General Chat

Teresa never ever tell your GOG what you get up to when he's not around. I firmly believe that Ignorance Is Bliss .... except in my case - I always insist on being kept in the loop.

Susan we heard about Charles and Camilla coming to see the Kiwis. While in Aus, Cammie cuddled a Joey. While she is with you, will she be cuddling a Maori?

I gave up growing Hostas years ago. Snail bait - we can buy a chemical-free gravel which is supposed to keep the slugs and snails away. Vinegar sprinkled on the soil around a plant (be careful not to sprinkle it on the plants) will deter snails slugs and cats. Slugs and snails will shrivel and die, but vinegar does not harm marauding cats dogs or foxes. And, the malt in vinegar is good for the soil, so I am told. None of my plants have come to from me using vinegar. Another remedy to deter snails and slugs is crushed egg shells.

I found a few displays of Wade Whimsies at the fair, and bought two items for £2 each. On getting home, GOG has been perusing E-Bay and looked at the Whimsies, and I noticed that some of the items in my collection (obviously, the common ones) are on sale via E-Bay at a price. One of the ones I bought today for £2, was available on E-Bay for £2.99 free post and packing. Yeah right, obviously the 99p was tacked on to cover the postage.

However, I was chuffed to discover that my Lady Whimsie (Lady And The Tramp) is worth nearly £20 on E-Bay. Then again, the value of these little ornaments is decided by what people are prepared to pay. I shall be scouring the junk and charity shops again .... they dont always know what they are selling.

Ah yes, my bits n bobs. I have a collection of books, of CDs and old vinyl records, and audio tapes, and the Wade Whimsies, and some Delft Blue Clogs, then there is my old stamp collection and the postcards and bookmarks. And I have a collection of coffee mugs. I would ask for my bits n bobs to be buried with me but I dont think that people can be buried in aircraft hangars ..... My offspring have no interest in my "treasures". Oh what to do, what to do .....

CC

Good evening to you Ladies.

We have had a lovely day. The service this morning was tranqulity itself, and we too had the two minute silence.

We then went back to the Old Soldier and Sailors Home. I am very pleased with the people I have put in charge. This is a legacy to Lavinia and her gentleman husband, and the dear old boys are being very well looked after. She would have been very pleased indeed.

After a slap up lunch, a young lady arrived to play the piano. She was accompanied by an older lady, who I later found out was her Mama. Mama was dressed as a soldier, and they sang songs, and played the piano with gusto. The old boys were as pleased as punch. They laughed, and some cried, and we ended the concert with A Long Way To Tipperary. There was not a dry eye in the house. Each of the old boys was given a small bottle of their favourite tipple to take back to their rooms. All were happy. I was so pleased. It is sad to think that some of them will not be here next Armistice Day.

I do hope that Cherry dear will not bring back too much junk, erm, treasures back to Motie Towers. I am overstuffed enough as it is. No doubt we will see what we will see.................

Teresa dear, I see you are still being a supportive Mama with the Devils Game. I hope you have not been visited by the Docker in recent weeks. How lovely that there should have been a silence before the game. I believe the Rugby Game on television was the same. You could have heard a pin drop.

Dear Upsidedown Susan, how lucky you are to have the future King and Queen visiting you. Put plenty of plants in his way, he likes to talk to them. Maybe you could get him to visit your newly planted Hostas. Then you could be By Royal Appointment. There was an article in the newspaper last week showing how much CPB has changed in the last few years. Then some 'experts' told how it has been done. Apparently it is all down to golden highlights and light reflecting foundation. There now...............who would have thought it!

Yes dears, try to spot Pat-trish-aaaah tonight, apparently she has had a ducking from a canoe with a previous Doctor Who.

Heaven preserve us
Auntie Petunia

Good morning ladies and peeps,

Well, I worked my fingers to the bone over the weekend whilst one of us was galavanting about with the Lord Mayor :-S... I do hope you had a wonderful time Petunia.
We have a Mayor here, he is defo not a Lord and there is definitley no carriage ;-).
As my OH is more than likely to be at war with our Council re the heating saga, I should think the Mayor wouldn't want us anywhere near him....

I arose at 6am on Saturday and didn't stop my toil until 4.30pm. Needless to say I was fair knackered. But am overjoyed to have finally finished the ruddy painting and nearly finished washing down the house...
Yesterday I planted a few more Hosta's and laid some snail bait.... The puppy has been sniffing around so I am off to buy a different bait that is supposed to be safe to animals :-D.

Teresa, fruits never ever really leave home do they, they still need their Mama's to lend a hand here and there ;-). Good luck with FTY and his homework. Oh dear, it is football season again :-D.

Lesley, hope you are hapy with the bear when it arrives. My mama still has the bear who accompanied her on her travels in the 50's. He is now rather thread bare :-). He has the stuffing hanging out of him and is rather scratchy :-P.
My OH has his teddy too, I don't remember having a bear. I do remember a toy called Moomoo :-D, it is somewhere in a cupboard.

CC, hope your outing went well. Did you purchase anything? We have Prince Charles and his lady wife here at present, they did attend Armistace Day celebrations I believe.

Talking about purchasing bits and bobs, our paper had an article called "What to do with your stuff when you snuff".......... :-D.
It got my OH and I talking about the topic. OH suggested I have the converstaion with my parents :-D. Oh dear, I shall 'pick' my moment as my intentions could be misconstrued...

Ladies, what thought have you given, if any, to your bits and bobs? I would hope we don't have to make any decisions for many a year yet ;-).

Have a pleasant evening

Susan

Hallo Ladies, The Fruits on the football feild held a minutes silence before the game and you could of heard a pin drop.

Cherry dear, FTE will no doubt pay us in kind on her return, she owes us a few nights sitting for FTY when she returns for a short time in April :0)

Ah GOGs Mine returned from shores abroad yesterday with an eight hour time lag. He went round turning orff lights to save money while I was trying to cross stich in the gloom. I did not tell of the postage costs :0)
FTY had again not read his book to the allocated page. Tuttty tut. He is reading it now :0)

Orff to tune in for the dancing and to see Pat rish aaa make her debut in the jungle


Teresa

good morning ladies, and everyone else, yes indeed Petunia dear it is Remembrance Sunday and also Armistice Day I believe so at 11 AM I shall be perched in front of the TV set following the Cenotaph service and paying my respects to our War Dead, several of whom were members of my family. And not forgetting the soldiers who came back, my Dad among them, mentally scarred by their experiences. Dad never failed to attend the Cenotaph service during his lifetime, to lay a poppy wreath, and I am unable to do that in person but I make sure the TV is switched on for 11 am, and I observe the 2 minutes silence.

After that, we are orft to an antiques fair,

CC

Dear Ladies, a good morning to you all.

Lesley dear, I too hope that your bear is exactly what you want. Nothing more important to a child as their Teddy. I still have mine, wrapped in tissue paper, because he is so fragile. No hair down one side, where he was loved.

The Lord Mayors Show went off wonderfully. I am sure you will agree it was a spectacle.

Now a more sober day today. Tis Rememberance Sunday, and as such we at Motie Towers will be remembering those proud and brave ladies and gents who have given so much.

My family were all in the armed forces of one kind or another. And as such we owe them such debt.

I shall be going to church for a Rememberance Service, and then on to the Old Soldiers and Sailors Home with the Vicar, who will give a short blessing, and then we will have a Party in their honour.

Lest We Forget

Auntie Petunia

so pleased to have been of some help Lesley and when the bear arrives I do hope it doesnt disappoint.

CC

CC I have seen the GOSH bear :-) and as much as I would support GOSH through the gift shop their bear isn't what I am looking for :-( I have looked at the Ashby Bear site and I thank you very much for giving me that link as, I had forgotten about Deans Bears and their Classic London Gold Bear is exactly what I am looking for:-D although I said previous I wanted to see the bear before I bought it with this one I don't need to as I know this is the right one and have ordered it on-line :-)

Must dash my dancing partner is waiting :-D

Lesley

Yoohoo Lesley, have you checked these sites out?

Merrythought Ltd - Offical Web Site - Handmade Teddy Bears ...
www.merrythought.co.uk/
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Olympic Teddy Bear - Traditional Teddy Bears - Collectable Teddy Bears - Contact

The Great British Teddy Bear Company – Bridesmaid Bear | Royal ...
www.gbteddybear.com/
We have created an affordable range of hand made, plush teddy bears each dressed in beautifully detailed iconic British costumes. Great British Teddy Bears ...

GB TEDDY BEAR CO | Ashby Bears
www.ashbybears.com/.../Great_British_Teddy_Bear_Company.html
See the entire range from The Great British Teddy Bear Company at your UK Store for ... 11" fully Jointed, hand made plush teddy bear, dressed in beautifully ...

Teddy Bear for Charity
www.gosh.org/
Buy your Teddy Bear from the
Great Ormond Street Hospital Shop!

Teddy Bears & Gifts
www.ashbybears.com/
A proper UK Teddy Bear Store
Huge range in stock

Teresa I told my GOG about your FTY and the book he didnt read during the school hols, and GOG sort of half-smiled. It is the sort of thing GOG would have done. Whereas, I would have read all the way to page 90 then kept on reading to the very end. My middle name should have been Bookworm.

I trust FTE will refund you all these postal charges you are incurring on her behalf?

GOGs BIL once told me he'd sent a Christmas parcel to his daughter and her family who now live way down south in the vicinity of the Jurassic Coast but a bit further along. He said it cost him nearly £100 !!! It must have been a very big parcel, but she has two young children and decent gifts for children don't come small or cheap these days . Unless, its a T shirt which reads "my Grandma went to Hawaii and all she bought me was this little ol' T shirt".

Why do loving and attentive happy fiances turn into GOGs? One of the many wonders of the Universe .. if not the MultiVerse.:-S

CC

It's Trinty Steet Lesley, on just a little way down from the Cristian Science reading rooms. I was in there the other day. Alas they do not sell Merrythought bears because I asked. They have mainly Steiff bears. There is a range called Jellycat which are soft and baby friendly, at all different prices. I have bought those in the past for various newborn fruits of friends.

Ooh Auntie, I thought I saw you in a carriage, what a wonderful hat you were wearing. It was such a bright colour and those birds on top, well it looked a right Bobby Dazzler :-D
So Pat rish aaaaaa has hithered to the jungle. The bush telegraph was correct in its information to me :-D I feel that she may be doing many trials and eating all manner of strange things :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

Cherry dear your puss is very demanding, a bit like FTE, I sent her parcels today. The postage alone was almost as much as the contents :-|
I have several days orffff next week so will have a read of the said book.
Just orff to nag FTY into submission for his French revision and wash a stack of very muddy football training clothes.

I expect Susan is off from paid toil today and doing MOB duties :-D


Teresa

Good morning Ladies...............I am talking to you via the Bloooooberry..............so forgive me if I break up a little...................I am taking part in the Lord...............Mayors Show in the City.

Naturally I am riding in the carriage.....................with the Lord Mayor..................you may have seen a gracious...............lady sitting next to him, tis I.

we are heading for the Banqueting Hall...............where I believe there is to be a slap up meal................good.................I have been starving myself the last few days...........to get this bug out of my system. So I am feeling better.

Teresa dear.................thank you for keeping us up to date with your Fruits exploits on the high.........................seas. If we do not know exactly where she is, we can look it up on the Tinternet. I am mildly jealous of her. But so lovely that she can do this sort of thing at such a young age......................so much to look back on when she is older.

Lesley dear...................I am sure you will find your Bear in Colchester. I have been along those little back streets, and there are lots of lovely................interesting shops. I got a identity disc for Trickey in on of those shops. I had to write down the info......................and go back for it an hour later. It was lovely..................but she lorst it in the Ponds at Hampstead!!!!!!!

Cherry dear, welcome back into the fold. We are so pleased you got your ooojamaflip fixed, but you could have just called along the corridor to me dear.

Now, a very strange thing happened this morning before I left. There was a telegram......................I did not think those still existed. But it was from Australia. Apparently Pat-trish-aaaaah has indeed skipped off there. She says she is in disguise and will be someone called...................................Mad Nad, and we are to look out for her.

If she pulls this off in the heat, I will indeed let her go and help Mr Claus. She will need cooling down.

Smiling and waving regally
Auntie Petunia

Now Lesley, are you still proferring refreshments to your visitors using the Railway China mugs and plates? Perhaps I should borrow some of dear Petunia's Spode and Worcester and loan it to you. The dear old soul wont notice a few breakages, should anything go amiss, she never goes to SpecSavers :-D

I wish you every good luck in finding an English-made bear. Have you tried googling for toy shops in Colchester, to see what the search results throw up? The name of the road should be given. I had a similar experience with a shop in Lowestoft, I knew the name of the shop but not the road it was in, so after I got back home I googled, and full details came up including the road name.

We are orf to another antiques and collectors fair tomorrow. MFH came home with a newspaper which is banned in this house - insofar as I have a notice on the porch door that says No Free Papers so I dont get any - and this paper carried a notice saying there would be a fair at Potters Bar. MFH drives, so getting there will be no problem. There will be 70 stalls according to the notice, so it should be very interesting. There used to be a big and very good fair at the Lea Valley Centre but that stopped, I never found out why.

CC

Oh dear me Teresa, what a state your poor hands are in, and the state of your cuticles has to be seen to be believed. I blame that alcoholic gel that hospitals insist everyone rubs on their hands. I refuse to use it. Forget the goose fat. Try some best virgin olive oil on those cuticles, and aloe vera hand cream which is only £1 in your M&S.

Oh my, burgers. I hear an old farmer even opened a fast food restaurant in Moscow or was that an old wives tale? I am glad to hear that FTE is seeing the world, even if there is a burger at every port, instead of a nice young man.

Yes, do read that book - you wont find one single cuss word in it which is probably why the youngsters only want to know what happens on the last page.

I will never forget when I was a Parent Helper in the school library and one day when I "went to work" the library assistant pulled me into the side room to look at a book which had been ordered by a student with her Papa's permission. But the library assistant disapproved, because of all the nautical expressions - in fact, she knew where every word was, so clearly she had read the book cover to cover, and she flicked through every page, pointing and saying to me "look at that ... look at that". My eyes glazed over, and I made my excuses and "got to work".

Why is Pat rish aaaaah in the jungle? She's not a celebrity.

Linda Robson and Pauline Quirke were apparently pupils at Sir Thomas Abney infant & primary school in Stoke Newington. I was also a pupil there, but in a much earlier decade.

CC
singing "Old MacDonald had a farm, ee eye ee eye ohhhhhh"

a very good morning, ladies and everyone else. I fear I have offended my pussy. I woke up about 4.30 for a discrete visit, and upon return to my bedroom I found the feline demanding to be let out via the window. So I let her out and went back to bed. I went to the kitchen shortly before 7 am, to find the cat sitting on the doorstep ... and it was pouring with rain. She jumped over the threshold with a shrilling. As I said to her, she wanted to go out and it is not my fault the rain started falling, nor that I didnt know the rain started falling. Now she is washing herself all over - all over my bed - and on the bottom sheet too. The bed was freshly made with clean linens on Thursday. Never let it be said that the cat dumps her fur all over dirty sheets.

Petunia dear let me reassure you about Tricki Woo. Dogs do not see in black and white, this is a fallacy. Modern technology has established that they have the ability to see some colour, although not as highly developed as we see colour.

The more evolved monkeys and apes also have some colour vision, in fact one ape was able to paint in colours, I saw a documentary about her some years ago. I think her name was Koko, she was rescued from hunters who'd killed her mother. Koko was taught to speak using sign language and then "spoke" to her guardians, and painted. At least, they claimed it was her work. She also had a pet kitten, who she adored, and she was heartbroken when the kitty died. I think there are videos of Koko on You Tube.

Do allow Pat rish aaaaah to take that Seasonal Job, it is only until Boxing Day. I think she is plump enough not to take a chill - you never see an arctic seal with a cold do you? Also, all that trotting around with Santa and the reindeer might hone a few lbs off her, meaning she will be more sylphlike when she returns home to you and all the stairs she has to climb will be nothing to her. Just think, no more huffing and puffing. I am sure when she returns from the North Pole she will be more appreciative of you, and all that Motie Towers has to offer. And, while she is away, she can send you postcards.

CC

Good Evening Ladies

Auntie Petunia your flattery will get you everywhere :-D but me a blonde bombshell and a lovely singer :-S :-S :-S

How strange Susan that in your part of NZ wood burners don't seem to be acceptable :-( were as in my part of the UK they are becoming more and more popular :-)

I've heard say lard is as good as goose fat for your hands Susan and much more reasonable in price :-) Meanie Glam-ma is only getting E a bear for Christmas:-( I have been advised to try a shop in Colchester for one not sure of the name of the road that it's in but I know it's just along from Pasha a shop I REALLY like to browse.

CC above all you must look after your health and yourself :-) never forget I make a lovely cup of tea served in the best china :-D

I am glad you are feeling better now Ladies, .i am a little cream crackered after many days of paid toil, I have to pick up dear OH on Sunday, he is 8 hours in front of us abroad. I feel he may be jet lagged to say the least. I will leave you in the good care of Patrisssshaaaa and Mrs Berry.

Pat rish aaaaaa where are you :-S :-S :-S :-S :-S :-S :-S :-0 :-0 :-0 :-0 :-0

OMG

She's gorn off to the jungle with Eric Bristow, Ant'nDec and Linda Robson, quick what shall we doooooooooooooooooo

My hands Auntie are neither lily white or soft as a babies dimple.they are red and dry like a Towie on a sun bed :-| I have been for many days at paid toil and I feel they may need some goose fat and a good exfoliation :-S

Thank you for your kind enquiries about FTE. She is residing in Antigua today on the beach on her day off with her fellow workers drinking cocktails and eating burgers, burgers Auntie, I ask you whatever next. She also had a burger in Portugal. Do you think she is on a mission for a well know food chain?????? Tomorrow she will be in the Virgin Islands, the following day St Marrten, then St Lucia then Bridgetown then several days at sea until they get back to Portugal again no doubt stopping for another burger :-|

Susan you are very brave being the hostess to all the family at Christmas. For many years regardless of weather I was at paid toil or not I had all the relatives over eating like there was a near famine on the horizon. Many times did I wander orff to toil while they all continued feeding and drinking etc etc so I made a decision and stopped and awaited my invites to all and sundry and guess what................................................




I will let you ponder on that one ;-)


Thank you for your email Cherry dear and your words of wisdom Auntie regarding the English GCSE book. I think I should read it and will have some idea of what the poor lad is moaning about! Tis French GCSE next week. I only speak the Queens English so he will have to get on with it and we can hope for the best.

Lesley your singing is very good. Was it the Communards version? Hope all is well with baby E, I bet you are getting excited about sending things to Father Christmas. Perhaps Patricia can take them to him in her new job :-D

Tootling orff now to watch the recording of Ms Clarrissa Dickson Wright tell us about breakfasts. Now she does speak the Queens English :-D



Teresa

Good evening Ladies,

I am improving by the day, I should be back to full force by next week.

I dont know why Pat-trish-aaaaah is becoming so huffy and puffy. I only call her four times an hour. She has adequate time to get back down to the scullery before I call her again.

She was muttering something about Steptoe and Son, and Upstairs Downstairs, Upstairs Downstairs. But I can never watch anything in black and white. I am not a puppy dog. If it is not in full colour, I am not interested!!!

I am not so sure about the uniform to accompany Mr Claus either. You know that Pat-trish-aaaaah is not exactly sylph-like, and the thought of a teeny weeny skirt with stockings is not what the doctor ordered at all. She will catch a chill in her btm, and I am not rubbing her chest.

Lesley your singing is lovely. Have you ever thought of entering the X Factor dear? I am sure you would wow that nice young Mr Barlow. Deep breathes dear, deep breathes.

Dear Upsidedown Susan, The Dress sounds wonderful. Every young gel should look like a Princess on her wedding day, and your Fruit sounds like she will excell. We await the next tit-bit with baited breathe. Will there be a veil? Will there be a tararara? Do tell when the time is right.

Teresa dear. A young acquaintance of mine just got the Exam Aid books from a well known book dealer. It gives an abridged version of the book, so hey presto, no revising. Beware dear. IT DOES NOT WORK.

I am getting very figdety sitting in bed all day. But it has given me the opportunity of creaming my hands on a regular basis. As you know I have wonderfully lilly-white hands, but this cold weather does them no favours at all.

You will be pleased to know that they are now back in pristine condition.

Typing in white cotton gloves
Auntie Petunia

you dont have to "miss" me Susan. I shall be contactable by email. However I just got to the point where I need to cut back on some of my internet time and keyboard use - I have very bad arthritis in my hands - and I've finished my genealogy research. While I am on the computer, I'm neglecting other things ..... sigh ... and I quite agree with you that a woman's work is never done. Perhaps if the menfolk assisted us a little more, it would be.

I always say "the world and his wife".

Well, I dont know what Pat rish aaaaah is on, but I dont think its legal :-D

**

Teresa I have emailed you with a fuller explanation of Mockingbird, in case you never read the book.

CC