General Chat

hope you get your trip in okay Brenda ,he he the snow is back here and looka as though it may be heading your way ,lol. :-(.
Everything here is still on hold garden wise ,no seeds in yet because they won't germinate well in the cold up here ,looks like yet again we will be buying out leeks and onions as plants ,sniff .
Catch you later Brenda ,this was just a quickie to let you know i was back in the land of the living ,Fred.xxx :-)

Afternoon Fred and anyone else looking in.
Well its a might cold here today but we do have sunshine which makes it look warmer outside anyway..Been doing some more decluttering of the kitchen cupboards and have a few more things which we hardly ever use to go to the charity shop and some tupperware lids with no boxes or bowls which have gone in the bin.
Having a go at getting rid of some of the tins and packets in the store cupboard its amazing what I have stored away and not used !!! Have to be more careful when doing my shopping lists.
Hopefully off to Bury Market with my mate on Wednesday ,she lives over Stockp[ort way and usuallyworks Wednesday but changed her hours a few weeks ago ,so we will be going more often together now.Hope the weather stays dry at least.
You are as busy as ever Fred and always make me feel a bit lazy.which I can be when my leg is not good.Up to now the injection has worked a little bit ,so lets see for how long this time.
Take care Brenda

Here again ,housework done ,a batch of beefburgers made and in the freezer [just] so it's time to relax for a while. :-).
Couldn't resist the beef on sale at Morrison's in Byker yesterday Australian,well hung ,and a lovely dark red to black ,not the usual supermarket trash which is light red and has no taste,and the butcher actually minced it for me on the spot ,saving me ,me having to do it myself.
We got 10 good size burgers out of it too ,just the job ,from a kilo ,nearly quarter pounder size ,lol,and when the butcher said ,how do you know it isn't kangeroo meat ,i said ,don't care pal ,iv'e eaten it before and it tasted okay then ,he he. :-).
We found the new kettle a few minutes ago ,on Amazon ,so we paid that little extra ,and it gets delivered tomorrow,so the spare can go away again ,the new one is a filter kettle made by Morphy Richards ,as was the old one ,so i already have spare filters ,and even kept the filter carrier off the old one in case we ever need a spare.
Still have my eye open for a fresh rabbit as well ,too long since i have had one ,i still reckon rabbit is the best ,leanest game meat of all.
Going to disturb the missus now so that i can dust and hoover the front room ,that being the lot on the downstairs floor ,upstairs being left until tomorrow.
The last trough of parsnip is now in the greenhouse drying out ,so we will have to start buying those in a couple of weeks :-( ,until the new seasons are ready.
Catch you all later peoples ,take care ,and be safe,Fred xx

afternoon to all who look in ,not a lot on here at the moment ,lots to do in the house getting ready for the decorating of the hall and stairs. :-)
The dental checkups went okay ,the wife had been flapping for nothing ,lol the crumbling was just one of those white fillings collapsing and only wanted replacing. ;-).
Looks like we are in for a wet weekend ,but at least it is a bit warmer which can't be bad.
Brought one of these collapsible seed tray greenhouses so that the missus has more room in the greenhouse for her peppers ,and tomatoes/ cucumbers.
The whole thing including the folding gazing goes into a box 18" square ,and can sit in the corner of the shed over winter.
Off to get a sarnie for the tea ,not really hungry this evening ,or i may even have a bowl of corn flakes :-).
Take care all and have a good night.Fred.xxx

Hi Fred glad you and Liz had a good mothers day .I had my breakfast and part of my dinner cooked by David which was really nice.
we have had a lot of snow flurries here today and like you sai its a tad on the cold side again. Hope you both keep nice and cosy,
Take care Brenda

Afternoon one and all ,wow ,what a weekend with the snow returning but we did get down to the Slug & Lettuce on the quayside of Newcastle for the mothers day bash ,and it went well,a starter of wedges with cheese and bacon ,plus B B q sauce and a main of shepherds pie covered in creamed potato ,covered in cheese,spoiled through the use of emmental cheese instead of a hard cheese such as cheddar,but on the whole very nice.
I didn't have a sweet because i am diabetic ,but the wife had a chocolate pudding with a toffee sauce which ,i had to admit looked lovely.and the wife polished it off and looked like she was about to lick the bowl ,he he.:-D.
We had to go shopping today to stock up ,t'is plurry cold up here ,and we are expecting a lot of snow over the next few days coupled with biting winds and temperatures down to minus 6 to 8 overnight. not my idea of a nice start to the spring ,lol.
Hope everyone is okay where they are ,not too nice over the pond either.
catch you later peeps ,Fred xxx ;-).

Hi Fred and John and anyone else looking n/
We have a dreary wet day here,and we are not going out as we hve a good few jobs to get done.!!
Should not be on here but have been surfing the net for a new cooker.
Will let you know how we get on,
Hope you all have a good weekend.
Brenda

Hi Fred and John and anyone else looking n/
We have a dreary wet day here,and we are not going out as we hve a good few jobs to get done.!!
Should not be on here but have been surfing the net for a new cooker.
Will let you know how we get on,
Hope you all have a good weekend.
Brenda

Hi again,A drought has been declared in the Northern and eastern parts of New Zealand's North Island with the western and southern parts of island beeing added to it. :-( The South Island seems to escape much of the hot weather but even they aren't getting much rain. The bit of rain down in the South Island did wash out the first of the cricket test against England.
Mentioning about dropping phones in weird places - when I dropped mine into Gayle's grave, Craig said you could've bought a new one like might - yeah right if you have spare cash. :-0
The country's census was done on 5 March having been declined by the Christchurch earthquake two years ago - i didn't mine on-line which was surprisingly very easy to do. :-D
Catch you next time i come by GR - John :-)

A quick one before i go upstairs to do the chores,huh ,no work outside today ,lol,back to the frosts and now rain ,groan ,still ,i have only a few cabbage to use up now ,one last trough of parsnip to turn out ,and a trough worth of carrot in the greenhouse that only need topping and tailing after a quick wash :-).
Just had the bills in for the gas and electric ,not too bad ,electric still in credit ,and the gas us owing £120 ,the result of the gas board changing our payments without looking at the full picture leading to this deficit :-(.
i have been on to british gas demanding to speak to the shift manager ,and asking what the hell they are playing at and pointing out that i have never been in debt with them in thirty years,and it would seem i had more idea as to what's going on at British gas's computers than they seem to have.
I have told them that if they continue to interfere with my payments while i am in credit ,i will be complaining to off gas and will change my supplier :-|.,bloody cheek of some countries,yes ,i know it will sort itself out over the summer i said ,but the hedge i had hoped for has been halved due to their miss management.
Hope everybody is fine and doing well ,catch you all later ,Fred,& the missusxxx

we have a really beautiful spring day here.lots of sunshine and its warm as well,well warmer than it has been.
Have been able to put the washing on the line for the last two days and yesterday it was dry.
Will have to see how it goes today as I put towels out.
Went to an aquatone class this morning,and it was good,not got aches yet as you are not supposed but we are going back next week.we might also go ealrier and have a normal swim.
Hope you are all ok and your weather is being good to you.
Take care Brenda x

It was great to come on here tonight and see messages from both John and Fred,,
I have had my injection,was a bit more paimful having it done this time even with a local anthesectic,and I have a lovely bruise where they did the injection which is like having an epidural..I am starting to feel a bit of improvement but will have to wait a few more days to see if it works properly.But would like to thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers.
We have had some sad news this week,my cousin who was only 45 died on Wednesday and on Thursday my sisters father in law died at 85, Not been a good week for us.
Tried to be clever and did a bit of shopping myself this morning but was so very tired this afternoon,so will take it easy like I am supposed to do now for a day or so.
Glad you got your phone back when you droppedit John,My sister who is a nurse has dropped hers a few times in some weird places and usually got it back,
I dropped mine a few months ago on the kitchen floor and it scratched the screen,but I am not getting a new one as i don't really want all the new things that come with them,
Have a good weekend and take care Brenda x

Morning all ,sorry to have been absent for a while,but what with the dreaded flu , ,a lot of work to catch up on in the garden,the new car to order ,shopping ,and the new computer to get up and running ,i feel as though i have been going round and round in circles ,lol.
Afraid ,with my back and hips John the phone would have stayed where it fell ,and i would have got a new one through the insurance ,which is what you have insurance for after all ,glad you managed to retrieve it though.
Our weather is starting to improve at last ,snow gone ,the frost this morning going fast and me hoping to get a couple of hours out there this P M .
I have still two troughs to clear of Parsnip and carrot,before i start sowing this years crops,and think i will try a new idea ,sowing one row of carrot ,and one row of Parsnip in the same container ,hopefully the smell of both veggies in the same container will confuse the fly ,and save me having to use pest control.
The wife has just brought me two huge containers of little plant pots ,48 of them in each for the greenhouse ready for planting my seeds in which will do for my leeks and onions,better to start them in the greenhouse to give them an earlier start than planting direct in the garden.
all my trees and shrubs ,even the pear and olive have survived the severe frosts over the winter ,so ,apart from the dreaded june bud drop ,we should have a good crop of fruit at least ,even the rhubarb is well away and looking good ;-).
The new car is now ordered ,it being finallised wednesday,a Qashqaagain with the bigger stop start diesel engine giving a better mileage and a smoother response to pedal pressure,no more flat spots until the turbo kicks in.
The wife has chosen plum black for the new colour ,really black ,with just a hint of plum when the sun catches it .and i have told the wife ,on her head be it ,if she want's a change ,she can pay for the respray.
The car has four cameras built in giving all round instant vision when parking ,much better than just the back on we have now.
Following all the hoo har ,with the meat ,we now buy all ours from the local farm and make all our own burgers ,Lamb ,Beef ,and Pork.and made 12 lovely quarter pounders yesterday [pork] using a recipe we found on the net ,there was just enough mix to do two small patties for the tea yesterday ,as a taster ,wow ,they were good ,goodbye shop made ones ,he he ,Lamb ones to make next week ,and beef the week after ,lol,we have even found a recipe for Bacon ones ;-) .
Time to get on with a bit of work,so i will sign off for now ,have a good weekend you two,catch you later ,Fred.xxxx
:-D

Hi again - it seems we are the only ones about on GR at the moment Brenda. Have ever heard a cellphone being accidentally dropped into a grave? That's what happened as Craig and I were about to lower the ashes, my cellphone fell out my shirt pocket meaning a quick retrieval. One of the family said 'thought you dropped it for Gayle to use' - yeah right says I.
Spine - leg - you are in a bad way; :-( hope everything improves with those spinal jabs - hope everything improves will be praying for quick healing.
The weather over New Zealand continues to be hot - 1st March is the beginning of our Autumn and there seems to be not rain on the horizion. The city council has banned watering gardens to odd and even days - meaning I'm able to water on odd days as I have an odd street number. My brother's farm is drying out meaning there little grass for the cows and its a wonder authorities haven't declared its in a drought zone, they have in other parts of the country. My lawn is brown with tinges of green and thats bad.:-0

Take care. John :-)

Hi everyone,especially John,glad you rembered your password,its great to hear from you.Sorry you missed your christmas dinner,and hope you have not had any further headaches.It was good to hear you did manage to get the family get together
at your brothers.I hope the weather stays more plesant for you and you do not have any more head aches
I know what you mean about not having any where to go when loved ones ashes are scatterd,my dads ashes are in three places in accordence with his wishes and my mothers are with her parents,but we do not have a marker saying so apart from in the chapel of rememberance in the crem.which is in two different places ,we can pay again and have one plaque for them both which is a few hundred pounds,so we are planning on that in the future,

We had a partial get to gether yesterday.My sisters grand daughters double christening , but only me and my sisters got there my two brothers had other commitments and could not be there.
The service was great,it was a lady vicar and she really included the children who came to the church.
We are hoping to have another get to gether at the end of next month or early April when my sister and brother in law celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. .
Hope fred has managed a few more jobs in his garden I know he has a bit of a plan which he likes to stick to .
I am out with friends at lunch time for a lunch and chat ,we only seemed to get to gether at one or thers birthday ,so when there is a bit of a gap between birthdays we now meet up for lunch or sometimes just a coffee and cake and a chat.
.
Having my injection in my spine again next week,really hoping it will help get rid of the pain I get this time,the medics seem more positive it will this time..
Weather has been really good over the weekend ,cold again about 8degrees but that is appartently normal for this time of year,but the sun has been shining so it really made a difference.
My friend who lives in Melbourne,has been on a cruise round New Zealand and has sent me a post card ,she is really enjoying the cruies and seeing something of New Zealand,
Better get on with some jobs before I go out.and I cann not rush as I do not want my leg aching any more before I go out.
Take care Brenda

Greetings - it’s been about four months since I came on GR and thankfully I did remember my password. Christmas 2012 wasn't great apart from being our first Christmas without Gayle, that morning I woke with a ragging headache that lasted all day so I missed out joining Craig and Gemma for the Christmas service followed by a dinner at the Army. :-( Throughout December I had been doing an Advent candle reading and the final reading was done by the officers with Craig and Gemma lighting the candles. To make matters worst I found out later that my Christmas dinner had been put aside to be bought home to me and was forgotten. Oh dear. Boxing Day the headache was gone – (some said it could have been the heat as the temperature from Christmas Eve and the next day was 31 degrees - don't know what that would be in Fahrenheit) – anyway the three of us were expected to drive down the coast to my brother’s, but this time it was Craig’s turn to be sick which put paid to any family get-together for the year. :-( :-( 2013 arrived and finally drove down the coast as my great-niece was with her grandparents and this late get-together was great. :-) On the way to my brother’s we visited the cemetery where a headstone for Gayle and eventually me was in place – this was what Craig wanted as he knew Gayle’s parents ashes were scattered and there is nowhere for family to visit. Gayle’s ashes finally came home a few days ago and we will inter them on Friday 22nd February. Craig and I will lower the urn using ribbons we used on the car for my parent’s golden wedding anniversary in 1997. We had initially wanted to inter Gayle’s ashes on her birthday earlier this month but that wasn’t possible. I think few people realise the things one has to do when someone dies – changing property titles and bank accounts, closing accounts – and a letter comes addressed to the individual and one tries to remember was there anyone else to contact.
The weather here in New Plymouth is fine and windy - good day for the washing which I did first thing. :-D

Evening all,especially Fred and Liz.been cold again here today ,it has tried to rain but not much.
John is hoping to get out tomorrow,eve if he gets rained /snowed off like last time.
We had a treat tonight for tea egg and chips,we do not have it often but its Johns favourite so with it being Valentines ithought we would have a treat LOL
Got a busy week next week,with a christening on Sunday in Cheshire,then a lunch with my mates on Monday and a carvery with friends on another day and Johns stepfather is 90 on Friday but we are not sure what he wants to do.
He has gotten reall y fussy about what he eats so going out is not an option .we might just take him a cake and a bottle of Whiskey,
Glad you are managing to get in the garden a and get a few jobs done.
Have a good weekend Take care Brenda

Evening all,especially Fred and Liz.been cold again here today ,it has tried to rain but not much.
John is hoping to get out tomorrow,eve if he gets rained /snowed off like last time.
We had a treat tonight for tea egg and chips,we do not have it often but its Johns favourite so with it being Valentines ithought we would have a treat LOL
Got a busy week next week,with a christening on Sunday in Cheshire,then a lunch with my mates on Monday and a carvery with friends on another day and Johns stepfather is 90 on Friday but we are not sure what he wants to do.
He has gotten reall y fussy about what he eats so going out is not an option .we might just take him a cake and a bottle of Whiskey,
Glad you are managing to get in the garden a and get a few jobs done.
Have a good weekend Take care Brenda

Evening all,especially Fred and Liz.been cold again here today ,it has tried to rain but not much.
John is hoping to get out tomorrow,eve if he gets rained /snowed off like last time.
We had a treat tonight for tea egg and chips,we do not have it often but its Johns favourite so with it being Valentines ithought we would have a treat LOL
Got a busy week next week,with a christening on Sunday in Cheshire,then a lunch with my mates on Monday and a carvery with friends on another day and Johns stepfather is 90 on Friday but we are not sure what he wants to do.
He has gotten reall y fussy about what he eats so going out is not an option .we might just take him a cake and a bottle of Whiskey,
Glad you are managing to get in the garden a and get a few jobs done.
Have a good weekend Take care Brenda

Evening all,especially Fred and Liz.been cold again here today ,it has tried to rain but not much.
John is hoping to get out tomorrow,eve if he gets rained /snowed off like last time.
We had a treat tonight for tea egg and chips,we do not have it often but its Johns favourite so with it being Valentines ithought we would have a treat LOL
Got a busy week next week,with a christening on Sunday in Cheshire,then a lunch with my mates on Monday and a carvery with friends on another day and Johns stepfather is 90 on Friday but we are not sure what he wants to do.
He has gotten reall y fussy about what he eats so going out is not an option .we might just take him a cake and a bottle of Whiskey,
Glad you are managing to get in the garden a and get a few jobs done.
Have a good weekend Take care Brenda