General Chat

hi everyone jude I wish you a great flight and a wonderful holiday will look foreward to hearing about it on line, fred glad you got a little snow it does look pretty, well here is to-days weather report it snowed all night and we are in the middle of a red weather warning expecting 15cm of snow an hour for the next little while, yes I did say an hour, school buses cancelled, my daughter in law called and said the university was closed for the day so she was home, so I don't need to be there this afternoon, my grandchildren walk to school and their school was open luckly the teachers all live locally, apparently my son drove inot toronot for meetings he left about 5am got there safely again a long drive. at the moment I cannot see past the edge of the balcony rail just a blizzard out there so I may be out of touch for a day or so especially if the power goes out from the weight of the snow on the hydro lines so have a good day one and all bye for now dorothy

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Hi everyone The weather in New Zealand has been a mixed bag this week with parts of the country experiencing heavy rains and flooding other areas were hot and humid. Rain for these areas was meant to fall but that didn't happen although there were overnight showers and after that hot and humid again. Our national holiday on 6 Feb marked 167 years of the signing of a treaty between the British Crown and the Maoris at Waitangi had heavy rain while the rest of the country was fine. You should've seen the TV footage showing the navy band in their whites darting for cover from the rains. In New Plymouth where we are we enjoy a hot day. Brenda - We our conservatory but with all this weather it feels like an oven - HOT! First thing in the morning whoever is first into the conservatory sits there and watches the traffic going pass when its nice and cool. The past few weeks have been full on starting with my mother staying with us all last week before going to her cousin's 50th wedding anniversary. Then my brother, David's wife Bev had a hysterectomy during the same week. In a few weeks their daughter has a baby. David, by the way, is keeping good health since his heart attack last year. Our garden is looking good at the moment with pansies, carnations and roses flowering. We have two established 'yesterday, today and tomorrow' shrubs in the garden one was being overshadow by larger shrub which we had removed. We also removed the foxgloves that seemed overshadow everything. Azaleas, dahlias and lavender have replaced what was taken out. Another hot day and already the thermostat is up. John in NZ

I was already to leave a message earlier today when I got a phone call from an old work friend,she phones me every few months which is nice,and we have a natter ,after that it was time to get tea etc and I never got back. Jude have a brilliant time if you read this before you go or if you get a chance elsewhere. Dorothy hope the weather isn't has bad as your'e expecting and you keep your power on,hope you enjoyed your steak dinner,you earned it clearing the snow and going to the gym. Fred brilliant sunshine here as well but freezing ,without snow.its forcast for tonight,though. John you are having a time of it aren't you ,hope your sister in law ,neice ,baby and brother are all ok. Some of the people i know who have conservatories have opening lights to let out the heat or those ceiling fans to cooloit down,my friend has ceiling blinds to open and close so to speak but I dont think they are very good at keeping it cool,shady yes but not cool. Some flowers/shrubs are trying to bud over here as it was warmish a few weeks ago and they were fooled into blossoming, .should be back during the day tomorrow and I am on work at 4pm so hope fully any snow will be cleared or gone by then. take care Brenda

Good morning from a freezing snowy Newcastle .where Fred has just read of Johns nice flowering garden and is looking out through the patio doors at mine ,covered in snow,the marks of the bird tracks on the patio and is feeling a bit jealous lol,not t worry though ,i reckon our time will come shortly,after all ,it should start to warm up in a few weeks. We are going to have an early dinner today ,using the left over potato sweede and cabbage mixed together as bubble and squeak,along with a fried cheese sarnie .lovely,and have homemade soup for tea,with a freshly baked bread bun.,nice ,quick and easy meals for a change. I am in the proccess of downloading Singin' in the rain,for liz to watch tonight,,over a hundred discs bought over three years ,most of which we have never seen,including the whole series of Sharp films ,and she wants to watch Gene Kelly,hee hee, who says Women are the sane members of the household [ducks] oh well ,mine is not to question why lol. Of to start dinner ,anyone coming had better put their [ice] skates on ,and hurry up .Fred.

hi one and all glad to hear that I am not the only one with snow and freds bubble and squeck had my mouth watering, well brenda yesterday we got hit big time I went out twice to dig out the car, missed the plough so my car has a nice 3feet of snow around it, I am going out in a minute or two to attack it again. as we are in for another band of snow streamers headed our way they are saying if you don't have to go on the roads don't go out to-day. lovely to read about the flowers from john it gave me quite a lift. well out into the winter wonderland I go have a good day all of you bye dorothy

Just a few quick lines today as I have been reading and lost track of time. No snow again but it is supposed to be heading our way later.Its certainly cold enougth. Went for the weekly shop and as we passed one of the biggest parks in Manchester they were cutting up the trees which had come down in the storms the other week.John thought some of them might have already been dead with some sort of tree virus etc and did not need much pushing. Fred your dinner and tea sound irrestible,put me down for seconds please.!!!! We had a bacon bap with an egg on top in the cafe at Morrisons,just enougth to put us by til tea,as i am working 4-8pm tea will not be til 8.20 ish. Dorothy who needs the gym if you have to keep digging out the car?? hope you have plenty to keep you busy and lots of candles etc incase the power goes out.Which I truly hope doesn't happen. time to think about getting changed for work,so I will say tata for now and speak to you tomorrow nightas I am at work all day tomorrow and all day Saturday. Take care ,Brenda

Hi everybody, Yes, we had also snow today but most of it has cleared already. I should have gone to hospital for a stomach x-ray, but forget not to eat, so couldn't have the x-ray done. Wonder what the surgeon is going to say tomorrow. Well yesterday when I went out on my scooter I was putting it away in the place where they have the gas meters and suddenly the thing leapt forward, hitting an old toilet pot - which shouldn't have been there any way - and taking some paint off my nice new scootmobile. I never had this problem with my old scootmobile, but this one is a bit stiff and heavy. I'll just have to take it easy in future. I had a lovely gift of some 59 different spoons given to me yesterday by my temporary help in the household. She said they were her grandmother's collection. I must have over 200 different spoons now and not two the same. Spoons from so many different countries. Jude have a lovely holiday, just as your Madoc will be having, and fat cat will also be well looked after it seems. To Fred, Brenda, and all the rest. Nice evening Sylvia xxx

Hi everyone. I'm back again. Pip is heaps better - 5 more days of pills and then he can have more blood tests etc to check for Prostate cancer. Fingers crossed that it's not. His liver seems to have settled down again. He is eating quite well now which is a good sign. We had to cancel our friends from the UK who were going to spend 5 days with us. We were all dissapointed but it had to be. As John said the weather is good in NZ now. Very hot and sunny the last few days. Constantly watering the vegies and flowers. Still picking lots of runner beans - our favourites. The neighbours like them too!! Sylvia - you just be careful with your new 'racing car'. We saw all the snow in the UK on the news here today. Looks very cold and bleak but as Fred says warmer weather for the UK is on the way. The area in which we live have never ever had snow. They get it 3 hours drive away. We have light frosts at times during the winter. I must away to bed now - sleeping in the spare room while Pip is poorly. Must be up early tomorrow and catch up with some of the jobs. Regards to all. Mavis NZ

Well I now have a date for when I will be admitted to hospital. I am going to be operated on on 8th March. I can go into hospital on 8th March or a day earlier. I must think this one over. The operation will take approx. 2 hours and I will have to spend at least 2 weeks in hospital. It is quite a big operation and the specialist was pointing out to me all the things against me, one being I am diabetic, but as I told him, I have no option but to have this operation, so let's get on with it. I have been busy making up meals for Johan and freezing them in and also buying some. I did some shopping today with my daughter but was absolutely on my knees after 15 minutes. Oh, won't it be nice to live a normal life again! Not much snow left here, just a trace here and there. Have a nice evening everybody. Sylvia xxx

hi sylvia good luck with the surgery they do great things to-day. nothing new here just lots of snow and cold,got out to-day for a little bit went to the library one does need books in this weather then got some groceries in, and popped into the gym. . was invited to dinner at the son,s this evening but declined with thanks it is to cold to go out brenda the bacon sandwhich sounds like just the thing, I bought a cheese and onion roll(bap) so I think that is what I shall have bye for now dorothy

Evening all.still no snow here,seems lots of place had it but not us. sylvia,I am sure all will go well with your surgery,and you will be back with us .nd much more like your old self,not so tired. Dorothy,glad you keep your library going,I know I do have a moan,but it seems the borrowing of books is on the decline and the use of the pcs is on the increase.I need to work for two more years so I hope they keep borrowing. Mavis ,so glad Pip is on the mend,and that you have good weather,my friend lives in Victora Aus.and her mother is visiting her t the moment,but its too hot for her. Have a little search to do and then bed ,see you all tomorrow,brenda

hi brenda oh I could not manage without the library I average about 10 books a week, I am a speed reader some thing I learned quite young at times it is a blessing at times a curse I see the whole page when I look at a page, but the library keeps me out of a financial hole I do buy a lot of books but as my eight bookcases are full I am not buying any at the moment. I forgot to mention that last night in the middle of the snow storm we also had thunder and great sheets of lightening quite strange, well it is time for bed hope you have a good week-end bye for now dorothy

Just a quick hello ,just at the end of my lunch,might not get on at home tonight,hope you are all having a good weekend,we still haven't had any snow!!!! Speak to yoy all soon.Brenda

Hi Mavis,i am glad to hear that Pip is doing so much better now,and that he is feeling more like his old self. Sylvia March will soon be here ,so tae it easy in the meantime and rest up. Once the op is over i feel sure you will be back on your feet in no time,more like yourself and rarin' to go. Hope everone is enjoying your weekend as Liz and i are..We got back so late last night ,it was a case of making a drink and going to bed,but it was as well we decided to take Stephen up on his offer of going through. We had to stay in during the morning ,waiting for the roofer to arrive ,which he did at 11 oclock. He fixed us up and said the roof was sound and would last a good few years without needing seen to again,so all that's left now is the chimney to do in the next two years. When we did get through to Howden ,it was bedlam,Sophie had fallen downstairs [again] and was off to the hospital with dad,[again] lol,they must have seen her coming and scattered saying ,oh no ,it's Sophie again ,because when they went through to reception there was no one there at the desk [in truth it was because they were ultra busy] what with people falling down in the snow and whatever,and they were there an hour and a half before getting seen to. Once again it's bad bruising and strains lol,much more of this and they will give her a season ticket. In the mean time ,back at base camp hee hee,theree is one young Stephen with acute tonsillitis,one eaashia wit henbitigo ,and one Lewis full of beans who along with the dog attacked me as soon as i walked in the door,i took off my coat and sat down and before i could draw breathe Lewis was up on my lap,jumping up and down on my legs to which i replied with owwwwww oooooooh give over you litttle b***** to which he did it even more,then the dog joined in grabbing my hand and chewing [gently] and growling in the most conincing manner ,but with the stump of a tail going at the same time [thank goodness] Old Fred managed to put up witjh this beating for a few minutes before crying [uncle] and it has to be said ,they both stopped straight away,the dog to give me a sever licking all over my face,and me not being able to move because as Lewis got down off my lap ,the big lump jumped up. A few minuted later Ann was called round to her mothers for a few minutes so we stayed behind to save her having to get two unwell kids out in the cold. Poor old dad didn't get home with Sophie until five oclock so we landed up having fish and chips from the local chippy for our tea. This chippy makes cod bites from the odd bits of cod off the portions that they prepare ,you get six cod bites and a huge portion of chips for £ 2 ,and the chips are nearly as good as waterstones at shields,any way ,we bought bites and chips four times and a jumbo sausage for the wife [cause she hates fish] for a tenner ,and it fed us all - [7] for a tenner,not bad at all . Must go for now,the puter has just updated itself and keeps trying to shut down to finish the update lol. See you all later ,take care everyone and have a nice Sunday.Fred.

A grey, but dry day here. I haven't been doing very much, a little ironing, washing, cooking and card making. Now tonight will watch some television as it is our Lottery evening. Who knows may be a millionaire tomorrow! Not much news, but at least this is better than a nudge I suppose. Sylvia xxx

just managed to get up here for tenminutes as i was watching afew programmes on T.V .Will be in for some stick tomorrow,we have no land line for the phone til tuesday ,NTl/virgin are looking at it.I do have a mobile and sent texts to a few people who might need to connact me to use my mobile number,and what have i done ? left it in work.!!! I do not normally use it in work but sent a text to someone at lunch and left it in my draw not my bag. John is at his mothers and was going to ring the mobile ...... Off to bed now .take care Brenda

Morning everyone ,from a mild and wet north east. Never you mind Sylvia ,you bothered to come on and add a few words ,and it's nice to see you anytime. Morning to Brenda too,and anyone else looking in.I have the day off today,refusing to do any housework on a Sunday other than the cooking. Our Liz forgot to leave the belly pork out last night grrrrrr ,so the dinner i had envisaged is no more ,and i was so looking forward to it. Never mind ,we picked up four beef en crouates from Farm Foods yesterday,four for a quid ,so we are now having Duchess potatos with a little oil drizzled on top and a dusting of fresh chive flakes,with the two beef whatsit's [lol] fresh green beans [french] and brocolli with a nice gravy. I may even do a small stir fry for tea,or a soup out of the freezer. This cold weather has seen a load of my birds come back,and it makes my morning to see them ,but still no sign of my robin ,or wren yet ,and i am a little concerned in case the sparrow hawk has got them,grrrrrr,if need be ,and this hawk keeps coming back into the garden i think i will get the son down with a shotgun to scare it off,a couple of shots close by will send it on it's way for good . We have the same blackbird here again,too big for a sparrow hawk tp bother ,and he still remembers how to hover at the fat balls and get big chunks off to scran on the patio,i really must try to get a new photo of him doing this as i lost the last one when teh puter crashed[that taught me to dump all the new ones on disc though ,just in case[ he also remembers to tap on the patio doors with his beak to let us know when there is no bread out ,and won't fly off until we get too close when we go out with it ,around four feet. You around Jenny,we wen't to the sons via the coast yesterday,on the metro,and boy ,your exercise beach looked rough lol,and the sea,reeeeeelly rough ,no way would i go to the cafe on the links for coffee in that ,besides ,it looked to be closed,but i hope we can get down for a coffee and bun when the weather clears ,and hope to meet Mau, and Ann and Jim again too. Have to go and start the dinner now ,and continue downloading this film for liz,so will be around most of the day. Take care all ,and be good.Fred.

goodmorning fred as usual your menu sounds wonderful and the update on the birds very interesting, the last few days I have had one lonely pigeon visiting on the balcony (11 floors up). and he?she and the cats have long staring matches through the window. the snow blowing around does not seem to bother the bird. it is early sunday morning over here and at the moment the snow has stopped and the visability is great I can see all the hill in the distance. lots of traffice going up there to the ske resorts who are all back in business again.no special plans to-day but it is early yet, my baby sister turned 60 yesterday and is not happy about it, I remember her coming home from the hospital in 1947 she was in for a long time as she only weighed a pound and a half, and she is still slim. I told her age is only a number and each day is a gift and exciting I don't think she believed me ah well, well the cats want breakfast so bye for now dorothy

Just a nudge really as i am being told the tea is ready to go on the table,been reading other sites eyc ,hope to get back later.Brenda p still no snow here.