General Chat

beeen chatting at lunch so not much time left,no more snow yet ,very sunny but verry cold.
See you all later,
Brenda

monday pm gosh fred sorry about the snow from over here but we had to send it somewhere, it was a nice day here still needed a heavy coat and boots but in the sun it was lovely got all my supplies in as we are going to get snow over night but not much about 3cm they say. I think that I am looking after the children after school to-morrow andrew has a late meeting and all three have activities to go to, laura swimming bryan volleyball and Ian seekers ( that is a church course held at his school re the psalms and such) the school rents out the space to some leaders from the church. so I shall wander over early and use lindy's great washing machine I hope that you all stay safe and warm fred it is mixed veg and scalloped potatoes and a piece of steak for my dinner this evening. bye for now dorothy

Ha,listen to dorothy Brenda,sniff,she admits it,fancy sending her snow over here so she can have a sunny day,humph,how very dare her lol.
I managed to get the car out to go to azda first thing this morning,and it's just as well i did.
I had trouble getting the battle wagon uo the slope to the gate ,and then onto the road,but had a worse job getting back down the grive when we got back due to fresh snow fall.
Itisblowing a blizzard out there now ,with heavier falls due overnight,but it canplease itself,we have enough suppies for a fortnight,andplenty of dry provisions for ten days after that,so it can please itself now.
Now i can relax and dream of the summer holidays ,lovely beaches in the sun,palm trees ,lovely cool meals in the open sigh,bring it on i say lol.
These laptops are the biz' sitting here in front of the fire while the missus is on the tower system,a coffee on the table next to the mouse ,i'm even wondering if i can connect to the tele channels for use in bed he he.,there must be a driver somewhere.
Short and sweet peeps,off now to think of something to tickle the wifes tastebuds.
Fred.

goodmorning I hope that the snow is not disrupting brenda and fred too much we are having a day off from the snow it is -10 and sunny yes the sun is out so I shall go out and do some shopping I need a big bag of cat litter , and a visit to the library I am out of reading material. spoke to anne yesterday in bury they had only a sprinkling of the white stuff, stay warm all of you bye for now dorothy

Morning all.well the snow had another go lkast night and finally stuck its very cold and some places they are saying to stay indoors.etc,
Sorry the right result was not to be in the tennis Dorothy,theres allways another game.
Have made some vegatable soup today was going to be leek and potato but it just kept getting bigger with all the bits of veg we had inthats now our lunch.
Hope everyone is well.
Working tomorrow so will hope fully get on at lunch to send a message
Take care
Brenda.

hi I am quite tired as I did get up at 3am and watched the match was soooo disapointed that roger lost went back to bed at 8-30 am and it is now 11-45 am, I see that you have snow brenda and I hope that fred is ok I saw on the bbc news that parts of england have recieved some very bad weather. it is cold here but no snow, the soup sounds good brenda I think that I have some in the freezer might have soup to-morrow well I think I am going tohave a nap bye for now dorothy

Well the snow has arrived ,not muchat the moment but its enougth for me,not going out today have spent a few hours installing my new printer scanner that john bought me at christmas,did not do it beofre as wanted to use up ink.
Glad your visit went well Dororthy and well done your friend at the casino.Hope you enjoyed the tennis.
Fred I did think of buying a few herb plants but my green fingers are not what they used to be. The soup was really good,and John would have it again!!.
Having a go at leek and potato tomorrow.
HAve to put the roast potatos on now for the sunday lunch so will see you all tomorrow I hope
Take care
Benda

goodmorning just read fred's message I am sorry fred that you are in for some bad weather hope you don't loose the power I was reading the english papers this am and saw that parts of england are in for two inches of snow we have had 264 cm so far this winter with more to come on tuesday, I do like to get the toronto star on a saturday morning lots of good reading but you have to be up at the crack of dawn to get one from the box in front of the building. It was-26 this am but I put on snow pants a big coat over my housecoat(dressing gown and nightie ) hats boots and gloves praying I would not meet anyone on the ride down the elevator and dashed out and got the next to the last paper, then came back and made breakfast. don't fancy going out to-day far to cold and with the wind chill hard work breathing. I think fred that everyon is having a hard time with the financial situation and the number of job lossess grows every day over here. the prices in the grocery stores go up weekly I am lucky that I have a decent pension but find I do watch what I buy and it annoys me when something is advertised on special and it was cheaper the week before price gouging is going on. On the other hand my son has been trying to hire two people for his department in the drug company he works for, and is having very little luck and also finding that people are lying on the application forms re the education leval they have. he has some more interviews this week. the job pays well comes with company car and petrol allowance if I was younger I would go for it!!!!!!!! anyway I am going to rest up to-day as I shall set the alram for 3am my time to watch the final from australia daft I know but I like to watch it live bye for now dorothy

Morning all,just a few hurried words before his nibs arrives and i get booted off the main puter onto the lappy.
I think it might be an idea Brenda ,if you buy a corriander plant in pot for your kitchen windowsill,it will save you a fair bit ,and give your kitchen a herby pong [a nice one]
Seeing as the grandson is here ,i will dig out my haggis from the freezer to use up,it's too much for one ,and the wife dosn't like it[dosn't know what's good for her].i bought this one from the scottish butcher just up from the bakery,the only place i know outside Berwick where you can buy the genuine article Brenda.
We are digging in here ,the weather is worstening already,so we are off out later on to get emergency supplies in,e,g ,a spare gas bottle in case we lose power,,a large 10 gallon water container ready filled ,candles,and three heavy tog bed covers,,.pity you can't get spare stand by batteries for a tower,lol,but i have four hours of power on the lappy ,which is better than nowt he he.
And ,best of all ,some ruddy good books on hand for when my battery runs out he he,think that covers everything ,and ,oh,nearly forgot ,there is the camping stove and gas bottle in case we lose the electric ,Fred Says Bring it on ,lol,[shades of 1950/1951]
All the bother with finance in the country now ,am i glad iv'e done my stint and have retired,my little private pensions ,plus my state one ,have left us comfortable if we watch the pennies,but i do feel for all the working class who are struggling to keep their heads above water,and it dosn't help at all when the gas and electric compainies are screwing us silly,
Gordon Brown should bite the bullet and re-nationise these two industries and do away with all the shareholders ,who are milking the british public dry,while he sits there and says ,i understand,he isn't bothered on his wages,all his fuel bills paid by us ,allright for some ain't it?
Think i may do a Calgannon to go with the haggis ,so i will go out into the garden and pull a few kale leaves ,and dig up one of the large leeks ,and get cracking.
Catch you all later.Fred.

hi one and all great to read all the messages hope that you are feeling better brenda I promise I did not send the bug over, I have had a lovely two days with isobelle here for a visit we watched the tennis and some movies and on thursday went down for a quick visit to the casino for the first time isobelle won spent 40 dollars and won 100 so a 60 dollar profit it was not my lucky day but it was a bit of fun, then to-day we watched the end of the 5-hr match between nadal and verdasco it was brillent tennis I did not realize it was still on live when I got up at 8am as it starts at 3-30 am my time I thought it would be over and we would wtch it later in the day on tape maybe roger has a chance against nadal on sunday I will set my alarm for 3-30 am I know that it is a bit daft but I like to see the final live not on tape, isobelle has now gone home but it was good to have company, bye for now dorothy

Hi all,well did not get very wet this morning but getting cold was as bad.
managed all but one of my errands,so did not do bad , the traffic was a bit busy so that why I did not do them all.I can do it on Monday.Have just put the clean towels in the cupboard but had to tidy the cupboard first,does anyone else have this problem that everyone in the house takes towels out and it ws tidy when they took something out but when I am putting them back it is a mess!!!
Made some butternut squash and pepper soup for lunch it was really nice with a crusty roll,should ave garnished with fresh corriander ,but thought it was a bit dear for what I was using it for.
We are on sausage (low fat) and mash with cabbage and onion gravy for tea.it's one of the few things we all like. and its easy and relativly cheap. Working on a lunch cover rota tomorrow so might be on in the afternoon.If not all have a good weekend.
Take care.See you later.Brenda

hello from a very wet and dismal Manchester,have a few places to go to today and could have done with it being dry,but when you hear what water restrictions some places are having,its best not to moan to much.
Hope everyone is ok,I am feeling a lot better now.
Yesterday we scattered my dads ashes at the city of Manchester stadium,which where his wishes and had a lunch afterwards ,it was a really pleasant afternoon all in all.
All my brothers and sisters where there and most of my nephews and neices,which was great ,one neice who is a doctor could not come due to having a clinic to do ,and a nephew who works down south could not come as he was going away today and would not get back in time.,and one brother in law came after only a couple of hours sleep as he was on nights,luckily he was not working last night.
Better get on with the errands I need to do and then should be able to get back later and see who is about.,
Take care
Brenda.

Hello everyone and like Margaret said it was great to read all the messages,
I have not been on for a few days as i think I picked up whatever dorothy had,!!! only just gone in work today,was in bed Sunday and Monday or rather in the bed or in the bathroom!!! will not say anymore/.Feel a bit nauseous now and then but a lot better than earlier this week,
Weather not too bad,But we are again in for a really cold snap next week.
fred i know the bakery and it is good,not sure if Beans which is on the same side of the road but further up towards Kwick save is still there,but they were good as well.
Kathleen,I am 60 in March and will be finishing work later this year ,have a few things to get sorted before I hang up my date stamp.
Glad you and Johann are ok in the main Sylvia ,hope this latest problem is not serious.
Dorothy had some of my Lancashire cheese tonight it was smashing.
Margaret like you said its ok whenyou can put clothes on to get warm but not so good when its too warm and you can not take anything off.
Take care .
Brenda

What a lovely lot of messages to Read this morning
How different our weather is here We have been hiding from heat 35 one day Watching the aussie open but see the temperatures well up into 40s
I like summer with gardens flowers etc but think at least in cooler weathr can put on extra to keep warm
Cant take as much off !! But yesterday and today much cooler so alls well can catch up on jobs that just didnt get done How quickly ttis month has gone Just about Feb and schools will be going back again after long summer holidays
When we were young those holidays seemed to go on foverever!
Regards to all Margaret

Hi Sylvia,nice to see you againand it's nice to hear that Johan is up and about too,don't say anything to him,just keep your eye on him as you are ,cause it is NOT normal to be bleeding still after the op',unless he has over exerted himself.
If he has strained the scar it should reheal pretty quickly,but at least he is beyond the time when anything serious happens ,which is just within a month after release from hospital,sounds as though he is well on the road to a good recovery.,and will be back on the roller skates and buzzing about.before you know it.
The two of you could do with a couple of weeks in a good climate like Cyprus ,all that warm ,dry air and smashing natural food would do you the world of good.
Hope both Brenda ,aned Dorothy are now about back to normal ,after the colds ,flu and whatever.
The few days in the dry air did Liz the world of good,and she hasn't got the cough with the empysema she had before,so i am saving hard folks ,for a 4 week break back over there in setembeer,just as it starts to cool off after their summer,to set her up for the winter.
The old bird loved flying ,and i thought i was going to drag her off the aircraft when the doors opened lol,she def' loved it all he he.
Have to go and make the salad now ,a full on low fat greek one with the feta ,and hard goats cheese,courgette,peppers tomatoes,grapes.olives,and the olive oil with basil,but i will have to hold the garlic until Liz has gotten hers out of the bowl,but she did insist on the large spring onions that the greeks use ,very big ,white ,and sweet,cor ,i sweated a bit over those ,but found them in Azda this morning [back of the net]'
Catch you later guys Fred.

Hi all,
Yes, I am more or less well and the same goes with Johan. I did find traces of blood in our loo yesterday and my help asked me who had been bleeding, which confirmed my fears. I confronted Johan and he said yes, it was me. He won't go back to the doctor and said it is normal after such an operation. Now, at 84, it is difficult trying to change him. Just hope it goes over.
I had another cortisone injection yesterday for the pain in my right shoulder. I had difficulty in lifting my right arm. Anyway, am getting used to having all these "minor" ailments now. I still daren't go away on holiday, but the weather is getting better and hope that goes with us too.
I rang my granddaughter Linda this evening and asked what she had decided to do about her offer of jobs. She is now taking the job in the same chain of shop where she has been working. She will be earning another 150 Euros per month and she will be running the shop. She has worked in this branch before so knows the owner.
I heard from Linda that her mother will be coming to me tomorrow, so I said tomorrow I am not home much as Johan and I are going to the wholesalers for our big shopping. I shall be knackered when I come home as it is lifting boxes of coffee, washing powder etc.etc. But I will at least have a good store in again for a while.
On Sunday I made a large pan of goulash. I asked Johan to cut up the meat for me and I chopped the onions in an electric chopper. and the rest is as easy as pie! I have frozen in 4 portions and we had a meal on Sunday.
Pease pudding hot, pease pudding cold, pease pudding in the pot, 9 days old. Now who remembers this piece of rhyme?
I use split peas for making the Dutch thick pea soup. I have several portions of this in the freezer waiting for when I don't have much time to cook. I think I'll make some Beef Stroganoff and also some Chili Con carne and freeze in. It's nice some days to think you have lots of time to do what you want. In my case, making cards. Every time my neighbour comes down to me she buys up lots of my cards.
Now, this was a long contribution this time. Hope everybody is fine. Nice of you all to think of me, Brenda, Kathleen, Dorothy. I know I have forgotten somebody, but friends are friends, you won't mind this once, will you?
Sylvia xxx

goodmorning I am having a housekeeping morning catching up on the dust, isobelle arrives to-morrow and I am also making a shepherds pie for supper for us isobelle is bringing some fresh pasta tortellini I think so I am going to make an alfredo sauce for that we are going to splurge on desert by adding some thick cream to the fresh fruit I have on hand. not as great as some of freds meals but I don't claim to be a great cook. it is gray outside I have to agree with kathleen I think we all have a case of sads plus we are having snow streamers off the lake and more to-morrow I wish winter was over. if it does not snow on thursday we pop down to the casino for a 20dollar flutter we are not big gamblers but it is a bit of fun bye for now dorothy

Good morning all. It was good to see Sylvia back and I hope Johan is home and they are both well.
Fred I was surprised to read that pease pudding is only sold in tins in Lancashire. When I lived in Preston there was a little shop close by the school and we could buy a pennyworth of pease pudding which the lady would put into a cardboard cup - it was delicious but I didn't often have a penny so would often just have a fingerful from someone else''s. Mind you that was back in 1936ish, things change and not always for the better.
Pleased to read that you enjoyed your trip to Cyprus, you certainly don't sit around for long do you lol!!!
Dorothy pleased to read that you are now feeling better, you have had a rough week so take it easy, it will take time to recover properly and too easy to overdo things.
Brenda did I read that you are planning to stop work soon? Good that you found dining room furniture that you liked and within budget - not always easy to find..
The sun is shining here, it was a foggy start to the day but has cleared to a blue sky and a much brighter day than we have had of late. It has been so depressing being overcast, very cold with mostly frosty mornings and stayed cold all day. In between it has been slightly milder but raining, think everyone is suffering from SAD. Hopefully we will have a better summer this year - spring is on the way we can see the buds on the shrubs and trees and hopefully the green shoots showing through the ground are not ALL weeds!!!
Hope all our Australian friends had a good Australia Day.

Take care everyone
Love
Kathleen

Good morning one and all ,from a warm ,sunny Newcastle [not] but it don't look too bad and it won't be too long before i can have my brekkie out back on the patio table again.
We bought two little tv tables back home with us From B & M's in blackpool.they will serve us well when we fancy a spot of supper in front of the fire,instaed of sitting in the dining room,but Fred has found another use for his ,lol,just the right size for the lappy and mouse when Chris is here and iv'e been booted of the main puter .i can now sit at my ease using the wifi connection ,or the mobile internet ,the best of both worlds.
It will be handy when in Cyprus too,Sean has wifi too ,the whole camp is covered and he has is own connection which i can use,or i can buy a months worth of cyprus mobile interet via orange ,or vodaphone for a modest sum.
When we went down to see the sis' in law last week we took some of my corned beef ,plus home made peas pudding which you can't get in Lancashire unless you buy it in a tin [yuk],both wen't down a storm ,so we will buy some split peas when we go down next and make some down there.
Time to go and ghet some work done now,before we have to go and do a little shopping.
Catch you all again later.Fred

hi just a quick note first it is good to see sylvia back on line I guess all is well with her and johan, my car started on the first turnover though I did let it warm up as there was some snow to clear off, it was good to be out in the fresh air and I got all my shopping done. and there was some tennis on this afternoon so that was good it is about 6-1`5pm to-night it is eastenders years behind your programme holby blue and silent witness a good evening for me bye for now dorothy