General Chat

Hi all, Well the weather cooled off nicely last night and I went to bed, even felt chilly! When I woke up this morning I felt warm again and in our sitting room too warm. It is just as though the moon takes over from the sun and keeps us warm. For me they can both hibernate! The problem is what to eat every day now. I think I will make a polenta pizza today. We are eating so little anyway. Mavis if you were here you would be losing those extra kilos. Now girls don't work too hard, tomorrow is another day (even if it is warm again), Sylvia xxx

Hello again. Still very cold at night here but great sunny days. Wow what a heatwave your are all having - glad we don't have the thunder storms like the UK. I hate them. The storms we have are very short and it isn't so humid. Hope all those who are and have been sick are feeling bertter. Pip is having a good week this week. Very perky!! Fred - mind you don't overdo it helping out with all that work. Life is too short - take care. Well, we went shopping yesterday - decided to look (look!!!!only) at lounge suites. Guess what - we bought one. Dark (Forest) Green leather. Our blinds and carpet are all very light off white and beige so persuaded Pip that we needed some colour in the room. The one we have at the moment is Cranberry (not leather) material. Will be delivered on Tuesday. It was worth having a look at the furniture!!!! This doesn't happen very often I might add. I hosted the last U3A Computer Group Meeting took the minutes - wish I had kept up my shorthand!! - have you heard of U3A? (University of the 3rd Age) It started in the UK apparently. My brother in Reading used to lecture at the travel U3A meeting. He spoke on India and South Africa mostly as these were the countries he had lived in for a while. We learn a lot from each other at the meetings - mostly basic, easy to understand things. Must think about tea for tonight - decided it will be chicken schnitzel with potatoes and salad. The diet is still going well - I have lost 6 kilos and Pip 5 kilos. Seem to be stuck at the moment but heres hoping!! Must go now - things to do. Regards to all Mavis NZ

Hello everyone,its still hot and sunny here,but we have been old we could be having another storm .hopefully it will be in the night again, I am sleeping on and off mainly due to sheer exhaustion Spelling? Tbeen up since 5.30 this morning was awke just before 5 and then felt so thirsty I had to go for a drink. Been in town at the sales today,got some ubderwear and two tops fpr my holidays,but it was lik e a jumble sale in some shops. Fred just look after yourself and the missus don't want anything happening to you do we. Sylvia hope your foot and scooter get fixed soon. Dorothy Might not get to Bury until a fortnight today ,when my sister gets married at the register there.but will say hello for you/ Kathleen hope you and the family are all keeping well,speak to you soon, Take care Brenda

Hi all, Well decided I'd have to clean the balcony to get rid of the spiders and spiders webs as they make such a mess. I finished up with throwing buckets of soapy water with Dettol in over the floor. I hope the spiders don't like Dettol. I also sprayed some anti-beastie spray around the balcony. I was so knackered doing this that I spent the afternoon just sitting on the balcony. Well I also made two loaves of bread and was up at 6 o'clock. My daughter and her partner came on their bikes. They were going to my granddaughters to cook for her and had left their car at Linda's house. We had a rumble of thunder to make us think we might have a shower of rain, but no, not yet. It is not our turn I suppose. I would have loved to go round the harbour this afternoon to see all the old boats but still waiting for my scootmobile to be repaired. If we had gone with the car it would have been too far for me to walk. Oh well, better luck next time. Have a nice evening everybody. Sylvia xxx

Good morning troops,from a muggy and wet Newcastle. Seeing as it's still raining and the heavens are doing my early morning job of watering the garden this morning ,i can come on here instead. Yes ,i am still alive and kicking Sylvia,just busy for the next six weeks helping bro in law out seeing as he has been signed on the sick until he sees his surgeon again [at least] I don't have much time for myself at the mo seeing as i am up at five to see to the garden ,and don't get in until seven in the evening ,although i do get home for a couple of hours midday. Any way ,Peter is at a wedding today along with my cleaning team so i have a whole two days off [wahey] so i suppose i will have to find something else to do with myself.apart from taking the missus out this afternoon,which see so richly deserves ,the old girl has been there with a cool drink each time i come in the door,so i don't know what i would do without her. The midges are still making a meal of me grrrrrrr,,i don't know if my diabeties is making me more prone to infection but i have bites on my forarms and legs which irritate,have gone hard and are beginning to annoy me to the extent that i am wearing trousers first thing in the morning outside in the garden to avoid any bits to the legs ,but it ain't doing my sun tanned legs any good lol. The revamping is starting okay out the back,we came home last night with four new Fushia for the border,and a packet of Pyrethium daisy ,a new breed ,multi coloured which as i told you about a while ago ,they are perrenial, and grow on longish stems [ideal for arranging in bowls. They are also the source of the natural insecticide Pyretheum ,which is stored in the daisies roots,hence their use in the garden which loads the soil with the stuff and keeps wireworm and the fly away from the soil. These daisies are a b****r to grow ,but are well worth the effort saving you a fortune on sprays and powders,hee hee ,what with those and the garlic ,my garden is pretty well covered for pest control,which is probably why they are attacking me instead [ho hum] lol. I managed to get my nine kale plants in last nioght,so i'm well set for my calgannon come winter,and they are good for use as cabbage as well,nine plants are all you need 'cause you only take a couple of leaves off each plant for a meal ,and they just grow new ones after a week. Hope everyone is going to enjoy their weekend,i know i am lol.See ya later peeps .Fred.

hi brenda the cats are house cats theynever go out unless it is with a harness and lead, in barrie where I live it is not popular for cats to roam the council is always trying to have a lience for them just like dogs, do they do use a litter tray I have taken tehm out onto the large balcony to get used to it, they seem in better humour to-day, I only have about 6 boxes to go, but of course I am glued to the golf from liverpool can't get over the brown grass, and all the ice cream cones being consumed at least I have airconditioning during the heat wave here, anne in bury was saying this am how uncomfortable it is, but better than rainy cold weather, have a great week-end in manchester, if you pop over to bury market dosay hi for me can't wait till next year bye dorothy canada

Hello everybody, Just finished typing a longish message, pressed the button to send it - blank screen and I lost my connection. Technology is a wonderful thing - when it works! For now I will just say I hope you are all keeping well in spite of the heat, or the cold if you are in Oz or NZ. I will try again to write a proper message tomorrow (well later today noting the time). God bless all Love Kathleen

Hi everybody, I think the heatwave is getting to everybody. At least those who have to try and work. I mean us oldies sitting at home doing nothing we can cope. I feel sorry for the builders and farmers who have to work outside in the open with no shade. Our builders are now moaning that with the frost they are allowed free so why not with a heatwave. Well they have a point here. Today I went to the market and general shopping with my scootmobile, but my scootmobile has decided to pack up. Johan phoned the mechanic but they are so busy they cannot come just yet. I have asked for a temporary replacement and hope to get one on Monday. I have to have the stitches out my foot on Tuesday so hope it is here by then. I made some redcurrant jam today and juiced up 20 oranges. I love fresh orange juice. Tomorrow is breadmaking day, so am still kept busy even if it is warm. How are you Brenda, must be awful not being able to sleep. I am fortunate that I can usually get a good night's sleep. No sign of our Fred today, is the heat, or has he decided to have a day off. Have a nice evening everybody. Sylvia xxx

Just popped on to see my emails and and came on here , Sorry your interveiw with the home help wasn't productive Sylvia,hope someone good turns up soon. Nice to hear from you Dorothy,we are still swekteng here ,but some places are still getting thunderstorms. Your cats will be lost for a while,will they use a tray,or can you let them out down stairs anywhere? in an enclosed spce perhaps.Hope you manage to get straighter for you friends visit. Need to go to bed and try to sleep now ,take care everyone,brenda

hi brenda here I am in a heat wave in canada and there you all are in manchester having the same kind of weather, I moved last friday and it was 40 degree's with the humidity thank heavens for ir conditioning , the move went well and I have unpacked and placed 18 boxes of books into 8 book cases now it is time to do the kitchen, you can see what is important in my life. I also have to get some new window coverings before my friend from bury arrives on sept 8th at least in the room she will be in. I have moved from a four bedroom house to a three bedroom 11th floor apartment, it has a great balcony but my two aged cats are not happy to-day they were intertwined behind the toilet in the onsuite bathroom for most of they day. but do come out to sleep with me at night time. I am thinking that maybe it would be fun to pop over home during the xmas holidyays depending on the air fares next summer seems a long way away. even after 50yrs away I do miss walshaw and bury bye for now dorothy canada

Hi everybody, Well as I thought the help I interviewed today was not suitable. I didn't trust her one bit. She said she was old. I asked how old she was and she said 45! She has been here 10 years and doesn't speak Dutch and her English was not too good either. My poor granddaughter Linda has lost her boyfriend. They have been together 4-5 years and he has finished it. Apparently through Linda being jealous at him having messages with other girls on MSN. What on earth do you say to her 'There are plenty more fish in the sea'. No, that is too harsh at the moment as she is devastated. She is such a loving, thoughtful girl. Actually he is a nice boy too but not grown up enough yet at 24. I shall be glad to have a shower tomorrow without having to have a plastic bag over my foot. The wound is healing ok. Very sticky here last night and I got up at 3.00 am and had to use my inhalator and sat under the fan in my hobby room. I went back to bed and managed to sleep until 9.00 am., so didn't lose too much sleep. No sign of rain here yet and we need it so badly - at least the farmers do, Have a nice evening. Sylvia xxx

hello from a very muggy Manchester,we had a real big storm early this morning, so have been awake from 4.30 .Not on work til 4pm til8pm. notmy favourite shift!!! have a few errands which I have to do today ,but not really in the mood,but they have to be done,so i am off to do them when I have finshed here. John has finshed painting the ceilings he papered and has done a brilliant job but it has taken it out of him probably because of the heat etc. fred hope your b.i.l is able to get back to work and realises what you have been doing for him,but don't overdo it yourself. Sylvia glad you have stopped bleeding and hope you get your home help sorted soon. John good news about your brother hope he continues to improve,this weather is great if you don't have to work and can afford to run electric fans in all the rooms at night when there is no breeze about.We are having our kitchen re fitted next week and once we have decorated and tiled it ,we are having a rest for a while til we do anything ,apart from painting the living room. Di I was sat with you reading and eating chocolate ,after reading your message LOl.woman after my own heart, Must go hope i haven't left anyone out my apologise if I have ,see you soon,Take care Brenda

Hi Everyone Heatwave in the UK, down in NZ we have had parts of the country snowed in, heavy rain and landslides elsewhere. Here in New Plymouth it has been quite cold, and for the first time in many years there has been snow has been low down on Mount Taranaki (Egmont) as well as the ranges. Past winters have been a lot warmer but this year its back to the winters of around 30yrs ago. You know the old adage when its come to flooding one in 100yrs well some area have had more than their share. We are still waiting for tradesmen to alter the bathroom and build our conservatory-porch. So once all that is done we will look around for some other project to do on our unit. My brother, David, who I mentioned about sometime ago is still not a 100% is back home. He's missing working on the farm and is taking life a lot slower. John in NZ

Hi everybody, Another hot day, like you in the UK. Am taking it easy now until the weather cools. I have a new help coming for an interview tomorrow but I don't hold much hope. She is from Ghana and lives in Amsterdam. This would make it expensive for travelling. Anyway we will have to see what happens. My hand is still not good Fred, although the wound itself has healed I have pain in my thumb mostly. Keep cool and don't be a fool. Sylvia xxx

Hi peeps,the morning shift is finished ,and i am home again till two ,when i go out again for the rest of the day. It's still ruddy hot too ,i could feel the heat in the van at eight this morning ,so as soon as i finish on here i will have half hour sat in the garden getting a tan on my knees at last [i hope]. bro in law went back to the hospital this morning where the staff burst his bubble as regards returning to work,as they took off the dressings to reveal a hole in his hand the size of a half a crown ,and saying it would take at least six weeks to heal. When he said he was hoping to return to work next week they told him not to be stupid because any infection getting into the wound wuold mean loosing the hand altogether . At least he can now straighten all the fingers ,so he will just have to be patient ,either that or incurr the wrath of his misses lol,i know what i would do . Must go and get my salad for dinner ,so i will see you later on Have a good day all,Fred.

Hi all, Well no more bleeding from the wound so feel happy to do some odd jobs around the house. You know me I cannot sit still, Have the washing machine running and have washed the kitchen and bathroom floors with disinfectant already as after all that mess yesterday, feel they needed it. Johan did clear up, but a man's cleaning is not mine! Leave you now, have a nice day. It is supposed to be our hottest day today. Sylvia xxx

Hi Friends, Sylvia, what are you doing to yourself, you poor dear! I hope you'll do as the doctor says and take it easy, and you'll heal much more quickly. Brenda, I well remember heatwaves in England; sleepless nights tossing and turning and feeling so uncomfortable, so you have my sympathy. We are so lucky here in the Vancouver area; don't know whether it's the same back east or even the interior of BC. Here, however hot it gets during the day, once the sun goes down, most of the time so does the heat. I think the heat stays overnight in UK homes because the brick houses retain it! Hope you have a good time tomorrow night, whatever you are planning, and we'll see you the following day. I hope you'll be feeling better by tomorrow. Hi to Fred and Mavis, Kathleen and any other drop-ins! It's blue skies here with a slight breeze, as John always says, a perfect day for sailing! Went for a walk this morning, and on the way back noticed a lot of dead daisies on the side beds so pulled them and as soon as the sun starts to go down I must go out and bag them. Also Clay hasn't cut the grass this weekend as he's been up north to One Hundred Mile House, and we have a small forest growing on the lawn, also in my flower beds, so must take the secateurs out with me. John would like to leave them and let a forest grow, but the garden is shady enough already. I'm having a lazy day. Had steaks left over from Sunday as well as some cooked new potatoes and a few stir fried veg. So I picked some peas and snpeas and added a few frozen home grown beans for 2nd veg, sliced and fried the potatoes in a little olive oil, and put the steaks in a casserole, piled the leftover veg, a few sliced mushrooms and pasta sauce on top of the steaks and put in the oven. So, I've had a read, pottered around doing very little, went to the store and picked up the International Express, and 2 sugarless choc bars, (also some samosas for J and a tiddy oggy for me for tea) sat and read and ate choccy bar, played on the computer and actually entered a message on Paul's 'Nice PMs' thread, walked and read some more. What a lovely day. John's in the workshop and I can hear the saw from here, so noone can interrupt me. I know he's happy so I can just get on with doing my own thing! The kayak is well under way, just hope he doesn't ask me to go for a test run when it's finished. I like good solid terra firma beneath my feet at all times! Must go, and finish the dishes, and then do the puzzles in the Int. Express! Take care all, especially you Sylvia. Love, Di. xxx

HELLO everyone,I am sat here absolutely sweltering and ahve only been on here a minute or two to find the thread,don;t blame anyone not being on here,its far too hot Sylvia,you must be careful,you could do more harm if you don't rest. Have had a headache all day with the heat and a sort of neuralga sine having my teeth re filled last week had to have a lie down just before tea and managed to sleep for two hours whichis more than I did last night ! take care all am going out straight from work tomorrow sowon't have time to come on here.brenda

Hi everybody, Yes, Di this thread quickly slips away if we are not careful. Well today I have had a funny day. All started off ok with Johan vacuuming the flat for me and I did some dusting and tidying up. I moved a plant which was a bit top heavy and it fell and broke - earth all over the floor which Johan had vacuumed and then - blood. I had blood everywhere. A piece of the plant pot must have hit my ankle on a vein and it was really gushing out. I called to Johan but he didn't come so I called out again in desperation. He fetched some towels for me to wrap around my ankle and then I could sit down. My neighbour Annemie came down and cleared up the blood on the carpets and has taken some towels home to wash. Another neighbour bandaged up my ankle. I sat for the rest of the afternoon with my foot up, but then I had to go to the loo, and you've guessed? Yes, the blood came all over the kitchen floor, toilet floor and carpet in the hall. I never knew I had so much blood. I'd had enough of that, so I phoned the doctor and he came round and put some stitches in my ankle for me. Phew! what a day. We had to have sandwiches to eat as I couldn't stand on my ankle to cook. I have to have the stitches out over 7 days. I am supposed to be sitting with my leg up but I find that so difficult, I cannot sit still, so have promised myself a short while on the computer and then leg up again. See you all tomorrow. Sylvia xxx

Evening all ,having just come in i am going to write a few words before going for a shower and making my tea ,a sandwich i reckon ,it's too hot for cooking. Thanks again all for the good wishes and messages ,not ingnoring you honest,i am just rushed off my feet at the minute ,and have added to the other thread with an account of the party,and will do this thread tomorrow if that's okay with you all. Liz as chuffed to bits with all the messages ,and the lad did such a good spread and i hav'nt mentioned half of what he did for it,[take a well deserved bow Stephen]. .I'm off for my shower now ,so have a good day tomorrow peeps ,and take it easy .Fred.