General Chat

Hello peeps back again ,and feeling a lot better this morning ,it looks as though i may have been lucky in that the shock of being smacked in the back was mainly pulled muscles. I will therefore not be pursueing the matter any further m, but in view of not recieving an opology from Aldi ,i will report the accident to health and safety and they will be getting their arse burned good style. It annoys me in the fact that someone mentioned , it could easily been something heavier ,or it could have been a child,such carelessness on a floor open to the public is criminal. Sounds as though you and Pip had a good one Mavis,i hope i am as active those few yearson. The water butts arrived yesterday,and are now in position ,onr ouitside the greenhouse for Liz's plants ,and one by the shed out front awaiting connected to the other to collect rainwater for the flowers and beans out there. Sorry for not adding yesterday Brenda,i was so engrossed in the invasion of birds in the back garden after the bread ,nuts and other goodies that i forgot all about the puter lol. We had about thirty starlings descend on us along with sparrows and thrushes ,a real delight to watch ,with the comical strutting of the starlings and the cheek of the sparrows,oh ,and our wren came again,i think she must have eggs or chicks 'cause she dosn't come very often at the minute. Our Blackbird has his usual nest in the privet hedge out front and keeps flying round front and back gardens with bits of worm in it's' beak. so i have stopped the hedge trimming so he can feel secure in there,but he must be used to me because he makes no attempt to hide his fest from me,flying over my shoulder to get in there ,and come out again. He gets very aggresive with other big birds now though and if he sees another blackbird or thrush out back his head goes right down and he charges across the lawn to frighten them off. I am still trying to get a photo of the hedgehog ,whom i just missed again this morning ,but by hech he ain't half growing ,much bigger and he won't be able to get behind the greenhouse anymore,but i will forgive him because he is doing one heck of a job on the snails and whatever,and what he misses the thrushes get. Must be off now for a look around the boards ,see ya later.Fred.

Hope this works as we seemed to have dropped off page fifteen,had to go via my threads thing to find it,hope it comes back. Just shows how quick things disaper.Where are you all. ,Brenda

Hello All,Fred,hope you are not in much pain now and will be sorting Aldi out,just try and relax,or Tranquilo is the word in our house.!!!! We told the organiser of the trip and about the poor service and it looks like they will not be going there again,We think they use the hotel to train foreign catering students,as none serving were british. Went to Cleveleys to visit Johns mother weather very grey and wet ,like today,but we had some great fish and chips!!! Glad you had a good day for your birthday Mavis and that Blair is improving slowly. Hope you are enoying Mothers day Sylvia,. Just ging to put a casserole on for tea and then go to see my dad,.Hope to see you tomorrow,,but working late again. Brenda

Hello from downunder. Sorry to have been away so long - busy days again. Fred, so sorry you have hurt your back - bet you are really fed up. You are normally so active. Nothing worse than painful back. Pip and I had a birthday yesterday - we are both the same day. Pip was 78 and I was 72. We still feel pretty 'young'. My daughter took me to a 'ladies breakfast' at her local Church on Saturday. Had a great breakfast - fresh fruit salad and yoghurt topped with blueberries, pancakes, banana and maple syrup and then danish pastries with fresh apricots. Followed by coffee. Had a dance display by a young girl of 16, really talented. Songs by two young girls and then a lady talking of some of her experiences during her life. Really sad but a happy ending. Beautiful flowers arrived via inta flora from my friend in Hampshire, UK. Tomorrow we will be at our Probus Meeting followed by lunch in Mount Maunganui. Our friend Blair is improving slowly. Came for morning tea on Friday. Must go now, regards to everyone. Mavis NZ

Hiya'Sylvia,looks like you and me again lol,everyone must either be out clearing the drives and garden or away for the weekend.lol. I have been watching my wildlife in the garden this morning ,coming down after a bad night to see Snuffles go round the back of the greenhouse,and catching my blackbird trying out a new trick with the fatballs. He was taking off straight up like a helicopter and stabbing his beak into th bottom of the fatball,but he is a heavy bird for that sort of flight and by the time he has done this three times ,is too tired to do it again for a while. He has learned a new way i noticed this morning though,landing on the greenhouse first,then flying slowly until he reaches the feeder and then stabbing into the feeder as he goes past,he has done this five times on the trot so it must be less tiring . Who says birds are thick ,this one has thought it out ,so the person that coined the saying bird brain was way off the mark. I will come down earlier tomorrow morning with the camera and try to catch both of them in the act lol. The weather looked promising this morning first thing but is now getting cloudier by the minute ,so any idea of lighting the coals will have to wait,it's dinner indoors today. I will be around on the net most of the day ,bred ouit of my skull,so much to do out back still but unable for the time being to get anything done. See you later peeps,have a nice day ,and take care.Fred.

nudge

Hi everybody, Well I had a free day from the computer yesterday as I had been working in the kitchen most of the day. I first went to the Health Centre to give blood and urine for diabetes control. We have to do this once a year. I then made three loaves of bread and a sponge cake; I juiced two litres of oranges and cut up a pineapple. I also did some washing and ironing. With this and getting the dinner, I had had enough. Poor old Fred, let us know how much compensation you receive from Aldis. You must tell them that you cannot do anything in the house and have had to take on a paid help temporarily. Nice to see you back John, and Di always nice to read your comments and tales. Am expecting my daughter soon so will have to stop and do something. Don't know whether I'll have time tomorrow as it is Mothers Day, although should have time in the evening. Have a nice day everyone. The weather has now changed here, still dry but overcast. Sylvia xxx

Hi John,it's nice to see you again ,sounds as thoough you are going to be busy for a while getting the new home sorted to your satisfaction,but don't stay away so long this time please lol.Brenda you sound as though you enjoyed the day at the lakes,even if the food service was poor,i hope you did the right thing and called the manager over. Poor old Fred will be around all weekend after getting hit in the back by a badly placed display in aldi's on thursday. I say badly placed but in reality the bits of garden furniture ,free standing should not have been there at all,and just fell over on me as i was looking at the bread over the other side of the isle pushing me forward into the side of my trolley which stopped me going onto the floor. The two parcels hit me quite hard in the small of my back snapping me forwards and i was in some pain straight after the impact,but the following day i was so bad that the doctor suggested going to the hospital for a check,it turns out there is no damage to the bones but there is a fair amount of damage to the muscle structure in the back and neck. I am left now being unable to do the housework,the garden ,or drive the car to take the wife shopping for who knows how long.and i ain't a happy bunny.lol. I have sent an e mail to aldi's head office ,asking them to get in touch with any comments they may have as regards breaching health and safety regulations [i.e ,unsafe displays in a place that is forbidden],a main isle,and said i would wait until i heard from them before deciding wether to start litigation proceedings or not. At the moment i can't bend my spine a lot due to the pain ,but worse i can't turn my head ,so driving is unsafe.The hospital say this could last a month or more so it looks like i will be house bound for a while,sorry folks ,but it looks like you will all be getting bugged a lot for a while hee hee,weeeeell ,i aint going to be able to do a lot for a while exept pound these keys. It looks like a dull weekend weather wise,but it may clear up a little later ,i won't complain though because the new transplants could do with some fresh water to bed them in,i'm gonna be lost for a while now ,no gardening and so much to go out,i think i will have to send out an s.o.s. to the eldest son,these tatties have to go in. The other bit's and pieces won't be as bad ,beetroot and the like ,Liz can manage them if she uses the kneeler and bulb planter,i will just have to get the crane out to get her up again, hee hee,and of course she wil have to take her time . I ordered the two new water butts on line from wilkingsons online £40 including delivery which i thought okay,they have a capacity of 210 litres a butt which is a lot of rainwater ,and promised one to Liz for her greenhouse plants. I'm glad i got the last of the summer bulbs in this last week or i wouldhave landed up sitting in a chair at the side of the garden with a caterpault [picture a decrepid old geezer firing bulbs across the garden] lol if you happen to be driving through newcastle ,stop and say hallo cause there is no one else daft enough to be doing it. Hope eveyone has a nice weekend and has a chance to chill out see ya later.Fred.

Hello everyone,had a very nice day in Grasmere,it was so peaceful,but it is early season yet ,can be really busy in July /august.did not get out to walk,had no time really,got there at 11.45 ,had lunch at 12.15 finally finished about 1.45 ,our table was the one they didn,t put any cups on so we ahd to wait when it came to having tea/coffe,by the time we got the cups ,the coffe was almost cold..They also didn,t put any water jugs on our table,glasses yes,water no.Then we got some bread but not enougth butter pats, so all in all we did not have good service.The meal it'self was really good,but service could definately be improved. The weather was great,and the views slendid,but we just had time to walk througth the village, have a drink and walk back through the village and look at he schoolhouse Wordsworth taught in,and the church and grave yard.then back to the coach.at 5pm.Been looking at wedding hats with my sister today and out for a chinese meal with friends tonight,going to ee Johns mother and step father tomorrow over in Cleveleys,will be back Sunday. John hope you settle in your new home,and good health ,and good fortune have moved in with you. Di ,what a lovelly long message,your little part of canada sounds ideal.I would be a bit causous as well about the car now.Years ago my best friends car just burst into flames at a petrol station,,she had just got out to fill it up and hadn't even taken the hose from the pump thank goodness.Her daughter was only 8 at the time and sat in the back she was too frightend to get out herself and luckily an of duty fireman was passing in his car ,saw the flames and stopped,he got her ot unharmed.As you can guess the car was a right off. Sylvia,have a good mothers day ,however you spend it and who ever you are with. Hope Fred,Mavis and June are looking in and hope you all have a good weekeend. brenda

Hi everyone Hasn't time flown since I was last on GR. Easter was a great time and that signalled that our days in Glenfield were drawing to a close as on 30th April we had morning tea at the Army (Sallies) followed by an emotional farewell then Gayle and I had a family lunch with our son Craig. Then on 1st the removal company loaded the crate to take our furniture to New Plymouth which was delivered to our new home on Wednesday once we got the keys. The three of us unpacked and had the lounge arranged temporarily until we could decide where the likes of TV and stereo should be, this was finally adjusted before Craig returned to work in Auckland. We had to hang new curtains in the bedrooms to make it darker as there are street lights and pedestrian lights right outside the bedrooms. We also bought some new light fittings and shades and put those in place. That was the first two days. One thing that was lacking was power sockets in some of the rooms, they were in the wrong places meaning extension cords running around the room which was quite a distraction so we had an electrician installed around eight new outlets, he also put in the phone point so I could use the internet in the computer room. All in all it has been very busy. Sky connection was reinstalled BUT we have a faulty decoder so we are waiting for that to be replaced. One major expense is yet to happen and that's in the bathroom which is currently a pinkish colour. We are replacing the shower over the bath with a step-in shower and a new vanity. We look out the front of our home and there is the mountain in all its splendour - snow comes and goes. John in NZ

Hi everybody, As I only 'nudged' yesterday, thought I'd better show my 'face'. My Surinam help says the flooding isn't affecting her family at the moment, but they are worried about dykes breaking. Well it has been another wonderful warm day again here and I've spent some time lying in my chair - even fell asleep! I went up to see my neighbour Annemie this morning and gave her her belated birthday present which I had ordered and has only just arrived. I also crotcheted in white and purple a cover for a clothes hanger and hung a lavender satchet on. She was delighted with this as she does no handwork herself at all. I am not going to the market tomorrow as Johan and I have to go to the health centre with urine samples and they will take some blood. No problems, just for diabetes control. This is done once a year. It is our Mothers Day on Sunday, but one of my daughters is coming on Saturday and picking up Linda our granddaughter so that Linda can be with her mother on Mothers Day. My other daughter I presume will come on Sunday, and my son still not heard of since long before Xmas, Anyway, he never did come on Mothers Day or birthdays, didn't believe in it. Now have a nice evening everyone. Sylvia xxx

Hi Brenda, Sylvia, Mavis, Fred, June, and Kathleen, The sun is shining and it's a little warmer today. It hasn't been as warm as it usually is in May, but doubtless in a few weeks time we'll all be saying it's too hot! I went outside today and took a few pictures of my garden, so if anyone would like to see them let me have your email address. I've now had my digital for 2 years, maybe 3; can't remember. Whatever, I realised I know next to nothing about it's features, and I think I've been using the wrong settings for different pics, with inferior results. Today I set it for landscapes, and got much better results, so I must read the little manual. I also bought myself abook on digital photography, which I haven't yet read. So much to do, and so many things I want to do and so little time; I need a 48 hour day!! Have been sitting out in the sun with John the past few days , in late afternnon, with tea and cookies, and it's so beautifuuly quiet and relaxing out there, with the sun shining on the pond, flowers everywhere, and the scent of lilac in the air. As you said Sylvia, sheer bliss! Hope you put some sunscreen on though! John usually sits in the sun until he looks like a boiled lobster, but can't take it this year. So we just have a quiet half hour or so when the afternoon sun is behind us and behind the lilacs. Hope you have a lovely break in the Lake District Brenda; a chance to unwind from work, and do some hiking, or just relaxing. And I hope you have some good weather too. How is your garden coming along June? I guess it'll be hard work for a few years till you get it the way you want it. We had almost all grass out back, and we kept adding more flower beds. John would lift the sod, and I would then take over, remove all the roots and cultivate it. There were huge roots everywhere from the big old catalpa tree we had to remove, plus much of the Tsawwassen area was covered in bush and fir trees until about 50 years ago. In fact at the side of the house where we have lawn (moss), we could soon grow a forest if we didn't cut the grass, and with it all the little saplings that crop up between cuts. Until just before we came to Canada, the only way to get to Richmond and Vancouver from Tis Was was by ferry across the south arm of the Fraser River, until they put in the tunnel just before 1961. Most people only had summer cottages down here at that time. Mavis that sounds like a wonderful way to be treated while undergoing chemo etc after surgery, knowing that there are trianed people around at all times knowing what you may be going through and being there to help. It sounds as though you don't have the same troubles with your medical system that we have here at times, and I gather, also in England. Today John is in the workshop making a scratching post for Pan, who has discovered that our new area rug in the living room is great for scratching on, and is starting to pull out threads. I did buy a product called Critter Ridder, which the clerk in the store recommended as safe for pets, but after reading the directions,(eg, wear gloves, wash thoroughly after use, do not use where children play etc), I decided not to use it. Instead I've peppered the carpet for now, and bought some catnip to spray on the scratching post and hopefully that will work. By the way he sniffed all over the carpet, and didn't sneeze once, but he also didn't scratch! Yesterday the car almost burst into flames, when a part under the hood melted and filled the garage with smoke. We noticed a funny smell while we were out, but didn't realise it was our problem until we arrived home. Steve picked up the spare part for us and it's now all fixed, but I feel kind of leery now of driving alone! John must be busy organising his new house, unpacking and arranging furniture, and so on. Hope everything is going well for you, John. Fred, what is your secret? I know I do a lot too, and so does Sylvia, but you seem to do even more and never seem to get tired. Next thing you'll be running in marathons, and swimming the English channel in your spare time!! Well, I'd better get on with some sewing. I'm going to take apart the shoulders and armhole seams of a jacket made in the days of oversized shoulder pads, which I've hardly worn, and which apart from the pads I like the style of. I'm hoping it will work, otherwise I shall roll it in a ball and stuff it in the garbage can. So for now, adieu, and will see you again soon. Take care all. Love, DI.xxx

Hello Everyone,a lovelly lot of messages to read ,I was working this morning and went shopping in the afternoon,at the supermarket i kept bumping into lots of people I know,some i see all the time around and about ,others not so often,it was nice to see them but took twice as long to get the shopping done. Hope your helps hasn't been affected with the weather in her home country sylvia.I have this picture in my mind of you sitting in your chair on your balcony ,enjoying the weather. Fred you must have a big garden or are brillianrt at planning and planting to have so much in your garden. Mavis ,what a lovelly thing to do with your friend,I'm so glad you all had a nice time.. I am off to Grasmere in the Lakes on Thursday ,only been to Bowness on windermere,but really loved it so hope this is as nice. Take care <brenda

nudge

Hi. No work at home today. Spent the day with 4 girls friends. We collected Sally from the Hospital where she is having Radiotherapy after breast removal and took her out for lunch., Went to a very smart restaurant - newly opened and had great laughter. Went back to the Cancer Lodge where she will be staying for 6 weeks altogether for her treatment. Lovely room, lovely facilities, library, snooker room etc. etc. Great meals. Beautiful gardens and an enormous lake just across the road with a little cafe for a cuppa. Lots of ducks and swans. She is very happy there but of course can't wait to finish the treatment and get back home. She feels fine at the moment but is quite expecting to feel tired etc soon. Came home about tea time and Pip was about to go out to his Lodge Meeting so I had a nice peaceful evening on my own with a glass of wine and a coffee. Tomorrow is stay at home day. Still have some plants to put in. So will get up early and get cracking. That's the plan anyway! I am getting lovely emails from my brother David in the UK. He is doing well - using a computer for the first time and he is over 80. He has had three strokes but is managing to use the key board quite well. He is a determined person. I'm off to bed now. Mavis NZ Must go now and make a couple of birthday cards.

Morning peeps,another nice dawn and shaping up to be a nice sunny day again. I got tied up in the back garden yesterday afternoon ,forgot the time ,and came in the house at around nine [oooops] I got the lawn cut ,and trimmed the edges and then decided to see to the borders,turning the top soil over with a trowel to let the air in ,took a load of new viola plants out ,and spaced the remaining ones out a bit,split a few primula and put the other bits into the front garden ,and now only have to put the veggie plants in ,starting this weekend. I have the broad beans ,beetroot ,and sweetcorn to go out doors now,followed by the potatoes,with the cucumber ,and scot's bonnet to space out in the greenhouse,the tomatoes are well away now and will need the supports shortly. All in all ,Fred is happy with his garden at the minute ,and even the large damaged places on the front lawn are showing signs of recovery ,although it will be a few weeks before they recover fully. I was glad to hear that Blair is recovering Edith.it shouldn't be long now before he is home with any luck,it just shows me again how lucky i was in that i got my op soon enough ,and that there was no real damage done,my diabetes gives me more trouble than anything else with the pvd and leg pains,but that's my own fault as well as i shouild have gone to the docs lots earlier[smacks wrist] I took the boss to town yesterday to get her her old biddies bus pass heehee [ouch] i really must remember her new birthday slippers means she can sneak up behind me now,but next year i will buy her clogs instead [ouch, lol] I have bought us both gold cards too which means we can now go on the metro system any time we like for the next year,which means we can leave the car at the nearest monitored car park,and use the public transport for the day and go anywhere within the tyne and wear system. The welsh have an even better system than us though,your free buss pass there means you can go anywhere in wales free ,within the usual time limits,at least you could three years ago,so perhaps if this scheme is no longer available for the pensioners pehaps they could let me know. I will find out myself anyway because i am determined to get down there on holiday somehow at the back end of the year ,either anglesey or tenby,i do love that country so,always nice and clean ,the people .exept for a few ,nice and friendly,and a much more laid back way of doing things. I don't think i will be using the miners path up Snowdon any more because the old girl would never make it ,to be truthful i don't think old fred could either ,but we both have our memories of those days,and the photo's ,it just means that any further trips up there will have to be via the railway. Well ,thats about it for now ,it wouls seem that the new day for taking the daughter through to cramlington shopping is wednesday,so any one in the area in the shops from ten,give us a shout and we can have a coffee together ,there must be a couple more people in the area ?Take care ,and have a good day .Fred.

Hi all, Nice of you to drop in Brenda. Yes, we too have had another glorious day of sunshine and Johan and I went to the shops. I was up early to defrost my freezer. This afternoon I was able to lap up some more sunshine. Oh what a wonderful world it is. I suppose that depends just where you are. I am thinking of Surinam at the moment with the flooding there. I suppose I will hear all about it tomorrow as my help comes from Surinam and was there a short while ago. Those poor people, they have so little as it is and now the weather has put paid to that. Hi there Fred, Di, June, Jude, Brenda, and uncle Tom Cobbly and all those names I have temporarily forgotten. Sylvia xxx

Just a quick hello as ai am at work ,not sure if I'll get on here later at home.Its a lovelly day today,hope it lasts all week or until I have been to Grassmere on Thursday at least. Back to work now,see you later,Brenda

Hi all, Well it seems we have a 'full house' again on this thread so I can have a holiday soon. The weather here is still sunny, although there is more breeze than yesterday, but there again I live near the water, so we always have a bit of a breeze. I was up far too late today so was all behind like the proverbially cow's tale. Didn't do too much housework, because my legs always swell when the weather is warm. Should wear elastic stockings, but such a bother getting them on and off. So it's my own fault really. Now to get the dinner, have a nice evening. Sylvia xxx

Hi everyone. Yes, the free meals are given by the Restaurant for customers who have a birthday in that month. Pip and I are both on the same day - he therefore is unable to forget my birthday and of course visa versa! Went to indoor bowls today and I was in the winning team. Our skip did all the hard work - we didn't do too much to help him! We are envious of you having 'little ones' around Fred - our youngest here in NZ is 13 years. Of course we enjoy the little foster boy - he is 1 year on Wednesday. He will be leaving my daughter soon - he is to be adopted. He will, I am sure, bring much pleasure to his new parents. We can look forward to great grand children of course - hopefully not yet though!!! Blair is still in hospital - changing all his medication to try and help him. Talking about perhaps having home oxygen to help the pain he gets. Saw him in hospital today and he was very cheerful. Even ate all his tea - casserole, carrots, cabbage and mashed potatoes and apple crumble and custard. The crumble looked O.K. Not too sure about the mains - but if you are hungry I suppose you will eat anything!! Off to bed now. Mavis NZ