General Chat

Hello friends, just having a quick look in, to read your news. Not staying long. Have hospital tests tomorrow morning, and have had to fast from last night, only fluids allowed - so....... reading about all your lovely food is making me hungry!!! Hope everyone is well tonight, and happy. Love Anne xx

Well peeps ,we had a visit from the council relocation team today and she seems to think we will get a moving date for the middle of next month [yippee] but i'm afraid it's not your friends Sylvia .I hav'nt tried that recipe yet but i have noted it down,we decided to have a stirfry today ,all in one pan ,nice and quick ,and best of all ,tasty. The panic has started ,so far today i've done a deal with telewest and get swapped over for nothing ,and keep my number,the gas board have been notified ,as has the electricity ,and water boards.i will have to go ,as i have now this minute under pain of no washing done if i don't start stripping down the living room furniture and fireplace ,i can't argue with that can i? cyal.Fred.ptfg.

Good Morning Everyone,well we have a nice sunny start to the day here in manchester,hope it lasts till I have the washing out and dried. It is my day off today I am also off on Friday but will be shopping then,today I have loads of jobs round the house to finish and some others that I want to try and fit in. Lesley ,please say hello to Di and tell her she is missed. Most of us are over 50, I am 55 myself and took early retirement from my full time job as it was getting too stressfull and I now work part time in the libraries,and love it.I am divorced and live with my partner of 22 years and my son who is 29 going on 18.!!! Anne hope the tests g ok and just let me know how I can help with the searching,email me via GR if you want. June no problem visiting the pubs at all.!!! The cats are going a bit silly on the landing so I need to go and see what s going on,sorry to anyone I haven't spoken to,take care ,Brenda

Hi everyone, Its a bit blustery today, but at least the washing is dry. I've still got my cold unfortunately, I was awake at 4.15 this morning coughing away. Sylvia, I have also been picking the odds and ends for Christmas surprises. Anne (Belfast), I hope all goes well with your tests. Fred, You sound as if you have everything under control. Mary, maybe Fred will invite us all to the barbie. Brenda, You are only a youngster, I am 71 and dont know how I found time to work I didn't really think visiting the pubs would be a problem. lol I think its time for another Paracetymol (is that spelt right?) Love June xx

I hope your tests went well Anne,let us know how you got on please ,we have our fingers crossed for you. Of course anyone can come ,but by the looks of the weather up here i will have to put a load of jacket tatties on to keep you all warm ,and even then you had all better bring your winter wollies.Fred.ptfg.

Di, I haven't come on to stop really but saw your message on the General Topics board and just had to pop on to see if you had left a message for us and Yippee you had. Its great to have you back. Hi Fred and George and everyone Love June xx

HI DI,so very nice to have you back with us,. I just saw Sylvias message on the general board and came right on here and found you,please tell Alva she is more than welcome.The more the merrier. The sunny weather did not last long ,but I got most of the washing dry,don't think we will be having many more days to dry outside.The clocks go back on Sat night /Sun morning. Have just put a chicken curry in the oven for tea,only a jar of curry sauce over chicken fillets,and will be doing boiled rice and a few chips .But could just go a nice white fluffy jacket potato,with butter or cheese,all this talk of food is putting pounds on me!!!! Got some of the jobs done that I wanted to,but ended up going shopping for an electrical fitment for the dinning room light ,and some new catches and fasteners for the wardrobes to stop the cats getting in,they have learnt how to pull the doors open from the bottom ,so we have to put fastners on them now.Some one on the phone now so have to go,speak to you all soon. Take care ,Brenda

Well here I am again like the proverbial "bad penny". I went out on my scooter today as it was lovely sunny weather. I had a fleece sweater on and no coat - fantastic! Popped upstairs to see my friend and neighbour as she is recovering from a nasty cold. She assures me that we'll be going to the market together again on Friday. Good. I made some cards today for my neighbour. Actually she wanted one for a gentleman friend of her sisters. Rather difficult to make one for somebody you don't know. I thought does he like books, boats, gambling,....... I ended up making a few for her to choose from. Will show them to her tomorrow. This afternoon my granddaughter - God bless her -came and did my vacuum cleaning for me etc. etc. She had to be away by 4.30 pm to catch a taxi to take her to Center Parcs where she will work until 11.00 pm. I asked her when she thought she was going to do her homework for school. She said she doesn't begin school so early. I think she is trying to do too much. She needs the money for a school trip to Barcelona in two weeks time. Being young, 21, she likes to buy the latest fashion clothes, bags etc. This weekend she is going to a dance party with her boyfriend. Mind you I have seen this all before - me. My daughter (Linda's mother) is also a workaholic too). I told her on the phone this morning to take things easy, but secretly know how she feels, although I don't tell her that. This after Johan and I had our anti-'flu prick. No problem, just the queue at the doctors. I am meeting another member from GC tomorrow as she is visiting her dentist who just happens to have his practise near me. Glad everything is going well Fred. June you are 1 year younger than I am. I don't think too much about age. They say you are as old as you feel. Must close for now. Love, Sylvia xxx

Eveing friends, now I can enjoy reading your messages, 'cause I have had some food in me today! Toast never tasted so wonderful as it did this afternoon ummmmm! Thank you for your kind wishes for today. My tests were clear of cancer, (big sigh of relief), and as I already knew I have very severe diverticular disease. I had been told last year that the outcome would probably mean surgery at some stage, and this was confirmed today by the consultant. But, I will worry about it when the time comes. I am really tired now as I got little sleep last night, so am off for a bath, a hot toddy, and a good book. God Bless all. Until tomorrow love Anne x

That's great news Anne,an op these days is'nt so bad ,and it will help get you sorted out.If it helps we can lay on odds on which of us is going to have the longest scar.lol .I omly hope you don't have to wait as long as me.Fred.ptfg.

Just a quick few lines before bed,I have been doing a bit of research tonight but not found what I was looking for. Great news and what a relief for you Anne,I am so pleased for you. Take care Brenda

Pleased to hear all went well Anne, those tests are not pleasant but the anticipation is worse!! Di, it is so good to see you back. I am trying to remember how to send the photo but it will be on it's way to you soon. So pleased you, Lesley and Alva finally got to meet, it is nice to be able to chat in person and to be able to put a face to the name. I shall be going to two meetings next month one on the 21st in Swindon and another in London on 27th. Some of those attending I have already met and it will be great fun meeting all the others. I hope the weather improves, some parts of the country have been hit pretty hard with very high winds and heavy rain. We have had some fairly heavy rain here and it has been a tad windy but it is now quiet and the rain has stopped . It was quite amazing in the late afternoon, the clouds were really racing across the sky. I watched the planes taking off and didn't envy those people flying out today, I imagine it was quite bumpy up there. Not looking forward to the clocks going back at the weekend, short days and long nights for a while. It can get very depressing having to put the lights on in the middle of the afternoon. Still, by Christmas the days start drawing out again. I always remember that 21st December is the longest night - my first son was born on 22nd and that year the night of the 21st was certainly the longest I ever remember!! There was also a heavy fall of snow that night (1950), I remember looking out of the window just after he was born and seeing about a foot of snow covering the sloping grounds of the hospital - and wishing I could go out and roll down in it. Mary I shall be going to the PRO at Kew again this Friday and the following week to the FRO at Islington so I should, hopefully, be able to look for your 2nd grandfather (or is it g.grandfather - have it all written down). I have to look for my Dad's second enlistment in the army in WW1. They sent him home the first time because he was only 16 but it took them 4 months to find out and he went back on his 17th birthday 5 months later and rejoined. Have also discovered that he was awarded the Atlantic Medal in WW2, I didn't think he would get that as he was killed on his first trip. As it was never claimed I will not have to pay to get that. I will have to pay to get copies of his WW1 medals as they had been claimed but lost after my mother died. I am off to bed now so wish you all happy dreams if you are sleeping and a nice resful day for our "Down under" friends. God bless Love Kathleen

Yeah ,we do have private medical insurance here Mary ,but it is'nt cheap ,most of us workers ,by the time they've paid their income tax ,weekly bills and the like hav'nt got a chance, so we suffer the nhs. Iv'e been in the system over a year and expect to get my op shortly now. That idea with the jacket tatties sounds good ,so i will try it later in the week.We had a couple here last week and decided to do them for dinner ,anyway ,this funny couple only ate the inside of the tatties leaving the semi crisp skin which i reckon is the best bit ,no sense of adventure some people but i suppose it could have been too much for their wallies.Fred.ptfg.

Hi everyone Today is very pleasant, nice sunshine, the trees look lovely with their autumn leaves. This afternoon my friend is coming round, the one that does ceramic painting as well as family history. I think we will be painting this afternoon, because we are both in the middle of painting a Christmas tree. I am dying to get back to my Christmas cards, the ones with photos on, I just haven't the patience while I have had this cold, but I really do enjoy doing it. Kathleen, Thankyou for reminding me about the clocks being put back, that means we have an extra hour in bed doesn't it. What a thrill getting your dad's medals. Anne (Belfast), I'm glad the news is not as bad as it could have been and I hope you did get a good nights sleep. Sylvia, I'm sure your granddaughter will enjoy Barcelona, she deserves it after working so hard. I agree with you about age, you are as old as you feel, so some days I am 90 and some I'm 21 again. lol Di, Its good to have you back and I'm glad you enjoyed your meet up, I hope you are going to have more. I am going to one in November at Wakefield, there is a Family History Fair and then lunch afterwards. and one in December in Manchester, this will be the 4th one we have had there, I really do enjoy them. George, it sounds as though you have a good year ahead of you. I am now going to have another look for my elusive grandfather, yesterday I found my grandmother but he wasn't with her, dont think he will have gone far, they had only been married 4 weeks at the time of the census. He has hidden away from me for two years and I am determined to track him down.I have his marriage and death certificates but cant get his birth certificate, until I know where he was born. See you tomorrow Love June xx

Hi all, Well today I met up with a member from this Board. I must say how nice it was to speak English again with her. How different people look than you had imagined them to be. Anyway, I hope we will meet up again in the not too distant future. Did a lot of washing at least the machine did it. For the rest I don't know where the day went to, honest. I did a little embroidery, but not for long. At 4.00 pm my neighbour came down for a drink; he knows the time when the bottles come out!! We've been trying to book a few days in Belgium - Gent, but at the moment the Belgian children have their Autumn holiday so prefer to wait until they have returned to school before we go. I think we are now going over 2 weeks. The trees are almost bare by us, so you can tell how much wind we've had. Not really any news, so until tomorrow. Sylvia xxx

Hello Everyone,only on here to see my emails before going out to a concert. I am going to see Gene Pitney ,he has been one of my favourites for years,went to see him on my 21st and he gave me a kiss!!! was I in seventh heaven!!! Off work again tomorrow but will get on here sometime, So pleased you are all doing well and seemingly happy,take care brenda

Hello Everyone,well I really enjoyed the concert last night ,I was 21 again and would have been up dancing in the isles had there been room.I sang nearly every song with him (mostly in my head)and was screaming and shouting for more at the end ,very lady like I must say HeHE. I went for the weekly shop today ,and it took almost as long again as normal due to them re arranging the shop again. It is mostly Halloween and Bonfire night that they had things out for,but they also have lots of Christamas stuff as well. di I have looked at the card making as well and have decided to leave it this year.I will ask my freind to help as she has done some for a while now.She does hand made and computer ones as well. Mary ,have been to Manly twice now and the change in the weather each time was tremendous,first time brilliant sunshine ,second heavy rain and high winds. The second time we also got to Bondi and I have a picture of me and one of my friend being almost blown away by the wind on Bondi and we are in our shorts and vests as it was nice when we set out!! we had to buy sweaters to say warm and an umberella. Working tomorrow and out at a freinds Ruby wedding anniversary party tomorrow night ,so might not get on here until Sunday. Take care,Brenda

Hi everybody, Oh how lovely it is to see our Di contributing to this thread again. Keep it up! I had to set the alarm clock for this morning as my hairdresser was coming at 9.00 am. It's a good thing I did, because even then I switched the thing off and lay in bed for another half an hour. I was just getting breakfast when my hairdresser 'phoned to say her mother had died and she was coming a bit later to me. I wish she had 'phoned me earlier, but she is always so good in coming to me, so it's a bit of 'give and take'. My friend and neighbour didn't want to go to the market today, and really I didn't need much, so I gave it a miss. I did, however, have to go out and get some money. I also went to my second session of phsyiotherapy. I have been feeling non too good all day, headache, diarrhoea, sickness (aftermath of my anti-'flu injection maybe), and my physiotherapist told me I shouldn't have gone to him as he won't be able to tell if he is helping me or not. I feel as though I might as well have stayed in bed! I'm not one for staying in bed, so thats that. Finished off some ironing and got the dinner, then lay down for half an hour. Di, don't you mean "Spotted Dick" pudding? Not "Spotted dog". Mary, I live in the Netherlands - since 1968 now, so have lived here longer than I have ever lived in England. Tomorrow Johan and I are going to his sisters birthday in Rotterdam. We shall meet up with other members of the family, some of whom we've not seen for a while. I had an e-mail today from my daughter's new partner Henk. He tells me has now bought Janet an overlock sewing machine. Janet's birthday was in June, but they were rebuilding their house and didn't get round to presents. I suggested to Henk on the quiet that he might like to buy Janet this machine. I knew it would cost him quite a bit of money, but on the other hand, I know he isn't poor, nor would he mind. I'm so pleased that he has taken up my advice. I'll have to ask Janet what she wants for Xmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've just heard that my granddaughter has lost her passport, more money for her to pay for another one. We're still having beautiful weather here, cold at night, sunny during the day ideal! Well will close for now, Sylvia xxx

Hi everyone. I've been bust scanning photos again and I still haven't finished yet. Sylvia, Sorry your day hasn't gone to plan, mine seldom do either. I hope your granddaughter can find her passport, its a shame after she's worked so hard. Brenda, I wish I had been there with my camcorder when you were jumping up and down. You are off to another party, you are always on the go. Keep it up girl! Mary, I used to have my own kiln, Gaynor and I had a studio/shop were we had classes for both children and adults, but now I just paint as a hobby. I have one friend in an afternoon and another friend in an evening that paint as well. Then I usually play around with photos another afternoon. At the moment I'm at a standstill with my Family History, so it looks like I may have to do a bit of housework. lol Di, I haven't looked at the creative cards CD yet, I'll have to wait until I have a bit of time. I had a chuckle at the thought of you sat on the throne with the rat/mouse peeping at you. It reminds me of when I worked at the Town Hall and mice dropped in from the fluorescent lighting. Anyone would think its November the 5th here with the amount of fireworks that are being let off. I'm off now, I'll see you all tomorrow hopefully, Love June xx

Hi everyone, It looks a bit dull at the moment but at least its dry. I hope it is going to be sunny this week because I want to go out in the country and takes some autumn photos for my Australian friend. The trees are turning those lovely autumn colours and I dont want to miss them. We have Cuerden Park near us, that is where all the protestors where when the motorways were being built. I can understand why people protested because there are some lovely walks through there and first the M6 cut through and then a few years later the M65. Anyway that is where I hope to go, weather permitting. Di, I love reading your messages, you describe things so well. I can imagine Ross saying to himself that he is glad to get out for a run, there is clutter all over the place with these repairs. I can understand the authorities keeping dogs off a beach, but they should set aside one beach for dogs, after all its cruel if they cant run wild sometimes. Lesley, nice to hear from you again, you all seem to have enjoyed your meetup, I hope you are planning another. I am waiting to hear about making cards without spending too much money, sounds intriguing (dont think I spelt that right), I have just realised that I haven't put my clocks back, so instead of it being 8.45 its 7.45, still the reason I got up was because I couldn't stop coughing and also Beckham wanted to go out. He doesn't understand about British Summer time, it is going to take a few days for him to understand. No wonder there aren't many messages on the board. Silly me. The sun is now peeping through, so it looks as though we are in for a good day. Love to Jude, Madoc and everyone, I'll see you tomorrow. Love June xx PS. I have just remembered its Saturday not Sunday so the clocks aren't wrong, glad I didn't go and alter them all. Oh the joys of old age !!