General Chat

Your dad sounds terrific Anne ,still independant and active ,i would say he won't budge from his house christmas day because it's tradition for him to do the meal,he must enjoy doing it ,and why spoil loved memories.Good for him,nice for me to know i'm not all that odd enjoying cooking, and that there are a few more out there.It could be something to do with ancestry too then as one side of the family [rowans, come from Ireland] and the other side [Bairds, originated in Scotland ,what a mix. We are off to Tynemouth this afternoon to see the surfing. Mad english beggars ,surfing in these conditions,anyway ,we may meet up with Jenny if all goes well. Hope everyone is having a nice relaxing day.Fred.ptfg.

Morning friends, and what a beutiful morning it is too! The rain we have been having for the last few days has stopped at last. The sun is shining and there is even blue sky, it is one of those lovely crisp bright mornings, when it's nice to be inside - but you don't dread going outside. Maybe we will be able to take Lady for a run at the Loughshore today, it has been a few days since she has had a decent gallop about! Only problem is, she loves rolling in the sand, and what a mess that means. Fred when I read your messages re cooking you remind me of my Dad. He always cooked Sundays and Christmas dinners. At 83 (soon to be 84) he still cooks as usual, although he lives alone now, my brother and his family come to him every Sunday. He refuses to go to anyone (and I have four brothers and four sisters, so there is no shortage of willing hands) on these days. Sunday for him means cooking 2 roasts, or chicken and a roast, four veg. potatoes mashed and roasted, and gravy etc. He buys his desserts now, usually ice-cream or gateau. Oh I forgot he still makes huge trifles, usually in a punch bowl!! For Christmas he will have a turkey (fresh of course, never frozen) and a baked ham, and ALL the trimmings. My brothers children love Granda Bobby's dinners - as do we all. None of us can make his chicken and veg broth as well as he can. His onion gravy is to die for, and its been known for anyone calling after dinner to see if there is any left for a "dippy", (bread). Up until several years ago, he and I used to make a total of 13 Christmas cakes, Madeira (my sister doesnt like fruit), Dundee, cherry, and rich fruit. He loved icing and decorating them for the children, carefully choosing his Santas,snowmen, and trees etc. Sadly he is slowing down a bit, but according to my lot his Roast Dinners and soup are the best. Sadly for us lesser mortals we must do with scant praise for our efforts with "It's nice but it's not as good as Granda's". Brenda many thanks for you offer of help re Manchester, I will get back to you on that. Yes you have already helped me out when I first joined GC, you sent me beutiful pictures of the church in Blackley. Hopefully this cert. will give me a little help. Sylvia I have just been using my sewing machine, my daughter is using it now also. She is 14 and I remember getting it when I was 15 - that's now 35 years ago, so it certainly doesn't owe me anything!! Must go now and get my roast in the oven. Enjoy your day, and hope it is as nice as mine!

Sunday, day of rest. Just had breakfast, showered but sitting in my nice dressing gown. I'll not get dressed until this afternoon just before we go out for dinner. I wish I could have been at Gaynor's party. It sounds to have been a great success. What a wonderful person she seems to be. Strump has done a lot of work in organising help for her, my thanks would go to her too. The weather here at the moment is wet and dull. No, there are no other words to describe today. Didn't win anything on the weekly lottery, but the "secret" ticket I bought the draw is on Monday - maybe!!!! Will keep this short, it's Sunday!! Sylvia xxx

It has been cold here, cloudy and some showery rain. I am feeling very disappointed as I was supposed to be going to Gaynors meeting but a couple of things happened which meant I wasn't able to make it. I had really been looking forward to it - also I had bought a Friendship book and pen for everyone to write messages in for Gaynor. Part of the cost went to Breast Cancer Research. Had a bit of car trouble, nothing too serious and it has been put right now but couldn't risk two motorways - especially the M25 until it was running right. Could still have made it albeit a bit late but then I had an unexpected visitor who, in spite of being told I was just about to go out, insisted on telling me about her problems. I continued to get ready and put my coat on but still she continued to talk and cry (her problems were not that bad - mostly self-pity). In the end I made her coffee, took off my coat and gave up as I would have arrived so late. No use feeling miserable about it now though. Ann glad you heard from Jude - if you hadn't I was going to write by snail-mail in case her computer was in trouble. Sorry you are feeling unwell Jude, hope you get better soon. Sylvia, after such a long wait it was good to hear that your toe is not as bad as feared. Hopefully it will be successfully treated now and you will feel more comfortable. You do keep very busy, I haven't used my sewing machine for ages now and I am just hoping that it hasn't seized up. Have several things that need repairing and quite a lot of material that should be made up into something wearable. All this talk of food has revived some memories, June can you still get parched peas? I remember we used to buy them on the way home from school, I think it was actually the front room of someone's house. Also Parkin - haven't had that for ages and I have made it in the past but have now forgotten the recipe. It needs to be kept in a tin for a week before eating - very yummy!! Mary, nice to see you popping in again. I think I remember you saying it was quite hot, could do with a bit of that heat here at the moment. Brenda, I told a friend of mine who works in a charity shop about the one who refused the books. She was quite shocked, they are always pleased to get books where she works and pointed out that they take money - which is just about the dirtiest thing you can handle and could just as easily be contaminated with all sorts of things. However she also told me about the bag full of clothes brought in, everything was covered in paint!! Did you have to work today? Hope you all wake up to a nice sunny day and apologies if I have forgotten to mention anyone. Love Kathleen ps - I was so fed up with missing the meeting I burnt the dinner tonight!! Spag-bol - and I turned the gas up instead of off when it was cooked!! The pan will have to soak all night now to get it clean. xxxxxx

Hi Mary i just sent another member the pudding recipe two days ago so my book is still up here ,i will post it on to you this evening,it does sound as though your friend had the fair dinkum recipe from the way you describe it.I have to do the traditional dinner at christmas or the family complain .We have a turkey farm up the road and i get one of his corn fed [soaked in wine]birds fresh every christmas ,so the flesh tastes a little of wine and is a delicate shade of pink[beeeutiful] I make my own stuffing to another recipe from grandad,make little kilty sausages ,parsnips .brussels ,and cauli[or green calabreese],onion gravy .I also cook up gammon ham ,and a beef joint .All goes onto the table in tureens, and two containers for the mash and roast potatoes.Needless to say ,i'm up at four to start the day as i hate meat partly cooked the night before,and whilst the other stuff is cooking i use the ham stock for you know what. I do cheat with the apple pie [ three of the members hate c/pudding] and i buy the pudding ready made. The last job is the cutting of the meat which goes on heated plates for them to help themselves. afterwards dad insists on our traditional sit down,I do not wash up christmas dinner dishes ,i have done my bit,but hey ,i love it. Mind you ,it's the one night of the year that i have no trouble sleeping,i'm bushed.Fred ptfg.

Hi all, so this is Saturday. I sent my husband out to have a pair of his new trousers shortened. I usually do this job myself, but they are an expensive pair of trousers and have turnups, delicate work. I made some bread whilst he was out and also a few pots of marmalade and squeezed a few kilos of oranges. I keep this juice in a glass jug in the fridge as I cannot be bothered to squeeze oranges every day. Washed my granddaughters short jacket. She should have given it to me long ago as it was quite dirty. Anyway, I treated it beforehand and it has come up as new. For the rest of the day I have been looking through various cross stitch patterns as I have promised to loan somebody some borders for hand towels. We are going to have leftovers today as I don't want any odds and ends for Sunday. You see, our neighbours are taking us out to dinner to a lovely Greek restaurant here in the harbour tomorrow. We are going to them at 4 o'clock for a drink first. Well, keep the letters coming in, Sylvia xxx

Hello all June Why is it always sunny in your area when it is wet here? Actually it was dry this morning when I went for my usual walk to get the papers. had to pick up new specs today too. I can't get over the fact that I have paid £350. for two pieces of plastic joined by a couple of bits of wire - frameless, very light and comfortable but what a price. £80 to have them react to the sun and glare! Spent the rest of the morning getting some stuff together for the holiday (I call it the pre-pack. i usually get loads of stuff out then disgard it when i actually pack) I expect, like me, you have been thinking of them all at the meeting, i bet it is noisy!! I would love to be there. And, come to think of it it is quiet on the board today! I will be interested to hear how you get 3 photos onto a card so don't forget to let me know. Sylvia, so pleased you have your results, and, like June, i have to admit to a little chuckle at the pigeon. Poor you, hope it did bring you luck. I may pop in a bit later. Ann Glos

Hi everyone, The sun is just peeping through here, so looks like it might be a good day. Lou, Morning, up nice and early for your trip to the meet up, have a good time and give Gaynor and Rob a hug from me. Just keep that Keith and Baz in order! lol Mary, how nice of you to pop in, I sometimes see you when I pop in to see Bill. Please would you mind putting the recipe for stovies on the thread, I've heard so much about them. Fred, I like cocoa too, has Liz looked to see if we have mutual rellies yet? Brenda, I hope we are able to help with your rellies, if we cant maybe others can because I know we have a lot of people read these messages without adding to the thread. Sylvia, Thank goodness your xrays have arrived. Sorry about the pigeon (I'm afraid I had a chuckle too) but your neighbour is right, it is supposed to be lucky, hold on to that lottery ticket. Jude, I hope you are soon feeling better, we miss your cheerful chat on here. Give Madoc and Fat cat a big hug from me. Ann, I have worked out how to put 2 photos on but have now thought about 3,(I can hear Gaynor groaning, lol) Years ago there was a group of us used to go into Blackpool clubbing on a Friday night, 4 of us are still in contact (one in Canada) so we usually meet up when she comes over each year. Recently when I was scanning some photos I found some of us and I would like to put them on a Christmas card. I think I have worked it out, will let you know later. Well I suppose I had better get started, I have to go shopping, its best to go before it gets too busy. See you tomorrow Love June xx

I always enjoyed cooking Brenda since my mum showed me how after my asking and have done all of it since Liz and i got married.In forty years she has only done the christmas dinner once ,when i was ill ten years ago ,I am pretty good at the housework too since liz became ill ,but i will not iron,thats womans work [he says hiding in the corner] It was for better for worse and i call her worse than muck ,but she knows ,and our friends know ,i would'nt change her for the world ,i would be lost on my own.If she gets upset i hunt the storm shelter,she is only five foot two,but then so is a rottwiler on it's two back legs he he. I've just packed her off to bed cause she is tiredandwill have to break off for now ,as it's my turn to do the cocoa tonight.Fred.ptfg.

Hello everyone,what a nice lot of messages to read tonight . All the talk of puddings makes me feel hungry and with the cold wet weather they would be a treat with some nice thick creamy custard.Yummy. june, I will put the details of my rellies on over the week end,have not much time tonight. You and Gaynor are a double act on your own you have had me chuckleing to myself tonight. Kathleen hope the kitchen gets finshed soon,the dog went quiete before I went to bed then the cat ,who had got in the bed room while I was on here was walking all over the bed.So di not get much sleep at alll last night. Slyvia,so pleased about the xray being there hope it isn't long before its ok again/ Fred all these recipes you have ,you sound very domesitcated.Inthe nicest possible way. Have to deliver a birthday card and presant now so must go,speak to you tomorrow,apolgies to anyone I have missed take care .Brenda

Hi, it's me again. GOOD NEWS. Our surgery has received my x-ray photos of my toe. Apparently the bone is not infected. I have to see my doctor on Monday at 10.00 am. My husband will take me because I probably won't be able to get my shoe on after she has finished with it. I have had a lot of pain in my left thigh, and have an idea it may be my hip. I have had it about 10 days, but not said anything as it seems that I have always got something or other these days. Enough of that. Anybody made the bread pudding yet? I think I must have forgotten to type in the mixed spice. Yes of course mixed spice gives it more flavour. I never really stick exactly to the quantities, but use the recipe as a guide. My hairdresser came at 9.00 this morning and trimmed my hair before a blow dry. I then went to the market with my neighbour. Whilst standing outside a shop a rotten pigeon dropped his excretia on my head. My nicely washed and curled hair, help! My neighbour laughed and said it would bring me luck. Do you remember I bought a lottery ticket, well the draw is on the 19th. My neighbour tells me I'm going to win. If I win, then I'll forgive that pigeon. We still have dry weather here with some sunshine and a lot of wind. So Saturday tomorrow. Large newspaper to read first and then do the crossword. My granddaughter has left me a couple of things to wash for her. She doesn't trust her father's new wife with her delicate washing. Nice to be wanted and useful. Nice to see everybody coming back on this thread. Keep up the good work. Love, Sylvia xxx

Get well soon jude. your recipe is on it's way Gee,i have a nice cheese recipe too if you like cheese dishes.enjoy.Fred,ptfg.

I had an e mail from Jude, she is off sick from work, has been reading the threads but not felt like joining in. She promises to be back with us soon ----DON'T YOU JUDE? Ann Glos

Yes Mum...... see what a good bargain you have made...... what a clever girl! ;-))) Fred, I will email you for the recipe, I really fancy giving the Bread Pudding a go. Ann, both Mum and I have Photoshop so I am sure we will work it out.... we usually give each other tips or ideas.... you'd be amazed at what we are able to acheive between us. I know what you all mean about the barking dogs, it does make you uneasy.... mind you, I don't have that problem anymore, my Bonnie is now 13 years old and deaf as a post, she sleeps through anything now, bless her. She will go to sleep on the setee, I will nip out to the shops, come home again and she never knows I have been anywhere sometimes. Saying that, once she has decided something is worth barking at, she won't shut up and she can't hear me when I tell hear to be quiet! lol Mum has been round this morning to pick Sam up for work. Sam didn't have to be in until 10:30 this morning. They had a "do" from work last night, she went with the two bosses and the accountant to an opening of a night club and she didn't get in until 2:45am (I heard her of course, I seem to sleep with one eye open while she's out) Anyway, she had a good time.... chatting up two of the male dancers from what she tells me! (Can't think who she takes after! ;-)) I am going out with John at 1 o'clock, he's working but he's off out into the countryside and asked me if I fancied a drive, so I thought why not? I just hope the weather picks up, it's rather cloudy and damp here today, although not raining. Anyway, I will go now and wash my hair I think.... I feel like pampering myself today..... that's once I've washed up, put the washing in, tidied up...... you get the picture? Bye for now....... Gaynor Ann xxx

Good morning all, Just a quickie before I start some much needed housework! I have e maile Jude but so far have had no reply. i suppose she could be away but that would be unusual as she had started back to work, and I am sure she would have told us. The other solution is, maybe her computer is down. Barking dogs! hate them barking at night as there is always the thought that they are barking for a genuine reason. Our neighbours have two shelties, they bark when someone goes to the door or walks on the ravel and at dustmen etc bu otherwise we wouldn't know they were there. I was working in the garden the other day and there was a dog on the next estate that didn't stop barking, it barked literally all morning so i assume its people were out. Nice to see postings from Anne Belfast, gee baby and Alyson as well as from the regulars. Kathleen, Brenda, Fred and June nice to 'speak' to you. June, I am sure there is a way of getting two photos on but you may need something like photoshop to do it. I will maybe catch up later. Ann Glos

Hi everyone, Its lovely to see so many replies, this thread is like buses, there's hardly any and then they all come at once. I have enjoyed reading them so much, I went back and read them all again. It looks a bit dull here at the moment, I dont think it is going to be as good as yesterday, we didn't get the rain until the evening, it was a heavy shower, then it soon stopped. Alyson, welcome to you, I'm sorry to hear you have toothache, I think its just about the worst pain ever. I hope you can get to a dentist soon. Ann (Glos) Sorry to hear you got the bad weather too. You are doing better than I am with your Christmas cards, I haven't made a start yet. I am trying how to work out how to get more than one photo onto a card, just got an idea while I am talking to you will have to try that one out, I'll let you know if it works. On Wednesday, when a friend came round, we did start painting another ceramic Christmas tree, this one has snowmen climbing on it, there's quite a lot of detail, so it will take some time. Anne (Belfast) Your Lady and my Beckham have the same reactions to the weather, he's now back in the land of nod. I hope the info you need is on the Birth Certificate, it usuallyhelps quite a lot. Brenda, I hate being wakened up by a dog barking too, I always wonder who is around to disturb the dog. Of course my imagination goes into overdrive and it takes me ages to get back to sleep. On the census, where did it say your relatives were born, maybe one of us could help. Fred, I also got mixed up between bread pudding and bread and butter pudding, it was bread and butter pudding my mother used to make. Please send the recipe to Gee baby(My daughter), I'll let her bake it and I can eat it. That sounds a good idea to me! Gee baby, See what a good bargain I've made. you bake it and I will eat it. Kathleen, You should stayed up here, lol, we had a lovely day yesterday, no rain till the evening and then it didn't last. You have found rellies too, thats brilliant. Can they give mine a nudge please. I had another sort out with filing last night but it doesn't last long it soon gets untidy again. I hope Chris gets your drawers sorted, mind I bet he is as fed up as you are, it must be on his mind all the time that he has to get it finished. I keep wondering about Jude and if she is alright, I wonder if Madoc is alright too. I think Elisabeth must be busy, I think she had a thread running on General Topics. Well I must get going, I am seeing one of my friends this afternoon, we used to meet on a Thursday but we have changed it to Friday, it suits us both better. See you tomorrow Love June xx

Hello everyone, I do try to read this thread most days but don't always have time to add to it - or more usually something interupts me when I am halfway through and I lose the message. Alyson, a tip my doctor gave me years ago. Let an aspirin or similar dissolve, holding it against the aching tooth. That usually gives some relief - doesn't taste that good but is preferable to the pain of toothache. Bread pudding, my mother used to make it and I did the same when my children were young. They loved it, the recipe more or less the same as Sylvia's though as Fred has said with the addition of a teaspoon of mixed spice (or more if you like it spicy). My middle son was and is especially fond of this so will have to make enough to give him a large portion. Thursday morning was so wet with torrential rain, it had rained throughout the night as well. The streets were flooded and at least two of the local schools had to close. Luckily my g.daughter would have only had to be there for a couple of hours as they had a parent/teacher open day. The field outside of their house was more like a lake. When my son came home from work at 8 this evening his socks were still soaking wet from this morning - and it was raining again. Has just stopped for a while now but has been raining again since about 4 pm. Not been cold though, but the weather forecast is for much colder at the weekend. I have just found my paternal gt.gt.grandparents marriage in 1824 and also found gt.gt.grandmothers birth on 16th March 1800, she was christened 6th April at St.Martin in the Fields. The same church as my mother was christened in 102 years later. Odd how the two sides of the family seem to have crossed paths so many years before. Very exciting though as it has given me a clue as to how my gt.grandfather was given his names. Have now bought some new files, pockets and folders to try to get all this paper sorted into some sort of order. This, along with filing all the mundane things like letters, bills etc. should keep me out of mischief for a few hours. Progress on the kitchen seems to have come to a halt - but I am clinging to the hope that some more painting will be done before Chris goes back to work on Sunday. At the moment things are falling out of the drawers because they have no fronts!! I think my best bet is to threaten to do it myself - that should get him moving. All the doors still have to be done but they won't cause too much of a problem as the contents of the cupboards will stay put without the doors. Charity shops seem to be much more choosy about what they will or won't take. Our nearest Salvation Army shop won't take childrens clothes and some of the others will only accept certain items because they say they have too much. We do have a Charity box alongside the glass and paper recycling bins so I think a lot of the stuff will go there. That is distributed abroad and there is also one for shoes and another for books. Well time for bed I think. Hope the morning brings sunshine where you are. Love Kathleen

Alyson,have you any oil of clove or tincture of myrre in your medecine cabinet?either dabbed on the gum around the tooth will deaden it for a while and might enable you to sleep for a while ,it's a terrible thing to have ,and iv'e seen grown tough guys in the forces cry with pain while out on exercise.Hope you feel a lot better soon.Fred.ptfg.

Gee baby ,no ,it's bread pudding ,very different to bread and butter,the good stuff is a bit like a very moist cake ,eaten cold tastes divine and my kids still squabble over who gets the first square. It started life in the first war when food was'nt wasted [stale bread ] is the chief ingredient,the few odd currants and sultanas that were left ,that sort of thing.Sylvias recipe and mine are about identical so it is a well known dish. If you fancy giving it a try e/mail me and i will send it to you.Fred.ptfg.

Hi Brenda Can't sleep either. Terrible toothache. Just taken some tablets and hoping they'll kick in soon so thought I'd have half an hour on here, try and distract myself!