General Chat

Blimey peeps where is everyone these days,even our canadians seem to be too busy to chat anymore,i do hope you arn't all snowed in ,or worse. It's too cold for Liz and i too venture out today nd so she is going to do a few dvd's whilst i ,as promised ,am going to put some carpet runners down outside the bedroom doors ,a job which i kept puting off in the summer saying it was a winter job,to do when it was too cold to work in the garden,so ,having talked myself into a corner ,i can put it off no longer. The snow has arrived again,but only little flurries now and again,so we may be spared for a while yet,hopefully till christmas eve ' lol. I have at last managed to get all my photo's back into the puter,i never realised i had so many i am going to need this bigger drive just for them before long.` i think i will have to treat my puter to a new keyboard for christmas,this one is still working okay but looks really grotty now ,and i can't seem to clean it down anymore. I am going to make that new soup for dinner so i can let yopu know how it tastes later on today,i have been warned to blitz the sweede very carefully though,it seems that the person who thought up the recipie splattered the kitchen in a liberal sort of way,and i don't fancy redecorating so close to the festive season. Have to go to keep the peace,see ya all later.Fred.PtfA&G&G&S.

Morning all.and a special morning to Sylvia who sounds busy again. You could try roasting your veggies for a change doing then in a tin with the roast tatties,some mixed pieces of carrot ,sweede pepperssweet potatoe and parsnip.parboiled and added to the tin half an hour before the dinner is ready,ans brushed with a little oil,salt and pepper.i find it makes a change,and saves the hasstle with saucepans all over the stove ,or a steamer,cheaper too .as it's all oven cooking..I have a new soup recipie peeps,so if anyone is inte4rested please let me know.[sweede and cardomon] i can assure you ,it sounds naff and plain ,but is lovely. i was sooooo late up this morning that the goldfish were going frantic waiting to be fed,but these little beuties are so tame they will nibble my fingers if i hold onto the food too long..Goldfish don't sound very exiting but with the missus having empysema i can't have a dog or cat much as i love them so the fish are the only option. Everyone getting ready for the holiday and all the hassle in the kitchen lool.i think i have ours all under control.the turkey is still okay,so if all goes well .i have three spare in the freezer for the new year and easter ,all i have to get now is a bit of pork.which i will get locally ,there are plenty of home produce farms around here. Well.i'm off for now,but will be back later on.have a great day all.and enjoy yourselves .Fred.PtfA&G&G&S.

Hi evryone, Still no snow here, no rain either, infact yesterday was quite sunny, I hung the washing outside. Beckham was at it again last evening. We dont whether the mouse returned to look for her babies. We didn't see it but Beckham hadn't bothered all day, then all of a sudden, he ran to the fire surround. Again we lifted it out and John replaced the skirting board that the previous owners had taken off. (They had taken the skirting off to make the surround fit flush to the wall) John also adapted the surround so that it still fitted flush with the wall.. So hopefully the mouse cant get back in now. I got some Christmas presents yesterday, I have now got about half of them, so at least I have made a start. I will see you all tomorrow. June xzx

Hi everybody, Just peeped in to see if anybody has pipped me to the post, but of course not. It is 10.15 am here but in uk an hour earlier and those further afield seem to be too busy. We had a light fall of snow in the night but nothing compared to the rest of the country, where some people have spent two nights in sheltered accommodation with food and drink provided by the Red Cross. If the weather doesn't improve then I'll not be going to my daughter's on Thursday. No, home is the best in these wintry conditions. I'm going all English today and having roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and .................... no vegetable have still to decide. Not much news, but will say have a good day and see you tomorrow. Sylvia xxx

Hi everybody, What a lovely little dog yours is June, a real mouser-sniffer, good old Beckham. Mavis, I cheated on this potatoe flour bread. I was in Germany this week and bought a packet of potatoe flour bread mix, but I should think that you could buy potatoe flour in the uk and then proceed as for bread in the breadmaker machine. I only had to add water, so it was very simple indeed, and more simple than the bread I usually make. Well everybody seems to have snow but us, but it is very cold still. I made a batch of mince pies today and froze them in quickly before they were eaten. Made lovely pizzas for dinner today. When you make them yourself you can add exactly what you want. Brenda, you are always working so hard. I think Fred has a day off today - he needs it I suppose. I do hope this snow soon goes away as I'm going to my daughter on Thursday and she has had snow. How the weeks pass, almost Xmas and I don't seem to have done much apart from cooking and card making. Must buy some presents soon and get them packed in and some sent away. Heavens, please give me the energy! See you tomorrow. Sylvia xxx

Hello everyone,just a quick message as I am printing off copies of censuses that i have previously saved,I think i need hard copies as well so I don't have to keep going back into other files. What a clever dog beckham is June.Our cat has been sat at the door of the kitchen sink for the past few nights i think we might have the same problem.So we are leaving the doorsopen tonight and emptying the cupboard.The cat sleeps in the kitchen with the dog,failing that it will be traps etc which I don't really like but needs must. Finshed dads shopping today and did a fair bit of my own,Just need to get the house in some sort of decent stsate now!!!. Take care Brenda

Hi everyone, We have sunshine here, thankgoodness no rain, snow, frost just lovely sunshine. Yesterday Beckham drove me mad, he wouldn't leave the fire surround alone. We have one of those imitation brick surrounds with an electric coal effect fire. When John came home and we had eaten our dinner, John set about operation mouse. He set up boards and sealed them off so that the field mouse was directed outside, she went leaving 4 newly born pink babies, still with their eyes closed. I felt so sad but on the other hand, I dont want mice in my house, I dont mind in my garden but not in the house. At least we have Beckham, our mouse alarm, he keeps going to the place the mouse is, wagging his tail and making growling noises. We still haven't got a moving date but I am getting very cross with the solicitor, they are definitely dragging their feet. Anyway I had better start tidying up once again, why does this housework never end? June xx

hi everyone. Sylvia - how do you make Potato Flour Bread. It sounds interesting. It is so cold here and has been raining all day. The forecast for the next 2/3 days is not much better. Not our normal weather at all. The roses all look so sad with all the heavy rain but the lawns are looking greener already. I have not finished my Christmas shopping - need to get a move on. The cards are all written ready to post. It is difficult knowing what to get some people. We will be watching the Rugby early tomorrow - Sunday here - Scotland and the All Blacks. Pip will want Scotland to win and I will shout for the All Blacks! Makes it more interesting! Will have to be up very early to watch the match. All for this time Mavis NZ

hello Fred and Sylvia sorry you have been on your own,but you do seem to have been enjoying yourself. I did not realise that I had not been on for so many days !! thought it was only two. Have nearly done my dads shopping for christmas,but have not done much for myself.John is looking at new golf trollies and I said I would buy him that,david would like money but he is not getting cash,I will be buying him a good coat as he wears these little pac amacs as I call them. I am looking for a nice turkey crown for christmas lunch,and want a leg of lamb for new year.Already have the beef and pork for other days. Sylvia I also like to get into my night clothes when I have come in wet and cold,nothing more comforting is there. Fred all our plants have been killed of by this cold,I think Sunday will be a big tidy up in the garden, Speak to you all soon,have a good weekend,Brenda

Hi everybody, or should I say 'Hi Fred' It seems we are on our own again Fred. I haven't marzipaned my cake yet Fred. We cannot buy ground almonds here so I will have to get almonds and then skin them etc.etc. a long way round but we'll get there. I'm so glad I didn't plan to go to the market today as it had been cancelled because of the bad weather. Not one stall, so I heard. We have just had gale force winds and rain, but a whole section of the Netherlands has had snow and all the problems to go with it. They are handing out blankets and water to those stranded in their cars on the roads. Oh the thought of a night in the car in these conditions! I baked two 9-cereal loaves and a potatoe flour bread as well as making a chocolate pudding. Being Friday we had salmon, fried potatoes and a green salad. Linda came round to help me in the house and Johan went to the library. As soon as he went out of the door Linda and I turned up the music as Johan is so conservative over his music - just classical. I can enjoy lots of different music. Linda brought some Spanish gitaar music and pan flute music which we enjoyed. Linda also brought some sewing for me to do as she doesn't have a sewing machine at their house. It's nice to feel useful. I'm so glad that I did some extra shopping yesterday. I wish now that I had bought some oranges, but Annemie's husband always brings these home for me from the market, so no market, no oranges. Maybe he'll buy some for me tomorrow. Now that's me up to date, and hope to 'see' some more faces tomorrow. Sylvia xxx

never mind the elvis impressions Sylvia,it looks as though it's you and me again. Maybe most of our buddies are snowed in,or maybe it's the chistmas shopping that is causing all the problems. Liz is now about ready to ice the cake ,but what a job we had to find the decorations and frills, 90 pence for a bit of coloured paper ,disgusting i calls it,no wonder my mum used to keep hers for the next year[yes mum,i hear you i will be keeping ours too this year].the price of the marzipan too,but the cake won't be the same without it so we had to buy that too. I think the Fred household has everything but a nice lump of pork now,the only trouble is Fred loves the crackling ,but my doc' says NO ,No WAYso i will have to content myself with the meat ,which i love too.along with some home made stuffing or apple sauce,or both. We have a day of packing and wrapping parcels tomorrow,and then it's a case of waiting for the big day and getting into the swing of the festive season. I have to go and check the greenhouse now in case the heater needs turning up,see ya later peeps,and as Sylvia says Heeeeeelp ,where is yu all lol.Fred.PtfA&G&G&S.

Hi all, Are you lonesome tonight, so goes the song. Yes, that's how I feel when I see no more names added since mine yesterday. Oh well, here goes. Today, terrible windy, rainy day, freezing cold, no sign of snow yet, but who knows what I'll see when I wake up in the morning. Today made a mistake with physiotherapist. I thought my appointment was 12.30 but it was 12.00. I then did a little shopping inbetween going to the hairdresser for a permanent. I arrived at the hairdressers an hour too early, but she didn't mind and I watched television at her house until she was finished with the other customer. We have known one another for years and her husband cuts Johan's hair and her sons cut my grandson and ex son in law. I got rather wet on the way home, so quickly had a hot shower and into my nightgown and dressing gown. No I didn't go to bed, but feels nice and relaxed. I don't think I'll go to the market tomorrow as I don't really need anything. Will need another deep freezer if I cook and buy much more. See you all tomorrow. Sylvia xxx

Hi everybody, Well I had a lovely day off in Germany today and the Gods were good to us. We had a little rain on the way there but then dry. I bought a lovely black sexy undergarment with embroidery on the cups. Am I going to wear it, of course I will! Didn't buy much otherwise apart from filling up at the German ALDI as it is much cheaper for some things than in the Netherlands. We managed to get back around 5.00 pm. It took around 1.30 to 1.45 minutes to get there so it's not too far. Tomorrow it is physiotherapy at 12.30 and hairdresser at 14.00. What a week! Every day out. We have snow forecast for Friday, so will have to see whether I go out on my scootmobile or not. Another busy week next week as I'll be going to my daughter on Thursday to Saturday. We always have a good laugh, or should I say giggle. Yes, even at my age I can have a giggle. My granddaughter has just mailed me that she has found me a new help in the house. It is the woman who helps them in the house and she has time. She is very reliable and flexible, which is what I want. Well must fold some washing up now. See yu all tomorrow. Sylvia xxx

Hi everyone,no ,i had not bogged off and left you all while i snuck off on a holiday.fred has been off air for a few days whilst he had a puter upgrade[again]. Iwas sick of running out of drive space and having top delete programmes so i went overboard and put in 260 gig of hard drive ,both internal .and external. i have also updated the programming as well ,and notice that things are a lot faster now. The weather here is perishing but my plants are sitting in deckchairs in the greenhouse,i have at last found the blue flame heater that i was looking forand i now have that running 24x7 and have the old heater still in there in case the weather gets really bad. Looks as though the snow is on the way in the north,we have already had two lots ,and the sky is looking that funny colour again. the missus and i are having a real treat for tea,an indian meal for two,complete with popadoms and chappaties.it's a looooong time since we had one ,and we are really looking forward to it. Has everyone finished their christmas shopping yet?,Liz and i are just about there now [thank goodness] neither of us enjoy shopping in the freezing cold,so we tend to start getting pressies in march getting a couple a week or a fortnight,that way it's normally about done before it gets too cold. Well ,thats it for now peeps,freds turn for the tea tonight,so i have to go.See you all soon.Fred.PtfA&G&G&S.

Just a very quick hello ,I have been trying to fix my digital camera programme and hope that I have managed it tonight,iwas having problems getting the pictures onto the pc on the proper programme. Sylvia,would you beleive it when I say I read less now than I did before,I have dozens of books unread and have even cancelled subscribtions to magazines as i did not have time to read them.Hope you have a good time in Germany. Hoping for a day out shopping with mysister tomorrow ,but we have tried a few times in the past few months and something always comes up to stop us. Brenda

Hi all, Where is everybody today. Oh, I know where Fred is, he has gone to see Father Xmas for a preview of what Santa has in his sack for him. But the others, June, well she is still house hunting. Now far better to build a piece on your existing house. I'm sure Beckham would prefer this too. Brenda, is working too hard, or is she reading too many books! I have been on 'trial' again today. I had to see the Council's doctor and answer questions he put to me. Why did I want an invalide parking ticket and what medicine do I use? It felt like a murder trial. Now he is going to write to my own doctor to see if I have been telling the truth. Then the Council will decide whether or not to issue me with a special card. Oh well, that's now over. Tomorrow Johan and I are having our day to Germany - much better. My daughter phoned today and we have made a date to go shopping in Hilversum. This is where we always went shopping before I moved. A lovely big shopping town. I am leaving Johan a couple of nights in December and staying with my daughter and we will then go to a big Craft Fair in Eindhoven. Now that's something to brighten up these dismal days. Now I hope to see some more letters tomorrow. So cheerio for now. Sylvia xxx

Hi everybody, Well not a dream, but nearly a nightmare! I woke up this morning, thinking I'd heard the alarm clock. I had a shower and then looked at the clock - just 10 minutes to 6 o'clock. No wonder Johan hadn't stirred out of bed! I had this meeting at the Town Hall with the three wise men, in reality two women and 1 man councillor. I had to start off the discussion and when the councillor was talking I was not to interrupt him - ooh difficult when they are trying to take something else away from us older and handicapped folks. Anyway, I can use my new taxi budget, formerly for a whole year, in the month of December. I can finish it as they are starting a new system in January. What, another new system? I don't know exactly what it will entail, but I bet I end up losing out somehow. There may be more of these meetings in store for me. Who knows. Our New Town Hall has numerous winding passages and I had enormous fun winding in and out of these in my scootmobile. I don't think they've ever had a scootmobile there before. One man was amusing himself with me searching for a special conference room, I promptly told him to stop laughing at me and tell me where this room is. Cheek of the man! This afternoon my son in law and grandson came around with their dirty washing as their washing machine has broken down. They have a mechanic coming in tomorrow, but with 6 in a family they have a lot of washing. I've told him to come in if I'm not in tomorrow and do his washing. I have another meeting tomorrow. This time with the medical people for an invalide parking ticket. I paid for this ages ago and never heard any more, so Johan phoned up. Yes, did you guess, they've made another fault and we'd been forgotten. They phoned back in the afternoon - got them worried now - and told us that they've had a cancellation and could I go tomorrow. Of course I couldn't say no or I would go to the bottom of the list again. I had to phone my hairdresser and put off the permanent I was going to have. Fortunately she can do this on Thursday - another tight day with a physiotherapy session beforehand. Wednesday is still ok for our trip to Germany - that is if the weather stays fine. ........................and people want to know what we old 'uns do the whole day! Well if I don't stop now this will be a book. So see you all tomorrow with the next instalment. Sylvia xxx

Good afternoon everyone,I would love a change from roast turkey and roast spuds etc ,but the climate doesn't lend itself to it.Mind you its all cold on boxing day .Which is a real easy day for me anyway. Its been really cold and frosty this weekend and foggy as well today. We are out to celebrate Johns mother 78th birthday tonight ,so hope the fog clears by then. Have had a lot of emails to reply to today and need anice warm cuppa,have put the heating on once ,then John turned it off as he is putting up a new curtain rail in the living room. and was getting too hot. See you al tomorrow ,Love Brenda

Hi everyone, It feels very cold again here, someone has said that the forecast is snow for this coming weekend. Its very pretty on Christmas cards but not for driving around. I hope it isn't snowing when we move house Brenda, I hope the staff took turns to be in the warm rooms,lol John, I'm pleased to hear that you keep one of the Christmas traditions by having Christmas pudding. I cant imagine getting stuck in to a full Christmas dinner though in the heat. The sun is another one of nature's gifts that we have to treat with respect. Mavis, I have just been reading Len's thread about people who have retired and what do they do all day. They should all read your message and they would soon realise that there is lots of things to do if you want to. Personally I dont like tying myself down to regilarly meetings, I like to be free to do things at the drop of the hat. Of course, some things I do have to plan ahead for. Well I had better get dressed now and decide what is the job for today. June xx .

Hi everyone. Like John it is too hot to have the traditional christmas fayre. We too have cold meats with salads etc. Lots of yummy fruit, pavlova's etc. When we first came to NZ we did have roast turkey etc but didn't cope with the hot kitchen!! This year we will be in Tauranga with my son in laws rellies. A good crowd get together each year and we take it in turns to be hosts. With so many people we don't have to host too often!! Have just come home from our monthly Probus Meeting (for retirees). Instead of a guest speaker we had a display of arts and crafts by our members. The talent is so good. Lots of wood turning etc by the men folk. Good to see. Cross Stitch, Quilting, knitting, painting - both pictures and china, teddy bears, photography, cards and more. We have this show every 3/4 years and it always proves popular. We have so many 'eating' events coming up now that Christmas is getting nearer. On Monday we have a breakfast get together. 50 people. We have a dinner for all the residents of our street - at a hotel in Tauranga. We have our annual Probus dinner at Daniels restaurant. Entertainment as well as food! Our Mahjong group have a luncheon soon. We have a bowling clup dinner. Will hate food by the time Christmas Day arrives!! Time to say goodnight again. Mavis NZ