General Chat

Good morning everyone,what a lovelly lot of messages to come on anfd find,should really be getting dresses as I am still in my pjs ,going out soon to look at cars,will have to curb any whims for any i see ,as we need to have a good look round for the best deal,according to John.!!! So pleased you are all ok ,but hope you get even better soon Di,do go to the doctors and see what he says. Mavis what a shame about your arm,it seems every year they discover something else for older poeple to suffer from. Sylvia was going to have my toes done next week ,but need to buy some new sandals first,to show them off,but like you said we do not have the weather for sandals yet., Fred ,will look forward to the photos,might send you some of ours when John has finshed the big tidy up he is planning. June,not long then til you have finshed the decorating LOL,my you have been busy,Like to come and help us later in the year when we are planning on some LOL See you soon ,Brenda

Hello again from down under. Fred - you say you plant tatties in tubs - any hints on this. Do you use potting compost? We are also about to plant daffodils etc - it is only autumn and they usually bloom during winter. Tulips I have given up on. You need to put them in the fridge for 6 weeks before planting as they like the cold. The climate is really too warm for them. Freesias do very well - I love the perfume and the vivid colours. Went to the Doctors today - a follow up on my arm problem. I have to have a bone density test as I have osteoporosis - just started! More pills and more xrays. Such fun getting older lol. Have just been on the web cam to friends in Devon. Picture good and sound good this end but our friends could hear but not see us. Will try again next week. Have been tidying up all my CD's in my little computer room (spare bedroom really!) Lots of new labels needed - I need another rack or two as well. Not a spare space to be seen at the moment so must get busy tomorrow. Must be lots of paper etc which I can throw away!! Made some yummy ginger biscuits again today - very popular - with me anyway!. Have some Bananas to use up so tomorrow will be Banana Cake day. Lemon icing on top. Must go now - I have read with interest all your 'letters'. For those not feeling too well - chin up, keep smiling and before you know it you will be on top of the world! Goodnight Mavis NZ

Hi ,June,Joy,Sylvia,and all the rest of you. Fred is sitting here with his hot drink,waiting for the missis to stir her stumps 'cause i think i will take her to Morrisons at tiddly Bay this morning ,and from there to my favourite cafe for elevensies before an amble along the beach it's that nice out. A few more days of this and the gardens will have dried out enough for me to start putting in the rest of the bulbs and stuff,this should be the finish of it all as once they take there will be no need to plant again ,everything should mulfiply on it's own year to year and all i will need to do is keep on top of the weeds[dream on lol] I notice the kale is starting to go to seed ,but it hasn't done badly,it's kept me in fresh greens since last september and i will for sure be starting some more this year,along with some other veggies that don't take up too much room. I am still intending to grow two large tubs of tatties ,put in at different times to increase the cropping time,and am toying with the idea of growing new potatoes as wellprobably charlotte which i really like. the greenhouse is now well away ,seeds sprouting everywhere ,and the easter cactus is in full bloom,the bulbs i was supposed to put in for christmas but forgot[oooops] have also bloomed in there ,some lovely Hyacinths so when they are finished i will find a little spot onone of the borders and put them in,ready for next yearTime to do a shoot folks,have a nice day all Fred..

Hi everyone, I haven't forgotten you, I hope you are all keeping OK. We have finished the wallpapering, well in my lounge anyway, now new light fittings need putting up and I would love a new carpet, need to have a peep at the old bank balance.lol My PC has been unplugged on and off, hopefully it will only be unplugged once more, if I get a new carpet. The new bathroom suite is now installed and the tiling is nearly finished, we only have 3 more bedrooms, the other shower room, the kitchen, the big lounge and the hall and stairs ro go! Take care everyone, see you soon. June xx

Hi everyone, Joy, Have you got any of that bouncebackability to spare; I think I could do with a little right now. Still not much change here, and I've decided if I feel no better in the morning, I'm going to the doctors. Its now 17 days for me and about 10 for John. I had to go out today as we were running short of some grocery staples, but I was so glad to get home, and slept all afternoon. This is such a miserable bug!!! We were supposed to go to a friends 50th anniversary party yesterday, but couldn't risk it, as he had a triple bypass 3 or 4 years ago and has been quite frail since. Hi Sylvia, hope you're well again now. You certainly do have some good neighbours don't you? Hi Brenda, Fred and Mavis, and where is June? Busy hanging wallpaper I guess, horrible job. Haven't done any of that for years, but used to in UK, and sometimes Dad would help, accompanied by Mum, a very critical person, and there was always a family fight, as she always told the men they were doing it wrong. We just paint the walls here, and hang a lot of John's paintings, and it looks good, I don't have to help, and there are no fights!!! Hope the weather is good for you now, as it is here. A little rain now and again, but at least it's warm, and the garden is looking beautiful. How quickly it changes, one day all wintry dead and brown, then it warms up and there's green and blues and yellows everywhere. We have a beautiful pair of camellias outside the bedroom window, about 10' tall, one pink and one white, with such perfect blooms. Well, must go ; time for milk and cookies and bed. Take care. Love, Di.xxx

Hello. I like popping in to read, and when time say hello. Pleased your computer is ok now, Fred. (or Badger? ) Amaretto is something I like very much :-)

Hi Brenda and Fred, Seems to me the rest are on holiday, or just too busy to come on the Board. Today Frans cleaned my balcony for me and the weather was very kind to him, lots of sun. I have ringed a date next week for Johan and I to go to the garden centre and buy some plants. I like my balcony to look nice for Easter. I also had a pedicure, so theres my tootsies looking good for Easter too. Mind you nobody will see them as it is too cold for sandals! The weather forecast is good. It is supposed to be getting warmer Friday and the weekend. Heres hoping they've got it right at last. Now have a nice evening everybody. Sylvia xxx

Hiya Sylvia ,of course you are welcome,any one of you peeps are ,there is always room for a couple more,and this next one promises to be some bash. Hi Brenda,i will be taking a couple of shots of the garden for you once things start to grow and flower again,then yo uwill be able to see why i love just sitting out there in the summer ,looking ,sniffing the flowers and getting a suntan. the new willow out front is already throwing its fluffy ballson the branches,it's a pity in a way that when they are finished this first year i have to cut it back hard ,but it won't grow properly unless i do so it's bite the bullet and do it lol. Lots of the early bulbs are starting to show,but things are rather late this year and we are promised wintry showers today,grrrrrr,so i hope they have it wrong again,cause its lovely and sunny just now. Seeing as i spent five years working on radio and radar gear in the air force Brenda,i can still turn my hand to the odd repair,but i look at the modern stuff these days and shudder,some of these new circuit boards are so tiny that my old hands are too shaky to even contemplate repairs,usually now.,it's a diagnostic and replace job. I remain pretty handy round the house ,which is why the missus keeps me ,i reckon.,if she can find a newer model,i'm in deep s... lol. Off now for a quick look around and then i'm off outside,fork at the ready. see you later,have a good day all.Fred

hello fred and Sylvia,sorry its so late have been do some searching and lost myself if you know what I mean. Glad you are working again fred you are very handy really aren't you ,gardening ,cooking,repairing pc's BBQ king ,need I go on. Sylvia I am sure you will soon get the hang of the sewing machine,and be running up lots of lovelly new clothes. Sorry to report it was rainging here again,Johns not sure if he is out or not tomorrow as the rain has been to heavy for the course drains to cope with. Tuesday i am starting my quest to find a new car,well new to me that is.So will probably be so confused by the end of the day I will not know what i have looked at. Hope the others are all ok and will be back soon, Have been on the Canada thread a few times and a lot of our old friends are there,nice to see them. TAke care ,Brenda

Hi all, Well Fred just you and me again. Don't tell your missus will you? Am I invited to your barbecue? I love barbecues but never go to any now that we live in a flat. The weather here is much the same as the uk, sunshine and showers, well they do bring forth May flowers I suppose. Today Johan and I have been playing the dvd from my new sewing machine and I can now thread the machine and wind the bobbin. It is a super sewing machine, and does far more than I have ever done. Am I tempted to do more? Don't think so as I now have my days taken up to the full. Will keep this short for today - Sunday, my day of rest?????????? Sylvia xxx

Hi all ,normal service has been resumed ,lol, i found that my graphics card was shorting out and being a tight assed scot[well ,nearly] i opted to repair it instead of buying a new one ,so it was out with the low voltage iron and heat shunt,but it seems to be working okay now. i spent a few minuts out front last night and got the two rose bushes in before the rain started again. I will be having dinner at the sons again today where we will be planning the easter B.B .Q over there which is coupled with a birthday bash for the daughter in laws sisters eighteenth,so i think it will be a trip over on the metro as i will be having a couple of cans and won't be taking the car Still it rains i am thinking of growing rice it's so wet up here.and they are on about a water shortage,what rubbish,in as much that there is plenty of water ,it's just the lack of resources to collect it all,another failing of the countries water boards,too many years of wasting money paying out bonusses instead of repairing and laying new pipes grrrrrr. Sorry this is so short peeps ,time to get ready and get the bum in gear,but i should be back early.have a nice day all Fred.

Hi everybody, Dinner parties can be such fun can't they? When we were in Nigeria we used to have Progressive Dinner Parties. One family did the main course, another the sweet, the coffee, cheese and biscuits, etc.etc. and we used to enjoy these very much. Every course had another wine. We weren't so bothered in Nigeria about drink driving, and sometimes wonder how on earth we ever got home, we just crawled sometimes and when another car came along we got off the road. Those were the carefree days. I used to organise all sorts of parties, because we had no television etc. and needed some amusement. The weather here has been nice today but for me still too cold. I have now made an arrangement, over a glass of Amaretto, for my neighbour to do my balcony on Monday. He will have to wait until my pedicurist has gone. She is coming to do my tootsies at 10.00 but will be finished by 11.00 am. See you all tomorrow. Sylvia xxx

Hello to everyone, Fred asked me to let you know he is having computer problems so if missing that is the reason Always enjoy reading all about your days - not a big poster -usually only enough time to read your, Wattlers news but do post on Canada, left over from the Bill in OZ thread Take care JA

Hi Mavis,Sylvia and Fred, sorry to say another wet and miserable day here,not sure how cold it is have not been out yet. Had some girlfriends round last night,had to make do with nibbles from the freeze shop,but they went down well.We had a few vinos and a really good chat ,did not even play Trivial Pursuits which we normally do. Sylvia wish I had a neighbour who wanted to help with housework!!can see what you mean about getting used to it. Fred you really do make your garden seem a brilliant place hope I find ours half as good when I have time to really look at ours.(3 years and counting) John does go out in the rain,but some thing has gone wrong the the drainage on the course and it keeps flooding so it gets closed or only part of it is open.Ho is up in Clevelys where his mother lives,this weekend ,she comes home from benidorm today ,been there since Dec 10th. He puts the heating up and gets shopping in etc. Mavis what a good idea about the Guess who is coming to dinner,sounds interesting,hope your friend is doing ok. have to get the shopping in now ,don't really want togo on Saturday it is so crowded but have somethings arranged when it is my days of next week so can not do it then. Take care Brenda

Hi Mavis,Sylvia and Fred, sorry to say another wet and miserable day here,not sure how cold it is have not been out yet. Had some girlfriends round last night,had to make do with nibbles from the freeze shop,but they went down well.We had a few vinos and a really good chat ,did not even play Trivial Pursuits which we normally do. Sylvia wish I had a neighbour who wanted to help with housework!!can see what you mean about getting used to it. Fred you really do make your garden seem a brilliant place hope I find ours half as good when I have time to really look at ours.(3 years and counting) John does go out in the rain,but some thing has gone wrong the the drainage on the course and it keeps flooding so it gets closed or only part of it is open.Ho is up in Clevelys where his mother lives,this weekend ,she comes home from benidorm today ,been there since Dec 10th. He puts the heating up and gets shopping in etc. Mavis what a good idea about the Guess who is coming to dinner,sounds interesting,hope your friend is doing ok. have to get the shopping in now ,don't really want togo on Saturday it is so crowded but have somethings arranged when it is my days of next week so can not do it then. Take care Brenda

Hi again. Had a great evening dining with friends last night. Duncan is 89 and Florence 88 years. Wonderful couple - only look late 70's. There were 6 of us. It was our 'Guess Who's Coming for Dinner'. The host and hostess do not know who they will be entertaining until the guests arrive. The guests do not know where they are going until that morning. The hosts cook the meat and potatoes and supply nibbles. The guests each take a vegie dish and a sweet. Altogether we had roast chicken thighs in a delicious sauce/gravy. We had cauliflower cheese, brussel sprouts and mashed carrot, kumera, parsnip and pumpkin. This was followed by Apple crumble and apple and rhubarb pie with lots of cream!! Coffee and mints and marshmallows to follow. There are 55 people who take part in Guess Who's coming for Dinner'. We have two lady conveners who do a marvellous job. They try as much as is possible not to put the same people together during the year. It is a great way to really get to know each other. Lots of ironing still to do - how I hate it especially as Pip prefers to wear mainly white shirts! I hate ironing shirts but do like them to look nice. Little lad next door has just invited me to watch him on his skate board! I don't think I will have a go!! Could be disastrous!! Must go now - we are off a little later to visit our friend Blair in Hospital. Only 20 minutes drive. Goodaye. Mavis NZ

Hi all, Well didn't go to the market today as I was tired from entertaining yesterday and the weather was dark and murky, with that biting cold wind. My neighbour, who has no hobbies, phoned down to ask if she could help me do any washing or ironing. I said no, as I don't want her helping me too much - I may even get to like it! My daughter and Henk came in this evening to bring their high pressure hose for cleaning my balcony. Annemie's husband Frans will clean it for me next week and my windows and then I can get out my plastic garden table and chairs and maybe buy some plants. It is after all almost Easter! I made two loaves of bread instead of tomorrow. I also ran 4 washing machines, so can do my ironing tomorrow. Now, see you all tomorrow. Sylvia xxx

Hi again everyone,what's this i hear about john Brenda? a fair weather golfer ,hah,tell him ,if it's good enough for our Lee travieno to play out in a thunderstorm [and get struck by lightening three times] then it should be good enough for him,lol,besides tell him he will be out from under your feet for a while.hee hee[having said this ,badger runs for cover]. Mavis should have some Aldi shops not too far away from her,they seem to be branching out in quite a few new places,and sell some good gear.including computer stuff,and garden gear which i go there a lot for,and my fish ,of which i am very fond. Back to the old weather this morning grrrrrr,not too cold ,but dank, murky,and threatening rain.not good gardening ,or golfing weather at all,it's okay for me, tell john,i can hide in Marys chalet,and make myself a coffee,but being stuck in the middle of a fairway in pouring rain is no joke ,yes ,i did do a round last year with my bro' in law who is an avid golfing nut,but it was a one off,i can't walk those sort of distances ,and it was nice and sunny when i went. Our birds are still doing well and i have been watching the boss blackbird who i shall have to name bomber out of respect for his latest trick,something that i have never seen a big heavy bird like him do before.i really must try to get a photo of him in the middle of this manouver of his. This daft bird fies in ,lands on the patio under the feeder which is hunng on the rotary line ,eyes the fat balls up ,gathering the strengh for the effort,then takes off straight up,runs his beak into the fat ball just like a humming bird,and then flutters back down and lands to enjoy the morsel before having another go ,until he is too tired to do it again. It will be interesting to see if he teaches the young to do the same,the starlings have learned to hang on the cage to feed on the balls ,so birds do have a brain they can use,the feathered ones that is[badger runs for cover again] lol. s.I think i had better go and give Liz a hand in the greenhouse ,i 'm getting hacky looks ,maybe the heard that last comment of mine [ouch] see ya later peeps.Fred.

Hi Fred,Sylvia and Mavis and anyone just looing in. Mavis all the Littlewoods shops have closed over here ,just recently,think the pools and catalogues have been reduced as well. We have a big Tescos being built near here and we have Sainsburys ,Asda and Morrisons supermarket all nearby,we have two small local markets they do not sell food!!! and a lovelly big one in Bury which does sell food, the fish and meat is great ,it isn't that far away.i do hope your friends are all on the way to good recoveries,they do seem to be having it rough. Having some girlfriends round tomorrow for a belated birthday drink,so will not have time to come on here. Sylvia,hope that wind drops so you can get out. Fred you have been busy ,hope our weather drys up a bit ,John has been rained of from golf too much he is getting cranky!!! Take care

Hi everybody, Fancy no C&A in the UK. We still have C&A as do Belgium and Germany. I think France does as well. It seems a good thing our shopping centre wasn't opened last week as there were indeed faults in the safety. The man who committed suicide over this was only 54. I wonder just how much he knew about fraude in the building! I don't know whether I want to go to the market tomorrow as we still have this bitterly cold wind. It should be sunny tomorrow afternoon, but then the market is finished by then. I had friends in for coffee this morning and they stayed for lunch. It was almost 4.00 pm before they went. They, like us, used to have a motor caravan, and have been with us to several different countries. They also spent some winters in Spain, like us, so we know them quite a while. Now Fred, don't work too hard and Mavis keep writing as your letters are so interesting. Brenda, you work too hard. Still nice to hear from you, even if it is only a sentence or two. Sylvia xxx