General Chat

Hello everyone, have just enjoyed reading back through your messages, and my haven't you all been busy! The weather here is so very cold at the moment, we had some snow when we woke on Friday, but nothing since. Just icy cold, and no matter how warm and cosy the house is, as soon as the front door opens that icy chill blasts right through. Think I will get the family to use side door into kitchen help to keep the heat in the hall and front of the house. Hot water bottles were out over the week-end, isn't there something very comforting about a hot-water bottle. I had to laugh when my 16yr old son recalled the one he had with a teddy cover and the teddy had jammies on! See, sometimes our teens do remember little things we forget and which they appreciated. Now we all have fleecy covers on the bottles. Does anyone remember the old stone 'jars' as my Dad called them? They were oblong shaped with a cap/lid on top. They were always wrapped in an old towel or flannelnette sheet to keep your toes from getting burnt - they certainly heated the bed! Karen's headaches seem to have settled down again, and I am still wondering whether they are tension or migrane. We will just have to wait and see. Like the rest of you busy people, I have been trying to get on with the Christmas shopping, and yes I too managed some bargains. At the retail park, the Next outlet had some brilliant gifts for around a fiver, specially good for teens (reduced from £15/20). Also the Paper Mill??(new shop in N.Ireland) had some craft stuff reduced. Bought 4 Anita's Xmas stamps, quite large wooden ones, and they were buy 1 get 1 free. They will do for next year!! Our bedroom is starting to ressemble Steptoes yard, with bags stashed everywhere, I will have to set aside a day to wrap and label everything. I am still in the bad books as I am refusing to buy a real tree this year, I keep being reminded that a "fake" one is just not the same!! I have promised to light a "real" fire before Christmas though, so my 14 yr old daughter can toast bread using the toasting fork. Dear dear what a deprived childhood she has had!! She has lost out on potatoes wrapped in foil and baked in the ash-pan, toasted marshmallows, and "fire toast", memories my 20 yr old has of pre-oil heating days!! Jude I hope all works out well for Madoc, will say a wee prayer, Lady (aged 3 yrs old or so) has now been with us almost a year, and now her Christmas stocking has been bought, I would say there is no way she will ever be leaving! She is so tuned into to everyone in the the house, particularly if they aren't feeling so good. Steven had really bad toothache all week-end and she never left him, staying curled up close and licking his cheek from time to time. Turned out not toothache as such, but grinding giving him muscle spasm in jaw etc. Always something isn't there? I hope all of you keep well and happy, and although I don't mention everyone by name I will be thinking of you! Night and God Bless Anne xxx

Me again:o) Kathleen - how lovely to meet up with all those lovely people eg: Max,Colin,Terri & Ray,Jenny and Willum and all the others.Did you say Terri & Ray have moved now,bet they are pleased its all done dusted now - moving is quite a hectic time for people. Did Ray where his blazer with his lovely badge on:o) he was sooo proud of it at Webbs:o))))) Ann do you remember that,the last meet we had there?? Di - good for you doing puzzles and relaxing and why not,but l know what you mean it feels real good to get up early and get things done:o) Sylvia - hope your new puter is soon installed and you are back here telling us about your daily escapades:o) Ann - the bird food recipe is so easy,just add anything you think they would like, in particular the digestive biccies and suet,old cake , ohh and raisens or saltanas!!!!!! even if it gets sticky it won't matter. l have just started christmas shopping,very slow this year.Vic has bought mine, l know what it is but he's hidden it for now.My son has given my orders not to buy anything unless he has asked for it - YES SIR!!!!!!!! last yr one of his presents was a scarf,which l have never bought before and he has never worn - so he asked if he could take it back - l can understand really,nothing worse than having something you don't want!! Brenda - yeh, fingers crossed they can help Madoc. With reference to Ann's comments about it taking so long to get on this thread, l must say its the same here. l usually do a search for the page,then click on thread and it can take nearly 5 mins for the page to come up,then a minute to get to the last essage - maybe this only happens on some computers? The weather has been nice all day today,even got my washing dry.Hopefully it will be nice tomorrow then l can do some gardening. Ok l'm off now to watch Eastie benders. Nite all,take care:o) Keep smiling Fred, we're all thinking of you:o))) Jude sarf wales xx

Di, yes I am sure thatw e waste an hour or two by getting up late. On the days Tony plays golf he is up early so i am too. Brenda. What i meant was, once I have found the thread it takes ages to open. I have noticed that all the longer threads do. it isn't a problem, just a bit of a time waster. it probably depends what time of day it is too. Maybe I could go back and delete some of the very early messages of mine on the thread. Glad you have got the stuff to the charity shop. Ann Glos

Hi Everyone, I did not realize I did not leave a message yesterday,then remembered I had read all your messages and then got called downstairs and when I got back my son was on here and I just left him to it, meaning to come back on later,but forgot. It started out cold but bright here today ,it has beeen very windy but has now gone miserable again and even colder which is undestandable I suppose. Glad the meeting went well Kathleen ours is next Thursday the 2nd December. Jude hope they can do something for Madoc next week,he sounds so adorable.Really pleased you are feeling so much better. Anne,I am not sure I understand what you mean about down loading this taking so long, is it to do with the number of messages or where the thread is on the pages? It can take me awhile to find it but afterthat It is ok.I am probably not getting what you mean as I am really a novice even now on here. I have been to the charity shop with all the handbags and some jackets and tops ,so feel I have achieved a little something today.Finshed getting my youngest neices their christmas presants and all my great nephews and neices theirs.Now have to get my dads shopping for him. I am on work at 4 till 8pm so need to get the tea ready for John to cook ,might be back later but if not take care until tomoorw,Brenda

Hi all Jude, I must try your recipe for bird food, the shop bought stuff is so expensive and 'my' birds eat us out of house and home. So pleased you are feeling better. Kathleen, I wish I had known - assume it was those on the 'unmentionable' site. My fault for not knowing then as I haven't been on there for ages - had trouble getting onto chat so sort of gave up with it. So good to know all those people are well, I do miss my chats with Max, Colin, Terri etc. And Jen hasn't been on here for ages, has she left us too? Most of them except Ray i have met so ic an imagine you had a lovely time. June I made anoother 8 cards yesterday so that is about 60 now. Will probably stop soon, although I am enjoying it. Some are craft oneswith bitsand pieces and others are using photos. We didn't do much at all over the weekend, both days were horrible weather here. We went round the golf club for coffee Saturday, and to pay for the seniors' Christmas dinner. It was snowing and there were still idiots out playing. Sunday we stayed in all day because it was wet and horrible. As I said I made 8 more cards and Tony played around with the old video camera on his computer because it now has a TV card on it (his computer). this morning tony played golf and I went into town and more or less finished my present buying. Have to have a sort out now to see what I have got/not got. Also had to get a silver wedding present for Cynth and Phil next door as it is their 25th anniversary on Wednesday. I bought them a rather pretty silver wire tall candle holder. Quite a busy calendar this week - hair appointments tomorrow, plus grocery shopping. Wednesday I am on the interview board for an employee for Gloucester Lifestyles the charity of which i am a trustee. (the job we are interviewing for is a paid position, 3 person board plus presentations), Thursday I have a meeting of Lifestyles. It keeps me out of mischief. well, that is me for now, may call back later. Ann Glos

Another grey day, damp and cold but the forecast is for milder temperatures although more rain. Had a really lovely day yesterday. Ann the meeting at Swindon was not Genes although some Genes members were there, it would have been lovely to have seen you there. Met Jen (from Staffs) who was staying with Terri (Santa's stories) and her husband Ray at their new home in Wales. Both just as I had imagined them. Max picked me up on her way from London, she had such a long drive home afterwards. She also picks Gwen up and takes her home again. Colin of course, William, Ray and several other people who are or were Genes members. It was lively, funny, friendly and great to be able to put faces to names as always. About 30 people in all I think, lots of laughter and good company made it all a very special day. All in all I felt as though I my birthday lasted the whole weekend. Now I have to come down to earth and get on with all the neglected chores, they don't go away and still there to be done but these days I do not lose any sleep over undusted shelves, unvacuumed carpets, junk not thrown away. It will still all be there for when I get round to it. No news as yet as to when my daughter goes into hospital - I expected her to have heard by now. She went to stay with friends for the weekend so I hope she had a nice time, she won't talk to me about it so I have to respect that. I know I will hear when the time comes. Have to go to the local shops now. Hopefully may be able to catch up again later - unless Chris hogs the computer!! Have a good day God bless Love Kathleen

Hi all - Not been on here for a few days,got chatting on another thread and then Saturday eve l could'nt get on net at all. June so pleased the meeting with your niece went well, how exciting!! We have a squirrel who perches on the fence surveying his surroundings, munching away on the birds fat ball. l have just made some more feed for the birds - l usually put things like bread,peanuts,digestive biscuits,suet,pupkin seeds and sunflower etc, l put into food processor chop it all up and they love it:o) The dog took a fancy to the container l had it in and took it to his bed, bless:o) fortunately l found it before he got the lid off't!!!! Been trying to get drawings on the GC site,not much luck, will try again later if l get a chance. l am feeling so much better as good as me back again now - thank you to those who have asked:o). Madoc will be in vets all day next Monday, so we will go and visit a friend.He is so gentle and loving, he needs this leg situation sorted then he can play more and have proper walks. Must go Vic has my lunch ready - bless:o)) Might be back later Jude sarf wales:o) xx

Hi everuyone, Its a damp morning here but it isn't raining. I have done my usual taking Samantha to work, called in at the bank, then Asda and then a quick visit to Gaynor on my way home, so I think the day is mine now, shouldn't have said that, something will crop up now. lol Ann,(Glos), Yes we will be keeping in touch with Jill now, Gaynor has emailed some photos which I took, we are also going to see her daughter in the Christmas Show at the Ice Rink, after all Jill is an only one and so is Gaynor, so it would be sad not to keep in touch especially as they got on so well. I still haven't finished that photo Christmas card yet but with PC having been away for 6 days, its not surprising really. Its very quiet on here at the moment, I think everyone is busy with Christmas. Maybe pop in later to see if there is anymore news Love June xx

Brenda A suggestion, this is taking forever to download now because there are so many messages on here. Do you think it might be a good idea to choose a day and start Friends and neighbours 2? What does everyone else think? Ann Glos

Hello All on a horrible wet, dark, cold day in Gloucester. I enjoyed reading those messages posted since i was last on here. Spent the morning making a silver wedding card - well what was left of it after we got up very late and ahd breakfast!!! Brenda, you certainly got a lot of bargains to help with your Christmas shopping, it all helps at this time of year. aren't a lot of the shops doing this three for two etc this year. i read that the shops are all expecting to do so badly that they are having 'sudden' daily sales, free offers, anything to boost their takings. Kathleen, I am pleased that you enjoyed your birthday. yes, I love all the big christmas displays in the larger Garden centres. Webbs at Wychebold always put on a good show which attracts loads of people. We haven't got there yet but I am sure that we will. I hope that you enjoyed the meeting in swindon. Whereabouts was it? Swindon isn't far from me, I don't think i knew about the meeting. (Well I assume that it was a Genes meeting?) Sylvia, I hope that your visitors enjoyed all the food that you prepared for them and that you were not too tired to enjoy their company. I sometimes think we go over the top when we entertain, forgeting that people come to see us and not the food we cook. Di, Pleased that you are feeling more rested now and have caught up on your sleep. Our bodies do seem to know when we need extra sleep. Fred, Good luck with the op tomorrow and all good wishes for a speedy recovery. Don't overdo it when you come out, follow doctor's orders. June, I am glad that you enjoyed your meeting with your niece. will you be meeting up again? We can't go away for the whole winter because of the cat but our 3 weeks Oct/Nov and another 3 booked from 1st march help to eliminate the winter blues. We also have a weekend booked in Torquay in January to look forward to, wont get sunburnt but it will be a pleasant break. I too love Christmas and spend quite a bit on decorations and lights, even though we don't have children livin here. We have more money to spend on such things now than when the children were young, although we always spent as much on christmas as our budget would allow. Well, back to making more Christmas cards for me now, i have made 50 so far, thoroughly enjoyingmaking them too. i will speak again soon Ann Glos

Hi everyone, Thank goodness we haven't got frost today, I may be able to get the garden furniture in the garage after all. The trouble is I think I will have to make some room to get it in. Yesterday we met up with my niece and had a lovely time, no awkward silences, lots of talking and laughing, the time flew by, I know there will be more meeting up. Di, Nice to have you back, and you have caught up on sleep. At the moment I seem to be needing my sleep too, I keep falling asleep in front of the TV, even with programmes I am wanting to watch. Kathleen, No we haven't had snow but we have had frost one or two mornings. When I crossed the bridge into Preston, the water looked very cold, I think of you when I cross that bridge, I always glance down towards Frenchwood, I dont know why, you are unlikely to be there. lol I hope this time you make it to the meet up in Swindon and dont get delayed by anyone. Our squirrels are still very active, its a nightmare trying not to run over them. Brenda, glad you got bargains, I think John's mum is very wise going to Benidorm for the winter. It will certainly be warmer than Cleveleys anyway. Sylvia, I hate cold weather too, I just cant get the incentive to get jobs done, all I want to do is huddle up and keep warm. Fred, Good Luck for Monday, just take it easy when you get back home, just for a few weeks anyway. My friends that have had that operation say its the best thing they ever did. Ann (Glos), I know what you mean about Garden Centres and prices. The other week at one I bought some new lights for my window and this week went back for some more, but they had all gone. On Friday when we visited another GC, they had them but they were dearer, I still bought them, as I said to my granddaughter, well I want them and last year I bought some cheaper ones and spent all the Christmas period regretting I hadn't got the dearer ones. I admit I go over the top at Christmas but I do enjoy it so why not. Jude,I hope Madoc is soon sorted, its not only the money, its all the going to the vets and its another thing on your mind to have to do. I hope you are feeling a bit better now too, take care. Hope all our other friends are well. Love June xx

Hi everyone, Had a lovely evening, good food, good ccmpany - my middle son and his wife (who has been my friend for a long time) - very pleasant local hotel which has a nice atmosphere and a good menu. It seems a lot of places have had snow in the last couple of days but we have still only had rain. Today was overcast, wet and very cold, quite a contrast to yesterday which was bright and sunny (albeit very vold). The forecast is for slightly milder weather but still a fair bit of rain to come. Di, hope you are feeling better now that you have caught up on your sleep. Thank you for the e-mails I will be replying and hope to include some more pictures. Brenda, sounds as though you had a very satisfactory shopping trip. You certainly seem to have managed to find some bargains. How will your work roster work over the Christmas period? This year Chris will not be working over the Christmas and New Year holidays as he has in the past few years. Sylvia, I hope you are feeling rested now, you do keep very busy. I am thinking of getting a bread maker, the bread I buy and which the family like is quite expensive £1 something a loaf, I'm sure it would work out cheaper to make my own. I think you can make more than just bread in them anyway. For the last couple of years I have bought hot cross buns at Easter but they are nothing like the home made ones. I always made my own and they are much nicer. June, have you had snow yet? I think I saw that you had the same wet weather that we have down here. Hope the meeting with your neice went well, I can imagine how nervous you all were after such a long time. Ann, it does pay to shop around doesn't it? What a difference in the prices from one place to another. It is the same here but the more expensive places always look so pretty at this time of year. I suppose they can afford to splash out more on their decorations with the extra profits they are making. Jude, I do hope you get the vet's bills paid for Madoc. They can be so expensive. I know that Kyzer's treatment in his final week cost us £500. They allowed us to pay it in two instalments, would have allowed more but wanted to get it paid off. I know Philip pays over £100 per year for Fat Cat and that is just for injections (flu booster and anti-flea) and teeth cleaning - oh! and they check her heart murmer. Hope you are feeling better now but don't rush back to work until you are feeling 100%. Fred - I would love to take up your suggestion but think the law would probably come down a lot harder on me than it does on the yobs who pinch or break my mirrors. By the way, why did you not tell us that you were going into hospital on Monday? I'm sure you will be fine and make a quick recovery. Good luck and our thoughts and prayers will go with you. Lou, hope the fancy dress day was fun for the little ones, I'm sure they enjoyed it. I think even the tinies know when it's a fun thing going on. When I worked in a nursery, many, many years ago now, a little boy I often think of, his name was Jimmy. He always wore trousers and boots too big for him, shirts that were either too big or too small but always spotlessly clean. He was a dreamer, "when I am a fighter pilot" or "when I am a ballet dancer", I often wonder what became of him and do hope that he realised some of his dreams. if I could remember his surname I would be very tempted to try to find him - he would be 63 now. Well time I went to bed, have to be up for the meeting in Swindon tomorrow. Sleep well God bless Kathleen

Hi everyone, I am sorry I did not get back yesterday,the shopping took longer than expected. June ,I did get some bargains, some sweatshirts and T-shirts for my great nephews and my friends children,buy two get one free and then Johns idcount got another 30% off.I also got some slipper socks for my neices and friends ( we only pass round small token gifts ) which again are three for the price of two with 305 off.So I did not do to bad .John bought a birthday present and christmas present for his mum ,it is her birthday tomorrow,and she goes to Benidorm next week until the end of March!!!. Kathlee,really pleased you had a nice birthday,enjoy your outings aswell. Sylvia you have been busy getting ready fore your visitors no wonder you are tired,hope it went well. Di ,hope you are rested and we will see your marvelous messages again soon. Hi Jude hope you ,Madoc ,and everyone else are ok. Fred thats agood idea I will tell JOhn as he has had some similar problems with vandals. Ann the bags and a few other things are in a bag ready to go downstairs tomorrow and out the door Monday,I will report back then .I am up late as I taped a film on Cable for John ,it keeps coming on too late for him to sit up and watch ,hope I got it all,I do have trouble getting the start ,middle and end ,sometimes. Anyway I am now off to have a little read and get some sleep. See you all in the morning .Nite nite ,take care,Brenda

Hi all, Welcome back Fred, so glad you're able to join us. Poor Kathleen, you are unlucky with your car - hooligans are everywhere. We have them here too! I had a nice e-mail from Di, so I can sleep again. I was wondering what she was up to. Nothing special, she'll be back. Have you seen my thread "Strange language". I expect it will be pushed back quickly, usually does. I've been busy cooking all day for tomorrow and now everything is ready I don't feel like cooking dinner today. Actually many people here in the Netherlands just have soup on a Saturday. I think I'll make an "uitsmijter". That is slices of bread with ham or cheese topped with a fried egg, decorate with piece of lettuce, augherkin and tomatoe. Very easy. I hate this cold weather, so demoralising too! Actually am feeling extremely tired today, but must be fit for my niece and nephew tomorrow. See you maybe tomorrow otherwise Monday. Love, Sylvia xxx

Kath,you should rig your mirrors to the ht circuit of the car ,the little charmers would'nt come back for a second dose.Perhaps not though ,some do gooder would no doubt shop you,but perhaps you could get one of your young uns to return the favour ,and see what their parents have to say. I do feel for you ,iv'e had the same sort of thing for years ,paintwork damage as in keys wiped down the sides of the car ,and the classic bricks bounced off the roof,so i'm glad that the recent move puts my car on my own drive ,out of reach of the little s---s.Fred.ptfg.

Dear Jude - Thank you and not to worry I wasn't born until 6pm so as far as I am concerned it is still my birthday - at least for another few hours. Had a phone call from my youngest daughter who notoriously forgets birthdays. This time she said that when she looked for a card to send me she couldn't find one she liked and didn't have time to go to another shop - and then forgot!! Am being taken out for dinner tomorrow night and on Sunday going to meet up with old and new friends from TYFH. Will let you know all about it on Sunday evening. The following Saturday am meeting GC members in London. It is really freezing here, so much so that my chest freezer which is in what was once the coal store, was so frozen that I had to use a hairdryer on it to get the lid open. Of course there is no heating out there, fortunately the hairdryer worked pretty quickly. When I went to let Fat Cat in and feed her, as I drove along my road there was a poor, very squished, hedgehog in the middle of the road. Quite a large one, I was surprised as I thought they would have hibernated by now under somewhere cozy and warm. Fortunately one of my nice neighbours went out and removed it, my neighbours are all nice people. We do seem to have quite a lot of squirrels running around at the moment, they are finishing off the apples left right at the top of the trees. They do have a habit of throwing them at you if you venture too close though. Earlier this week I lost yet another wing mirror - pulled off by some horrible youngster. I am getting really fed up with having to keep spending money to replace wing mirrors only for the little monsters to rip them off again. I'm thinking of putting itching powder on the next one - or something equally nasty to give them a taste of their own medicine - any ideas gratefully received!!! I am off to my bed now - electric blanket will have warmed it up nicely so I will be nice and cosy to do my crossword before I go to sleep. Hope you all sleep well. God bless Love Kathleen

Just a quickie........HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATHLEEN,sorry l'm nearly late:o( Jude sarf wales:o)))))) xx

Thank you all for your birthday wishes. So far it has been a lovely day. It has been a lovely sunny but cold day, lots of cards and a phone call from my son who left for a weekend in Paris this morning. He phoned when he got there to say Happy Birthday and when I went to his house to feed his cat I found a card and box of chocolates. Indira bought me perfume, a lovely light fresh scent and Susan gave me a jigsaw - a lovely mountain scene. Of course I have already had my lovely bed from them all. Last night I watched a programme about people looking to move to Canada - they were looking in the Rockies and the scenery was so beautiful. The area they were visiting is one where no one has to lock the doors and is a really friendly community. It was such a nice change to see a whole hour of great scenery and some really nice houses, very relaxing. Sylvia, sounds like your weather was pretty much like ours yesterday, very windy and wet. So many places had snow but we escaped that. As for being 76 - well as I have said elsewhere, I am 19 inside just the fourth time round. Was told twice yesterday when making phone calls that I didn't sound 76 - mind you not sure how you should sound at that age!!! I remember my granddaughter saying, a couple of years ago, "you must have had quite a nice face before it got some crinkles". Wasn't sure whether to feel vexed or pleased about that :-) Must go and let Fat Cat in, it is a bit cold for her to be out now, her name is really Tinkerbell but she is rather too rotund for that name now. My son keeps her on a diet but I think she gets fed elsewhere. Hope you all have a good evening, will be back maybe later. Love and thank you all God bless Kathleen

Anyone seen Di? Sylvia xxx

Hi all, What a storm and rain we had in the night, no snow yet. I went to the market on my own as my neighbour didn't want to get wet. I had to go as I have visitors on Sunday and I don't like shopping on Saturdays. When I arrived home I had a coffee and then it was time to go to the physiotherapist. It is going very well and don't have to go back for two weeks now. Bliss! Like you June, I'm meeting my nephew and niece whom I've not seen for a good 20 years. These are the children of Johan's brother. Johan's only brother died of cancer many years ago and my sister-in-law didn't last long after. Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing them, with their partners. My daughter may be popping in too, as she wants to leave my granddaughters suitcase with me. Linda is coming back from Barcelona tomorrow, going to her mother, and then going to a dance feast in Rotterdam. She doesn't want to take the suitcase to Rotterdam. I am going to make Jambalaya tomorrow, with a raspberry trifle for sweet. Jambalaya is so easy to make the day before, so that Saturday I can sit with my guests and not spend too much time in the kitchen. Now what else have I done today. Oh yes, got the sewing machine out and stitched a backing on a guest towel which I had cross stitched. Another job finished. Ran a washing machine with a wool wash. Now only have to get the dinner ready. Salmon, potatoes and beetroot. Not too difficult. Like to have fish on a Friday. Oh I nearly forgot, happy birthday Kathleen. Sylvia xxx