General Chat

hi brenda well I have just finished neils new book I started it a 1pm and finished it at 3pm( I read fast) I enjoyed it very much as you said it was a book that you did not want to put down now we have to wait for the next one I just e-mailed him to tell him that I enjoyed it. lovely day to-day til about 15minutes ago when the heavens opened with a down pour now th sun is out and all traces of the rain are drying up bye for now dorothy

goodmorning and happy birthday to john nice to see him back on line, fred Ihope that you and liz have a nice holiday break be sure to buy a stick of blackpool rock my grandchildren love it, luckily there is a shop near me that imports it so I can keep them suppplied with it, I can see in my minds eye all the places that you will see clevelys fleetwood etc. the sun has returned to-day after several days of uunusually cold weather. the family will be getting ready to leave for out west next thursday evening I believe, and on monday it is wimbledon it starts over here at 7am till noon most days so of course I will be glued and not much of anything else will getdone. of course isobell and I will be hoping that roger wins again , I am off to the library soon and the shops so that I dont have to go out much next week at least till the tennis is over for the day. hope you all have a good week-end bye for now dorothy

Morning to all ,including our John,happy birthday mate,hope you had a goodun,boy ,it sounds as though you did,with a nice meal and a new printer can't be bad lol.
I have taken the plunge,sat here in my shorts while it's freezin' outside ,weeeell ,if i wait till it warms up ,i will have to wait so long ,the snow will be here.
A lazy day today,nothing to do outside but feed the plants with my new toy which the missus bought me,a feeder,that connects to the hose so i can water and feed at the same time.
I expect the wife will start packing today ,seeing as we will be off very early on Monday morning,and i don't give a tinkers damn as to the weather,a change of scenery is what i need.
I have just seen a sparrow hanging upside down on the fence outside,picking off the greenfly off the woodwork,it never ceases to amaze me at how agile these birds are,i have seen them clinging to brickwork too while investigating suitable holes for nesting.
Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend .
Fred.

Hi one and all on 21 June
Haven't been on GR what seems for months and I can't recall the last time I was here. Winter is here although it doesn't seem too cold today. There has hardly been any snow on Mt Egmont (Taranaki) what was there is usually gone fairly quickly.
My mum, David & Bev, Barry, were in New Plymouth today to join Gayle, Craig and me for a birthday lunch - I've reach the big 60. Doesn't feel like it. Gayle and Craig bought me a new printer which I have wanting to buy a new printer for awhile. Some money from Mum, a voucher from Barry, and raised planter, potting and compost mix from David and Bev. Looks like will be doing some raised gardening soon.
I will try and visit again soon. John

Hi all,just burning a little midnight oil,mindyou the way the electric prices are going up we will all be in bed readin by candle light soon,!!
fred does make everything seem so asy with his gardening and cooking,feel very inadequate sometimes.haven't got any usufull plants in my garden ,at least you have your tomato plant dorothy,hope you enjoy Neils book it was a bit slow then really gripped me.
I can never keep my hair style as good as the hairdresser makes it ,never have done,its curly and goes its own way most of the time.nless its covered in "products " as they call ,mousse,gel and other gunk.!!
Speak to you all tomorrow,Brenda

hi brenda just a quick update on neils book it has arriveed to-day from amazon uk. I am going to try to wait till the week-end to read it all told with postage it cost 13 pounds a bit high but I am doing my bit for a local boy!!!!! it was well packaged so I won't complain, just back from the hairdresser's and even though I say it myself I look pretty good now if only someone would take me out for dinner ah well you can't have it all the cats will just have to admire me bye for now dorothy

hi was just on my way to bed after watching robson green in an episode of wire in the blood, he is very easy on the eyes and saw your note brenda hope the weather improves for you soon, it was cool over here to-day and it is going to be quite cool through the night but good sleeping weather. going for a hair cut to-morrow and thats about it for me i think. my tomato plant is coming along nicely after reading about all the plants in fred's garden I really feel under pressure to keep this and the green pepper plant alive and well, well off tobed goodnight bye dorothy

Evening all.its wet and grey here tonight and has been like this all day.Poor John didn't even get his golfing gear from the cupboard as it was that wet.!!!
Had an email from a lady who is related ,distantly the other day and she has told me about some one i did know about and is connected but has part of the connection wrong.So I am now trying to explain where she is wrong.
Hope you do like the site fred and the weather bucks up for you.
Fleetwood baths is still there Dorothy but i am not sure its open much these days
brenda

Afternoon all,time for a sit down,having planted all the buckets but two rows they being for winter cabbage,but in the meantime i have a catch crop of lettuce in them at the moment.
I now have my kale,midyear cabbage,brusselmcauli,and sweede in.
I have six buckets with dwarf french bean in,therre are fifty lyon leeks in,carrot ,spring onion, peppers ,tomato's and spring onion,more than enough for a full season for the two of us.
I have grown stuff in buckets before and find it a lot easier to weed ,water and feed the crops,as well as keeping on top of the slugs and snails.
The missus bought some more orphans this last weekend [sick ,tired flowers from B & Q ] sold off very cheap to get rid of them.
So i have put the survivers all out the front this afternoon after i had cut the lawns ,which i started this morning.
Nice to hear that the c\aravan site is well known Brenda,if it's as nice as you reckon ,we may go back again later in the year,it being not too far away.
.
Time to go now,tea is early today ,and then we are off out for an hour .
Take care all.
Fred.

goodmorning well brenda it is cool over here as well about 18 with a lovely breeze, I liked reading all the places you put down for fred we used to stay at fleetwood quite a lot when I was young I learned to swim in the fleetwood baths as they were called, the oldest grandson returned in one piece from the water rafting outing excited beyond belief and would like the whole family to go I am assuming that he would not include me in that as no way would I go nothing but a chicken when it come to things like that. nothing much on this week as far asI know waiting for neil's book to arrive from amazon uk, already had two messages to say it is delayed now supposed to come between the 20/27th so we shall see. the family are getting ready for the trip out west 6000 miles round trip, andrew and lindy have it all mapped out and reservations at camp sites the trailer is out in the driveway and being spring cleaned, it sleeps 8 so they have lots of room, mind you I would not like tobe pulling it behind my car, they have been saving in a special petrol fund to pay for all the petrol it is going to cost them, but they will get to see the other side of canada as they have done the east coast twice, it is like a live history and geography llesson for the children and they do enjoy it well that is it for me for to-day bye dorothy

We have a very dismal and overcast day here.Work is rather slow.and I will be going to lunch soon/See you all letr/

Hi evetyone,Glad the funeral went ok Dorothy and that you had the grandchildren for the sleepover,
Fred Cala Gran is a very big site and well nown in the area,Johns mam had a van there for years before they bought the house.Its years since i have been but it still seems to have a good name.Its not far from Fleetwood (nice fresh fish).Cleevelys is small and they are doing a lot of developement there.Lytham st Annes is the other side of Blackpool but worth visit..Hope you enjpy it.What a shame I can not be there.
dad was ok on his check up but the consultant took him off some of the tablets he was on fromn the gp and is sending him to an ENT specialst because of hid loss of voice and sore throat.
Better sort some tea out.Must admit i am a bit baffled by the buclets myself???#Brenda

goodmorning fred just read your latest message I don't know how you find the time to do all that you do, not sure I understand the planting of the buckets is this something new , I was awakened at 6am by my grandaughter not feeling well so she climbed in bed with me and went out like a light so I have beenup since then enjoying the early morning breeze and a good cup of coffe on the balcony watching the sun come up both children are still sleeping oh spoke to soon Ian has just wandered in well it is 7-44 so it is off to cook breakfast have a good day fred in your garden bye dorothy

Morning all,wow ,what a lovely morning here in the frozen north lol.
Fred is nearly finished putting the rows of buckets into the ground now,only two rows to go ,which is just as well ,these poor old bones are as sore as heck,with all the bending and stooping .
By the time i have done a row,and sat down for a rest and a cuppa then gone upstairs to visit the toilet,and come back down to start again ,well ,you get the picture? ,a little time consuming lol,but never mind ,it's nearly done now,and then i can start putting the plants in ,which won't take all that long.
The barrels for christmas are finished now ,full to the brim,and the potato leaves showing,and the first of four troughs of carrot and spring onions are showing .so it's looking good.
The wife ,bless her [grrrrrr] has ordered me a three section ally ladder [which will go in the shed for security] to enable me to clean our own windows to save her paying the window cleaner every two weeks,AND so i can get up to the eavesand paint the gutters ,pipes and soffets ,instead of getting a painter in ,you flippin' women are hard task master s ,sigh,much more of this and i will have to start working shifts [whine ,mutter,whinge] .
I is goin'g to need a holiday after the holiday he he,[wishing i was still working ,cos it was easier AND i got paid for doing it ]
Cleavelies is where we are off to Brenda,a place ,caravan park called carla gran? if that's the right spelling,a private van right on the outskirts of the park ,well away from the entertainment centre [bliss] ,peace and quiet i hope .
If it's nice as i'm told it is ,we will be going back towards the end of the year.
The wifes new birdbath is now in place,and the resident blackbird is already enjoying his baths in it,covering all and sundry ,including me with water as i sit at the table drinking my coffee,this bird is exteemly tame now,coming to within two feet of me as he feeds,what with him,and my mouse ,who by the way is nicking the grass seed i am putting down to cure the bald patch in the lawn from killing the moss.
I'm now thinking of buying a piece of turf and cutting the bad patch out,instead od putting more seed down to feed my mouse's family cheeky little git has enough seed from the birds feeding stations after the sparrows have finished feeding their faces lol.
Well ,im off into the garden before the taskmaster comes downstairs with the days rota ,elp' any where i can hide?
Fred.

saturday 3-15 just back from brampton had a good visit the funeral went well as they do quite a crowd, lots of e-mails from around the world and an obit on roots I think muriel was very involved in geneology and was active in getting the canadian 1911 census released did I already mention that. after we went for lunch then I stayed at isobelles came back early as I recieved a call from andrew to see if I could take the two youngest for a sleep over so of course I said yes seeing they will be away for 5 weeks of the summer I thought I would get my chance with them , had to rush around and think what to have to eat so they are getting steak and mushroom pie carrots and salad with ice cream cones for desert, theylike waffles for breakfast and I have some lovely rasberries and blackberries to go with them, it would be nice brenda if you could meet up with fred and the missus but as you say your life is really not your own at the moment, sunny and humid to-day wicked storm last night I will go for now take care bye dorothy

afternoon all,managed to get a few minutes after lunch,weather dry but very grey clouds looming above,going to my friends 60th birthday party tonight,so will be busy when I get home.Have a good weekend.
brenda

Hello to any one looking in,did not realise I had not been on for a few days.Fred you will be so near to us wish i could say we will come and see you but with dad as he is and not having my rota yet I am a bit stuck to make arrangements.dependa where you are going in Blackpool as it s very dingey in parts .St Annses and Lytham are nice and so is Fleetwood and Cleeveleys where Johns mother lives.
Did get some fish and chips last night the fish was really good,but there was too many chips for us and we only shared a bag.
Dorothy hope the reunion goes ok,and the funeral,.Working tomorrow and out at a 60th tomorrow night.
Speak to you soon ,Brenda

hi everyone wed evening 9-23 my time well I thought I was going to have a quiet week but I recieved an e-mail to-day to say that one of the woman I worked with her mother has died so several of the nurses were getting to gether and going to the funeral on friday so would I drive down, so not needed with the children arranged for the boys(cats) to be looked after and I shall drive down onthursday evening and come back saturday afternoon, this is going to be a big funeral as the lady was very active in the town of brampton and very instrumental in getting the canadian cenus of 1901 released big obits on many sites the daughter that I know is a wonderful artist as well as a nurse and is shown in many galleries in ontario so I will be at isobelle's and perhaps off line till I return hope all is well with every one, also this is the week-ed that bryan is going white water rafting in ottawa with the army cadets when he told me about it he said "I could get killed you know" teenagers how to turn grandma's gray thank god for hair dye bye for now dorothy

hi fred glad to hear your clever wife found the trip to blackpool I have no idea what it is like now but i have fond memories from the 50's bury holidays the town closed for two weeks mom and dad took us to blackpool several times if they were flush with money we stayed on the front if not it was a boarding house a few streets back and if funds were very low it was a b and b which meant you spent the whoe day out no matter the weather, I have photo's of my dad making sand castles under a brolly, the big dipper was great and the donkeys, in the 70's I took my son there on a trip to england and he had a ride on the donkeys oh what memories, the tower ballroom was the place to dance I hope that you enjoy it plus in sept the village took several coaches to the illuminations magic when you were a kid. the garden sounds great my two plants are still alive the tomato plant is flowering and I saw this morning two tiny tomatoes on it, the green pepper plant looks like it will produce some so heres'hoping bye for now dorothy

Afternoon Brenda,Dorothy.and anyone else that happens to look in.
Sorry to have been missing for a few days ,owing mainly because i have been soooo busy with the garden and hedges.
I am getting there now though,,i have the garden just about ready to take the brassica,and other bits and pieces,and the lawns look a lot better with fewer bare patches where i have killedf off the moss.
My clever missus has managed to find a four day holiday [last minute] in Blackpool starting Monday the 23 june through to Friday,so,at least we are going to get one break this year,albeit a short one lol.
Never been to Blackpool before ,so this should prove interesting,and ,i reckon the camera is called for he he..
We are both needing a break away for a whilebecause i for one am worn out ,not helped by a certain feline who likes to get me up at the crack of dawn ,just for the hell of it lol.
The poor son can cope with her for a few days.so if when the time comes you hear the howling from up north ,he is in trouble .
Time to go and make the tea,but i may be back later.Take care .
Hope your dad is feeling a bit better Brenda.
Fred.