General Chat

Hi all, Sorry you couldn't find the tempura mix Brenda. If you really would like a packet just mail me with your address and I'll send you one. Just friendship, nothing else! I had some pieces of plaice today and put these through a tempura batter and had some oven chips then a salad of lettuce, tomatoe, spring onions and a chopped hard boiled egg. See you all tomorrow Sylvia xxx

Hi all ,Sylvia ,Brenda,old uncle tom cobbly and all [lol].I have been busy showing Rachael around and doing some research,culminating with findind a rellie[mead ,in London,and his wife [pretty chuffed Brenda],but it seems a shame,the wife dying only a few years after the marriage ,and by 1881 he was living with his brother and working as a greengrocer in st giles[no children] We went for dinner in north shields as we promised and things havn't changed at all at the waterfront,the fish was still overhanging the plates,very fresh and tasty,the chips are still the best iv'e ever tasted outside yorkshire ,the mushy peas likwise. Two huge pots of tea went with this along with bread and butter. Liz not liking fish had two huge spam fritters. rachael couldn't beleive the size of the fish ,and the amount of the other stuff on the plates.I had the cheek to ask for a doggie bag ,for Missy,saying the kitten loved fish,the lass said okay,but came back a few minutes later with a little piece of cod[trimmings] which she had steamed for me[no charge] so ,missy says thanks very much lady ,if you are watching this morning,she loved every morsal,and didn't leave owt but the pattern on her plate lol. The cost of these huge plates of food and the rest? £19.50p[eaten in ]four people. and one kitten hee hee. I did get the tube of silicone mastic for the van yesterday but won't be able to use it today,piddling down again lol. Hope everone is okay,i'm off shopping ,but will be back later on if the wife will let me grrrrrr.Fred.

Afternoon all,well it has been a bit dryer today but it does keep trying and when it does it is heavy. Couldn't see the batter mix in our supermaket Sylvia ,so might have a drive to the chinese supermarket near my friends it usuually has everything like that. Off to make tea now only a sandwich as we went out with friends for lunch ,to mark her last chemo session,she has had treatment since Jan 10th. Take care brenda

Brenda, I found the tempura mix with other Chinese food items here. Weather still the same as you have, but supposed to be better the weekend. I do hope so for those going on holiday. This weekend is the exit for a lot of our holidaymakers. This is just a short note, see you tomorrow. Sylvia xxx

Just at the end of lunch so taking 5 mins to answer some emails. Raining again to day and at the minute its really heavy and dark!!! Will look for the tempura batter mix over here Sylvia.and let you know.how we go on. Having a cup of tea now before getting back to work,might be slow this afternoon if this rain keeps on. Brenda

Hi there, Am I all alone again? Well we have had some heavy showers of rain and in the night a lot of lightning. I know this because I am claustrophobic and never have our bedroom curtains drawn - Johan says I don't know why I bothered making curtains in the first place! - so I had lightning shining on my face in the early hours of this morning. Own fault. I've had my help in the house today and she has cleaned my big windows in the sitting room both inside and out. She is going on holiday and I must miss her for 3 weeks. Am having a young girl for two weeks to do essential jobs. Where are you all? Sylvia xxx

Hi all, I too watched a little of the Concert for Diana and thought William and Harry were enjoying themselves too. Johan doesn't like that sort of music - strictly Bach, Beethoven type - so couldn't watch all the programme. Did see Elton John. We have had some heavy showers of rain here today but I went out this morning on my scooter and only had a few drops of rain. Isn't it awful to think that a doctor who has been treating the sick is also capable of murdering them the next minute. Unbelievable. Missy sounds lovely Fred. What a pity you couldn't put a photo of her on here. Brenda, I use tempura batter for frying fish - that is if I am going to fry fish. We can now buy packets of tempura batter which are very good, so long as you use cold water. Not much news. See you tomorrow. Sylvia xxx

well its still raining ,cold and miserable here. what with the weather and the terrosits etc we are not having a good time here.still we get througth,I did get a bit weepy last night seeing some of the states peoples houses are in ,they moved to stay with inlaws who then got flooded themselves.!! and they don't have insurance,!! Hope you are all keeping well,Dorothy hope you enjoy your visit with your friend and the rest of the tennis.Had fish and chips on Saturday at a retirement do for my old work friend .was really lovelly .fish fried in a tempura batter and mushy peas and tartar sauce served on shells !!!! Take care brenda

Morning Dorothy ,whn you come over ,it would be worth your while coming north to see what the fish and chips are like on tyneside,out of this world,with fish caught the same morning as it comes to the waterfront chippy in north shields,. Mushy peas lass ,make your own ,lots of peeps on here can give you the recipie ,so easy to make ,using dried peas and a little salt,sometimes cooked in a ham stock for a different taste. Missy is on my lap again asi sit at the puter,, Had a great day yesterday ,going to the Metro centre with Martin ,and Rachael.cor,i soon saw that the aussies know how to shop,she had my car full of clothes ,shoes ,and all and sundry, the airline will have a fit when they see that little lot arrive for loading lol. The immigration gave rachael a hard time when she arrived,and the son got stroppy come the finish ,threatning the officers with his Mp.He said it was a ruddy disgrace ,her grandparents coming from britain,and being hassled for coming on holiday to the old country ,while immigrents ,with criminal records were being welcomed with open arms rapists ,child molesters ,thieves included,what is britain coming to I would like to see them try stopping Mary coming through lol,handbag at the ready hee hee.. Missy found the stairs last night as we went to bed,and finished up bouncing all over the bed ,back up and spitting at her reflection in the dressing table mirror lol,before running back downstairs to finish her supper,cor ,'eck ,this cat does like her fish,i will have to keep my eyes on Seans goldfish, .But it's easy to feed her ,she shares my fish whenever i have it,and loves the little cat treats called biccies,and the whiskers in the pouches.[kitten food] Time to go now,i still have to catch up on my research,have a nice day all.Fred.

hi brenda sorry to hear the weather is not improving for you I think that it is heading over here to-morrow we are supposed to have thunderstorms I shall be driving down to brampton to pick up my friend isobelle as she is going to spend a couple of days with me then on thursday I shal take her back and we are meeting up with some other nurses we used to work for a fish supper. not as good as home but the next best thing. the main problem is they can't get the mushy peas right. its been an on and off day with the tennis the serena match was full of drama. I see on the news that there is a new royal baby on the way I hope it all goes well for sophia she has not had it easy and no matter what your station in life having a hard time getting pregnant and maintaining the pregnancy is upsetting for anyone. well that is it for me hope your rain stops soon I will try and bring good weather with me when I come bye dorothy

Hope you are all nice and dry and warm,as it is still very wet and cold here. Been answering some emails and transferring som epictures to a disc for my neice (hopefully) On work at 4-8pm so need to get showerd and changed soon. Take care Brenda

Evening all,have been watching the concert as well dorothy,well most of it ,it was good. Sylvia hope you can get the bread maker going ,glad your granson had a nice birthday. Fred,seems you might have met your match un Missy He He Got caught out twice in the rotten waether we are having ,never been so wet for years,And still don't like it. had to peel my jacket off last night it was sticking to me and that was with an umberella. Take care brenda

hello hi to fred and sylvia they seem to be the only ones around this week-end well I have just finished watching the concert every moment of it I loved it I danced around the living room thinking that I was 25 not 65. the princes did a good job, it is back to tennis to-morrow so I hope the rain stays away. and no more silly devils try to blow up anymore places goodnight dorothy

Hi all, Well not much to write but keeps the thread going. Have been trying out my new digital camera and sent some e-mails of the pictures I took. Will probably have forgotten tomorrow how I managed it all. The weather has been quite reasonable. See you tomorrow Sylvia xxx

Morning peeps,,up at five this morning after a restless night [again] ,and dropped the son off at Newcastle airport and left him to book in ,came home and went to bed again. Missy demands to be fed as soon as i get down in the mornings,so it's feed her ,see to the fish ,and THEN i can get the missus and i a bite too eat.lol. Missy knows the colour of her bowl alright ,getting between my legs ,true cat fashion as soon as i appear with it. I have just had a phone call from my son,having arived in London ,met up with Rachael who flew into London from oz this morning ,and they are off to central London to go sight seeing for the day,getting back to Newcastle at eight this evening where i will be picking both of them up. I havn't seen Rachael for two years now ,so it will be nice to see her again. In the meantime ,the grandson is with us for the day complete with his new bear Patch ,who is chatting to my computer bears lol,no doubt complaining because i used the last of the honey in a recipie Friday ,so they are all hungry . The weather is lousy again but i can at least still watch my birds outside where all the regulars are turning up to be fed including my wren chaffinch and song thrush,and now ,we have loads of new fledglings of all sorts turning up,hee hee ,it's getting a bit like Newcastle airport in the rush hour lol,i think i will have to press the patio path into use as a second runway if this keeps up.. Hope everyone is having a good weekend ,take care all ,and good luck at the hospital Sylvia,Fred.

Hi all, Well had a busy day with visitors. First my help Anita came with her husband and brought with them Melissa who is going to help me in the house whilst Anita is on holiday. Anita had been into town to the market and bought me a piece of old cheese which is very cheap on a Saturday and also 20 eggs. When they had gone my daughter arrived with her partner, followed by Linda, granddaughter and then birthday grandson. It was so nice to see them all together. Grandson is always very attentive to me. He came and sat on the settee and put his arms around me and then sat holding my hand. Ooh what a lovely warm feeling! When they finally went I made some bread until the bread machine gave up the ghost. Johan will have to look at it and if not will buy another one. Cannot miss making bread now can I? I have been winding some balls of sock wool from a 5 kilo bale I once bought on the internet - fool that I was. This wool keeps turning round as I knit it and I have to constantly stop knitting and untwist it. The weather has been quite good today. My leg is giving me some pain with this elastic stocking over the wound. I think I'll have to phone the hospital if it is not better next week. Have a nice evening. Sylvia xxx

hi this is one shattered grandmother lindy had an end of school party for the children this afternoon and I was helping .12 children in the pool and the boys made more noise than the girls, we had hot dogs potato chips fruit punch fresh strawberries picked this orning by the three grandchildren and watermelon they had a wonderful two and a half hours, andrew arrived home from the airport and a week away just as it was breaking up I am now home relaxing so I had to miss some of the tennis. this is a long holiday week-end (bank holiday and the highway is jammed with cars and boats etc and the weather forecast is to be a good one. but I shall watch tennis on saturday and then the diana concert on sunday. was shocked to hear the news at 7am our time re the car bombs thank goodness they did not go off. brenda glad you enjoyed your trip to bury, and sylvia you do kee[ very busy well off to make my tea bye for now dorothy

Hi everyone,sorry i did not get back yesterday,trouble with the internet ok now thougth. weather very wet this morning but brightend up lovelly this afternoon.managed to get to Bury this morning dorothy,had a good wander round Millgate and the Rock,but did not have time for the market,maybe next week. Syliva congratulaions to your grandson, i love salmon en croute but have not made it myself only had it at a freinds a couple of times. working tomorrow and then at a retirement dinner in the evening so see you sunday . brenda

Hi all, Well Dorothy it looks as if you and I are running things at the moment. Hi there Fred, Brenda, Jude (long time no see?) and all the rest of you. Today I had lessons on how to use my digital camera and send pictures via e-mail. I do hope I can remember when I come to take the pictures. Last night I finished knitting another pair of socks for Johan and today finished a large 50th birthday card for my ex son in law. Johan drew a large '50' on coloured card and I have stuck 50 Euro cent pieces - 25 - around. I have decorated the card inbetween and added of course 'happy birthday' in English, Dutch and Spanish. The weather has been fine today and my hairdresser came early and has cut my hair for me. Now wil keep this short for today. Sylvia xxx

Hi all, Well I still haven't made an appointment to have my hand operated on and it is very painful. Johan is still dressing the wound on my leg and if I don't rest my leg a bit during the day then it is painful. It was nice today not having any special commitments so I got down to baking something different for our dinner. I made salmon en croute, which is salmon in puff pastry. I put pieces of salmon on puff pastry and topped them with a spinach and cream cheese mixture with some spring onions added (lightly fried to soften them up). It was delicious but too much for the two of us so have an easy dinner tomorrow. I also did too many potatoes so will fry those up and together with a dill sauce will be ok. Tomorrow I am going to have lessons in using my digital camera with the computer. I have had this digital camera (for my birthday in January) and it is still in its box! Anyway I am feeling a lot better now and getting down to all sorts of things again. I've almost finished another pair of socks for Johan and doing a cross stitch picture of poppies which has so many different colours in that makes it very time consuming. On Saturday my grandson is 21 years of age and he is coming here with his sister and my daughter will be coming too from Eindhoven. We will drink coffee and have cake and then my grandson and his mother are going into town. Well this is me up to date again. I have read all your notes. Sylvia xxx