General Chat

hi just a nudge to keep us up front dorothy

Just a nudge ,be back in the morning

Hi all, What a long time it has taken me to find this thread. Today Johan and I went out to have tea with our granddaughter Linda. Linda has a scooter for work, but has decided to cycle to work to keep herself fit, so bought a new bike. Well this bike was cheap and had its problems. Yes, the chain kept coming off. Johan and I are firm believers that our offspring should be able to deal with these problems themselves and showed Linda what to do. A lovely sight it was to see them adjusting the rear wheel and putting the chain straight. Linda, might I add, can mend her own punctures. I told her that when I used to cycle all over Belgium, Holland and Germany that there were days when I never came near a shop so had to be able to care for my own bike. Linda has now got the high pressure hose and is going to do her back garden, the stones. She has bought lots of plants and the garden is looking quite bright. I think for a young girl with her first house she is doing very well. I hope everybody is enjoying their Bank Holiday and they don't get too much rain. We haven't had any rain yet - since 22nd March - but could get some tonight. Sylvia xxx

Hi all, What a long time it has taken me to find this thread. Today Johan and I went out to have tea with our granddaughter Linda. Linda has a scooter for work, but has decided to cycle to work to keep herself fit, so bought a new bike. Well this bike was cheap and had its problems. Yes, the chain kept coming off. Johan and I are firm believers that our offspring should be able to deal with these problems themselves and showed Linda what to do. A lovely sight it was to see them adjusting the rear wheel and putting the chain straight. Linda, might I add, can mend her own punctures. I told her that when I used to cycle all over Belgium, Holland and Germany that there were days when I never came near a shop so had to be able to care for my own bike. Linda has now got the high pressure hose and is going to do her back garden, the stones. She has bought lots of plants and the garden is looking quite bright. I think for a young girl with her first house she is doing very well. I hope everybody is enjoying their Bank Holiday and they don't get too much rain. We haven't had any rain yet - since 22nd March - but could get some tonight. Sylvia xxx

hello brenda welcome back it has been a slow week with out you hope that you have a great time at the wedding bye for now dorothy

just a quick messageto et you know i am home safe and well.Haven;t much time to read your messages i am at my neices wedding over the weekend beback sunday,Love Brenda

hi sylvia that is a good suggestion I love cherry tomatoes and surely I could not mess that up my family say I have a black thumb not a green one bye for now dorothy

Hi all, Well today is our Remembrance Day when we have 2 minutes silence at 8.00 pm and the queen and other members of the cabinet, schools etc. lay wreaths at various monuments around the country. It is the 4th May when the Dutch were freed from the Germans and tomorrow is Freedom Day, a national holiday once every 5 years (I think). All the flags will be flying tomorrow. I went out to the market today and found that the stall I use a lot for handicraft have given up. I haven't seen them for 4 weeks now so don't suppose they will come back. I thought at first that they had a holiday but this is now too long. I must get into town sometime because they used to be on the market there as well twice a week. Dorothy you could try growing tomatoes. I have bought a tomatoe plant - cherry tomatoes and it is doing fine, and I only have a balcony. Have a nice weekend everybody. Sylvia xxx

just a nudge to keep us current bye dorothy

hi fred I have a question for you I have never been very good at gardening but I now have a large balcony that has full sun all day do you have any ideas for plants that do well in the full sun, I am thinking of maybe three or four pots medium size to fit in some planters I have, plus as I will be away for most of august and part of sept I need plants that do not require a lot of watering having to depend on the lady who is looking after the cats and the son and heir. I manged last year at the house to grow a green pepper plant that produced 4 peppers much to my grandson's delight the youngest has a big interest in gardening but does not think much of my talents. every time I read your comments about the potato barrels I think how great that must be, lovely day here in barrie, plus my sister phoned they have crossed the ontario manatoba border this morning it is a long drive to calgary will be in winapeg this evening then on to moose jaw then calgary by noon on sunday and their new life out there bye for now dorothy

Hi all, Fred, you are a crafty old devil you know. I have to use the pc in the evenings as my other half is writing his memoirs during the day. The family want to know when I am going to write my memoirs. Well I have so many other things to do, whereas Johan has only his memoirs. What a weather still, although the wind is chilly we still have sun every day. We are due for some rain soon they say but then it will be sunny again. It is 22nd March since we had our last rain. I have been asked to make some cards for several people. This is what I have been doing all afternoon. See you all tomorrow. Sylvia xxx

Morning everybody ,,sorry to have been missing for a couple of days ,due to my computer being shanghied by the boss grrrrrr,and presssure of work in the garden ,but ,Fred is now getting there and the two tattie barrels are ready to go. I will be using second earlies again [charlotte] because they grow to a heck of a size, are slug resistant for some reason ,and cook well with a lovely taste. I will give them a four week spacing for planting so that they done all come together. We are now going for low growing ground cover plants for out front because the weather is getting drier year to year,and we decided plants that need little water and spread quickly to help fight the weed is the way forward. My new roses that i grew from cuttings have now established them selves ,and i only need to grow on four more this year to finish the rose border out front. We are going out shortly to get Liz three bags of potting compost and a bag of vermiculite so that she can do her potting on in the greenhouse which is overflowing with seedlings[time to take the patio table and chairs out] and put in the benches and water trays for the tomatoes . This will give Liz something to do outside and get her away from MY puter[evil chuckle] and give me a chance to send some well overdue emails . Catch you later all.Fred.

hi sylvia and joyce good to read you messages, joyce I hope that you enjoy your holiday, and sylvia thanks for the update on the royal family bye for now dorothy

Hi all, Yes Dorothy I read on the internet about princess Ariane being ill, but it wasn't actually on our news at all, so can't be too bad. Yes, it won't be long now before Willem Alexander will be king. Makes a change here as we've had queens for some years now: queen Emma, Wilhelmina, Juliana, and now Beatrix (Willem Alexander's mother). Willem Alexander's wife Maxima, although an Argentinian, is very popular. Things were very different when Juliana married Bernard, a German. There were demonstrations on the streets. Maxima on the other hand was accepted immediately and in fact is seen as another princess Diana. She is very natural in her ways of handling people, throwing an arm around somebody or a kiss etc.etc. and has a radiant smile. She has now produced three daughters in a short space of time. I spent all yesterday afternoon cooking a rijsttafel, which is a fried rice dish with lots of other dishes to go with it. Very time consuming. My granddaughter came and ate with us and she loved it, as does Johan. I have frozen some in for future use. Had my help in today and she flies around the house. This is not my usual help but a neighbour of hers. My help is in Spain for a week. I have been asked to make various cards for people, so must get down to doing this and must get on with the cross stitch towel I have started for my daughter, I don't think I can finish it for her birthday, but then there is always Xmas! Have a nice evening. Sylvia xxx

good afternoon all im new to this site but im afriend of sylvia as i live not to far from her,how are sylvia have,nt seen you around for abit hope your well and everyone on here,im of to england on the 16 may first to liverpool were im from to meet up with old school friend met her last year for the first time in 53 yrs she lives in cornwall then going to yorkshire to visit some of my family and grandchildren and g.granchildren in all have 23 g,children and 2 g.grandchildren i miss them as i dont get over as much as i did anyway all have anice day joyce from hollandx

hello were has everyone gone brenda is not going tobe pleased if we end up way back on the site, sylvia i was reading this morning that the newest little princess is in hospital with a lung infection, and that 70% of the dutch people would like her father to take over as king in the next three years any thoughts on that. fred are you still sunbathing in the garden, and jude were have you gone has the new baby arrived as yet, comeon folks it is lonely over here in canada please get back on line bye dorothy

goodmorning yes fred I am not sure what happened with the computor I only pushed send once well it least it kept us on the boards glad you are enjoying the good weather, try and keep it going until i get there in august/sept. I am off to the library so have a great day one and all bye dorothy

Morning all,and a special hi to Dorothy who seems to have a stutter hee hee,,i'm glad it was someone elses turn yesterday ,it usually happens to me on a regular basis. I even had trouble getting on here this morning which was a bummer ,but i managed at the third attempt,so beware all ,i smell a maintenence shedule coming up any time lol. I did manage to get the garden up to date yesterday ,but was so packered afterwards that i had to leave the trimmings off the lawn edges to this morning lol,weeeell ,the chair on the patio was calling ,and the sun was out .aaaand ,i had my shorts on ,need i say more. We enjoyed the break that much that we have booked a full week in september ,but up in Berwick on Tweed ,one of my favourite towns,and i can even take some light fishing gear and go trout fishing,or go onto the groin and try a bit of sea angling. Well i suppose i had better go do some housework[mutters under breath] but if i do that now ,i can relax this afternoon . See you later Fred.

hello one and all kathleen sorry about your cancelled week away but you certainly have been having a right clear out but you are right one never seems to be able to get thes tuff back in the wardrobe/closet, nice sunny day here but a bit on the cool side, was at a funeral this morning it was a rather lovely service and the family spoke well of their father he had planned his service lots of music and happy memories more laughter than tears in the long run. so I am now having a lazy afternoon be in touch again bye dorothy

hello one and all kathleen sorry about your cancelled week away but you certainly have been having a right clear out but you are right one never seems to be able to get thes tuff back in the wardrobe/closet, nice sunny day here but a bit on the cool side, was at a funeral this morning it was a rather lovely service and the family spoke well of their father he had planned his service lots of music and happy memories more laughter than tears in the long run. so I am now having a lazy afternoon be in touch again bye dorothy