General Chat

hello everyone,couldn't sleep tonight so have been down had a read,some cocoa and still not sleepy so came on here.
went to a bit of a family get together at Johns brothers tonight,couldn't drink or eat muchbut it was good to see everyone,,
Johns neice is going to NZ in January for a year with her fiance ,they are staying with his uncle.they re going to see if they want to emigrate .they seem to have it all worked out,I will find out where they are going and let you know,Our weather has been really good up until yesterday then it turned cold and grey again,and its goung to be cold over the next few days,The garden is covered with leaves from the trees in the surrounding gardens ,we don't have any so its very annoying that we have to sweep them up etc.They take so much sun from the bottom of our garden in the summer that not much grows there either.
I have been in touch with dorothy and she said to remember her to you all ,she is still having puter problems.She will be getting a man in to sort it out if her son can not sort it soon.
fred I thought I was doing ok for christmas planning but you have me beaten.
Supposed to be doing some more shopping forchristmas tomorrow so hope I get up ok.
see you all soon Brenda

Morning all,from Newcastle where it is dull but dry .
Hi to John,nice to know you are staying with us for a while at least.
Never tried silver beet but grow the red variety,it will be nice to swap notes on various crops ,as i still grow a load myself.You will find Oz cauliflower seeds and varieties the best in the world ,i grew them up the allotements for years finding ,Barrier Reef,Candid Charm,Dok,Elgon,and Canberra far superior to any euopean variety,Brussel ,i found the hybrids better than the others,but i still reckon for tatties in barrels or tubs you can't do better than a second early such as a good wax tattie,Charlotte ,or pentland crown.
Good to see you around too Brenda,seems like you are getting there okay.
I went up the coucil yesterday and gave them a real ear bashing and threatened them with my mp and the local preess if they didn't get off their a**** and find my son accomodation ,even if it is only to find them a permanent home
I said it was three months since i had taken them in and enough was enough,they had two weeks left ,and then i was putting them on the streets,because i needed my house back.
They sait they may have to go into bed and breakfastmto which i replied ,fine,i had done all thay i could and that if it was the only option ,then that would cost the council more than finding them a house,i wasn't bothered .
Sorry if i sound hard nosed ,but it's reached the stage where our health is starting to suffer ,and that isn't on.
Cheris is here for the day,his dad off to scotland as a beater in a big shoot,in return for veremin shooting rights on a big estate,rabbits ,pidgeons and rats.
He has to do it this year because Rachael dosn't like shooting,and so ,that will shortly be out as well .but she had betteer lesave my fishing alone ,or it will be war with the daughter in law lol.Gan't say as i blame her as regards the shooting though,i think that sort of thing should be ,to provide meat for the family ,not just for the hell of it.
Chris has been back to the coctors ,and the murmer turns out to be ,all the valves in the aorta leaking ,resulting in quite a bit of blood going back down the artery between beats.
So.poor kid ,all sports are out ,apart from a bit of gentle swimming ,in a pool [just in case],cycle riding but not cross country,and walking,surgery is a must ,but the specialist says he is too young yet unless it becomes more urgent.
My darling wife has retaliated against my chrissie present ,in return for my banning the conection of the washer until christmas,hee hee,she has bought me a new hewlett packard printer and copier and said i ain't getting it until christmas lol,[me and my big mouth] .still,i suppose i had it coming hee hee,
It woon't please the son though who is waiting for my older epson cx which still works fine on xp ,but dosn't work too well on vista,the newe one works fine on either ,more so as they are both h.p built and will work fine together.
Have to go now ,but i will be back later,i', off to finish my rice salad,and freeze the soup which i made yesterday.carrot and corriander. have a nice weekend all.Fred.

Just a quick hello as i have been sorting out the pictures we are putting back on the walls now the decorating is done.then i will be watching Casualty.
My dad is coping ok up to now with the new chemo tablets and my ex mil seems to have come through her hip operation ok but it is early days.
Fred you have to let these people know whats what or they will let you keep the family indefinatley.You need to watch what they offer them as our council seem to offerplaces you wouldn;t want to go to and you only get so many offers or you are back down the list again.
See you all tomorrow,Brenda

hi everyone still having computor problems and told the son last night he is out of the will if he does not get over here soon and fix it , just had a good read of everyones messages, fred I gather that missy came back thats good and my are you ever ready for xmas made my mouth water reading about the food, ihope that your son and family get housed soon does not sound like a great situation. brenda was it the new book you were reading, good to read about life with margaret and john in their parts of the world. to-day it is warm but rainy and windy the sky is black so more to come. the boys have hockey games to-morrow so I think I will go and watch them the arena is near my home. lindy passed her interview with the school board so that means she can go on the supply list and apply for any jobs that come up full or part time, andrew and the children bought her a lovely bunch of flowers to celebrate she was so pleased to get the results well bye for now it is starting to do funny things bye dorothy

Goodmorning a beautiful day here today a pleasant change not a cloud in sky a great day to be out in garden ! actually just come inside to get lunch but of course that can wait till Ive checked computer! Heard on Radio earlier that they have lovely day Rhododenron Festival up Johns way In new plymouth today
Margaret

Morning all,from Newcastle ,after a very windy night that has left the garden covered in leaves,but othwise ,undamaged.
No Dorothy missy still hasn't come home ,and after this time ,i think someone has found her and claimed her as a member of their family,understandablr as she is a lovely cat.
I am talking now of Hissy,the sister cat that we also have [now]
She is a right baggage too,but a nice one ,who has me up at 6-30 sharp every morning for her breakfast,apart from this morning when it was five thirty,she didn't know that our clocks wen't back last night.grrrrrr.
Anyway,it was Liz's turn to do the dinner today,so i spent an hour prepping all the veggies for her,from the cabbage to the parsnip and shallots.
The meat i cooked yesterday,brisket of beef ,cooked in a large slow roaster ,half filled with water,and the meat inside foil,cooked at !50c for four hours,cor ,what a result,came out nice ,red soft and succulent,just right to finish off this dinnertime with roast tatties shallots and parsnips.
Got to go now ,Asda calls ,but i will be back later.
Have a good day all.Fred.

Hi good evening from a very cool and damp Manchester ,its back to dark nights again.the clocks have gone back .!!
John has now put up the new light fittings,so we have nice bright lights in the hall ,landing and living.
We might have new ones in the diningroom but after christmas now.
On a late tomorrow thats 12.30 til 8pm ,and its usually mad with kids looking for somewhere to go on the dark nights,they will not sit and read or drw or do any of the other things we have for them,so we end up asking them to leave and get nothing but abuse.!!
Dorothy nice to have you back ,the book I have is the first one this author has written I think<Glad your daughter in law passed her interveiw she has done so much work to get there.
Fred,we had a plain dinner today ,just a roast chicken with new potatoes,cauliflower ,sprouts and carrots ,no stuffing,or yorkshires,but still enjoyable
Margret,our pc is in the back bed room and i am known for going up to fetch something and coming back 3 hours later as I just had to check on here for ten minutes!!
See you either tomorrow or Tuesday,Brenda

hi everyone,haven't got long had to change my teabreak and now we are really busy ,hope everyone is ok ,see you tomorrow.brenda

All this talk of Nice food cooking !! Its salad time for us most days easy to prepare after a day in the garden But I am lucky Hubby does like cooking and prob cooks as many meals as me When he retired he got in the kitchen said he could have it!!! now we share He can do most Things BUT not ironing ! nice day again but very windy Im getting very pleased with my Fuchsia houses and now Its washing empty pots
Margaret

Just a quick message from a sunny Manchester,but rather chilly.really autumn now.
Casseroles and stews etc for teas this week I think.
Too cold for salads without having jacket spuds etc.Take care Brenda

hello everyone well I do not know what happened but the computor appears to have fixed its self!!!!!!!!! so long may this last, my goodness everyone is really cooking up a storm it all sounds very delicous. not very much new over here the weather has gone strange again back to being warm 70 to-morrow but very cool at nights, last eve I went with the family to the local museum they had an event night for hallowen lots of games and then when it was dark a trail through the woods with lots of dark and scary moments, the children wore the costumes they will be wearing to-morrow for trick or treat. fred I am sorry that missy did not return home after all as you say perhaps someone is looking after her, has any one heard from sylvia has she had the op. brenda you are right it is his first book I do hope that you enjoy it. well speaking of books I am off to make a coffee and finish stephen booths lastest dying to sin it is quite good have not figures out the end as yet bye for now dorothy

Morning everyone,hope your pc stays ok Dorothy,if yours is like ours it has a mind of its own.!!!
But it has not really given us much trouble in the 4 0r 5 years we have had it.
I am still learning things on it and about it even now.!!!
I am really enjoying that book,am sorry I did not buy it as I could loan it to my friend as she is into crime books and loves football,might buy it her for christmas,!!
stillnothing about my operation am getting more than fed upnow ,will be phoning them again later or tomorrrow if I do not hear today.(Post can come at any time these days)
Need to order a winter jacket for John for christmas ,so will say hope everyone is ok and see you all tomorrow.
Brenda

Hi everyone
Is it ok if I join your thread, have been sitting here reading all about you all. I am from Brisbane Australia, where we are heading into a very steamy hot summer, and in the middle of an horrendous drought, can you imagine 4min showeres, can't wash your cars, can't water your garden, no paddly pool for the grandchildren, "what do I tell them" ahhh stick them in the bath with the rubber ducky, then bucket the water out for the garden and the car wash, lol

Regards

Frankie

Afternoon Francis,Dorothy,Brenda,Sylvia,edith,Mary.John and anyone else i have forgotten.not a bad day here ,a bit damp ,but pretty mild.
I had to go down to the doc's to pick up a perscription and got waylaid by one of the receptionists ,with the end result ,Fred ,and Liz have had their flu jabs .
I like this doctor of ours ,it's quite fun really you go in for something and always land up getting clobbered for something else.
Our Curry went down very well last nigjht ,two of the kids wanted a chinese ,while the rest of us wanted indians ,so we did a pot of each,complete with popadoms ,naan bread and chappaties
Tonight i have done an oldy that we all like,minced beef ,dumplings ,mashed tattie,little new potatoe roasties,cabbage,and sweede all with onoin gravy.
Seeing as Sean goes back to camp Saturday ,frfiday we have another christmas dinner ,in case he dosn't make it back on the 25th.
Fluffy roast potatoes ,mash ,sausages wrapped in bacon,parsnips ,cauli,and fresh peas,turkey breast homed made stuffing ,apple sauce ,and a little roast leg of pork.,complete with a home made christmas pud and cream.
Stephan and ann are down the council today seeing about them being on the street next Friday,when they get on the phone to me ,as they will .i will just tell them that the few weeks they reckoned on has grown into three months and i have had enough,it's making me short tempered and ill ,and the wife can't cope any more with all the extra housework and lack of space.
This is the second time we have had to help out in four years with one or more of the family ,but ,sorry to all ,we can no longer cope witjh this sort of hassle,and wev'e more than done out bit,we need our own space back before we become really ill with it all.
So there you are Sylvia ,in a small way ,we know how much worse it must be for you ,we at least can see light at the end of the tunnel,and i only wish for your sake ,you had such an easy solution..
I am looking round now ,for one of these slow cookers like our mary has ,i would really like one of the old sort that you put on the gas cooker,but all i can find at the minute is an electric one,so i may have to settle for one of these.
As regards salting it ,i can use our big jam pan with lid ,which can sit in the unheated greenhouse ,or shed for the fortnight it takes to prepare,but is no good for the cooking of, the top of the oven being stuffed with pans and whatever,although it may pay me to cook the beeef on Christmas eve ,when the top of the cooker would be free for a jam pan,hmmmmm,that may be the answer.
The local butcher has promiseed me a good ,lean piece of pot roast ,ideal for cooking this dish,he says about 8 pound in weight,should be spot on..and the turkey is well organised ,being delivered two days before the day,so ,all looks well.
I have to strip all the cobs off the corn tomorrow and get the kernals blanched and put into a bag for the freezer,and there are a load of small beetroot to come out of the garden as well.and i have a few late variety of cabbage nearly reeady, plus one special one earmaked for christmas day,a nice drumhead,yes ,all is coming together nicelly,so ,any thinking of turning up for dinner had better get their orders in ,no takaways allowed lol.
We have to go and do a little of the special shopping tomorrow ,so i reckon it may be pretty late before i get on again .
The sparkie never got back on the phone to me for a start date so i reckon he wasn't really interested.but no matter,i di a little more phoning around and got another fella to strt the jobon next wednesday,do the box ,replace all the earth wires with the new stuff of the required thickness put a new one from the box to the cold water pipe just inside the back door,test all the curcuits ,and make out the two certificates needed for the council,and the household pack,and inform the electricity council that the work has been done by a certified installer.all for £300 ,so i have even saved £100,on the original estimate ,so ,liz can have her new front room coffee tables for christmas ,on top of her other stuff.
Well,time to go and start the tea,have a good evening all,catch you all tomorrow.Fred.

Welcome Brenda I like to read the chat on this thread too Can understand the problem you must be having with water or the lack of it especially with your heat
restriction here is only as far as garden watering goes in summer but even this allows us some time to water alternate days
Margaret

hi everyone well fred you have gone and done it again I read your message twice all that lovely food it sounds wonderful, brenda glad you enjoyed the book I am looking foreward to his next one it is always great to read a book by someone somewhat local, he said if i can't find his next one over here he will send me a copy I thought that was very nice of him, last night went well with trick or treating lots of great costumes the children came home with lots of candies. raining to-day but we can use it fred I have a small chicken in the oven for my supper the local store had one of the buy one get one free specials on I seasoned it an stuffed it with onions so it at least smells good we shall se how it tastes the computor is behaving at the moment long may that last by for now dorothy

Hi I meant welcome Frances It must bethose grey cells failing again!

Hi all
well still no sign of rain,it got cloudy, but noooo nothing, so now hubby (Rick) has come up with a momentos idea, he thinks we should put 44 gallon drums at the end of every down pipe, mmmm nice look to the house, cheaper than a rain water tank though, could be artistick and paint scenes on them or something, it's now Friday night here, so looking forward to a great week-end, xmas shopping, house work, washing (only the second load for the week, saving water you know) and then maybe a barbie on Sunday, when all the kids come round, mmm relax glass of wine, sounds good to me,

You all have a great week-end

Frances

Hello everyone its dry and cold here in Manchester today the sun is doing its best but is very watery ,if you know what i mean.still no word from the hospital ,so i phoned them and will be seeing the consultant on Nov 23rd about my results from the scan. Been trying to get the holiday insurance sorted out one quote was £360 and one £76. big difference ,ust trying to see if the cheaper quote is a good company.It through Tesco with UK insurance any one heard of them.
Have to go and get the weekly shop.
Nice to have you with us Frances,have been to your lovelly country twice but only seen Victoria and NSW,and a bit of the Gold Coast.
See you all soon
Brenda

goodmorning everyone welcome francis from far away at least from me over here, to-day is a lovely fall day the rain has gone and the tree's are still showing the lovely colours though the wind has blown a lot away. brenda glad to hear that you are seeing the consultant maybe this will move things along. to-day I am popping to the shops and of course the library they have five books in for me, a couple of new mysteries and one by pres clinton and one by an american journalist if it sounds like I am going highbrow not really just a slight change of pace. the youngest grandson has a hockey game at 7-35 to-morrow am that is so I don't think I will be getting up for that next sat it is at 8-35 may make that. fred my chicken dinner turned out great but not up to your menu from the other day I am still thinking about that one. well should get ready so by for now dorothy