General Chat

Morning all ,i still hav'nt seen my little freind for a few days ,so it looks as though a cat got him,or maybe next door disturbed his nest laying new decking and reorganizing the garden.I did ask them if they knew that decking ,so near the house could lead to rats ,and other rodents taking up residence,but they did'nt seem bothered ,these city dwellers ,they move into the suburbs and think the rats only inhabite the cities ,they are likely to get a shock before long,i always make sure that after a B.B.q that all the rubbish ,and scraps of food are picked up.just in case. I have a fair bit of weeding to do out there today ,the winds last month bought a fair bit of seed into the gardens ,and i have a lovely crop of thistle ,and dandilion to remove. I have found a new weapon however a little rotary fork ,hand held with four inch spikes ,all you do i'm informed is sink it in the soil turning at the same time ,and then liftt to remove the weed, complete with root [hopefully ,so i will go round shortly with fork ,and bucket and get my daughter some food for her G/pigs and rabbit's. It promises to be a hot ,but windy day ,so i'm off to do my weeding before getting a chair out.,have a good day all.Fred.PtfT&A&G&G&S.

Fred, My thoughts entirely about decking, my nextdoor neighbours have put theirs right up to the kitchen so their rodents (I hope they dont get any) would have central heating too, because the wastepipe from the kitchen sink and washer is under the decking. I like decking to be away from the house, at the bottom of the garden preferably. Maybe your little mouse is busy building a little house beneath the decking. June xx

Hello everyone,have the rest of the week off,but have something to do each day,leading up to the Mini meeting in Manchester on Saturday. Have had a few computer lessons at work so need to practise them. Fred,we had collars with bells on for the cats, but they are so crafty they soon learnt to get them of each other. Sylvia,hope your shoulder is better. June,what a shame about the house,perhaps you should get on one of those house buying TV programmes and see what they can do. John has shouted he has made a brew ,so I'd better get down to drink it while its still hot and then start tea. Take care Brenda

Crikey Brenda ,you have a couple of cat burglars,lol,if they crack the safe[the fridge] ,you are going to be in big trouble He he. I hope you are keeping your tin opener under kock and key,or you will have two cats feeding each other like Arthur,in the whiskers advert,it just goes to show that cats are far more intelligent than dogs. It's been a funny day weather wise,it's pretty warm up here but i wasted my time on the garden this morning because the wind is pretty strong and has dried the soil out within two hours of being watered. Looking forward to my tea tonight ,we decided on a pannini each,and a few oven chips ,i had hoped i was getting a treat and having real ones but got my wrist slapped ,the missus says i can wait till Saturday and have fish and chips at the coast [yey] i can think of a couple of places down there that do really good ones. Well ,i think it's time i had a drink ,only trouble is i ,can't make up my mind which to have ,orange or blackcurrant, with a couple of ice cubes. We hav'nt seen much in the way of birds today ,i think the poor little beggars are in the trees and bushes here ,hanging on for dear life he he,the wind is that strong at the moment,course ,the valley is just over the other side of the 69 and the wind whistles down the valley ,comes up the sides where the valley changes course ,and whistles straight over the houses,it can be really bitter here in winter. hope to be back late if the missus gives me time off for good behaviour.Fred.PtfT&A&G&G&S.

Hello all, Feeling a bit more normal now, must be age catching up on me that took me so long to recover. Hate feeling so lacking in energy but the fine weather has helped a bit, though it got a bit too hot for a couple of days. June, how disappointing to find the ideal house only to have the price raised and £100,000 is quite a jump in the price. Hope you manage to find something suitable soon. Have to say that my hall and stairs were painted a couple of years ago but the banisters didn't ever get the top coat, most of the undercoat has been washed off now so I am wondering how long it will take to get that finished - like yours the paint is no longer white so it will all need to be done again. Brenda, I put collars with bells on my cats - crafty monkeys used to stalk the birds holding the bells in their mouths!!! I think Lucy (the mum) taught the two youngsters how to do it. The funny part of it was that it was the dog that 'told' me, he came galloping in one day and grabbed my skirt, pulling me outside and then stood looking at the cat and then at me. He got a smack on the nose from Lucy for his trouble. Hope you enjoy your time off and the mini-meet. Sylvia, I hope your shoulder is feeling much better now. You certainly do keep busy, not surprising that you fell asleep in the car. Think I might ask for a bread maker for Christmas, you make it sound very tempting with the variety of breads you make. Fred, I have one of those gadgets for the garden, it has a couple of 'heads' one for cultivating, one for weeding and I can't remember what the third one is for as I haven't used that one. Found the first two quite useful but, as I've said before, our garden is very stony and that can sometimes be a problem. It is all very dry and hard at the moment, we've only had a couple of showers which didn't do much to help and the wind and sun soon dried it all out. I passed on all the messages to Max and will be meeting up with her when they get back from Spain. Off to bed now as I am feeling quite sleepy. To everyone I haven't mentioned I hope you are all keeping well. God bless Love Kathleen

It's early evening here in California and it is still 98 degrees. I know we live in a valley but jeez. We have been over 100 degrees since June 1st. Hottest so far is 109. Too hot to swim even. Spent the weekend holed up reading HBP so I can re-read it to Thing Two when we go camping next weekend.

Hi everyone, A rather overcast day here, I hope summer isn't over. I had another lazy day yesterday, I think I may have a virus as well as hurting my back, Oh the joys of old age, lol As most of you know, I have been having problems with both my PC and my laptop. My son in law showed me an article from Which Magazine last night, apparently a lot of people are having problems with Norton at the moment. I have posted the article on both General Topics and Tips, for those interested. Brenda, We printed the Estate Agents details of the house (with the wrong price) I will keep that just for a joke. Some people have said we should have made the Estate Agents sell it at that but I couldn't do that. Apart from the fact that we haven't sold mine yet anyway. Fred, I hope you got your time odd for good behaviour, lol It sounds pretty bleak where you live. Kathleen, Its nice to have you back and I'm pleased you are feeling more like your old self. We went to look at another house last night but it wasn't quite what we wanted, we have to keep looking just in case mine does sell quickly. Surfer, Thats quite some heat, how do you manage to work in that? Well I can now hear movement so I had better go. June xx

Hi everyone, A rather overcast day here, I hope summer isn't over. I had another lazy day yesterday, I think I may have a virus as well as hurting my back, Oh the joys of old age, lol As most of you know, I have been having problems with both my PC and my laptop. My son in law showed me an article from Which Magazine last night, apparently a lot of people are having problems with Norton at the moment. I have posted the article on both General Topics and Tips, for those interested. Brenda, We printed the Estate Agents details of the house (with the wrong price) I will keep that just for a joke. Some people have said we should have made the Estate Agents sell it at that but I couldn't do that. Apart from the fact that we haven't sold mine yet anyway. Fred, I hope you got your time odd for good behaviour, lol It sounds pretty bleak where you live. Kathleen, Its nice to have you back and I'm pleased you are feeling more like your old self. We went to look at another house last night but it wasn't quite what we wanted, we have to keep looking just in case mine does sell quickly. Surfer, Thats quite some heat, how do you manage to work in that? Well I can now hear movement so I had better go. June xx

Hi all, Johan has been busy here all day altering the computer table etc. so I couldn't use the computer. I made some bread again today and changed the beds and this afternoon made a nice card for Annemie's sister in law. Her sister in law lives in a lovely part of the Netherlands with huge garden etc.etc. and apparently has a statue in the garden of a nude male. Well I couldn't resist putting something like this in the card. I found some 3d sheets with statues of the Mannequinpis - the little boy peeing. Apparently the mother of this woman, every time she came to visit her, would cover the male parts of the statue with a serviette or tissue. She never failed to do this until she died. The house was previously owned by two gay men! Tomorrow is market day. I am having trouble with receiving e-mails and sending them. Had problems before. Rather frustrating. Have a nice evening, see you tomorrow. Sylvia xxx

Hi everyone, Its rather overcast here again today, having said that I still dried my washing outside, so it cant have been so bad. I hope the weather in Manchester tomorrow is kinder than it was last year, when we were trying to send off the balloons. Sylvia v O, Your cards sound lovely, its much nicer receiving a card designed especially for you. Its been very quiet on here again, everyone must be getting all their jobs done. Tomorrow, I will be meeting Brenda and some other Genes friends in Manchester, I will do my best to get on the PC, I still haven't got mine up and working. Take care everyone. June xx

Morning all you out there,it dos'nt seem too bad today ,warmish ,but at the moment overcast.I wen't down to the coast yesterday to see the first of the tall ships arriving ,and dropping anchor outside the river entrance..It was low tide so they had to stay till around 5 oclock for the bigger ones to be able to navigate the river.I saw Endeavor.Sir Winstan Churchill.and the big white polish ship ,but i won't even try to say the name lol..I also noticed the aircraft carrier but don't know which one it was,i think ,illustrious[spelling ,again]and one frigate ,which by chance came up river later whilst liz and i were having our fish and chips from waterfront ,the only place to get them at north shields [they were geet lush.] I also spied out the land for Saturday ,for places to see and places we could have lunch, whatever and weather permitting ,we should have a good day. Hope to be back later after taking dolly the sheep to have her hair cut [liz he he.] if you lot tell her she will kill me lol. Have a good day ,all of you.Fred.PtfT&A&G&G&S.

Hi all, Woke up this morning to pouring rain at 5.00 am, so decided to go back to bed, but didn't sleep. Eventually got up and had a shower at 7.00 am. Annemie phoned that she didn't want to go to the market as it was raining, so I went on my own. I didn't need too much shopping so that was good I was alone. Johan has gone into town to the library but will be back soon for lunch and then Linda is coming. I shall make us all tostis for lunch, but have a little time now to write this. Cannot understand while I feel so tired. Anyway I can now receive and send e-mails, which I couldn't do yesterday. Haven't seen the news yet, but I hope they manage to find out who has been bombing London. It seems so awful that a handful of terrorists could disrupt the average person's life. I wonder whether they have been living off the State these terrorists. Were they at one time asylum seekers????? A lot of questions to be answered. See you all tomorrow. Sylvia xxx

Hi all, Cannot believe that nobody has posted since I last did yesterday, So now we have the bombing in Sharm el Sheikh. A place a bit nearer to my family as my niece recently bought an apartment there and works for a diving company. I have sent her an e-mail and now anxiously awaiting a message from her to say she is ok. I have contacted the company she works for and hope they may return my e-mail. Yes, worrying days. I hadn't heard from my niece for years and met her through this site. She contacted me and I was so pleased to hear from her. The weather here is so miserable and cold, but I'm not jealous of those living in France, Spain or Turkey where the temperatures are rising and the risks of fire are high. Then give me the cold! I can at least put on a cardigan or jumper and be safe. Where are you all girls and Fred? Sylvia xxx

Hi Sylvia,i hav'nt run away honest lol.i have been to the mini meet at tynemouth ,where i met Jenny ,ann,and hubby Jim,Sally ,Andy,and Anna,none of whom i had met before .quite a chinwag,and get together,a thing i have never done before ,i think some of them were a bit puzzled because i was a bit quiet,but believe it or not ,i have always been a little subdued among peoplei don't know,and sometimes give the impression that i am bored ,or not enjoying myself,but nothing is further from the truth..I enjoyed it from start to finish ,and i'm already looking forward to next Thursday ,when some of us [and hopefully a few more] will be meeting again at the start of the tall ships race. I did get a few nice photo's of the group ,and a good start to the camcorder film i am making over the next week..The only downside today had to be the weather,there we were in the middle of july set to enjoy ourselves ,and we finished up cowering in the park hotel ,cause most of us were ruddy frozen he he.Sally said it was thirty degrees down south ,right ,but it's no consolation when it felt more like thirty below up here i could swear that when i got home ,and took my shoes and socks off ,my toenails ,[and other bits] had shrunk lol. I am beggining to think most of the others have gone on holiday Sylvia o i suppose you and i had better stay on here until they come back. Debs seems to have dissapeared lately ,and i was wanting to know how her mum enjoyed her holiday,so if you see this debs let me know you are okay.please. i'm off to bed now seeing as it's back to the grindstone tomorrow,have a nice day all ,see you tomorrow .Fred.PtfT&A&G&G&S.

hello Everyone,have had pc problems for a few days ,but hopefully they are now fixed. went to the mini Manchester meet today,buthad to come home early due to the pc repair man coming. It was really good to see ,Bren Mills,Lou ,Keith and of course our JUNE,again. Saw some new faces but will have to have helpto rember everyone. Have loads to catch up on on here,so see you tomorrow,Take care Brenda

Hi everybody, You would think I had nothing better to do than play on the computer, wouldn't you? I have been trying all day to contact my niece in Sharm el Sheikh but my niece phoned her job off apparently two days before she was due to start and is working for a tour operating company out there. It was nice of them to e-mail me back, but I am still no further. Because she had her own apartment it makes life a bit more difficult. With a hotel I would at least have the name. Well I suppose no news is good news! The weather looked so nice this morning, but this afternoon the heavens really opened up and it hasn't stopped since. It is also so cold and damp that I have put the central heating on. I have also made two more loaves of bread - white and brown - so have a nice lot in the freezer now. Finished my grandsons ironing for him and that is about all - dull eh? What else should I do on such a dull day? Well at least I have kept the thread moving. See you tomorrow, Sylvia xxx

Hi everyone, Sorry I haven't posted, I wasn't ab;e to get on much last night, everyone was queuing for the PC. I went to the Manchester meet and saw our Brenda, Brenda Mills, Lou, Frances from Derbyshire, Pat, Lal, Julia, Jim and Brenda Rogers, Linda from Bolton, Dave Bennett, Honey Rum Anne, Val from the Wirral, Keith Red Devil, I hope I haven't forgotten anyone. Then there was a Carnival went past, we had front seats, lol. We were taking photos of the floats and when all the police vans came along at the end, one of the policemen donned his hat for us. It was all very musical and good spirits. Fred, Glad you had a good time at the meetup with Jenny and everyone, I think these meetups are good for keeping the good feeling on Genes. Sylvia v O, I hope you soon have news from your niece, we cant help worrying can we? The rain reached us just after dinner tonight but we haven't had much and it is quite warm. Well I had better let someone else on here now. See you tomorrow. June xx

Hi All It seems like June and Fred had a good time at their meet ups, I know Honey Rum is setting one up in N.S.W. in Aus but a bit far for me to travel otherwise I would be there they sound like a lot of fun. Not a lot has been happening out here in Tassie, we are finally getting a bit of badly needed rain, hopefully it is raining heaps into our catchment areas so we dont end up with power shortages in the summer. My daughter Tamika had a sleepover for her 14th birthday on Friday night, I thought we might be in for a noisy night but they were quite happy taking over the lounge and set up camp for the night watching DVD's until about 1.30 am, we hardly knew they was there, she only had 3 of her best friends sleep over. Which as she said it is better having 4 that get along well than have more sleep over and have one or two causing trouble. Yesterday (Sunday) David and I visited my Nan and had lunch with her as it is her 89th birthday on Wednesday 27th. My Dad and Mum where also there so it was nice to sit and talk without any children around as my children went to their Dad's on Saturday for the weekend. Well I must go and do a bit more paperwork on my tree, as I am going over all the little bits of information I have collected and making sure I have it all on my family tree program, which is why I havent been on here for a while, but I do check the messages when I have a few moments, take care everyone, I will catch up again soon.

Hi Everyone Just to let you know I'm still here and keeping up with all your messages. It must be nice meeting up with friends from GR,we are just a little too far away but do enjoy your reports. We have had some welcome sunshine for the last couple of days more like our Bay weather should be.Weather patterns have become so unpredictable now haven't they ? My husband is into his second week in the US and due home next Sunday so I have spoilt myself with extra time 'surfing the net' and a little genealogy research.Sooner or later tho' I must face reality and catch up with that ironing etc. Hope you and your families are happy and well. JudyNZ

hello everyone,this is very short,STILL having pc problems ,it keeps freezing,not sur why.tried a few different things.Will not be long incase it goes again.Will keep in touch via pcs at work for now.But it will be short and sweet then as well. Hope to be back soon, PS nice to see our friends popping in.from down under. Brenda