General Chat

Hello All

Rain and more rain for the past two days but tomorrow the sun is meant to shine, we will see if the forecasters have got it right.

Rain and sunshine is a good combination for the many weeds in the borders but not good for my ongoing efforts I keep battling on, but fear the weeds are winning!

We watched Andy Murray beat Vasek Pospisil to reach his 6th semi-final in 7 years.
Andy will play Roger Federer on Friday...... it's definitely getting exciting now.

I hope everyone is fit and well and will have a happy day tomorrow.

Morning all :-)

Didn't go out last night. One set of friends went home yesterday. OH's back played up a bit yesterday after several nights out on unfriendly chairs.

The Greek situation has been main item of chat here. Heard one bright spark say that the drachma was being reprinted on greaseproof paper. :-D

Suddenly went tired last night so went to bed early - only problem was I woke up at 5.45 and lay trying to get back to sleep, gave up and came downstairs. Beautiful morning until 8.30 when the wind got up again. :-(

It's only 26 C should be at least 30 C by now.

Don't know where you are Kandj but it's 14 C and sunny in Mansfield, North Notts. Hope you have a good day for weeding.

We were watching the cricket, well done Joe Root, England would have been slightly happier than Australia at the end of day 1. :-)

Out tonight, must do the ironing today, more washing done yesterday. :-(

Have a good day all, hope you have a sunny day. :-) <3

Hello All

Sunny today and more is forecast for tomorrow, not sure what the weekend is going to be like. Still digging out the weeds and now have an almost full green dustbin but a lot tidier garden to show for my hard work and a few more aches and pains as well. Not finished yet though, not sure if one is ever finished working in a garden.

I haven't watched any tennis at all today but I see Serena Williams beat Maria Sharapova and will now play Garbine Muguruza on Saturday..
On Sunday Andy Murray will play Roger Federer in semi-finals, can't wait for this game. We have cheered Andy on from the comfort of our armchairs and hope he gets through this game and goes onto the Finals.... we shall have to wait and see.

Pat, I have recorded the cricket highlights of today's play in Cardiff for the Ashes, hubby is sure to watch that game sometime tomorrow morning.

The Greek financial situation is frightening. I have just read an article in the national newspaper, don't fully understand everything but it is looking very grim.

I think it's really irritating to wake up very early but at least a beautiful morning makes it all worthwhile. We have a new paper boy who delivered this mornings newspaper at 07.15am which is much earlier than usual..... long may it continue.

I hope that your OH's back has improved with a day off from going out to sit on unsuitable chairs. Would it help to perhaps take a cushion for him to lean on?

I'll wish everyone a goodnight now and a very happy fun-filled Friday tomorrow.

Hello All

The sun has got his hat on tra la la la la. Far too hot for digging up weeds so I have hoed a patch and they should wilt and be easy to remove perhaps tomorrow.

We went into the village this morning and I spotted white dog-daisy plant reduced at a bargain £1.50p.... too good to miss. I like a bargain and will plant this in a weed free space later on when it cools down and I water the lawns, borders and tubs. On the side of the plant pot it has a sticker with this WARNING: "This plant is not edible or suitable for human consumption".......... what is all that about?????

Washing all dried beautifully and ironing all done (very quickly, no fussing). Not one of my better jobs so all done and out of the way again, until next time.

The bungalow across the road has the SOLD sign on the board. We saw the sons carrying furniture into the village DIAL charity van earlier today and were hugely relieved it was being passed on to a worthy cause and not taken to the local tip.
We will wait and see now who has bought here and get ready to welcome them in.

I need to go now and shout Andy Murray on as he appears to be struggling with his semi final match against Roger Federer at Wimbledon this afternoon. Andy is very resilient and sure to keep trying and do his best to get into this years finals.

Hoping everyone is well and enjoying themselves this sunny Saturday afternoon.

Evening all. :-)

On this Friday afternoon Kandj. :-D

Today is the start of remembering the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Remembering the air and ground crews who gave their lives to keep Britain free.

Staying in tonight OH's back was a bit sore this morning so he's taken it easy as we are out tomorrow. Curry and Kylie tomorrow night. A Kylie tribute act, she does a party mix second half. We know her as Jenny.

Had a terrible shock last night at the karaoke. Our friends are staying at the time share appts in the next village. We go to the club attached to the appts. Last night towards the end of the music one of our friends spotted 2 of his neighbours in the appts. They were up a corner unable to see anything so we made room for them to sit with us. They were a man perhaps in his early 40s and a young man 16 - 19 range. The younger man looked a bit glazed but they had been drinking after a meal. Young man's father did the driving before going back to the appt to see a film. It soon became obvious that the young man had a problem with his fingers when holding a glass and he had a slightly slurred speech. I looked at him and all I can say is his shoulders and face didn't look quite right. He was a very nice person and was funny and kept the 2 17 yr old girls with us (his neighbours) laughing.

When he went to the toilet one of my friend's, she was sitting next to me, asked if the young man had a problem as he was having problems holding his glass. The answer that came back shook me to the core. The poor thing has muscular dystrophy and at his last assessment was given only 2 years left to live. There was only the 2 of us aware of this and I told my OH as we got in the car to come home, it was a very quite car ride. I was close to tears. How cruel Mother Nature can be. His poor parents. The group were out for a wedding and the young man's mother flew back to UK earlier than the others as she'd bought tickets to take her mother to see Bette Middler last year before the wedding was arranged. Everyone else went today.

Count your blessings everyone.

Maybe next year for Andy Murray Kandj, doing better at the cricket. :-D

Sleep well all, night and bless. :-) <3

Hello All

OOOPS!!..... Pat gets the prize for spotting the deliberate mistake. Sorry folks, I have been thinking all day that it is Saturday. It "feels" like Saturday so goodness knows what tomorrow will feel like???

10th July 1940 marks the date of the beginning of the Battle of Britain when the Luftwaffe launched a series of attacks on shipping convoys off the South-east coast of England. The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh along with other members of the Royal family watched today as Spitfires and Hurricanes flew over Buckingham Palace to mark the 75th anniversary date of the Battle of Britain. A special occasion.

A brilliant today for England test cricket in Cardiff, not so good for Andy Murray who lost his semi final game at Wimbledon being beaten by Roger Federer, boo hoo.

Pat, that is a very sad story of the young man. I so agree with you that we do all need to count our blessings daily and can always find somebody worse off than ourselves. I feel so very sorry for him and his poor parents and family, bless him.

For what's now left of this FRIDAY evening, I hope everyone will have a happy time.

Good Afternoon Roll Callers :-) :-) <3

Thank you all, for your kind words re OH's cousin passing away.
Her funeral is on Tuesday.


Like you both, I found the commemoration of the London Bombings very emotional. I watched the BBC Drama- A Song For Jenny, which I found extremely moving. Somehow, just seeing the story of the Jenny's family made it all the more real. How ever did they manage to cope with such a devastating loss. And then you think about the other victims and their families, and think about what their story was.


Another cause for reflection was the 75th Anniversary of The Battle Of Britain.
My Great Aunt and Uncle, Ada and Alfred Austen (often misspelt as Austin) were killed by a Luftwaffe bomb when their bungalow in Dymchurch, Kent -Sea Breezes - took a direct hit on August 24th 1940.
Ada was my Gran's sister, a year older than her.

http://www.wakefieldfhs.org.uk/genealogyjunction/Kent/Dymchurch/Dymchurch%20War%20Memorial.html



I had a lovely day yesterday.
I went again to my childhood village on my own, enjoying the peace! :-)

There is a small historic town about 3 miles from the village, where my mother moved to from Kent when she was 8 years old.There's a "The Original Factory Shop" there, which has lots of nice things, so I stopped off there first and treated myself! :-)

I bought a top, which has an off-white plain back, but has a huge picture of a leopard's face with big green eyes, and a beaded nose on the front. (Edited in- On reflection, it's possibly a cheetah!) It's strange how you buy things on a day out / holiday that you probably would not consider buying at home! :-S
It does suit me though, and will probably look good with a pair of jeans :-).

I also bought a nightie and some biscuits! :-D


Then it was on to my village.
I had an egg sandwich and a cup of tea sitting in a chair by the beach, looking at "my" castle over the estuary!

Then I went for my usual little walk, while eating a chocolate ice cream cone, past my old home!
It would have been more advisable however, to have had the icecream in a tub (as was offered) rather than on a cone, as I had difficulty in eating it without making a mess and having to re-apply make up on my return to the car! :-0 :-0

Then I went on a longer than normal walk. It must have been about 3 miles at least!
It was a circular walk, up the hill that eventually leads out of the village. Then, turning left to walk the road that overlooks the northern side of the village, passing a farm where I spent time as a child with the daughter of the old owners, and out into country roads.

I decided that instead of turning back, I would follow this long winding country road, which is heavily forested, with woodland, countryside and stream down a drop on the right hand side, and wooded hill on the left. This is a road another friend and I would free-wheel down on our bicycles (very dangerously) when we were about 13 years old.

Eventually, this road brought me out to the main route to the town about 8 miles away, (where I went to Grammar School) about a mile outside the village.

Then I walked back to the village, walking alongside the stream that runs next to the road. Here I photographed a mother duck with about 5 / 6 ducklings. I thought I had videoed it on my camera too, but unfortunately, when I got home there was no video :-(

I arrived back to the village square, just a few minutes past 6 pm. So a quick cuppa and some biscuits, before heading home! :-D :-D


The Village Square
http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/keepsafe/asset/details/16909445



:-)PAT
I'm sorry to read that you have been feeling tired and that your OH has not been too good :-(
I hope Aladdin went well :-)
I was Aladdin in my Primary School Concert when I was 10 in 1967! :-D :-D

I was sorry to read about your young friend. How very sad :-(

I'm sorry your son was not on his way to surprise you, Pat. I'm sure he will be over soon :-)


:-)KANDJ
Well done on your bargain dog-daisy buy :-)
You must have been disappointed that Andy Murray did not win the tennis. Never mind, perhaps next year :-)


Well, that's my encyclopaedia for this week! ;-) ;-) ;-) :-D :-D :-D

Love Jem <3

Hello All Roll Callers

It has been a weary day for me today, so I have just done the basics and hope that tomorrow I will find my get up and go back, which has got up and gone away today!

It has looked as if it would rain most of today but it hasn't so far. I will go outside now and water the lawns, borders and tubs. It doesn't take a lot of effort to hold a hosepipe and everywhere is so dry and in need of refreshing.
I did get the white dog-daisy plant put in a weed free space yesterday and I'm pleased with my bargain buy. I might go back and see if there are any more plants in need of a good soak and TLC but they have probably been snatched up no doubt.

We have had the tennis on TV but neither have been very interested to be honest now that the British players are out of the running. Good to see England are playing well in the Ashes and giving the Aussies a run for their money at Cardiff.

Jem, it sounded as if you had a happy time walking around by yourself. It will do you good to get away and recharge your batteries for a little while.
I hope all goes as well as it can be on Tuesday for your OH cousins funeral. So sad.

Pat, I hope that your OH back pain has lessened with resting and that you both will enjoy eating out with your friends once more.

To everyone who looks in on Dizzi's thread, I hope you are having a good weekend.

Hello All Roll Callers

A little light rain earlier but not enough to do any good in the garden which is very dry and in need of a good downpour. Hope it waits until we are all in bed though..

I will go out later and tidy the lawn edges. It has a good effect on the appearance of the garden with the minimum amount of effect which suits me fine today.

All veg and potato done and beef joint cooking slowly for later on. We plan to settle down soon and watch the men's tennis final Novak Djokovic v Roger Federer. We will be shouting encouragement for Roger but it will be a very close game we think.
Strawberries all cleaned and cream in the 'fridge to munch on as we watch TV.
Not sure what we will watch when Wimbledon has finished. It has been a good excuse to sit and relax each day and that doesn't normally come easily for me.

Whatever you all have got planned for today, I hope that you will enjoy it.

Afternoon all. :-)

27 C and a hazy sun but still the cool wind.

Went out last night Curry and Kylie evening. Had a curry and watched a Kylie tribute. Jenny sang some Kylie hits 1st half and then in the 2nd half it was 60s/70s hits that were great dance records. Up bopping with friends. OH's back not too good so no dancing for him. A 01.30 bedtime. Must get to bed the same day I get up :-D.

Jem I was just tired that day, too much galavanting again that's all. Son never said he'd be out now just sometime this year, we just thought that as he was communicating far more than usual he was up to something. :-) 2 +2 = 5 He's a typical male when it comes to letting you know things. Don't hear for months then get a 3 hr Skype. Daughter on the other hand chatting all the time.

The young man wasn't a friend, I was in his company about 2 hrs, it was just such a tragic situation. Never met his parents at all. Glad you had a lovely walk, it's tiring but so relaxing isn't it.

Jem saw an advert for rugby it reminded me it'll soon be time for Radio Jem.

OH's back not brilliant today, out Tuesday and Thursday so far, will have tonight off and tomorrow so hopefully it will feel better by Tuesday.

Kandj, am watching 20/20 cricket after the great win yesterday. Afraid modern tennis not so watchable as that of the 60s - 80s. Hope you get your night rain to help with the garden.

All have a good week. :-) <3

Good Afternoon Everyone :-) :-) <3

It's a wet and miserable day here in the South West today!
Washing is on the radiators yet again, and I'm sweltering!

Commiserations to those who wanted Roger Federer to win Wimbledon :-(
I don't really follow tennis, but when Roger was on "The One Show" a while back, he came across as a really nice man, I thought!


~~~~~~ to Pat :-) and Kandj :-)
I hope you are both ok

~~~~~ to all Roll Callers :-) :-):-)

Love Jem <3

Hello All

Whatever happened to the sunshine that was forecast? Occasional showers here but very humid. We went out to the village supermarket this morning between showers so we didn't get wet..

Beginning of another week so I know it's Monday and too soon to get the day wrong!

Jem,your washing is sure to dry on the radiators.thank goodness for central heating
I hope all goes as well as it can do tomorrow for your OH cousin's funeral service.

Pat, I had to smile reading about you and friends "bopping" to old familiar music.
A long time since I heard that expression and and even longer time when I "bopped"

Not being in touch regularly must be a man-thing Pat. Our son-in-law has to be reminded to phone his parents and then when we speak on the phone it's just Yes/No and our grandson is much the same too, but our daughter and granddaughter are often phoning us up for a lovely chat ha ha.

Hope you all have peaceful night and a good day tomorrow.

Evening all. :-)

It's been a hottish day. Went shopping today and the wind is warming up at last.

Kandj the club we go to used to have live entertainment every Monday, unfortunately they haven't done it this year yet, we bopped every week. :-D

Hate having wet clothes indoors. We haven't got central heating but I do have a tumble dryer.

OH's back is a lot better today. Have to get up early tomorrow :-0 so off to bed.

Have a good night all, night and bless. :-) <3

Hello All Roll Callers

Sunshine and showers today and very humid, so not very pleasant at all really.

I kept the kitchen door open and hubby noticed that lots of ants were around there.
I have been spraying and just hope they won't find their way inside the kitchen like they have done for several years in the past. A kitchen extension and newly laid patio hasn't got rid of the ants, they show up each year and make us both itchy.
Kitchen door closed and all windows shut as there are winged flying ants on lawn.

Jem, I'm thinking of your OH cousin's funeral service. A sad day for him today then.

Pat, I hope you will enjoy the meal out today and Thursday.... is this at the club where entertainment and bopping goes on? Where do you get your energy from lol.

Hope everyone will enjoy the rest of today whatever is planned.

Good Evening Roll Callers:-) :-) :-) <3

Well after a few days of miserable windy rainy days, the sun is out and it's hot! :-)

Thanks everyone for your concern re OH's Cousin's death.


The funeral was yesterday morning (cremation) and even though it was a horrible day weather-wise, she had a huge send off. She was well known and respected in the town. She was only 63.



Granddaughter 2 has gone on a 3 day trip to France. with the school.
We went to wave her off.
She was in her leopard skin print fluffy onesie!!!! They were all wearing PJs, onesies, etc. to sleep on the coach!:-D :-D :-D :-D

The coach was leaving school at 10-15pm. They were driving to Dover and taking the ferry from there.
I was glad they were not using the Channel Tunnel with all that has been happening with illegal immigrants there! :-0

I must admit to nervousness re the coach (crashing), fanatics, terrorists and the like! My imagination is running riot! :-D :-D :-D
But then you cannot live your life in fear otherwise you wouldn't do anything!



Yesterday, I took out an offer that was emailed to me for a month's Ancestry Subscription for £1!
I'm not sure what I think of it yet. I have had a very positive experience with GR and have 3,800+ people on my GR tree, records, photos etc.

I found Ancestry baffling and very busy, when I tried the Open Weekend last time, and not sure what I think now! I have completed the skeleton of my tree on there, Just one way- parents, grandparents, GG Grandparents etc. No siblings etc.

I have spent the afternoon correcting a member's tree!:-D :-D :-D
It's my immediate ancestors (that brought me up), and I have the family bible to back my research up.
Howlers on trees on there are winding me up no end! :-D :-D :-D


:-) PAT
The Kylie Tribute / 60s & 70s Hits night sounded fun!

:-)KANDJ
Ooooo I hate ants. We have a nest of them by our front steps, but so far we haven't had many inside. We usually have a day or two each year when we have flying ants, but not this year yet!

~~~~~~~~ to all Roll Callers :-) :-) :-)

Love Jem <3

Evening all. :-)

The first thing

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEM FOR TOMORROW.

Have a great day tomorrow Jem. Glad the funeral went off ok. Not easy when it's your own generation is it? Just remember the good times. Granddaughter will be ok, it's a repeat of letting go of your own children. Do what I did when my 2 grew up, keep repeating - it'll be ok I'll laugh about this 1 day - and I do now.

Saturday was a good night so was last night. Going to a great restaurant tomorrow. :-) Not expensive but great food.

Kandj you think you've got problems, you should see the size of the big ants out here they are about a centimetre in size and they bite and boy does it itch.

Got to bed just after 1 am this morning and woke up just before dawn very hot, moved across the bed a little so the draft from the ceiling fan came across me and went back to sleep. When I got up this morning I wondered why I felt so warm as it was cool in our room when we went to bed. Came downstairs checked the temp. it was 30 C. Must have heated up during the night, only went up 1 degree all through the day. Now 26 C at 23.28.

Had fun ironing in 31 C heat this afternoon but it's all done. I'm drinking plenty of water. The oranges are swelling nicely on our tree. :-)

Have a lovely evening, sleep well, night and bless. :-) <3

Hello All

No more ants seen today. I bought a new ant spray from Amaz*n which had a good review and it seems to be working for us..... well, so far, so good. We usually get them into the kitchen. Hubby hates them with vengeance and so it's left to me to kill them off. Pat, we wouldn't like your ants thank you very much, our little ones are
bad enough.

Jem, our only granddaughter is on a school trip in Iceland and having a brilliant time.
We also worry that something awful is going to happen but we have to let the youngsters go and we try not to pass our concerns over to them.

It is St Swithun's day today the rhyme states whether it rains or shines on this date, that it will continue to do the same for the next 40 days........ well, we have had a fair day today and hope it will remain fair for the next 40 days! We shall wait and see.

Hope you have a HAPPY BIRTHDAY for tomorrow Jem with lots of lovely cards and nice pressies to open.

I hope everyone has a good time tomorrow too.

Hello All

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEM if you have time to pop in today. Hope you are having a great time and being spoiled rotten ha ha.

Pat, I hope you have a nice meal and enjoy yourself tonight and that your OH back pain isnt so bad for him right now.

Did you get your DNA results back yet? It's all bound to be very interesting I'm sure.

Another lovely day today, all the washing drying nicely on the line outside and I'm off to sort something out now for our lunch....... decisions, decisions???

I hope everyone is having a good day today.

It's not looking promising, here in the South West of Wales!

Well, it IS promising actually! It's promising rain! :-D :-D :-D :-D
Not looking good for the Carnival tomorrow :-(


Just running in quickly to wish you all a good day :-) :-) :-) <3 <3 <3

Will catch up later, hopefully :-)


Thankyou all for my lovely Birthday Wishes<3

Love Jem <3 <3

Evening all. :-)

Summer has arrived. Mid 30s today. Tonight at 23.00 27 C. :-D

Well daughter's DNA has thrown up an American distant cousin and she had her photo on the database. She looks a cross between daughter and my mother. We don't know whether she's OH's or my distant cousin but she knows she had relatives in my area of birth. We'll wait and see. Have sent her photos of both of them to show her. Should have our results in a couple of weeks.

I'm on Ancestry and it throws up lots of hints and some don't check them Jem. I prefer Ancestry for my tree.

Had a great evening last night Kandj, thank you. Don't think we're out over the weekend so OH can relax.

Have a good evening and night. Night and bless :-) <3