General Chat

everyone doing with their time now there is next to nothing to do on Genes any more?

Kath. x

Making idle chat some times...

Well not many people know this, but i am actually writing a novel. Ive done 16 pages out of 21 for chapter 1. I have researched quite a bit too. Its set in 1985. A mystery with a few twists.

How long it will take I'm not sure but the easy part is typing it up. The difficult part is getting it published but I've a few avenues to look at there.

I was looking on the Genealogy chat board today as needed a bit of advice.Sad when you think of how many people used to ask for lookups etc compared to now.

Florence in the hebrides

Idle chat is what I do best :-)

I'm really impressed Florence. I'm not in the least bit creative and I admire those who are. Hope you have success with it when it's finished.

Kath. x

Still doing my mediaeval bit, knitting my dishcloths and generally nothing else sensible.

Wish I could say drinking and fornicating but those days are long gone!

A lot of people seem to be on face book & can't be bothered with GR that's my thinking ? Life has changed for so many people with Covid 19 I myself just wonder when this will end we can be normal again what ever that is Barbara

I have paid for one month's Worldwide access on Ancestry - got until 1 September to get all the info. There were a lot of roamers in my family - some sailors others with a wanderlust.

Got until 1 September to catch up with everyone so I am cracking on at the moment.

Dancing (jazz, charleston, twist, jive etc via Zoom and our teacher is going to continue using Zoom even though she is going back into the halls mid-September, because half of us prefer online Zoom dancing at the moment.
(We are of an age!)

Otherwise, reading, crosswords, quizwords and generally pestering OH in garden and greenhouse. Also been in the garden (but not inside homes yet) with daughter and family, granddaughter and partner, the sister who lives a few miles away, a couple of cousins and a few friends. While the weather is decent it is easy to catch up.

Keeping in touch with my coffee group friends via phone but two have called in and chatted on the drive. None of us thinks we shall get back for regular coffee mornings this side of Christmas - but we are all over 75, some 80+

OH and I still having a tootle around now and then.

I have taped a load of stuff in case we have another lockdown - but it will all come in handy if (ha ha) we get bad weather.

Mr Owl and I are both still furloughed from work. Mr Owl has a back to work date though and I don’t yet.

We moved into our flat three years ago and have done nothing. We’ve used the time to plasterboard and plaster the living room and hall. The living room is also painted now. New skirting, facings and doors for every room and new shelves in the living room and hall. It helps when your father in law is a shop fitter joiner to trade.

I am still looking at family info for various enquires

My aunt was a BHC in 1909 to Canada so I am on a site on Facebook for British Home Children and do look ups for descendants of other BHC children

Just too made contact with a great granddaughter of my mums half sister who was a bhc in 1909

Updating the tree now on the mums side ,she died in 1905 which was why the kids went into Hackney workhouse and then the workhouse run children’s home and from where aunt was selected to be sent to Canada through Annie macpherson

Bee pc though has crashed and unrepairable so lost my FTM program info

I do have it on ancestry but it’s getting to print off is a bit urggg at the moment especially as the printer too crashed and have had to replace but it won’t pick up windows XP

Very frustrating atm :-(

Lunch and coffee with friends - outside. Zoom talk with U3A. Back to volunteering. Reading, Su Doku, family history - mine and anybody else's who want a hand, trying not to watch TV and listening to more Radio4.

Dear All

Hello

Very interesting to read what everyone is doing.

I am mostly worried and trying to tidy up.

Take gentle care
Love Elizabeth, EOS
xx

I am getting my hair done tomorrow. I shall be in there about 2 hours. I am pretty anxious going on the bus as like Joan i cannot wear a mask either. Hairdressers said it would be fine.Last got my hair done in nov last year.
Tomorrow is a pretty big event for me since the lockdown.

Im sure once hair is done, I shall be happier being outside in the open air and less anxious once im back at home. all my confidence has gone, just feel a nervous wreck and that isnt me at all, quite the opposite, but many others feel like me too I guess.

Florence in the hebrides

I have ongoing sorting of cupboards, drawers and my craft stuff. I have made several beaded rope necklaces and a bracelet, a woolfelted owl and a woolfelted mouse in knickerbockers and painted 2 pictures, both entered in competitions, one to raise money for charity. I have done and am doing lots of free as well as paid for zoom sessions on crafts, art and photography. I do some voluntary work for a research unit at a local hospital and have had a zoom meeting with that and things to read, check. and give feedback on. I've had weekly zoom meetings with a group of friends who also make jewellery. We've grown lots of veggies in pots and the greenhouse this year, also flowers for the borders. so I'm pickling cucumbers now. By sticking at it every lunchtime, OH and I have at last cracked how to do cryptic crosswords which would never have happened without the lockdown. The shed and garage still need a clearout and fences badly need painting so plenty to get done yet.

What makes me a bit fed up is all the meal planning, cooking and food ordering. With eating out most days for a few years now, I haven't done it for years and it takes too many hours out of the day when I want to be doing what I want to do instead! Also OH is getting a bit too enthusiastic about home cooking which is worrying. :-S I'd also like to do some decorating, which I have always done before, but creaking, arthritic knees that are waiting for surgery are making me think twice about that. Exercise is on an old exercise bike to help the knees!

The only places we've been to since March are the surgery, chemist and a few garden centres.

I think it must be very different and hard to get motivated if you are on your own though, also if you have no garden to sit in and watch the birds and insects and get some fresh air.

I'm really impressed by all of you as I feel as if I've just wasted the last six months. Have done virtually nothing at all. I'm not on my own (hubby and son have been here) so more meals to think about but my son has done the shopping until he went back to work last month. I've dug out my kindle and started reading again and watched countless repeats on TV

We've only really been shopping the last 3 or 4 weeks and haven't been out socially at all. Apart from shops I haven't seen any friends or family (we are all getting older with health issues so have been very careful).

There is loads I could have been doing in the house but have lost all motivation.

We always went to the rugby club for Sunday lunch and this Sunday is the first time they are open so hubby has booked a table and I'm already starting to feel like I don't really want to be surrounded by people.

I'm sure this feeling will go eventually but I have a nasty feeling that Covid 19 is going to be around for a long time yet. I think it might have been better for everyone to have been locked down for longer to get it under control properly the first time.

I could really do with Genes being the site it was 17 years ago - but those days are gone.

Kath. x :-(

taint the same Kathleen is it? no pantos no games no phantom nudger.....

Kath, I have been happy to waste time and will continue to pitter-patter through life as is now my wont. I like the fact that I can choose to do nothing if I feel like it. :-D

Not for nothing has my ex-dtr-in-law always said her daughter (my granddaughter) is a faffer like me. It takes time to learn how to do it properly.

What has surprised me is that my OH seems to be operating under my system. I have always been active but not all day, every day, while he has never been able to sit still for long.

My oh my, it is good to see he has developed the ability to relax totally.. :-D

Now to teach him how to sit for England as all good philosophers ought to be able to do because some great ideas come from quiet, wandering minds.... not just how to overcome a gardening problem but more practical things such as what you've missed off your grocery order. ;-) :-D

I like your style Joy. I can do nothing all day (although I often still feel guilty about it).

I've always agreed with the sentiment of this poem:-

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

by William Henry Davies.

Kath. x

Fab, Kath. My lovely late mother-in-law's favourite. :-D <3

I'm busy doing nothing
Working the whole day through
Trying to find lots of things not to do.

Busy going nowhere
Isn't it just a crime
I'd like to be unhappy
But never can find the time.
by
Bing Crosby (I think) there are other lyrics .

We have actually done some sorting and decorating but mainly been in the garden pottering about.
Had my hair cut , it was great to feel normal again. Been local shopping twice but I think I shall stay with on line shopping now as not having a car we would have to go back to bus journeys and I am not happy doing that yet.
Had my eye test this week and have to go back to get my new specs next week and that's it for now.
Our new normal is starting to feel ok, I am not one for going out for meals or for drinks but I have missed the people I worked with on my volunteering day .