General Chat

Morning everyone, John not heard the Santa story ,would prefer Father Christmas or Santa my self,not putting up anything till next weekend ,I can not get into the loft as it is to high for me even with the longest ladders that we have ,so I have to get John and David to get everything down. I then direct where things go ,but we sort of get it right between us. Going to meet some friends for lunch ,not seen them for a few months ,so lots to catch up with. Brenda

hello again. Good to read everyones news. Getting to 'know' people now - seems as though you all live next door!! Yes, it has been very hot and humid here today. Will be going to bed in a wee while and it will be a 'sheet only' night I think. Planted two more hanging baskets today - have 7 now. Beginning to look pretty around the patio area. Need lots of watering with this warm weather although rain has been forecast for tomorrow. Quiet weekend fortunately - will be putting our little tree in the window - it is an optic fibre one - keeps changing colour. Will put lights around the window too. Lots of the houses around are decorating to take part in the 'light trail'. It is amazing how beautiful they are. Several of the Churches decorate as well. Nativity scenes on the roof etc. Bus companies organise trips to follow round the light trail each year. The 'oldies' from the rest homes and retirement villages just love it. A cup of tea and a piece of Christmas Cake or a mince pie is given free at the churches. We have one cul-de-sac near us where every house and garden is full of lights. reindeers, santas, snowmen etc. They have a collection for the local Hospice. More another day, goodnight for now Mavis NZ

Hi everybody, Well I've now recovered from my trip to Hilversum with my daughter. We managed to get quite a bit of shopping done. Janet stayed for dinner and I invited Linda (Janet's daughter) to dinner as well. Johan said we should do this more often - yes, but I'm the cook not he! The weather is misty, murky, miserable. No more adjectives to describe today's weather. I went to the market today but was so pleased to get home as I was so cold. Johan has cut a piece off our Xmas tree but it is still too big so he will have to cut a further piece off. I hope by Monday we can have it up and decorated. Today I interviewed my new household help. She is coming in on Wednesday for 3 hours. I have met her before as she helps my ex son in law in the house. They have her for 4 hours a week. Today thought I would make something different for dinner. Being Friday it had to be fish. I made salmon parcels. I spread tomatoe pesto on the salmon and covered it with puff pastry. Because I had no recipe I didn't know how long to cook it for, but 30 minutes was just fine. I served this with boiled potatoes, dill sauce and hot beetroot. The beetroot are cooked first and then grated together with the onion, a little vinegar and some cornflour to thicken. Delicious. Johan never used to like beetroot, but I know they are healthy for you, so now he is used to eating them. Now have a nice evening everybody. Sylvia xxx

Hi everybody, So nobody around. Help. Well another misty day today, although the sun did 'wink' at us now and again, but oh so cold. I have baked 4 loaves of bread today, two 9-cereal, one white, one potatoe flour. I am looking ahead and don't want to have to bake Xmas Eve. I have been packing in Xmas presents and seeing whether I still need some things. Of course I do. Johan and I are going to town next Tuesday and then I will have to finalise them. If I cannot find any present then it will have to be a gift voucher. Not so nice, but useful sometimes. I still have to do some sewing to my table runner for the coffee table. Every time I begin I get interrupted, so when I have finished here will do a bit more. Tomorrow will have to make a few table decorations and one for the hall table. My daughter has brought me some fresh green bits and pieces from her garden and I have brought some bits from the Garden Centre. We are going to set our Xmas tree up on Monday. Johan has been trying the lights out and of course we need one or two spares. I bet Fred is baking mince pies or sausage rolls as haven't seen him around. Anyway, I'm 'holding the fort' so to speak, then we won't lose this thread. Have a nice evening. Sylvia xxx

Hi everyone, I think at last we may have our moving date althoiugh I wont hold my breath, I will let you know later. Sorry I cant add more at this stage, there is someone that I dont wish to know of my activities. Take care everyone. June xx

Hi everybody, I do hope June that this is good news, but not on top of Xmas surely? A cold, dismal day here today. Seeing that it is so near Xmas we played King's College Choir of Hymns. It is so lovely to hear them sing. We always play some sort of church music at breakfast on Sunday to remind us that it is Sunday I suppose. I am going to do some more Xmas decorating today, which is better than housework anyway. I have just realised that in a month's time it is my birthday. How could I forget. First we have Xmas, then New Year and then my birthday - too much of a good thing for me! Isn't it sad that there are still some nasty people around that June has to keep her news to herself. I think these people are really in need of psychiatric treatment. Have a good day everybody. Sylvia xxx

I am having trouble thses days trying to get on to this thread and also add to it,I keep writing messages and when i press add messages I get a message saying error something or other I do not have the time to keep writing messages and then wait for them to be added My apologies for being grumpy but thats how I have been feeling, I have been trying to keep Sylvia company but not making it. Have to vac round now before I go to dads ,and drop John of for his Sunday pint then pick him up and do dinner when I get back. Have a good day everyone,love brenda

Hi all,sorry sylvia for not being around for a few days but the grandson kept hogging the puter,but has now departed back to camp ,so it's now buisiness as usual. i havnt been making mince pies ,thats the missus's job ,i can't make them as good as she can,but i have come across a ten minute christmas pud' if anyone is interested,you weigh and mix all the ingredients the night before ,and cover with a cloth,and when it's needed you put it in the mic' for ten minutes and walla[ey] sorry sylvia ]hee hee just the thing for busty cooks.i also found some recipies for italian briggette if any one is interested,we tried it last night and it makes a lovely light meal with few ingrediante and takes 15 minutes to prepare and cook.I have also found a wrap with a difference finished in the oven with a coating of dutch cheese and herbs. The weather is so mild at the minute,i have seen three bees in the garden today,and a butterfly.the poor creatures can't make head or tail of it at the moment. I have to go now,but i thought i would let you know that i am still around lol.see you all later.Fred.PtfA&G&G&S.

Hi Fred,sorry someone at door,be back later

Hi everybody, First of all please Fred let me have that recipe for Xmas pud. I want something easy to put in the microwave. Also, what ingredients does your wife use for her pastry Fred? I've tried all sorts, but cannot turn out good pastry here at all. I did manage to get hold of some lard, but still no good. Help. Any other recipes Fred for quick meals would be grateful. Poor Brenda, not being able to send messages here. It's not you Brenda, but the site is too busy at times. I heard from Di from Tswassen (don't know if that is spelt correctly), and she seems to be ok. Miss her on the board though. Our Xmas tree is now up and beaming with lights and some more decorations have gone up. Tomorrow have to go into town to get a few last bits and pieces so the place looks like a pigsty, but never mind my new help comes on Wednesday and she'll be able to see what I'm really like! Have a nice evening everybody, thinking of you June and all those further afield, Sylvia xxx

HiSylvia,one [no ] two pud recipies on the way to you.a little secret love,you do not need lard to make decent pastry,a mixture of half and half ,butter and marge is good ,mixed in the bowl the usual way,and we use all marge because i can not eat animal fat in any quantity cause of the angina,the missus does lovely pastry using just marge and it turns out beutifully everytime,so all you muslims out there take heart,no pig fat in pastry lol. i will sendyou the pud recipies tonight along with a few quick bread dishes which i mentioned last night total time twenty minutes from thought to the plate.just had breggettas tonight ,and they were lovely,nice and light and very very tasty. The misses wasn't long at the doc's this morning and the pnumonia jab did it's work cause there is no sign of it dispite the very heavy cold she has ,and a weeks course of antibiotics and steroids will put her right.i am only glad it happened now ,and not at christmas cause we didn't enjoy last year much ,owing to the recent move ,and my operation which left me weak for quite a while.,but THIS year will be all grandkids and partys ,wahay ,fred is going to have a ball lol. the missus has treated mr to a breadmaker for Christmas which means i can load the machine ,set the timer and come down to fresh bread to go with my boiled egg in the mornings,just the job. i,m off now ,to find the page in my book with those recipies on ,and will be back later.Fred PtfA&G&G&S..

Hi everybody, Fred, you and I are having our own chat column here. Many, many thanks for all the recipes. Must try the pastry. Am not sure what marg, is it the new soft marg or the hard marg? Nice to hear that you have a bread machine. I use mine just once a week and bake bread for the whole week. Johan slices it - I just cannot cut bread straight, whether it is by hand, machine, or electric knife, all on a slant. I use sunflower oil in my bread Fred. Johan and I went into town today to buy ourselves a new mobile telephone. No, we didn't want one of these modern ones with cameras etc.etc. just a simple telephone for emergency. We managed to find a reasonably priced one. Our old one was 10 years of age and the battery was finished. Because the telephone was so old we couldn't buy a battery any more. We don't use the mobile very much. We bought it originally when we overwintered in Spain and the children could phone us there. Tomorrow my new help is starting in the house. I will be pleased to delegate some jobs to her now. I suppose everybody is busy, but don't worry, I'm here. See you tomorrow. Sylvia xxx

Hiya ,got sidetracked after I answered the door the otherday,sorry to be so long. Have two days off work together this week,so having a blitz on getting the house ready,but might be tempted out shopping by my sister. I can not reach the top windows and cupboards to clean them so David and John will help.I was going to get the man in to clean the carpets but couldn't get him when I wanted him to come,so will wait until we have decorated in the new year. Fred the talk of new bread and boiled eggs reminds me of being a young child at my grans. Sylvia,hope your new home help works out ok.could do wiyh one myself. See you soon,take care .Brenda

Morning Sylvia,and Bec [lol],any marge will do Sylvia ,so long as it hasn't the dreaded words ,not suetable [pun ]for baking,we use the soft sort,but there is no reason why you can't use block instead ,it works just as well. It looks like a nice mild morning again ,but i see on the magic box in the corner that the weather is suposed to turn nasty again at the weekend,so i think i will see if Liz is up to shopping on thursday,just in case. I will have to leave the assembly of the dining table till i can get hold of my son,the mahogany top is solid wood ,weighs a ton ,and no way can the missus lift one end of it. we thoughtit was time to get it along with the six matching chairs for the dinner on boxing dy,with the table we have butted up to it in the dining room we can seat up to sixteen ,and anyone else rolling up will have to eat on the floor lol. Has our Bec got a date with santa claus yet i wonder,he would be good to her and good for her i think ,always cheerful .attentive, polite and never rude,just what bec needs to renew her faith in men,there are some nice ones aroud Bec,it's just a heck of a job finding the right one for you..in the meantime ,have a ball ,and stuff the lot of ' em.lol Anyway Sylvia and Bec,what has santi got for you,or don't you know yet? Our lady Pink should be well sorted,i have seen pink phones around ,a pink combo of telle and dvd with a 14 inch screen,a computer all done pink ,even a pink bmw so she should be well sorted.lol I hope everyone is getting geared up now because time is getting short,and there is still lots to do. i'm off to do thebit work around the house that needs done sigh,a mans work is never done lol.see ya all later.Fred.PtfA&G&G&S.

Hi everybody, Many thanks for all your help Fred. Must try this pastry, maybe tomorrow, if not the weekend. Today I pottered around with my new help. She is a timid little lady of 60 years of age who has had 6 children and now has 19 grandchildren. She was married off at 15 years of age to a man she didn't love and is still with him. She is a Surinaams Hindoestani. Anyway she works ok. Tomorrow I have to go to the physiotherapist and then on the way home must do a bit of shopping. Oh how I hate the shops these days before Xmas. Everybody pushing and shoving, as though they've never seen food before. I never knew there were so many people who lived here! Now see you all tomorrow. Sylvia xxx

Hello all - at last I have been able to read all the messages, it is sometimes so difficult to get on this thread. Does anyone else have this problem? It takes so long and I find I often have to give up - it's so frustrating. My preparations for Christmas are all behind, I haven't even finished my cards. Have a few presents but still loads to do. Hopefully the weather will stay dry long enough for me to get all the windows cleaned so that I can think of putting up the decorations. I want to move all the furniture round, don't do that as often these days it's too tiring - no stamina that's my problem!! Have been feeling a bit down in the dumps lately, think it's everything catching up on me - will be quite pleased to start a New Year as this one has been a bit wearing. Still, hopefully that is all behind us now. I had a bit of a cold which has now turned into an irritating cough but it isn't too bad just annoying. Went to my daughter's in Solihull for my second g.son's 21st birthday party. Had a great time, hardly seems anytime since her two boys were babies and now both are over 21 - how time flies!! It was to be all the family but three of my sons were called into work which was a bit disappointing . My eyes are feeling rather tired and sore now so will have to wait until next time to write more. Meantime I hope you all keep well, June I hope you get good news very soon about your move. Goodnight & God bless Love Kathleen

Hi everyone. Bad weather here again today. Hope it gets better for Christmas Day. Had a lovely surprise today - received a card from a lady I worked with in the UK 14 years ago and she now has email. Will be great to keep in touch. Lovely caring person. My daughter popped in for morning tea today with her foster baby. We will be looking after him all day tomorrow. He is no trouble so jobs can still be done. Fred, I would like your Christmas Pudding recipe please. Sounds good and easy. I haven't made the soup yet - it has been too hot and humid to enjoy soup! Had contact from a relation of my mothers who I have never heard of. He has today sent me a family tree with all my mothers family on. My mother was one of 13 children and I didn't know a lot of the names - now I do. Isn't the internet wonderful? Thank you to GR. Must go now so goodnight to everyone. Mavis NZ

Hi everyone, I'm sorry I haven't been around for ages, I feel everyone must be bored stiff with my house move. We still haven't agreed on a date! Also my grandson is back with us, my daughter went over to Denmark to help clear the flat. I have had a type of flu, thank goodness I had had my flu jab, now to crown it all, my daughter is in agony with toothache. The dentist, after a lot of pleading will see her this afternoon. She is registered with him but that didn't seem to make a difference. I have a lovely newsy email from Elisabeth this morning, I expect most of you will have had one too. It was lovely to hear from her and find out all her news. Kathleen, Dont work too hard , the windows will wait, after all people will be busy looking at you decorations not your windows. Brenda, I hope your dad is well, could you send John and David down to help with my cleaning, please Sylvia, your bread sounds lovely, we haven't even thought of buying Christmas food yet Mavis, I was going to ask for some sunshine but it sounds as though you have run out at the moment, lol Fred, we may be dropping in on you for Christmas Dinner, lol I will take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, I dont long how long I will still be on line, on the other hand, I may be still here until after New Year. Take care everyone. June xx

Hi everybody, Well I went to the physio today and got there early around 12.10 pm. The physio kept me waiting until 12.45 pm. I could hear all the physios laughing and talking so I was getting more and more frustrated. When she eventually called me in I said 'I was just going home as I thought I had the wrong day'. Well, that put us on a good footing. I couldn't say anything good any more, nor she to me. We are after all paying these physios and they keep us waiting - yes, I'm still annoyed. On the way home I did some shopping and faced a gale force wind whilst on my scootmobile. Good job I've got a few extra kilos otherwise I might have flown away! I decided to bake some mince pies this afternoon. I had to do it today as tomorrow Johan and I are going to our youngest daughter and I want to take her some. My children love mince pies but I am the only one who bakes them. I cut my finger rather badly on my mixer - on the blade, blood everywhere. It is even difficult to type with all the packing I have on my finger. This is what you get when you try to do too many things at the same time! I also did some ironing inbetween which I didn't get round to yesterday. My neighbour from the third floor came down to invite us upstairs on Saturday evening. Nice, of course, we'll go. Her husband is also into genealogy! Well will close for now. See you tomorrow. Oh June, I feel for you still not having a date to move. How is Beckham? Sylvia xxx

Hello everyone, Kathleen,you are not the only one who has trouble finding and getting on here these days.I have given up getting everything just so for christmas.noone comes here they all go to dads,johns rellis stay at home as they have grandchildren and his mother is in Spain. June,hope you have good news soon about the move,glad your feeling better.I will let you have John and David when they have done mine,its not done yet ,they are making noises already about things they must do outside on sunday. Mavis whata wonderful thing to find your relli with so much knowledge,like an early christmas present. Sylvia,do be careful with your baking,little things like that cut can turn nasty. Fred glad you are waiting fot your son,we had to get the delivery men to do ours it was so heavy. take care Brenda