General Chat

Hi Fred ,all the snow was gone on Sunday ,but caused a few problems while it was here.
We had to be pushed up an incline to get out of the golf club on friday after my brother in laws 60th birthday party. mind you we weren't on our home,the staff at the club were gtreat.
Not been out shopping today had a few other things to do .It only started to rain about 4 o'clock,
Don't blame you having words with the neigbour about parking across your drive.
Just having a chilli tonight I made two the other week and froze one and this is the frozen one, doing plain boiled rice with oi.
Better get on with the tea,David keeps asking when it will be done,
Take care Brenda xx

Good morning all ,from a sunny [for a change ] north east of england,and where the old git is feeling better now that the diabetic tests have been done for the first of two [hopefully ] this year ,assuming that yesterdays show up as okay. :-).
We are going through to Gateshead this morning to see about the new car ,which has to be ordered by the middle of next month ,but i refuse to go to Nissan in Newcastle which is badly run ,with no one from the manager down ,showing any interest in their job.We were in the Newwcastle one two weeks ago to sound out the ly of the land ,so to speak ,and once the sales team found out that we were looking early to see about options ,they weren't interested.
Funny that ,as we found Ford and Vauxhall ,Toyota were the exact opposite ,sooooo ,if the Nissan garage are on the ball and helpful ,there will be an email and complaint going in to Nissans head office about the Newcastle mob of misfits ,lol.
had a couple of good days over the last week Brenda ,in that i have managed to get into the garden and start the clear out of the brassica patch so i am getting an early start despite the cold and ice :-D.
Had a reply to my last email from Dorothy ,she is full of busy after the trip away ,but is now home and sorting the house out ,as you have probably found out.
Had the daughter here yesterday after her hospital appointment ,and made her ,and us a nice chicken curry ,Thai style ,but chopping everything down small because she is still having jaw problems ,and i have to say ,it was very tasty and i made plenty so that she could take some home with her ,along with one of the large containers of Colgannon as well ,,but i have heard on facebook this morning that the grand daughter snaffled the curry as soon as it reached the flat :-| so said daughter is in the norty corner with me today he he.
Hope you manage to get some shopping time in while this weather lasts Brenda,and hope John is still recovering well. :-).
I relaxed a tad last night after the blood tests and had myself a muffin ,and four dark choccy biccies with my after tea drink ,[smacks my wrist]before the wife can do it ,and that's me in the norty corner as well .lol.
Catch you later ,Brenda ,have a good day. Fred & Liz .xxx

Hello Fred ,Liz and anyone else looking in.
We have a sunny ,but very cold day here today,hope it stays like this tomorrow,we are hoping to go to Bury Market .
We are ok for most things in the shopping fred even got some dried veggies a nd pulses but will have to see how we go with them.
Good on you about the car and garage ,John did something simiar a few years ago before he started using the Foord garage he uses now,
Glad all your testes are ok and Fred is .back to normal .
John is back to normal ,but says he will know better how he is when he gets to play golf next Wednseday.He has the camera next Monday <which he aint looking forward to at all !!! :
We are using the bread maker more and he made a lovelly white loaf yesterday ,it was from a packet ,and used marge instaed of oil,but was really light!!

David has been on holiday this week and has been doing a few bits and peices tidying up the garden,We need to sort out the sheds as we are supposed to get a new one this year.The other two are all but falling down so we are getting on e larger one.
Better get on and anser a few emails.
Have a good weekend Take care
brenda

Morning Brenda ,hope John gets a round of golf in tomorrow before the next round of snow hits you ,and us.
goiong to get the car cleaned this morning in case i don't get another chance this week ,as we have a family funeral this next Monday,my neice's :-( ,
I have been to the garage in Gateshead to order the new car ,refusing to ever go into the Newcastle branch ever again,after the last three years with a company that has a bad apple in the northern end .
Reordered the brand new model of the one i have now ,same upgraded engine ,which has never been any bother ,an upgraded navigation system and camera's on each side of the car for parking.
Took a few beetroot out of the garden this morning ,and have them in the pot cooking ,nearly done by now i should think.
After the past two weeks ,i am getting ALL my meat from my farm ,and making all my own stuff from scratch ,the son will do the sausage for me ,as he has the machine for making them.and everything else using minced meat i will be doing my own ,thank you very much ,lol,if i see a horse ,i prefer to ride it ,end of story . :-D.
Still managing to clear the garden in between housework ,snow showers and rain , a tad slow ,but i am getting there ,including starting to get this years garden supplies in ,such as compost and the like.
Well that's it for now ,the binmen have been ,and i can get out to get a little shopping ,and get the car cleaned before the snow arrives.
Catch you later all .Fred. :-) xxx

Evening Fred,sorry about your neice,hope you get to thr funeral ok and the weather doesn't get in the way.
John is out tomorrow after weeks of being houseband with the weather and his little health problem.He had the camera yesterday and was told everything was clear so he is a happy bunny.He was told to make sure he keeps his liquids intake up so he will not get anymore infections,!!
Meeting a girl I worked with a few years ago at CIS ,not seen her for at least 7 years so it will be good to catch up. We are having a lunch along with my friend we all worked in the same department so know each other.
Was thinking of going to my friends husbands buthers shop and doing something similar Fred.must see if my proceesor minces meat.or get Steve to mince me something just for us.
Take care Brenda x

morning Brenda ,and anyone else who happens by this way ,from a still pretty chilly Newcastle ,but ,hey ,the forecast for later today looks promising.
We had our first shins in over a week last night [yum] and i decided on a change and tried mixing in some hot horseradish sauce to the Tuna and onion mix ,and ,wow .i will be doing that again the taste was amazing ,i may even try it again with another filling to see if it's as good. :-).
Still getting a little garden done every day ,so far ,and will start getting the compost from the garden centres into the back garden over the next week.before the prices start to shoot up,but it isn't worth getting it in too soon as ,after a while the compost goes toxic and damages any seedlings planted into it.
The funeral had to be put back until Friday this next week Brenda ,the lass had no insurance ,and the money from the loan came in too late for the original arrangements to go ahead,but at least it's been re sorted okay. :-).
Glad you have gotten sorted with the meat Brenda ,my farm uses it's own beef ,and any extra he needs is sourced locally with a full history as to where it's come from .and is registered with the government meat agency ,any beef sourced from there ,and finding it's way int shops is marked with the British flag and is safe to use.,even the pork and beef sausage is marked in this way. ;-).
We have a ton of books and dbvds we no longer need ,and i need to go on the net in a few minutes and find an animal charity that i can off load the lot onto ,most of the charity shops are getting a raw deal at the moment ,and seeing as the last two lots have gone to a heart foundation ,and the other lot to a hospice ,it's time some animals had a donation ,spread it around i say ,lol. :-D.
Had the car cleaned yesterday afternoon ,but it was so cold i wouldn't let them do the inside because the wife was in the car with me ,but ,no matter ,i will get it done myself with a duster and hoover while the sun is out [he says hopefully] he he.
Hope John will get a round in early next week while the sun lasts ,that should bring on a smile after the lousy weather we have been getting. :-D.
Time to get cracking ,so i will shove off and catch you later.have a good weekend ,and take care,Fred.xxx

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

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

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

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

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 :-)

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

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

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

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

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 :-)

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