I have seen mini Malteser bunnies in the supermarket. Maltesers are my favourite favourite confection.

Time to get on with my day,

~~~~~~ to Lesley

Susan

I hope you all had a lovely day Dears.

One never knows how much she will miss her Mama until she no longer has her.................a lesson to be learned there.

We will have big clock fashioned in Trafalgar Square to countdown to the Big Day, alike to the Olympic Clock. I am very excited indeed.

Susan dear, I am going to change me avatar dear, those tarot cards are indeed no good for me. I shall show you the kiwi cape I fashioned into a skirt when I visited your shores many years ago. Perhaps I should wear that on the Big Day atop of the chiffon. In honour of your dear gel.

Night all, the Midwifes are visiting soon.

Auntie Petunia.

It's really Mothering Sunday in the UK Susan, but we call it Mothers Day now. Mothering Sunday is a religious occasion. America has a Mothers Day in May as well.

Ah well I ate my solitary "family dinner" while watching TV, and swigged a bottle of Kopparberg pear cider. hic ! very naice it was tooooooo !! :-D

Ladies, gather up your thermals, tis snowing again :-|

FTE will be home in May Susan but she will continue hopefully on her quest to see the world and is intending to sign up again for anther six months. We miss her of course but its a wonderful way to see the world and get paid at the same time :-D

OOH Cherry, i watched the Richard the third program a couple of weeks or so ago. It was all about how they traced the DNA to confirm it was him. I like history and may encourage OH to take a trip up to the exhibition with me. As you may or may not know i have a real phobia about travling on trains, tis bad enough if I am accompanied. Any other mode of transportation is fine including sea and air but trains, oooh no..........................................................................

I will follow the teachings of St Ro, she hads a bit more protein in the diets now which stop the hunger pangs although nothing to stop the sugar cravings :-(

Susan.......... guess what fellow malteser fan :-D There is a new Maltesers bar out called Maltesers Teasers. Its a milk chocolate bar with crunchy little malteser pieces in it. In the local supermarket from April. Hope fully i will have lost a little poundage by then and can try a bar or two :-D

Aunty dear, what is your photograph showing us? it looks to me like Moses as a small fruit by the river :-S :-S :-S :-S :-S

I will keep my picture for it looks very much like the view from my front window at the moment :-(


Tootle pip for now


Teresa

Oh dear icicles hanging from my nose dear.

The picture is me arranging myself decoratively in the photographic studio with my kiwi feather cloak as a train to my skirt. I shall try and enlarge it a bit.

I am too cold to speak further.

Have a warm evening ladies.

Auntie Petunia

I saw those documentaries Teresa. When the weather improves, I said to OH, I wish to see the exhibition in Leicester and he agreed to take me. It would be nice if it was on the same day you and your Other Half would be there. OH isnt really interested . As he puts it, "he just does the driving".

Richard III's facsimile shows him as quite a nice looking man, and not the sort who'd murder two little boys. Keep them imprisoned, yes, it was rough and dangerous times for all. Henry VII had those boys killed, and all the propaganda about Richard started during Tudor times.

Thought for the day : we came here from the past, on our way to the future. The thought occurred to me this morning as I sat in the hospital waiting room, waiting to donate nearly an armful, for blood tests. While waiting I started to read The Haunting, the last novel by Alan Titchmarsh, which so far is a brilliant read. I like it, anyway.

The tests are for Full Blood, Rheumatoid, and Anti Nuclear antibody. The doctor must think I glow in the dark LOL.

what on earth was that loud crack? oh its you Petunia, the icicles fell off the end of your nose and landed in the marble hearth.

Dear me, do throw another log on the fire someone. OK I will throw another log on the fire. Oh sorry Pat rish aaaah I mistook your leg for a thick twig. Why are you lying in front of the roaring fire anyway? You're blocking the heat.

Has Mrs Berry left yet? Shall I ring down for a pot of tea to be brought up? Are we going to be snowed in?

What's for dinner?

#snaps another icicle from the end of my delicate little nose#

Oh deary deary me. I cannot abide this weather, I am wearing so many clothes I look like the Michelin Man. I am tickety boo until it is time to relieve myself, and then the performance of going to the little girls room is gruelling!

I am to partake of a few visits to museums and exhibitions myself in a couple of weeks time, I do hope the weather will be a little warmer by then.

Please take good care of yourselves ladies, and keep warm.

My brain freezes when it is too cold, I cannot be my sparkling self.

Take care out in the freezing wastes gels.

Auntie Petunia

do please excuse my earlier absence. Dear daughter came to visit and brought me a beautiful bouquet of flowers as a belated mothers day gift. Her OH came too. MFH and I took them both out for dinner.

Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.

We have had all four of these today dear Ladies.

It rained, it snowed, it hailed, the sunshone, and the wind it did blow.

I am standing here in front of a huge map of the British Isles gels, and I have drawn a big line across the middle, from left to right.

The under piece is where I want sunshine and warmth, and the upper piece I dont much care, because I dont live there. Yes, I know I am being selfish, but I have visited the Northeast, and I have seen those gels up there, they do not seem to feel the cold at all. They are made of sterner stuff.

You must remember I am an old lady, and I do not suit a bluish hue to my complexion at all. I have had the appearance of 'just dug up' for the past three days.

I see we are discussing Good King Dick of late. I think he had a bad press over the years. I am musing to myself what future historians will make of the Royals of today. Whether our impression of them will be the same as theirs, or vice versa.

I see that Sandi person has made desparaging remarks upon dear little Kate. I fear that Kate will sometime in the future be Queenie. She like dear Lillibet, will not be able to express her views. So why should she comment now. Let the poor gel alone. She is young, she is pretty, she is holding the future monachy in her hand, or her tum-tum, do not raise her blood pressure.

Talking of which.................................why is it when I hold the door for people, they swan through and do not even look in my direction let alone say a simple Thank You. So rude, so bad mannered.

I hope you all had a lovely Mothering Sunday dears, a mothers love is unconditional, I hope your loved one appreciate that, and reciprocate. You never stop worrying about your children do you dears, no matter how old they are................

That reminds me...........................where is that dratted gel Pat-trish-aaaaah? That fire needs banking again.

I am knitting shawls for us all ladies, that will keep our backs warm.

Clickety clack
Auntie Petunia

aaah good evening ladies. I hope everyone is well and warm. ~~~~~ to my Readers.

how strange that you are knitting shawls, Petunia dear, because I am crocheting a shawl, did you not wonder why I am surrounded by wool and holding balls in my hands?

This is because I like to unravel the wool I buy, and roll it into an un-knot-able ball.

For an unmarried lady you certainly have your finger on the pulse about how we mothers never stop worrying about our offspring, even when they are knocking on for 40. Och where has the time gone to. Last night I learned with a shock that Son ILs mama is now in her 80s. I have known her for nearly 14 years and was still thinking of her as 70-something. And its 8 years, yes 8 years, since I last heard from an ex school friend who emailed me for a few weeks then went off the radar without a word. That was the same year Uncle Albert died and it only seems like a few months ago all this happened.

My word, the weather today ......... I parked myself in the kitchen all day, to be near the warmth of Mrs Berry's Aga, and through the little top window I could see black clouds which dispersed hail then rain, followed by blue sky, and the wind blew and blew like the Runaway Train's whistle, I swear I saw Dorothy and Toto, and Mary Poppins and her black gamp ..... or perhaps that was the result of the glass of red wine I had with my dinner last night.

On Monday when I went for blood tests, I took a book to read, The Haunting by Alan Titchmarsh. I found it very much a "cant put it down" book, and finished reading it today. 10/10, Mr T !! A most readable novel.

Mrs Berry has taken to calling the Aga "Khan". I wont tell you what she calls the red hot poker but she muttered that King Edward II wouldnt like it.

The answer to people who ignore your many little kindnesses, such as holding a door open for them, is to say "dont say thank you, its a dreadful waste of breath".

I've always felt better in the north east, than I feel in London, and much of the time I burn up, but I think at the moment that Durham would be too cold even for me.

I wish people would leave dear Catherine alone. She seems to be made of stern stuff in public but like all of us the dear girl has feelings and her privacy should be respected. When Lilibet was a young Queen, she was not hounded like this. Still, Catherine has the full support of Wills and I think that more than a few lessons have been learned since 1997.

I've said it before, and I will say it again - Richard III woz innocent. He woz blamed for wot Henry 7th done.

Right ..... instead of throwing another log on the fire, I am going back to the kitchen to warm my bones by the Aga Khan.

*wanders off singing "the runaway train came down the tracks and she blew, she blew,
the runaway train came down the tracks and she blew
the runaway train came down the tracks, her wheels were going clickety clack,
and she blew, and blew, and blew.

Pah, I have been typing away and it has all disapeared into cyber space.

Tutty tut tut.

I will be brief in my earlier ramblings.

1. The only warm place is paid toil so do join me if you wish cause its loverly :-D
2 Rude people, just tut at them like this "tutty tut tut tut"
3 The new Pope, he seems to have a very kind face and as of up till now no hired help :-0
4 Dear Kate, she is very naice and a real Lady like kind of Gal. She dresses in a most Lady like way and not like some catwalk model ;-)
5 FTE, phoned and has a new hairdo.
6 FTY is in the doghouse. He has face book, we do not and cannot see FTEs new hairdo. FTY said to wait for Pa so he does not have to log in twice!!!!!! The very large zit on his chin has rendered him too tired to log in :-D
7 David Bowie exhibition at the V&A im going when its on and OH will enjoy it ;-)

Tootle pip for now


Teresa

Morning Ladies,

Tis Friday again.... We are still waiting for the rains to come, they are forecast to arrive on Sunday. By the end of the day, the entire North Island will have been declared 'in' drought.... Fab summer for us townies but enough already.
Fruit has looked ahead to the weather for the 23rd. Tis supposed to be fine. Oh how I hope that is correct...

My sister has had inlaws out from the UK for a good long visit. They have had lovely hot weather :-)...

Sorry to hear you are bedecked with icicles, hard to imagine from where I am sitting. Still, in not too many weeks from now, that will be moi :-|..

Teresa, I went to a David Bowie concert here when pregnant with my male fruit, I always wondered if he would love Bowie's music... Enjoy the exhibition, I hope your OH does too ;-). Did FTY rouse himself and show you FTE's new 'do'?
I have facebook but don't use it very often though I do peek to see who has what to say :-D.

CC, enjoy your flowers, nothing beats fresh flowers does it. My friend had a birthday 'tother day, she got two deliveries of flowers, same florist, same bouquets, not overly impressed. I am trying to get a few pots of colour going, bit late, but worth a go.

Petunia, I couldn't quite get the detail from your avatar.. How goes the knitting?

~~~~ to Lesley, are you well dear?

I had best get on with my day... I would rather stay home but hey ho, needs must. I have a list of chores for tomorrow, amazing how invigorated I can get when I am to 'receive' visitors ;-).

Toodle pip,


ooooh, the radio is playing new David Bowie music :-)

Ladies the last time I entered this thread I had let my guard down :-| I hadn't donned my protective gloves and face mask needless to I have fallen victim to the dreaded knock you for six cold................... last Wednesday I thought I had a cold coming by Sunday I was aching and shivering :-( only today have I started to feel anywhere near normal, what ever normal is.:-S

Lesley feeling sorry for herself.

The Runaway Train came down the Trackdety Blue.

A little lad I know used to sing that when listening to Childrens Favourites. Out of the mouths of babes, eh?

Ah, Mr Bowie.........................I knew him when he was Mr Jones dears. I stumbled across him at a concert many years ago. He was in a shiny suit, and a pudding bowl haircut. Not at all like his Spiders from Mars days. He had crooked teeth then too. I think he has been refined a bit since then.

Dear Lesley, I am sorry our germs have infiltrated the cyber space. I STILL have my cough, and the sitting room is like a Sanatorium.

Dear, dear, Upsidedown Susan, How lovely it must be in your house. Lovely and warm, and lovely to be in full throng of Wedding Fever. Lots of photos dear. Dont miss a second. The day will fly by, and you be left in a daze. Thank goodness we have digitalis cameras these days. Those days of sending orft films and waiting with baited breath for the prints, only to be disappointed.

As Snow White used to sing.............One Day my Prints Will Come!!! Sorry!

I agree Teresa, the best place in this rotten weather is your place of toil. If only I had a place of toil, then I will be hot footing it down there too. Warm enough for comfort, but not warm enough for germs.

Now Cherry dear. Or should we be calling your Rita Hayworth. She had a close relationship with the Aga Khan did she not? Will be be using the henna and tossing your hear back, a la, Gilda?

I think we should all decamp for the kitchen dears, tis a lot warmer down there.............and there is food!

Delicately cramming a fondant fancy into my mouth.
Auntie Petunia