General Chat

Hi everyone,sorry I have been missing but was feeling abit sorry for myslef with the earache and the head cold I had,still have a bit of a cold but not so much as the other couple of days.John and myself have been having our lemsips together like a couple of derby and joans!!!
We have had snow again today hope it doesn't freeze again tonight as it will be like an ice rink again outside.
Glad you are enjoying your visit Fred ,and good for you setting your grandson on the right paths with his housekeeping.
Dorothy ,have seen some sights with the silly driving in the bad weather,and the way some of the young ones are dreesing to go on nights out!!
Sylvia glad you enjoyed your birthday,and hope you have many more.
my day off tomorrow but have a few errands to do which did not get done last week ,but I will be back at some point tomorrow,Take care
Brenda

wed, evening fred glad you sorted me out as to where you and liz are and I hope that you have a safe drive home and I am sure the little cat will be thrilled to have you home, you are right some people have no idea how to drive in snow wether it is one inch or 6feet sometimes is amazaes me how people drive around my way when we are having squalls of the lake and you can hardly see in front of you and they are bombing along the 400 highway at 100km an hour really daft. nothing much new at the moment so glad sylvia had a great birthday and may you have many more sylvia I am sure you deserved all the attention you recieved goodnight from me bye dorothy

Morning everyone on a coooold and snowwwwwy morning past 10 to 8 goood morrrrrow peoples aaaaall..
Glad you had a lovely Birthday Sylvia,you deserve it ,and that smashing husband of yours ,you hang on to him lady ,ones like that are hard to find,you hang on to him like a limpet ,lol
Yes Dorothy ,me and liz are still at Lyneham air force base in Wiltshire,a few miles from the village [town really] of wotten basset ,where all the fallen service men ,and woman are repatreated to from Afganistan,a job Sean will be involved with very shortly.
We have two largish towns locally ,Chippenham ,and Swindon.both very nice ,well set ouit and full of shops.
We preferred Chippenham ,a because i viseted it often many years ago when i myself was stationed in the area,and b ,because it has a river where you can sit in summer having a rest from lugging shopping ,sit on a seat and feed the ducks and swans a great morning out.
My other haunt in those days was Calne of Bacon fame ,lolmore pubs than houses or shops where i often tried to go round them all with mates on a pub crawl .having a pint in each ,he he ,so far as memory serves ,we never made it.
We had a little more snow over night ,but so far ,nothing to worry about and we should get away home tomorrow with no trouble.
I can't believe the drivers here ,they should take a trip up to Northumberland to see some REAL snowfall,Seans fridge was two days late coming because it was too dangerous to get a lorry out to deliver it [yeah ,right ,we are talking one inch] god help this lot if they have the 6 inches we sometimes get overnight,and we STILL get to work in it.
Hope up home has cleared a bit ,we managed okay ,but it was a pain having to shovel snow off the drive to get the car up the ramp at the end onto the road,but bless Nissan ,this note is a godsend in snow ,if driven sensibly ,it shows no vices and behaves very well ,far better than the old almera which skidded if you so much as sneezed ,lol.
We will be taking Sean into Wotten Basset to Iceland this afternoon where i will kick his frozen shopping list off with a£50 pound shop for staples to tide him over until he gets paid at the end of the month.
We nagged him to get everything he needed like the power company sorted out ,the tv package ,and the t v license which left him a little short,but hopefully there will now be no nasty suprises coming through the letter box.
I reckon ,if we leave here at 9 am tomorrow ,we will despite conditions be home at about 5 pm ,.just right for tea ,after i make a fuss of the cat he he ,only a ball of fir maybe ,but i have missed her tons.
Back later on before i pack the laptop away ,Fred.

January 12, 2010
Hi everybody.
Well much to my surprise I had a lovely birthday with visitors the whole day. My husband spoilt me with a lovely warm croissant and coffee sitting in my nightgown in our sitting room. He is becoming more attentive as the years pass by - he is now 84!
My eldest daughter bought me a lovely bunch of pink roses and a bunch of pink hyacinths as well as a bottle of liquor and soaps etc. My grandson popped in before going to this work. My daughter popped out in the late afternoon to pick up my granddaughter from work and they picked up a Chinese meal on the way home. No sooner had we had dinner and Janet gone home when my youngest daughter and her husband arrived. In between I had telephone calls and neighbours popping in. Yes, an enjoyable day. Yes, I was 78.
Tomorrow my help is coming in to help. I told her not to come on Monday, her usual day, because she wouldn't be able to do much.
I still haven't been outside the door since before Xmas, well just to the doctor for 15 minutes. I am glad I have lots of hobbies and am not bored.
I wonder how long this snow will last.
Keep healthy, Sylvia xxx

goodmoning one and all fred where are you and liz exactly I gather you are with sean and getting him settled in are you far from home, I keep watching the british news to check up on you all, sunny and cold this moring we had a sprinkling of snow yesterday really nothing to speak off. I have been doing some of the charity calls to keep myself busy january is such a dreary month. bye for now dorothy

Good morning Dorothy,Brenda ,and anyone else who looks in today.
My fault as regards the washer bottle Dorothy i didn't put a strong enough dose of fluid in ,and then made matters worse by forgetting to put the bottle of concentrated screen wash in the boot before leaving,but ,you have to remember that we arn't used to these conditions and your additives will be much stronger than ours.You also have shops with plugs where you can connect your sump to the mains to stop the engine freezing ,we have nothing like that.
I did remember to add a good dose of extra anti freeze to the radiator before coming away though ,and have had no bother.
We got out of the estate yesterday while the going was good ,picked up a little fuel to do until we start home ,and then went into Chippenham for a look around.
I used to go there in the days of yor ,lol,when i was at the R A F boot camp at Compton Basset,and what a change ,it now has a lovely shopping centre with loads of shops ,old and new,and we spent a couple of hours there before coming back to camp.
Seems that the snow is on the way back this afternoon so i don't think we will be going anywhere today.
I will now be keeping a close eye on the weather because the first break in it and slightly higher temperatures is when we make for home.,hopefully at the end of this week.
Have to go now ,i is needing my porridge lol,Fred.

hi glad to see sylvia back on line hope to hear more from her in the future brenda sorry to hear tht john and you are both under the weather hope you get well soon, I am not freezing at the moment it is about -13 this am so that is not so bad, I have been following the weather in your home towns I see that they say more snow is to come maybe it will miss you brenda, fred's trip sounded not that great can you not get windshield washer fluid that is for below freezing tempertures we would never manage without it. nothing much new with me at the moment the family are busy with school and ski-ing in their free time. I have had no visitores from brampton no one drives up in the coldest months I can't say that I blame them. made a nice beef stew yesterday and had mashed potatoes with and mashed yam quite good well bye for now dorothy

Afternoon all,nice to see you again Sylvia,glad you and Johann are ok.
Frdd you do get in some sticky spots lad!!but glad it worked out ok .
Hope Dorothy has not been frozen out or in whereever she is!
It is still freezing here,no more snow ,well none thats sticking.
John has that chest and throat infection he had before christmas and a cold so he is in a bad way.I have had a headache all afternoon and my eyes are shiny and aching so looks like I have something as awell.
Mind you not had much sleep the last few nights as the colder air at nights causes John to cough an awful loy for half the night,he is wondering if he has started with asthma.!! He has kept me awake for the past two nights with the coughing, so I could just be tired.
Better go and get a drink and see about some ironing if my legs will keep me up!!
Take care
Brenda

Hallo all,
I wonder if you remember me? Yes, it's Sylvia showing her face again.
We are also having lots of snow. It's not the snow I dislike but the ice. i daren't go out on my scoot mobile, so haven't been outside the door since before Xmas. Well, apart from a visit to the doctor, neighbour took me in her car. I ordered a lot of shopping on the internet and have decided to do this, say every month. It is rather expensive, but if I only do this once a month want kill the budget.
I don't suppose I'll have many visitors on my birthday, although my eldest daughter tells me she is coming. She will bring any last minute shopping for me as well.
I am afraid my health is still not good and have to see another specialist now - the gynaecologist. Cannot see why as I had cancer of the womb many years ago and they took it away. sylvia xxx

Hi There Brenda,he he ,frozen out ,lol,more like frozen in,as i came down to Wiltshire two days ago to help Sean move into his new house.
The whole trip was a nightmare ,no washer working ,the bottle having froze before we even left Newcastle,but luckily i remembered the last bad winters in the 80's and had a gallon bottle of water in the boot ,so ,it was stop at each service station ,throw water over the screen to clear the grease off ,and off down the road again.
The few drivers we passed had some sense anyway ,most being careful with the steering and brakes,so we only saw one accident where someone had left the road on a bend,but only the car was damaged anyway.
By the time we got to the oxfordshire border it was dark with the temperatures dropping fast 10 below,and the battery on the car stating to freeze,so ,i borrowed a few clothes and stuck them around the battery casing which,after a five minute wait with the engine running to warm the engine compartment up seemed to work okay..
By the time we got the cars unloaded and had a drink we were so tired that it was off to bed.
Be back later with an update ,but i am now away to get some porridge for brekkie ,lol.Fred.

hello everyone,had to get up an hour ago with stomach pains,should not have had a mince pie ,with a cup of tea at 9pm!! Have taken some Gaviscon and its working now,been checking on my hot matches ,which I am not up to date with ,but am off back to bed now.Its really cols and I am wrapped up like the mitchellin tyre man in two dressing gowns and a blanket..Its supposed to be -14 tonight all i know is ...its cold.No snow up to now ,but its been forecast.
There are not many roads which have been gritted and its a disgrace,John to me work today as he had to go to our doctors for his prescripton ,and thats near where I was working ,they wanted us opened til 8pm,but my team leader let some of us go at 7,as we only had a handfull of people in!!on the pc.s no one had any books etc.
Off back to bed.noe my tummy has stopped growling !!
Fred hope you are ok,and not frozen out.
Brenda

Goodmorning I do hope you are all managing to keep warm in your freezing weather ! I dont think I should ever complain about our weather again Its a nice time of the year and I am able to spend a lot of time out in garden
Margaret

goodmorning no one is around I guess the weather is to blame I see it was -15 in manchester yesterday just like our cold weather I hope you all are well and safe take care dorothy

goodmorning I have just been reading about all the school closing due to the snow and anne has just phoned me from bury brenda to say she has 10 inches of snow in her gardens, but as she put it it is very pretty she does not remember ever having seen so much snow in my old home town, her daughter is working from home in whitefield and her other daughter who teaches in ramsbottom was sent home, so I hope that you don;t have to go to work to-morrow brenda even if the library is within walking distance you don't want to slip on the ice and snow and hurt your knee more, another cold morning here and a little snow but not too much. anne mentioned that the red dahlia is now a tv series but we have not got it over here as yet. my friend who has the artificial left venticle machine in his chest has had two call for another heart but both times it didnot work out the first heart had a lung attached so it went to another person with good results and the other one while it was a match they felt that it was not going to be much help as one of the valves was a bit wonky but he is in good spirts and still hopeful, he is at hoem with this implant and has to stay within 4hrs of the hospital at all times well time to get this day moving bye for now dorothy

goodmorning I have just been reading about all the school closing due to the snow and anne has just phoned me from bury brenda to say she has 10 inches of snow in her gardens, but as she put it it is very pretty she does not remember ever having seen so much snow in my old home town, her daughter is working from home in whitefield and her other daughter who teaches in ramsbottom was sent home, so I hope that you don;t have to go to work to-morrow brenda even if the library is within walking distance you don't want to slip on the ice and snow and hurt your knee more, another cold morning here and a little snow but not too much. anne mentioned that the red dahlia is now a tv series but we have not got it over here as yet. my friend who has the artificial left venticle machine in his chest has had two call for another heart but both times it didnot work out the first heart had a lung attached so it went to another person with good results and the other one while it was a match they felt that it was not going to be much help as one of the valves was a bit wonky but he is in good spirts and still hopeful, he is at hoem with this implant and has to stay within 4hrs of the hospital at all times well time to get this day moving bye for now dorothy

Hi All,just a few line from a very white manchester ,we must have had another 4 inches at least last night.John went out in the garden to put a fat ball feeder up for the birds and it came over the tops of his boots.!!!
Work phoned me earlier to tell me to go to my nearest library tomorrow,with the weather being bad.
I can walk there ,so it should not be that bad!!
Have text a few friends to see how they got on ,but they haven't got back yet,home they where ok.
David walks to work but it must have been awful when he wnet out at 5.30am.
Going for a nice bowl of hot soup,tinned I am sorry to say as I don't have mch fresh stuff in till I go shopping on Friday or should I say If,!!!
Take care
brenda

hi everyone from a very cold and I mean cold barrie -25 with the wind chill I went out to-day to the library but was glad to get home my family came for dinner yesterday evening and we had a good time the food turned out well and the chocolate truffle christmas log was a big hit I confess fred I bought I did not make it. yes brenda anne told me she has another 3inches of snow you are having it quite bad. I was interested in the heating allowance we do not get it over here we should it would be a big help. yesterday the service for the 5 killed in the war was shown a s the bodies arrived home it was very sad but done with such dignity, then they headed down the highway that is called the highway of heros into toronto. the bridges and over passess are alway lined with people to pay their respects even in the freezing cold the governor general always attends we don't hid our dead as the americans do but this war does not seem to be doing much good. well that is it from me take care bye dorothy

Kathleen,

I just spotted your comment about the £25 heating allowance during the cold weather. My Mum-in-law did get a letter today, saying she will be getting the extra while the average temperature is below freezing.

Elisabeth
xx

Hi all,just aquick hello as i am on work,had to come in early as one of the other ladies had a berevement,!!!
Weather still cold and looks like rain or sleet so hope it doesn't freeze!!! ,good job i am not working tomorrow,it will be bad going home tonight..
Better go and sort some shelving out.see you all tomorrow,
take care
Brenda

Hello everyone, we had a nice covering of ice over everything today, it has not completely disappeared in fact it is now turning all white again. Some of the cars opposite my house have not lost their icy coats all day but at least it is dry and no more snow.

Fred, my nephew and his family went to his in-laws in Poland for Christmas. He was looking forward to having a lovely white Christmas - but was disappointed as it was +7 there. He will be gutted to know that the snow came after he left. My g.son went back to Newcastle on Sunday, he loves it there and has spent all his time at home telling everyone who will listen just how great a place Newcastle is. He is at Northumbria Uni, doing really well and thoroughly enjoying it all.

Brenda, those household accounts books are very difficult to find but well worth hunting for as they are, indeed, very useful and much better than using a spreadsheet. I'm looking for one as well but with no luck so far.
Don't blame you not wanting to venture out in the snow and ice, it is a nightmare trying to walk around, not knowing quite where to put your feet.
Locally I try to walk on the grassy verges (where there are any) as it isn't quite so bad but of course in town that isn't possible.
Interesting that the Met Office forecast this would be a very mild winter (like they forecast a "barbecue summer" last year).
Don't know if you have seen but in my paper recently I read that pensioners should keep their heating on and we will get paid an extra £25 (won't go far with current fuel prices) no need to claim as it will be paid automatically - didn't say when though.
Will be taking my tree down tomorrow, I don't put it up until Christmas Eve and 12 days is long enough for me. Only do the 12 days of Christmas.
Dorothy, hope you don't get too much of that white fluffy stuff - I remember how it was for you last year. You seemed to get so much of it and it went on for so long.

Hope you all keep well.
Take care
Love
Kathleen