General Chat

goodmorning I have some news re the family last year my daughter in law was able to teach at a school only about 5 miles away as she was filling in for another teacher until yesterday she did not know if she would be back or not, well the principal(headmaster) called her in for another interview and she has been given the job again starting to-morrow she is very pleased. simco county school board had laid off a lot of teachers and retired teachers can return to work so many hours so it is hard for the new teachers to obtain contracts. as I have mentioned lindy went back to university to obtain her teaching degree 3yrs ago. so when school returns next tuesday lindy will be going out in the morning with the children as well. of course andrew called to tell me the news and then to see if I could pop over wed and thurs am to keep an eye on the kids as the teachers go in a few days ahead of the rest. so I will enjoy that the children will be making good use of the pool for the next few days. they are allowed one friend each over while using the pool as long as they all can swim, they are usually quite responsible and one of the other parents usually comes over to be life guard as I don't think that I could haul someone out if in trouble I can swim but days of life saving are over. the children have grown up with the rules re the swimming pool quite clear . it was a bit chilly this morning only 4 degree's but a beautiful sunrise and it is so clear you can see for miles it will be hot later I like this kind of weather bye for now dorothy

Hi brenda ,your friend will enjoy beamish which is about 8 miles down the a1 from here,there is a complete little village with school room , a village main street with the tram stopping there at the terminus a nice shop [coop] store selling old sweets and cheeses ,and a tea room on the back,a drift mine ,village fair ,a working farm you can visit a transport museum and it's own branch railway.
Some of it your friend may recognize because it features a lot in period dramas and the like which saves the film companies having to make sets for filming scenes,i noticed it in The Cinder path.along with other Catherine Cookson period drama/ romances,and a few war film dramas.
A walk round Chester Le street is worth it too ,loads of shops and a couple of places doing pub means ,real carvery stuff at reasonable prices.
Never been to Bury ,never mind the market ,but next time we are down we will be doing a bit more exploring around Blackpool and maybe even a return visit to Manchester.
Enjoy the Bass Brenda ,even better go fishing for the day and catch our own off the beach ,lol
catch you all later,Fred
we go quite a lot ,seeing how much has changed since the last visit.

goodmorning it is a lovely ? fall morning a little on the cool side but sunny a high of 24 to-day good to read your news re bury market brenda I could just see you in my minds eye going to the cheese stall and the fish place made me quite homesick. I am going to pop out to the shops this morning and stock up a few more things for the company , the family where at the cottage for the week-end Bryan is to spend the morning at the high school to-morrow getting orientated to his schedule and see how to find his classes school starts next tuesday but they bring the new students in for the morning to get used to things he is really excited. hope you all are enjoying the bank holiday bye for now dorothy

Morning all.yesterday I sat and wrote a really good long message ,only to press the wrong key in a hurry and loose it all!
well I wonder when the 81 degrees that the weather people promised for today will happen and where....... its certainly not round here.
Having a slightly lazy day ,have just "read "my emails all 8 where junk.I have a few sniffles as well Fred hope you haven't sent anything catching down the wire. LOL
Went looking for new blinds for the dining room and kitchen on Saturday and yesterday ,but haven't seen what I want, at a price I want to pay.My friends friend does make some and I am thinking of getting a quote ,they will be made to measure so maybe slightly more than I was thinking off ,but they will not need to be altered.Plus I can choose my own material.
Have some ironing to do shortly as we are expecting some friends to drop in sometime later today ,just for a coffe they are dropping one thing off and pick something up.
Sylvia hope you are feeling better and that Johann is keeping well.
Fred watch those snakes etc don't want you being laid up over there do we.!!!My friend has booked a few days at Beamish and the area around ,is that near you ?
Dorothy,had a walk round Bury market on Saturday ,just got some new cushion covers for the sofas and some chair seat pads for the dining chairs,to brighten them up.Nearly got cheese from the cheese stall ,for a bit of a treat ..but the queue was really long!! so did not bother.But did get some sea bass from the fish market ,Enjoy the tennis.and your new books.
Better go and see what the noise is that John is making down stairs!!.
I am working all day tomorrow so will hopefully be on at lunch time.
Take care ,Brenda

Hi all from a snuffly Fred who has the dratted cold ,but ,never mind ,lol,far better now than in 4 weeks he he.
Hi Dorothy, poor puddy tat will be well looked after ,or i wouldn't be going ,the son will be staying here while we are away ,so she will be getting spoilt rotten.
Hi Brenda ,still no signs of slowing down yeet i see ,what are we going to do with you ,seems as though you enjoy your little outings though ,so ,when you do retire ,you will no doubt know what to do with yourself.
Do take it easy Sylvia ,Johan too ,things won't run away in the meantime ,so take your time ,and smell the flowers,lolo.
I have two of the grandbairns here this long weekend ,but ,i think they both go home today ,this afternoon ,then Liz and i can chill out,and have a relaxed little tea ,with bread buns i baked last evening and some home made soup ,probably potato and leek.
The best time of year is this ,nearly stowed out with veggies now ,and spoilt for choice.
Hope all have a nice end to the holiday ,take care all Fred.

goodmorning gosh sylvia I do hope that you johan are on the mend you have a rough go of it becareful with the pills, brenda glad you had a nice time at the lowry centre and fred christmas dinner allready good going, what a scare with the snake I am sure you are looking foreard to the trip to cyprus who is looking after your cat for you while you are away. not very much new at the momentother than my sister phoned to say she will be staying with me from the 10th of sept to the 16th in other words she will leave in the morning of the 16th as anne arrives in the afternoon hardly any in fact no time to tidy up between visitors, oh well it should all work out I guess, this week-end has been a cool and wet one but actually quite a nice relief from the humidity, the us open tennis starts to-morrow so it will be an enjoyable two weeks for me. well I am going to get ready and go to the library I have 7 books waiting to be picked up so bye for now dorothy

Hi all,
Wil try and type a few lines for you as I have so much pain in my arm and shoulder. I have an appointment with the orthopaedic specialist but 4 weeks is a long time when you are in pain. My doctor told me I could take double tablets, which I have been doing, with the result more sleep! Yesterday I thought I would just have a "nap"after dinner and fell asleep between 6 and 7 pm and woke up artound 8.00 am this morning. I asked Johan where my coffee was, which is standard after dinner for us.
I wanted to go away with my daughter to England for a few days but now don't like to leave Johan. Last Thursday I found him in a coma (diabetes hypo) His blood sugar had dropped dangerously low without any warning.
If I hadn't been home he wouldn't be alive now.
My ex son in law, bless him, brought us some tomatoes, leeks, beans from his allotment.
We are spoilt. The two women upstairs who also have an allotment brought me some fresh beetroot in the week.
Have a nice weekend everybody.
Sylvia xxx

Afternoon all ,at last,like Brenda ,i have a few minutes to myself ,after housework,garden work with weeding ,lawn and hedge trimming ,and yesterday ,at last getting next doors fence put up ,and if i say so myself did a very good job.
We have just come back from the sons after a practice Christmas dinner ,and very nice it was too[burp].
We have already been commandered for the Christmas tea,nice to be popular ,lol.one measl less to cook ,yeeeeees.
Well ,at last i found out just what the kerfuffel was in cyprus last week when Sean finally called after being discharged from the hospital.
It would seem that Shade [the cat] found a sleepy blunt nosed viper in the garden and decided to take it as a present to his master ,there being no mice around.
Shade marched indoors proud as punch and deposited this [not so sleepy] anymore snake at Sean's feet..
Even at this stage all would have been well ,this is not an aggressive snake ,and would have slithered away wanting only to get away,but no ,one plonker of a grandson decides to pick it up by the tail,of COURSE the snake bit him,the blunt nose dosn't let go of a victim preffering to hang on ,move it's jaws from side to side pumping more and more venom in to the wound.
Sean is a lucky lad but ,i bet he won't make that mistake again,he he.
Four weeks and a bit,and we will be there for 6 weeks ,but i tell you what ,i will be keeping a VERY good eye on the cat ,AND checking under the bed at night ,lol,i kid you not.
I am having the day off tomorrow ,so ,i will see you all later.Fred.

Good morning,hope you are all alright,?? I seem to be on the Marie Celeste?
Did not have chance to come on here yesterday,got up late,then had to make a couple of phone calls then received a few.
Went to meet my friend,we had a nice few hours at the Lowry ,a shopping centre not far away ,we got several bits and peices.Saw some lovelly shoes ,which I need for work,hoping to go back when I will have more time to get them.
Had a sandwich and cup of tea there for lunch.Our other friend who works there managed to join us,which was great..
Came home and was going to do the weekly shop,but the rain was bouncing!! will have to go this afternoon. My son was on here after tea and I had develped a headache,so did not get here..
Hoping to go and look at some blinds for the kitchen this morning ,also need to get some cushion covers I seem to have got rid of my "spare set"
might also get some cushions for the dining room chairs ,the seats are dark brown leather,and I want to brighten them up abit.
Hoping to get back later ,Take care
Brenda

have been sat for hours sorting out some papers in one small expanding folder,!!!why do we keep so much stuff!!have a small carrier bag of papers to either burn or shred and compost.I was looking for an old statement from last year,and thought the folder needed a sort out there was bills and statements from 2004,I thought I was good at keeping things organised ,but apparently not.
I am meeting my friend tomorrow and going to either the Lowry Centre or Bury ,depends on the weather,
we will have a light lunch somewhere ,
Hope you managed to have a lighter day food wise Dorothy,I am at a stage where I need a bit more will power / encouragement or something as I am struggling .!!!
Speak to you all soon.Take care Brenda

goodmorning kathleen enjoy your trip, and brenda I hope you enjoy your time off spoke to anne yesterday and she said it was pouring down, I had a food day yesterday first of all a friend came for lunch she was on her way further up north to stay with some friends for a few days so she popped in and we went to the red bull for lunch they serve the best bangers and mash, then when I got home there was a mesage from Ian on the machine"grandma mom is cooking a turkey why don't you come for supper?dinner so off I went, to-day I am dieting!! the wether remains good at the moment but they say we are in for a wet week-end but that's ok as I am going to have a mini fall cleaning session befor the company comes. take care all of you bye for now dorothy

Hello,well its drier and a little warmer than last night,managed to get t o sleep very quickly,but did not manage the early night.
Still I have had a good morning and this afternoon should go better as we have three staff not two which means we can watch the junior section better when the little darlings are in. Off for four days after today, till Tuesday,having lunch break at minute.need to check my emails ,see you later or tomorrow.
Brenda

Evening all.froma windy and wet Manchester.
Really tired tonight ,did some extra hours at work today as there are lots of people either sick or on holiday.Have a full day tomorrow ,so am hoping to get an early night and sleep well.!!!
Looking forward to the weekend,but the weather again seems to be unkind.
Hope you have a good visit Kathleen.
Hope you get the medication sorted Dorothy,,take care of yourself.
Brenda

Good morning all. a bit windy but now bright and dry. We had some rain through the night and early morning - doing my cucumbers a power of good, they are growing really well. The peppers also - not bad for two rescued plants that looked about to give up the ghost when I bought them. Tomatoes not doing too well though there are a few fruits, plants are growing like trees but not setting fruit. However, the brambles that have invaded all through the shrubs on one side have yielded a good crop of blackberries - not going to chop them down just yet as the berries are really delicious.

I may not be around much for the next four weeks, off on Friday morning to drive up to Solihull. Still trying to make up my mind whether to use the M40 or avoid the motorways altogether. Difference in travelling time is about an hour but doing the "scenic" route gives more opportunity to stop and take a break. Originally intended going up on Thursday afternoon but have decided to wait until Friday mid-morning. I just hope the weather will be better this year, for the past two years during my time up there it has been cold and wet for much of the time. My eldest g.son will be off to Newcastle on the 11th then it will just be me, the youngest g.son and Poppy the cat.
I will have use of their computer so can keep in touch though Dan is interested in my research so will probably spend time doing a lot more of that - two heads are better than one when trying to think of places to look and two pairs of eyes tend to see more.
Hope you all keep well and happy.
Take care
Love
Kathleen

goodmorning gosh brenda you have had fun with the bank credit card and genes, at least you have a long week-end to look foreward too, not much new over here this week having been doing some work for the charity and thinking about doing some shopping for when the company comes. we are having hot and humid weather at the moment but I am making the most of it, had a visit with the family doc yesterday for drug renewals and found out my blood pressure has dropped to 104/40 quite low so that meant a med change I feel fine but he was not happy , I see the cardiac specialist in oct so we shall see if any other changes are needed, low is better than high I guess bye for now dorothy

Morning all.sorry I have been missing again,have been sorting out my family tree,seems I might have been given some duff info on my fathers side ,its way back and I had no way of checking and assumed it was right!!!so put it on my tree,still sorting it out.Might have to delete some info if I can not verify what i was given, not sure what that would do to my tree.
Also been sorting out a problem with my bank and credit card .
Thought this card was cancelled last year ,but it wasn't closed altogether even thougth I was not sent a card when the old one expired!! It is the one I pay my Genes renewal on and in June they took payment and I thought it was from my new card,but it wasn't.The bank said I had a statement ,which I have no trace off ,which I did not pay so this week I got a reminder letter asking for the £9. 0dd for the genes renewal ,and 12,60 for the interest and non payment .!!
I phoned the bank ,who where really good and cancelled the £12.60 and took the £9.odd oayment.
I can not cancel the account yet as the payment needs to go througth all the channels etc.
Got on to the genes account part of my membership and can not change the account from which they take payments unless I upgrade!!!!! Which will cost £30 something pounds every 6 months.
Don't want to upgrade ,so will either have to keep credit card account open for genes,or close it and when genes take payment and it is refused next year,will have to rejoin I think and loose my coninued membership.I am looking into this again,but anyone know what happends incases like this??
See you all tomorrow ,Brenda
I was working yesterday and it was really busy with the kids ,they are so noisy and some are really cheeky,was glad to finish lats night.On work today at 12.30.till 8 pm,not my favourite shift or library,so I just want to get it over.Have a half day tomorrow and a full day on Thursday to work,then have Friday,Sat ,Sun and Monday off.!!!

Morning all ,and a special morning to Dorothy after those football results,we could do with them over here ,i think Newcastle could do with them ,lol.
It couldn't have come at a better time for you all too ,those pic's i saw of the hurricane damage were horrific,and Hurricane Bill seems to be on it's way to you now but hopefully it will have lost all it's strength before it reaches you.
The weather has gone crazy this year ,even Greece has been hit hard with wild fires, cor ,us brits have a lot to be thankful for .
Liz and i did go out early in the week for a meal,and we settled on the Astley Arms,at Seaton Sluice [a Crown Carvery] and had a lovely meal,well cooked .hot and lovely meat ,one slice of each,turkey,beef,and gammon,the veggies you had to help yourself to,and we had cauli done polish style ,[yum] beans ,diced carrot ,roast shallots.roast ,and new potatoes.gravy ,and a choice of condiments, with a veeery hot english mustard,horseradish sauce ,medium heat,and even mint sauce,.
This delightful meal cost £3-75p apiece and waqas soooo good ,we said we would be back ,lol
We were still stuffed the next day thaqt we had toast ,[two slices] for dinner ,and a light salad for tea.[burp].
oh ,and we had a bowl of strawberries with cream for dessert .
We arn't doing too well with the veggie patch this year ,too cold ,not enough sun ,and far too wet,the beans are already dying off ,but at least ,i have a dozen bags in the freezer for the winter,which is better than nothing.
The calabrese don't look too bad ,and the brussel are doing well,but the beetroot and sweede look a little iffy at the present time.
I won't be growing cabbage next year [apart from the kale],i will try perpetual spinach instead ,seeing as they are like the kale and calabrese,pull a bit odd and leave it to grow on,and the spinach has such a long season,from july ,right through to spring,must useful for a winter veg.
Pity about the strawberry season though ,hundreds of berries on the plants ,but because of the lack of warmth and sun ,they won't ripen,but ,there is always next season.
They will overwinter in with the apple tree and plum ,the apples look good,and i may just get the first plum next year with any luck.
Hope everyone has a nice weekend ,see ya later peeps,Fred

hi what a great day I have had the weather stayed fine and no too hot and the soccer games went quite well Ians team played first and after a tie game and two five minute overtime games ( they are only 10) they won on a shoot out, they were thrilled as they had not expected to make the finals as they lost a few games early in the season and today with it being holiday time some of the team were away they ended up with only one sub and the team they played led the league all season to say they were excited was an understatement, but lauras team were not so lucky they had no subs and again four of the top players were away anyway they tried there best but lost 7-0 but they gave it there best shot and that is all that counts we were proud of her efforts anyway these are 12 yr old girls . so now I am resting up after cheering all day but it was fun hope you all are having a good week-end bye dorothy

hi kathleen yes my family and friends are quite safe in all that damage only one death happened an 11yr old boy and one man suffered a heart attack at least that is what they have reported, as rain and thunder are in the forecast for to-day not sure if the soccer championships are going to take place but it is only 8-45 am so have not heard from the family as yet so we shall see bye for now dorothy

Hi Dorothy, just read your latest message (just off to bed). How dreadful that so much damage happened in such a short time. We have no control over Mother Nature and she can certainly cause a lot of problems. You do seem to have had some extremes of weather over the past few months.

Hope you and all your family and friends are safe.

Take care
Love
Kathleen