General Chat

good sunday morning well fred it sounds like part of your trip is going well some things do change from how we remember them and not always for the better, brenda I hope that you get your car back soon sometimes it is hard to figure what takes them so long to get it right. our weather is now hot again I don't really mind it it is better than snow, my sister and husband arrived back in calgary yesterday after the visit to arizona and texas they drove a total of 6000 miles yes that is right not a typo but had a good time they were off to pick up the dog at the doggie resort and spa quite a nice place I have seen it , but while they were away waynes older brother died it was somewhat expected he had an eating disorder he was massive and a bad heart but still the family circle gets smaller. will watch the foot ballthis afternoon. brenda for the most part I am feeling ok some good days some not so good will be glad when I get a final diagnosis. anne has mailed neil's book to me so I look foreward to reading it nothing much planned for this week but you never know wht turns up take care bye dorothy

well somewhere there is a hlaf written message floating around as it just went off my screen and I can not find it!!
Had a good day weather has been good after an indifferent start.
Had a walk round our local B&Q this morning ,then the rest of the shops on the retails park where it is. Wanted some birthday pressies ,but only got a couple of bargains for myself !!
After lunch went to the library for a book I had orderd and then ordered four more that I had seen in Smiths the other day.
Nipped in Sainsburys for a few things on the way home and they has 50% off the clothes and I got a top and cotton pants for me and a top for John ,its his birthday Monday so thats a little extra for him.
Have decided to cull some of my pictures on my shelves and put them onthe walls ,But we are decorating when John gets in the mmod ,so we will have to wait a while till they go on the wall..Soorry you were disapointed Fred in re vivsiting the places from your youth!!,n Hope Dororthy is ok,apologies again for the state of spelling my fingers are to heavy on the keys on the lap top i think!!!

Well,afternoon troops ,from a veeery sultry ,breeezy cloudy at times Lyneham,where the two of us are chilling out after visits to both Chippenham and Swindon ,both changed so much that i didn't know either of them ,lol.
Swindon centre is all a bit of a mess where they are putting in new paving in the town centre,and to be honest i didn't enjoy it very much,but i did notice a huge Italian presence ,most of the cafe's run by them ,[very well run too],and we found a little place doing salads ,baguettes ,omelettes ,and burgers ,all reasonably priced,the wife and i both settled on cheese omelettes with side salads and two nice cups of tea,for £6.50,very nice at the price.
We have decided to go back home on the Thursday of next week ,to be home for our 44th anniversary this next weekend,so i think there will be a family get together ,a nice B B Q in the pipeline yum yum.along with a nice little cake of which i will have one little slice ,he he,weeeeeelll ,i has been good ,my sugar levels staying down at mid 4 to low 5s,acceptable,and eating sensibly.
The lads car has to go in Tuesday morning while he is off work ,so it's a case of drop the car off ,then straight through to Bristol to pick His wife up from the airport,but it should be ready to pick up late the same day having had all the brake discs and pads changed,[you arn't the only one to have car trouble Brenda] but i do hope you get it sorted quickly.
I could do with some free air miles too Dorothy ,i would love to get back to Cyprus for a few weeks more before Liz gets too bad to travel by air ,and i love Cyprus so much ,still ,i have at least been twice ,so i am lucky i suppose,but there are many things i didn't get to see.
Time to go and get the tea prepared ,jackets tonight ,with tuna filling and a little side salad ,just the thing for a very warm evening. Fred

sorry about the spelling on other message couldn't correct it as the bottom part was below the window you write in and when I tried to edit it ,it just would not move ,Sorry Brenda

Evening all,its a very sultry evening again here after a grey but dry and hot afternoon.
Visited my neice this morning ,she has a 7 month old little girl who is just so cute!!
Then went to do some shopping at the supermarket had a walk round the local market which is next to the ASDA but its not very good.prefer Bury myself.It doesn;t look like we will be going this weekend ,we need to go to B&Q ,then I have to go to the library,they have some books i ordered.Sunday I might go to see my sister but depends on the weather as she will be out if its sunny!!
Glad you had a good visit with your grandchildren Dorothy,
How was Chippenham <Fred ?hope you were not disapointed. My car is not fixed they brought it back apopolgiseing that the spare part was the wrong one.It can not go back til next Friday,I have told them I need it fixing then as I am visiting my friend on the 18th for a few days which is true. Seems the wrong paart was the wrong one when they got it open.!!!ee you all tomorrow, Bye the way fred John was peased with the tips on the gardening. Brendar

goodmorning the weather has broken and we had lots of rain in the night and more to come I think, the cat woke me up at 5am he did not like the storm so I dashed out on the balcony and moved the tomato plants so that they could get some of the rain water I am so pleased the three pots have tomato's on them I know it can't match your gardens in any shape or form but I am thrilled that they are thriving. hope you have a good day at the market fred we had a good one in brampton the one here is not that great, I see that the octopus has picked spain to win on sunday!!my three grand kids are divided on who they wish to win, andrew is making a quick flight to winnipeg for a wedding this week-end lindy had some family function to go to at the cottage with her side so he is going alone it is a chap who works for him. I had to laugh at him he said it is a cheap week-end using airmiles for the flight and coupons for the hotel as he is in hotels a lot he gets of free bee's . I told him if he has any air miles going that he wants to get rid of maybe he can send some my way next year for a trip home!! does not hurt to ask. he is using some to send his dad to los vegas to see his dads sister I thought that was nice. well time to do a bit of house work have a good week-end bye for now dorothy

Morning to Brenda and Dorothy ,yep ,i was gobsmacked myself when i heard why the chopper was over the roundabout which is only 50 yards away as the crow flies ,he he ,i must have been half dozing in the sunshine too ,or the well remembered sound of a shotgun going off would have caught my attention.
Brenda ,when did you put your onions in ,they take a loooong time to show the onion bulbs from a spring planting ,there is plenty of time yet.and ditto with the carrot if they were put in this year ,they should fatten up very shortly ,around another eight weeks for the carrot.
If you want early spring onion ,stick 'em in in early September the previous year ,covering them with a cloche to give frost protection,they will be fine,and your carrots will do very well if you plant them in a third mix ,of soil ,compost and sharp sand[i will let you know what mine are like in a few weeks when i take the first few out,and the parsnips ,though they will be later still.
Time to go to Chippenham now ,market day ,and a nice bus ride away.
Catch you later Fred,

hi well fred is alwaysnear the action glad the trip is going well brenda your plans sound good for the next few days hope that you get over to bury, I have the three grandchildren over night we had a fun evening it is about 9-30 so I guess they are having a sleep in will have to cook up a big breakfast for them soon. we had another heat wave yesterday topping 40 again but it is supposed to break to-day so we shall see bye for now dorothy

Hello everyone,its not too bad weather wise today have got the washing on the line,and thast drying ok.
They picked my car up at 10ambut don't know when its coming back can be any time up to about 7pm I think.But they will phone first to tell me its done and I pay with my card over the phone.The driver will give me the paper work when he brings the car back.
John had a look at the spring onions ,and they seem like the onion forgot to grow ,we have plenty of greenerynleaves and roots but no bulb!!!
We have realised the carrots are not in a tall/deep enougth container and so we have really small thin carrots and lots of leaves.Tomatos and potatos r doing good so is the aubrigne and the peas are great.
We will carry on next year learning we hope from this year.John wants to take up some of the patio flagg to put stuf in the ground!!.
Hope you are all ok and doing some enjoyable activities
Better go and start my steak and mushroom pie for tea. Brenda

Hi everyone ,well we have rain just asa hose pipe ban has been announced!! It was a warm humid day ,but I finally meet my friends and we had a lovely long lunch,catching up on different things .Had a walk around the arndale but did not buy anything today ,will be going to Bury on friday / Saturday to get t he things I need,some birthday cards and presents have a few this month,!!
Better get on my scanner soon have to scan some photos to get a birthday card made on Moonpig for my mates 60 th in two weeks,
John is watching the football and i will have to sort out what i am doing for tea tomorrow,I am only going to use whats in the house,as I find I spend more running out for bits etc,
Glad the holiday is going well Fred ,did not think you would be so near all the action
see tomorrw,Brenda

Gooooood morning campers,from a sunny Lyneham [not] he he ,can't complain though after a good trip down and a nice sunny following day.
The new motor did well despite having a very tight engine,and i did notice the average fuel usage dropping as we covered the miles ,finishing up at an average mpg of 53.5.
We have done 440 miles since we filled up for the first time ,and have used half a tank of diesel,and it will get better over the next couple of months ,so already it is cheaper than the Note ever got,and comfortable in every way? bliss.
Wow ,Chippenham has changed since i was in the town on a bender as a rookie in the R A F,but i notice the market square is as it was all those years ago ,and the old cafe we used to frequent was still going strong as well ,so the wife and i had a coffee while we were there.
All this kefuffle in Newcastle before we came away ? there was Fred sat on the patio having a well earned break [it was too ,so there lol] when that dirty great police chopper arrived over the back of the house ,and started hovering over the roundabout ,at the Junction of the a 1 /A 69,that i have mentioned more than once,and i thought hmmmmmm, yet another accident [one of many each month ,and then shortly afterwards ,the sound of many sirens ,def' a big accident,but ,of course i found out later that someone had been shot a couple of streets away,and they were looking for the gunman.
All this ,and the fella let out of Durham jail twenty miles away the day before,beggars belief ,a known sycopath saying that he was going to hurt his ex and her boyfriend ,and they let him out? the prison Govenor and the medical [experts]? at the jail need sacked ,and charged with incompetance at the very least,a whole community living in terror because some people can't do the job they are paid far to much for.
The new T -Mobile dongle is ace ,far quicker than vodaphone ,and orange ?,we can,teven get a signal in the house here ,the wife isn't pleased because her phone is unusable until we leave the area he he,i told her to use mine and leave the money on the table [only joking of course but she was NOT amused]
Time to go and let the wife on to do her games [now possible since i got the dongle unlocked for gambling].
Catch you later peeps ,Fred,in holiday mode.

Afternoon all,its been mixed weather here again,but as i was not going out it was not that bad.Yesterday was good and i hope tomorrow will be as well, I am hopefully meeting my friends,but its been one of those things where each time we make arrangements it gets cancelled due to something or other,its been like that for the past two months!!!
Glad you had agood visit Dorothy,and you enjoyed the tennis,Its football again tonight,not really a fan of either team but i suppose we should support the europeon team!! don't know who we will support when Germany play Spain,mind you my friend has Spain in the sweep at work so I suppose I should support Spain as she will win money if they get into the final and more if they win the final.,Having a lazy day today and an easy tea,oven chips with oven fish and mushy peas,,Need to defrost the freezer so have to use up a lot of things,
Be back tomorow,Brenda

hi one and all I arrived back from brampton last evening after a grat few days away it was so nice to catch up with everyone, yes we did watch all the tennis of course we were sad that roger was knocked out but we enjoyed all the ups and downs all the same, on saturday isobelle's son and his wife brought the baby girl over to see me she is 8months now quite a lovely baby and on sunday her daughter and family had a bar-b-que and that was great we allhinbg out by the pool as you may have heard we are having a heat wave up in the 40's with the humidity, have been following the queens visit she leaves to-day for new york. good to hear from kathleen I hope you keep doing well and that your car passes its m.o.t. brenda you and fred appear to have been keeping busy and fred is going away again have a great time fred. my family are all ok Laura is recovering from her abcess. my daughter in law has been offered another job at the school she has been working at for the last three years the system of hiring is hard to explain it takes forever to obtain a full time contract ie a permanant job with all the benefits, but she is pleased with this one and it is nice to be aware of what you will be doing now at the beginning of the summer instead of having to wait till the end of august to wait and see what you might get. well I need to have a quick clean around the place before it gets tohot, my cat was pleased to see me this is the first time he has been alone since sasha died but my neighbour looke after him well bye for now dorothy

evening all,I hope everyone had a good weekend andFred got of to Oxford ok and Dorothy get back from brampton ok.
Had a good day today,met a friend in town ,did a bit of browsing then had some lunch and then browsed some more,we both bought a cotton top each in the sales and some toiletries at half price,so did not do bad,weather still breezy,but washed some towels and they dried so quickly it was great.
hope someone gets onhere with me tomorrow,feeling like I am on the Marie Celeste!!!
Brenda

Hello from a windy and chilly manchester,we are supposed to have this weather for the next day or two!! I know we need the rain ,so we should not complain.
I have a few jobs to do around the house after I have sent some replies to my emails,so will not be sending a long message today.
I have had what looks like two good hot matches this time ,mind you I thought I had a good handfull when I first got the hot matches ,but two is not bad.
The mens final has just started at Wimbledon,hope Dorothys friend is understanding and she can watch it .
Think Fred will have started on his way to Oxford ,lucky man,]see you all tomorrow,
Brenda

Afternoon all and hello Kathleen,good to see you,sorry you have not been well,hope its all behind you now,hope you get the car sorted soon as well.Had intended to give my car up this year with finishing work,but if they scrap the free bus pass I will need it as the bus fares are ridiculas.
The shepards pie last night was great and as there was only me and John,(David was out at his dads),we had the rest at lunch today and it was even better!!!. Just a salad and a small portion of sirloin steak tonight ,might get john to do a few of his pototo wedges,he does them really good,but don\t tell him I said so!!! the steak was half price a few weeks ago at Asda and I got three trays at 3.50/4.00 each ,the first one was really good,heres hoping the second one is as well,
Weather ok today breezy ,but sunny and not too hot.The washing was dry in no time,Hope Dorothy is having a good time visiting her friends,and hope Fred and Liz enjoy the visit to their grandson and Freds neice,Keep looking after yourself Kathleen,Just remembered I had a email from Bill in Oz the otherday .waiting on a reply as it was a greetinge card for July 4th !! Brendak

Good morning all, sorry I have not been around for some time - been not very well for a while. Spells in hospital, some surgery and now recovering quite well.

Was fit to drive again, however my car isn't - it failed the MOT, hoping my sons can do a lot of the work to cut down the £450 quote to get it through. Still can't walk too far but I can get to the local shops so not too bad.

Hope you are all well, sorry to hear that not everyone is enjoying the sunny weather we are having down here. Will be back soon, take care - love to all
Kathleen

Evening Brenda, yes ,your car window trouble is very unusual ,he he ,you don't do things by halves ,that's for sure ,still ,your garage certainly seems to look after you.
Our weather seems to be the opposite to yours ,wet and dull first thing this morning ,turning to sunny with strongish winds by 1 pm,but still very enjoyable to sit out in .
i have certainly been enjoying my back garden today ,with all the flowers and shrubs in full bloom ,the herbs giving off a lovely scent ,mixed in with the smell of lavender and rosemary ,and looking forward to the first of my courgettes chopped up with some pak choi ,and salad leaf done with a stir fry sauce yum.
I went into town this morning Brenda,and sorted out my T Mobile dongle ,lol, i was sick of getting my ear bent by Liz ,he he ,everytime she tried to play banana lotto on the laptop it kept saying it couldn't allow that ,and had to be unblocked to allow gambling ,he he ,anyway it'd done now and this dongle is a lot faster than the vodaphone one,now that T Mobile have gone in with Orange,giving far better coverage countrywide.
Looking forward to my trip down to Oxford on ,Sunday/Monday,and have a lot to do down there ,and a call to my cousin on the way home,with a disc on our rellies of the Rowan,Baird family ,which she asked for.
I used to dread the once a week journey from Newcastle to Manchester Brenda,and dreaded the Manchunian way in the centre of town ,he he ,i never did feel comfortable ,with a big wagon under me ,bad enough trying to turn a car around there ,but a nightmare in a heavy wagon,and i expect it's a darned sight worse these days.
Well,time to get the tea ,a,pasta sauce i think ,after a Fratata with rough chopped new potatoes fried in oil with a little piri piri mixture for dinner,so ,we didn't fancy much for tea .
Hope Dorothy is enjoying her trip,Back tomorrow all.Fred.

Afternoon all,very fresh here this morning then went sunny ,now heavy and sultry,think we may have some rain ,hope its in the night as we are thinking of having a walk round the market tomorrow,
The passenger window is ok Fred,John check the fuses and all that before we went to the garage,even the garage are surprised at the motor and the band/belt going.However we went at 8am this morning and left the car there,then got a call at 11am to say they could not fix it as the new part was faulty and they would need to get another part,so we went to get the car and they have booked it in again for thursday,they are however coming for the car then bringing it back which suits us as its a twenty minute journey each way in light traffic and goodness knowsmhow long in the peak traffic and we have to skirt round town!!

Better go soon as I am making a shepards pie for tea ,see you tomorrow,Brenda

Mornin' troops ,Fred is in the building ,for a few minutes anyway ,lol,just about ready to go down the town to get my t mobile dongle sorted so that the wife can do her games whilst we are away next week ,huh ,the things us men do to keep the bosses happy,he he.
Did you check the front passenger door Brenda ,it might be just the fuse,but if 'tother door window is working it's probably the relay ,the motor dosn't normally go,unless water has got to it.
We got our bit rain overnight but never got the high winds we were expecting ,good job too,i have some lovely little courgettes coming on ,and don't want to loose them.
Enjoy Brampton Dorothy ,and may your weather stay nice and sunny for you all.
Have to go and get some work done,but will be back this afternoon,Fred.