General Chat

Good afternoon to all,1-30 pm ,and i'm knackered already thanks to the cat grrrrrrr..
I came downstairs as usual this morning and made my cuppa as usual and went to sit on the patio to enjoy it.
As i got to the half empty stage ,i heard the bin wagon pull up out front,so i put my cup down on the table ,opened the gate and walked round the front of the house to bring the bin in.
The cat went in to the kitchen through the open door while i was out front and that was when the fun started.
I came back through to the back garden ,sat back down and started drinking my tea ,again,lol.the rest of the cup went down my front as i heard a shriek from the missus from the bedroom.
I shot into the kitchen coming to an ubrupt halt at the sight of feathers from one end of the kitchen and dining room to the other,going into the hall ditto,all the way upstairs ,the same ,and as i got to the bedroom door the cat shot out.
When i walked in ,there were a few feathers ion the floor ,but the missus was sat up in bed ,and the oven ready sparrow was laying on the bed, [a present i reckon] for the wife who was NOT amused .not one feather left on the bird at all .
I reckon i could get that ruddy cat a job at the butchers plucking the chickens ,but mind ,there were no breaks in the skin that i could see.
There was nothing else for it ,my morning puter time was up the swanny,he he,it was out with the hoover and every floor ,and room in the house cleaned and cleared up ,three hours in total.
I never knew there were so many featherson a small bird ,which may be why the cat did such a thougher job ,the little b****r must have counted them one by one ,lol
I would rather it had been a mouse ,but ,there you go,she is no different to any other cat ,and the sparrow was just too slow.
As of now though ,when i move away from the table in future ,no matter what for ,the kitchen door gets closed].
Hope every one is okay ,and coping with everything that life throws at them,i am now going for a lie down as my back is playing hell ,he he ,the cat is still in hiding somewhere ,she must know she isn't flavour of the month .
Catch you all later.Fred.

Hi all,glad everyone seems to be ok,
I am sure your grandaughter will be in her own place soon,Kathleen,
John really hope Gayle gets everything done and her treamant sort ed in Aug ,like you say theres always someone worse of.!!! but it really could be better.
Dorothy its really wet and miserable here again,hope Anne had a good time at the Trafford centre,its not a place I am keen on,but all the family and mt friend like it Glad the job is coming on ok.Because we work with children we have to be vetted and have it done every so many years and Mine is due to be renewed next month.Wish the kids had to be vetted to use the library ,half would not get in.!!
Fred you cat sounds just like mine ,and we have two cats (twice the fun)???.
Working tomorrow morning and then looking in estate agents as we will have to put dads house on the market as my neice can not get a mortgage.
Have to get back tothe ironing now.see you tomorrow,Brenda

goodmorning thanks fred for my morning laugh that cat of yours is really very special though I am sure liz could have done without the present on the bed hope your back recovers, sorry about the weather brenda but it is headed our way overnight wed through thursday, this morning is not bad its almost 8am and about 69 and climbing,yes the little job is going well you can be as busy as you want I don't want more than 20hrs a week so to-day I will be figuring out the fax machine. I heard from lindys sister yesterday who live not far from me the other sister had phoned from england with an update on my family, apparently they had a great time in england but on the way over Ian and lindy were sick on the plane lindy has not had that problem before, and then during the stay the toilet broke, the shower broke and the car blew up!!! a right comedy of errors mindyou 4 adults and six children no wonder the bathroom had a problem and the morning that they took the ferry there was a bad storm so they should have lots to tell me whne they are home, the sister in england and her family are moning back to canada a week on thursday after 16yrs of being away in africa and the last 4 yrs in england they are going to be living in ottawa, she works for the united nations via ottawa and he has a new job in canada both of them have always worked with people in need around the world, setting them up in business's and marielle works with women who need any kind of health issues and education. well time to hit the shower and do a little phoning and then wait for the telephone guy to come and later I shall pop over to the house and check on the garden and stock up the fridge with a few things bye for now dorothy

Good eveing all,its not so good here ,very wet and miserable again.But not too chilly.
You are right Dorothy about the toilet and all those people .we went to a wedding a few years ago and all stayed over night at a cousins house ,all the kids in sleeping bags in one room,three couples,two in the other two bed rooms and and one in the living room in put u up.That was ok but the couple of hours next day when trying to get to the loo ,have a wash ,breakfast etc was crazy.It was a wonder nothing broke on us then,
HAve some ironing to do and then watch WHo do you thing you are.
Read in the paper that Micheal Parkinsons family are apparently too boring to have on the tv programme.!!!
Take care ,Brenda

Good morning everyone,a better day is in the offing and so ,i am sat here having had my elevenses of a cuppa,and 2 biccies,shorts on ,awaiting the promised sun but so far it's 18c, cloudy and a bit windy ,fair weather for march ,but this is July, weather of lovely blue skies and scorching temperatures ,[not],and on the promise of today ,burgers and sausages out for a two person B B Q but it looks as though the indoor one will be used again.[sulks]
The cat is on her best behavior this morning and is ,in fact upside down on the sofa,legs stretched out and i can hear her purring from halfway across the room,though wether that is because she has just finished her breakfast of fish and crunchies or just contentment i don't know .
Another lazy day is called for seeing as i seem to have pulled a muscle in the shoulder yesterday while trimming the full length of the front hedges without a sit down,so i think you may well be right Edith when you say it's time to slow down a little ,something i keep telling Our Brenda to do ,sigh,i suppose none of us are willing to accept that we are no longer spring chickens,but after a lifetime of being active ,it isn't easy .
The missus is sat here looking at a cookery book ,full of recipes for two people meals ,so ,it looks like i am getting the day off cooking duties,great ,this means a bit of dusting and i'm done for the day apart from a little washing up,because all the floors were done yesterday before we went out.
It will be lovely for you having part of your family home again Dorothy even if they arn't close to hand ,at least you can be within reasonable travelling distance,which will be far better than half the way round the world apart, i had more than enough of that while in the forces,and still now ,with the oldest grandson away in Cyprus ,and soon to be Germany ,we think...
Have a good day all ,and enjoy the coming weekend ,Fred,

goodmorning and it is a rainy day but the gardens will love it you had better rest up fred I agree it is not easy not being able to do as much as we think we can, yes it will be good to have my little family home again actually fred they are just 7 minutes away by car on the other side of town. this is thier last day in paris and I believe it is a bit rainy but I am sure they won't mind to muchthe trip home will be a little tiring as they leave for the airport at 7-30 am paris time(1-30 am my time) the pane leaves at 11-30 am paris time and gets to montreal at 1-15pm my time (7-15 paris time) then they leave montreal at 5-30pm my time and arrive at toronto at 6-48 my time which will be 12-45am paris time so by the time they get to barrie it will be about 9-30 time (3-30 am paris time ) so a long day hope I did not bore you all with that I guess I am just so pleased to have them home. I had my 2nd phone line installed yesterday and the chap was early and even explained the hook up of the fax machine .so it is of tot he office for a little while this am and then over to the house to do the last of my laundry the big stuff that is the washing machines in the building are ok but not for the big duvet's etc. take it easy with the gardening fred bye for now dorothy

Hi all,well Fred i think we could both do with listening more to what our bodies tell us.!! I really am goig to finish work in the new year ,probably march near my birthday,its taking me ages to do my housework these days ,might be because I am not as regular as I was as I do not have set days to do things.due to my shifts.But after my last holiday i know I do not want to caryy on much longer.It might even be earlier if I feel I have had enougth with one thing and another.
Am working tonight at 4-8pm do not like this shift ,but don't get many so can not complain as some get two a week.
Lot of rain here again ,did have a bit of a blue sky but also had thunder and lightening and a real downpour just before lunch.
Might not get on tomorrow as working 9am-5pm then might do the shopping!!
Brenda

hi brenda (6-30 my time) I guess you will be sleeping as I type this I hope that you do think about retiring in march its funny how our bodies slow down but the mind still thinks like a young person, well it poured to-day I have not see this much rain in ages I thought I was driving through a river on the way home from andrew's and I did not take the lake route home but now the sun has come out rather late in the day but thats ok. bye for now dorothy

Hi all,
Have just been reading through all your messages etc. and laughing at Fred's cat's antics.
I am feeling a good deal better now. I now take 17 tablets a day and have vitamine B1 injections. Anyway the last they found out was that I had potassium in my blood so have 6 tablets a day to swallow for this and seems to work with the vitaine B1 injection and the extra thyroid tablet. I am like a rattlesnake now with all these tablets. I do still fall asleep a lot but hope that will get better.
I went out on my scootmobile to the market today and got absolutely soaking wet. Oh it was also so cold. I was so glad to get back again to a cup of hot coffee.
My daughter is off to Italy for 3 weeks and we are going into her house in Eindhoven for some of the time. Whilst there we will visit Johan's sister of 86 and other things we wanted to do. Johan has booked us into a luxury hotel in Maastricht for 3 nights, sounds like a bridal suite!!!!!
Maastricht for us is quite a drive so if we do it from Eindhoven it won't be so stressful. Maastricht is a beautiful old town and I am looking forward to this.
Now have a nice weekend everybody.
sylvia xxx

Just a quick hello to you all,Nice to see you Sylvia and so pleased thingsseem to be picking up for you.Hope all these tablets work and that you also enjoy your trip.
I have been telling a few people about finishing work,so I will have to go with it now,Need to get a plan of action so Ican get some jobs done while I have wages !
Weather still very mixed am off this weekend so would like a nice dry warm wekend does not have to be really hot ,just nice will do.
See you all later take care Brenda

goodmorning from a very happy dorothy yes the family arrived home last evening they phoned me about 9-15 all of them very tired but having had a wonderful trip the children had gone straight to bed but lindy told me a few things about the places they visited andrew said they spent 5hrs at the tower of london and had a private guide the hildren loved it I remember taking andrew there about three times , so I shall see the children later to-day or to-morrow to get a full report from them I must say I slept better last evening knowing they had arrived safely, good to hear from sylvia I hope you enjoy your visit and the fancy hotel, so brenda have you backed yourself into a corner with the retirement plan you have to do what is best for you no matter what other peole think it is raining again to-day that is 3 days straight but supposed to clear up later bye for now dorothy

hello ,well it started out a bit dismal but turned into a really nice day, We even had an ice lolly this afternoon,i found some sorbet icelolies with not many calories and no fat ,they were not big but really nice,they weren't too dear either so we might be having them again if the weather stays ok.
Dorothy I suppose I have backed into a corner but I have also sadi barring something untoward happending,but I think I am ready to finish work ,or at least drop my hours a whole lot.!!!!!!!
Glad the family are home and you can relax.
See you all tomorrow,the BBq I was going to has been cancelled. due to the weather /

Well ,this is nice ,quite a few peeps showing up of late with some very interesting scuttlebutt,makes my life look a little tame ,lol.
Sooooo miserable here this morning ,dank ,dark and drizzling nearly 0900 and still need a light on to see the keyboard .
We managed our B B Q okay yesterday ,starting at 5 pm ,going through to 7-30 ,lots of nice nibbles all done at a very slow pace ,this is the advantage of gas over charcoal ,control over the cooking to ensure everything is cooked slowly but properly.
I quite enjoyed sitting in the late afternoon sun watching sausages sizzle on the grill and,toasting the muffins slowly on the hotplate while watching the aircraft flying back to Newcastle airport from the big Airshow in Sunderland,my only gripe with this is a lot of the heavy aircraft no longer use Newcastle because the airport authority is far too greedy with the service charges and they lost all the business to [Goosepool] [Teesside airport who are chuffed to bits getting the aircraft in there.
Dropped a clanger though ,he he ,who left the mower out in the open last night oooooops ,who needs a new one grrrrrr. ,lol ,never mind ,i was thinking of getting a new up to the edge of the lawn ones anyway ,ending the bare patches that you get when the mower tips as it goes off the edge .
Who left the greenhouse door wide open too ,he he ,i didn't need to water it this morning the way the wind was blowing lol,only hope the floor dries out before the wife sees it.
Off for now for a mooch about ,but will be back later.Fred.

Good morning all, it is bright and dry though a bit cloudy and breezy Warm outside but my house is quite cold. Maybe not having the heating for those last weeks of the cold weather has made a difference, no retained heat inside. Wish I had a laptop I could take outside.
Good to see you Sylvia, pleased you are feeling better. Hope you enjoy your trip and the stay in the hotel sounds wonderful. It's good to spoil yourselves once in a while.
Brenda, retirement has it's good points but the drop in income can be a bit of a shock. However you have to do what is best for you, maybe you could cut down your hours as a start? I was made redundant at 63 - no chance of getting another job at that age so I became a Betterware distributor which I did for 14 years. Quite enjoyed doing it, in my own time but expected to produce orders so sometimes had to put in the extra hours. In the end a new "manager" gave me up, she was young and wanted all her friends to join in. As I expected they were all enthusiastic to start with but soon realised it did mean working so soon gave up - as she did herself eventually. Not sure that I could do it now though I have given it some thought. We have a lot of places that have stairs to climb and not sure that I could cope with that again - but we haven't had anyone doing the job around here for a couple of years now,. The extra money does make a difference.
Fred, not sure which makes me laugh the most, the antics of your Hissy or the things you get up to - well not so much the things you do but "it's the way you tell 'em".
The saga of the flat goes on ---and on---!! Had a visit from the lady who calls to check all is well - she is going to chase up the floor problem (and so am I) but did say that though all the bathrooms have been done some of the kitchen areas are to be done sometime between the end of this year and 2011. It's all a question of budgets.
Hope you are all enjoying the weekend.
Take care
Love
Kathleen

What happened to the long, hot summer that was forecast? (was also forecast last year - didn't happen then either).
Has now stopped raining after several hours of heavy wet stuff, it is now very windy, brighter but still cloudy - and more rain to come it seems.

Just popped in to see how you all were - obviously all busy.

Hope you all enjoy your day

Take care
Love
Kathleen

hi everyone froma still very rainy barrie we are going to need noah's ark soon the rain has been torrential and done a lot of damage to my plants on the balcony they have been bowled over by the rain and high winds I even went out in rain gear and put them in the most sheltered part of the balcony, I am still tryuing to understand the fax machine I think I have finally got it to work, not very much new at the moment we have a holiday week-end coming up at the end of this week so will have to get my shopping done by friday and then on the 3rd the children go to camp for two weeks further north from barrie all the cousins will be to-gether all 8 of them they do a lot of boating swimming and camping overnight they stay in cabins but the overnight camping include portaging the boats. lindy sister and family move back to canada permanatly on thursday . hope you all have a good week bye for now dorothy

just a few lines as I am still in work and should not be here,!!
weather really good to day,but have been in here since 12.30pm till 8pm.
Glad everyone is ok , will be back tomorrow when not working,
Brenda

Morning all ,i was just going to say ,from a Sunny Newcastle ,but it's startig to cloud over again ,nothing changes he he ,and here's me ,out in the back at six this morning going daft with the hose complete with feeding head on,still ,never mind ,things could be a lot worse ,it could be snowing.
Kathleen ,if you have a mobile phone on contract ,you could renew it to include a lice little laptop free with the new contract and still get plenty of phone minutes free as well ,the phone companies are desperate for business and there are some really good deals out there,
I took out a deal for this lappy with T Mobile costing £27 a month with free texts and 200calls,and virgin ,vodaphone and most of the other companies are doing simular deals ,the laptop? ,that you get in with it and after the eighteen months it's yours to keep ,and then upon renewal you downgrade to the phone and calls only .
\seems we are off to the youngest sons for tea ,so i only have dinner to see to ,hmmmm ,i feel a stir fry coming on ,lol.
Time to see to other things now ,so i will leave you all to your days ,may you all enjoy it ,no matter what ,catch you all later ,Fred.

goodmorning rain rain and more rain this am but it is supposed to go away and the rest of the week is supposed to be sunny well we shall see, sorry brenda that you have that awful shift try and think pleasent thoughts just finished reading reg hills midnight fugue it was quite good. fred I have been giving first aid to the tomato plants as they did get quite damaged in the storms over the weekend good job I can remember how to apply a bandage!!!! finally put the fax machine to-gether and it works so in the winter the charity office can fax things to me rather than me going over there in the white stuff off to do a few chores and then some phoning bye for now dorothy

Hi all,its been raining cats and dogs again here to day,at least i got in before it started.was over at my dads house trying to sort some things out ,but it was impossible as we could not guess what others wanted and what should be sent to charity shops etc..
It is being valued on Friday and my sister wanted it to be de cluttered.!!
Have been scanning some photos to do one of those Moon pigp cards for my neice who is 21 .Did not have any decent ones on the pc already.
Well done with the fax Dorothy ,want to come and sort ours out at work.??
Hope the tea at you sons was good Fred.
See you tomorrow.Brenda