General Chat

Hello All

Nice warm sunny day today......... Summer has arrived methinks, I'll wait to see how long it lasts before I get too excited.

Oh dear Jem....... teenagers can be difficult and it seems like your daughter has her hands full too. I hope that things have calmed down with Granddaughter 1 and that the toddler and Granddaughter 4 are feeling a little bit better today (poor things).

Our teenage Grandson has had his moments! One time he used to annoy his Mum and Dad by slamming his bedroom door in a temper. He was warned repeatedly that if this didn't stop then the door would be taken off. J continued to slam his bedroom door when he was having a strop and his Dad went into the garage and got the screwdriver, then went upstairs and he undid all the screws and he took J bedroom door downstairs and put it into the garage...... surprise surprise as my son in law is the most patient person you could ever wish to meet.
Needless to say J was gobsmacked (ha ha). He was told that he had gone too far and had ignored this threat for several weeks and now he had to put up with his open plan bedroom!! It took about two weeks of apologies and good behaviour before J got his bedroom door put back in place so that he was allowed the privacy that he had been denied. J never slams any doors now...... lesson learned ha ha

I hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine. It's a good tonic (much better than pills)..

Got angry know - they won't win. There'll always be Brits that will stand up to be counted against the likes of IS.


Have a good night ladies :-) <3

Ooops So sorry Pat. Our links obviously crossed. I was answering Jem's post and now I have just re-read and seen yours. I was certainly not ignoring you . My apologies to you now. It must have been a dreadful shock for you and your OH.

The IS shootings in Tunisia is just horrific and heartbreaking for those who have lost loved ones in such a traumatic way. No one would even think of being on holiday and being shot dead when relaxing and enjoying a happy time in the sunshine.
What on earth is happening in our world??!!

My condolences to those who have lost a loved one and sympathy for all who are affected by this devastating and distressing situation in any way at all.

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

It's been a really hot day here today!
When I went shopping late afternoon it was 27c in the car! :-0 :-0

I won't go into great detail of Granddaughter 1's misdemeanours, as it is a forum that can be viewed by the general public, and not just GR friends.

Suffice to say, Granddaughter 1 has been very, very naughty. This involved not being where she said she would be overnight, but being in a totally different environment with other kids, who also were not where they said they were!
Other factors of this situation were involved as well!
Mum, Step-Dad, myself and her big brother, all of us up all night, were very worried and upset.

Granddaughter 1, was always quite sensible, but is now easily led when wanting to fit in.

Gran went over and read her the riot act last night. :-| :-| :-|
She has never been told off by me before. Granddaughter 4 was most impressed!!:-D
Needless to say, she is grounded for the rest of her life! :-D:-D

...AND I MISSED A KARAOKE NIGHT because of it! :-| :-| :-D


:-)PAT
I am so sorry to hear about your former neighbour being killed in the shootings in Tunisia! How upsetting for you, Pat!
What a heroic man, to sacrifice himself to save his wife!

It's a horrendous and heartbreaking incident. My heart goes out to all those lost or injured. Also to their families and friends.<3
How will those involved ever get over it!

I see you have been busy with your Family Tree. Isn't it fascinating, with all it's twists and turns.
I call it Tresearching. I invented this term when my finger hit the T button at the same time as the R button when typing "researching". I was so impressed ;-) I have been calling it Tresearching ever since:-D :-D :-D


:-)KANDJ
Your story about your Grandson's door slamming punishment tickled me! :-D :-D :-D
That was a ingenious idea Kandj! "Let the punishment fit the crime" indeed!

I hope that you will have some nice new neighbours move in to the bungalow opposite.

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


Love Jem <3

Morning all :-)

Now I want you all to promise not to squander your leap second at midnight tonight. I don't know if I will be awake as it's at 2 am here. Mind you I am going out tonight for a Chinese buffet so ............ ;-)

Feel better today just got bowled over with the news. Still not out in the media as I've just checked with the East Midlands news area.

Love the way they keep cutting the forces and then who do they call to get the injured and dead back - the RAF, hope they refund the petrol money as they have a tight budget. :-)

Kandj, I never thought you'd ignored me, having just checked I put my item on the thread as you were doing yours.

Thank you both for your comments much appreciated. We will be doing the minutes silence on Friday.

Jem my daughter was always quite good but once she slipped out of our village with a friend on a school day. She was 16 at the time. She told me she'd be at her friend's house and friend told her parents she'd be at our house. It was unfortunate for them that friend's father saw them return in a taxi, getting out at the edge of the village at the pub car park. Guess where friend's father was? Next morning he phoned me. He hadn't spoken to his daughter yet so we decided to tackle the girls when they came home. Daughter came home, I made her a drink and started chatting to her about her day - all normal then a quick, what did you do last night. Answer related to friend's house. I hit the roof because she'd not only done something wrong but lied about it. It was the beginning of the month so she was grounded for the rest of the month, 1 week for going, the rest for lying. She always told me where she was going from then until she left home. :-)

Hope your granddaughter learns her lesson like my daughter did. Your other granddaughter may not misbehave as she's seen what happens. :-D

Shall be watching the Greek problem today, they have been living beyond their means for years and the government is using the Greek ego to get a no on Sunday. If they told the truth and said it's our own fault and need to bite the bullet like Ireland, Cyprus, Portugal etc., I wonder what would happen.

Have a good day all, stay cool, drink plenty of water and remember, slip, slop, slap. :-D <3

Hello All

Very bright sunshine as forecast with even more hot weather tomorrow. A nice change to wear light clothes and ditch the woollies and jackets for a little while.

I did something really silly this morning. Hubby and I went shopping in village Morr*son* supermarket. He stayed in the car because he wasn't feeling very good and I parked the car in the cool shade and whizzed around as quickly as I could.
At the till the amount came to £92 and although I was a bit surprised I felt happy enough because I had a £13 off voucher if I spent over £90 given to me last week but I couldn't find it in my purse and told the cashier I had one but had obviously left it at home gggrrrr. I was so pleased when the cashier said I could leave my loaded trolley beside her and go back home for the £13 off voucher. It only took a few minutes and the final shopping bill looked a less of a shock with the reduction. All's well that end's well methinks.

Pat, we also will be observing the minute silence on Friday at 12noon and join the Nation in remembering the victims in Tunisia who were slaughtered so horribly while relaxing on the beach just one week previously. No one seems safe anymore from these maniac terrorists. Our world is sadly changing and not for the better.

Jem I hope everything has calmed down with Granddaughter 1 accepting she was in the wrong and causing needless upsets to you all. Sorry you missed Karaoke!

It still feels very odd without lovely DIZZI, SHARING THOUGHTS OF HER DAY.

Hope all Roll Callers will enjoy a happy day. Take care now.

It's almost 1 am so morning all :-)

I have just got back. E-mail waiting for us from ex next door neighbour.

They have released John's name now. John died protecting Cheryl his wife, their adult son Matthew was in the hotel at the time.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-33328070

So tragic poor Cheryl and Matthew.

I'll say goodnight, going to have a cup of tea then off to bed. :-) <3

Hello All

It is HOT, HOT, HOT and we just aren't used to it phew....... mustn't grumble though because we don't see that many sunny days. We are keeping inside and watching fashions of folk who are passing by in the road. Hubby says that some must have got dressed in the dark ha ha.

Good advice Pat to remind us all of the Slip, Slop, Slap, cancer campaign to get us all to act sensibly by slipping on a shirt/top, slop on the suncream and slap on a hat.
There are three young lads working on a roof repair next door and all three are stripped to the waist and already their skin looks red.I bet they will be sore tomorrow

So sorry that your ex-neighbour has died and now has been named Pat. I hope that the reporters will recognize the grief that his family will be coping with and give them all the space they need to come to terms with so tragic a loss to them now.

I need to check when Andy Murray will be playing at Wimbledon today. We enjoy the tennis matches but aren't glued to the set like we used to be. We do like to follow the favourites though and we will watch most matches in the final week.

It's hard to believe it's the 1st July today already. So, a pinch and a punch for the first of the month which is what we used to say as children in the playground (very, very many years ago now). I'm surprised that I can remember that far back!!!.

I hope all Roll Callers will have a happy sunny Wednesday today.

Evening all :-)

Not out tonight, but am tomorrow. :-D

Can confirm John's body was flown back to Brize this afternoon.

Son has been acting oddly and today again out of character, a chatty e-mail, normal 1 or 2 sentences. Friends of his are coming out here next week and he's avoided answering whether he's coming out this summer. If he turned up with them I wouldn't be surprised. He's managed to surprise us before when he turned up unexpected with our daughter and her OH. We are very suspicious. Our friends dog sitting are the parents of the male coming with his wife, youngest daughter and her friend. Parents are going to the airport even though the family is picking up a car at the airport and know the way. We assumed a smallish car had been hired to save money and mum and dad were going to put some of the baggage in their car but....................do they have to also collect a passenger??????????

Will let you know next Wednesday. If he doesn't turn up it means he's actually communicating on e-mail. :-0 :-D

Your hot weather starts to cool again tomorrow, we were well under your temperatures again. Our summer is still delayed, it's ridiculous. :-(

The Greeks are entertaining us again. Glad the government here saw sense. Talking to a couple, who are tourists, yesterday and they wondered why we were all so calm about what was happening to the Greeks - they thought Cyprus was a Greek Island not an independent country and were shocked when I said it used to be British and was a member of the Commonwealth. Why do they think we drive on the proper side out here. :-D

Hope you all have a good evening and night :-) <3

Hello All

A humid day today but forecast to be more dry sunny days for the next few days. Don't mind the heat too much, but hubby and I find the humidity unbearable.

Val Doonican has died aged 88yrs. I loved watching him on TV Saturday evenings on The Val Doonican Show. Real family-type entertainment. Sitting in his rocking chair wearing one of his many jumpers and singing in his relaxed easy style.RIP Val.

We have been watching WImbledon again and were pleased that Andy Murray won.
It looked very hot for the tennis fans, we were lucky and happy to sit in cool lounge.
An interesting game tomorrow on Centre Court when Serena Williams USA will play British girl Heather Watson. Should be worth watching. A chance for us to relax.

Pat, we watched the coffins being brought from the RAF aircraft at Brize Norton. We were both in tears seeing an unbelievably sad sight such as this. Just awful.

We will be joining the Nation in observing a minutes silence at 12 noon for all those who have died in the Tunisia shootings. May they all Rest In Peace.

If your son and family do turn up next week Pat..... will you act surprised??
I hope that you have enjoyed your meal out tonight. How is your OH back now?

I hope all Roll Callers will sleep well tonight and enjoy the sunshine again tomorrow.

Hello All

We joined with the Nation at 12 noon today remembering the Tunisian shootings and all who tragically lost their lives one week ago today. The flag in our village Communty Centre has been flown at half mast all week as a mark of respect too.

We watched the ladies tennis match this afternoon and very exciting it was too. Sadly Heather Watson failed to win USA's Serena Williams losing 6.2, 4.6, 7.5 in a very exciting game, but with a very disappointing result after her hard efforts.

It has been pleasantly warm with a gentle breeze today but rain forecast tomorrow. It is very much needed in the dry gardens , and this will save me having to water the borders and tubs, so it's one job less for me to think about in the morning.

It's hard to believe that it's Friday and another week has been and gone so quickly.
I hope everyone will enjoy this weekend whatever you all have in mind. Take care.

Evening all. :-)

We were listening to Radio Northants at 2pm here, midday UK time. To end his show and go into the 1 minute silence Bernie Keith played Michael Jackson's Gone Too Soon, very moving song in this context. We sat here in silence. Our ex next door neighbour went to Walesby church to observe the 1 minute silence.

Son will be on his own Kandj. Think he's given up on females. I'm afraid he goes for the same type. He's too soft hearted and when a damsel is in distress he's there helping her out. He falls, picks up the damsel, sorts out the problems and damsel is happy. Well then they want a boyfriend who isn't a chef and working most nights and off they go. One even went back to an abusive boyfriend another decided to go off with her best friend's (since school) husband just after her best friend had a daughter. Hopefully he'll realise that he needs a woman who doesn't need him to sort her life.

Haven't worked out what to do if he gets out here as a surprise. I know where we'll be and we'll know how to tell he's in the air. We both have mobiles that tell you when a message is received by the mobile you've sent a message to. He never switches off his mobile except for flights and meetings. We can just send a message after the plane is in the air, if it isn't received the phone is off.

Well our DNA samples have got to the lab so soon we'll know more about ourselves.

Been out for a meal this evening, not out tomorrow night but looks like Sunday, Monday and Tuesday and with the others coming who knows?????????? :-S

Sleep well tonight and have a good day tomorrow :-) <3

Hello All

Just come in after weeding the jungle border in the front and I'm shattered but happy to see another stretch of weed free ground for my efforts today. A lot more to do yet, but that will have to wait for another day. (perhaps tomorrow??).

I have recorded the Andy Murray match against Andreas Seppi so we can sit relaxing and watch this game in a little while. Should be good. Hope Murray wins.

Pat, your son sounds a lovely person but is obviously choosing the wrong girlfriends but we Mums can only watch and wait to see how things turn out for our children.
Our son in law is a Chef and we know about the anti-social long hours they work.
I bet you can't wait to have your DNA results. It's all very interesting and who could believe you can get all that information with a small sample...... just amazing I think.

It's still a lovely evening, probably the best part of the day now so I hope everyone will have a good time whatever you have in mind.

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

It's not a very nice day, here in South West Wales, weather-wise. It's raining and windy at the moment.

Grandson 1 had his School Leavers' Prom on Thursday Night.
He looked very handsome in his grey suit with a pale waistcoat which changed shades slightly in different light- sometimes pale grey, beige, and even very pale green (like eau de nil) with blue triangle pattern with a slightly deeper blue pattern in the diamond. A white shirt with a light blue tie exactly matching the blue diamonds.

First, I had to take him to a local hotel to have his photo taken with his girlfriend, as it was also her Prom (different schools). This worked out well as they were both dressed for the photos.

Then, on to his school for the send-off.
It was so packed that police and traffic controllers were there. We had to park on the tennis courts.
His Mum then arrived with his 3 sisters and baby brother, and we all took loads of photos.
Getting him to smile in his photos was difficult though! The best ones were taken when he wasn't actually posing for a picture!

Then we all waved the 3 coaches off!


Like you both, I also observed the Minute's Silence for the victims of the Tunisia Terror Attack with tears. It was very moving watching the coffins arrive in Brize Norton and obviously,it must have been very upsetting for you Pat, having known one of the victims personally.

When we were watching the news with holiday makers being repatriated, they showed people coming off a coach. When the first passenger got off the coach, a lady, I said to Grandson 1- "I know that lady's face, I'm almost sure she lives in our town". I was right, because it was on the front page of our local weekly newspaper, the following issue.
It's strange how your brain takes things in without realising it. I don't actually know her, but I still "recognised" her from somewhere!


Well done to the England Women's Football Team on the victory over Germany to take the Bronze Medal in their World Cup! :-) :-) :-)


:-)PAT
I am so sorry to hear about the problems your poor son has had with girlfriends. He is obviously a very nice and caring young man. Hopefully he will find someone who will treasure him soon :-)

I bet you are very excited about your DNA test results! :-)


:-)KANDJ
Well done on now being weed free! :-)
That was good of Morr***ns to let you go and fetch your voucher. £13 makes a big difference to your bill!
I hope your OH is feeling better.

I too remember "Pinch, Punch, First of the month"! :-D :-D :-D

Sad about Val Doonican! I too remember watching him sitting in his rocking chair in his signature jumpers!

I used to do karaoke parties for my friends years ago.
I would have a competition- who could do the best "Delaney's Donkey".
Mind you, the karaoke track was much faster than Val's, and so much more difficult to sing, particularly if you had not heard it before! The winner's prize was a large beach stone with "blarney" written on it! :-D :-D :-D


I hope you are all well

Love Jem <3

Hello All

Sunshine and heavy showers today. Thunder and lightening but its still muggy and humid. I hope we will sleep well tonight though.

I have continued with the weeding again today in between the rain.. It should have been done in the Autumn but never was and so now it is much more difficult. The old proverb A stitch in time, saves nine comes to mind! The green dustbin is two thirds full and still plenty more weeds to dig up yet with no end as yet although I am nearer than I was yesterday. I do like to see a tidy garden, so will have to carry on.

Jem, how lovely for you to see your Grandson all dressed up for his Prom. Youngsters grow up so fast, you wonder where the years have gone. I hope your Granddaughter1 is behaving herself now and all is calm after being read the riot act.

I was more than happy to go back for the £13 money off voucher. We also thought it was good to be given the chance to leave a trolley load of groceries in the store but then I suppose it helps being in our village and knowing the staff so well.

I always loved to see which jumper Val Doonican chose to wear each Saturday.
I used to knit jumpers for my lovely Dad and brother. Nothing so special as the ones that Val wore though all those years ago. We all enjoyed watching his shows.

Pat, it will soon be Wednesday and you will know then whether your son will be with you or not. Don't forget to act "surprised" if he does show up though.

Did you and your OH relax yesterday evening and get geared up for next few nights out eating with your friends. How is your OH back pain now, I hope it's a lot easier.

I hope that everyone will have a happy Monday tomorrow. Take care now..

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

Another miserable day here weather wise!

We had some bad news yesterday evening. OH's 1st Cousin has died. It was expected, but obviously it is still very upsetting for the family. She has been a very good friend to my Sis-In-Law since S-I-L was widowed a few years ago.

Also her parents (OH's Mum's Brother and his wife) took all my OH's family in (his parents, Gran, single sister, married sisters, their husbands and children) when the fled "The Troubles" in Belfast around 1972.
With 2 daughters of their own at home too, where they put them all, I will never know!

First, OH had been shipped off to his older brother in London, after he was approached by the IRA to join them on his 16th Birthday. Because he wouldn't, he was pronounced a "marked man". He had already had a narrow escape from a bullet of a "Loyalist" Sniper.

Then about six months later, the rest of the family came to Wales, where the Uncle and Aunt put them up and helped them until they found homes of their own, and OH could be reunited with them again.
So as you can imagine, OH is feeling very sad.




I don't know whether or not you would have had it on the news where you all are, but on the Welsh news last night- 2 people were killed when they were struck by lightning, in 2 separate incidents on Penyfan Mountain in the Brecon Beacons (Mid Wales) :-( :-( :-(
Others were hurt too.
We liked to go walking there, but we haven't been for a while.


According to the people who know about these things, it is a very rare occurrence and it happening twice is unheard of!

:-) KANDJ
There never seems to be any end to weeding does there?!
A little at a time,regularly, is the way to go, but I'm afraid I often leave it until it's a big job!

My privet hedge needs doing again badly. My nephew took quite a few feet off it last year for us, but it has already grown quite a bit.
I have been reluctant to cut it as sparrows and blackbirds have been nesting in it. I think it should be safe for me to cut it now though :-)

:-)PAT
I hope you and OH are well and looking forward to Wednesday. I hope your Son does decide to surprise you with a visit! :-)

~~~~~~~~~ Prickles <3

~~~~~~~ to anyone looking in :-) :-) :-)

Love Jem<3

Hello All

Rain mostly today so a break from the digging out of weeds and a rest from my old aching joints ha ha.

A good game of tennis watching Andy Murray beat the very tall Croatian Ivo Karlovic
on centre court. The crowd looked much more comfortable with lower temperatures.

Jem, so sorry to hear of your OH loss. A death in the family isnt easy to cope with.
I had seen the headlines in the newspaper reporting two deaths during lightening in the Brecon Beacons but haven't read the full article as yet. This is another shocking incident and there seems so much distress and sadness around right now

Hope Pat and OH are enjoying their meal out with friends tonight.

A spell of wet weather is forecast for the rest of the week and so I hope whatever you all have in mind that you will remember to take an umbrella and then it's sure to be a dry day (sod's law). Goodnight to all Roll Callers for now.

Evening all :-)

Out last night and out tonight. Had a busy day. Have got all the ironing done changed our bed and washed the sheets and done upstairs. OH did downstairs and downstairs windows.

Went to a local tavern in the next village tonight, it overlooks the open air theatre. We went because we knew the youngster from the dance school were doing their dress rehearsal for their version of Aladdin. Great food with entertainment. Tomorrow they do it all for a paying audience.

There were 6 couples we all had large helpings of food. Chicken, pork and squid meals with salad and chips were asked for, 4 bottles of wine, 1 large water, 5 large bottles of beer. We paid 35 Euro per couple at today's exchange rate that's £25.00 per couple.

By the way I had pork mix (2 sheftalia and a skewer of pork cubes) salad and water. Sheftalia is the local type of sausage, it contains pork mince, herbs and a small amount of cinnamon. I'm on a low carb diet and not just for a few weeks but the rest of my life. I was also a nominated driver.

Have realised how to find out if son is on the flight. I will send him a text after the plane is in the air awhile. My mobile tells me when my texts are delivered. Son never turns off mobile so if the text isn't delivered the phone is off and he's on his way. OH says if no delivery he's going to send a text - hope you've remembered my Telegraph. If he does son will know we know. OH always asks for the Telegraph for the crossword.

OH's back is much better but it's delicate still at times.

Kandj hope birds have flown, if not just continue with weeding.

Jem so sorry to hear about your OH's cousin, my condolences to you both.

Well we'll see if we'll have a surprise visit tomorrow, will let you know.

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

Son not on flight as he answered my text message immediately which is very unusual, but I already knew it had been delivered so therefore he wasn't on the aircraft. Oh well maybe he'll come with his sister in autumn.

Out tonight and it'll get busier over the next 2 weeks.

Have a good evening all. :-) <3

Hello All
wrote quite a long message earlier and then I lost it....... how irritating is that!

We sat and watched the commemoration service from St Paul's Cathedral remembering the 7/7 bombings in London by the terrorists who took away 52 lives of ordinary people and changed our countries way of life ever since that tragic day.
We joined in the 1 minutes silence at 11.30am. It was an emotional service for us watching the TV coverage and remembering the turmoil in our capital 10 years ago.

Pat, so now you know that your son wasn't flying and trying to surprise you both, but Autumn will soon come along and you can enjoy a get together with him then.
Your night out sounded to be a happy affair with good friends and good food, so you can't get any better than that.

Mostly a wet and windy day here today and a similar one is expected for the rest of the week. Typical English Summer again but its cooler and suits us two much better than the high temperature the recent heat wave brought us. We just wilt..!!

Hope everyone will enjoy a good day tomorrow.