General Chat

Hi. No work at home today. Spent the day with 4 girls friends. We collected Sally from the Hospital where she is having Radiotherapy after breast removal and took her out for lunch., Went to a very smart restaurant - newly opened and had great laughter. Went back to the Cancer Lodge where she will be staying for 6 weeks altogether for her treatment. Lovely room, lovely facilities, library, snooker room etc. etc. Great meals. Beautiful gardens and an enormous lake just across the road with a little cafe for a cuppa. Lots of ducks and swans. She is very happy there but of course can't wait to finish the treatment and get back home. She feels fine at the moment but is quite expecting to feel tired etc soon. Came home about tea time and Pip was about to go out to his Lodge Meeting so I had a nice peaceful evening on my own with a glass of wine and a coffee. Tomorrow is stay at home day. Still have some plants to put in. So will get up early and get cracking. That's the plan anyway! I am getting lovely emails from my brother David in the UK. He is doing well - using a computer for the first time and he is over 80. He has had three strokes but is managing to use the key board quite well. He is a determined person. I'm off to bed now. Mavis NZ Must go now and make a couple of birthday cards.

nudge

Hello Everyone,a lovelly lot of messages to read ,I was working this morning and went shopping in the afternoon,at the supermarket i kept bumping into lots of people I know,some i see all the time around and about ,others not so often,it was nice to see them but took twice as long to get the shopping done. Hope your helps hasn't been affected with the weather in her home country sylvia.I have this picture in my mind of you sitting in your chair on your balcony ,enjoying the weather. Fred you must have a big garden or are brillianrt at planning and planting to have so much in your garden. Mavis ,what a lovelly thing to do with your friend,I'm so glad you all had a nice time.. I am off to Grasmere in the Lakes on Thursday ,only been to Bowness on windermere,but really loved it so hope this is as nice. Take care <brenda

Hi Brenda, Sylvia, Mavis, Fred, June, and Kathleen, The sun is shining and it's a little warmer today. It hasn't been as warm as it usually is in May, but doubtless in a few weeks time we'll all be saying it's too hot! I went outside today and took a few pictures of my garden, so if anyone would like to see them let me have your email address. I've now had my digital for 2 years, maybe 3; can't remember. Whatever, I realised I know next to nothing about it's features, and I think I've been using the wrong settings for different pics, with inferior results. Today I set it for landscapes, and got much better results, so I must read the little manual. I also bought myself abook on digital photography, which I haven't yet read. So much to do, and so many things I want to do and so little time; I need a 48 hour day!! Have been sitting out in the sun with John the past few days , in late afternnon, with tea and cookies, and it's so beautifuuly quiet and relaxing out there, with the sun shining on the pond, flowers everywhere, and the scent of lilac in the air. As you said Sylvia, sheer bliss! Hope you put some sunscreen on though! John usually sits in the sun until he looks like a boiled lobster, but can't take it this year. So we just have a quiet half hour or so when the afternoon sun is behind us and behind the lilacs. Hope you have a lovely break in the Lake District Brenda; a chance to unwind from work, and do some hiking, or just relaxing. And I hope you have some good weather too. How is your garden coming along June? I guess it'll be hard work for a few years till you get it the way you want it. We had almost all grass out back, and we kept adding more flower beds. John would lift the sod, and I would then take over, remove all the roots and cultivate it. There were huge roots everywhere from the big old catalpa tree we had to remove, plus much of the Tsawwassen area was covered in bush and fir trees until about 50 years ago. In fact at the side of the house where we have lawn (moss), we could soon grow a forest if we didn't cut the grass, and with it all the little saplings that crop up between cuts. Until just before we came to Canada, the only way to get to Richmond and Vancouver from Tis Was was by ferry across the south arm of the Fraser River, until they put in the tunnel just before 1961. Most people only had summer cottages down here at that time. Mavis that sounds like a wonderful way to be treated while undergoing chemo etc after surgery, knowing that there are trianed people around at all times knowing what you may be going through and being there to help. It sounds as though you don't have the same troubles with your medical system that we have here at times, and I gather, also in England. Today John is in the workshop making a scratching post for Pan, who has discovered that our new area rug in the living room is great for scratching on, and is starting to pull out threads. I did buy a product called Critter Ridder, which the clerk in the store recommended as safe for pets, but after reading the directions,(eg, wear gloves, wash thoroughly after use, do not use where children play etc), I decided not to use it. Instead I've peppered the carpet for now, and bought some catnip to spray on the scratching post and hopefully that will work. By the way he sniffed all over the carpet, and didn't sneeze once, but he also didn't scratch! Yesterday the car almost burst into flames, when a part under the hood melted and filled the garage with smoke. We noticed a funny smell while we were out, but didn't realise it was our problem until we arrived home. Steve picked up the spare part for us and it's now all fixed, but I feel kind of leery now of driving alone! John must be busy organising his new house, unpacking and arranging furniture, and so on. Hope everything is going well for you, John. Fred, what is your secret? I know I do a lot too, and so does Sylvia, but you seem to do even more and never seem to get tired. Next thing you'll be running in marathons, and swimming the English channel in your spare time!! Well, I'd better get on with some sewing. I'm going to take apart the shoulders and armhole seams of a jacket made in the days of oversized shoulder pads, which I've hardly worn, and which apart from the pads I like the style of. I'm hoping it will work, otherwise I shall roll it in a ball and stuff it in the garbage can. So for now, adieu, and will see you again soon. Take care all. Love, DI.xxx

Hi everybody, As I only 'nudged' yesterday, thought I'd better show my 'face'. My Surinam help says the flooding isn't affecting her family at the moment, but they are worried about dykes breaking. Well it has been another wonderful warm day again here and I've spent some time lying in my chair - even fell asleep! I went up to see my neighbour Annemie this morning and gave her her belated birthday present which I had ordered and has only just arrived. I also crotcheted in white and purple a cover for a clothes hanger and hung a lavender satchet on. She was delighted with this as she does no handwork herself at all. I am not going to the market tomorrow as Johan and I have to go to the health centre with urine samples and they will take some blood. No problems, just for diabetes control. This is done once a year. It is our Mothers Day on Sunday, but one of my daughters is coming on Saturday and picking up Linda our granddaughter so that Linda can be with her mother on Mothers Day. My other daughter I presume will come on Sunday, and my son still not heard of since long before Xmas, Anyway, he never did come on Mothers Day or birthdays, didn't believe in it. Now have a nice evening everyone. Sylvia xxx

Hi everyone Hasn't time flown since I was last on GR. Easter was a great time and that signalled that our days in Glenfield were drawing to a close as on 30th April we had morning tea at the Army (Sallies) followed by an emotional farewell then Gayle and I had a family lunch with our son Craig. Then on 1st the removal company loaded the crate to take our furniture to New Plymouth which was delivered to our new home on Wednesday once we got the keys. The three of us unpacked and had the lounge arranged temporarily until we could decide where the likes of TV and stereo should be, this was finally adjusted before Craig returned to work in Auckland. We had to hang new curtains in the bedrooms to make it darker as there are street lights and pedestrian lights right outside the bedrooms. We also bought some new light fittings and shades and put those in place. That was the first two days. One thing that was lacking was power sockets in some of the rooms, they were in the wrong places meaning extension cords running around the room which was quite a distraction so we had an electrician installed around eight new outlets, he also put in the phone point so I could use the internet in the computer room. All in all it has been very busy. Sky connection was reinstalled BUT we have a faulty decoder so we are waiting for that to be replaced. One major expense is yet to happen and that's in the bathroom which is currently a pinkish colour. We are replacing the shower over the bath with a step-in shower and a new vanity. We look out the front of our home and there is the mountain in all its splendour - snow comes and goes. John in NZ

Hello everyone,had a very nice day in Grasmere,it was so peaceful,but it is early season yet ,can be really busy in July /august.did not get out to walk,had no time really,got there at 11.45 ,had lunch at 12.15 finally finished about 1.45 ,our table was the one they didn,t put any cups on so we ahd to wait when it came to having tea/coffe,by the time we got the cups ,the coffe was almost cold..They also didn,t put any water jugs on our table,glasses yes,water no.Then we got some bread but not enougth butter pats, so all in all we did not have good service.The meal it'self was really good,but service could definately be improved. The weather was great,and the views slendid,but we just had time to walk througth the village, have a drink and walk back through the village and look at he schoolhouse Wordsworth taught in,and the church and grave yard.then back to the coach.at 5pm.Been looking at wedding hats with my sister today and out for a chinese meal with friends tonight,going to ee Johns mother and step father tomorrow over in Cleveleys,will be back Sunday. John hope you settle in your new home,and good health ,and good fortune have moved in with you. Di ,what a lovelly long message,your little part of canada sounds ideal.I would be a bit causous as well about the car now.Years ago my best friends car just burst into flames at a petrol station,,she had just got out to fill it up and hadn't even taken the hose from the pump thank goodness.Her daughter was only 8 at the time and sat in the back she was too frightend to get out herself and luckily an of duty fireman was passing in his car ,saw the flames and stopped,he got her ot unharmed.As you can guess the car was a right off. Sylvia,have a good mothers day ,however you spend it and who ever you are with. Hope Fred,Mavis and June are looking in and hope you all have a good weekeend. brenda

Hi John,it's nice to see you again ,sounds as thoough you are going to be busy for a while getting the new home sorted to your satisfaction,but don't stay away so long this time please lol.Brenda you sound as though you enjoyed the day at the lakes,even if the food service was poor,i hope you did the right thing and called the manager over. Poor old Fred will be around all weekend after getting hit in the back by a badly placed display in aldi's on thursday. I say badly placed but in reality the bits of garden furniture ,free standing should not have been there at all,and just fell over on me as i was looking at the bread over the other side of the isle pushing me forward into the side of my trolley which stopped me going onto the floor. The two parcels hit me quite hard in the small of my back snapping me forwards and i was in some pain straight after the impact,but the following day i was so bad that the doctor suggested going to the hospital for a check,it turns out there is no damage to the bones but there is a fair amount of damage to the muscle structure in the back and neck. I am left now being unable to do the housework,the garden ,or drive the car to take the wife shopping for who knows how long.and i ain't a happy bunny.lol. I have sent an e mail to aldi's head office ,asking them to get in touch with any comments they may have as regards breaching health and safety regulations [i.e ,unsafe displays in a place that is forbidden],a main isle,and said i would wait until i heard from them before deciding wether to start litigation proceedings or not. At the moment i can't bend my spine a lot due to the pain ,but worse i can't turn my head ,so driving is unsafe.The hospital say this could last a month or more so it looks like i will be house bound for a while,sorry folks ,but it looks like you will all be getting bugged a lot for a while hee hee,weeeeell ,i aint going to be able to do a lot for a while exept pound these keys. It looks like a dull weekend weather wise,but it may clear up a little later ,i won't complain though because the new transplants could do with some fresh water to bed them in,i'm gonna be lost for a while now ,no gardening and so much to go out,i think i will have to send out an s.o.s. to the eldest son,these tatties have to go in. The other bit's and pieces won't be as bad ,beetroot and the like ,Liz can manage them if she uses the kneeler and bulb planter,i will just have to get the crane out to get her up again, hee hee,and of course she wil have to take her time . I ordered the two new water butts on line from wilkingsons online £40 including delivery which i thought okay,they have a capacity of 210 litres a butt which is a lot of rainwater ,and promised one to Liz for her greenhouse plants. I'm glad i got the last of the summer bulbs in this last week or i wouldhave landed up sitting in a chair at the side of the garden with a caterpault [picture a decrepid old geezer firing bulbs across the garden] lol if you happen to be driving through newcastle ,stop and say hallo cause there is no one else daft enough to be doing it. Hope eveyone has a nice weekend and has a chance to chill out see ya later.Fred.

Hi everybody, Well I had a free day from the computer yesterday as I had been working in the kitchen most of the day. I first went to the Health Centre to give blood and urine for diabetes control. We have to do this once a year. I then made three loaves of bread and a sponge cake; I juiced two litres of oranges and cut up a pineapple. I also did some washing and ironing. With this and getting the dinner, I had had enough. Poor old Fred, let us know how much compensation you receive from Aldis. You must tell them that you cannot do anything in the house and have had to take on a paid help temporarily. Nice to see you back John, and Di always nice to read your comments and tales. Am expecting my daughter soon so will have to stop and do something. Don't know whether I'll have time tomorrow as it is Mothers Day, although should have time in the evening. Have a nice day everyone. The weather has now changed here, still dry but overcast. Sylvia xxx

nudge

Hiya'Sylvia,looks like you and me again lol,everyone must either be out clearing the drives and garden or away for the weekend.lol. I have been watching my wildlife in the garden this morning ,coming down after a bad night to see Snuffles go round the back of the greenhouse,and catching my blackbird trying out a new trick with the fatballs. He was taking off straight up like a helicopter and stabbing his beak into th bottom of the fatball,but he is a heavy bird for that sort of flight and by the time he has done this three times ,is too tired to do it again for a while. He has learned a new way i noticed this morning though,landing on the greenhouse first,then flying slowly until he reaches the feeder and then stabbing into the feeder as he goes past,he has done this five times on the trot so it must be less tiring . Who says birds are thick ,this one has thought it out ,so the person that coined the saying bird brain was way off the mark. I will come down earlier tomorrow morning with the camera and try to catch both of them in the act lol. The weather looked promising this morning first thing but is now getting cloudier by the minute ,so any idea of lighting the coals will have to wait,it's dinner indoors today. I will be around on the net most of the day ,bred ouit of my skull,so much to do out back still but unable for the time being to get anything done. See you later peeps,have a nice day ,and take care.Fred.

Hello from downunder. Sorry to have been away so long - busy days again. Fred, so sorry you have hurt your back - bet you are really fed up. You are normally so active. Nothing worse than painful back. Pip and I had a birthday yesterday - we are both the same day. Pip was 78 and I was 72. We still feel pretty 'young'. My daughter took me to a 'ladies breakfast' at her local Church on Saturday. Had a great breakfast - fresh fruit salad and yoghurt topped with blueberries, pancakes, banana and maple syrup and then danish pastries with fresh apricots. Followed by coffee. Had a dance display by a young girl of 16, really talented. Songs by two young girls and then a lady talking of some of her experiences during her life. Really sad but a happy ending. Beautiful flowers arrived via inta flora from my friend in Hampshire, UK. Tomorrow we will be at our Probus Meeting followed by lunch in Mount Maunganui. Our friend Blair is improving slowly. Came for morning tea on Friday. Must go now, regards to everyone. Mavis NZ

Hello All,Fred,hope you are not in much pain now and will be sorting Aldi out,just try and relax,or Tranquilo is the word in our house.!!!! We told the organiser of the trip and about the poor service and it looks like they will not be going there again,We think they use the hotel to train foreign catering students,as none serving were british. Went to Cleveleys to visit Johns mother weather very grey and wet ,like today,but we had some great fish and chips!!! Glad you had a good day for your birthday Mavis and that Blair is improving slowly. Hope you are enoying Mothers day Sylvia,. Just ging to put a casserole on for tea and then go to see my dad,.Hope to see you tomorrow,,but working late again. Brenda

Hope this works as we seemed to have dropped off page fifteen,had to go via my threads thing to find it,hope it comes back. Just shows how quick things disaper.Where are you all. ,Brenda

Hello peeps back again ,and feeling a lot better this morning ,it looks as though i may have been lucky in that the shock of being smacked in the back was mainly pulled muscles. I will therefore not be pursueing the matter any further m, but in view of not recieving an opology from Aldi ,i will report the accident to health and safety and they will be getting their arse burned good style. It annoys me in the fact that someone mentioned , it could easily been something heavier ,or it could have been a child,such carelessness on a floor open to the public is criminal. Sounds as though you and Pip had a good one Mavis,i hope i am as active those few yearson. The water butts arrived yesterday,and are now in position ,onr ouitside the greenhouse for Liz's plants ,and one by the shed out front awaiting connected to the other to collect rainwater for the flowers and beans out there. Sorry for not adding yesterday Brenda,i was so engrossed in the invasion of birds in the back garden after the bread ,nuts and other goodies that i forgot all about the puter lol. We had about thirty starlings descend on us along with sparrows and thrushes ,a real delight to watch ,with the comical strutting of the starlings and the cheek of the sparrows,oh ,and our wren came again,i think she must have eggs or chicks 'cause she dosn't come very often at the minute. Our Blackbird has his usual nest in the privet hedge out front and keeps flying round front and back gardens with bits of worm in it's' beak. so i have stopped the hedge trimming so he can feel secure in there,but he must be used to me because he makes no attempt to hide his fest from me,flying over my shoulder to get in there ,and come out again. He gets very aggresive with other big birds now though and if he sees another blackbird or thrush out back his head goes right down and he charges across the lawn to frighten them off. I am still trying to get a photo of the hedgehog ,whom i just missed again this morning ,but by hech he ain't half growing ,much bigger and he won't be able to get behind the greenhouse anymore,but i will forgive him because he is doing one heck of a job on the snails and whatever,and what he misses the thrushes get. Must be off now for a look around the boards ,see ya later.Fred.

Hello Fred,glad you haven't been injured too badly ,but they should have given you an apology at least. It could well have been heavier boxes or some one more infirm or a child as you have said.So I would report it as well . I remember some toilet rolls falling off a 'mountain' display in a shop once,one caught my leg ,I wasn't hurt at all but the shop got a chair and couldn;t do enougth ,,next day the mountain was gone. With two cats anda dog we don't get to see much featherry activity, We did have had a water butt ,which we had to move ,and it got damaged so we are thinking of getting another one. Have some ironing to do ,so see you all tomorrow.brenda

Hi everybody, Well yesterday had a lovely day out to the bulb fields in the north. Friends of ours came and picked us up in their Mercedes, went to their house for coffee and cake, then had lunch. After that we went for a drive along a specially set out route to see various models made from flower heads. The winner was a model church set up in somebody's front garden. There were all sorts of models and so nice to see. They have to work so hard and quick when making these models as the flower heads wilt if you don't work quickly, and there are hundreds of flowers which go into making the models. We then had dinner with our friends and they brought us back home. They said they will repeat this day out next year for us but a week earlier as most of the bulb fields had finished blooming. On Mothers Day Johan and I went for a drive round here, taking a flask of coffee and sandwiches with us. The children had been to us on the Saturday so I knew I would have nobody on Sunday to come and visit. Today I had a pedicure. I have a new pedicurist as my other one was not allowed to do diabetes patients feet and if I used this one I would get my money back from the health insurance. I have always paid my own pedicurist but now am able to claim it back.She was very good and didn't look at the clock to see if her time was up. She spent a lot of time with me. There seems to be more sparrows than I have seen for many years. I have four fat balls hanging in front of my windows and at one time there were four sparrows hanging on to them. I have lots of finches and blue tits also. I feed them well, but they do leave a hell of a mess for me to clear up - ungrateful creatures! Now my help comes tomorrow, so will have more time for myself. See you all tomorrow. Sylvia xxx

Hi all, What a quick changeover from a cool spring day yesterday to an extremely hot summer day today. Daughter Sue brought me a clematis Armandii for Mother's day, and I had no room for it, (also already have one.) Anyway I chopped up a very prickly bush, that had a nasty habit of grabbing at me every time I passed by, that I'd espaliered on the trellis, and a Queen E. climbing rose that has been taking up space on the same trellis and only ever produced one rose, ans Steve dug out the roots for me last night. So today I went to the nursery and bought myself a new Rosa Pascali as the old one was killed by frost in March, (don't tell John!!), and then I went outside in the stinking heat and planted Sue's clematis and the rose, with water pouring down my face and into my eyes, so I could hardly see what I was doing. Lovely to have the hot weather back though, isn't it? The garden is now growing like crazy! We had a lovely Mother's day-set up a table outside for 8 and I cooked a roast with all the trimmings, followed by a delicious Tiramisu Torte as it was Sues 49th birthday. She brought with her her new man friend, a delightful fellow who brought his guitar with him, and serenaded us by the pool as the sun went down, with such lovely tunes as 'Stawberry Fair'. He's of Scottish descent and has what Sue calls a very dry Scottish wit. He also has a a very charming way with words: certainly won me over! Clay was with us and also, of course Steve and Bernie and Bernie's 14 year old son Mitchell, who will soon be living with us 4 days a week, a very nice addition to our household. John is now in bed with food poisoning; silly fellow hates to throw anything away, and ate a piece of iffy ham! He's now been ill for 3 days and has to start on antibiotics tomorrow if his tummy is no better. A friend phoned this morning and he spoke to her first as I was in the garden, and she said was I sick too and when he said no, suggested I was poisoning him, cheeky so and so! He also has gout again too, so no ballroom dancing for us or marathons for a while. lol Sylvia, we have a great tulip growing area close by in the States, near a town called Laconner, (think that's how it's spelt), and what a wonderful sight in the springtime! Holland must be beautiful in the spring. Brenda, what a pity your trip was spoiled by bad service at the restaurant, but I'm sure it must have been a nice break for you. Do you live in a very busy part of Manchester or near the outer rim. Do you know Hulme? That apparently is where my gx2 grandfather Charles Weir was born. It's 6 so I'd better see if John's up to eating- he doesn't have much appetite at the minute. Take care all, Love, Di.xxx

Good morning all ,another morning of sunshine but soon to become cloudy if the forcast is to be believed. Hi to Di,sorry ,but at the minute the garden is very untidy to to the late start to the season ,but i at least promise some photo's as soon as things pick up ,but after seeing a load of yours there is no competition this year as i can't compete with your lawns after my mad half hour with the chariot and the overfeeding of the lawns as a result [sulks in the corner] I am very sorry to hear about John,so easily done with meat,specially pork and bacon. It's not worth us buying bacon to cook anymore being only the two of us at home,so what we do is go to eeeeerm.Aldi and buy a piece of ready cooked ham ,slice it into rashers and then freeze it ,taking out just enough to do that one meal,any left is then used in a stir fry the next day ,or binned,it isn't worth the risk ,as John has found out . I know how he feels as a few years ago i was careless enough to do the same and landed up in a simular situation ,lets hope he makes a quick recovery Di ,i wouldn't wish that sort of tummy bug on my worst enemy. I had a look in the shed for my hole cutter and couldn't find it so ,i will go to the sons later this morning and borrow his,to fix up my two water barrels for the expected rain at the back end of the week. Martin is coming tomorrow to put the potatoes in ,the rest ,seeing as it is only a matter of using a bulb planter to make the holes ,i can manage myself ,so i expect to be finished the veggie planting within twelve days weather permitting. The next thing is to see if my decrepid back will let me fold it far enough to get into the car ,but i will sharp find out when i have finished here lool,any groaning sounds heard ,take no notice ,it's only me ,the time for any concern is if you hear me shout damn and blast[or a few stronger words ]which means ,fred didn't manage and it's back to the drawing board lol I am lots more cheerful this morning owing to the first good nights sleep in over a week ,plus laughing myself silly looking at our Emm's thread this morning ,that lady is a real star hee hee.,as somreone has said,they could do with her having a show on the telle' it would rival the likes of open all hours.,anyone who hasn't seen this thread dosn't know what they are missing. I must be away now ,things to do and all,but i will be back to see how you peeps are getting on later.Fred..

Good evening all.what is the weather trying to do to us,this morning was grey ,thennice and sunny at lunch then grey and when I was coming home from work at 5 pm it was chucking it down!! have to put the washing in the drier again. Glad Di and Sylvia had nice mothers days, I am hoping to get to the chiropodist soon myself but want to see a new one my sister uses,she also does reflexology which I want to have a try off. Di I live in North Manchester not far from the city,Hulme is on the other side of the city,if you need any help looking things up just ask and i will do what I can. See you all tomorrow,brenda