General Chat

Hi everyone, I thought we were supposed to having colder weather but thankgoodness it isn't too bad though I will be pleased when the ground dries a bit and I can have a better look at what is there. Di I dont think I am going to be very lucky with finding plants other than conifers and yuccas and a holly bush.. Most of the garden is lawn and a large patio area in front of the back door so it will be fun introducing more plants. My son in law is a keen gardener and he has quite a few gardening books so i will wait and see what he has in mind. Brenda, Glad to hear that you are feeling better, it will soon be time for our March meetup in Manchester, do you know which Saturdays you are working yet? Fred, I'm glad to hear that you are still researching, I have decided to get rid of all my bits of paper and make notes on my PC. When I first started all those years ago I had a lot on paper. Anyway this week I have made a start, I have added a few names as I have gone along because with all these sites now on the internet its so much easier, but there's always the odd elusive one. I really need to make a trip to Derbyshire to try to pin a couple down. Mind I dont think they will be going far! Sylvia, Dont cry, we dont mean to leave you! I thought I had posted yesterday but I must have got engrossed in my Family History. I also was looking at my house on Google Earth. I have made a New Year's resolution ( a bit late,lol) that when I dont know what a word means, I will look on the internet and find out. Mavis, How I envy you your warm weather, I cant wait for spring to arrive here. well its time to get my granddaughter off to work. See you tomorrow. June xx

Hi friends, Don't cry Sylvia! We're only a click away, so sooner or later one or other of us will emerge! By the way, what is enquete? Glad to hear you're feeling good again, Brenda, and back to your usual social whirl! You must have an abundance of energy, working and partying too, midweek! Well, yesterday was another unsettled day, but the forecast for today was for sunshine, so I thought 'ah, roses', though listening to the rain pounding down overnight, I couldn't imagine sunshine today. However, woke up to blue skies, so leapt out of bed, threw on some old clothes, mixed up a batch of antifungus, and sprayed all the roses, 16 bushes and 3 climbers. So, thanks again Fred for the gardening advice. Then I finished tidying up a flower bed I started on the last sunny day, and cleaned out all the containers on the patio, ready to plant bacopa and some other annuals. Tomorrow, weather allowing, I'm going to clear all the leaves from the apple, pear and cherry trees, from out of my veggie area. So, by March I hope to have the garden organised, so I can start planting and sit back and smell the roses and watch the flowers grow! Sounds as though you're doing what we did when we moved in here, June, waiting to see what comes up in the garden in the spring. Meanwhile I gradually checked out most of the gardening books in the library, and made a list of all my favorite plants, and then spent the next 2 or 3 years collecting them, by propogation, seed, friends, sales, and made myself the garden I'd always wanted, and now had time for. So I hope you enjoy the process as much as I did. Mavis, the area you live in sounds beautiful, and it's always an extra to have water activities and cruise ships to watch. For 2 or 3 years we lived on the shore on the Sunshine Coast here in BC, and used to love to watch the cruise ships from Vancouver and Seattle heading up to Alaska, as well as the occasional group of whales, or seals passing by. Always something to see on the water, isn't there? Well, I have 2 sweaters finished and waiting to be stitched together, then 2 more to do, as well as 2 hat and scarf sets, so I'd better get started. John has almost finished the bedroom, just the blinds to instal, then we have to move all the furniture out of the living room, (including a 3 seater chesterfield that was the dickens to get in in the first place), so we can rip out the carpet and instal the wood floor. What fun! NOT! Take care all of you. Love, Di.xxx

Hello everyone,I am feeling much better now and have had a great time catching up with you all your news. Have been to see my friends parents tonight as he has just had his 8oth birthday ,my friend is in Australia and her parents are going there on holiday next month. My other friend has just become a Nanna,her daughter had a beautiful little boy today Jacob Willian James 6lb 13oz lots of curly black hair. All doing well. my sister should hope fully have her gall bladder removed next thursday ,she has waitd two years almost to get it done,and the fact that thursday is her birthday is a shame but she isn't letting it stop her. Nice to see all the messages like I said,but there are to many for me to reply to individually so i will just say take care of yourselves and see you over the weekend.Brenda

All is not lost Sylvia,,i have been doing research most of the day and have come onto genes 'cause i am stuck yet again. If anyone knows how to get info on a gt gt grandparents parents online when the search critearia,has the place of birth and the year ,can they please clue Fred in to save him having to go to durham to the records office,is there an an online catherines index ,or whatever? Liz and i are out to tea tomorrow,we are going to Connors birthday party to celebrate his joining the teens gang lol.Liz is still bemoaning the loss of her sparrows and starlings,and it would seem that they have all gone south due to global warming ,or ,in the case of the sparrows, gone to the states. It seems they are innundated with spuggies and the noise is driving some townships dotty.and are putting some of the native spiecies noses out of joint lol. If you yanks don't want our birds,send 'em back,we is lonely without them [sniff] We have had a lovely day here,lovely and sunny ,though very windy,so windy in fact it woke us both up a number of times last night,and as a result we both slept in good style this morning. To cap it all ,when i came down this morning i had trouble with messenger yet again ,and i took 7.5 out come the finish ,which seems to have done the trick.I have my fingers crossed about this because like Brenda and a couple of others ,i tried to add this message before ,and lost it ,soooooo ,if it goes this time Sylvia,you isss on your own gal hee hee.Thats it for now,Fred has to find something to go with the sausage casserolle,maybe some roast turnip and carrot,to go with the mashed potato.yum yum.see ya all later .Fred.PtfA&G&G&S.

Hi all, Well here I am again deserted by the rest - crying! I have had my trusty help in today so the flat is all shiny and bright. This afternoon Johan and I went to the garden centre and I bought some new plants for in the house to brighten things up. Well, I had to use some money up that I had had for my birthday! Not much news at the moment. Sylvia xxx

Hi all, I'm a bit late today as I have been filling in an enquete on internet - may win a prize, most probably not. It has been drizzling with rain today, but I had to go out sometime, and better wet than slippery under foot. So out came the scootmobile. I met friendly people everywhere. The first friendly person was a man posting a letter and I had some to post. He put them in the correct holes for me. Here in Almere we have two holes in the posting box, one for local codes and the other for foreign codes. In the supermarket the customer behind me - also a man - offered to pack my shopping in for me. Of course I accepted. I have a shopping trolley fixed onto the back of my scootmobile and I can get quite a lot in it. It also has a cold-storage compartment. I also met in the supermarket a couple with scootmobiles and I said to the man 'it must be scootmobile day'. That got us talking and laughing. His wife was buying several bunches of flowers so I said to her 'spend your money now as you cannot take it with you'. I came home, ironed a few of Johan's shirts and made a cake. Then my neighbour Annemie phoned me for some elastic for her pyjamas. That was fatal. Once I get to her there I stay and chat. Then it was dinner time. I had planned to do some more cross stitching this afternoon too. Oh well, tomorrow is another day. Tomorrow I have my trustworthy help. Have a good evening all. Sylvia xxx

Hi everyone. We had a little rain am today but the forecast is back to the sunny hot weather tomorrow and for the next few days. As John says the plants soon suffer here in the heat. The lawns and fields are all brown - look more like straw than grass! The little rain today is already showing signs of working on the grass. The fire risk is high - great care needed for BBQ's etc. We have another large Cruiseship in the harbour today. What a wonderful sight when it arrives. Lot's of 'wealthy' looking passengers from the ship wandering around Mount Maunganui Shops. Our little shops have to make the most of the visitors! Our tomatoes too John are not doing well at all. Will probably be ready when they are cheap in the shops! We grew gherkin cucumbers this year. Really have done well. Although small they are so tasty. My friend has today been diagnosed with breast cancer - her husband is on dialysis 3 times a week so life is going to be difficult for a while. She will know on Monday what treatment will be offered. Just had Publisher installed on my machine - will be wasting more time now! I love making cards etc. Must go now - talk to you soon. Mavis NZ

Hi peeps,we seem to be busy on here at the minute,long may it last. Yes D,i was the young yob tearing around on an old beast of a motor bike with no silencer lol,but we won't go into that,the police may still be looking for me ,I have had a couple of beers in the local pub whilst i was home on leave in later years ,and loved the inside,so relaxed,one of the few places that would accept you at face value..a bit like the brickmakers arms near High wycombe where they made the most scrumtuous ham sandwiches i have ever tasted,oh,happy days. nice to see new faces on the threads i frequent,i keep making references to peeps on the canadian thread hoping that some of them will look in,and visa versa lol,it seems to be working lol. Excuse me a mo while i go chase the ruddy magpie sitting on the chimney stack on top of he roof,if i thought i could reach it ,i would give it a blast of the gas welding gear to singe it;s backside ,noisy perisher that it is. We still have no birds and are devestated,i have been in touch with the R S P B,and it would seem that it has a lot to do with global warming ,the sparrows have moved to another area,so i am left with no birds to feed or listen too other than my blackbird ,thrushes and a few tits and wrens,oh well,i may have to let the pidgeons take over the garden instead though it goes against the grain,they are soooooo greedy.,the final insult was when the starlings went as well,i know they are noisy and can get a bit stroppy ,but for birds ,they were pretty bright and kept us amused for hours. well ,i must off and get the houswork done before that stick comes out again sigh,a husbands work is never done hee hee,.Fred.PtfA&G&G&S.

Hi everyone, The weather looks damp again, yesterday was rather miserable, so I wont comment any further on that. I thought I had posted a message yesterday but I didn't, I am so taken up with my new PC, still downloading things. I went for a new computer chair and came back with a computer,lol I have thrown my old computer chair because it was grumbling under my weight and I didn't need reminding that often that I need to gop a diet! So now I am sitting on m yswivel chair ( like an armchair) Beckham thinks this great because there is room for him to sit besides me. Jude, Beckham and Bonnie have settled in very well. they love the garden. its a lot bigger than before, Beckham thinks he has a field of his very own. There are two lounges, the big one has two doors, so you can 'miss' someone by going in by a different door, both Beckham and Bonnie were confused at first by this. If I were you, I would take the opportunity to sell your mosaics, they sound very good, I wish I could see them, when you are famous for making them, I wll be able say, that is one of my friends! John I hope you find your dream house, I had a conservatory at my last house and it was the most used room in the house, I would like one here, we will have to see what funds allow. Sylvia, I hope you get your results soon and that they are good. I can understand how your daughter feels about attending the funeral, its a very difficult situation at times like this,you dont want to intrude but you want them to know that you do care. Di, Now there's a novel idea, a smokehouse! I bet the food tastes good! I remember when I worked in Fleetwood, they used to smoke the fish at one of the factories and you could smell it all the town. At first I thought it was good but in the quantities they did, I soon got fed up with it. Brenda, I hope you have got rid of your cold. I think we will have to invent a longer day for you, so that you can stop rushing around. Sorry if I haven't you by name but I have to go now and get dressed, I have just remembered it is Bin day.I must put it all out by the gate. See you tomorrow, June xx

Hi Jude, John, Sylvia, Fred, Brenda and June, Just thought I'd pop in and say hi and goodnight on my way to bed. Hope everybody is recovering from the sniffles and snuffles. Oh, roll on spring and warm weather. It's still 'orrible here, and there's been so much rain that they're now keeping a very close watch on North Van residents over on the slopes; watching for mudslides. There was a bad one last year so they don't want to be caught out unawares this time. However the sun did poke through the clouds for a minute or two while I was out walking, so it still is up there somewhere. Have just been trying to suss out plans for a smokehouse for John to make. He's been wanting to do one for ages, so he can smoke salmon, and meats, and maybe make his own sausages, (which he's not supposed to eat!) Fred your mention of Bucks and hedgerows of hazel nut treees, takes me right back to my first 5 years. I was born in Henley on Thames and shortly thereafter mum and dad moved to Fingest, nearby; do you know it? I loved living there. I think I was the only young child in the village, so everyone made a fuss of me, especially an elderly farm labourer, who kept ferrets and went rabbiting, and his wife and children, who were mostly grown up. But they had a son of 14 or so, and I used to tag along after him, and we used to go to pick nuts in the hedge, or up the hill behind the house to the woods to get kindling for the old black wood stove in their living room cum dining room cum kitchen. As you said life was so simple then; simple pleasures and great contentment. The men used to toddle off down to the pub, The Chequers Inn, at the end of the road, and bring back a beer for the 2 year old grandson! I took my daughter there when we went over on vacation in 1982, and the whole place had changed, the pub especially. It had gone up market, and had a very good restaurant, where we had a fantastic meal. I'm fine thanks Jude, and yourself. It sounds to me as though you keep pretty busy too with Madoc, and your crafts. Are you still sketching? Talk of Madoc and Beckham makes me wish I still had dogs. We have Ross of course, and he is a real love, but he's only ours till Steve appears, and then he's off like a shot. However our Pan is very like a dog, and so close to us since his little pal Kitty had to leave us. He sleeps right on the edge of the bed on my side, and I'm woken up in the morning, often at about 5, by him tapping on my face with his claws, or trying to open my eyelids with them. And he follows me everywhere and sits and watches everything I do. If I open a cupboard, he gets into it to investigate, and if we switch on noisy machinery he's right there to see what it is and how it works. Smart cat! Sylvia, have you ever had pets? Hope you're feeling well and that the test results are good. Your weather over there seems to be as bad as ours. We shouldn't grumble though. Back east they've had freezing rain and everybody is slithering all over the place. Well, I must get off to bed. So will say goodnight till next time. Take care all, Love, Di.xxx

Evening:o) Now l was'nt planning on coming on here too often - but l'm getting the old interest back and l'm nosey too:o))) First of all can l say l hope all the poorly people are doing ok and Sylvia l am so sorry to hear about your x s.i.l's nephew, thats really tradgic. Life can be so short, we just don't know whats around the next corner do we:o(( June - the mosaic hobby comes from daughter partner, she's been doing it for some years now . Sometime last year when we were visiting them she set up a small project - l kept on about wanting to do it, so now l had to and l just love it. Not selling stuff yet although l have an outlet if l want to - l think l ought to have ago at selling but we'll see!! How is Bonnies ear?? and hows that Beckham - have they settled into their new abode?? Any ideas on how to stop Mad dog scratching the carpet at night - he's made a hole now:o(((((((((((((( if we tell him off in the morning its far too late and he looks at us with those dulful eyes -awwwwwww! If we give him the run of the house at night he keeps getting onto our bed,then we have a gawd almighty fight to keep him out of the bed!!!!! he trys everything, eventually he gets down and pushes his head under the quilt and pushes until he's won!!!:0((((((( - ;~))))))) He also shoves his head out through the catflap if he hears noises and will bark - not a good idea in the middle of the night!!! lol lol Did anyone watch that TV programme last night about dog training - thats what l need someone like that lady to come and rescue us!!! We laughed so much l nearly wet my pants - but then we realised how serious the situation was - BUT the trainer got the dogs behaving and walking beautifully:o) Talk about plants looking dead - most of mine are dead!!!! the frosts got em - when we get some springy weather l'll sort them out (springy as in warmer lol lol) Di - its lovely to see you again, do hope you are well - you're so like Sylvia (and everyone except me) - busy busy busy. Anyway folks thats it , l want an earlyish night tonight as l have to be out of the house 9.15am (your kidding - l usually get up at 9.30am) for an 80th birthday celebration at the charity shop then off to the GYM - lol lol Love Jude sarf wales x

Hi everyone Haven't looked in for awhile and I am slowly working through some 15 days of comments a lot of things happened over those days. I was checking our potted plants on our deck this morning and many of them look 'dead' but hopefully a could drenching will pick them up. The hot weather here in Auckland certainly dried the pots out and being away over the New Year period didn't help either - result shrivelling plants. We also tried growing tomatoes again this season without success so that will be something we may not do again. We are planning to eventually shift from our present house but exactly where is undecided, it may be back to New Plymouth. So with these plans in the pipeline we thought it was an ideal time to rid ourselves of unwanted items - shredding papers and sending usuable things to the Thrift Shop. We are looking for two bedroom house on a flat section - Gayle has dreamt that our new house will have a conservatory so we see if that becomes a reality. John

Like Sylvia says where are you all hiding,mind you don't blame you for curling up some nice and warm for a snooze or two.Feeling a bit better and went into work,was only doing a half day so that wasn't so bad.Got heaps of housework to catch up on,so cannot stop, see you tomorrow love brenda

Hi everybody, Well, where are you all hiding today? Not one entry. I did some more tidying up in my hobby room this morning and put some washing away but this afternoon kept free for some cross stitching. The weather has been very nice and bright, plenty of sunshine albeit very cold. My granddaughter has asked me to help her translate a piece of Dutch into English, so must do that in a minute. She is quite good in English, but this is for her diploma and it has to be perfect! Now have a nice evening everybody. Sylvia xxx

Hi all, Well I have been having a social day today. This morning I visited our neighbours on the third floor. When I arrived she was in bed, but when she heard it was me she soon came out and we had a laugh and a talk. Her husband sat with us in his pyjamas. Sometimes I think people are not really ill but need cheering up. This afternoon I went up to Annemie as she has broken her toe and is hobbling around indoors. I had some food left over from yesterday so didn't have to do much in the kitchen. I did manage to run a washing machine and then put it in the drier. It was not weather to go out anyway - rain, rain, rain. Not much news, apart from wishing Brenda a speedy recovery from her cold. Sylvia xxx

Just a line or two so you know I haven't forgotten you all.Still full of a cold,head acheing like mad and my ears are ready to blow up i think,have tried all sorts of remedies,as well . Hope all goes well from your test Sylvia. Fred i think we have some of your gremlins as well I think the puter has a mind of its own hehe. See you all soon, Brenda

Hi everybody, My week has been changed because of the funeral of Jan's nephew on Wednesday. My daughter is going to the funerak and is too upset to want to have us around for a few days. Although she is no longer part of this family she still wants to go to the funeral. I don't think she should, but it is up to her. She is going with my granddaughter. I went to the hospital today for an echo and have to wait until Wednesday before I can phone the cardiologist for the result. On the way home we met a fox, It ran across the main road, looked a bit old and was limping. Still very cold, but supposed to be getting warmer and wetter. Warmer, I will like, but wetter no! Now am going to do some sewing. See you all tomorrow. Sylvia xxx

Hi all[and jude lol].Di the first time you spray the roses spray the whole plant ,including the soil around it,there after you can do it the same way,or use a watering can and water round the plant for the water to go up through the root system,this will kill pest in the soil too. I was reading about someone enjoying their horses a couple of days ago,this bought back my childhood long ago in the dark distant past lol. Me and Dawn,a lovely white mare of about fourteen hands,not near;ly as posh or fast as an arab.but a lovely gentle creature who always did her best to please. I used to ride her along country lanes and commons and through woods in Haslemere ,Penn,and Totteridge in Bucks ,every weekend,idling along and watching the hedgerows for birds nesting and seeing the odd fox running across the fields. i used to love picking the berries and hazel nuts as i went along,you could forget the outside world in those days,the pleasures were so much simpler and cheaper than they are now,no puters or tv,and no homework lol.oh to be young again,but only if i could be in that era again,i don't think i could hack this new world as it is,so much day to day pressure on children,it really isn't fair on them.no time to be children at all. Lewis is now crawling little perisher ,and such a cheeky grin,i think he will be leading his parents a hell of a dance when he finds his feet.lol. well,i 'm off to find something for tea,i was going to try one of Bills recipes ,but i can't find them,so i will have to ask him to send them again,every so often something goes missing off my files without me touching a key,it's really weird,and i'm getting paranoid in case we have a gremlin, hee hee. Well i'm off for now,have a great evening everybody,or moring ,depending on where you are .Fred.PtfA&G&G&S.

Hi everyone. Its still chilly here but at least its dry, yesterday was a lovely sunny day with a strong cold breeze. I went along to PCWorld, I was looking for a new computer chair, the one I have at the moment takes up too much room and has started creaking with my weight. I didn't get a chair, I got sidetracked with a PC, I didn't buy it but I keep thinking about it. Then we took Bonnie to the vets, she has an ear irritation, everytime we think that we have cured it, it comes back, the vet thinks it may be an allergy. We have to take her back on Tuesday. Di and Mavis, I walked around the garden yesterday too, I was looking to see if there was any bulbs showing but I coudn't see any. I think its exciting when you move into another house, you never know what plants and bulbs are hiding there. Sylvia, What a tragedy, my heart goes out to you and his family. So young, so sad. Brenda, I hope you cold is soon better, I'm afraid that colds are one of the 'joys' of being in contact with so many people. I am off to have a coffee now, the first of the day, I hate Mondays when I take this once a week pill and then cant have anything to eat or drink for 40 minutes, so I am really looking forward to my coffee now. June xx

Hi Sylvia, Brenda, June, Jude, Mavis and Fred, Your news about your ex son in laws nephew is so sad Sylvia. What a dreadful tragedy, and such a young boy too. Brenda, I hope you'll be feeling better soon. Colds are such miserable things and there's not much you can do wxcept let them run their course, although you can alleviate the symptoms a little with a nice hot rum toddy. I agree with Sylvia June; I think moving house is one of the worst stressors there is. I don't think it's just coincidence that every time we move I go down with either flu, a bad back or both. Or is it psychosomatic with me, to be unavailable for heavy work, and to put off unpacking! lol Anyway, make sure you get lots of rest as your immune system can get low when tired, and there are so many germs around this time of year. Coooooeeeee Jude, and Madoc, and how nice to see you again. It seems to me Madoc really hit the jackpot when you moved into his life, and he sounds like a lovely dog, well deserving of all the love and attention he gets. I managed to get out into my garden today too Mavis, but it wasn't anywhere near as hot as where you are, although I can't say I felt cold, as I was so busy. I managed to make a really good start on tidying the garden up ready for spring. We have quite a few wind storms here and the garden and sidewalk were covered with tree branches, and twigs and hundreds of pine cones and needles., 3 bagsful done today. I'm hoping I'll be able to get outside again tomorrow and make a start on cleaning up the flower beds and underneath the shrubs, that is after spraying a fungicide around the roses, as per Fred's expert advice. We didn't set a new record in the rain department as yesterday the sun returned,and today was beautiful too. Went for a long walk yesterday. I've been slacking off lately, but after picking up one of John's many medications yesterday, at a very high price, I decided only one of us can afford to be ill, so I'd better get moving again, and watching more carefully what I eat. John's been drywalling the bedroom wall today, and is very pleased with himself as he managed to work all day with just a couple of short breaks, so his energy level is improving every day. Well, after 6 hours working in the garden today, I'm exhausted and somewhat achy, having used muscles that haven't been used much since last fall, so I'm off to bed with a cup of hot milk and a good book. See you all soon. Take care everybody . Love, Di.xxx