General Chat

*sending a parcel of cyber sprouts to dear Susan*
I hope you enjoy them Susan, they are best served with butter and black pepper. Perhaps you should lobby your MP to allow sprouts to be grown in NZ? LOL

Did I ever mention I love New Zealand lamb, it tastes so much better than English reared lamb. We are told its because of the NZ grass.

I would like just a little bit of your warmth please, if you can spare some, but you may keep the humidity :-D :-D

*eyes Petunia* well bless my soul, I never thought you would be a mince pie counter. Of course I will leave one for you dear. I'm not greedy and you can see I havent nibbled them all. There were 24 on the plate originally, dear.

On such a cold damp night, isnt it wonderful to be able to stretch out in front of the coal fire, and defrost right through. I have spent today running around half of south east England, I say running - I drove. Driving saves on shoe leather. I purchased two pairs of Hotter shoes that did not seem to pinch on every pressure point of my poor feet. The price is alarming, but with my luck if I waited for the sales the store wouldnt have had my size in.

And I found another two little Whimsies in a charity shop ..... they were only asking £2 each, so I got a bargain there.

I was obliged to visit a certain Garden Centre, to see if they had any green taper candles. I was heartbroken yesterday to discover some damage has been done to Italian sculpted candles that were in table decorations I made myself. These candles were a gift from MIL, following a holiday she had in Italy, so they can never be replaced. Both arrangements were wrapped up in a carrier bag each, and placed in a box, in a kitchen cupboard at the back, to protect them. They were in good condition when I put them away last year. The cleaning lady who came in a few months ago to clean the kitchen cupboards (not the weekly lady, who is about to become a fortnightly lady) was clearly not careful enough in how she moved things around. I wont have her back in the house because of her attitude that one time she was here, and I said so at the time.

And the about-to-be fortnightly cleaning lady has damaged the leads on both vacuum cleaners, which have to be replaced. The damage is consistent with the vacuum cleaner being pushed over the lead while the brush was rotating. I caught her going over the lead of the downstairs machine and when I checked it was badly damaged, which explained the damage to the lead of the upstairs machine. I also caught her pushing the machine over a varnished floor trim downstairs, which scratched it, then I discovered scratch marks over the upstairs floor trims as well, suggesting that something heavy on plastic wheels was pushed/pulled over them. The only undamaged trims are the ones beneath the cloakroom door and the bathroom door, and she was never asked to take the vacuum in there.

Since I came out of hospital, which is why I had to hire someone to vacuum for me, a lot of damage has also occurred to the black gloss paintwork in the hall. It all has to be repaired, and materials cost money. I cant afford to pay for a cleaning lady, and budget for repairs as well. What a dilemma. I've had to start doing the vacuuming myself, which is why my back is worse than ever. However if I tell her I dont want her coming in any more, I think I'd be cutting off my nose to spite my face, because I can ask her to do other jobs for me. Something always needs doing - drapes need vacuum-brushing, paintwork needs wiping down, windows need cleaning. Keeping a house clean is like painting the Forth Bridge - endless :-S :-S

*jumping up and down in excitement at the thought of writing a Christmas Speech, just like Her Majesty*
CC

Well Ladies,

It would seem you are all very busy at the moment. Please don't wear yourselves to a frazzle before the 25th. :-D

CC, my sunset is 'up'. It was really lovely. Though red sky at night, bah humbug, we had rain the next day :-S.

I checked our long range forecast today, what do you know. From Sunday, rain and/or shower until the following Saturday :-(. I have my fingers crossed the weather 'person' is talking out of a hole in their head :-D.... I did go and purchase an extra tarpaulin today. just in case ;-).

I braved the supermarket today with fruit, we had two trollies..... I will go back on the 24th for the last minute fresh bits and pieces we will need. Oh dear, thank goodness Christmas is only once a year. Though I do know the day will be wonderful with all the family members here, who can be...

Time to think about cooking our dinner, a nice piece of fresh fish tonight.

Toodle pip, enjoy your breakfast.

Susan

we had a brilliant red sun rise yesterday morning. It was soon followed by rain, and the rain fell all day today as well ..... but I look on the bright side - the rain has washed away the frost !

I am cooking a fish dinner tonite, in the steamer. orf now to make a quick white sauce.

CC

Aaaaaaaaah tiiiiiiiish Ooooooooo!

I am sitting here shivering gels, the rain has rained all day. I am soaked to the skin, and have webbing appearing between my toes.

As much as I do love tin rattling with the Starvation Army, it was a bit chilly outside a certain train station.

Dragging myself up to the bathroom, where I shall have a mustard bath.

Feeling dejected
Auntie Petunia

***** flings Petunia a slab of ham to go with the mustard :-D :-D.

you should use radox Petunia, I am sure you will smell a whole heap nicer after your bath ;-). I sincerely hope your sneezing does not develop into anything nasty.

CC, you are a better woman than I. My fish is crumbed in panko crumbs and shallow fried in light olive oil :-D, delicious. We had Terakihi, a local fish.
I hope you manage to sort out your home helper, crikey, tell her she is not at the racetrack...

I have finished wrapping the last of the presents ( bangs tambourine with glee). Just the baking, and the thawing of the rather large Turkey and the setting up to do....My Christmas Eve visitors (family coming to stay) get to peel the veg...
It will be allright on the night :-D.
I even ironed all the table cloths in readiness, today. I cheat and buy cheap white sheets, after dinner, they go in the bin if badly soiled...

Time to think about our evening meal, as no fairy is likely to appear, tis up to me to feed us -again :-).

Have a lovely weekend, I hope the frost stays away ;-) ;-) ;-)

Hallo Ladies, we are still here and not gone in a puff of smoke like the good ancient folk predicted :-D

I have been a bit distracted on a weeks leave from paid toil. I have been on somewhat of a feeding frenzie with many Ladies who lunch and Ladies who dine. I'm out again for two meals over the weekend and fear I may be rolling down the hill in more ways than you can imagine :-D

Now at the weekend my Sister and I went to see the tribute bands I mentioned. I am rather surprised you could not guess who they were :-| It was of course Mr D Bowie tribute and Mr T Rex :-D :-D :-D. Mr Rex actually resides in our town but is the number one tribute. He was very good and looked and sounded just like Mr Rex but there was something lacking, I don't think he had "it". The Mr Bowie tribute however was amazing. I was prepared to be highly critical being a Bowie fan but my goodness he was good. He did mainly songs from Aladin Sane LP and had such stage presence.

I spoke to FTE yesterday. She was in a very hot and sunny Madeira :-D

I'm looking forward to hearing of the fun and games at Motie towers over the festive season. By the way Auntie, did I mention that Pat rish aaaaa had bought some flavoured small drinks when she escaped down here a few months back. Beware of them, they may look small and pretty but pack a punch ;-)

Susan the story of your Fruits dog made me smile. Dogs often have a mind of their own. I was driving along one day and saw my Sisters dogs had decided to go for a walk without anyone with them :-D. They are rather large and long haired Alsatians.
They looked as happy as Larry wandering along the road from where she lived. I stopped the car and rounded them up and took them back home. How they managed to get out of the gate I do not know.

Cherry dear I hope you are ready for the festivities at the Towers, do keep us informed of all the goings on :-D

Lesley, do I need the rowing boat to get to paid toil? I have not been up the road this week but have to do a Sainsbugs tomorrow.


Orffff now to get a cuppa and a mince pie :-D

Teresa :-D

*runs into Motie Towers, trots up the stairs, and peers around the bedroom door at a swaddled figure, cosily esconsed under a duvet, an eiderdown, 10 slankets, and a fake fur throw.*
I'm back from the family dinner at the golf course restaurant, Petunia dear, I have turned the electric bar fire on to supplement the coal fire, please do join us downstairs, Mrs Berry needs your guidance and advice. I've brought you a teatray dear, and if you would like it I shall bring a teacup, teapot, and some milk as well.
So surprised the hot mustard did not work, perhaps you should have had some beef as well as the slice of ham.
Cheer up, we are all still here in spite of the fact the world ended at 11 minutes past 11 am this morning. I think there are a lot of red faces surrounding Buggarach in France .. I think that is how its spelt. It's a village in France, anyroad, where all the survivalists gathered to be carried off in spaceships when the end of the world arrived.
So much for the Mayan calendar. Pah humbug !! :-D

*

havent heard of panko crumbs Susan, is that a special New Zealand flour mix? Terakahi sounds intriguing. I had trout last night, but sometimes I have smoked river cobbler which I love.

*

Teresa, I remember when our dear dog Ben decided to take himself for a walk. We had building works in progress, and I left the dog in the care of MFH while I went to the shops. After a few minutes I realised I could hear the padding of paws behind me - you know the sound their claws make on concrete - and I turned around to see Ben placidly following me. I took him back home, naturally, as I didnt have his lead with me. He'd escaped through the side gate while MFH was distracted.
The festivities at Motie Towers are well organised, as dear Petunia has everything in hand. But she has forgotten something - the Wade crackers with little animal ornaments in them. I saw a set available to buy on He-bay!! but I'm not letting the moths out of my wallet, at the price being asked for them :-D

Good Evening Ladies.

Why oh why didn't I venture in to my local town yesterday in the rain rather than wait until today to get the last of my Christmas gifts the streets and car parks were gridlocked and the shops were manic :-\ and can you believe it one of the department stores (W&G) left the security tag on one of my purchases so I have to return to the chaos just to get the tag removed :-| on the plus side I didn't set off every alarm in every shop :-D

Theresa I haven't heard of any flooding on your route to paid toil :-) you want to go to Sainsbury's tomorrow :-0 when I came out of town today the traffic was queueing on the A12 to get in there :-S be afraid be very afraid :-D

CC why not treat yourself to the crackers it could be a Christmas present to yourself :-D

We had fish tonight Susan courtesy of our local chippy :-D

Auntie Petunia I do hope you are feeling much better today.

alas I have already treated me to my Christmas present to myself Lesley :-D
and thanks to the grocery shopping, the credit card is now as stuffed as the turkey is going to be ..... !!! ;-)

Peeps from under the duvet, is it safe to come out now?

Are we still here? Or is this some sort of afterlife, now that the End of the World has come......................and gawn?

No? We are still here? Jolly dee, I am about to perform my National Duty.

Hold onto your hats gels, it may be a bumpy ride [with apologies to Bette Davis]

AP

#Sweeps into the Parlour, in a wonderful shot silk gown, festooned with bugle beds, hair coiffed to within an inch of its life, adorned with a tarararaa. Sits at the table, covered with a maroon chenille tablecloth. Sits gracefully down. Reminds Pat-trish-aaaaah to crank the handle on the camera at an even pace. Deep Breath....................#

Dear friends, it is at this time of year that we reflect on the past year. We look back on the wonderful things that have happened in this special year. We have had the up and downs.

The ups of course were the Olympics and the Royal Jubilee. A really success I hope you will agree. And in no little way, down to me. I am sure you will recall I had a helping hand in making them the success that they undoubledly were. I am only sad that Pip managed to get a chill, but I think he should have fortified himself with a little tincture. Oil of Peppermint is always good for chills.

As you know, I was also in the opening Ceremony of the Olympics. I sailed into the Stadium holding onto an umbrella. I am sure you must have seen me.

It is also a sad time for reflection too. So many of the good and the great have passed away this year. Actors, Actresses and Astronomers. The world will be a lesser place without them.

Of course on a more personal note, we are still in mourning for our dear friends Mr and Mrs Lavinia. They died within such a short time of each other. Such a dignified passing only ruined by the bolting of the horse, that ran down the length of Swains Lane, and came to a thunderous shudder at the bottom of the hill.

It has also been a personal tragedy for me, with the loss of my Own True Love. Dear Patrick had indeed come back into my life, and then so cruelly snatched away again, with that baggage Juana. They say there is no fool like an old fool, and I dont know who was the more foolish, him or me.

However, we have a new friend in our close knit circle dear Beatrice. I am sure she and I will become firm friends once we eventually get asked to afternoon tea, and I can get the measure of her by the quality of her china.

The festivities will begin in earnest tomorrow evening when dear Octavia, Georgianna and Beatrice will arrive to spend the duration with us. Cherry should be back by then, and we will have a full house.

I should like to thank my dear cyber friends Cherry, Teresa, Upsidedown Susan and Lesley, for their continued support in our little ramblings. May you have wonderful times ahead of you dears.

Our sometimes contributors Island, DET and Merlin and Upsidedown Allan. I wish you happy times, and should you feel you would like to visit again, please do so.

And to our silent audience, if you too should feel that you would like to leave a hand crafted, deckled edged calling card and come and join us, you too are most welcome.

And so dear friends wide and near, I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year with your loved one.

Pip Pip
Auntie Petunia

my word what a remarkable speech, dear Petunia. It must have taken you all of ten minutes to rehearse that, and I am most impressed with the way you didnt once stop to draw breath. I declare your oratory fervour has left me feeling quite fatigued, so please be a dear, dear, and shift over on the chaise longue as I'd like to collapse for a little while in front of the log fire, if I may please.

*sinks down with a grateful sigh*
In case you are wondering what is on my head, I went to collect the turkey crown this afternoon. The Christmas tree at Chez CC is up and decorated, the cards have been bluetacked around the hallway, and Old Father Time is standing in the porch. SainsCo have given me a huuuuge box of Thorntons chocolates for ordering the turkey crown from them, which is wonderful because they'd already given me a £5 off voucher to help pay for the turkey.

No dear, I havent opened the box of Thorntons yet dear. Do you think I am greedy dear? No dear I shall offer them around on Christmas Day when Georgianna, Octavia, and Beatrice are here. Then I shall sit back and watch all of you gain the lbs ..... :-D

Ah well, time for bed, said Zebedee.

Well , tis the 24th here already and things are about to get very busy in this house.

Petunia, thank you for your lovely speech, yes , you have been very busy this past year. Spreading goodwill to one and all, wether needed or not :-S. Your energy levels are to be admired, as is your ability to be in the right place at the right time....

CC, I have had our Turkey defrosting since Sarturday afternoon (in the fridge, I assure you)... It is rather a large bird. Gawd only knows how long it will take to cook through.. Yesterday I cooked some boneless Turkeys for a friend, we had a rather lovely lunch at hers. Anyhow, I followed the timings and temperatures as stated on the packaging. Lo, the ruddy things were not cooked through... Panic swept in for a bit, back into the oven on a higher temp and hey presto, they cooked :-D, and were quite delicious :-).

I send my best wishes to our merry band of Motettes, to all our sometimes contributors and to those who peep but don't post. It has been alot of fun, the world is certainly a much smaller place with the bonus of the ether...

~~~~~~ to Teresa and Lesley, hope to 'see' you all again soon.

Keep warm and safe and have a lovely time with your loved ones. We shall be trying to keep cool and dry at the same time. We are supposed to get the tail end of Cyclone Evan that hit Samoa and Fiji... I hope those in the UK, affected by the terrible flooding, will have some semblence of a Happy Christmas <3.

Toodle pip for now. I have a list of jobs to attend to before our visitors descend on us today. I must just drop by the Welsh thread to leave a greeting :-)

Susan

The guests are arriving, and the old homestead is looking very jolly.

I do hope these candles on the Christmas tree are safe. We shall eat very soon, and then have a sing-song around the piano.

May I just wish you all a Very Merry Christmas Dears.

See you at the other end of the festivities.

Affectionately
Auntie Petunia

Merry Christmas Auntie Petunia, and the rest of the Jolly Band.

Thanks for the chuckles through the year :-D

Happy Christmas DET to you and all your family :0)

Lesley I was very very afraid in Sainsbugs. they had run out of nuts and Baileys!!!
I have managed to drive through the flood :0)

I hope you had a very merry Christmas Susan :0)

Aunty and Cherry keep the home fires burning, i will be popping up to the Towers on Thursday :0)

FTE has just rang, the captain has put out a message. Father Christmas has arrived to see everyone. He has come down the ships funnel. FTE and her fellow fruits have just been to see him, She is having a great time.

We have been to the crib service earlier, phoned the Aunts and settled down to cheese and biscuits and a glass of somthing nice

Love and hugs to all


Teresa

Dear all I hope you have/had a peaceful Christmas.

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire and our stockings all hung by the chimney with care.

Merry Christmas Lesley x

hic !
One hopes that you have all had a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones, that the tinsel cooked well and the turkey glittered nicely on your Christmas tree, and that you are not feeling toooo flat now that the midwinter seasonal festivities are drawing to a close.
One is very relaxed on the couch in the Morning Room in Motie Towers, all alone in front of the log fire, with my constant companions Des Peration, Percy Verence, Dan Druff, Arthur Itis, and Imogen Erryfriend. You know of course that Demi Moore named one of her children Rumer. Well, I am also expecting Rumer Tism to leave her calling card very soon, on account of the rain, and no doubt Paul Bearer will be paying one a visit one rainy afternoon.
Poor Pat rish aaaaaah seems to have had a wonderful time in the North Pole, and we were able to track her via NorAd you know, because for several years NorAd have provided a telephone service (manned by lovely volunteers) tracking Santa and telling all the excited children (who telephoned) just where in the world Santa was, at any given moment.
Of course, Elf and Safety were a bit iffy this year, because Santa was not safely strapped in his seat and they didnt approve of the sacks wobbling about on the back seat. But that was soon sorted, with some double sided sticky tape and a length of string. And, a wire coat hangar.
Dear Petunia has gone charging off with that Beatrice, following a telephone call from St Jumbo's, it was a trunk call from that man who impersonates elephants.
Mrs Berry is cuddling up to a bottle of cooking sherry in the kitchen, and I am in the excellent company of Dom Perignon - and I havent broken one of the Csar's crystal glasses. Yet. I will not be toasting the Csar, as that would mean throwing all the glasses into the fireplace.
Normal service will be resumed very soon ...........
hic!

CC

Hello CC,

I certainly hope that Mr Paul Bearer does not come calling..... Heavens to murgatroyd. As for the rest of your visitors, send them packing I say...
I hope your Christmas Day was a good one, did you , like the rest of us, eat far too much and drink more than we should??

Our day was pleasant but hectic. With 32 for lunch, things were a little busy. But we managed, the rain stayed away so that was even better. I shall be disposing of all the leftovers today. We are 'over' it. Not too much left, a few sweet treats that I am trying not to eat. :-D.

We had four dogs here on Christmas Day,, it felt a bit like Crufts. Our grand puppy and my sisters little mut had a whale of a time playing chasey. Our pup could fit the other mut into her mouth (but didn't). They had such fun together, it was a joy to watch. My Mama's dog didn't want to participate in tearing around the garden :-P
A few morsels managed to find there way into the pooches mouths..

I am back to work today, hopefully not all day. I shall smile sweetly at the boss;-).

Like Arnie, I shall be back.

~~~~~~ to all

Susan ( who weighs more than she did on the 24th :-D)

Yes dears, byeeeeeeee! No you did not overstay your welcome at all. No I do love to have a full house at Christmas. The fact that we were full to the rafters was not an inconvenience at all.

Pat-trish-aaaaah beggered off to the North Pole, so left it all to Mrs Berry, how could I let those poor little children be without their Mama over Christmas? I couldnt, so they arrived too. Talk about the old woman who lived in the shoe!!!!! Mr Berry must be a stirling chap to have fathered all those children. No wonder he stayed at home on his own. He needed the rest.

Yes, Georgianna I do appreciate your present, who else would have thought to have given me a wind-up mobile phone? Yes, I know I do sometimes go out and forget about the time. But unless I am talking constantly, how does the phone run down in an hour? The little crank handle is very diddy, but surely it will stick into me thigh if I carry it in that dear little dorothy bag you insist I wear on my belt. Octavia dear, please dont give it another thought that you spilled your red wine on my new sofa-bed. I know it too is red, but the stain does show a little. I do appreciate your suggestion of spilling more onto the other cushion to match, but I do think I will desist.

Forgive me dears, but is it normal for both your gentleman husbands to sleep quite so much. Those walking sticks they carry all the time are a little light to be solid wood are they not dears? Do you think possibly they could be hollow? Hollow enough to carry a tot or two of something Scottish?

No Beatrice of course you have not been boring? How could you be? Not everyone can recite all the The Scottish Play by heart. If only we had let you get it over and done with in one go, instead of carrying on inbetween courses like you did. And the recitation of the Witches as you were stirring your pud and brandy butter was truly .................well truly something to behold.

Cherry dear, I know you are a martyr to you back, knees, legs etc. But hogging the fire all the time was just a tad self centred dear. You know how big the rooms are, they do need heating a little. The poor canary was all puffed up most of the time trying to keep warm. Poor tweety pie!!!!

I do hope that dear Lesley, Teresa and Upsidedown Susan had a lovely, lovely Christmas with their families.

Also, a coooooeeeeee to dear DET [such a pretty name] for popping in to see me just before Christmas. Please feel free to pop in anytime dear.

You will be please to know that poor man at St Jumbos is now feeling better dears, now that he has packed his trunk away..............................on top of the wardrobe.

I hope that you all enjoyed the festivities dear, and that you kept up your fluid levels so that you did not get dehydrated with all the liquid refreshments...............you know what I mean.

Good night dears
Auntie Petunia