General Chat

hell it is 12-20 am here 5-20 am in england I have no idea why I am not sleeping Laura had a great 10th birthday plans changed and we went out ot eat it was her request she picked wimpys a familystyle place we all had a good time, she recieved some lovely gifts including an electric drum machine, now I have always felt the son and daughter in law were of sound mind but i may have to reconsider after this gift!!!!! but it will remain at their house so why should I worry, they are calling for a very drab week-end snow and rain, so did quite a bit of xmas shopping. when anne was here she really liked the uncle's ben's micro wave long grained rice so I mailed several packages to her to-day, the cost was only 8 dollars but 17 dollars to mail them and that was by surface postage has got riduculous to say the least. I hope that you all have a good week-end were ever you are in the world goodnight i really must go to bed bye dorothy

Dinot think I would get chance to get on here tonight but my son is late home from work and I am nearly ready formy night out so have 10 mins. Glad you finally have the conservatory john ,I am sure you will enjoy it ,and hope your reunion with your neice goes well. Hope you don't develope broncitus Sylvia,what happened to prevention is better than a cure. Need to finsh of my hair now,so see you all Sunday night, Take care .Brenda

Hi all, Sorry you didn't get to see Santa Claus Fred. Maybe because you have been a bad boy and aren't in Santa's good books this year!! I popped to the doctor today as my throat is still bad and knowing me a cold virus goes from throat to nose and then chest, yes Bronchitis. The doctor told me he could give me some strong medicine if I had Bronchitis, but not at the moment. I am allowed 6 Paracetamol tablets a day. I wanted to prevent Bronchitis because Johan and I are going into Germany on Tuesday and I want to be fit. Tomorrow I will be going with Johan to see the surgeon who will be operating on Johan's intestines. Afterwards a little shopping. My daughter and granddaughter came for tea this afternoon which made a nice change. It seems whichever part of the world you live in now you are liable to get violent storms. See you tomorrow. Sylvia xxx

Good morning everyone Our conservatory is finally built and now we are looking for some carpet-type material to go on the floor. My pregnant niece and her partner returned from the UK on Tuesday, will be great to catch up with her. On Thursday I heard on the radio that emergency crews and the bomb squad were called to my old home town (population 289) on Thursday when a ticking sound was heard coming from the mail box - after about six hours and a few soggy letters nothing was found, it appears that the postbox alarm lock was faulty. Isn't strange that a small insignificant town can make big news, I remember when I was away from the district people would ask me where my home was and I would tell them. A big storm in the Auckland area yesterday afternoon - blackouts, roofs blown away, trees down. The Sky Tower swayed in the wind and was out of bounds until this morning. I am glad we aren't living up there now. John

Afternoon folks,we have had a chilly but sunnish day to .nowthe sun has gone its really going cold.!!! Visited a friend who is getting over an operation,then did a bit of christmas shopping and then food shopping,so not a bad day.Been trying to confirm I have a connection to someone elses tree but its very slim at the minute. Am working tomorrow and then going out ,as it is afriends birthday,and on Saturday we are going to see Johns mother for the weekend. will hopefully get on here tomorrow afternoon,if not it will be Sunday, Take care brenda

Evening peeps,Liz and i have had a very lazy but enjoyable day pottering round the metro centre buying nearly the last of the chrissie rresents . We also spent a lot of time looking in shop windows at goods we couldn't afford lol,and looking at others we could afford but still didn't buy. Fred wanted to see Santa claus but didn't have a grandbairn to hide behind ,so i didn't see him [sniff]hee hee ,i will have to go back at the weekend with a couple of the bairns and get to see him that way.complete with camera. My turn for the tea tonight, and i made a couple of two egg omlettes,with sliced ham ,sliced mushroom,ground,rainbow peppers ,ground rock salt and garlic and corriander powder,and i have to say they were loooooverly. Nice as it is to be retired again ,it's back to work for a couple of days due to a family bereavement,bro in Law has to go down to Derby with his wifetomorrow afternoon ,but i will only be needed tomorrow afternoon and Friday ,not so bad this time for me . Just as well i got those hedges and lawns done when i did lol. The metro centre looked really nice although i forgot to take the camera ,but i'm sure i can get a picture or two of it on the net. Time to go now ,but i will be back tomorrow morning to see what's going on . Take care all ,and be careful.Fred.

Hi all, Well I had the beginnings of a sore throat last night and spent the night coughing, so had quite a broken sleep! I do hope this will be over before we go to Germany on Tuesday. Johan and I went to another Garden Centre today as I needed to buy a birthday present to take to our ex son in law's wife's birthday. I managed to buy two quite nice outdoor plants for their garden. I also bought an amaryllis for a friend for Xmas in England. It is always difficult knowing what to buy for overseas friends and not too heavy as sometimes the post costs more than the present itself. My neighbour asked me to make a large card for friends of theirs, a 40th wedding anniversary. She had left it until the last minute so had to make it yesterday evening. Anyway happy faces this morning when I showed her the card. She wants another one made in December. My daughter and granddaughter are coming round tomorrow, so that will be nice for me. See you tomorrow. Sylvia xxx

On lunch at work at the moment,so haven;t got long and might not get chance at home tonight as my son is hogging our pc these days. weather very wet and windy really miserable.!!!! Hope you enjoy your family dinner if you make it Dorothy,I'm out for dinner Fridaynight my friend is 70,we are having an Italian meal in Manchester. Back to work now ,Brenda

hi well it is late and it is pouring rain but that is better than the white stuff, fred seems to be doing well with his retirement, and putting his garden to bed for the winter. next week I am supposed to drive to brampton about 90 mins from here for dinner with some friends so I am hoping that the weather holds.lindy and andrew are so busy at the moment he has a lot of out of town meetings like in quebec and vancouver, laura will be 10 on friday so I am thinking of offering to make dinner at their house and do the birthday cake, mind you I am just thinking cooking not being high on my list of fun things to do I find cooking for one boring, so I will phone them to-morrow and make the offer well I am watching the american elections so back to the tv and then to bed bye for now dorothy

Hi Folks,I did have a nce nights sleep,and have been busy tonight doing some research ,when i finally got my son of the computer.!!!! We seem thin on the ground again these days,not surprised if it s as chilly everywhere as it is here, See you tomorrpw . Brenda

Just a few lines to say hello ,I have been working 12-8pm today and it was busier than normal today,soI was really tired when I got in,had my tea ,a nice spaggetti bolognese made by John. Was having aloveely cuppa on the sofa and fell asleep!! been looking at the prices of clubs to replace the ones John had stolen,he knows what to ask for for christmas now !!! Going to see if I can get a good nights sleep now. bredna.

Hi all, Well today I booked Johan and I in for a midweek arrangement in Germany Tuesday until Thursday. This place offers us 2 nights stay, 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 dinners. We can have as much tea, coffee, cakes, wijn, any other alcohol as we wish. In fact no further costs involved. We can use sports and entertainment facilities. Some years ago we did the same thing in Nederland and it was very good. They even came round with a huge platter of cheese and warm meat balls around 11.00 pm to have with your drinks. I hope to do some shopping in Germany before we come home on Thursday. The weather has been dry all day again here. Mind you I don't know what I am going to do when winter sets in as I now have all my winter woollies on! See you tomorrow. Sylvia xxx

Hi all,i have been busy for a couple of days getting on with the family trees,and havn't signed on here,so i am going to say a quick hello before going to do the tea,poached eggs on toast or beans on toast[ or both] lol. I did get to the sons for the day Sunday,we had a lovely pumpkin and chichen curry madras ,for dinner,and for tea we had filled jackets,and burgers and hotdogs as a buffet. Poor Mia hated the fireworks and i stayed in the house with her and cuddled her on the sofa,no mean feat seeing as she is now fully grown and no lightweight to have laid across your knees.,but she was shivering with fright and i couldn't just leave her on her own. I have had the first quot for the pointing ,of £860 for the whole house,which is very good,i have one quot left to come ,so i should have it all finished by the start of December.and that should last at teast twenty years which will see me out so i don't care after that,the next time it will be up to one of the kids lol.Well ,the boss is ready for tea so i must shoot off.Take care all,and be good.Fred.

hi I hope that you all enjoyed bonfire night I have great memories of what we did as kids the bonfire, treacle toffee my moms parkin and the roasted potatoes, no wonder I am going to the gym my memories are all about food!!, we have a wonderful day to-day it is sunny and the temperature is 10 quite warm till you go out but at least no snow fall. this week I am helping out with the children aftet school my daughter in laws load at uniersity is very heavy and the son and heir is having a lot of meetings with his staff from around the country, so it will be a fun list of things to do for me bye for now dorothy

Hi everyone,well its bonfire night again and it sounds like world war 3 out there ,the bangs the fire works are making are so loud.!!!!I can see some nice colours and patterns in the sky from the bedroom window ,but the noises are really loud and just bangs really ,no whooosssees or fizzzziesslike I remember,from when i was a id. They are still going at thistime of night,so they must have money to burn,as they are expensive as well. Have been finshing a bit of decluttering in here for now,a fewtrips to the charity shop now and a very full dustbin and we should be done,mind you it still looks rather fuller than i thought it would be.Where does it all come from ??? hope you all had a good weekend brenda

Hi all. Sorry I do not have time to give you any news - have been so busy - we are going away for a few days in the morning so will catch up on our return. Sorry about the Golf Clubs Brends - bet the air was blue. Talk to you soon. Love Mavis NZ

hello everyone,just a few quick words to say I have not forgotten you,was working all day yesterday and went to see a friend last night she has just had some lumps removed from her breast,one is a benign the other isn't. She will have radio therapy soon and maybe chemo.Its her 50th birthday today so we called with her present and cards last night as we thought her family will be all there tonight Still trying to sort out clutterand am now seeing the result I want,but still a way to go. Will be back tomorrow to chat to you all.Brenda.

Hi everyone Haven't been on GR for nearly a month and lots have happened. We are still waiting for our conservatory to be built its been five months since we got the quote and being told it would be up in eight weeks. Gayle calls it our helicopter pad for want of a name. My pregnant niece and her partner return from the UK on Tuesday - she will be working until the baby arrrives. As this is our first year back in Taranaki we may have all the family come to us for Christmas. Only problem is that our place is small but I have suggested that we use the garage as the dining room - we will decide as Christmas gets nearer. Maid Marion I was talking to Judith Bennett and her husband in Wellington at a conference 13-15 Oct, two of their sons live not far from us. John in NZ

Hi all, Well I managed to get to the market and back today without getting wet. Well I was just too quick for the rain! When I got back I made a huge pan of thick pea soup, so thick you can cut it. I will freeze several portions in. I also made two dark brown loaves of bread, and whilst that was all going on I was running two washing machines. Did anybody see that spectacular saving of horses on television. A whole lot of horses were stranded on a piece of land and were surrounded by water here in the north of the Netherlands. 20 horses died. A team of 4 girls rode their horses out to the other horses and managed to persuade the horses to follow them to dry land - and they did. What heroes these girls are now! Now is the question who allowed these horses to become stranded when there were storm warnings given out on television, radio, etc.etc.! I hope tomorrow to be able to make my Xmas cake and maybe finish off the last bits of ironing. Sunday is my day of rest when Johan will be going to Rotterdam to visit a niece by marriage who will be 94 years of age. Have a nice evening everyone. Sylvia xxx

hi brenda sorry to hear that john's golf clubs have been stolen will your car insurance cover the costs, I gathered from anne that the weather has been not great, this evening we had a few snow flakes blowing around but nothing sticking to the ground. I am sure you will be happy to have a dryer again this is not the weather for hanging out. nothing new here I just cleaned the two bathrooms to-day and then did the kitchen floor, just been invited out to dinner on the 14th it means a almost 2hr drive but I will think about it, I will stay overnight with friends and head back up the highway the next day but it will also depend on the weather. it is a bunch of girls who all worked to-gether except for one so lots of old nursing stories and of course bragging about the grand children, one of the girls has a 13yr grandson and now there is a new baby due this month quite a gap. ny grand daughter will be 10 on the 10th 10 going on 92 at times. wll it is time for greys anatomy I quite like the show I think that you get it at home bye for now dorothy