General Chat

Hi all,
Well Spring is definitely "just around the corner" so to speak. I have bought some narcissus to brighten up my sitting room as it looks so "empty" after all the Xmas and birthday cards have been taken down.
I also heard the blue tits calling to each other = another sign of Spring?
My granddaughter has been offered two new jobs, and I'm anxious to know which she will take. One is for her attractive as it has a car thrown in. She will be a saleswoman for greetings cards and the other job is in the same shops, another branch but a higher position.
At 26 she needs a break. All she needs now is a thoughtful young man.
Tomorrow have to go to the wholesalers so will be knackered at the end of the day.
Sylvia xxx

goodmorning and for the first time in 8 days I can say it is a goodmorning I am finally feeling better and how great to see fred back from his holidays the pies sounded great and now that my appetite is back they would go down a treat, I am shortly going out hoping that my car will start not being used for 9 days and what with the cold and snow we have had it might not be happy but it usually is a good old car and starts, I have ot go and get some groceries the fridge is low and I am out of bread, plus isobelle is comingup on wednesday for a couple of days, I have just seen the news that murray lost in australia that is to bad he was playing well, we are not getting as much tv coverage this week so I have to rely on the computor it makes me so mad that tennis gets lost in the shuffle, I hope everyone over there had a happy australia day well out into the cold only -14 to-day so that is quite balmy really bye for now dorothy

G'day all,cor ,what an extended Christmas holiday i have had lol,first Cypruis ,and then blackpool where i discovered a meat and potato pie to die for [slurp]
I found this delight in [The Home Bakery] in Cleveleys,a nice pattisserie and bakery opposite Tesco's.
Tell you what Brenda,if you ,or any others visit the town try one.i rated them so highly that i bought three home for tea Saturday.
My Son says the next time to try their cheese and potato too,so if anyone beats me to my return trip,please ,let me know what you think.
I made the greek tomato and onion ring salad last evening for supper,sliced tomato [beef] onion rings mixed together ,that's it folks,with a mint /balsamic viniger sauce drizzed over the top[heavenly].
I found out how to do a greek green salad too,using the sweet onion that they prefer,with lettuce tomto red and green sweet pepper,with cubed Fetta cheese,,a sliced hard goat cheese,with chopped cucumber and mayo,another culinary revelation ,roll on summer when they will go so well with a B B Q.
It dosn't look too bad this morning ,damp but mildish,so hopefully spring isn't far away now.
The only bummer in coming home from Cyprus ,is that Liz's cough has returned,when after the first day there ,was noticably absent,hmmmmm,a lottery win is called for and a prompt move for good,i would still get my pension ,and must admit ,i could still grow all my veggies in buckets for something to do ,lol.
Hope the oz folks enjoy their australia day.must admit i was Jeal' when i saw the antics ,and get togethers on the tele' last year ,those oz peeps know how to have a good thrash and no mistake ,us brits are far to reserved i reckon.
Catch you all tater .Fred,Liz & hissy who by the way ,has forgiven us for being away so long,mainly because the son and grandson came by every couple of days to sit ,and play with her.bless 'em.

Hi everyone
Warm evenings means its very difficult to get any sleep. Shouldn't complain because the cooler weather will soon be here and we will be saying its too cold.
John

goodmorning it is saturday and at long last I think that I am feeling better still alittle weak but on the mend, andrew came over yesterday and dug out the car it took him a good hour and then it snowed again last night but not very much he said he and the boys may come over to-day and take it for a run and remove some more snow from my parking space, brenda glad to hear that you have found a dining room set that is exciting we have not heard from sylvia for a while I hope that all is well with her and johan. I will spend a good part of the day watching the tennis and may do a bit of housework the dust has accumalated in the last week bye for now dorothy

Had a nice morning in work.busy but no problems.Just finished lunch lovelly bowlof slime line tomato soup,then had a banana and a few grapes.Hope it is a s good this after noon.
Have a good weekend Take care.
Brenda

Hi had a busy day today,went looking at dining room table again today and found another one we liked which was within our budget ,so have ordered it.
had lunch out at a carvery,very nice meal but they only serve the same things each time.But good at the same time.
Did the weekly shop and then came home.
Was out with friends tonight for a friends birthday nice to see everyone but it was cold walking througth town!1
went to bed at 11pm and have not been able to sleep so got up and came on here,don't want to stay awake too long as i am working at 9am tomorrow.!
Hope everyone is well,and has a good weekend.
Take care
brenda

hi brenda glad you made it to the market the lancashire cheese sounds great and isobelle would love the stilton especially the stilton with ginger, sorry to say I am still under the weather and am heading back to bed soon whatever this is I don't like it hopefully the nausea will stop soon called andrew to ask him to come over and check on the car I am sure it is well and truly ploughed in in the lot with the snow that has come down so he can dig it out for me take it easy at work on friday bye for now dorothy

Just a quick hello ,sorry you are still ill Dorothy hope it passes soon.
John was ill the other day ,then I thought I had it of course not as bad as he did !!!
Went to Bury today ,but it seemed a bit quiet,bought some new baby things for my new great neice.found a stall that had a good selection of premature babt things.She is doing well but still hasn't got a name.
Did not do all the market as it was so cold.Bought some cheese from the cheese stall ,just some really great lncashire cheese ,my sister bought some stilton and brie.Only small peices as she is trying to cut down on her dairy products.
Hope everyone is staying warm/cool See you Friday as I have a busy day tomorrow and am working at 12 .30 til 8pm so will be shattered when I get home.take care ,brenda

hi everyone yesterday was a wonderful day even if I had to watch it for the most part from my bed still under the weather and feeling quite rough whatever this is I wish it would go away, one of the cats has spent the time right next to me quite a good nurse the other follows me to the bathroom and cries till I come out I will spare you the details. hope you all are well and that fred and liz are enjoying blackpool, brenda thanks for the personal e-mail bye for now dorothy

Dorothy What a crowd in Washington hard to believe coming from Small town most of New zealand would need to be there!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great to watch
Margaret

Morning all just a few quick lines as I am just going to have a quick shower and then get out to do a few errands,
Hope you are better Dorothy and get to Bramton soon,Enjouy the Inougaration ,and hope you get to see some tennis.
Margaret,what a great thing for your Grandaughter to have done, she must be clever.I am not sure if I can help you musch with your research with your places but i will try if you need any help.
Hope Sylvia and Johann are ok if you are just reading Sylvia hope all is ok.you have our love.
See you soon ake care
Brenda

sunday evening 9pm well I did not get down to brampton to-day as we had a nother major storm sat eve till noon to-day plus I woke up at 7-30 not feeling well without sharing all the details I spent the day in the bathroom I must have eaten something yesterday that did not agree with me, so I stayed in bed all day we are getting more snow to-morrow so even if I feel better andrew has called me and said stay home mom the roads are bad, I am very disappointed I was so looking foreward to seeing my friends, margaret yes I am going to watch obama I watched it all day yesterday, the australian tennis was supposed to be on at 7pm but they put american football on instead can't win for loosing to-day bye for now dorothy

Nantwich area in Cheshire is where My fathers family hail from another branch My mothers came originally from Bradford My husbands from London district
Dorothy I see you will be watching Obama"s inaguration
My grandaughter from Perth WA spent the last symester at University in Washington DC as part of her study abroad programme and was an intern in White house 2 days a week as part of her studies She enjoyed every moment of her stay and had so many new experiences was able Spent Thanksgiving with a family I know she loved being there while elections were held and she will follow with real interest The ceremonies
margaret
Margare

hi brenda I hope that you catch up on your sleep and it is so good to have fred back home and on line with us, fred you certainly had a good time and I enjoyed reading all that you had to say, hope you enjoy your visit to blackpool you and liz certainly have the travel bug. yes brenda the snow has stopped at the moment more this afternoon is promised and some to-morrow but I am still hoping to get down to brampton for my little vacation and then return on wednesday so here's hoping that mother nature co-operates, bye for now dorothy

And a very good morning to one and all ,from a mildish Newcastle upon tyne,a bit damp ,but otherwise good for the time of year.
I have had a busy couple of days downloading the piccies of Cyprus,and the wedding ,which i have strarted to send out.
I have also loaded the mobile internet into my laptop,so i can now go on line anywhere that is covered by the orange phone company.
I have also bought a new digital camera that i can upload to my laptop with so i can take the one card with me and use again as i need.
The newly weds are still asleep upstairs ,as is the wife [huh] the only awake female in the house is Hissy ,who has had the breckie of skate trimmings ,and has just gone out the front room door.no doubt back to bed ,[lazy cat ].
We took Sean and Sara to Solomans last night for an Indian meal,which was great [as always,and tonight i am taking them and 20 guests to the city [china town for a buffet meal,as theit reception in england.
What with these two meals ,and the promised Christmas meal tomorrow ,i bet they will be a bit heavier on their flight back to cyprus on Monday.lol.
We take them down for their flight home from Manchester take off at three pm,and from there we will do a shoot onto the m6 up to Blackpool for a few days with the sis' in law and hubby before coming home [ain't we dirty stop outs ?.
I have sneaked home a few orang seeds from the med' to grow ,i hope into a small tree for the garden,i know it won't fruit up here because it is too cold in winter ,but i thought the shape of the tree and the lovely green foliage would look nice.
When we travel to Cyprus later in the year,we are now allowed to take a bite to eat onto the plane which will save a packet,but we will have to buy the drinks in the departure lounge before boarding which is still cheaper than buying on the aircraft,luxury these airbusses after the aircraft i remember from thirty years ago he he,plenty of room to stretch the legs ,and films to watch too,lol,the height of luxury.
Talking of which,these Greek bakeries [sigh] wish there were a couple around Newcastle,the bread was fantastic ,so many types,and all lovely tasting,and the cakes were to die for,colourful,no doubt as tasty as they look,and rack upon rack of them,all round the shop,i have never seen as many types ,all baked on the premises,and the people running them are so cheerful and helpful [our shops could learn a thing or two] and some of these bakeries are open 24 hours and do one heck of a trade.
The countryside was beutiful,all sandy type soil and sandstone cliffs,with tracts of land between growing ,corn ,cabbage lettuce,beetroot onion ,leek,and celariac.and the cyprus potato's that you can buy at the markets over here.
Along side the roads the plantations growing oranges ,grapefruit,lemons,dates ,olives and whatever,both gardens and plantations a blaze of colour among the hills and sand,this must be simular to Israil,even the houses are built on the hillsides where ever possible to save growing land.
Limmasol is very cosmopoliton and vast as is the other city on the northern end of the island,the tons like larnica are pretty big too,reminding me of my time in the gulf with the arab style souks in the heart of the market areas.
The only downside i could find is that there are no transport systems,no busses ,or trains between towns or cities and you either have to hire a car[not expensive] or go by taxi [ very expensive] but i am lucky in that i can hire a car from the motor pool at Akrotieri saving a fair bit on local hire charges. courtesy of my Grandson.
Well folks ,time to go and get some brecckie on ,promised the missus grilled bacon,sausage and egg this morning seeing as the next meal will be much later in the day.
Hope everyone has a nice weekend Frerd.

Hi again everyone,its a no sleep night again ,I am not supposed to be in work tomorrow but one of the girls had a berevement last night and the team leader aske some of us to cover her weekend shifts,so I am doing the afternoon one.Its just one of those things ,I know my shifts where covered last year when dad died.
Dorothy hope the white stuff doesn't stay ,and you get away to see your friends,sorry your grandaughter was injured.
Margaret,you must be really proud of your grandchildren I know I would be,where abouts areyour ancestors from?
I have friends in Victoria ,I have been twice to see them they live on the Morning ton peninsula .
My friends daughter is in NZ but I am not sure where as she is working /travelling.
Take care ,
Brenda

I hope your freezing weather soon improves I really wouldnt know what thats like , 14 inches of snow here in 2006 and that was most unusual ' If Snow falls here its usually brief and disappears quickly
Brenda would love to visit NZ and OZ I would really love to visit UK to see places my ancestors came from Have made contact with some Relatives through Internet
Two of my Grandchildren are competing in South Island Colgate games Athletics the 11 yr old has a siver in discus and 13 has a bronze in hurdles and a silver in combined relay So can be well pleased
Their best events shot put and discus for elder are still to come
Margaret

goodmorning well talk about adding insult to injury bad enough we are in this deep freeze but when I woke up this morning I could not see out of the window yes it was snowing again they have issued red winter warning re snow squalls and boy is it coming down another expected 20 cm on top of all that we have, but the funny thing about snow squalls at my end of town you can't see but further down towards the toronto area at the 400 and 89 about a 8 minute drive they have no snow and the sun is shining I do hope that by sunday it will be better so that I can head to brampton I am looking foreward to 4 days with friends and watching the inaguration also the australian tennis open starts at long last tennis again. brenda you are right australia and new zealand seems the place to be I have a friend in bury whose daughter and family emigrated to new zealand and love it, my sister leaves on monday to the caymans and the hot weather how I would love to be going with her, well I shall stop moaning you all must be fed up hearing about my weather blues, and update on the grandchildren Laura broke her pinky finger at volley ball at school and has a metal splint on it this happened on wednesday her mother and I were not sure it was broken but it kept swelling so of to the clinic and x-rays were done never a dull moment bye for now dorothy

Hi everyone,we have milder weather again today,sorry you are still freezing Dorothy,hope it warms up soon for you.They did say we would be freezing again from Yesterday but its not happend yet.
Just watched a tv programme about people who want to emigrate to OZ and NZ and the NZ one had a peice on New Plymouth which is where John is I think,it looked really good.and they liked it but they don't know if they will be going or not the family are split.It was really nice to see where our genes friends are!!.
Of to work now ,see you tomorrow ,take care
love Brenda