General Chat

Hi Sylvia,have you tried a beetroot hot on your plate as a fresh veg? if you havn't you really should give it a try,they are so sweet and tasty,a much underrated veg' in my opinion,i hate it pickled though i realise that it was ,in the old days the only way to get it over the winter. Be back later as i'm off out to work,i couldn't leave you on your own ,could i ? Fred.

Hi everybody, Well we are very few at the moment. Is everybody so busy? We are having fantastic weather here at the moment, so I went out on my scooter and headed straight for the greengrocer, as he had charged me for two lettuces last Friday and I only had one. I asked them if they thought I was rich as this thing often happens to me. Lo and behold when looking through my supermarket receipt I found a fault on it so it will be back to the supermarket tomorrow. I do get cross when so many young people don't seem to be able to do simple arithmetic these days, even with a machine! My neighbour Annemie was given a large bag of beetroots which she passed on to me. What a work. I am busy cooking these and slicing them and freezing them in. I have done two large pans and hope to do the third pan tomorrow. I don't like doing them as they are so messy, red everywhere! Now off to do some more Xmas cards. Sylvia xxx

Hi Sylvia,Mavis,just a few lines to let you know i havn't forgotten you lol. I am so busy at the moment i don't seem to have a minute to myself.,i have only just had my tea and i will shortly be off to bed because i have to be up at five. Still ,four work days to go ,and then i will be on holiday ,and i must admit i am in need of it. I will try to get on again sometime in the morning,and will see you then. Goodnight all ,take care .Fred.

Hi all you absent friends and one not absent that is Mavis, Yes, Mavis when I read about your friend's valve replacement reminds me that mine will also have to be replaced at some date. Not bad enough yet, but cardiologist doesn't want to do it because I am diabetic, overweight, etc.etc.I won't be able to get away with it much longer though. Well today I went to the doctor and she took a swab of the inside of my mouth and that is now on its way to the lab for analyzing. Should know over a week the results. Not done too much today as I had my help in the house and she did all the work. She tidied up the cupboards in our computer room. So nice to see everything so orderly again. The weather has been dry all day. Well I am now going to make some more Xmas cards. See you tomorrow. Sylvia xxx

Hi everyone. What good news re your grandson Sylvia - life is tough for the youngsters these days I fear. So easy to get mixed up with the wrong people and it is usually the 'nicest' ones who are led astray. No, Sylvia, I am not going to volunteer to clean 160 spoons!!!! What a collection. Are they from your travels? Did you get the lawns cut Fred? When I get a minute I will take and send some photo's to you. My strawberry patch is looking great - a few ripe ones today. Played indoor bowls today - I was useless but Pip - as usual - was in the winning team. Had lovely afternoon tea. One of the guys had his 70th birthday this week so shouted the food for everyone. Sandwiches and a lovely caramel and choc. chip slice. Tomorrow is hair cut day for both of us thankgoodness. Hate it when the six weeks is up - all over the place. Lisa comes to the house - a lovely English lass. Wednesday is Mahjong day and Thursday we will be visiting a friend in Hospital. He had a Heart Valve replacement 7 weeks ago - is still in Intensive Care. The valve is working O.K. but he has an infection - they have opened up the scar again and he still has a traceotomy (bad spelling) He is 81 and Diabetic, His kidneys have started to fail now - not good news. We have lovely warm weather at the moment - 22 deg. here today and no wind! Must go now - love to everyone. Mavis NZ

Hi all, Thought I'd better not do another nudge or you'll be wondering what on earth I am doing. Well today we had fantastic weather and Johan and I went to our ex son in law and his wife - 3 years married. We took them a huge bunch of flowers for their wedding anniversary. As it was such good weather we could sit outside. Another bonus was that I saw my grandson. He now has a new scooter. Actually he had to buy it as he had no transport to and fro from work. He begins so early in the morning and finishes after transport has finished at night. His father and his wife went and ate at the restaurant where he is working and heard nothing but praise from our grandson's boss, so this is very pleasing. It was only a year ago that we nearly gave up on him. He was on drugs and mixing with the wrong friends. He has changed himself by changing the school he goes to (once a week) and stopped drugs. He is really serious and knows exactly what he wants. It was nice that on his free day he was playing football with friends and not lounging around in his room. The changeabout came when his father took him out to dinner on his birthday and they had a long serious talk. My son in law didn't take his wife, so it was a man to man talk which I think has worked out well. Yesterday I did so much cooking that I decided to take it easy today. Now any offers to clean my collection of silver spoons? I have some 160 spoons which need a Autumn clean. Now see you all tomorrow. I wonder how Brenda is getting on. Do you think she is missing us? Sylvia xxx

Good morning all,a bit damp in Newcastle at the minute but it promises a nice day with a good bit of sun. I really must get on with the lawns whilst the son has another go at the boat,fitting some of the elecrican gear to the engine ,the generator and starter moter first,seeing as the engine is a twin cylinder and a bit hard to start on manual.with a built in generator for the battery and navigation gear. The garden is looking sad now ,everything dying back and looking rather forlorn,so i'm relying on you lot down south to keep me cherful by telling me what you are growing ,as well as some piccies like the ones Di has been putting up so i can see some colour,even if it is on the puter till spring lol. The missus is starting to take the dead plants out of the greenhouse today,so that i can get set up for the winter,i need space for my rose cuttings and shoots off of my geranium plants for overwintering. I also need to box up all the bulbs and tubers off the dahlia and lillies as well.and i havn't even started on teh fushia yet ,and they have been lovely this year so i don't want to lose them for want of a bit of space in the greenhouse,i usually get a little more space by putting the square patio table in,then i can store my bulbs and tubers underneath ,and the fushia on top,leaving a bit of space for a plate for sandwiches and a cuppa if it isn't too cold lol. I am in the middle of collecting my tomato seed now,some of which are promised to some peeps on genes,so i will be able to get them sent out in December so that people can get them started earlier next year. I also have to get a load of my films taken off the videos and put onto discs thus saving Liz a load of grief and storage place,the original videos can go in the loft ,just in case they are needed later on. Hope everyone has a nice weekend,take care all.Fred.

And another udge! lol Although I removed my tree eons ago, apparently still get Hot matches, so trolled through them yesterday and found a 4th cousin and another good potential lead, so I'm real busy at the moment. Be back soon. Hope you're all well and happy. Love to all, and thanks Mavis for the emails. Di.xxx

udge again

Hi everyone. Real problem Sylvia when we forget our shopping list!!! Always forget to buy the item you most need. You will be enjoying your new home now that the jobs are getting done John. Bet you can't wait for the conservatory - ready for the summer weather! Our kitchen, dining room and lounge get so much sun we are wondering what to do. Thought of an awning - seems to be the best way to go. Will have to get some quotes in. The bus trip was great - learnt lots about deer farming from the owner of the deer park. Had a nice lunch - vegetable frittata with mixed salad and home made wholemeal bread and butter followed by apple and cinnamon sponge with cream. Followed by coffee. A really nice restaurant at the deer park. No - I didn't buy at the antique shops Kathleen. Tempted I must say. We collect old Toby Jugs (not character jugs) they are very expensive here in NZ. But we have a nice collection now. All started with a very old Royal Doulton one which Pip's step mother gave us. Weather still nice here - but very windy. NZ is windy but in the summer when it is hot we are glad of the breeze. All for now Regards to everyone Mavis NZ

wee nudge from me

Hello all, Hope you enjoyed your bus trip Mavis and that you didn't spend too much in the antique store. The fashion show sounds a great idea as a change from a speaker. Pleased I'm not the only one to forget the shopping list, and I always forget the most important things I need. I agree with you Syvlia, the computer does save so much hassle our local doctors surgery has an online appointment system which seems to work quite well - doesn't make it any quicker to get to see a doctor though. Fred, had a bad experience today in the garden. I have lost a couple of plants (in tubs) and this afternoon a Heuchara fell off at my feet. I checked the pot and sure enough it was the dreaded vine weevil - loads of horrible little maggots in there. Have checked all the other tubs and they seem to be ok. Luckily my son was going to the rubbish dump so I emptied all the infected soil into a bag and he disposed of it. The clematis I planted earlier this year, a spring flowering one, is going mad. Today I had to pull yards of it from where it had grown through the gap in the door of the shed, cut some of it off and tied all the rest of it to the netting, that is covered already so I am looking forward to a good display of flowers in the spring. It's a lovely apricot colour but I can't remember the name of the variety. Hopefully next year I will be able to plant some veg if one of my sons gets round to digging and clearing some space for me. All my indoor plants are still outside, son wants to use the conservatory for painting the doors of the kitchen units at last - only been waiting two years!! He'd better get a move on with it though as my plants have to come in soon. Hope Brenda is enjoying her holiday and having a good rest. Our local charity shop has it's windows all done for Christmas with little trees, Santa Claus, snow and lights. Seems odd with the sun shining and the temperature about 24C. There is a fox outside making an awful racket, can't see him but he isn't very far away. We do get quite a few, I've watched them sometimes playing up and down the road in the middle of the night. No one has an alarm on their cars now as the foxes scratch their backs on the car bumpers and set the alarms off and about two weeks ago a couple of them had a fight in the middle of the road. They were really noisy, I suppose one was an intruder but he got chased off. I don't think Jude (with Madoc) is a member anymore, I noticed she had asked someone to put a message of condolence on Alfie's thread. Shame I miss hearing about her adventures with mad dog Madoc. Have a good day or sleep well folks God bless Love Kathleen

Hi everybody Yahoo! The bathroom is at last finished with new lino being put down on Wednesday. We are now waiting for the conservatory to be done. A week or so ago we bought some iris and lily bulbs, will be a joy when they start sprouting. John

Hi Fred, Fanny, John and uncle Tom Cobbly and all, I suppose Brenda has finally gone on holiday so guys we must keep this thread going ourselves, If you've no time, just pop in and nudge it up. I do that sometimes. It does keep it going. Lovely hot weather here now, so went out on my scootmobile and promptly forgot my shopping list. Well I am going out again on Friday so will get then what I forgot today. Made an appointment for the specialist at the hospital this morning via internet. I like this modern technology, no hanging on the telephone, deciding what day and what time you want to visit. What a life? Can't choose which specialist I want though, but who cares about that? Paying bills on the internet too, I pay the money over and hey presto there is the sum on the other person's account. No envelopes, no stamps. I don't know what I'd do though if my computer broke down. Now, off to make some more Xmas cards. Sylvia xxx

Eeeeeeh, peeps,i had a heck of a job finding this thread when i came in from the morning rounds ,where is everyone this week,lol. I came across Sylvia ,playing hell with the dutch cheese exporters for sending their rubbish over here while keeping the best stuff for themselves,yeah that sounds about right,the french with their wine and apples,spanish the same,even the ozzies are getting into the act with their fosters[ugh] ,but i forgive them that cause some of the wines we get from them now ,is spot on.and i had a joint of well hung oz beef two weeks ago that was the best next to scottish Angus ,that i have in years. I like the emmental dutch cheese [Now] but when i tried it for the first time it tasted more like cardboard and was aas tough as hell,so i didn't try it again for years It came up in coversation last year at the sons cafe ,and he creased up saying, pop, you have been having it in your toasted sandwiches and panninies for months,emmental cheese is no good unless it's been heated or cooked ,boy my face was red for days lol. I think we are having a mixed grill for tea tonight,which will make a change,but it is a grill in every sence of the word,nothing fried at all and even the eggs will be done in a saucepan with salted vinager water stirred before dropping the eggs in,to go with some liver,sausage [lincolnshire] bacon .tinned tomato's.mushroom,and black pudding[sorry to the scot's but i have no haggis in ,that's the centre piece of a true mixed grill missing,but no matter ,i will make up for it next time. Everfything in the garden is dying back now,apart from the beetroot and kale ,but i can't complain ,we have done so well for veggie this year for so small a patch,and i'm still learning how to utelize every inch of space for next year,including using a few troughs for some spring cabbage [greyhound ],to stand on the patio I reckon by the time i get in tonight the son will be here putting the finishing touches to the paintwork on the deck of the boat,but i will have to remember to get him to lash everything down seeing as we are expecting very high winds today and tomorrow. The walk to work this morning was unusual in that as i crossed the bridge ,looking over to durham,i could see the fields and houses over the back,and rooftops over this side of the river ,but the river itself? it was covered by the famous newcastle fog ,hanging there, the length of the valley lol.looking like something out of a horror film ,or Dr who . Well .it's time i was off again,but i should be back at around six,take care all ,see you later.Fred.

Hi everyone. So good to see ':new faces' on our thread. Wel ome. Today was our Probus Club Meeting - instead of a speaker we had a fashion show. Members were the models and they modelled clothes from Caroline Eve Fashion Store. Sports wear, day wear and evening wear. This is our 3rd show over 5 years and always proves very popular. Of course Caroline Eve love it - brings in more custom! Tomorrow we are going on a bus trip with the club. Visiting a deer farm, have lunch at the deer farm then on to Daltons Garden Centre at Matamata and then to Tirau where there are several great Antique shops. No doubt Pip will keep a tight reign on me in Tirau!!! I may be able to give him the slip if I see something I really would like!!! Still sunny here but a cold wind. Hope it stays fine for our bus trip. Our neighbours are back from 9 weeks in the UK. Went to visit their son and daughter in law and new baby grand daughter - Isla Grace - what a pretty name . They had a great time. Babe started to crawl whilst they were there - great excitement I bet. Good to have them back such nice neighbours. Our daughters little foster boy has had pneumonia. Is doing OK now. Bit of a worry - he gets lots of chest problems - The Dr. thinks it is due to his mother drinking and on drugs throughout the pregnancy. Fortunately he is a strong lad and seems to come through his problems pretty well. Treated myself to two new blouses last week. A pretty turquoise one and a green fine striped one. Looking for a smart skirt or two to go with them. You men out there will probably be bored with all this lady stuff. Sorry!! Must go - we have to be up early in the morning to catch the bus in Mount Maunganui 15 mins. drive away. Have a good day. Regards Mavis NZ

HI Fred and Sylvia. I think quite a few of us have been out in the garfden today. As spring has well and truly kicked off here and we have finally got some rain, it makes me inclined to start up the veg garden again. The v/p is way down the yard and it was too hard to carry recycled water from inside. A lot of people have rain water tanks, but again, if it don't rain... When I decide to let it grow over ,i composted it and covered it over with lots of newspaper and cardoard boxes, so the weeds and grass are pretty easy to get rid of.. I've just reclaimed 1 section and moved the rhubarb in and stuck in some egg tomatoes. The earth was so lovely , moist and dark. full of worms Can't wait for my next bit now. The beets sound great. If I grow spuds its usually by accident in the big compost heap. They are cheap and take up too much space. We don't eat stacks of them either, so the suprises are always welcome.. Talk soon love Yvette

Hi one and all. Only a few words before i and the rest of us go down to the sons for dinner. I was up early this morning and have been busy in the garden,taking out two of the potatoes ,which i am very pleased with,they are spot on a decent size and if the rest of the plants are as good,we have enough in the veggie plot to keep us going for at least twelve weeks. Next year they will be planted into small plastic sacks made specially for the job,which will enable me to plant a lot more in a fifth of the space ,leaving a lot of the veggie patch clear for other things.such as some onion and leeks. I have taken some nice beetroot out for the son who likes it straight onto the plate from the pan,which his bairns prefer too. Also,some kale, seeing as the bairns love it,and in a few minutes i will be pruning the rosemary bush for the winter and will take some tied sprigs over for him to dry out,i have already given him sage,chive and garlic to dry out,his kitchen [and mine] now smell like grandma's ,if you know what i mean The poor tomatoes out back are still trying to throw their fruit ,but i think the weather is going to win again,it's now getting very cool at night. One of the Sugar plum i set out in the garden has taken over one end of the patio,and has given us fruit for three months,so i will be def' putting some more in the open next year,'cause the fresh rainwater seems to add a lot of taste [yum] We are only staying at the sons till four today seeing as Sean has to leave us to go back to camp at six,he didn't find the bit for his car so it looks as though he will have to bite the bullet and buy a reconditioned unit and get his local garage to fit it for him, I have told him to get the garage to order it for him,seeing as they can get it trade price and that should save him £20 at least. well,i have to go now,have a good day everyone,and cheer up all ,Christmas is nearly here lol.Fred. .

Hi all, Well back to reality after being spoiled by my daughter for a day. We had glorious weather and could sit out in her garden. I brought home some bits and bobs from her garden to make myself a table centre piece. I have dried hydrangea, dried sedum and gypsophelia. I don't know whether the spelling is good here. Anyway I made a beautiful table centre piece for our dining room today. I do miss not having a garden when it comes to being able to snip a bit here and a bit there and create some pieces for the tables. I have an order from a neighbour to make 10 Xmas cards and 2 birthday cards so must get down to these. I shall be like my grandmother, working until she died - almost 90 years of age. She was very creative and could speak several languages. Enjoy the sun everybody, and Brenda, I don't know when you are going but have a nice time on holiday. Sylvia xxx

Morning Kathy,i was sorry to hear about Alfie ,who i remember you mentioning a few times,but he is at peace now,and it's a a nice way for him to be remembered ,upbeat ,and cheerful through it all. ,It's a good idea for pip to have an alarm installed for peace of mind and security,and one of the new ones with a part alarm setting is best of all,leaving you clear to use the toilet from the bedroom overnight without waking the neighbors lol. We have one of this sort which i fitted myself with the help of my son,and i only slipped up once,i set part arm one night,forgot the following morning and came downstairs,opened the kitchen door and all hell broke loose,the wife had kittens and i got a crack round the lug for being so daft,lol.It didn't help much in that we had fitted a loud siren just in front of the door,so load that it is impossible to stay in the house while it's on..I suppose with the do gooders around ,i might even get sued by a burgler for damaging his hearing but tough,if the sons get to him he will have a lot more to worry about.If said burgler tries the sons,alarmed too ,he would'nt get out again ,as i Reckon Mia would make short work of him. Hi to Yvette,our new member to the circle,we are all a bit mad on here ,me more tham most ,but stick around we are usually cheerful and friendlyand newbies are always welcomed The missus kicked off with this years soup yesterday,bought a big box of mushrooms at a reduced price,took the last [nearly ]tomatoes out of the greenhouse and got the big pans down,with the result that we now have a dozen containers of soup in the freezer ,six of each. There was a little tomato left which Chris asked to try seeing as he was peckish,now ,our chris is a parky eater,but by 'eck,his spoon was a blur,and he asked for a slice of bread to mop out the bowl,the best accolade the wife could ask for.Have to go now peeps, the company is here ,see you later Fred.