General Chat

hi folks well this has been one crazy day weather wise at 7am this morning it was 10 degree's above then the fog and rain started by noon it was -3 and the rain had turned into freezing rain and now it is -15 and going down to minus 20 over night, I was watching the new fires in melbourne on the tele australia is really being hard hit hope all our contacts are safe and sound. yes brenda chris will spend some time with me when she is here for the wedding how much I don't know as yet but it will be nice as I will not have seen her then for almost a year seems ages since last october. fred glad to hear that you crocus etc are coming up spring should be here soon for you should it not bye for now dorothy

Hi all ,well ,this is looking good for the weekend ,lol,just dropped off to sleep when i hear a loud pop,toughened glass type of pop,as in windscreen being put out.
Old Fred leaps out of bed [well,leaps for me that is] he he ,in reality ,more of a sloth leap [if you know what i mean].
Groans as these pore old bones creak into action lol,and goes to the bedroom window,takes one look ,shambles back to the bed to get dressed 'cause there is gonna be a knock at the door.
sure enough ,it comes as i hit the top of the stairs ,and i get two more knocks at the letterbox before i can get to the bottom .
One policeman at the door,and i have to say to him,exuse me fella,i am retired ,disabled [sort of] and it takes me more than thirty seconds to pull on my trousers and get downstairs ,verstanden?.
I did say ,yes ,i did hear the noise of breaking glassas your van windscreen was put out,and no ,i didn't see who did it because i can't move like a Gazelle at my age ,lol.
And ,i'll have you know ,youve let my ruddy cat out grrrrr,so ,if you don't mind ,i will go out back to try to get her back in.
Oh ,what a gay [night ] so i 'm sat here having a cuppa ,winding down ,again lol,before going back to bed,to try again.
If i wake up tired ,in a bad mood ,and you hear a load of banging about ,don't worry folks ,it's only me battering hell out of the bread dough ,he he pretending it's a young coppers rear end.
Poor lad,i feel sorry for him in a way ,how in hell does he explain that to the desk sergant when he gets back to the station, hmmmmmm?,i mean ,if he can't see who did it at his age ,what ruddy chance do i ,or next door stand ,both being pensioners .
See yer later peeps,MUCH later i hopes lol.Fred.

Hi ,just a quick hello ,its a very qyiet day at the minute,but that could change this afternoon.
weather not bad at least its dry,
At least we don't have to worry to much about freezing temps or fires!!!
Have the house to myself tonight ,John and David out .John at his mothers ,david at his friends .!!!
Looking forward to lunch have some home made squash and pepper soup.
Hope you got some sleep fred!! and the cat came back
Dorothy hope you do not have to go out again in that weather,it will be nice for you to see your sister.
TAke care Brenda

hi goodness fred what a night you have had hope that you have got your van sorted and that the cat came back in, yes brenda I do have to go out to-day in the cold mind you it has crept up to -18 quite balmy I shall wait till about noon I have to go to the library the new quentin jardine and stella rimington are in for me along with a couple of others and nothing keeps me from the library unless the car is snowed in and that is not the case at the moment. a friend in florida (forner bury girl) sent me an e-mail of a 12yr old who sang ava maria on some british talant show from last year what a voice but she said she did not win a break dancer did do you know what I am talking about , well the cats want their morning treats so I should go just think my grandchildren are out on the slopes this morning two ski-ing and one having snow boarding lessons also both parents ski-ing up and down the hills makes me cold to think about it. bye for now dorothy

Hello everyone froma very spring like day in Manchester,I have not been out but have been told its "warmish".
I have beencleaning,so if I stop to go out it will not get done as I will be sidetracked into doing things elseware!!
I do know the programme you spoke about Dorothy ,its called Britains got Talent! They have had somereally good acts on it ,an opera singer won it the year before called Paul Potts ,he hardly spoke or smiled because he had terrible teeth after he won it was the first thing he treated himself to.The winner gets to perform at the Royal Command Performance in front of the Queen .
Enjoy your books ,I have a couple ready for the holiday ,but am trying to read the Kerin Slaughter books my friend lent me just before christmas.She lent me about 5 or 6 and I am only half way througth them,mainly because I had a few library books which where two week reds ,so i had to get themback as other people were waiting.
Been trying to tidy up this work area since getting the new monitor ,but even after getting rid of some old papers and bills etc there is still a lot to look at !!
Have a good weekend
Brenda.

Well its been a nice day agin,but I have been in work since 12.30 and am here till 8pm. Its my least favourite shift,but it is out of the way this week.
Hope everyone is ok and the weather is being kind to you wherever you are. Our little thread is nearly two years old ,aren't we doing well!!!!
Brenda

Hi all,
Well I've not been posting so much as usual but this is because I am trying to sort out things in case we do have a move. Johan keeps bringing up the subject of living in sheltered housing (I think you call it that). I am quite happy where I am. We have a large flat where you "can swing a cat". A large balcony. But, if one of us becomes so handicapped that the other cannot cope then we might get split up so Johan wants to do something about it now. This brings us of course to get ting rid of things we no longer use. I have been selling some things on the internet and have been pleasantly surprised that some people want my "rubbish".
Why is it that after Xmas everyone goes on a diet and we are all so conscious of our weight - well the ones that need to - and don't buy any chocolates etc. We just lose a few kilos and lo and behold what do I see in the shops already - yes, Easter eggs. Lots and lots of delicious chocolate eggs, filled with delicious fattening centres. Now try and tell me not to buy them. Oh, I'm just buying them to decorate the house I said, but I'm afraid my chocolate bonbon dish needs filling quite often. I even saw special Easter biscuits, oozing with cream and chocolate. I could of course send Johan to do the shopping and then I wouldn't be tempted, but would he be tempted I wonder?
My granddaughter Linda started a new job today. She is now manageress of a book/paper shop. She will be responsible for ordering for the shop and taking on new staff etc. Quite a responsibility for a young 26 year old. Johan and I went to see her today and took her a pot filled with Spring bulbs. The shop was very busy. They have an area of the shop cordoned off to act as sub post office. Like the UK they are closing down our Post Offices and having more sub post offices in supermarkets etc. The same goes for our banks.
Well, have a nice evening, and mind that diet
Sylvia xxx

hi brenda glad the weather is better for you I have read all the books that your friend gave you, sylvia good luck with your down sizing and the diet you are right the shops over here are full of easter eggs, yesterday I went to watch bryan's championship hockey game they played well but lost 3-2 but it was great that they reached the finals. to-day my son called to fill me in on the actual results of the testing that they did on Ian he will be 10 in april he tested for the most part at the 13yr old and 15yr old level but in two things he tested at the 19yr old level, english and spelling , and listening and interpretation the testers have another meeting with andrew and lindy and two of the head and vice heads of the school he is at and the one he will be going to, andrew and lindy have decided not to tell him the actual marks he has obtained less pressure that way I guess, that meeting takes place next week apparently they have been watching Ian and three others since kindergarten and this is when the school system makes its move, he is such a happy boy at times one would not think that he is gifted and other times he is way ahead of us. of course I told andrew he must get his brains from me (not a chance ) sorry to go on about it but I am pleased for him that he will get the extra work he needs and not be so bored at school and develop his potential in the right enviroment, well I should finish here and go and watch silent witness though I think I saw this one the last visit to bury bye for now dorothy

Good afternoonfrom a wet and soggy Manchester,trust me to start being chripy as it was looking good.Should be cleaning my car ready for its MOT on Thursday ,can not do it tomorrow as I am working!!!
Hope it dries up soon,as at 4oclock I have to take John to pick up his car which is having the MOT done today.
Been getting some ironing done ready for my holiday,seems silly ironing light clothes when its been so cold.We need to be careful with what we pack as we do not have as much weight allowance on the baggage as normal,because it was a "holiday special offer" or something like that.
Hope you manage to down size succesfully Sylvia,and i do know what you mean about the Easter chocolates ,and other goodies like hot cross buns and such like.
I would be so proud if I had a granson like yours Dorothy .your son and daughter in law seem very level headed not telling him the exact scores ,it could cause him a lot of stress .
Back to the ironing and other mundane house work
Take care ,Brenda

hi brenda how nice to be ironing light clothes and I do hope that you and john have a great trip, it was minus 30 overnight so the thought of light clothing is very appealing to me at the moment, I have to say that I am very proud of all the grandchildren they are all special in their own way it is such a joy to see them grow up being a grandparent is so much fun, I always felt blessed to have my one and only would have loved more children but it was not to be. Lindys mom is back in england in lewes as lindys sister and her husband are again travelling seperatly for the aid groups they work for she has been there for 3 weeks I think looking after the three grandchildren she has over there but I believe that they are returning to canada permanatly in the fall, she is 71 and I think that she is great as she does all the driving that is needed in england I would not like to do that but then again this lady still down hill ski's well I think that I shall stay inside to-day far too cold for me but the sun is shining and the sky is blue and no clouds so maybe I will pretend I am on beach some where bye for now dorothy

mornin'all,cold here ,but it could be a lot worse ,and i reckon it will only last for a few days .
I would pay heed to Johan Sylvia,the man is talking sense,i used to go to a lot of them when i was working for Peter last year,aqnd all of the ones i have seen are set in lovely grounds with seats to sit in to admire the shrubbery and plants ,most of them even having communial B B Qs and meeting areas where residents can sit around and have a chin wag in the sun.
There are large lounges indoors where residents can do ditto if it's raining out,or find a quiet corner if the two of you want peace and quiet.
You willstill have your own flat to, of course but best of all you can relax,knowing that no matter what ,the two of you will not be parted AND that there is a full time warden on hand if you ever need help.,and ,lets face it,you where thinking of downsizing anyway,better do it i reckon while you are still fit enough to take charge and make sure you get what YOU want,not some idiot that you may land up with if you wait until you have no options because of failing health.
I think i will do some pasta for dinner and put a little salad on the side,and for tea?home made soup and bread niiiiice lol.
Hope you enjoy your trip- Brenda,have a nice time ,and don't forget to forget that ruddy library lol.
Catch everyone later,Fred.

goodmorning sylvia I have to agree with fred he makes a lot of sense re your possible move it is better to do things when you have control of all the events, I see from the papers this morning that i.t.v. is facing large cutbacks and may sell off friends reunited , sorry that you are not having great weather fred it is still cold over here when you factor the wind chill in to things but again this am the sun is shining and that is great to see. we change the clocks this week-end it is earlier than usual the change was made last year to be in line with the u.s.a go figure. popping over to keep an eye on the children this afternoon the oldest one is having a friend over after school working on a school project and Ian had guitar lessons so Laura and I will have some girl time. spoke to anne last evening and it was raining in bury but she had some snow drops come up in the garden and the daffs have buds on the stalks and the tulips the green is showing I think I will pop into the local garden centre on my way over to andrew's and pretend I am in england as there bulbs are all in bloom bye for now dorothy

eyeeeyup peeps cor,what a morning here up northhe he ,we had a little snow last night but one 'eck of a frost,so the ground is too hard for me to do owt out there this morning.
Still waiting for the download cable for my Talex lite snooper to arrive he he but not to worry,at least i found one on ebay.
Why is it no one supplies this sort of thing when selling new units?
The unit works so well with my tom tom ,telling me to slow down if i'm going a little too fast for that road,very handy to save those tickets,but you need to update once in a while because speed limits change on some roads once in a while.
Is everyone starting to look forward to their weekends yet?,cor ,i can hear the roar YES from here he he.
Aint it quiet on here lately he he,everyone away on their holidays already lol ?.
Catch you later ,the wife is upstairs spring cleaning [gulp] so i had better go and give hera hand before the stick comes out,Fred

Hello everyone,well Fred I for one will be looking forward to weekend,well Sunday at any rate as I am working Saturday!!!its these silly shifts!.
Been doing some packing and then came on pc to look something up for John.
Garage have phoned to say my car ha had its service and passed its MOT ,(horraah)so i am ok for 12 months ,will have to see what happends before thenas to if i can keep it or not ,we might have to down size to one newer car.
We have a few crocus ,daffs and snowdrops coming up,in the tubs and when its sunny like today ,but still cold ,it does make you feel brighter.
Will be back later I hope.Brenda

goodmorning from a fairly warm day over here at least it is above 0 for a change I had dinner last evening with the family plus one of bryans school friends it was an interesting mix of converstation. I think that for once andrew and lindy and the children have a free week-end hockey is finished so they will probably head for the ski hills for a day of family fun. I may go to watch from the safety of the ski lodge and close to the fireplace. next week will be fun one of my friends is turning 65 so she is coming up with three other friends for the day we will then take her out for lunch and I will get out the cake pans and bake a birthday cake, plus maybe 2 of them will stay over till sunday and then I will drive them back to brampton. could use fred over here to cook up a couple of good meals. should be fun I am looking foreward to it, we put the clocks ahead this week-end so we are only 4hrs apart bye for now dorothy

H all.,well got the car back,like I said it passed,just had to have some new wipers.
Hopefully all my ironing is done and on Saturday night i will just have to put the clothes that crease a lot in my case.
John has done most of his apart from a few shirts and tousers that will again go in Saturday night.
Glad you had agood family night Dorothy and hope the visit from your friends goes well as well..
have been to bed but woke up with a right thurst so went for a drink then on way back came in here toput away some summer clothes i had been looking at with a veiw to either putting in the charity bag or back in the drawers well they are all back in the drawers .
Have a good weekend.Brenda

hi wow it is 11 degree's I have all the window's open to air out the place I know that is not allthat warm but it is better than what we have been having it is going to rain all week-end but that will wqsh away some of the snow around here should not impact the ski hills too much, sounds like you are almost packed brenda do have a good trip. I see the film young victoria is out in england I saw some of that being filmed when I was in london on the last visit over it was a scene of horses and people dressed inperiod costume it will be intersting to me when it comes over here if that scene is still in it. bye for now dorothy

Hi everyone
Autumn has arrived and long with it rain must be preparing us for the winter which isn't far away. There was quite a storm in the upper part of the North Island which skirted pass although it still rained.
In February Mum went into hospital to have more melanomas removed, she spent a week there before going to my brother's for a further week. Aound the same time Craig had an encounter with air-compressor when the skin was ripped from back of his little finger of his left hand, initially the doctor was going to reattach the skin but decided to amputate at that knuckle - Craig jokingly calls that finger 'shorty'. He was very lucky. Craig is like his mother's Dad who lost a middle finger (same hand I think) a few weeks before we married in 1973.
I've got a pesky fly annoying me as I type this must get the spray and zap it.
Have any of you watched 'Wild at Heart'? I've been hooked on it since it started it's non-stop run.
John

Hi ,its a lovely day her at the minute,but its supposed to rain later.!!
Glad things are warming up Dorothy hope it lasts.
John ,hope the rain eases for you and that your mum and son both reciover well.
See you all a week on Tuesday, unless I can get online on holiday again.Take care
Brenda

hi brenda have a great trip relax and enjoy it is also a nice day again over here so I shall go out to do some shopping they forecast snow for wednesday but maybe it will pass us by. must remember to put the clocks foreward to-night so again have a great trip bye for now dorothy