General Chat

Hi all, Well I have been having a social day today. This morning I visited our neighbours on the third floor. When I arrived she was in bed, but when she heard it was me she soon came out and we had a laugh and a talk. Her husband sat with us in his pyjamas. Sometimes I think people are not really ill but need cheering up. This afternoon I went up to Annemie as she has broken her toe and is hobbling around indoors. I had some food left over from yesterday so didn't have to do much in the kitchen. I did manage to run a washing machine and then put it in the drier. It was not weather to go out anyway - rain, rain, rain. Not much news, apart from wishing Brenda a speedy recovery from her cold. Sylvia xxx

Hi everybody, Well, where are you all hiding today? Not one entry. I did some more tidying up in my hobby room this morning and put some washing away but this afternoon kept free for some cross stitching. The weather has been very nice and bright, plenty of sunshine albeit very cold. My granddaughter has asked me to help her translate a piece of Dutch into English, so must do that in a minute. She is quite good in English, but this is for her diploma and it has to be perfect! Now have a nice evening everybody. Sylvia xxx

Like Sylvia says where are you all hiding,mind you don't blame you for curling up some nice and warm for a snooze or two.Feeling a bit better and went into work,was only doing a half day so that wasn't so bad.Got heaps of housework to catch up on,so cannot stop, see you tomorrow love brenda

Hi everyone Haven't looked in for awhile and I am slowly working through some 15 days of comments a lot of things happened over those days. I was checking our potted plants on our deck this morning and many of them look 'dead' but hopefully a could drenching will pick them up. The hot weather here in Auckland certainly dried the pots out and being away over the New Year period didn't help either - result shrivelling plants. We also tried growing tomatoes again this season without success so that will be something we may not do again. We are planning to eventually shift from our present house but exactly where is undecided, it may be back to New Plymouth. So with these plans in the pipeline we thought it was an ideal time to rid ourselves of unwanted items - shredding papers and sending usuable things to the Thrift Shop. We are looking for two bedroom house on a flat section - Gayle has dreamt that our new house will have a conservatory so we see if that becomes a reality. John

Evening:o) Now l was'nt planning on coming on here too often - but l'm getting the old interest back and l'm nosey too:o))) First of all can l say l hope all the poorly people are doing ok and Sylvia l am so sorry to hear about your x s.i.l's nephew, thats really tradgic. Life can be so short, we just don't know whats around the next corner do we:o(( June - the mosaic hobby comes from daughter partner, she's been doing it for some years now . Sometime last year when we were visiting them she set up a small project - l kept on about wanting to do it, so now l had to and l just love it. Not selling stuff yet although l have an outlet if l want to - l think l ought to have ago at selling but we'll see!! How is Bonnies ear?? and hows that Beckham - have they settled into their new abode?? Any ideas on how to stop Mad dog scratching the carpet at night - he's made a hole now:o(((((((((((((( if we tell him off in the morning its far too late and he looks at us with those dulful eyes -awwwwwww! If we give him the run of the house at night he keeps getting onto our bed,then we have a gawd almighty fight to keep him out of the bed!!!!! he trys everything, eventually he gets down and pushes his head under the quilt and pushes until he's won!!!:0((((((( - ;~))))))) He also shoves his head out through the catflap if he hears noises and will bark - not a good idea in the middle of the night!!! lol lol Did anyone watch that TV programme last night about dog training - thats what l need someone like that lady to come and rescue us!!! We laughed so much l nearly wet my pants - but then we realised how serious the situation was - BUT the trainer got the dogs behaving and walking beautifully:o) Talk about plants looking dead - most of mine are dead!!!! the frosts got em - when we get some springy weather l'll sort them out (springy as in warmer lol lol) Di - its lovely to see you again, do hope you are well - you're so like Sylvia (and everyone except me) - busy busy busy. Anyway folks thats it , l want an earlyish night tonight as l have to be out of the house 9.15am (your kidding - l usually get up at 9.30am) for an 80th birthday celebration at the charity shop then off to the GYM - lol lol Love Jude sarf wales x

Hi Jude, John, Sylvia, Fred, Brenda and June, Just thought I'd pop in and say hi and goodnight on my way to bed. Hope everybody is recovering from the sniffles and snuffles. Oh, roll on spring and warm weather. It's still 'orrible here, and there's been so much rain that they're now keeping a very close watch on North Van residents over on the slopes; watching for mudslides. There was a bad one last year so they don't want to be caught out unawares this time. However the sun did poke through the clouds for a minute or two while I was out walking, so it still is up there somewhere. Have just been trying to suss out plans for a smokehouse for John to make. He's been wanting to do one for ages, so he can smoke salmon, and meats, and maybe make his own sausages, (which he's not supposed to eat!) Fred your mention of Bucks and hedgerows of hazel nut treees, takes me right back to my first 5 years. I was born in Henley on Thames and shortly thereafter mum and dad moved to Fingest, nearby; do you know it? I loved living there. I think I was the only young child in the village, so everyone made a fuss of me, especially an elderly farm labourer, who kept ferrets and went rabbiting, and his wife and children, who were mostly grown up. But they had a son of 14 or so, and I used to tag along after him, and we used to go to pick nuts in the hedge, or up the hill behind the house to the woods to get kindling for the old black wood stove in their living room cum dining room cum kitchen. As you said life was so simple then; simple pleasures and great contentment. The men used to toddle off down to the pub, The Chequers Inn, at the end of the road, and bring back a beer for the 2 year old grandson! I took my daughter there when we went over on vacation in 1982, and the whole place had changed, the pub especially. It had gone up market, and had a very good restaurant, where we had a fantastic meal. I'm fine thanks Jude, and yourself. It sounds to me as though you keep pretty busy too with Madoc, and your crafts. Are you still sketching? Talk of Madoc and Beckham makes me wish I still had dogs. We have Ross of course, and he is a real love, but he's only ours till Steve appears, and then he's off like a shot. However our Pan is very like a dog, and so close to us since his little pal Kitty had to leave us. He sleeps right on the edge of the bed on my side, and I'm woken up in the morning, often at about 5, by him tapping on my face with his claws, or trying to open my eyelids with them. And he follows me everywhere and sits and watches everything I do. If I open a cupboard, he gets into it to investigate, and if we switch on noisy machinery he's right there to see what it is and how it works. Smart cat! Sylvia, have you ever had pets? Hope you're feeling well and that the test results are good. Your weather over there seems to be as bad as ours. We shouldn't grumble though. Back east they've had freezing rain and everybody is slithering all over the place. Well, I must get off to bed. So will say goodnight till next time. Take care all, Love, Di.xxx

Hi everyone, The weather looks damp again, yesterday was rather miserable, so I wont comment any further on that. I thought I had posted a message yesterday but I didn't, I am so taken up with my new PC, still downloading things. I went for a new computer chair and came back with a computer,lol I have thrown my old computer chair because it was grumbling under my weight and I didn't need reminding that often that I need to gop a diet! So now I am sitting on m yswivel chair ( like an armchair) Beckham thinks this great because there is room for him to sit besides me. Jude, Beckham and Bonnie have settled in very well. they love the garden. its a lot bigger than before, Beckham thinks he has a field of his very own. There are two lounges, the big one has two doors, so you can 'miss' someone by going in by a different door, both Beckham and Bonnie were confused at first by this. If I were you, I would take the opportunity to sell your mosaics, they sound very good, I wish I could see them, when you are famous for making them, I wll be able say, that is one of my friends! John I hope you find your dream house, I had a conservatory at my last house and it was the most used room in the house, I would like one here, we will have to see what funds allow. Sylvia, I hope you get your results soon and that they are good. I can understand how your daughter feels about attending the funeral, its a very difficult situation at times like this,you dont want to intrude but you want them to know that you do care. Di, Now there's a novel idea, a smokehouse! I bet the food tastes good! I remember when I worked in Fleetwood, they used to smoke the fish at one of the factories and you could smell it all the town. At first I thought it was good but in the quantities they did, I soon got fed up with it. Brenda, I hope you have got rid of your cold. I think we will have to invent a longer day for you, so that you can stop rushing around. Sorry if I haven't you by name but I have to go now and get dressed, I have just remembered it is Bin day.I must put it all out by the gate. See you tomorrow, June xx

Hi peeps,we seem to be busy on here at the minute,long may it last. Yes D,i was the young yob tearing around on an old beast of a motor bike with no silencer lol,but we won't go into that,the police may still be looking for me ,I have had a couple of beers in the local pub whilst i was home on leave in later years ,and loved the inside,so relaxed,one of the few places that would accept you at face value..a bit like the brickmakers arms near High wycombe where they made the most scrumtuous ham sandwiches i have ever tasted,oh,happy days. nice to see new faces on the threads i frequent,i keep making references to peeps on the canadian thread hoping that some of them will look in,and visa versa lol,it seems to be working lol. Excuse me a mo while i go chase the ruddy magpie sitting on the chimney stack on top of he roof,if i thought i could reach it ,i would give it a blast of the gas welding gear to singe it;s backside ,noisy perisher that it is. We still have no birds and are devestated,i have been in touch with the R S P B,and it would seem that it has a lot to do with global warming ,the sparrows have moved to another area,so i am left with no birds to feed or listen too other than my blackbird ,thrushes and a few tits and wrens,oh well,i may have to let the pidgeons take over the garden instead though it goes against the grain,they are soooooo greedy.,the final insult was when the starlings went as well,i know they are noisy and can get a bit stroppy ,but for birds ,they were pretty bright and kept us amused for hours. well ,i must off and get the houswork done before that stick comes out again sigh,a husbands work is never done hee hee,.Fred.PtfA&G&G&S.

Hi everyone. We had a little rain am today but the forecast is back to the sunny hot weather tomorrow and for the next few days. As John says the plants soon suffer here in the heat. The lawns and fields are all brown - look more like straw than grass! The little rain today is already showing signs of working on the grass. The fire risk is high - great care needed for BBQ's etc. We have another large Cruiseship in the harbour today. What a wonderful sight when it arrives. Lot's of 'wealthy' looking passengers from the ship wandering around Mount Maunganui Shops. Our little shops have to make the most of the visitors! Our tomatoes too John are not doing well at all. Will probably be ready when they are cheap in the shops! We grew gherkin cucumbers this year. Really have done well. Although small they are so tasty. My friend has today been diagnosed with breast cancer - her husband is on dialysis 3 times a week so life is going to be difficult for a while. She will know on Monday what treatment will be offered. Just had Publisher installed on my machine - will be wasting more time now! I love making cards etc. Must go now - talk to you soon. Mavis NZ

Hi all, I'm a bit late today as I have been filling in an enquete on internet - may win a prize, most probably not. It has been drizzling with rain today, but I had to go out sometime, and better wet than slippery under foot. So out came the scootmobile. I met friendly people everywhere. The first friendly person was a man posting a letter and I had some to post. He put them in the correct holes for me. Here in Almere we have two holes in the posting box, one for local codes and the other for foreign codes. In the supermarket the customer behind me - also a man - offered to pack my shopping in for me. Of course I accepted. I have a shopping trolley fixed onto the back of my scootmobile and I can get quite a lot in it. It also has a cold-storage compartment. I also met in the supermarket a couple with scootmobiles and I said to the man 'it must be scootmobile day'. That got us talking and laughing. His wife was buying several bunches of flowers so I said to her 'spend your money now as you cannot take it with you'. I came home, ironed a few of Johan's shirts and made a cake. Then my neighbour Annemie phoned me for some elastic for her pyjamas. That was fatal. Once I get to her there I stay and chat. Then it was dinner time. I had planned to do some more cross stitching this afternoon too. Oh well, tomorrow is another day. Tomorrow I have my trustworthy help. Have a good evening all. Sylvia xxx

Hi all, Well here I am again deserted by the rest - crying! I have had my trusty help in today so the flat is all shiny and bright. This afternoon Johan and I went to the garden centre and I bought some new plants for in the house to brighten things up. Well, I had to use some money up that I had had for my birthday! Not much news at the moment. Sylvia xxx

All is not lost Sylvia,,i have been doing research most of the day and have come onto genes 'cause i am stuck yet again. If anyone knows how to get info on a gt gt grandparents parents online when the search critearia,has the place of birth and the year ,can they please clue Fred in to save him having to go to durham to the records office,is there an an online catherines index ,or whatever? Liz and i are out to tea tomorrow,we are going to Connors birthday party to celebrate his joining the teens gang lol.Liz is still bemoaning the loss of her sparrows and starlings,and it would seem that they have all gone south due to global warming ,or ,in the case of the sparrows, gone to the states. It seems they are innundated with spuggies and the noise is driving some townships dotty.and are putting some of the native spiecies noses out of joint lol. If you yanks don't want our birds,send 'em back,we is lonely without them [sniff] We have had a lovely day here,lovely and sunny ,though very windy,so windy in fact it woke us both up a number of times last night,and as a result we both slept in good style this morning. To cap it all ,when i came down this morning i had trouble with messenger yet again ,and i took 7.5 out come the finish ,which seems to have done the trick.I have my fingers crossed about this because like Brenda and a couple of others ,i tried to add this message before ,and lost it ,soooooo ,if it goes this time Sylvia,you isss on your own gal hee hee.Thats it for now,Fred has to find something to go with the sausage casserolle,maybe some roast turnip and carrot,to go with the mashed potato.yum yum.see ya all later .Fred.PtfA&G&G&S.

Hello everyone,I am feeling much better now and have had a great time catching up with you all your news. Have been to see my friends parents tonight as he has just had his 8oth birthday ,my friend is in Australia and her parents are going there on holiday next month. My other friend has just become a Nanna,her daughter had a beautiful little boy today Jacob Willian James 6lb 13oz lots of curly black hair. All doing well. my sister should hope fully have her gall bladder removed next thursday ,she has waitd two years almost to get it done,and the fact that thursday is her birthday is a shame but she isn't letting it stop her. Nice to see all the messages like I said,but there are to many for me to reply to individually so i will just say take care of yourselves and see you over the weekend.Brenda

Hi friends, Don't cry Sylvia! We're only a click away, so sooner or later one or other of us will emerge! By the way, what is enquete? Glad to hear you're feeling good again, Brenda, and back to your usual social whirl! You must have an abundance of energy, working and partying too, midweek! Well, yesterday was another unsettled day, but the forecast for today was for sunshine, so I thought 'ah, roses', though listening to the rain pounding down overnight, I couldn't imagine sunshine today. However, woke up to blue skies, so leapt out of bed, threw on some old clothes, mixed up a batch of antifungus, and sprayed all the roses, 16 bushes and 3 climbers. So, thanks again Fred for the gardening advice. Then I finished tidying up a flower bed I started on the last sunny day, and cleaned out all the containers on the patio, ready to plant bacopa and some other annuals. Tomorrow, weather allowing, I'm going to clear all the leaves from the apple, pear and cherry trees, from out of my veggie area. So, by March I hope to have the garden organised, so I can start planting and sit back and smell the roses and watch the flowers grow! Sounds as though you're doing what we did when we moved in here, June, waiting to see what comes up in the garden in the spring. Meanwhile I gradually checked out most of the gardening books in the library, and made a list of all my favorite plants, and then spent the next 2 or 3 years collecting them, by propogation, seed, friends, sales, and made myself the garden I'd always wanted, and now had time for. So I hope you enjoy the process as much as I did. Mavis, the area you live in sounds beautiful, and it's always an extra to have water activities and cruise ships to watch. For 2 or 3 years we lived on the shore on the Sunshine Coast here in BC, and used to love to watch the cruise ships from Vancouver and Seattle heading up to Alaska, as well as the occasional group of whales, or seals passing by. Always something to see on the water, isn't there? Well, I have 2 sweaters finished and waiting to be stitched together, then 2 more to do, as well as 2 hat and scarf sets, so I'd better get started. John has almost finished the bedroom, just the blinds to instal, then we have to move all the furniture out of the living room, (including a 3 seater chesterfield that was the dickens to get in in the first place), so we can rip out the carpet and instal the wood floor. What fun! NOT! Take care all of you. Love, Di.xxx

Hi everyone, I thought we were supposed to having colder weather but thankgoodness it isn't too bad though I will be pleased when the ground dries a bit and I can have a better look at what is there. Di I dont think I am going to be very lucky with finding plants other than conifers and yuccas and a holly bush.. Most of the garden is lawn and a large patio area in front of the back door so it will be fun introducing more plants. My son in law is a keen gardener and he has quite a few gardening books so i will wait and see what he has in mind. Brenda, Glad to hear that you are feeling better, it will soon be time for our March meetup in Manchester, do you know which Saturdays you are working yet? Fred, I'm glad to hear that you are still researching, I have decided to get rid of all my bits of paper and make notes on my PC. When I first started all those years ago I had a lot on paper. Anyway this week I have made a start, I have added a few names as I have gone along because with all these sites now on the internet its so much easier, but there's always the odd elusive one. I really need to make a trip to Derbyshire to try to pin a couple down. Mind I dont think they will be going far! Sylvia, Dont cry, we dont mean to leave you! I thought I had posted yesterday but I must have got engrossed in my Family History. I also was looking at my house on Google Earth. I have made a New Year's resolution ( a bit late,lol) that when I dont know what a word means, I will look on the internet and find out. Mavis, How I envy you your warm weather, I cant wait for spring to arrive here. well its time to get my granddaughter off to work. See you tomorrow. June xx

Hello everyone,having trouble sleeping again ,have been up most of last night and again tonight.However I am really tired and when I get to bed I sort of wake up. I have been cat napping a bit during the day and think that is the main cause.Think I am still a bit lathargic from my cold so going to get a tonic from the chemist on Monday. I should also get some tidying done in the garden but haven't got the inclination to do anything outside at all. Have been looking some rellies up ,well trying but no luck tonight. Might go and watch a DVD downstairs andsee if that will send me to sleep,already had warm milk,etc. See you later Love Brenda

Hi all, It is now 11.24 and I've just had breakfast. I am in my nightgown. Johan prepared the breakfast and cleared away - ah! We had neighbours in for coffee and drinks last night and also my ex son in law and his wife popped in. We had a very late night, or should I say early morning. I certainly had a long night's sleep. Anyway we all enjoyed ourselves. Somebody was phoning me around 10.15 but I was too sleepy to answer it. Di, you put me to shame with all your knitting and sewing etc.etc. I've been trying to do a little cross stitch every day, but seem to get interrupted when I want to do it. I also plan to get down to my genealogy, but here again never find the time.. We have had a letter from the Council that they want to cut down some trees in our street. I know two neighbours who have been trying to get a tree cut down as they say it takes away the sun on their balcony. Mind you when the sun comes out they hoist a sunshade, so why destroy a tree? My neighbours who were here last night - Annemie and Frans - want us to give them all the forms (they can then see who has voted to have the tree cut down, who says 'no' and who says 'don't care'. ) Well honest Sylvia here went into discussion and I told them that I certainly don't want to lose the tree near me because then I'd lose the birds too. Johan accuses me of starting an argument, but I am only being honest. The birds gather in this tree near me and then come onto my balcony to feed. Di, enquete, means enquiry - a French word left here by Napoleon. There should be a 'roof' over the 'u', but I don't know where to find all the accents on my computer yet. I too, went through a spell of not being able to sleep, so I do know how it feels Brenda, but rest assured it will eventually go over. My thoughts are with you. Fred, glad you are still with us, about time we had another recipe! Just been hearing of all the snow in Japan - meters of it - and then of all the fires in Australia. What an unfair distribution! The weather here is quite bright and almost Spring-like if you are looking out from the inside. Now, must do something, like seeing what we are going to have for dinner. Have a nice Sunday, and forgive me if I've not mentioned your name. I will have read your message and of course forgotten your name, and don't want to muddle the names up do I? Sylvia xxx

Morning everyone:o))) I'm still in my dressing gown as well, but thats nothing unusual. Another frost this morning and its still very chilly, last night l had to put another blanket on the bed and wore me socks!!!!! Madoc did his usual and tried to get in, so l covered him with his blanket (spoilt or what???) So many of you are always sooooo busy, amazing the things you all do in one day. l try to be,but l still sit and ponder for too long. June - Your dogs sound as though they have it right comfy as well, bless - animals don't take too long to settle in do they, especially if they are loved like all of ours are:o)))))))) Can you put some photo's on GC of your garden as it is now and then abit later on?? The mosaics - well l need to make more to be able to sell them at present, the one l'm doing at the moment (matchstick man) is'nt comeing along as l had hoped,but will finish it - its all part of the learning fingy!! l'll concentrate more on the easier things - trivetts and placemats etc. l was covering small cat food tins, to use as small plant pot holders, or posy pots, but l had'nt sealed them and they've stained!!!! When l have some more better things finished l will put them on GC photo. Brenda - l do hope you can get your sleep pattern back to normal, nothing worse than not sleeping - my sister suffers with this alot and sometimes she's exhausted the next day. Fred - suasage casserole - yummy, do you do it all yourself or with a packet?? l've used the packets and they are very nice l must say:o) We have brisket for raost today, its in the oven now, put it in about 9.45am and we'll eat about 4pm, hopefully be then it will melt in the mouth:o)))))) Been trying to sell a few things on ebay - what a pullavver, its understanding what ebays questions are and what to fill in where etc - think l've done it now though - fingers crossed they sell:o)) OK thats it for now,spose l ought to get dressed now - lol lol Loads of love to all, take care:o) Jude sarf wales xx

Hi everyone, We had a frost this morning but now it is nice and sunny. Jude, What a good idea to take some photos of the garden as it is now. (all the stuff ready to go to the tip,lol) Then take more as we change things. Listening to what you have been doing with your mosaics, I now know where you have been all this time. Sylvia, You sound as though you had a lovely evening. I agree with you, when you are with friends, you should be able to put your opinion across without anyone taking offence. Brenda, I think you will have to go for a jog around the block to tire you out, lol Sorry have to go someone has arrived. June xx

Hi peeps,fred hasjust dropped in to find some members of both threads looking for some new dishes and soups,so i had a look on the net for you ,and came up with a new addy.the addy for you to put a search on is[the foody uk and ireland] .the recipe my son tried for broccolli and stilton is going down a storm at the shop ,so who knows,i may yet get a free bowl ,next time i drop in [he says hopefully] You stick to your guns Sylvia,tell the council a definate NO to any tree chopping,fred is without his beloved birds and it is no joke i can tell you. if the council try to chop one of the cherry trees outside the house to put up the bungalows ,they will have a fight on i can tell you,they have been here fifty odd years and are in their prime,and if the birds do come back,they would be short a major food source in the autumn,i would be straight on to the rspcb and the consevation society. where is everyone today,are we all having a lazy day?.i thought everyone would be jogging ,or getting the dinner ready. Someone mentioned brisket i noticed earlier,nine till four for cooking lol,you have time to cook the whole cow.hee hee. I normally put mine in a a slow roaster tin with the meat on a trivet on very low heat 170 f with a little water in the bottom,and then just over an hour before the finish i add par boiled carrot, shallot, pasnip, and sweet potato.so that they take on that liitle taste of beef ,and that special glaze that you get when you baste with the water a couple of times,i even put in water roast potatoes once in a while,lovely roast potatoes with no fat in whatsoever ,lovely for anyone with ticker probs or diabetics.. It makesa change when the beef comes out with that wonderful red colour that the irish are known for,and tender,you have a job cutting it because it can fall to pieces as you touch it with a knife.[but there is a trick to this too] Seeing as i had a little too much in the way of treats for tea last night i am on salad for both dinner and tea to bring the ols sugar levels back to normal,but mentioning cooking boiled beef has made me a little envious of peeps and their sunday dinners . so to all these i say,have a great one ,and spare a thought to Fred [having rabbit food ]lol. Off to swan about now ,but i will look in later. Fred.PtfA&G&G&S.