General Chat

Hi all,
My daughter and granddaughter didn't come after all today as they couldn't fit me in between hairdressing appointments etc. Anyway, I'll be seeing them on Sunday on Johan's birthday. I have heard that they are all eating here on Sunday. Me, cooking? Not likely, Janet will fetch a takeaway Chinese meal for us and then I have enough over for Monday too. Am I getting lazy, I ask myself? Getting older, maybe, but then I don't want to hear that, do I?
I will make a Dutch apple tart and was going to make a big fatless sponge and fill it with cream etc. but have changed my mind as the guests probably won't be here early enough for coffee on Sunday, which means Johan and I would end up eating the sponge cake ourselves.
How is the diet Brenda? There is a lady here who has lost 45 kilos this last year on the Sonja Bakker diet.
Don't you need ever to go on a diet Fred, all the pastry and pies etc. you eat. I'm only jealous, but I have a slow working thyroid gland so have a bad start anyway.
I think I'll try and get up extra early tomorrow and go to the market.
See you tomorrow.
Sylvia xxx

Evening folks,loverly day here again,hope it lasts a while.
Fred ,I have seen bottle brushes for myself and you are right they are glorious..Might have a photo some where.not digital..so will have to scan and send to you.
Enjoy Blackpool,nearly came up ourselves but am working Saturday so no can do.But enjoy anyway.
Dorothy you are so right about wearing the right sort of protection when doing active sports,such a waste
Had problems getting on the internet,aat home so have had to grab a few minutes here,
speak to you tomorrow ,hopefully
Brenda.

hi everyone sylvia I do hope that you and johan have a great week-end with all your company, brenda I wish I could pop over to blackpool wouldent that be fun, but I had the next best thing last night after watching gray's anatomy I was going around the stations and I came upon an english show called Blackpool I have never watched it before so I have missed quite a few episodes but this one was about a wedding of the leads daughter with some great views of the pier and the sea has any one watched it and how long ago was it made, cold to-day but sunny on the first day of spring , so fred have a greatr week-end bye for now dorothy

We have had another sunny day today ,but its turned cold tonight,Managed to get to Bury today Dorothy and had a cup of tea and a sandwich in Marks and Spencer ,(memories!!).Then had a walk round the market,but could not get anywhere near the cheese stall,it was so busy,
Got home after visiting the cemetary,lots of visitors there ,due to it being mothers day here on Sunday.
Been paying my road tax on line ,and a few other things.
Off for a cup of tea and a yogurt now.
Have a nice week end everyone and Sylvia hope you and Johann have a nice annivesary.
Dorothy,that show was good,and the young girl you saw on Britians got talent has just released a cd!!.
Brenda

sunny day here but a bit on the chilly side,hope it warms up/
Hope it is warmer in Blackpool for Fred.
Managed to get some bedding washed and hung out to dry yesterday,so that was good.
Working today and have mangaed to do a few jobs that we can only do when we are shut or quiete.
Have to go now ,speak tomorrow.
Brenda

The sun is out, the sky is blue,AND iv'e been to Clevelys too.
Got down early evening unpacked and went into Fleetwood for my fish and chips, he he ,got a lovely portion of fish with really nice firm
chips that cost me the princly sum of £1-20,cor,wish they would do the same at home.
Went to cleveleys late this morning to get my pie from thehome Bakery [lush] and sat on a seat byTescos and had an al fresco dinner,and am now off for a walk down the beach .
Better go now anyway because the connectoion isn't too good,and i'm spoilt with my broadband connection,lol.
Catch you later.Fred..

Hi all,
Fred, where on earth do you leave all this food? Fish and chips and then a pie from the bakery. It's a good job you had a little walk afterwards.
Have you left poor little Missy behind again? I'm sure she would like a trip to the seaside. You could buy a collar and lead for her. Now fish and chips, she might like to share that with you.
Have a nice evening everybody.
Sylvia xxx

Hi All.Hope you and Johann have a good day on his birthday and anniversary Sylvia.
Fred you have a knack of making feel a wee bit jealous when you talk about food,wih our chip shop did fish n chips that cheap its £1.20 for chips,!! Where are they that cheap in Fleetwood,will go and find it when we go to Johns mams next time.
We have been trying to tidy up the garden and John was pressure wshing the flags when the thing broke,he went all over to buy a pare part which we have had to order on line.!!
Better go and make him a drink before he loses his cool altogether.
See you tomorrow,brenda

Hi again,i am now sat on the patio,in the sunshine with the lappy and a cuppa [brill'].
Took the grandbairns into Blackpool proper for their first time ,and they loved it,despite the cold wind,and i got them on the pier to take their piccie with the tower in the background to prove to their mum that they have been.
Mum and dad are having a lovely time in the big apple ,but the daughter was a little gutted as they never got their breakfast at Tiffanys [it's no longer there],but however they have been up the empire state building ,and been to central park.and will get around quite a bit more beforee flying back Monday night.
Yes,Brenda,the chippy is the one on the high street on the junction with Poulton street,more or less opposite Heron Foods.
Must admit a £1 portion is a nice light midday meal ,but not enough to fill Fred who had been up since 6am with nothing but cuppas all day,plus a longish drive ,but 'eck ,two portions at only £2 was just the ticket lol.
The only other place to compete taste wise is the next chippy up the high street,also veeeery tasty,but a lot dearer,he he.,very comparable with the waterfront in north shields at home.
Have to do off in a mo',sis in laW And hubby are comin' to tea the least i could do ,because ,a ,it's her birtrhday ,and ,b she gets us this van off a friend really cheaply every time we come down.
I got two chickens from farm foods ,plus a nice loin of pork for £8,and will be doing home made stguffing ,roast tatties and parsnips,tiny new potatoes ,mash calabrese,,Cabbage carrot batons,and roast caramelised red onions together with onion gravy,plenty spare so anyone coming had better get their skates on
That's it for now,tea is at 6-15 so i had better get started.Fred.

hi sunday evening I see murray lost his match to nadal too bad, fred it sounds like you had a good time in blackpool and surrounding area's I have spent many happy hours in fleetwood I learned to swim at the outside pool the fish and ships sound like a good price. sorry joh was not able to finish his outside chore will it take long for a replacement brenda, I spoke to anne to-day she had had a nice mothering sunday lots of flowers from her three children, out mothers day is not till may 10th. sunny to-day but cool they are forecasting snow for wednesday maybe they are wrong. andrew and Ian came over yesterday andrew was putting up an outdoor temperature thing and the little stand is inside it shows the outside temp and the inside one just a litlle gadget outside but he had to drill it to the wall also shows the humidity it will come in handy in the summer that part, lindy and the other two children had gone ski-ing they all go back to school on monday, I may have mentione that andrews company may be taken over while he feels his job is safe he is looking into going back to univerisity if isnt as he has 14 post graduate courses and would get about 2yrs knocked of studying for his pharmacutical degree so as he puts it mother don't worry I will be fine, it is a 69 billion dollar take over by another drug company american I am surprised they have the money with all that is going on well that is it for me goodnight all bye dorothy

OH Fred why do you have to make everything so mouthwatering when all I have is a weight wathchers cuppa soup.Might look for that chippy next time we go to fleetwood.
Dorothy ,hpe that your son is ok what ever he does,he does sem to know what he wants.
We have had sunshine ,rain and hail today and now have high winds ,we have had to keep the door closed so the wind will not rattle the glass screns round the porch ,this is at work by the way. we have had a fair number in today,but will be glad when it is home time.
TAke care,see you tomorrow.
\brenda

Morning all ,ah well home again sniff,but it ain't so bad,nice and sunny so as soon as iv'e finished here and made my greek salad ,it will be time to go out back and finish the garden ,leaving Marys chalet until tomorrow..
We have decided on the olive tree out front ,so Thursday i will be out front removing the fir tree in the centre of the rockery where the bush will be going.so,the year after next ,i may be adding my own olives to the salads he he.
The meal i did for the sis' in law worked out very well,i was complimented on the stuffing,being told it was the best yet,so ,i wonder,what would it have been like if i had have remembered to ad the sausage meat as well?.
Not to worry next time maybe.
The problem i had in Blackpool and Fleetwood seemsto have been bad coverage from vodaphone,better coverage being available from t-mobile,where for an extra £10 a month i could have a nice H P laptop with a 3 gig memory,260 gig hard drive ,vista premium and a few other nice refinements.
Think i will go for it,then when the tower xp system goes home ,i will stay with the laptops,taking up far less space,and being fully portable indoors,seeing as the printer is wireless too,enabling me to have one laptop upstairs ,and one down,handy to in that i have a spare to cover any eventuallity.
We have decided on an olive bush to replace the fir tree in the rockery out front so that will be my Friday morning job ,to dig the treeout prior to ordering the olive ,you never know ,two years down the line i may be using my own olives in my greek salads lol.
That's the lot for now,catch you later,Fred.

Hi All
Hope you dont mind me butting in but I have just logged on to this part of GR.and it is nice to see people chatting without the usual expletives used nowadays.I am Vic born and bred in Bury but moved down south to get married,now live in Netley Abbey outside Southampton overlooking the Solent.My wife passed away 2005 after 39yrs marriage so to keep me occupied I am researching my wifes and my familly tree.I also have 3 grandchildren 2Girls and 1 Boy who keep me poor but give me lots of joy.I wont keep on but the weather down here is sunny but a little cool,have fed the dogs and they are all asleep

Vic

goodmorning I see we have a new person to the site welcome victor hope you will stay with us I have met some nice people on this site and met brenda in person gosh it is almost 2yrs ago on a visit home to england, fred glad you are back and the olive tree sounds great should be great to have your own olives, the weather over here is funny to-day it is sunny but cold but to-morrow the white stuff is to come back again, off over to the families house for a while to be there when they come home from school just to keep an eye on things, brenda I was in to the library on sunday and found some books waiting for me so I had a good read. fred do you have any ideas for something different for easter dinner I would like to do a leg of lamb but only lindy and I eat it so maybe it will be turkey again any ideas would be appreciated bye for now dorothy

Welcome Vic I drop in from time to time do enjoy reading the posts but dont write often
My Husband Dick and I are retired and live in Ashburton South Island New Zealand Love Gardening and Computers ! Family History is frustrating at times and rewarding at others
7 grandchildren now ranging in age 25 23 21 In Perth Western Aust
19 17 Christchurch and a 13 and 11 year old in Timaru Both these NZ families are only 50 miles away
first Great grandchild due later this year Where have the years gone Time passes very quickly Margaret

good morning all you lovely peeps,and a special greeting to Vic'you come nback anytime fella,we don't stand on cerimony here ,and at the same time ,we don't put up with any nonsense either.
Count yourself lucky Vic ,the missus and i have 17 grandies,and 1,nearly 2 great ,but you are right of course,they make life worth living and keep us active ,lol.
Whats wrong with a gammon or pork joint for a change Dorothy?.i usuallydo a gammon leg easter,cutting into the skin and fat in diamond shapes ,and insert lots of cloves in the cuts .
This type of joint is usually baked in foil and finished off the last hour with the foil pulled back.
If there are only a very few of you,you could do what i did at the van,buy a nice chicken[fresh ,and a prepacked and chilled piece of pork loin at iceland,this loin was only £3-50,and it sliced into 30 pieces ,not at all bad,and really tasty with stuffing..
You could even go the whole hog [pardon the pun he he.and buy all three meats for around£12 to !3 pounds,and that will give you loads of viariety with the left overs [some nice soup to be had lol.
Sitting in the chair here lappy on the little tv table being spoilt rotten by the grandson who has done me a late breakfast of three buttered crumpets and a cup of coffee,cor ,i could get used to this
the leeks out back need usewd up ,and so i am making cock,a leakie soup with what's left of the chicken,hows that for economy.but i think i will have to take the rest of the leeks out and freeze them down,so that i can use them through the year ,whilst they are so dear to buy.
Had a bit of exitement here this mornig ,there was such a banging outside at five thirty and going to tjhe window for a neb' i saw a car up the road in a fellas drive on fire,tender there with lights flashing and fire crew trying to openthe bonnet with axes to put the flames out,which were shooting out of the radiator grill ,after gutting the interior.
I took four piccies anyway so i will have to load them later,along with the few of the holiday.
a fire at five thirty in the morning is either electrical ,or suspicious to my mind,and i wouldn't put it passed the family who are a load of muppets[no intention of insulting Kermit ,or Miss piggy].
It may even have been next door to them,this family having cloth ears and having the cars sound system going full blast while they are clarting about in the front garden .
Well,that's about it for now,have a good day folks ,and enjoy the sunshine ,he he ,the cold is back for the weekend,Fred.

goodmorning oh fred so much excitment on your street never a dull moment thanks for the suggestions for the easter dinner the gammon sounds like a plan and andrew loves that. brenda I had a parcel from anne yesterday quite unexpected it included several packages of oxtail cup of soup love the stuff and a cloth shopping bag from cartmel she was there on a visit a few weeks ago and then to top it off a sticky toffee pudding from the village shop in cartmel so that will be for afters this evening, I just phoned to thank her but she is out so I will try again later.
when I was over at the families yesterday I was told that all five will be coming over after school is finished the date not firmed up as yet, so I will look after the house for them while they are over and the cat at 18 yrs old and all four pounds of her she is still going strong yesterday she had the big malamute dog backed into a corner she was mad at him it is so funny when she does it she is so small but has a voice like a fog horn the snow they promised us has not arrived it might even be a nice day bye fornow dorothy

Hello everyone and welcome Vic,we are a great bunch on here ,if I say so myself.
Well I am now an offical OAP,Tuesday was my 60th birthday and i have had a great few days,thats why i have not been here..having a night out on Friday with the girls and a party here for the family on saturday,Could do with you here Fred to help with the catering!! Mind you shouldn't be too bad,as my sisters and amy friend are all doing stuff at home and brining it over.
Take care,Brenda

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY BRENDA I hope you enjoy all the parties and get to-gethers and are you going to retire or continue for a while at the library, do you have to retire at 60 ie. is it mandatory or not. to-day it is quite warm 10-12 degree's but as it was cold yesterday we have a heavy mist/fog but no snow maybe just maybe we have seen the last of the white stuff. take care and enjoy the week bye dorothy

Hi everyone,Dorothy,I can work till I am 65 ,but am able to take my state pension from next Monday!! Will be staying on a little while longer,will see how I fare financially and with my aches and pains etc.But it will hopefully be not more than a year.
Weather blusterly to say the least and snow is forecast for saturday,and we have borrowed a portable gazebo to take any overflow and for smokers,watch this space!!!