General Chat

Hi peeps,the morning shift is finished ,and i am home again till two ,when i go out again for the rest of the day. It's still ruddy hot too ,i could feel the heat in the van at eight this morning ,so as soon as i finish on here i will have half hour sat in the garden getting a tan on my knees at last [i hope]. bro in law went back to the hospital this morning where the staff burst his bubble as regards returning to work,as they took off the dressings to reveal a hole in his hand the size of a half a crown ,and saying it would take at least six weeks to heal. When he said he was hoping to return to work next week they told him not to be stupid because any infection getting into the wound wuold mean loosing the hand altogether . At least he can now straighten all the fingers ,so he will just have to be patient ,either that or incurr the wrath of his misses lol,i know what i would do . Must go and get my salad for dinner ,so i will see you later on Have a good day all,Fred.

Hi everybody, Another hot day, like you in the UK. Am taking it easy now until the weather cools. I have a new help coming for an interview tomorrow but I don't hold much hope. She is from Ghana and lives in Amsterdam. This would make it expensive for travelling. Anyway we will have to see what happens. My hand is still not good Fred, although the wound itself has healed I have pain in my thumb mostly. Keep cool and don't be a fool. Sylvia xxx

Hi Everyone Heatwave in the UK, down in NZ we have had parts of the country snowed in, heavy rain and landslides elsewhere. Here in New Plymouth it has been quite cold, and for the first time in many years there has been snow has been low down on Mount Taranaki (Egmont) as well as the ranges. Past winters have been a lot warmer but this year its back to the winters of around 30yrs ago. You know the old adage when its come to flooding one in 100yrs well some area have had more than their share. We are still waiting for tradesmen to alter the bathroom and build our conservatory-porch. So once all that is done we will look around for some other project to do on our unit. My brother, David, who I mentioned about sometime ago is still not a 100% is back home. He's missing working on the farm and is taking life a lot slower. John in NZ

hello from a very muggy Manchester,we had a real big storm early this morning, so have been awake from 4.30 .Not on work til 4pm til8pm. notmy favourite shift!!! have a few errands which I have to do today ,but not really in the mood,but they have to be done,so i am off to do them when I have finshed here. John has finshed painting the ceilings he papered and has done a brilliant job but it has taken it out of him probably because of the heat etc. fred hope your b.i.l is able to get back to work and realises what you have been doing for him,but don't overdo it yourself. Sylvia glad you have stopped bleeding and hope you get your home help sorted soon. John good news about your brother hope he continues to improve,this weather is great if you don't have to work and can afford to run electric fans in all the rooms at night when there is no breeze about.We are having our kitchen re fitted next week and once we have decorated and tiled it ,we are having a rest for a while til we do anything ,apart from painting the living room. Di I was sat with you reading and eating chocolate ,after reading your message LOl.woman after my own heart, Must go hope i haven't left anyone out my apologise if I have ,see you soon,Take care Brenda

Hi everybody, Well as I thought the help I interviewed today was not suitable. I didn't trust her one bit. She said she was old. I asked how old she was and she said 45! She has been here 10 years and doesn't speak Dutch and her English was not too good either. My poor granddaughter Linda has lost her boyfriend. They have been together 4-5 years and he has finished it. Apparently through Linda being jealous at him having messages with other girls on MSN. What on earth do you say to her 'There are plenty more fish in the sea'. No, that is too harsh at the moment as she is devastated. She is such a loving, thoughtful girl. Actually he is a nice boy too but not grown up enough yet at 24. I shall be glad to have a shower tomorrow without having to have a plastic bag over my foot. The wound is healing ok. Very sticky here last night and I got up at 3.00 am and had to use my inhalator and sat under the fan in my hobby room. I went back to bed and managed to sleep until 9.00 am., so didn't lose too much sleep. No sign of rain here yet and we need it so badly - at least the farmers do, Have a nice evening. Sylvia xxx

hi brenda here I am in a heat wave in canada and there you all are in manchester having the same kind of weather, I moved last friday and it was 40 degree's with the humidity thank heavens for ir conditioning , the move went well and I have unpacked and placed 18 boxes of books into 8 book cases now it is time to do the kitchen, you can see what is important in my life. I also have to get some new window coverings before my friend from bury arrives on sept 8th at least in the room she will be in. I have moved from a four bedroom house to a three bedroom 11th floor apartment, it has a great balcony but my two aged cats are not happy to-day they were intertwined behind the toilet in the onsuite bathroom for most of they day. but do come out to sleep with me at night time. I am thinking that maybe it would be fun to pop over home during the xmas holidyays depending on the air fares next summer seems a long way away. even after 50yrs away I do miss walshaw and bury bye for now dorothy canada

Just popped on to see my emails and and came on here , Sorry your interveiw with the home help wasn't productive Sylvia,hope someone good turns up soon. Nice to hear from you Dorothy,we are still swekteng here ,but some places are still getting thunderstorms. Your cats will be lost for a while,will they use a tray,or can you let them out down stairs anywhere? in an enclosed spce perhaps.Hope you manage to get straighter for you friends visit. Need to go to bed and try to sleep now ,take care everyone,brenda

Hi everybody, I think the heatwave is getting to everybody. At least those who have to try and work. I mean us oldies sitting at home doing nothing we can cope. I feel sorry for the builders and farmers who have to work outside in the open with no shade. Our builders are now moaning that with the frost they are allowed free so why not with a heatwave. Well they have a point here. Today I went to the market and general shopping with my scootmobile, but my scootmobile has decided to pack up. Johan phoned the mechanic but they are so busy they cannot come just yet. I have asked for a temporary replacement and hope to get one on Monday. I have to have the stitches out my foot on Tuesday so hope it is here by then. I made some redcurrant jam today and juiced up 20 oranges. I love fresh orange juice. Tomorrow is breadmaking day, so am still kept busy even if it is warm. How are you Brenda, must be awful not being able to sleep. I am fortunate that I can usually get a good night's sleep. No sign of our Fred today, is the heat, or has he decided to have a day off. Have a nice evening everybody. Sylvia xxx

Hello everybody, Just finished typing a longish message, pressed the button to send it - blank screen and I lost my connection. Technology is a wonderful thing - when it works! For now I will just say I hope you are all keeping well in spite of the heat, or the cold if you are in Oz or NZ. I will try again to write a proper message tomorrow (well later today noting the time). God bless all Love Kathleen

hi brenda the cats are house cats theynever go out unless it is with a harness and lead, in barrie where I live it is not popular for cats to roam the council is always trying to have a lience for them just like dogs, do they do use a litter tray I have taken tehm out onto the large balcony to get used to it, they seem in better humour to-day, I only have about 6 boxes to go, but of course I am glued to the golf from liverpool can't get over the brown grass, and all the ice cream cones being consumed at least I have airconditioning during the heat wave here, anne in bury was saying this am how uncomfortable it is, but better than rainy cold weather, have a great week-end in manchester, if you pop over to bury market dosay hi for me can't wait till next year bye dorothy canada

Good morning troops,from a muggy and wet Newcastle. Seeing as it's still raining and the heavens are doing my early morning job of watering the garden this morning ,i can come on here instead. Yes ,i am still alive and kicking Sylvia,just busy for the next six weeks helping bro in law out seeing as he has been signed on the sick until he sees his surgeon again [at least] I don't have much time for myself at the mo seeing as i am up at five to see to the garden ,and don't get in until seven in the evening ,although i do get home for a couple of hours midday. Any way ,Peter is at a wedding today along with my cleaning team so i have a whole two days off [wahey] so i suppose i will have to find something else to do with myself.apart from taking the missus out this afternoon,which see so richly deserves ,the old girl has been there with a cool drink each time i come in the door,so i don't know what i would do without her. The midges are still making a meal of me grrrrrrr,,i don't know if my diabeties is making me more prone to infection but i have bites on my forarms and legs which irritate,have gone hard and are beginning to annoy me to the extent that i am wearing trousers first thing in the morning outside in the garden to avoid any bits to the legs ,but it ain't doing my sun tanned legs any good lol. The revamping is starting okay out the back,we came home last night with four new Fushia for the border,and a packet of Pyrethium daisy ,a new breed ,multi coloured which as i told you about a while ago ,they are perrenial, and grow on longish stems [ideal for arranging in bowls. They are also the source of the natural insecticide Pyretheum ,which is stored in the daisies roots,hence their use in the garden which loads the soil with the stuff and keeps wireworm and the fly away from the soil. These daisies are a b****r to grow ,but are well worth the effort saving you a fortune on sprays and powders,hee hee ,what with those and the garlic ,my garden is pretty well covered for pest control,which is probably why they are attacking me instead [ho hum] lol. I managed to get my nine kale plants in last nioght,so i'm well set for my calgannon come winter,and they are good for use as cabbage as well,nine plants are all you need 'cause you only take a couple of leaves off each plant for a meal ,and they just grow new ones after a week. Hope everyone is going to enjoy their weekend,i know i am lol.See ya later peeps .Fred.

Hi all, Well decided I'd have to clean the balcony to get rid of the spiders and spiders webs as they make such a mess. I finished up with throwing buckets of soapy water with Dettol in over the floor. I hope the spiders don't like Dettol. I also sprayed some anti-beastie spray around the balcony. I was so knackered doing this that I spent the afternoon just sitting on the balcony. Well I also made two loaves of bread and was up at 6 o'clock. My daughter and her partner came on their bikes. They were going to my granddaughters to cook for her and had left their car at Linda's house. We had a rumble of thunder to make us think we might have a shower of rain, but no, not yet. It is not our turn I suppose. I would have loved to go round the harbour this afternoon to see all the old boats but still waiting for my scootmobile to be repaired. If we had gone with the car it would have been too far for me to walk. Oh well, better luck next time. Have a nice evening everybody. Sylvia xxx

Hello everyone,its still hot and sunny here,but we have been old we could be having another storm .hopefully it will be in the night again, I am sleeping on and off mainly due to sheer exhaustion Spelling? Tbeen up since 5.30 this morning was awke just before 5 and then felt so thirsty I had to go for a drink. Been in town at the sales today,got some ubderwear and two tops fpr my holidays,but it was lik e a jumble sale in some shops. Fred just look after yourself and the missus don't want anything happening to you do we. Sylvia hope your foot and scooter get fixed soon. Dorothy Might not get to Bury until a fortnight today ,when my sister gets married at the register there.but will say hello for you/ Kathleen hope you and the family are all keeping well,speak to you soon, Take care Brenda

Hello again. Still very cold at night here but great sunny days. Wow what a heatwave your are all having - glad we don't have the thunder storms like the UK. I hate them. The storms we have are very short and it isn't so humid. Hope all those who are and have been sick are feeling bertter. Pip is having a good week this week. Very perky!! Fred - mind you don't overdo it helping out with all that work. Life is too short - take care. Well, we went shopping yesterday - decided to look (look!!!!only) at lounge suites. Guess what - we bought one. Dark (Forest) Green leather. Our blinds and carpet are all very light off white and beige so persuaded Pip that we needed some colour in the room. The one we have at the moment is Cranberry (not leather) material. Will be delivered on Tuesday. It was worth having a look at the furniture!!!! This doesn't happen very often I might add. I hosted the last U3A Computer Group Meeting took the minutes - wish I had kept up my shorthand!! - have you heard of U3A? (University of the 3rd Age) It started in the UK apparently. My brother in Reading used to lecture at the travel U3A meeting. He spoke on India and South Africa mostly as these were the countries he had lived in for a while. We learn a lot from each other at the meetings - mostly basic, easy to understand things. Must think about tea for tonight - decided it will be chicken schnitzel with potatoes and salad. The diet is still going well - I have lost 6 kilos and Pip 5 kilos. Seem to be stuck at the moment but heres hoping!! Must go now - things to do. Regards to all Mavis NZ

Hi all, Well the weather cooled off nicely last night and I went to bed, even felt chilly! When I woke up this morning I felt warm again and in our sitting room too warm. It is just as though the moon takes over from the sun and keeps us warm. For me they can both hibernate! The problem is what to eat every day now. I think I will make a polenta pizza today. We are eating so little anyway. Mavis if you were here you would be losing those extra kilos. Now girls don't work too hard, tomorrow is another day (even if it is warm again), Sylvia xxx

Morning all ,well we had some rain during the night which has cooled things down a little,but it is still sunny ,slept better last night ,could have been the cooler weather or the half bottle of wine I had been drinking!! Just getting the last of the kitchen stuff stored away for a few days while they fit the new one.It will be sandwiches and micri meals for the next week. My sister is doing a surprise party for ny neice who is 16 today ,and has asked me to do some shopping for her,so i going out earlier than usual,. Sylvia,good luck with having the stitches out, Mavis we are hoping to get a new siute next year,we bought a brown leather one three years ago and now I can not stand it,well the style anyway,we need one which is not as low down and has better arms,well done to you and Pip on the weight loss,we have had a hic cup but are hopefully back on track.brenda

Hi all, A quick hello as I'm trying to minimise my computer time to see if my aches and pains are due to computer or just plain old age. Hope your foot and hand are better Sylvia, and that you're all well and enjoying life. Don't work too hard Fred! You're a good person; guess you've been told that before! Hi to everyone else. See you soon. Love, Di.xxx

Just a few quick lines peeps before going to bed. We had a lovely time at the coast today at our usual spot,with both sons and families. The bruiser Lewis was NOT impressed with the sand at first,his feet kept sinking in it and he was unsure of his footing,so he spent the first two hours on the beach assaulting his granddad,i have been kicked punched pulled and pushed every which way ,and to tell the truth i loved it. He did come round in the long run ,and now there is no stopping him lol.,he can already outpace me in the sand ,so i reckon poor Anne and Stephen have their work cut out . My eldest son martin found a length of sea weed that looked a little like hair and tried using it as a beard ,then put it on his head at which point i took a photo without him realising i had done so,hee hee ,not impressed at all when i told him ,and was even more annoyed when i told him what was going to happen to it ,it will be sent out as soon as i download it. I did get a couple more but thankfully i don't think anyone took one of Lewis beating his grandad half to death. I went to the hospital this morning to be told that the bite was already turning into an ulcer and had been caught before it could do any damage,and was advised not to wear my shorts while in the garden [much to the relief of those next door [sniff] as my resistance to insect bites is low with the diabeties,,but i can wear them otherwise and get a nice tan on them[fred brightens up at this] lol.all is not lost after all. Off to bed now folks,as i am up at 5-30 to water the garden before going to work. We are off to the Sunderland air show next week where the wife will be taking care of the cam 'corder whilst i do the stills,not i haten to add ,because i am better with the still camera than Liz.i ain't ,it's 'cause i am ruddy hopeless with the cam corder,lol. Anyway ,rumour has it that we have a couple of new russian aircraft on the show ,and also the aircraft i used to work with a lot,the Nimrod,anti sub' detector and search and rescue aircraft,a lot better than the Canadian Argos [sorry you canooks] the Argos has a longer range but is too slow for anything other than search and rescue which it is very good for. Hope eveyone is fit and well,take care all ,see you shortly Fred..p/s ,will be on the other thread tomorrow at least .lol

Hi all, Well as I still have no help in the house I had to get down to some chores myself. I did the bathroom, toilet and washed the kitchen floor and hosed the balcony down. I used lots of Dettol everywhere. Tomorrow I think I will tackle the windows. We have such large windows, rather nice, but a bother to clean. The mechanic came for my scootmobile this afternoon and it seems I was right I need a new motor in it. He has taken the old motor out and tomorrow a replacement scooter will arrive (temporary). In the afternoon I have to have the stitches out my foot so need the scooter. The trouble with this weather is what to eat every day. We are not very hungry, so food must look tempting. When I have finished this note I am going to do my ironing as it is cooler in the evening and in my room I have a ceiling fan. Love to everyone. Sylvia xxx

Hello everyone, Fred your family sound real close having days out like that,you keep enjoying them.Give us a shout when you have done the watering,we have to be up and ready early tomorrow to allow the kitchen fitter an early start as well !!!!!! Sylvia,good luck with your help.could do with one myself,took me ages to do the bathroom on Sunday,mind you it was hot. Will be doing everything else after the fitters have finshed as all the house is upside down storing things from the kichen and dining room. Di hope you find teh cause of your aches and pains and hope its not the pc ,don't want to loose you Off to bed now but its so humid I doubt if i will sleep. brenda.