General Chat

Good Afternoon everyone,it is wet,windy and dreary here today,not in work so arranged to go shopping with my friends but in the end only one could make it. We had a nice cup of tea in M&S, first then my friend returned something for her sister ,I had a wander round and treated myself to some navy cotton trousers for work ,and a three quarter sleeved black cotton top to wear with some black pants I got the other week in the sale,.It will be ok when we go to Fuerteventura in March as well. Di we have been to Tennerife twice a year for about six years now as we like it so much.We got a really good deal on this holiday in March,so thats why we are going there. We had a bite to eat in a new eatery which was really nice ,scrambled eggs ,mushroom and tomato.with toasted ciabata bread.Smashing. Was looking for a new bag for work as well but the cheap ones looked cheap and the good ones too dear . Have been sleeping ok for a night or two but still have a the odd sleepless night,don't get on here much when not sleeping too cold in here. Going to check out google earth ,see if I can find our house ,seems to be really the in thing. Take care Brenda

Hi all, Now, it is my turn for the pc as Johan has been 'hugging' it the whole day, apart from an hour when he had to go and have his blood tested by the diabetic nurse. I have been busy making a big pan of tomatoe and fresh vegetable soup for lunch tomorrow, which I will serve with fresh bread rolls, filled with ham and cheese. I have made a huge pan of Nasi Goreng, an Indonesian dish made up of rice, veg. chicken or pork etc. and another pan with Babi Panyang and Chicken Curry. I don't know who is staying for dinner but I do know for certain an extra 4. That is the trouble with birthdays here in the Netherlands, they come for coffee and cake in the morning, some stay for lunch, some stay on for dinner. I never know how many are coming, I do know my sister and law and husband from Almelo are not coming as he phoned this morning to say he is developing the flu and will stay at home. I managed to finish all this by early afternoon, even washing the kitchen floor afterwards and put all the dishes in the dishwasher. This afternoon I have been having a little sleep. The weather is still the same here it is so cold and dark and miserable. Oh for the sunshine! I have read all your letters but cannot reply to all of them. So lovely to have June and Di back again and to see Brenda adding more often. Fred is always up to his larks, but girls he is harmless! Have a nice evening, don't know whether I'll have time tomorrow. See you, Sylvia xxx

Hello everyone,came on here agas ago and instead of finding this thread first i went and read some others,leaving me hardly any time to add on here. Hope you have a good birthday Sylvia,and everyone enjoys what you have made,it all sounds wonderful. Working later today 4pm and have ironing and a few other jobs to do before I go,don't want to have to do anything when i get home at 8.30pm except have my tea and then watch' Who do you think you are'. See you all tomorrow,Brenda

Hi everyone, Its lovely and sunny here, I have hung some washing outside. My daughter was in court yesterday regarding her car crash in 2003, thank goodness the judge decided that the other driver was 100% to blame, the trouble is she will have to live with her injury, he got off with no injuries at all. Never mind at least now she can get on with her life. Sylvia, You make me so hungry, you are such a good cook. Brenda, I get easily sidetracked like that, I find I spend far too much time on the boards. Love to everyoneelse. June xx

Hi everybody, Yes, I had a lovely birthday and am taking it easy today. I have enough food left over so won't have to cook. Johan and I took down the last of the Xmas decorations today so it really looks bare. Will have to wait until Easter before decorating for Easter. A very miserable looking day outside with mist. Glad I'm not going out. See you tomorrow Sylvia xxx

Hi Everyone, Just a quick drop-in to say hi and hope you're all okay. Glad to hear that your birthday went off well Sylvia and hope that you had a nice restful day today. I've been busy putting in a little time on my family tree, and yesterday thought I'd found a connection to my Wisconsin/Utah Jones, in fact he had several of the correct names listed, so I emailed and he gave me permission to view his tree, and have just spent an hour trying to find them to no avail. Maybe I'm getting a bit thick in my old age! Anyway I've emailed again, and asked him to specify for me where the link is. Also been knitting like crazy, to finish off a pale blue sweater for spring. I've been ordering my yarn on the internet, mainly from uk and now have 3 lots waiting to be made up. I'll have to stop logging in to the yarn websites or I'll break the bank!! The latest lot, Revenue Canada caught me out and I had to pay duty of $10, which I think has wiped out the savings I was getting by ordering from uk, rotten so and so's. Anyway, can't complain, I saved $60 when buying my first lot, as the exchange rate is so good that way. This last lot is Sirdar Foxy and it's a real fun yarn, looks like fur. I'm going to make 2 sets of hat and scarfs, in silver fox and sable. Anyway, must get on. I have 6 emails to answer, a bathroom to clean, and then it'll be tea time. It's true isn't it, woman's work is never done, says she raising hand to fevered brow!!! lol Take care all. Love, Di.xxx

This is my first stop tonight ,but still haven't got much time to put a full message on, Sylvia Glad you had a good birthday ,and have been able to rest afterwards. June,hope you are getting straighter,some friends of mine where I used to work had a similar experience after a car accident,it was not their fault and was proven ,but even now she has bad back problems steming from the accident.Her husband did not have any broken bones or anything,but he suffered a lot of stress due to the pro longed court case.So I do hope your daughter does get on with her life now. Di ,was nearly giving all my knitting stuff away last year,but had a rethink as there were some pregnancies in the family and Iwas going to do a few baby things.LOL I don't think I will be doing anything now as my hands can be painfull sometimes. Working all day tomorrow then out with friends for a birthday,one of my friends is 71 tomorrow and has asked us round for supper.She is a brilliant cook and a wonderful hostess.It's my turn to drive,so I will not be drinking,which is just as well as I am working on Saturday as well. See you all Saturday,Take care ,Brenda

Hi everybody, Well I had my trusty help in today and she cleaned the windows in the sitting room, did the bathroom and toilet and kitchen and vacuumed the whole flat. Ah, getting back to normality! I now need to tidy up my hobby room where everything gets 'dumped' when we don't know what to do with it at that moment. Lots of magazines to be read????? I am itching to get on with some cross stitching work as I have so many pieces, received over Xmas and my birthday. Actually have started a small scissors case, but not very far yet. Must answer some 'thank you' letters first. My hairdresser came and cut my hair today and was thrilled with the card I had made for her. It was for a new grandma/grandpa couple. I used pictures which I had downloaded from the computer, and must look for some more as these were so nice. Any body superstitious? It's Friday the 13th today. See you all tomorrow Sylvia xxx

Fred knows it's Friday the thirteenth alright,huh,so much for staying indoors all day. Liz said she wanted soup for tea,and fred says ,no way am i taking the car out today and we have no bread. Out comes the bread maker ,and i make up a nice wholemeal mix,put it in ,shut the lid,make sure the switch on the back is in the on position,and hear beeeeep,champion. Off fred trots ,happily to do the housework ,and then come on the puter.,bliss ,there is no need to check the bread at all,it's all automated. Come four oclock half an hour before the machine has finished,i go out back to light the greenhouse heater and shut the door behind me firmly.come back in and the wind catches the door and slams it. Disaster,fred runs to his beloved loaf ,in time to see it start to deflate a bit like a leaky balloon.so it came out at the end with a top like a badly formed lancashire cap. It tastes lovely but looks hideous so i will have to take care with the doors in this cold weather. I got the boat windows done anyway,and am now going to have a long soak in the bath to get rid of the kinks in the back,lol.see ya all later peeps.take care all.Fred.PtfA&G&G&S.

Cooooeeee - hope everyone is well,been trying to read all the messages since the lst Jan - they're is so much going on. l'm really looking forward to the spring - don't like this cold weather, l tend to stay in and not get up very early!!! l'm still trying to keep busy with my mosaics, making a matchstick gardener at present, if its worth showing anyone l'll put it on gc photo's - my intention is to put it in the garden, or my daughters, we'll see-lol The animals are the same - Mad dog madoc is still ruling the roost here, he's also becoming quite helpful with the shopping - when we arrive home we let him outside and he waits by the boot of the car until we give him something to bring in then he's back for more,usually cereal packets - and from the local shop when we walked up there the other day - he looks so cute,no damage to the boxes either and he gets a reward :o)))) The only thing now is he keeps bringing things to us like his bowl (constantly) or a slipper and expects a treat for it - crafty thing, he learns to quickly:o)) Fat cat teases Madoc, invites him to play then smacks him round the face!!! Madoc's not sure how to handle that so just chases him, nothing nasty. Daniel & Zoe have their own house now, its lovely, we spent christmas there, they are so chuffed with it:o) Daughter and her partner are very happy. Oh yeh big shock ..............l started going to the gym last week, so far so good.Will let you know how that goes. Ok thats it,take care everyone. Will pop in again sometime:o)) jude xx

Hi everyone, Sorry I have been missing again, I have been so tired, my daughters dog usually sleeps in her basket in my bedroom and this last 3 nights she has been waking me very early. so last night I said it was someone else's turn to have her. I will take her to the vets later today, the trouble is she is 15 years old and totally deaf now, so it must be a lonely life for her.although she enjoys playing with Beckham. Most of the boxes have been unpacked now, yesterday I decided to get rid of a lot of my paper records, I have the notes on my PC and regularly transfer it onto CD. I was going through some of the paper records making sure I had everything on the PC, of course some of it is 3/4 years old and sites such as Ancestry have come on a lot since then. It took me a lot longer than I had expected, I was able to add quite a lot of information. I still have a lot of files to go through. Then I came onto this site and found a message from someone who's Grandmother's sister married my Grandmother's brother. I can vaguely remember him and I remember his son quite well, so I am hoping to gain more information from there. Jude, Its lovely to see you again, how did you get into this mosaics hobby, did you have any books? I remember you making a bird bath but I cant remember what started you off. Its lovely to hear about Madoc and Fat cat again. What a good day it was when you and Madoc met up. Well its time to get my granddaughter up for work, so I will say bye for today and see you tomorrow. Have a good weekend everyone. June xx .

Hi everyone. Lots to read again! My, you have all been so busy. It is still very hot here - we have had the fan on all afternoon. We are now considering having a Heat Pump/Air conditioning unit fitted. Has anyone on the thread got one or knows of anyone with one? We have had positive comments here. Will have to get quotes etc. Pip isn't one to make hasty decisions!! Since having part of his lung removed he gets very breathless and apparantly these units are good for breathing problems. This humid heat is a problem for him - what would we do without inhalers?!! Got the garden up together yesterday - it was a bit messy!! This afternoon we took a ride to the beach - it was beautiful. Only 10 mins. away. We have one closer - 10 mins. walk - but we prefer Mount Maunganui. We get a lot of cruise ships in Mt. Maunganui now. Clipper Odyssey was in today. The shops do well when the boats are in! Friends called in yesterday for morning tea - able to get rid of the remaining mince pies!! Our runner beans have gone mad - have frozen loads and given loads away. Good job we like them! New potatoes are just about ready too. Must go again - Goodnight/Goodaye Mavis NZ

Hi everybody, Nice to see old friends again. Of course you're tired June, moving takes a lot out of you - just the thought of moving again makes me sleepy. Anyway, take it easy. Fat Cat and Madoc are still playing games so I read. They don't seem to get tired, do they? I have made a couple of loaves of bread today Fred. Yes, isn't it wonderful to have all the hard work taken out of breadmaking? I've also run a couple of washing machines as Monday I have to go to the hospital and Wednesday I go away to my daughters until Saturday, which only leaves me Tuesday, but like to leave things shipshape. It is still so cold here, that I could easily hibernate. I've been throwing out some rubbish today June. What a lot of rubbish I seem to collect. Everything gets dumped into my hobby room and now I have to tidy it up or I cannot move. Have a nice evening everybody Sylvia xxx

Sorry I have been 'missing again' am full of a cold and this room has a fault with the radiator,(think it needs bleeding)but i can not find the radiator key. My son had just finshed on here when i was going to the kitchen to make a drink .He is making th e drink while I put my message on. So good to see all the messages ,sorrry i am not able to reply properly ,hopefully i will be ok in a day or two take care ,Brenda

Hi all, Hope you can get your radiator sorted out Brenda. There is nothing worse than being cold. Had some bad news today. My ex son in law's nephew died in a fire at his home, 11 years of age. The television flamed up somehow and he was upstairs. His mother was telling him to try and get on the roof, but he couldn't. His father, a policeman, heard that a house had a fire and then realised it was his own,. When he got home they were trying to revive his son, but too late. The mother managed to save the other two children. The whole family are in mourning. My daughter wanted to go to the funeral, but we're trying to make her stay at home. She hasn't seen any of the family since she left Jan, her husband. Even my granddaughter doesn't want her mother there. The news was on television and in the national newspapers. My good friend of many years had her 80th birthday in November last but she has been flitting backwards and forwards to Spain that we've not had the chance to visit her. She has also had her son and two grandchildren over from New Zealand and took them to Spain also. She phoned today that she wanted to take us out for a meal, but we've decided now that she will cook us mussels at home then Johan can drink and we will go by taxi. It's more comfortable at home anyway. Tomorrow I have to go to the hospital for an echo of my heart and then phone the cardiologist on Wednesday for the result. Not much more news. Have a nice evening.Sylvia xxx

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

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 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 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

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