General Chat

My friends I have some very sad news, some of you will remember Max, until recently a long time member of this site. Her parner Jason has been killed today, he was on the train in the first explosion this morning. All day she has been frantic with worry, unable to find out anything but knowing he was travelling to Liverpool Street. It was about 9 oclock this evening that she heard that he had died. There is no further news, it may be that he was the badly injured passenger who died in the hospital late this afternoon. Max has been my very good friend for a long time now and my heart is aching for her. Only a couple of days ago we talked of meeting up to do some research and talk about their planned move to a new house in Essex. Please spare a moment to say a prayer especially for her. Love to all Kathleen

Hi all, I had a phone call at lunch time today and it was my granddaughter Linda. She said 'have you heard the news'. I said 'no'. She said put the television on and she cut off and phoned me again later. I had in the meantime switched on the television and saw the shocking pictures of the bombing. My heart goes out to those who have been killed or injured and those dear ones left behind. This is London, my birthplace and therefore very close still to me. Mind you there are not many Londoners, or for that matter British, still living in London. So the same tactics have been used as in Madrid - bombs on a train in the busy rush hour. Our airport at Schiphol has been put on alert more than once. You cannot tell a terrorist from a traveller, or at least I wouldn't be able to. I tend to suspect any coloured person these days, which of course is all wrong I know, but I am sure that I am not alone. Better safe than sorry I say! Have kept myself busy baking white and brown bread and changing the beds. I fell asleep in the afternoon again. I had to get up early as Johan had to be at the hospital early this morning. Good news on his side. He doesn't have to see the cardiologist until 2007! He will be 82 then. Even though his heart rhythm isn't good, they don't know why but the cardiologist is a good person. Now have a nice evening everybody. Sylvia xxx

For those of you who know that two of my sons work in London on the transport systems. Both are safe and well, Phil (on the underground) is on night shift so was home and Ken (buses) well the bus was one of theirs but he has been unable to find out anything because communications are very difficult. He is at home having a day off. Praying for the safety of all your families. Love Kathleen

Got in about an hour ago to see the terrible happenings in London. God bless all over there. Pam

Hi All We have just had breaking news in Tassie about explosions in London, Travistock Square and underground bus lines. Public transport has been suspended. This is shocking news. My thoughts are with you all in the UK and hopefully our FNW'S and their families are safe, and no one has loved ones caught up with the expolsions. Thinking of all in England.

Hi all, Hurrah Johan is away for a few hours. He had to go to the opticians first - once a year for diabetes patients - and then the cardiologist. He will be away for a few hours so I have cut him sandwiches, flask of coffee and he has a book and the daily newspaper. Now I have time for myself. I began with baking a white loaf of bread, then changing the beds and washing the covers. Now a little rest at the computer then further making a brown loaf. Oh what the heck are we going to have for dinner? The sun is shining - which was not forecast! Now everybody have a nice day. Sylvia xxx

Hello all sunny but cold Sylvia oz was very right very chilly here in Perth. Off to take my grandson to a soccer coaching clinic . Saw a leaflet at the school I work at told my daughter and she asked me to book him in. That reminds me she owes me $120 on my credit card. It is a shame that all the clinics are the other side of town not on the eastern side. So many kids miss out which is a shame the hills are too far away. Jordy is lucky his other grandad took him for two days me tioday and his father is taking a afternoon off to take him friday.(He has his own business). He loves it included a fantastic soccer top Perth Glory socer ball and the Perth Glry players will be there today and tomorrow. Thankyou to the members who asked after my daughter she is feeling better now. Joanne is making a airoplane costume for young Jacobs 4th birthday on saturday. I am surprised but this is what he wants. I am making his birthday cake plus he wants those decorated patty cakes with lots of frosting and made into spiders and so forth. Isabella will be two and she is having her special day she went through the cake book and CHOSE her own cake it is a chocolate hedehog icecream cake. My kids were a week apart so I used to have combined parties . We used to have over 40 kids. But Joanne wants them serperate. Now I feel guilty she never said in all the years she wanted her own party. I have a week off in the school holidays and have done hardly anything been so lazy. I was going to do wonders. One of the jobs was to sort out papers in the study and put all the geneology papers in order. I must have tunnel vision when I come in here I head straight for computor. Actually I did have a good day yesterday my friend and I went to mandurah. My friend had contact with a 92 year old relative on her fathers side. Grace was so clear and well spoken(Hope I am like that when I am her age) gave dates ,copies of old marriage certificates, photos. My friend had sent them a form which they list all their parents and so forth.( I am so jealous.. not realy)my friend has researched so many arms of her family. All in Australia. Also relatives in the Eastern states who have given information from the german side and who had been to the church where they were all baptised and married still there after hundreds of years. It was a wonderful day I was so pleased for my friend. A funny thing that when my friend was in Europe she was in the same area and did not know that is where they all came from. It was lucky because Graces daughter was there and she said do you know so and so she is researching this part of family and gave her a address. She also took forms to send to other family members. We also saw another relative from the other side and they swopped information, plus they were going on a trip up to the Northern territory. My friend and her husband had done a trip around Australia and was able to show them photos and give them places to see and what to avoid with their vehicle. Also we fitted in a visit to a friend of ours who was in Kalgoorlie/Boulder with us years ago and we kept in touch. It was lovely because the Mandurah friends mother who is 82 was over for a visit . We saw the Mandurah friends granddaughter who was a month old I had already sent a present but my friend bought hers with her to give. So we drove round to see new baby had a cuddle. I wish I had taken my camera because there was greatgrandmother,grandmother,mother,and baby Abby-Rose. My Mandurah friends two sons are 34 and 28 I think she was wondering if she was going to be a grandmother because she had her children late. Now I read this and remember how rushed it was there were others to visit but not enough time. It was a fantastic day we enjoyed speaking to people we had not seen for ages had laughs. I took some wine for the old lady to have with her dinner she was very pleased with that. Sorry this is the longest I have ever posted on the net which has not been geneology. If I have waffled on to long forgive me. I just feel good today. Kindest regards Pam

Hello all, Well Susan is home now, they said she could come home on Tuesday but allowed her out on Monday evening as my daughter in law was collecting her and wouldn't have been able to get there until Tuesday evening. Still on antibiotics but she is looking so much better and enjoying the respite from her other treatment. That will start again next week and though not looking forward to it, should be finished by September so not long to go now. Sylvia, sorry to hear of your problem and I do hope it proves to be as you and your specialist believe and soon cleared up. I don't fall asleep in the car - just as well as I am driving it!!!! but I do find myself dropping off in the chair if I sit down for a while. I often sit to watch a TV programme and realise I have dozed off and missed it all. June, any luck with your house-hunting? Odd isn't it that when you are not looking you usually see lots for sale that would be suitable but once you actively start searching there seems to be nothing at all. I hope you find something soon. Brenda, have you done anything that could have caused that pain - like lifting or moving something heavy? My favourite trick is to move the furniture around tending to forget that I'm a bit older now and shouldn't do it. I hope it gets better soon. Fred, Marly, Sylvia & Norman and everyone else (sorry I'm not sure I can remember all your names), I hope you are all keeping well and Marly hope your daughter soon recovers. The novelty of a plaster cast would soon wear off once the itching starts - and you can never quite reach the spot!! Thank goodness there are some careful and caring drivers around. Goodnight all, sleep well God bless Love Kathleen

Hi all, Well a showery day but rather muggy. Had to go to the hospital today, and I more or less knew the verdict before he told me. I have a skin cancer. I don't think, and he (the skin specialist) doesn't either, that it is too bad. Anyway I have had it months so will be nice to have it taken away. This will be on the 18th July. I'm afraid my husband looked quite shocked when I told him it was cancer. It is now six years since I had womb cancer and all the radiotherapy, but I assured him this is nothing. After that we went into Utrecht to the retail shop and stocked up with a lot of necessities. I fell asleep in the car coming back. I seem to do this a lot these days! I was on the computer and Johan was waiting for his dinner, and because of his diabetes he told me had to eat something. Well I had some leftovers from yesterday, so hurrah for modern technology - the good old microwave! Have a nice evening everybody and see you all tomorrow. Sylvia xxx

Hello again everyone.I hope you are all well. Norman has got 'flu now so he is being a real pain. Thank you Fred for the recipes, sorry I haven't replied before. I haven't tried any of them yet, but I will do as soon as I have time. We have had the coldest day of the year here today and it is going to be even colder tonight, probably minus 1C. Actually I quite like it as it gives me a chance to wear a coat, something I haven't done over here very often. I won't have my day off tomorrow, as Norman is not well enough to go out on the bus, as he usually does on Thursdays, and I shall miss it. June, We have had Steak Pie for tea tonight, homemade, with mashed potatoes, peas and carrot and swede mash. For dessert we had Treacle pudding and custard. How does that sound? Well, I must off here now, so will see you all soon. Take care and love to you all from Sylvia in Perth WA XXX

I'm glad to hear that she is okay Marly ,as you say ,thank god for the carful drivers ,one of the other sort of muppets ,and the outcome would have been different ,it's a pity the police can't visit him and thank him for being so responsible for his actions. Fred.PtfT&A&G&G&S.

Hi everyone, Sue, These governments make me laugh, I'm sure they try to persuade you to use one commodity then another just to let you know they are there. It must costs millions each time to promote a product, then get everyone (nearly) to change over. Here in England, we have a change of county boundaries every few years, this is supposed to save money but in fact it costs thousands. Well I'll get off my soapbox now. Take care. June xx

Hi All I havent been on here for a couple of days as I have been busy hunting for those elusive rellies. I see where some are getting rain, and some more than others. We have not had a lot of rain in the past week or so. But the governments and councils are at loggerheads at the moment in regards to our water levels in the dams and possible power shortages if we dont get rain. It sound so silly as the last couple of years there has been a big push to get people to change from wood heaters to electric heating, due to the bad air quality we have in my area due to woodsmoke. Now that quite a few people have taken up the incentive that the government offered and put electric heating in, we are now looking at a shortage in power due to lack of rain and the dams only being about 23% full, much lower and they wont be able to run the power stations which generate the power we need. The councils have been warning us for the last 12 months or so that this may happen if we dont get some good rains but no one was listening until now. Oh well I've bored you enough for now I will go and do some more hunting. One last thing if anyone has too much rain, try and send some my way, otherwise I may have to start rugging up in blankets and possibly limiting my time on here if we are rationed with our power :-((

Hi everyone, This morning I thought we were in for a lovely sunny day but before lunchtime it started to rain. Fortuneately the washing was dry enough to iron. I have been looking on another website, The Times Archives, I have been trying to find out why my grandfather changed his name but there was one person named but unfortunately it wasn't him. I also took my PC round to my grandson's friend for him to look at it, so here's hoping it will soon be working, then I will have to get the laptop working too. Fred, I agree with your remarks about Norton, I keep hearing more and more people moan about them. I'm sorry to hear about your car, something similar happened to us once, the mechanic had forgotten to replace the cap and we lost all the oil and the timing chain was ruined. Sylvia, Oz, Your shepherds pie, pumpkin etc sounds very tempting, if I lived nearer, I would be calling in. Brenda, I'm glad you are feeling better, our doctor's appointment system has changed too, if you want an appointment for that day you have to ring at 8 a.m. and your cant book appointments for the next day. Sylvia v O, You seem to be having very similar weather to us at the moment. Where has summer gone? Congratulations to your grandson, I look forward to seeing him on TV. John, you are having the cold rain too and next they will say we are short of water. I still haven't looked for Sudoku, I dont know where the time goes. Jacqui, Sounds like the young men are having the time of their life, I bet they feel like royalty. Well. my daughter is just pouring a drink so I think I will join her. See you all tomorrow, June xx

Where are you all - Jude, June, Brenda, Kathleen, Fred and uncle Tom Cobbly and all. I am so happy today as my grandson telephoned me to tell me he has passed his examinations. He had to re-sit the examinations yesterday. He had only failed theory, practical was ok. He only has to go to school once a week next year and the rest of the days allowed to work in this prestigious restaurant near Schiphol airport. They are apparently pleased with him there and he has been doing two days a week apprenticeship there. They are so happy with him that he could work 7 days a week if he wanted. Who knows he maybe a new Jamie Oliver, or one of those cooks on tele! The weather has been very wet and windy today, but we did see the sun come through late this afternoon. I've spent the day tidying up paperwork and making my e-mail address book up to date - very necessary! See you all tomorrow Sylvia xxx

Morning all,was not coming on here till later but have to email a friend,so will be bavck later tonight.Brenda

Evening All Well this evening my husband took the boys crabbing....pouring with rain and pitch black but that's how it has to be!! They didn't get too dirty and managed a good haul of Crabs.....my husband will make a crab and callaloo (like spinach) soup. They had a wonderful time and were accompanied by 2 other local guys so they are really mixing with the locals....not your usual hotel type holiday. Yesterday we went to Concorde Falls and they were leaping of the rocks into the pool and having wonderful fun....including my husband who still thinks he is 18!!!! I had a swim too....ice cold but lovely and refreshing!! So Fred Caribbean Chicken....paw paw and mango....I have these growing in my garden...the mango is small at the moment but is bearing fruit as is the Lime....the manderin and orange have not fruited yet but hopefully will by next year. Also have grapefruit and pomegranite trees but again still young. Did you know that Paw Paw has more vitamins than any other fruit....it is loaded with them!!!! Well that's all for now folks must get to bed!! Jacquie xxx

Hello everybody Cold, rain and wind - just what one expects in winter. Brenda I was looking around the 'net the other day and found an on-screen version of sudoku to play and yes I have had a go. One thing about this it is user friendly as once numbers are placed there is a 'how am I doing' button' that will tell if the numbers are in the right place. You can find this at www/websudoku(.)com/ (remember to leave out brackets). I've been also looking at the GR's sister site Connections. John

Hi all, Well I couldn't get out of my bed this morning. Johan had put a glass of tea by the bed and I hadn't seen it, nor had I heard him. He then had a shower and got the breakfast ready and still no sign of me, so he came and pinched my toes which were hanging out of the end of the bed. Eventually I got out of bed and had breakfast and then made some bread again. I tidied up the sitting room and put some washing in the machine and that was all. Annemie came down for a chat this afternoon. I do feel so lazy, but I suppose we all have days like these now and again. It came over so dark here now and again and buckets of water were falling from the sky. I'm glad we live in a flat, then I cannot get my toes wet! I do feel sorry for those poor holidaymakers who are camping in a tent. They must be feeling very cold. See you all again tomorrow Sylvia xxx

afternoon all,not on work till 4pm and at the library just round the corner so I can walk. Not feeling too bad today ,thank you all for your advise and concern,the pain moved to the side and I am now wondering if I pulled a muscle ? ,it did keep me awake alot during Friday and Saturdau night ,but is easing of . We used to have a walk in surgery ,you took a number and sat and waited,at the doctors,but found out today that they have joined the appointment only system,so I will need at least a weeks notice that I am going to need an appointment.all the talk of BBQ and recipes is making my ,mouth water!!! We had a great time at the one we went to but I didn't have half of what was on offer. Have to catch up on my other emails etc so speak to you tomorrow,Take care Brenda