General Chat

Hello Fred and JA nice to see you again.Just came on to say I will NOT BE ON AGAIN UNTIL AT LEAST OCTOBER 1ST. I am away tomorrow and the flight is at 5am,so we are at the airport at 2.30am taxi pick up at my friends at 1.45am,so no bed for me tonight.!!!! Take care of yourselves,see you soon Brenda

Have a great holiday Brenda,and let us know how you got on please,and make the most of it,by the time you get back ,the autumn will be well in ,and the frosts ae just round the cornerlol/Fred.PtfA&G&G&S.

Hi all, Well so you are back with a vengeance Fred - two postings the same - tut tut! Anyway, nice to see you back. Johan and I went out and spent a lot of money today. We bought a new television set. Our other one is on its last legs and now and again switches itself off, then we have to put it on again and its ok, but not very trustworthy. They will deliver our new television next Tuesday and take the old one away. I also bought some new duvet covers with bright red poppies on them and fitted undersheets in the same colour red as the poppies. I love to see poppies, they are so bright The weather has now turned from humid to cold, wet and windy. Bah, not Autumn, but winter seems to have set itself in. Have a lovely holiday Brenda. Where are you going? Now everybody, have a nice evening, see you all tomorrow. Sylvia xxx

J.A. on the Limestone Plains My husband is ok so far as he does nothing. He cannot climb the stairs any more. We don't need to as we have a lift in our flats, but that's not the point. I think it is next week that he sees the cardiologist again. We don't sit still though and are planning still to go to our daughter's house and make trips out from there. Thanks for asking Sylvia xxx

Hi Everyone Sorry to leave it all to you Sylvia but I see that Fred,June, JA and Sue have arrived to help out. We are in the throes of 'election fever' and will be glad to finally have a result to-morrow(Saturday night)at last. Oh, if only all the promises were kept !! Our weather continues to improve day by day,but we seem to be having a very short Spring.At the moment the cherry trees are losing their blossom,looks like a snowstorm outside,and the poor birds are working overtime nestbuilding.Funniest sight this morning was a mynah carrying a plastic bag up into a palm tree. Haven't heard from Sylvia in Oz for some time,hope all is well for her and Norman. Also Jacquie(Oleander)and all her lovely animal friends. Kind thoughts to you all JudyNZ

Hi everyone, Its a lovely sunny September morning here, just a little nip in the air. Lucky Brenda going away until October. I hope she has a good time, I'm sure she will, she is one of those people that seems to laugh a lot. I hope everyone else is well, especially Kathleen and Susan. Sorry I have to dash now, I have to take my granddaughter to work but I thought that if I didn't post now, I may not have time later. Have a good weekend everyone. June xx

Hi everyone, I am new at this game! Had an email from Judy NZ who said I would be welcome. I too am from NZ. Came from Andover Hampshire England 13 years ago. My daughter Sue, married a Kiwi and after several great holidays here decided this was the place to retire to. No regrets. Lovely Country and lovely people. Of course, our roots are still in the UK. My husband still refers to the UK as home! All for now as this is my first time. Nite nite Mavis

welcome Mavis,you are new blood ,and will do very well for us,another kiwi too ,we are doing very well on here now with people from all over. i am sorry Sylvia about the double posting [slaps his wrist in disgust for slipping up again] i'm sure there is something funny going on as i did it a couple of weeks ago . I was remarking on another thread that the garden has started shutting down for he winter,so i am having to get my act together sharpish ,and get the bulbs for next year in i have some snowdrop,crocus ,and dwarf daff's and tulips,and went and got some winter flowering pansy this morning .I have all my seed ready for the greenhouse too ,so i had better get that ready too ,including the heating cable so that i can start things off a lot earlier. There is an added advantage too in that i will be able to kip in there on the camp bed ,in case Liz evicts me hee hee. I am off to Blyth on sunday for a spot of fishing ,with the youngest son ,and a coulpe of my grandbairns,so we will be taking a couple of flasks of tea ,and some sarnies ,for dinner,Liz says she will come too ,blast it ,that puts paid to my chances of catching the biggest fish ,if any at all ,but just you watch the woman,she will catch a tiddler if need be just to ruin my day lol. .Our freezers are now full ready for the winter,Liz has been very busy this last week making loads of soups,from the original northern soup,through to cream of tomato,and chicken and leak,so no matter what,we won't starve if we get snowed in. well,it's time to go for now,i have things to see to and tea to make.enjoy the start to the weekend all ,and enjoy it.Fred.PtfA&G&G&S>

Hi Everyone Well, I feel like a model citizen, having gone out and as they say 'exercised my democratic right' and voted and tomorrow we will know who will make or break our hearts !! Welcome Mavis,glad to have more company from down under but we seem to be a little light on the Oz side.Sue from Tassie have you heard from Sylvia and Norman hope all is well with them both. Fred,another year gone so quickly,here we are into Spring and you into Autumn.We have an advantage over you re cold weather and gardening as our glasshouse doesn't require extra heating but our climate doesn't allow for very long Spring or Autumn periods so we miss out on prolonged flowering spells of some of the loveliest delicate plants and rely on the hardier varieties. Hope you enjoy your fishing. Kathleen do hope all is well with you and Susan. June, have you remembered which box you packed Beckham and Bonnie in !! Sylvia v.Oz hope you and Johan have a well earned break during your 'home stay' but I can't imagine you staying still for very long. Looking forward to Brenda's return and hearing about her holiday experiences. Kind thoughts to you all JudyNZ

Hello all, Just popping in for a moment to say thank you for all your good wishes. Susan is coping really well though still not to good. Unfortunately she does have to have both chemo injections after all, she thought this Friday would be the last one however still one to go next week. I really don't think she could cope with any more, she has been so brave and positive about it all. Welcome to Mavis, I do hope we will see you here as a regular contributor. Syvlia v.O, hope you and Johan enjoy your break, what a pity you have had to cancel your visit to the UK but Johan's health is first priority. June, hope the move goes smoothly - and soon!! Fred, love the sound of all those soups. Nothing like a good hot soup on a cold winter's day. Hope the fishing is succesful. To everyone else, I have read all the messages but my memory fails me at this hour of the morning. God bless all Love Kathleen

Hi All Not much is happening in my quiet little part of the world, I have to go to the heart technician next Friday, yes I know it sounds funny calling him a technician but that is what he is. He hooks me up to a computer and checks to make sure my AICD unit is going ok, David calls it my tune up, like they do with these modern cars when they hook them up to a computer to dyno tune or fine tune them. I will also find out if I need to make a trip back to Victoria to have the unit changed if the battery is low, as I have had the unit in for nearly 4 years and they say it last 4 to 5 years. Judy I received an email from Sylvia the other day so I am assuming her and norm are both ok. Mavis welcome aboard. Kathleen thinking of you and Susan Hello to everyone else, thinking of you.

Hi everyone, Its a lovely September morning. Welcome aboard Mavis, do you often get back here to the UK or are all your family out there with you? Fred, I am sad that I wont be putting in bulbs again this year in this garden, I have been very happy here. I will have the excitement of moving to a bigger garden and discovering what is waiting to come through. Those soups sound delicious, did you ever post them on the board. Sylvia is another good cook, she makes lovely soups too. I hope you enjoy your break Sylvia, just remember England is lovely in Spring too. Judy, thats a good idea putting Beckham and Bonnie into boxes,lol. I worry that they will get through the door when the removal men come. Its a problem if Bonnie gets out because with her being deaf, she doesn't hear us call. We could put them in one of the cars, then they could watch what is going one, or maybe I could have them on their leads for part of the time. We will sort something out. We have to keep Tortoise near too, last time I put her hut into a plastic crate so that she able to move around a bit. Kathleen, My thoughts are with you and Susan, she must be fed up with having to keep going through all of this treatment. I hope everyone has a good weekend, I have to get on and tidy up again. June xx

Hi everyone, Thank you for the kind welcome messages. Wow what a day today. Elections! We voted early this morning - went shopping, did the chores had tea and then eyes glued to the TV for the election results! A very close result. It is now 1 a.m and I have just switched of the telly!! Lie in tomorrow! We have only been back to the Uk once in 13 years! We have two married sons and 4 grandchildren in the UK - we of course miss them. The long haul flight is really a no no now. My husband has had 4 heart attacks and last year he had lung cancer but the tumour was removed. He is a very positive man - and never complains! The weather is awful tonight - very windy and very wet. Roll on Summer. Must get to bed now. Will keep in touch Mavis Papamoa

afternoon all,liz and i have had a pretty busy day,and now that the tea is prepared [cauliflower cheese,and macaroni cheese,for me] with a couple of jacket tatties to pour them both over,i have a few minutes to catch up on the gossip ,and news. You hang in there Susan,one week to go eh,and you know you can do it,we are all rooting for you. I tried to send you an'e/mail last night Elisa ,with some new photo's ,but i don't think i had the yahoo e/mail site quite back properly after the grandsons expert administrations[grrrr] so i will try again tonight ,as i think iv'e managed to sort it properly this time. I got most of the bulbs done today ,after i got Liz back from hjer walk to the shops,she managed so well today that i have spoiled her this afternoon ,and insisted she let me get the washing in ,and sat down with her new jigsaw puzzle i got out of the loft for her,i say new ,but it's been up in the loft since we moved in,and i did myself a bit of a mischief getting it down. I don't think i should really say what i did cause you will only laugh at me cause i had a daft bairn like moment,oh well ,if you insist,only don't say i did'nt warn you ,the house has one new fangled loft ladder,so Fred pulls the handle ,and the flap comes down ,and so does the ladder on some sort of sliding mechanism.I dutifully ,go up the ladders into the loft,find the pile of jigsaws,and pick one up that has never been opened,walk back to the opening and then it hits me,i see BRUCE WILLIS IN MY MINDS EYE SLIDING DOWN THE LADDER FIREMAN STYLE ,AND THINK TO MYSELF ,I FANCY A GO at this so off i go down the slippery slope ,and think ,how in hell do i stop. Fred hits the floor ,first with his feet ,followed closely by his bum,i won't be trying THAT again folks ,i am bruised and sore ,silly old beggar .lol. well fred is off to put the tea on peeps,but will be back this evening to see how everyone is doing.bye for now.Fred.PtfA&G&G&S.

Still laughing Fred!!!!! Hope it feels Ok soon Hello to everyone, I do read all teh news and enjoy hearing what people are up to Helen Clark sounds as if she is determined ti form a government June, hope the move goes OK Take care dear Kathleen, love to you and Susan I had an email from Sylvia, she and Norm are well, and definately enjoying the Eagles win (Aussie rules football grand final season here) How are you 'children' Judy? Are you fully recovered. Love to all, and hope Sylvia O and Johann have a restful happy time JA

Hi everyone, I am awake early this morning, soeone was making a moise outside this morning, probably a milk man, and Beckham thought it was time to get up, so guess who had to open the doors for him! So now I am wide awake, I bet I will be having a snooze this afternoon. Mavis, I hope you get your lie in, whenever I plan one, I always get wakened and once I am awake, I cant get back to sleep, although I do admit to falling asleep in the afternoons sometimes. It must be hard not seeing your grandchildren very often, do you have a webcam and mike so that you can talk and see them on your PC? Fred, I wish I had been there with my camera, what a sight to behold. I shouldn't laugh really, you are braver than me, I have one of those loft ladders but I have never gone up any further than halfway. I leave that to the young ones nowadays. J A, my move has been delayed for a week or two, people on holidays etc. Hopefully we will be in soon. Kathleen and Susan, My thoughts are with you both. I hope Sylvia and Johan are enjoying their break, and Brenda her holiday. See you all soon, June xx

Hello everyone, Hope the elections went well in Oz, no doubt will be the same as here. Some people will be pleased and some disappointed, lets hope you get a good result. Susan is not very well but at least is now reaching the end of her treatment. This last couple of months have been very hard for her - but hopefully there is a rainbow at the end of it all. I'm busy at the moment with a Pink Bear (Gaynor Bear). She was handed to me at Runnymede, by the Magna Carta Monument. Had a lovely, if short, meeting with Kim and my friend took some photo's. Kim is a very nice lady and we enjoyed her company for a couple of hours. On Tuesday I am taking GB to London to meet up with Mary and do a little tour around Buckingham Palace etc. People here are now totally convinced that I have lost the plot!! walking around carrying a Pink Teddy Bear - not only that but talking to her as well LOL. All in a good cause and hopefully raising awareness as well as some much needed donations. I'm too old to care if people think I'm mad, age does have it's advantages. Fred my son used to come down ladders like that when they were taking down the scenery at his Young Peoples Drama group - the trick is to jump off just before you reach the bottom (of the ladder that is, not yours)he he!! Seriously though I hope you haven't hurt yourself too much, please don't do it again. Pleased to hear that Sylvia and Norman are ok, have wondered how they were. June, hope you are not finding it too difficult living with your possessions all packed up for another couple of weeks. I do hope it all goes smoothly. What a shame you have to leave your garden behind, but then you have the new one to look forward to and waiting to see what comes up next year will be exciting (hopefully). Sylvia and Johan, hope you are keeping well. That you Sylvia will be busy is not in doubt, you always seem to be doing something. Try to relax a bit whilst you are away, the spa bath would be wonderful but I know what you mean about getting out - no trouble (well not too much) getting in but...... Thank goodness for showers. JA, thank you for your messages for Susan. I hope things are ok with you. This site may have it's problems but I have found so many good friends on here. Just wish we could ALL meet up sometime. Mavis, good to see you again. Look forward to hearing more from your part of Oz. Sorry if I have forgotten anyone - must go the telephone, the answerphone cuts in but I have to ring this one back. God bless Love Kathleen

Hi all Kathleen, thinking of you and Susan, I wouldn’t care what people think of me walking around talking to a pink teddy. You have to show and tell Gaynor bear all about the sites that you visit lol. And as you said it is for a good cause, I don’t think there would be too many people who don’t know at least one person who has had to battle cancer, if I was over there I would walk with Gaynor bear and yes I would also talk to Gaynor, I have been following Gaynors travels on the page that was set up for the trip. Fred hope the rear is getting better he he, we all try to be a big kid at times lol. Sylvia and Norm I hope you are both OK and I bet you are watching the TV on Saturday, I hope you like the result, I have a soft spot for Daniel Chick who used to play for my team, now he is on your team it would be good to see him with a Grand final medal. Everyone else I haven’t mentioned hello and I hope you are all well.

Hi all, So you all thought I was on holiday. Oh no, our stupid telephone people cut off our internet and telephone. I am furious because with Johan and his heart condition I had no telephone. I have sent them a long 'strong' letter! I have said that I hold them responsible if anything happens to Johan. The telephone people phoned this morning to say that they have found the fault. Found the fault, no apologies. That is not good enough. I am furious. Even our mobile telephone didn't work. We had money on it, but it didn't work. We had to add more before it worked. What a weekend. My daughter who lives one and a half hour's drive away bought us a new card to add money to our mobile telephone and now that is ok. We don't use it very much as it costs a lot extra money. On the brighter side of things, our new television should arrive tomorrow. I have been doing some more cross stitching the weekend as I had no internet. I'm now so up to date with everything. Nice to read all your articles, at least you've kept the thread going. Dear Beckham, he is a real character, isn't he June? Love to you all, and you go careful Fred, you cannot be missed! Sylvia xxx

Hi everyone, June - we do have a webcam and chat to friends in the UK but our sons do not have a webcam unfortunately. Have to make do with 'phone calls! We do miss the grandchildren. Maybe that's why we spoil the 3 grandsons in New Zealand! Today we have been to our Probus meeting - I am the Speaker Convener - this month we had a fashion show instead of a speaker. Two local fashion stores 'loaned' us the clothes. Ten of our members were the models (5 men and 5 ladies) - they did a grand job. One lady was over 80 - lovely tiny figure - and she so enjoyed herself. We are arranging an Arts and Craft show for our November meeting - we did this 2 years ago and it was amazing how much talent we have within the club. 3 years ago we had a Pikelet making competition for the men! This was hilarious. We like to break away from the normal 'Speakers'. All for now - it is late again! Mavis Papamoa NZ