General Chat

Happy New Year to all Friends and Neighbours.

Hope 2009 will be a good year for you all with good health and much happiness.

Love
Kathleen xx

Happy New Year to you all.
Johan was taken into hospital again yesterday evening, so our new year hasn't begun so good.
Sylvia xx

goodmorning, sylvia I am sorry to hear the news about johan I hope that he gets better soon. brenda and fred and others on line Ihope that you all had a good new years, all is well over here with my family and myself though it has been very cold -26 the other day but to-day it is warmer -8 at the moment so I shall wrap up and pop off to the library. the family are taking delivery of a new fridge and freezer combo, also a large freezer for the basement the freezer is a big help for a large family as they buy meat in bulk from the local butcher. also andrew sends back lobster when he travels plus moose meat etc. I spoke to anne in bury and she says it is cold in the north as well but she had a good xmas and newyears bye for now dorothy

Hi Everyone,Sylvia i am so sorry about Johann .hope he is better soon.
Dorothy it is cold here at the moment and its going to get colder so they say.Bought us a little treat from the supermarket today a pack of Black pudding slices.We have had them from the market but had not seen them else where til today.So thats our breakfast for tomorrow.!!!!
John cleaned up the loft yesterday to make way for putting down some more insulation we had thought after spending so much we might get free delivery but they wanted to charge £25 from Heaton Park to here,(near North Manchester hospital,John was not pleased and made three journeys to take the stuff and then me home!!.
Have taken all the tree and decorations down and put up some new lamps so its nice and bright again.
Must get on with the tea,some salad and cold roast lamb,and apple pie for later.!!
Speak to you soon Brenda

hi brenda well I shall just imagine you eating your balck pudding in the morning, as you say I hear it is quite cold at home and it is not great here we are in for an ice storm to-morrow(sun). I can get black pudding at a couple of english/scotch stores at times but it does not taste as good as eating from the market. funny I was thinking about that great cheese stall on bury market the other day, some of the stores had imported different cheeses at xmas but the price was very high so I did not bother buying any. I was at a memorial service to-day for the sister of a lady who lives in the building, thenwent to load up on some groceries in case of the storm. having a lazy evening I may play my moma mia dvd to-night I can watch that over and over, hope we will have anupdate from sylvia and fred in the next couple of days. my half brother turns 50 on the 8th so I will try and callhim he was back to scotland for the holidays but may be back in yorkshire at work on the 8th bye for now dorothy

Hi Everyone, weather still cold but not sure how cold has i have not been out of the house apart from jumping in the car to pick up a friend who came for the afternoon.
Put away the decorations etc yesterday and will have to sort out wardrobes and drwaers again soon ,for space etc.
Still waiting to have the black puddings Dorothy,John did not want a heavy breakfast ,and I did not want to cook just for me,so we had a toasted tea cake.!!
Have not bought anything from that cheese stall lately ,but might take a look next time,we have not been having as much cheese as we used to do.
Seems we are on our own hope everyone else is ok,When does Fred go for the wedding??
Hope your weather improves.
Heard about three deaths day ,two sort of expected ,one a total shock Just brought back a few memories and keeping me awake.
Speak to you soon
Take care Brenda

weather really cold again today and tomorrow is supposed to be literally freezing.
been to town to meet my friend today and see what was left in the sales ....not much.
Was looking for some black pants but did not see any Ireally liked.
wasfreezing at the bus stop on way home but it was on time for a change.
hope everyone is ok ,Might not get on tomorrow out at my aunties funeral.
take care Brenda

hi brenda I see that you are having really cold weather to-day it is quite balmy only -8 and the sun is shining but snow to-morrow, sorry that you have had so many deaths in the last few days not good is it. I am not sure when fred leaves for the wedding but I think that it is very soon. not very much news at the moment just reading lots of books I have to go to the library to-day and pick up five more, to-morrow I will take down the xmas decorations I like to leave them up for a while but to-morrow is the day they go away. the children are back in school and andrew leaves sunday for a week down east halifax and other points, he is overseeing a large pharmacutical event for university students in halifax so will be very busy. well time tohit the shower take care bye for now dorothy

Happy New Year to all friends and neighbours Worldwide
Christmas started before Christmas Day with the three of us, Gayle, Craig and I, deciding to to buy something with the gift vouchers that were under the tree so that we had something to open on Christmas morning. Gayle got a blouse, Craig some shorts and I a shirt. On Christmas morning we opened the gifts some were ridiculously funny - tins of spaghetti, peanut butter and vegemite, a coin purse - and the reason was that we had something to unwrap and only the people who did it knew exactly what was wrapped. Then it was off to church. Later we drove to my brother's and sister-in-law's where we met up with one of their three children, my Mum and a younger brother for a Christmas lunch not the traditional fare [cold meats, potatoes and salads followed by fruit salad, jelly and ice cream]. In the evening we went to Mum's where my younger brother and us sat down to more of the same fare.
Boxing Day we relaxed at home and the next day we drove to Auckland to spend a week with Craig, the changes in an area near where lived nearly three years ago is quite staggering. New Year's Day passed quietly by and the next day we drove back to New Plymouth but found ourselves caught in slow traffic caused by a 10-car pile-up on the harbour bridge. Craig took us on another road and eventually we were homeward bound.
Before we left the computer started playing up strange swirls and lines at start-up so I am hoping repairs can be done or else I will be having withdrawal symptoms until I get a replacement.
Take care and God Bless, John

hello everyone,well my aunts funeral went as well as this things can do,she had a "good turn out " as they say,the service was very nice and the cemetary was really cold and icy ,it was a bit dicey climbing the hill to the grave and coming down was even worse.
Weather warmed up a bit today but as I was in work it was ok.
Its back to getting washing done and trying to dry it without the drier again,and finding somewhere to put the ironing when its done .So its time to have a good clear out and take few bags to the charity shop.I am also clearing out some towels and bedding that have not been used for years as we do not have a "spare room " or even a spare bed anymore..
John so pleased you has such a good christmas,seeing your family ,like the sound of the surprise parcels,must have given you all a few giggles.
Johns golfing mate was in NZ just before christmas and had a brilliant time ,John keeps forgetting to ask where he went,but I know he was thrilled about it all.
Dorothy had the sliced Blackpudding .was really good.
Hope you and Johann are ok Sylvia
OK Fred where are you hiding!!!
Seems we are all hibernating and hope we are all ok.
Take care /Brenda

hi brenda glad the balck pudding went down well we are also having cold weather and snow and more snow, as you say funerals are a sad occasion and it does not help when the weather is so bad, it was good to hear about john's xmas sounded like great fun. I see that fred had a post on the canadian site sayin it was his last one for a week or so I guess he must have gone to the wedding so no doubt he will have a lot to tell us on his return, sylvia must be busy going to the hospital or looking after johan at home hope all is well with the both of them. Iwas over filling in at the families last evening as ian had his first guitar lesson and bryan had to go with his mom to his high school orientation he will go there in sept and they have to pick their courses etc all different from we went to school. and andrew had a meeting so Laura and I spent some time to-gether it was fun. I think that she is coming over friday for a sleep over and then I will take her to her indoor soccer match on saturday, Ian has ski-ing lessons early sat am and andrew and bryan have a hockey tournement on friday and saturday and then andrew flies east on sunday, makes me tired just to type it all out they do lead busy lives, the tournement is quite a ways away so they will spend two nights in a hotel, well time to get by day in order I think that I will make a beef stew to-day and a bit of housework bye for now dorothy

goodmorning everyone ! Hope you are all well enjoy reading your posts We are experiencing a mini heat wave at the present time temperatures reaching 35C deg and even higher in Christchurch these past few days A bit extreme for us Its very pleasant here just now 6 am and its 19 deg showers are forecast for later in day and perhaps tomorrow Bring it on ! Margaret

hi it dorothy back again I just had a peep at the canuks web site and there is an update from fred things are going well for the wedding plans he was having a look at some roman ruins and enjoying the country, hope we will have back with us and hearing about the trip soon bye dorothy

Hi Dorothy and Maragret and any one else reading this,weather alot milder than it has been ,but still rather cold.
Was even cold in work today which is not usual,glad it was only a short shift..Working all day tomorrow 9-5 but at least I should be warmer than today.
I have a few birthdays coming up ,mainly friends and workmates ,and having looked in the boxI keep cards and gift wrap have decieded that i need to use these cards up before getting any more,they are all open sort of cards and need using .will probably get cards for the family when needed.Hope I don't sound too tight!!
I have put a lot of things on a tighter budget,as I am finishing work later this year will not be when i am 60 ,as I want to o a few things in the house before I finish and save towards a possible trip to Australiaeither later this year or arly next.
Hope your good weather continues Margaret,just spare us abit of sunshine if you could.
Dorothy i will go and see what Fred is up o on his triphope the white stuff stays away
Brenda,

Hi everyone from cold grey and miserable Manchester,a bit warmer than it has been but ,it was really frosy and cold this morning.
At work and on lunch at the minute,but its not been as busy as usual ,people may call this afternoon when its supposed to be warmer!!!
hope everyone is keeping well and warm or cool depending on where they are.
Take care ,Brenda

hi brenda I am jut waiting for Laura to wake up and boy it is another cold one -26 again and that is without the wind chill factored in, we have to be at the indoor soccer dome for 11-30 these are like big balloons not very warm so I shall be taking a big blanket over all the stuff I shall be wearing the girls are in their regular kit but stay warm with all the running around, then we shall have lunch out, Linda and Ian will be ski-ing they should have left by now apparently they will ski for an hour then Ian has a 2hr lesson both ski-ing and snow boarding but should be warm with the artic gear they wear again not my idea of fun, well that is it for me better go and get into my thermals!!! quite a sight bye for now dorothy

hi I am back again after a good day with Laura they won their soccer game in a shoot out it was a draw at 2-2, Laura was in goal and did a good shot I was surprised how her kick has improved one went alsmost the length of the field, but it was very cold even though I had three layers on plus abig parka, then we had lunch and paid a visit to the library befor I took her home, lindy and Ian returned from the slopes about 3-30 so they had had a long day, Lindy said it was quite cold but they had fun. the long range forcast for the week is not good lots of cold air on the way, Ihope it improves for the 18-21st as I so want to get down to brampton I still have three xmas gifts to deliver plus it will be fun to watch the inaugaral with Isobelle and Linda history in the making , well it is off to bed for me I have had the heating pad in there for about three hours, and I shall watch a movie. bye for now dorothy

Afternoon all,well I have been on here ages trying to see what i have done with some photos I put on last night.They have gone in a place i do dnot normally use and I can not seem to be able to get them on a cd or move them etc.!!! getting fed up now and should go and get the dinner ready as david has been wokring tody .He moved from Argos to Tesco in Dec abd the new store he is at opens tomorrow.so they have been working all hours to get it ready.Weather still the same but we have been told to expect the freezing weather again mid week.
Have seen a lovelly dining table and chairs which we both like but it is a little more expensive than we wanted to pay,also saw a bed room suite for Davids room which he needs badly, his wardrobe is litterally falling down,he wont be buying I will !!

Glad the football went well Dorothy and the sking,not my cup of tea either.
Have sent fr some holiday brouchers for Australia just to see whats what,but we are still just thinking about it again it all depends on costs.
Hope Sylvia and Johann are ok and Fred is be having .
John and Margaret seem to be having a heat wave,
Cann't hvae it all can wee.Take care ,Brenda

hi brenda I hope the new store opening goes well for david the furniture you have been looking at sounds great, hope you find some good prices for a trip to australia that sounds like fun, to-day it is warmer thank goodness only -10 so I am going to go and get the special food for the cats at the vets, more litter and some odds and ends as they are forecasting -26to -33 for wednesday and thursday, still hoping to get to brampton on sunday for a few days, yesterday afternoon I had a surprise phone call from a friend I had not spoken to in 7yrs due to her not me well she spoke from 2pm till 5-30 so we did get caught up on our lives it was fun, looking after the children on wednesday as Ian has a guitar lesson and then he and his mom are at the school for orientation to the french imersion classes, both andrew and lindy speak french canada's 2nd language, and all the children speak it in school but Ian seems to have a flare for it, of course andrew's dad is french canadian but actually did not speak to andrew in french at home but he picked it up later in life and in his business life has to use both french and english, as for me well i murder the language I don't have a gift for it but can understand what people are saying, well it is time to wrap up and head out hope to see fred and sylvia back on line soon bye for now dorothy

Hello evryone,weather a lot milder today and we have even had some rain so it must be warming up,how long for i do not know.
work was busy last night where i was working after a slow start.And again today at another library,it was busy than the last few days. The traffic coming home due to some other roads being closed due to road works was really busy and took a while longer.
We are going to look at a few other places for the dining room table etc but think we will be getting the bed stuff,but we should decorate the room first ,it has not been done since david was a teenager!! he tried to emulsion it a while back but it did not really "work"
I don't know why we moan about -8 dorothy when you have -26just seen parts of the USA with -35!!
Have a couple of brouchsures on Australia holidays but the prices only go til the end of March we will have to get some more then as that is when they all come out for the next 12 months.
Have a few emails to do and then try a bit of rellie hunting.see you tomorrow take care ,Brenda