General Chat

Morning All,at last we have a bit of sunshine,it has been raining but has stopped now,we have even had TWO rainbows !!! Is that a sign to put the lottery on ??? Nearly did not get into work today,seems someone was messing with the door and has broken the lock.We had to call the main library on our mobiles and sit in the car till maintenance came and got us in.We now can not lock the door and have to wait for a locksmith to come and change the lock. Only just had time to set up before it was opening time. Dorothy had a nice time last night,did manage to get to sleep but headache stil here!!!! Fred,how about tidying our garden ,in your spare timeLOL Mavis glad the garden is coming along. Time to get back towork ,my tea has gone cold doing this . Speak to you tonight or tomorrow. Brenda

goodmorningnone and all just getting ready for a session at the gym but when I awoke the snow was back again not much just enough to cover the grass, but the clouds are rolling in so maybe more is on the way, to-night I am going to the local university for a performance of the nutcracker, my granddaughter was 10 in nov and has chosen to take three friends mommy and both grandmothers to see this as her birthday treat. courstsey of momyy and daddy, her brothers declined the invatation they are going to see a hockey game. so I will say bye for now hope the headache leaves you soon brenda glad the weather is better will be calling anne in bury later this pm bye dorothy

hi one and all the toronto star has an article in the travel section re the christmas markets being held in manchester and the hor wine drinks it sounded very interesting there were interviews with some of the stall holders in albert square etc. I enjoyed reading it has anyone been to them just wondering bye dorothy

Hi all, So nice to see so many letters today. I have been taking it easy today and only made a chocolate cake and two brown loaves. I did some tidying up by putting away some ironing I had done. Annemie is coming downstairs tomorrow to put some pins in my new trousers as they are too long. I have had these trousers for some weeks now but not got around to shortening them. I don't know now whether I'll shorten them or let the Turkish shop do it. This Turkish shop do odds and ends in sewing and also have a dry cleaning shop They are very reasonable in price. The weather has been quite wet here today, but hasn't bothered me as I didn't have to go out. My ex son in law and his wife came round this afternoon for a drink which was nice. Now have a nice evening. Sylvia xxx

Afternoon all,its been a bright sunny day here,was wet in the night but that bit of sun made the difference. Sylvia,how nice for you that your son-in -law jeeps in touch,my mother couldn't be in the same room with my ex.!!!and certainlt would not talk to him. Dorothy ,the christmas markets are great,haven't been down this year,am hoping to go Thursday or friday.as they finish Friday or saturday.They are very popular. Have delivered most of my presents now and have just two or three small things to wrap up. Have some ironing to and some of my sons friends are calling later so had better get a move on. Take care .Brenda

Hi all We have three more days of carolling at the rest homes before a well deserved break. Most of the elderly residents joined in with the singing. We have dreaded singing one particular Christmas song that goes on and on - you guessed it 'Twelve days of Christmas' which was requested by one resident the other day. The carols in the cowshed on 9 December was non-event due to the horrbile weather we have been experiencing lately, so it was held outside the church and even there it was still cold. The food that followed was really enjoyable. We have finished our Christmas gift shopping and only have to buy the food for Christmas Day. John

Morning peoples ,up early this morning seeing as i could,nt sleep at all last night ,and came down to find a message from a chum of Bills saying he was in hospital with his back again,which has upset me a little because i know he had every intention of getting back to New Zealand by now. When the puter went down earlier in the year i needed a new motherboard and isp connection as well as new hard drives ,and in the ensuing mayhem ,lost Bill s e,mail addy so i couldn't even send him an email chrissie card,not that it would have done any good because he had also lost his puter ,i take it in an accident in the bus,resulting in it being written off. It seems he isn't too bad ,and hopes to be out by Christmas but have asked his freind to pass on my good wishes in a speedy recovery ,and a safe trip home. The brickie came back yesterday to tell me that his customer had let him down and asked me if he could start the front of the house now instead of the spring,so what could i do ,couldn't see him short of cash for christmas could i ? so he will be here at nine this morning to get cracking. I also have a little job to do on the car bonnet where some kid has bounced a caser off it,not bad ,but it needs a bit of tee cut on ,to remove the scufffs,at least it will give me something to do for half an hour lol. Cor Brenda.i have enough bother with my own garden at the mo ,never mind yours as well lol,it's far too soggy and wet to touch,never mind walk over the lawn out front to reach the new tatties i have in the compost bin for the Christmas weeks dinners ,so they may have to stay there ,snug ,and dry till later ,but i'm sure they will be as tasty then. Off to town later this morning to get the last odds and ends,like a couple of cartons of bread mix and yeast for Christmas week,just in case we can't get out,and we have to get the marzipan and icing mixes for the cakes ,by 'eck ,we have left it late this year. ,I'm orf to make my brekkie now ,either beans on toast ,of porridge,so i will see you peeps later. Have a good day everyone ,specially you Bill,get well soon mate ,and safe journey.Fred.

Hi all.,Have had to come out of the staff room on my tea break,as it is so cold in there. So thought I would grab ten minutes on the pc while I am not working. John We used to have the local church come round carol singing at the end of our street,but the hav not been round for years.I think they just do homes and places like that.But can't say i blame them. Fred was only joking re the garden.Havent heard from Bill myself and was going to do all my christmas emails on Thursday.Is it worth doing one to him do you think. Tea time is up folks,speak to you tomorrow,Brenda

Hi all, Well how the weather has changed. I heard everybody scraping their car windows this morning, so just turned over until it was daylight. I do have to be up tomorrow reasonably early as I want to give some of my precious blood. My doctor wants to know the results before she goes on holiday next week. Oh well all for a good cause I suppose. I popped out to the chemist this afternoon after my help had gone at 3.30pm but it was really too cold for me to be going out. I then picked up a few pieces of shopping. My granddaughter has asked if she can come on Xmas Day for a drink. How lovely of course she can. She is having dinner with her father and his wife on Xmas Day and going to her mother on Boxing Day. Have a nice evening everyone. Sylvia xxx

nudge

Hello everyone,Sylvia,haven't had to scrape my car window screen yet --but its heading that way weather wise,its decidedly a lot chiller than it has been. Went to see my friends parents tonight,she lives in australia and it is their 60th wedding anniversary and her mothers 80th birthday this week. coming home it was really misty/foggy have to get my house sorted now I have done all the presents,so the next two days are cleaning and putting up decorations. Take care. Brenda

HI everyone Carolling finishes tonight and it has be hard going as most of the singers have been on the go most evenings. We had planned going to the film 'The Nativity Story' this Wednesday but last night one of my crutches broke in half fortunately I was able to do a temporary repair with sellotape until I could by some new ones today. Fred, the last time Bill in OZ 'spoke' on GR he said that was going to retire in NZ that was when he had his own thread. I don't know if he rejoined GR. John

hello everyone just finished reading the english papers on line and saw pictures of some very bad weather I hope brenda that you are not having to scrape the car windows, I can't believe the weather in my part of ontario this morning the sun is shining and the view from my window is beautiful blue sky and the hills are awash with colour appatrently they say we will not have a white christmas, we are going to pay for this sooner or later, the ski operators in the area are managing to make snow as the temperaturs dip at night but to-day it is 5 degree's quite balmy for us. to-morrow my sister and her husband and his brother whois visiting from san fransico for the holidays are coming for dinner. so I need to flick the duster around etc. have my menus planned as chris and wayne are retiring to calgary in april next year this may be the last xmas dinner we have to-gether for a while as I like to spend christmas with the granchildren. well I am off to the gym and I have nattered on for far to long bye for now dorothy

Very quick message,John I have been in touch with Bill earlier this year,he did not have a pc and was going to the library to use theirs. He was living on a caravan site in his bus til he sold his van to move to NZ.Not sure about the accident. Dorothy it has gone really cold but luckily I have not had to scrape my car yet,It has been foggy to day . Speak to you all tomorrow,Brenda

Hi John.i did hear a couple of months ago that Bill had blown the engine on his bus ,and was stranded waiting for a replacement power unit. I then was told that he had written off the bus and had lost his puter,but that can be taken two ways. Either he wrote the bus off as in an accident,or he wrote it off because he couldn't get a replacement engine. Both ways the poor fella is stranded,.more so because he has hurt his back again to the extent that he was admitted to hospital. Seems he is in good spirits still and vowing to get back to New Zealand as soon as possible.Liz and i have been very busy these last few days getting ready for the weekend ,finishing off today with me getting caught with my hand in the cookie jar so to speak,lol,the boss had just finished putting the marmalade on the top of the cakes prior to adding the marzipan and left a bit in the bowl she had used to warm it in. It looked sooooo inviting ,a lovely golden colour ,and we had this morning made two lovely loaves of white bread ,so while she was upatairs i cut myself a huge slice of crust ,spread the butter on ,a nice layer of marmalade and got stuck in ,but ,as usual ,i got caught ,and am now in disgrace . My first bit of jam in months but i'm still in bother hee hee. Sean has phoned and is on his way home ,so i will have to get on here in the mornings for the next week or be left in the cold. The turkey will be delivered thursday night ready for me to cook up on Saturday along with one of the beef joints and my special country stuffing ,and this year i have remembered the hot horseradish sauce for my beef. The missus is doing the cranberry sauce so that i don't get the chance to sample it before christmas day. I hope everyone is getting set for the weekend ,and in case o loose the puter with Sean here ,have a wonderful break all,and may all you wish for be yours . Fred.

hi just read freds latest message and all that wonderful food he talks about makes my mouth water, fresh bread and butter and marmalade such comfort food, and his christmas menu sound smashing the folks at his christmas table are very lucky regards dorothy

Hi everyone. Not long to Christmas Day now. Food all under control (I hope). We will be with our daughter and son in law and the boys. Chris (the eldest grandson) will be home on leave from the army. He is much better now after the scare. Will be home for about 3 weeks. We haven;t seen him for almost a year. We will be having eats and drinks all day. Not a sit down affair this year. Turkey breast with cranberry stuffing, ham, prawns, scallops, sausages,salami. Various vegies (first picking of runner beans) and salads. Chocolate Log, Pavlova, Fresh fruit salad, mince pies, mini meringues with cream and strawberries. Of course, we will have wine and beer too! The weather has been awful this last day or two. Very windy and heavy showers. Quite warm. The weekend is supposed to be good - here's hoping. Each year the week before Christmas Mount Maunganui ( 10 mins. away by car) has a special day - the shops are open all day until 11 p.m. They have street buskers, sausage sizzle, hot dogs, candy floss you name it is is there. At 9.30 p.m. they have a firework display in Pilot Bay. They fireworks are on a barge on the sea. Looks really great - the reflection on the water etc. The local power company put on the display each year. We also have the Light Trail all around. Lots of houses are looking really pretty - reindeers, father Christmas, snowmen etc. etc. The best one receives a prize. Our local Church looks great - an emormous nativity scene in the foyer. They give out free coffee and Christmas Cake to all the callers. The choir sings carols outside by 'lantern light'. Mount Maunganui is a very quiet place all year and then comes alive at Christmas. We enjoy the change but also enjoy the quietness during the year. Well folks, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Happy New Year. I may get on again before the 25th - you never know. Love and regards Mavis & Pip NZ

Evening All,well everyone sounds like they are right in the middle of christmas preparations,myself included,got the tree up at last,and some other decorations still have to wrap up a couple of gifts ,need to be alone to do them as they are surprises for John.!! Have all the food in couldn't get any more in the freezer. Mind you some is for my dads birthday tea next week when he is 80. We are having a roast beef,on christmas day,and its so big I am hoping we will be able to have it cold on boxing day when Johns mother might be coming for ameal. Have just seen the time so i had better get tea on Brenda

Another cold grey day here today. Johan borrowed my scootmobile and delivered Xmas presents to our ex so in law and on the way home picked up a couple of bottles of sherry. Tomorrow he has to go and pick up our Xmas parcel from the firm we both used to work for. On the way home he can delivered Xmas presents to our youngest daughter. A real Father Xmas! Tomorrow I am going to the market and also get the last bits and bobs from the supermarket. I will not be shopping on Saturday or Sunday. I have a new pair of trousers, black with thin blue and beige pin strips. I am having the trousers shortened and a piece taken in at the waist. My neighbour will pick them up for me on Saturday. Usually I would do a little job like this myself, but this year don't feel like it. Now have a nice evening everybody. Sylvia xxx

Hi again peeps,old fred is not a happy bunny this morning having been delegated to take the boss and Sean to the metro centre to do his Chrismas shopping ,and you all know how i love that place [not] lol. Knowing Sean ,we will be there till about three this afterrnoon so i can see myself going on strike at one oclock and demanding a mcdonalds for dinner hee hee. Well now,the czakes are finished ,all four of them,we will keep one for ourselves and there is one each for the two sons ,and daughter. The bird is in Marys chalet,and is quite some size ,so i think i will remove the legs and cook them seperately to make sure everything is done properly,as even hand reared birds can harbour nasties that can upset tummies if not treated properly,and i prefer a fan oven for meat . I will have all day tomorrow to prepare the stuffing ,kilties and whatever ,and i found some lovely little button brussels yesterday which will go down very well. Well,.are we all ready for the big day then,? a resounding no ,do i hear?about right ain't it folks ,lol,no matter what you do ,you always forget something or other . Glat to hear that Sylvia is chipper even if Johan has perloined her chariot for his own use lol,it's an idea i might try if i have to do a lot of running about over the next few days ,though what my sister in law will say if she catches me on hers i don't know lol,well i do really but i want to protect all your delicate ears hee hee. Well peeps ,i have to shoot off now ,things to do and all that ,take care and be good ,or Santa will pass you by ,and we can't be having that.Fred.