General Chat

Sylvia,I am so pleased that your party went well and that you and Johan enjoyed it.(have you decided if you are having the proper one next year ,now you have had the rehersal?) June,it has been lovely hasn't it ? hope it's as nice on Thursday and for Easter. What sort of printer do you have? I need ink as well but find the shops are expensive and can not find any that do a 'copy' ink for my Lexmark. Elizabeth ,sounds like you had a lovely time on your visit,nice to hear of people enjoying them selves.Your garden sounds great with all those daffs,which are my favourite flower. I have never had much luck growing them ,but we have a few in the tubs which are doing well. Hope the others have had a good weeeend and they will be reporting back tio us in the week. Brendal

n

Hi all, Here I am again all in one piece, or almost! Johan and I had a fantastic day yesterday. Janet picked us up to take us to the hall where our reception was. We arrived at the same time as the accordion players. Janet had made a beautiful posy of all white flowers for us to put on the table and a corsage for each of us to wear - just like being married all over again. Janet used to work in the flower business, so she is so good at flower arranging. Everybody said how wonderful I looked, big smiles all round! As if I don't always look lovely - conceited! Johan had a dark grey suit, and calls it black, difficult to convince him that it is dark grey. Good thing Janet told him too. We started of with coffee and tart - large fruit open latticed tarts. I had ordered 7 of them. On one of them they had made from our wedding photo a picture on top. For all the pieces of tart they had made round discs with our wedding photo - these were edible, but nobody ate them of course. I have never seen anything like this before. Very expensive so I have heard, but I didn't have to pay. Janet's partner Henk is going to do some electrical work for the man in return. How lucky I am. No tarts to pay for at all. Henk also paid for the accordion players. So nice to see most people turn up. At our age there are always one or two who are too ill to come - understandable. Two of my ex colleagues came too. We still see one another and try once a year to have dinner together. Janet and Henk did a sketch for us of two old people. She borrowed my rollator and had old lady's clothes and Henk too, trousers wide open, no buttons done up, that sort of thing. It was hilarious. They mimed to a CD. There was a little dancing, and I was asked but couldn't bring myself to dance. My grandson kept coming up to me and putting his arms around me - he is 18! We had the hall until 6.00 pm but it was almost 7.00 before we left. We had booked a dinner table for 7.30 so just about made it. We finally arrived home around 11.00 pm tired but happy. We had said that we didn't want 60 bunches of flowers, and asked if they wanted to give something put it in an envelope. People were so generous! We did of course, receive some flowers. Lots of photos were made, so when I get some will try and scan them to a site somewhere. Love, Sylvia xxx

I have just realised Elisabeth that we must have been typing at the same time. I have the problem with the birds too, I have some bushes that I only cut back once a year but I can never do it until the birds have nested. It must take a bit of organising with a wedding abroad and another reception over here. I am taking notes, in case we should have the same problem though our flight is only about 90 minutes, which doesn't give the same problems. Enjoy your Sunday too. Love June xx

Hi everyone, Isn't the weather lovely, everyone was sitting outside the pubs having a drink as though it was summer. I hope this weather continues over Easter. I thought I had put a message on yesterday but cant find it. Yesterday I took my granddaughter to work as usual, went to Comet for some printing ink, came home to find the electricity was off, it was off for a couple of hours, I felt like a smoker, I didn't know what to do with my hands. A couple of years ago, a lady on Genes gave me a lot of info on my family, then about 12 months ago she contacted me to say we weren't related after all but the information she had given me was correct, she had done all that research that didn't help her at all. Yesterday I was reading through the lists she had given me and found another couple of items that now 'tied' in. I will forever be in her debt. One of the things was an addie for a web site, it opens with this photo of a cemetery, I sat here, literally shaking, I have only ever been to that cemetery once in my life, that was 53 years ago, it was the first funeral I had ever been to, it was for the death of my nephew, 17 weeks old, but I reckonised it immediately. There was a photo of a tombstone and details of my great great uncle and his 2 wives, I had only known of one, Sylvia, I do hope you enjoyed your party, and met a lot of old friends. Fred, I'm glad you decided to stay, usually my men run out on me, lol I'm glad the physio is doing some good too, anything to keep the pain away. I would buy your garden furniture and enjoy it, at least then the government cant take the money away from you. I think you should heed Sylvia's words, you dont owe Society anything, you know your body best. Elisabeth, I hope you are taking some photos of your garden for us to see. The house we are hoping to get is a 'double' house if you know what I mean, The couple that had it, had a large family and they built on, duplicating what they already had, so there are 2 lounges etc. We thought it would save me running around all the time, with Gaynor not being able to drive, though we are hoping that after the operation, she will be able to. Also it will stop everyone worrying whether or not I am alright. Brenda, I hope John's cold is a little better. I always think of black puddings when I hear of Bury market. I used to go to Bury Town Hall for meetings when I was working, and it was so stuffy in there, I used to walk around Bury in my lunch break, just to get some fresh air. Jude, I bet Madoc is enjoying this lovely weather, Beckham loves it when he can have the door open and just keep running in and out all day. When my next door neighbour is in her garden, he follows her up and down the garden 'talking' to her as she gardens. He cant see her because of the 6 foot fence! Hi to everyone I have missed. See you all tomorrow. Love June xx

Good morning, Sorry I didn't call in yesterday but we had a trip south to visit our son and fiance. It was very foggy when we left, cleared a little around Peterborough but was then very thick again near Hatfield I think. We stopped for a coffee break before heading around the M25. They have done some great DIY on the house and it looks so different now. They just have the jungle of a garden to sort. We had lunch, outside a pub by a lake. It was glorious and too nice to be indoors. On the return journey we stopped for a break and I had a wonderful pancake and coffee. I haven't been out for three meals in one day for ages! We chatted lots about the wedding preparations. It is getting complicated with a wedding and reception at other side of the world and then another reception around here for all the friends and relatives not able to make the 10 hour flight. Could be an expensive year! I expect everyone else is busy, I know I will be with gardening now the weather has brightened up. I have just been out with some fresh water for the birdbath and the garden is just glowing yellow with hundreds of daffodils. Spring has really arrived. (I think some blackbirds are nesting in the space where I keep all the plantpots and compost. Its under a brickbuilt b-b-q so I may not be able to get to my bags of compost for a while!) Have a happy Sunday. Elisabeth x

so we don't slip too far away.

Well did not make it to the market,John is still full of that cold,his throat and chest are bad too. Had a nice wlak round our local market and have bought six little pots with primulas in, assorted colour,to brighten up the tubs. Saw a lovely photo frame which was the wrong size,but the lady will see if they have a bigger one in the warehouse. wanted some new cushion covers but could only see suede,leather and sort of shaggy ones ,which I didn't like. Going for a cuppa npw and to return some calls, Speak to you all soon.Hope you are all enjoying th elovely weather

Will be brief with this message, as it is later than I thought. Fred you should become a personnal shopper ,getting bargins like that, you can do mine any time you are free. My friends auntie always gets the bargains as well,she once got an electric kettle,toaster and a set of pans from either Aldi or Lidl for £15.00,they were stainless steel as well. I am supposed to go to Bury market with John tomorrow,but he is so full of a cold, I think he needs to stay in,but we shall see. Take care Brenda

n

Hi all, Well I had a difficult job waking myself up this morning, or rather Johan trying to wake me up. Last Monday I bought two new pillows for our bed and we had them on last night for the first time - wonderful. They are fibrofill which is better for my allergy. Linda came at 8.30 am and cleaned up my balcony and windows. If you could see the size of the windows, you would know that they are a morning's work. Anyway, she managed to do the bathroom and toilet and the kitchen floor. I told her to leave the vacuum cleaning, as nobody will see the odd speck on the carpets. I went to the market, not that I wanted much, but we have a good craft stall and that is where I spent most of my time. You see Annemie wasn't with me otherwise I don't like to keep her hanging about. I bought some cheese and vegetables too. The weather has been fine here all day. In our block of flats a young couple on this floor were married today, next to them people are moving tomorrow, and the other side of the couple a man died this morning, and of course tomorrow is our party. What a lot is going on here on the first floor! Will update you on Sunday, don't think I'll have time tomorrow. Fred, you'll just have to get back to work if the 'boss' wants some new furniture. Don't feel that you owe society that you should go back to work, if you're not healthy, then don't do it. You only have one life! Sylvia xxx

Morning all, A few lines from me before I get on with the chores. I did get the lawns cut and was amazed with how much grass cuttings I ended up with. It was nice using my new mower, which has been in the garage for 10 years since I won it in gardening magazine competition. (Mower, shredder, raker and hedge trimmer.) I have been keeping it in reserve for when the old mower gave up, but have now given the old one to our son for his first garden, so I can start with the new one! The garden looks beautiful now with hundreds of daffodils out and the forsythia is just showing a little yellow too. I do love spring. I have just spent ages on the phone trying to sort out my W H Smith Clubcard points. I had a letter this morning saying I had £9 worth of points, but when I got my papers today, the receipt said £2.50! Apparently they are having trouble with their systems, so they are crediting me the extra. If you don't ask you don't get. It is a glorious day here, blue sky and sunshine but I don't think I shall have time to get into the garden. I will be running around all afternoon as usual. One of these days I shall meet myself coming the other way - a favourite saying of my dear old Dad. Sorry I haven't mentioned everyone but.... have a good party Sylvia, Kathleen - thinking of you and Susan. June - are you moving to upsize, downsize or move area? Love Elisabeth x

Hi all ,i decided not to quit ,which would after all spoil a lot of my research into the two families,but i will do as many of you are already choosing to do ,which is sticking mainly to the good threads ,and leaving the rest. I,m glad some of you are getting decent weather as i can't even get into my garden for drizzle this morning.The pysio went well last night ,and for the first time i see a chance that i may even get back to work,not that i would be much better off mind you after the budget,but now at least i can get my self respect back. there is also the added incentive of being able to stop on at work after 65,to stave off the lean years ,lol. must get on with the housework ,before the boss kicks up,[which she is good at] but i will be back later. The tuna was lovely Brenda, poached in foil after being chargrilled on one of those griddles you put on your hob,and then put it in foil ,adding coriander chilli powder ,lemon juice and a sprinkle of garlic,it went down a treat. I had a good week for the shopping ,picked up my griddle from Netto which are £19 ,but i got for £2,the tuna steaks i got from our local freezer shop for £1.99,for five steaks ,so i bought four packs,ditto with the salmon,again five to the pack,and got a 5 kilo bag of rice for £3.85,not a bad shopping day at all. The boss has spotted a table ,and set of six chairs at Cramlington,with the parisol ,for £140 ,which she is eying avidly,all made out of wood ,so it looks as though we will have some new patio furniture for the b,b,q'sin the next few weeks.cyal.Fred.ptfg.&a&g&s.

Hi all, I was up early so thought I would spend a few moments here. Linda is cleaning my bathroom and toilet and will clean up the balcony for tomorrow. Yes, my throat is better, just my right ear. I phoned the doctor to see if they would syringe my ear out and they said the earliest they could do it was next Tuesday. I was cross. I had told my doctor that I had this party tomorrow and now I have to wait. Oh well Sylvia, calm down, there are worst things in life! Thanks everybody for your kind messages, what would I do without you lot. I cannot understand it, but I've not heard from Di. She hasn't e-mailed me for our party either. Either she is too busy or she is ill. Hopefully not the latter. When are you moving June? Well, will keep this short, Sylvia xxx

Hi everyone, A rather dull start again today but it isn't raining and the wind appears to have died down. Yesterday, I kept trying to have 40 winks but didn't make it until about 5 in the afternoon. Elisabeth, I hope you managed to get the lawns cut, although it does seem early. I haven't any lawns to cut now, just lots of tubs and hanging baskets to tend, though I have some bushes that I cut back each spring. Sylvia, I hope your throat is better and that Johan's blood is fine. Maybe you should put a sign up for the blue tits saying Nesting Box To Let. Brenda, You cant beat meeting up with friends for a good natter. No I cant buy much for the garden either, I haven't the room for much else, plus if I am moving, I dont want too much to carry. Chris, It is good to be home again and I know what you mean about having to put coats, scarves, hats and gloves on, I'm always glad to shed them too. It would be nice if you could come a few weeks later another time, Its so pretty here when the leaves are on the trees. Brenda may well be right you probably have met more Genes members than we have. Time to get dressed ready to take my granddaughter to work again. Love June xx

Hi Brenda, June, Elisabeth, Sylvia and everyone, I had a lovely trip but it's nice to be home again, being able to get out into the garden. It is very dry at the moment think we need a little rain. The best bit is not having to take my coat, hat and scarf off and put them back on all the time - good to be in shorts again. I think it probably was a good time of year to come though as probably less crowded. I have some lovely pics of the village where my grandfather came from in Denmark before and after snowfall. Christine

Good afternoon everyone,First of all my congratulations to Sylvia and Johan on their anniversary,it is a wonderful acheivment. Today is my day off and have had a very nice day in town with my friends,we bought some bargains at M&S in a 50% off sale that they had, and then had a nice lunch in a little cafe one of my friends had found. Have stayed more organised again today and manged to get some washing in the washer and remember to turn it on before I went out.I am going to do some ironing after tea and hopefully sorting out some old stuff to get rid off ,one way or another.!!! Fred I want to come to your house for tea,that tuna sounds smashing !!! June,only bought a little lavender plant for the garden,John is taking the hanging baskets over as he waters them any way as I can not reach. Kathlee,bet your son is still hurting from the cost of that tooth,can he get a second opinion?? Elizabeth,you sound like you have some really good friends and the holly bush present is great, Chris, glad to hear that you had such a good time on your trip over here, you have probably met more members than we have !!! Have to put the veggies on for tea,so speak to you all again. take care ,brenda

Hi all, Bet you didn't think I'd be on here today, did you? I wanted to look up my e-mails. I have had lots of cards via e-mail, as well as cards per post. Thank you all for your kind messages. I've just changed the beds. On Monday I bought two new pillows for our beds. Keeping my fingers crossed now that my husband doesn't get any nose bleeds. You see sometimes his blood is too thin and then he gets a nose bleed. Today he goes to the thrombosis service for them to prick his blood, which has been good these last few weeks. I had a terrible sore throat again last night, and thought 'oh, not beginning all over again'. I gargled with salt water and it is a little easier this morning. The little blue tits are busy nesting everywhere except in our nesting box. Maybe they'll nest second time around by us. See you all tomorrow. Love, Sylvia xxx

Morning all, I will add a few lines, as I managed to get the thread to load. I am afraid I gave up yesterday when it was taking too long. I suppose it is when the site is overloaded. Sylvia and Johan - Have a happy day today. Christine - I am glad you have had a good trip. I must visit Denmark again - it is many years now since we visited Legoland primarily, Copenhagen and a few other tourist sites. I remember arriving in Copenhagen, with two small boys, and no hotel booked. We eventually found somewhere but for a time I thought we would be sleeping in the car. We don't do that sort of thing these days, I like a nice clear itinerary now. I must start the chores now. Have a happy day everyone. I have good intentions of giving the lawns their first cut today, but the clouds look a little threatening so that may not happen. Elisabeth x

Hi everyone, Its rather damp and very windy today. Yesterday was very pleasant and mild, when we went out for our meal last night we didn't even need coats. I have dropped Nick off at the station for 6.30, he flies back to Copenhagen today, the time has flown by but it was only a quick visit. Last night we had a family dinner together, it was nice to just sit and talk. Fred, The bickering gets on my nerves too, sometimes I wonder if Genes should stop the messages facility, there seems to be a lot of trouble caused through emailing, I think sometimes people give out their email addresses too easily. As for copying and pasting, that is disgusting, all sorts of interpretations can be got from that. No I'm sticking to our nice and easy thread, no sniping and backbiting. I have now finished putting my pansies and primulas into pots, yesterday I got a few hyacinths and potted those. Sylvia, I hope your hearing in your right ear soon returns, it can be so frustrating. I got blue and pink hyacinths, I wish I had got white ones too, they do smell lovely. Its nice to see you out and about on your scooter again. Kathleen, I hope you managed to get back to sleep. Christine, Its nice to see you back on this thread again. You sound as though you had a lovely time both here and in Denmark. I am hoping to visit Denmark soon myself being as my grandson now lives over there. I was going this time but decided to bring him over here instead, everyone was missing him so much. I am now going to make myself a cuppa, I have to take my granddaughter to work soon. Hi to everyone I've missed. Love June xx