General Chat

Hi everyone. Thank goodness the wind has died down, feel very sorry for the people in Carlisle though. Stand well back from me, I am still coughing and sneezing all over the place. I went to Asda yesterday afternoon and didn't realise how weak I was, I really shouldn't have gone, I was breaking out in sweats all the time and kept tripping over things that weren't there. Last night I was aching all over again, anyway thank goodness its just the sneezes etc this morning. Sylvia, I think it is nicer that your birthday is spread out over a day or two, if there are too many people there at the same time you dont always have chance to talk properly, anyway I hope you enjoy yourself. Jude, Just having a chuckle at Madoc trying to get in the bath to his bed. It could well be the cat trying to mark his territory, or what he thought was his territory, Gaynor once had a neighbour with over 20 cats and when Lulu ( a yorkie) was very old, she used to lie by the wrought iron gate looking out, one of these cats used to come and wee on her! Poor Lulu was always in the bath! Is it all the bed that smells or just the bottom cushion, because you came buy the bottom cushion separately. Everyone is either at the sales or down with this flu bug, I hope they are at the sales, I wouldn't wish the flu bug on anyone. Well I had better go and get dressed now, disgusting aren't I? Love June xx

Hello Everyone,nice to read that I have been missed. Had a lovelly night out with old work friends on Friday,but going straight from the library was not a good idea.I had to get a bus ,as the taxis were booked up as the weather was so bad.I only saw the desination on the front of the bus,but it really went round the houses so to speak to get there.anyway I was only a few mins late and it was really nice to be greeted so warmly by so many people.The meal was great and all the better as it was paid for by the lady who was retireing,she is having a holiday in the canaries next week,lucky her. Yesterday I was busy shopping and trying to keep warm outside whilst shopping wasn't easy.Had to leave half of what i wanted from the local market ,mainly as only a few stalls turned out,Sylvia it must be a market traders holiday with yours not being there either. Going to Bury with my sister on wednesday that is a bigger market so should do better,then going to Dunlem Mill in radcliffe to buy some bedding in the sale,if there is any left.Our new bed was deloveres at 8.50 this morning we had been told after nine ,but still it is here and all assembled etc.It is a pine frame bed ,to match the chests of drawers we bought last year. I can honestly say after 32 years in this house that I have the bedroom of my dreams,better late than never!!!. Going over to Dads in a while and then when I get back I am doing a lasagne for tea,using up freezer and store cupboard items . Will speak to you all tomorrow ,hope you are feeling better then June,you seem to be going through it !! Jude I read somewhere that Bicarb on animal bedding can remove "that" smell.There is also something you do with vinegar ,but i can not remember at the moment what it is!!!! Hope you can be a little more patient with the new comuter Sylvia,but I must admit I get a bit frustrated myself when trying to learn something new. fred ,you make me feel lazy when you talk about all you do in the kitchen.Don't overdo it. Take care,Brenda

Hello all, No Sylvia, not even reading. I have been on other threads but this one had slipped out of site and i kept forgetting to look for it. Then today when I found it on page 3 it took forever to download. Anyway, good to read all your news. before you said Jude i was going to suggest the cat, madoc would more likely have made more of a mess outside his bed given that he probably cocks his leg, while the cat can wee in the bed. Hope you finally get rid of the smell. Do I owe you an e mail? Or vice versa? I hope you enjoy your BiL's stay, you must have made him welcome!! Brenda, glad you enjoyed your meal with friends, always tastes better when you don't have tom pay too!! Di, Do hope that your cold will soon be better, saw neil''s snow photos on GC photo page, have you had a lot of snow? Sylvia I hope that you soon get all the glitches sorted out with the new computer, they take a bit of adjusting to and just as you think you have it sorted up pops another problem. So you have had windy weather too. Our weather has been very windy, although not so bad here in Gloucester as in the North. Carlisle had it particularly bad with serious flooding yesterday. June that was certainly a nasty virus you had, sounded like gastric flu. Hope you can't pass it via the boards!!! Anyway, hope you are continuing to feel better. I am sure you will need to rest for a few more days and not try to do too much too soon. Fred, busy in the kitchen as usual, I love bread pudding but my waistline can do without it at the moment, it is enough of a struggle as it is. speak soon everyone Love Ann Glos Well, sorry not to have been very active on here the past couple of days i will try to do better.

Hi all:o)) Hubby got back from daughters about 4pm today, l was on my own - l was quite good, did a number of things including housework (grrrr). Have been playing with photo's,tracing them and then transferring them onto tiles,it worked!! l then paint the outline very thinly and off l go - first one was of Madoc with his tongue hanging out, loads to do on it yet though. Next l want to do photo of son and then copy some pictures of Brear Rabbit and Mother Goose. l tried copying the Stick fishermen from Sri Lanka but it did'nt work, l will try tracing it. The bed now smells lovely - l use Bicarb on the carpets,thats very good. Yes it was the whole of the cushion and bed. Madoc does'nt cock his leg cause of his bad leg, he sort of balances though, bless im!! so it could have been him, but l think the smell is more cat! We had a good old game today (me & Madoc(, l tried hiding from him, but he found me straight away each time, l think he cheated!!! lol If l bury my head in my hands he goes potty,not nasty,just very excited,barking and squeling - today he moved my hands and barked very loudly in my ear - corrr blimey, wont do that again!!! lol We have still been very lucky with the weather, still quite windy, infact next door had a very large pot smashed - he said it would need 2 people to lift it - as far as l know thats about it around here, maybe some fence pannellings etc - so pleased l don't live in Carlisle. Ok thats it - Vic has just gone out with Madoc and l have to get changed, sister will be here later and we might go out for a drink:o))) June - NOW YOU MUST take it easy!!! l deleted that thread about Joseph O'Riordan, incase it sparked off any more probs!!! Jude sarf wales xx

Well, Sunday is a day of rest, so who am I to go against this? We had a leisurely breakfast, then I prepared the evening meal, and thought "why should I do anything else". I then pulled my cross stitch work out. This last "All Our Yesteryears" has been hanging around too long, so I must finish it. I had done a small piece wrongly so had to unpick it - and with all those colours had to be in the mood to do so. I managed to do a few rows before my ex son in law and his wife came. I had a book token and a pot of bulbs from them and they've invited us to eat with them the first Saturday in February. Jan is a good cook, so I know we'll enjoy the meal. Oh, there goes the diet again! Well the wind seems to have settled again. I think these extreme weather conditions are a bit frightening. I thought I heard a blue tit today. Wouldn't be surprised as the weather is so mild. I did see a magpie cleaning himself up, almost falling off the branch in doing so - just like Spring when he is trying to spruce himself for a soulmate! Nothing much has been happening here so will sign off for now. Love, Sylvia xxx

Well, Sunday is a day of rest, so who am I to go against this? We had a leisurely breakfast, then I prepared the evening meal, and thought "why should I do anything else". I then pulled my cross stitch work out. This last "All Our Yesteryears" has been hanging around too long, so I must finish it. I had done a small piece wrongly so had to unpick it - and with all those colours had to be in the mood to do so. I managed to do a few rows before my ex son in law and his wife came. I had a book token and a pot of bulbs from them and they've invited us to eat with them the first Saturday in February. Jan is a good cook, so I know we'll enjoy the meal. Oh, there goes the diet again! Well the wind seems to have settled again. I think these extreme weather conditions are a bit frightening. I thought I heard a blue tit today. Wouldn't be surprised as the weather is so mild. I did see a magpie cleaning himself up, almost falling off the branch in doing so - just like Spring when he is trying to spruce himself for a soulmate! Nothing much has been happening here so will sign off for now. Love, Sylvia xxx

Oh Sylvia u lickle pickle- lol:o)))))) jude sarf wales x

Hi everyone, We have strong winds again, not as bad as last week thank goodness and it is dry and sunny. What happened to the days when we had snow for days/weeeks on end? Everyy morning I get up thinking thank goodness my cold has gone and by late afternoon, I feel dreadful, Yesterday I did manage some toast then just had a slice of bread and butter for lunch and that was it, by then felt too sick to bother. Oh June stop moaning and shake yourself!! Brenda, We have a Dunhelm Mill shop near to us too, they are very good value aren't they and I believe there is now one in Blackpool. Ours has now opened a cafe and they have a gorgeous apple fudge cake, it is so scrummy!! I think after 32 years, you deserve the bedroom of your dreams, lol Ann,(Glos) This bug started 21st December, I remember that date because it was the day I met up with friends for lunch and that night I had terrible indigestion (something I dont normally suffer from) and it gradually got worse over the Christmas period and now this, dont worry about it coming through the computer, I wouldn't give it to my worst enemy!! lol Jude, Aren't you clever, I would like to see these tiles, you must take photos of them and show us when you have finished, Maybe put them on Webshots? I have just started a little trick with Beckham too, I ask him for a kiss and then say, A kiss not a tongue job and he pushes his little nose and mouth at me. lol Sylvia, I agree with you, Sunday is a day of rest ( well that's my excuse anyway) but I really should hoover the lounge! I would put the crossstitch out of view, that sounds like hard work to me, especially unpicking it!! Di, So nice to hear from you again, sorry to hear you have this dreaded flu bug too, sounds like a good idea , hitting the bottle. Thanks for your good wishes, I hope you are better soon too. Kathleen, I hope you are alright, I keep thinking of you and Susan, take care. Elisabeth I hope you are keeping busy too. Everyone else I haven't mentioned, take care, keep warm. Love June xx Ssssh!! Its Sylvia's birthday tomorrow. !!

Hi everybody, I do feel guilty about not joining you in having the 'flu, but Johan and I haven't even had a cold for a couple of years now. We've had other things, but no colds or 'flu. I do hope that you all June, Di, Lou, Brenda, will soon be up on your feet and getting on with your Spring cleaning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The weather is so mild that anybody could be fooled that it wasn't Spring. Maybe I'll see you tomorrow, otherwise the day after. Love, Sylvia xxx

hello All Is it me or hasthis board gone slow again? I am in the middle of sorting out some of my FH material and writing up about my Gt grandfather but sidetracked onto here. he owned a Brickfield in portsmouth and I can't find any information on Portsmouth Brickfields which is annoying, everywhere else, yes, but not Portsmouth. Jude had a chuckle at you playing ostriche with madoc, but he had the last laugh didn't he? You certainly wont do that again. June and Di I hope you can soon shake off your bugs, that is the trouble this time of year they are difficault to get rid of. I have put a couple of photos of the kids at Christmas on the GC photo page if you want a peep, one of me taken by Gregory on NY eve too. Tony has been decorating today. Started on the spare bedroom, painting the anaglypta walls a pale lavender, i am pleased with the colour it is very pretty and makes a nice change from the yellow it was. Next will be to do the hall, stairs and landing jade white, then our bedroom misty blue. have to get it all done before the end of feb. when we go to Lanzarote for 3 weeks as when we come back itwill be time to start on the garden again. Brenda, and Lou, i did read your replies but can't remember what you said so hope you are both OK. oh I remember, well done Kris for getting a job. Well that is all from me for now. take care everyone. Love Ann Glos

Hi everyone, Its dry here but a bit breezy, still it is winter.Yesterday Gaynor and Samantha came round for a chat, Sam drove round, I think she should take her test, I'm sure she is ready for it. Sylvia, I hope you enjoyed your birthday and haven't got a bad head this morning. Dont feel guilty about not joining us with the flu, its not very nice. Ann,Glos, You are going to show me up with your nicely decorated house, it sounds lovely. I think it helps when you have a deadline to meet, its an incentive and what better incentive than Lanzarote. Some friends of mine, who I haven't seen for a long time, went out there to live a few years back, and I have heard he has a nasty illness. It doesn't seem fair after working hard all his life and then not being able to enjoy retirement. Di, It does sound like we have a similar bug, I hope you are better now, yesterday I definitely felt a lot better, it was the first time I had eaten normally. So pleased to hear John has a house designing job, that will keep him out of mischief! Marly, Isn't it frustrating, so many times I have lost messages, usually in my case because I dont concentrate, I'm thinking of the next job I intend doing. Where's Jude? she'll be either playing with Madoc or getting ready for her b i l's visit. Kathleen, still thinking of you and Susan. Lou, glad Kris got sorted with a job. Everyone else, I hope you are well and taking care of yourselves. I am now off to the photos page (I haven't worked out how to add photos yet) to look at Ann's photos. Love June xx

Morning All – too many to name individually! I have looked in, or rather tried, so many times but never seemed to get the thread to load the latest message. I don’t know if it was my computer or the site, but I gave up after waiting ages. We had a quiet Christmas with us all going down with the awful cold and cough at various times. Just two of us left with blocked up heads and coughs. I’m sure we will improve sometime. At least we didn’t eat too much as we felt too ill to be bothered. There is little new to report really. I loved catching up with friends and family over the holiday and it still continues. Last night we had a call inviting us for Sunday lunch next week, when some mutual friends are in UK on a visit from the Middle East. We also had a call last week from someone I haven’t seen for 20 years, who is going to visit. Perhaps it is a sign of getting old when we treasure contact with friends from younger days. We were going to have a ride into the Lincolnshire countryside to search around some graveyards to try to find which village my ggfather is buried in. We have had a photo in the family collection forever, of a very ornate gravestone but have no idea just where it is. We called off the day out when we were feeling so rough with our colds. Perhaps another day…. The young ones are working well on their first home – discovering the joys of decorating. Half our tools have now migrated south, as the next job they are going to tackle is laying a laminate floor. It would not be my choice – I do like carpet underfoot in my lounge, but I wouldn’t discourage them. They are so happy with it all – but very tired. We will now see if I can cut and paste this onto the site – never done that before! Have a happy day, Elisabeth xx Wow I did it!!!

Elisabeth, Lovely to hear from you again, sorry you too have had this rotten cold that is going around. I know what you mean about tools vanishing, the trouble is you dont know how many vanished until you come to need them yourself. Anyway Take Care, lovely to hear from you again, (glad I popped back now) Love June xx

hello Everyone,After John took the old bed down he put some of it in this room,and some in the bathroom,intending to put it in the garden later,but with the rain it ended up in here and i could not get in. Anyway most of it has gone now and I can squeeze in ,Hope all you who are or have been ill are on the way to recovering,and those that aren't don't get ill,if you know what I mean. Have to go and finsh tea now,lamb chops, potatoes,sprouts and carrots. Take care ,Brenda.

Hi all Mad dog Madoc has just a very funny 5 minutes - or wind up his tail session!!!! He came charging upstairs in here to me,charged out again onto my bed, l then went to see what he was up to - at that stage he was just lying there on the bed - then off he went again, barking, squealing, grabbing my hands and arms (not hurting), off the bed grabbed something off my bed side table, back on the bed - like a plonker l put my head on the bed - yeh he barked in my ear again, off the bed downstairs and grabbed another toy and calmed down, oooo errr. oh no he's back on my bed, think l'll ignore him for a few mins!!!! lol l was sure that yesterday l sent a message here, l must have imagined l did or started and decided to do it later. ("age" - thats all l can say!) Hi Di - sorry you're still feeling poorly:o( Are'nt the animals fun - my cats never did that, they may have slept closish together,but not clean each other!! Mind you at the rate the cat and Mad dog are going they maybe cleaning one another soon - well l said "maybe" lol Kathleen - how are things your end, do hope everything is ok and that you don't have this bug as well. So far we have been ok!! How is Susan ?- we're all thinking positive thoughts for her. Take care. B.i.l will be leaving USA tomorrow evening and getting here(our house) approx 4 - 5pm - he's so excited. We hope to take him to Rhadar where the Red Kites are, we saw 50 - 100 a few months ago and hope to see loads more this time.Will look on the site in a mo. Elisabeth - great to see you, but so sorry you have all been poorly, thats all you need. Where abouts do you live, anywhere near Bristol??? just wondering incase l can make that meet up, it would be lovely to meet you and anyone else on here - but l'm no saying yeh or neh at present. SYLVIA - A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU,DID YOU OPEN THE SHERRY?? AND HOW MANY VISITORS DID YOU HAVE. HOPE YOU HAD A LOVELY TIME, KNOWING YOU, YOU DID!!!! June - Dow l'm not clever,its so easy to do, but before a pencel would'nt draw on the tiles,but it will leave ts mark when tracing, strange. Not had time to do anything this past 3-4 days.This evening l'm having to move it all off the dining room table!:o( Ann - wish l had your Tony - Vic is not a d.i.y man, will not decorate unless he really has too and is not keen for me to do it. BUT l have told him (bossy boots me!!) when b.i.l has gone l am going to do it!! l really want to put my stamp on this house, it was all lovely and clean, previous owner had decorated right through,but its not my choice.Hubby is happy with anything if its clean - ooooo men!!!!! Brenda - hope you have the bed sorted now, was a bed was'nt it?? Lou - Do hope your feeling ok now, blimey girl you do go through it - we must be so lucky here - but l should'nt speak too soon should l!!!??? Phantom of The Opera, bet that was lovely, must see that oneday - l'm not one for the cinema,so have to be dragged almost,but usually enjoy it when there. Congrats to Chris with his new job, hope all goes well. Marly - come on then where is the message. Is'nt it frustrating, perhaps thats what happened to me yesterday, l thought l had sent one, but l deleted it or something:o( Ok thats it - this was supposed to be a quickie,its now 5.45pm and l am starving. We're having Birds Eye packets of fish in parsley sauce - l part cook the fish,grate loads of cheese,cook pasta, add a nob of better, throw it all together, pop it under the grill with more cheese and sliced toms - gorgeous with bread and butter or mashed spuds (but filling) and peas, or just peas, or salad. Bye for now - will be peeking later:o) Jude sarf wales xx

This thread slides back down the pages so quickly it sometimes takes a while to find. I really should just type the heading into the search thingy. I do hope you are all feeling better soon, thankfully I seem to have recovered now, just the occasional bout of sneezing and still a bit of a blocked up nose but really much, much better. Catching up on all that lost sleep as well, just lately have been falling asleep in the chair for a couple of hours in the evening, the hot lemon and honey with a good slug of brandy did help quite a lot. Eased the sore throat, loosened the cough and helped me get some sleep. Susan is keeping well and still in good spirits, she goes into hospital on 25th now, I know she will feel much better when that is over. I have just realised I have missed Sylvia's birthday - I am so sorry. I hope you had a lovely day, plenty of spoiling, lots of cards and good company. I'm afraid I keep forgetting what day/date it is. Madoc is showing just how happy and safe he feels with you Jude, he certainly seems to be enjoying life. It can be quite exhausting though trying to keep up with him I imagine. When I had cats (three) they used to curl up together and would always wash each other, I have a photo somewhere of them all curled up and another where they are all asleep on the dog - I must try to find them and put them on the photo page. I do miss them, though have to admit I miss my doggy most of all. Di, you couldn't think of moving and leaving that lovely garden. Still it is nice that John keeps thinking of new designs for you and great that he has now got a real project to work on. Has he had his check up yet? I hope all is well. June, you have had a rough time, that bug you picked up must have been quite a nasty one - certainly more than just flu. I hope you soon feel much better and able to eat properly. I had intended writing a much longer message but I'm feeling very tired now. Unfortunately I got interrupted with a phone call just after I started writing, took longer than I thought but my friend needed to talk, hopefully she felt better after we'd had a chat about her problems. For now I will say goodnight to you all, sleep well and I will catch up tomorrow (when I should have some time to myself). God bless Love Kathleen

Hi everyone, Its another blustery day in the NorthWest, sunshine and blue skies though. Thank goodness most of my coughing has stopped so I'm fighting fit again, well nearly, lol Though when I go to Asda, I realise I'm not as fit as I thought, I have to have a rest when I get home. Thanks for all your kind messages. Brenda, that dinner sounds rather tempting, I must be back to normal! Jude, I'm going to try that with the fish, it sounds very tempting too. Its not long now to your b i l being there. Kathleen, I'm glad Susan is keeping well, though she will be glad to see the end of January. I'm glad you are feeling better too, I keep nodding off in the late afternoons, something I never did, and that's without Sylvia's sherry, lol I think we are all in need of some warm sunshine, that will do the trick. I'm beginning to feel like a nod now, that must because I have been talking about it. Love June xx

Evening all:o)) This should be a quickie!! Sylvia where are you?? hope you have'nt caught any bugs from anyone, hope you're well:o)) June - its so easy to make (the fish thingy), spose u can do it with fresh fish, just make a cheese sauce etc etc Not long now before b.i.l arrives, we phoned about 7-8pm tonight to make sure he had'nt forgotten anything - he'd already left, bless im. It was approx 12noon there - so he's on his way, and to think he won't be here til approx 4-5pm tomorrow!!!!! Being that it is Wednesday today - me and sister dod the rounds of the charity shops. l bought a bok on Colour Co-ordination £1.00 l really intend to paint the walls!!!!!!!!!!(in house). l bought some hooks today that have sticky backs, so we can hang some gorgeous tiles on the wall. They are of American Indian art, absolutely gorgeous - l have collected them over the years and b.i.l sent me 4 coaster size ones for christmas - BUT THEYare not the right ones - grrrr - for the time being l want to just stick them on the wall, l think l need double sided sticky fingies - when b.i.l has gone we will start the painting and l want a sort of mini mini shelf on the wall, with a groove for the tiles to settle in - abit like the old fashioned Dressers for plates!!?? that way l can move them about,add new ones etc - the other b.i.l will do the mini mini shelf!! Kathleen - so pleased to hear Susan is well and keeping in good spirits:o))) and l do hope you soon feel well, take care now, ok?? Thats it,its almost 11pm l'm a tidgy widgy bit tired having had 2 glasses of wine (actually l'm probably tiddly)! Speak again soon. Nite nite Jude sarf wales xx

Hi Di - oh please do put it on the thread, l think l have mentioned it before and there is a lovely short bread one as well made with custard powder. l will look for it later - in that case l will put both of them on your thread later, so don't worry about copy & paste. No l have'nt seen the portraits, l will though, only my b.i.l is arriving soon and l still have alot todo, should'nt really be on here - he he he:o)) Sylvia - l do hope your ok, its most unusual for you not to have given us a quick hello, if nothing else.Take care. Jude sarf wales Take care everyone xx

Hi everyone, We have a lovely sunny day here today in the NorthWest, I would love to put the washer on but my grandson was working last night and will wake him up if I do. Jude, That sounds a good idea, getting a shelf with grooves in for your tiles. I am going to have a go with your recipe, I think I will use the Birds Eye fish in sauce though because it can be handy in the freezer. Di, Yes where is Sylvia? When I had piano lessons ( a long time ago) I played a piece of music called that. I hope she isn't having problems with her new computer. I think it would take more than sherry to knock Sylvia out, oh I do hope she isn't ill. You've just reminded me, I meant to go and look at the photos page. I hope your cough is getting better, I'm nearly there but when I went round the supermarket, it made me realise how weak it had made me, just think how bad I would have been without the flu jab. My friend is coming round this afternoon, she phoned me to see if I was "up" to it, but I said I need a good natter, so she will be round in a little while. Kathleen, still thinking of you and Susan. Everyone else, just take care. Love June xx