General Chat

hi everyone well fred you are on a spending spree it is amazing how lots of things break down all at once but never mind I always say you can't take it with you, the bulbs sound great are snowdrops hard to find the ones that I brought back from tesco for my friend isobelle three years ago are still coming up well and have spread so she is very pleased . and your meal out sounded like a lot of fun glad to hear that liz is better, and brenda hope your lunch goes well I have just finished breakfast and all this talk about food is making me hungry again. stayed up late last night watching the tennis we are getting about 14hrs of it a day , I see from the english papers that wayne rooney is in the news such a silly man they get paid too much what was he thinking. the first day of school went well for the family they seem pleased with the teachers they have, and lindy is only covering 7 teachers this year instead of the 17 she had last year so she is teaching grades 1-3 she is what they call over here a planning time teacher each teacher gets an amount of time each day to plan their times and classes and linda teaches their classes while they do that plus the basket ball team as the 2nd coach I don't quite get it but she is pleased. we have had some cool and rainy days but I don't mind after the heat wave I even got a lot of chores done yesterday .hope the trip to cornwall goes well fred sounds great well that is it for me this morning take care bye dorothy

afternoon from Fred who is just now sitting down after a very busy day ,eeeeh i is sore ,but happy that everything is done that was sort of urgent.
Washing machine to start off first ,with the bedsheets and duvet covers in.then it was upstairs with a cuppa for the wife.
Then it was turn off the freezer ,unload it and start the defrost ,which takes me nearly two hours before i can start putting all the stuff back in,prior to starting it up again[i even sent the Japanese soldier i found in the corner of the bottom drawer ,back to the toy box] don't ask ,lol.
Next job is ,live out of it for meals for the next three weeks ,so that by the time the new freezer comes ,all the stuff will go in it.
Made the brekkie ,three crumpets [out of the freezer] ,with a note to tell the wife NOT to buy any more offers from Morrison's crumpets ,buy one get one free ,there were 4 packets she had stuffed in the freezer ,bloody woman ,he he.don't want to see any more in a shopping basket until after Christmas.
The new hoover is a smasher ,far more powerful than the old one ,but the hose is the same fitting size to tool ,so i can still use the power brush for issy hairs ,he he,AND the new one sits on the stairs easily so it won't keep sliding off like the old one.
By the time i had the hoovering done ,and the washing out it was time to start the dinner ,and that done i was knackered and went for a lay down for a good hour.
I got to Morrison's between deliveries Brenda,and most of the spring bulbs had been snaffled ,but i will go up again tomorrow and get hold of a couple of dozen,but i was happy with the ones i got the last time i was in ,and still have a full bag of Crocus for the back garden ,and some dwarf daffs for out front ,all i need now is some dry weather to put them in .
Know what you mean Dorothy ,my youngest lad put the flags out yesterday when all the bairns went back to school ,he he ,he said the first hour was bliss ,the second hour was too quiet and the third hour ,he was bored ,no pleasing some people is there?
Well. i am off to start the tea ,not much to get ready really ,two small tubs ,out of the freezer of soup ,wahey, that's four items out in a day ,we is getting there ,lol
Catch you all later Fred.

had to delete last message sounded gibberish when I had read it back,Glad every one ok with going back to school.etc.
Good to hear you are enjoying the tennis Dorothy and that Fred is looking after Liz hope you enoyed the crumpets Liz sounds like me with the two for one offers.
\the lunch was good but \i was carefull what I had as my stomch was a bit iffy again and has been a bit off tonight again.something doesn't agree with me will have to find out what,
Cuupa tea just appeared so I better get it drank,ee you all soon.Brenda

hi gosh fred myday has not even started and after reading your last post I am exhausted you are one busy guy, hope you find the bulbs that you want and the new vac sounds great , brenda glad you enjoyed you lunch it is nice to get out for lunch I think, well anne called me yeaterda and she was over the moon she recieved a call yesterday and she has a date of the op on the other eye sept 30th so she does not have to wait till the end of november I am so pleased for her it is times like these when I wish I was closer and could help her out as she recovers. again a dull morning a little cool and rainy but as I am in for another day of tennis that is ok, the match last night with roger and soderling was wonderful and roger won.my son called in yesterday with an update on the children and his flying plans. fall activities are now in place wed. Ian has trambaline with some friends thurs guitar lesson, laura swimming also bryan, then friday and saturday hockey for bryan. andrew is fitting in his trips to the east coast around my apts good lad,and then I think they are signing the family up for a winter program of ski-ing and snow boarding they get a family pass for the seaon it is cheaper that way and the kids love it and both parent ski plus lindys mom is signing up again at the age of 71 she is a very good skier, and of course I won't be doing that not my thing too cold I just sit by the fire in the chalet with a good book and the odd brandy. well time to get the day on the way bye for now dorothy

just a quick line before the battery goes on the lap top,glad about anne and her op Dorothy,and tha family sound so busy i was going dizzy with there activities,Glad you are still enjoyinh the tennis.weather wet today and getting wetter ovet the weekend.
Hope Fred is ok and not to shatters with Liz being out of action.see you tomorrow
brenda

Afteroon all,not a bad day in Newcastle after a very wet start ,he he ,i just had time to gather a few runners off the plants before the heavens opened yet again, but no matter ,i got the beans picket ,a large cabbage dtitto ,and a red onion for today's dinner ,and beat a quick retreat into the kitchen ,just in time too ,lol
My carrot and parsnip are some size now Brenda ,so yours can't be far behind ,if they arn't in front of mine.already .i won't bother with red onions next year ,these ones arn't toobad ,but they are p-rone to bolting even from seed ,so i will be back to the Ailsa Craig next year,a very large white onion that keeps well ,and has a nice mildish taste.
Liz is starting toget around okay again ,but i noticed that she has lost a bit of ground this time ,so i still need to see about this stair lift to help her up and down the stairs
Two weeks and we will be in Cornwall ,yippee can't wait ,ineeds a break ,but it isn't so bad ,he he ,once back home after the two weeks away ,and we only have a week before we are off to Blackpool ,,crafty or what
The youngest son is going to come up while we are in Cornwall and decorate the bedroom and bathroom for us ,and the other son has just finished the toilet ,and that will do for the upstairs
Next year it's the hall and stairs ,and the front room,the kitchen i managed this last spring myself.
The fire is in and commisioned ,and the front room put to rights ,so now ,i can ,no matter what keep the wife and myself warm this winter,a little forward planning never comes in wrong,at.the end of the day.
Glad to hear that your is' seems to be getting there Dorothy ,hears to her ,and you ,being back to normal long before Christmas which is now galloping towards us again .
off for a look aroundsmy domain before the rain comes back ,hope everyone is having a good weekend ,Fred.

Evening all,after a very wet start it was a nice day til tea time when the heavens openedagain,Hope its dry tomorrow have some visits to my brother s and then my sisters planned.Glad to hear your all organized fred ,and that Liz is on the mend,good idea to carryon with the chairlift.
,i am not doing bad with my holiday plans just over a week to go and when we get back we have 9 weeks till we go again,but in between i want to get my christmas presents sorted have a few ideas what i am getting and need to stick to my budget this year.!!!
have to start my cakes as soon as i get back was going to start this weekend but deceided to wait.
have done the alterations to the pants i have bought for my holidays I always have to turn them up even the cropped pants.,
Hope Dorothy is still enjoying the tennis.
see you all tomorrow,Brenda,

hi one and all all this talk about holidays is starting to make me a little envious but then I only have to take a short drive and I am up in the lakes and the beautiful wild views so I should not complain but you have to go so far in this country for a major change of scene ie a 4 hour flight to my sisters in calgary. yes brenda I was enjoying the tennis till late yesterday afternoon when my favourite player roger lost the semi finals to a chap I don't like as he has a bad attitude and his parents in the stands are very rude and have been escorted out in the past. in the morning the building had a yard sale the 2nd one this summer rather like a boot sale without the boot it went well. all the new programs on the tele start next week and eastenders is being brought back not the bbc program but another it disapeared at the beginning of the summer we are years behind ie this week on corrie tony gordon confessed and is in jail. and we are getting season 3 of lewis I do like that. may go over to the family for dinner this evening after the tennis final but have not really made up my mind. well take to shower etc and get this sunday started bye for now dorothy

HI All,have been to bed and slept for about an hour then that little switch went on and I am wide awake!
Came on the pc expecting loads of emails as I have not been on today ,and found two but they were really advert things so don't count as I just delete them.
Was going out today to see my sister and my brother,but arrangements got changed as My sister was working an extra shift and my brother was out when I phoned to tell him I was coming .He is normally in on Sunday as they have the family round for lunch but they went out today so I am going one night in the week as he is 60 on Thursday,but will be at work during the day.so I will have to go at night.
Hope you had a nice dinner with the family if you went Dorothy,sorry about Roger I must admit I have not really been following it this time.Hope Fred is ok .Our carrots sort of withered Fred we only got a hand full.We think we should have spread them out more into another trough ,will do that next year.Tomatoa srgood.Best success we have had really. See you all tomorrow.Brendae

hi its wednesday about 8-30 my time on a gray rainy looking day hope you slept better brenda the last 2 nights I have been looking after Ian for the last 2 days as he has pneumonia quite a sick boy andrew is working from home to-day so I am off for a long overdue haircut etc. and back over for the day to-morrow as he has an early morning meeting at head office and of course lindy is teaching I don't mind he is an easy patient . plus of course I get to use the wonderful big washer etc so if it is not nailed down I bring a load over there can freshen up the winter parka's and other bulky stuff. spoke to anne this am and it was raining in bury , her oldest granson totalled his car on the week-end in a freaky accident but it was not his fault apparently but he is ok so as anne is not driving at the moment she has loaned her daughter her car I guess it was really his mothers car, he left on sunday for sheffield university so all is well with him I guess. nothing much new over here at the moment has fred and liz left for cornwall already I seem to have lost track of time it will soon be your holidays brenda. just finished ready tony blairs book not that great of a read when all is said and done, bye for now dorothy

We have a really horrible day here today .very windy .very wet and very cold.!!!
Had to go to town on a couple of errands and was going to have a bit of a look round but after I had done the second and last errand i was fed up.my umbrella kept blowing inside out and my hood would not stay up on my coat!!my hair got all wet and frizzy!! so I gave up and got the bus home luckily they are every ten minutes.
got to go out to my brothers now ,he is 60 tomorrow ,was going Sunday and he went out unexpectantly ,so was going last night ,then he phoned to say he was going to a football match Man Utd.He has just got a season ticket so did not want to miss it/ I can not go tomorrow or friday and he goes on holiday to Benidorm on saturday,so It has to be today.
Hope your grandson is doing ok dorothy ,good job you are avaialable ,.Hope the weather is better in Cornwall for Fred and he has taken his laptop to keep in touch..Have to go now ,see you tomorrow.Brenda

Morning peeps ,blast it ,i have managed to do it again ,[groan] wrote a long message ,and somehow managed to lose it somewhere on the plurry laptop by hitting a wrong key somewhere down the left side of the keyboard,so ,here we go again.
The winds three days ago lasted at lest 36 hours with no chance of working in the garden ,so we both decided ,[the boss a good bit better] to start some decorating .
So ,old Fred ,fights the back door ,the gate ,and the shed door in the wind ,and starts to get the decorating gear out ,turns round at a really strong gust of wind to see what i'm still sure was powder snow ,blowing every which way ,which thankfully only lasted a minute or so,seeing as it was forcast up country ,i reckon it was blown down from the borders ,only forty miles away,but it goes to show ,even up there it's very very early.
We managed to finish the toilet and bathroom last night anyway ,leaving only the master bedroom to finish when we come back from Cornwall.
We leave on Tuesday of next week for Oxford,where we will stay until Friday morning ,before going on to Cornwall,for two weeks.
I made some nice Pannini's for dinner a couple of days ago with the rolls we got from Morrison's ,£1 for five ,cut in half ,and filled with a scice of Emmental cheese,a slice of Parma Ham, sliced tomatos. onion rings,and another slice of cheese,then placing the top on before shoving them into the press.
They were lush ,done with a few salt and pepper wedges .mmmmmm.
Yesterday we had curry from Morrisons ,a two serving one ,reduced to £3,which went down very well ,and today i am doing chicken breast ,stuffed with chive and soft cheese,wrapped in streaky bacon [cheaper and tastier than Parma] with new tatties par boiled ,and chopped into chunks,then fried in the pan with a little oil.
Yep Brenda ,the little Packard Bell 10" notebook is up and running,packed in it's own little case along with the power cord and a little slim external dvd drive to enable me to download pic's and programmes from disc instead of over the internet.
Hope Ian soon recovers Dorothy,not a nice thing for anyone to get ,but i expect the doc will inject him as soon as he is better so that he can never catch it again.
Ann's grandson was very lucky to get off without injury ,it's a sad fact that most accidents see the innocent party getting hurt ,while the other driver gets away scot free..
Some of the insurance firms have woken up to this now and cover for uninsured drivers ,so that the customer dosn't lose their no claims bonus ,i think ALL companies should by law HAVE to cover for this.
All uninsured drivers should be jailed for 12 months even if they have caused no injury and be forced to take another test,and any that havn't taken the test should be banned for five years ,and again jailed for a minimum of twelve months upto a maximum of ten years if they cause bad injuries or death,the law is too lax in Britain.
Looking forward to a full day in Bath ,with my camera,so much i didn't see last time round,and i am going prepared camers wise too ,4 cards ,each of 4 gig ,and a stick to load onto my laptop if i do run out of space ,lol.
Catch you all later ,Fred.

Evening all,well Fred you put us all to shame with your decorating and cooking etc.!! I thought i was doing well getting my holiday clothes ironed ready to pack!!
Been to my Spanish class today and really enjoyed it ,have been looking on Amazon for the text book they are using ,they are not provided .As its the college of the 3rd age and all the teachers/helpers etc are all volunteers.You pay a joining fee for the year and can take as many classes as you want ,but pay a class fee for each class you attend which goes to the council for the use of the classrooms etc. I was given the ISBN number but it was not reaconised but when I keyed the title in it came up with a very different ISBN number ,the front cover looks the same so Isuppose it could be just a different edition,the tutor did say there is not much difference in them and if we wanted to but a second hand one or older edition theat would be ok.I will sort it oout tomorrow.Weather has been sunnish but very windy again today.Hope Dorothy and her grandson are ok and he is recovering well.Better goo and have my cup of tea got shouted to come and get it a while back !!
See you all tomorrow.Brendaw

hi thursday eve my time 8pm yes Ian is improving a little he ate more for me to-day and did some homework in the morning and a little more in the afternoon the joys of having a mom for a teacher she makes sure stuff is sent ot him then he had a go at his guitar after all that he had a nap. I shall be back there to -morrow as andrew has two new hires he has to oversee he thought that would be finished to-day but I guess their plane arrived late. and then again on saturday I don't mind it takes my mind off me, well brenda our weather can match yours it poured rain all day and it was cold and damp, you are right fred has been busy again between the decorating and the meals what a guy. hope that both your holidays go well, I am now going to go and make a coffee and get ready to watch a new episode of law and order uk I quite like it take care bye dorothy

Morning all .well ,what a night we have had ,still pretty windy out there but in a way i was glad ,it ,i reckon ,stopping the arrival of the autumns first frost ,which i can do without ,there being a couple of small courgettes still forming on the plants.
I pulled 4 lbs of runners off the plants first thing this morning [6 am ] and froze them down in case we have frosts before we come back.and last evening i put the 60 .spring daff' bulbs in out front ,along with another 100 crocus ,so that's it now ,we should have a lovely show next year starting late Feb' to March.
It's a lovely sunny morning here ,maybe a day of the Indian summer we usually get at this time of year ,he he,but the garden is off the menu today ,packing to do ,after going to Curry's to buy some of the mini dvd discs the wife needs for the camera,and a camera to jack cable she needs to put the films onto disc when she gets home,he he ,there was panic last night when i couldn't find the driver for the camera ,lol ,it wasn't in the case ,but then daft old git Fred remembered ,i had put it upstairs with all the other driver discs ,so that i knew where it was ,he he ,did i get my wrist slapped and my ears bent [ouch] but all's well and the missus is loading the driver into her puter now ,[i will put it into my big laptop too when she isn't around ,cause Liz isn't too clever with that sort of thing ,if you know what i mean [little snigger ].bless her cotton socks.
Have to go shopping now but will be back later .
Glad to hear that the bairn is improving Dorothy,Fred.

Evening all,we have had a better day weather wise today,still a bit windy but a lot drier.
went out to lunch today with the friends we go away with,as they are not coming this time ,we had a spot of lunch together.It was really good and the sun was shining when we sat on the veranda (under cover but outside) to have coffe afterwards and pretended we were all together on holiday !! we are all going together in December.Have managed to do most of my ironing which is on hangers all over the dining room, ready to put in the case on Monday.
Glad Ian is on the mend Dorothy,and that he is helping you in a round about wayWell fred you are still putting us to shame with all your organisation. I am not at all organised at the minute,but am planning to get back into a routine when I get back from holiday.
John has some ideas to impove where we are putting the grow bags etc for next year so the garden is geting straight..we are looking forward to some sun and relaxing on holiday ,even since finishing work I feel the need to relax. See you to morow ,brenda.

Morning to all,just just finished preparing the dinner for four ,in case the grandson turns up ,the grand daughter is already here her parents sibling ,and eldest son being down in Bristol doing a de lux wedding video ,requiring three cameras.Can't complain ,the son in law screwing his head on right ,from the start ,sending out over a hundred demo vid's far and wide,now after ten months months and many satisfied customers and word of mouth spreading the news as well,he has a full order book up until the end of November.
I succumbed to curiosity last night Brenda and pulled the carrot from out of the onion tub to see what it was like ,and WOW,if only i had grown two as big as this when i was showing veggies in my allotment day's i would have got first prize for them,this carrot was10" round the shoulder and eight inches in length ,a big carrot for a stump root variety,and i couldn't help taking a pic of it.
I needed to because it is already in the steamer for dinner it being well big enough to feed four for dinner,along with some nice cabbage ,some calabrese and yet more runners the he,the only thing brought was the tatties.
Seeing as the carrot was in the box which had been manured for onion ,i was suprised that the roots didn't fork,but ,no matter ,that box will be used for carrot next year ,and the box used for carrot will be manured ,and used for the red onion,so ,as with the buckets i use the newer idea for raised beds ,only adding new stuff each year ,never turning soil out and replacing it,a waste of time ,and nutrients.
We are still clearing out the master bedroom ,ready to decorate when we come home,but apart from that are having a lazy morning.
This afternoon i take the boss to have her hair done,and take the car along the road to have it cleaned inside and out,and then ,after picking her up,go to do some last minute shopping.
Time to check the dinner now ,so i will away ,have and set the table ,so,have a good weekend all,Fred.

good saturday morning wow fred that must be a carrot to end all carrots hope you enjoyed it you will have a great display after the number of bulbs you have planted, brenda glad you had a nice day out with your friends and good luck with all the packing. to-day I am back over at the family home lindy has to go with her sister to kitchener and bring their mothers car back to janes house for when their mom arrives back from a cruise on the river seine and a tour of france!! they apparently took a limo to the airport courtesy of their travel place it is a 2hr trip their and back,but lindy recieved a nice promotion at work she now has her own grade 4 class teaching them everything but french so instead of covering the planning time for 7 teachers she will be in one place of course this came out of the blue so to-morrow she has to run around and get the classroom in place the previous teacher taking all the wall stuff with her one would think this could have been given to her 2 weeks ago at the start of school but the simco school board is known for doing things a** backwards. I am not going over as early as I did in the week as the 2 older ones can keep an eye on things till I make my entrance about 9-30. andrew has cancelled his trip down east to help lindy out this week and will go in a couple of weeks he is at a business golf tournement to-day. I must say I have enjoyed this week sorry that ian was ill but it was grand to feel usefull and put the old nursing skills in place well off to the sower have a good week-end and enjoy your holidays bye dorothy

What a horrible start to The Great North Run,damp and miserable,i was going to take the wife and grand bairns down to Shields this afternoon ,but i am not taking Liz out in this ,just before going on holiday ,lol, otherwise she is bound to get the sniffles the first week down there ,and that will never do.
I have now found a programme that will copy the discs from the camera,onto D V D ,so that we can reuse the camera discs ,that are re writers,but i am still buying four ones for the trip ,it being our first trip to Cornwall.
I have also brought a stick which fits the camera for still pics,so,what with that and four large cards for my fine pic' camera ,we should have plenty of recording time.
The external dvd disc external drive fits into the small computer case as well,neat eh? all weighing less than three pounds ,can't ask for more,and i can download onto the puter and send it home via email to the home hub.
I guess that our Brenda is busy seeing to the last minute packing ,get to it Lass he he ,but this idea of yours about needing to relax ,don't work ,trust me ,get used to the idea ,after a lifetime of work,you are screwed ,lol ,you will always be looking around for something to do.Brenda the beaver ,that's you.
The wife has just decided that we need to take the Acer on holiday too ,just in case we wish to watch a film in the evening,the small 10" puter being too small for this [groan] bang goes the three pound package idea ,but never mind ,the whole case will go into the bigger acer one ,so i will still have to carry only one case with it all in ,women, grrrrr.
Off now to take the wife her Sunday cuppa up ,but will be back later ,Fred

Hi Folks I am sorry i have been missing again ,like Fred said I was sorting out the holiday stuff ,we go at 7.10am tomorrow morning,as usual even with lots of planning we had loads to to last minute!!!
I have just to decide whether to have a bath wash hair etc and go to bed at 11 pm and get up at 3.30am or go to bed at 10pm and then get up and have a shower at 3.00am just before we leave at 4am for the airport!!! Think gettibg up will win as my hair looks like a birds nest when I get up and will not settle til wash and blown.How everyone else manages it I do not know.
You all sound in good spirirt s and very busy .Hope to get on here while away at least once ,if the internet place I go to is still open. So Pleased for your daughter in law Dorothy she deserves it,all the hard work she put in .And well done you daughter and son in law Fred it can't be easy getting staryed.
Have a good holiday in Cornwall Love and hugs to you all Brenda