General Chat

Good evening Eileen, Hope 2009 brings you all you wish for and hope you and yours have a healthier 2009.

Ann xx

Just a quick hello to all, and hope the weekend will bring some brightness into everyone's life, stay warm (or cool depending on your location) and know there is always support here for everyone.
love
Lizxx

Night all, I've just come back from Niagara Falls, where we spent almost 2 hours oohing and aahing over the light displays. It's absolutely frigid, so only Colleen got out of the van to take photos of the falls, very,very icy walking so we didn't dare let the little man loose by the falls. Across from the "trip under the falls" there's a broad expanse of park area, which was lit up by about 20 large Disney light displays, the kids were able to walk by there, as it was safer. It's been a couple of years since I went to see the lights, well worth it. Carole we were trying to get some photos for me to forward to you, so you could see the difference a few weeks has made. unfortunately when we were stopped the pink spotlights were on and with the mist it was somewhat blurry, she'll try and send them to me tomorrow, if any are worth forwarding. They turn off the lights on Little Christmas, so at least we've seen them and Sarah and Gareth fell asleep in the van on the way home. Gareth was most annoyed that he couldn't have a ride in one of the horse-drawn carraiges, and Sarah had a meltdown because we didn't go on the ferris wheel. But we are home safe and much warmer.

My beautiful Amaryllis decided to topple over and land on the floor, minus the 4 beautiful blooms. Somehow my attempts at Amaryllis bulbs never turn out as planned, for one reason or another. This is the woman who 5 years ago had 200 African violets in various stages, all different, many in bloom at the same time. It became too much to handle when we all moved in together. Now I can't even keep one Amaryllis safe LOL. I dream of expanding my dining room to create a conservatory room, which would be so good for my mental health. "Nothing so honest as soil", my Dad used to say, and for me, handling the earth has always been therapeutic (except when it's spread over the dog LOL.)
Here I'm rambling again, apologies, I seem to be more "up" today, a big change from the last 2 days. I'm starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel which is my house, making some progress clearing, little things, like the clear top of a dressing table can make me smile, I'm tackling the bathroom cupboards/medicine collection at the moment, have found lots of outdated items to go for destruction. So many people just throw old meds down the toilet, not thinking that some may remain in the water even after being treated; because we are between Lakes Erie and Ontario, we nurses have often wondered about the possibility of fish in the lakes becoming psychotic, or otherwise altered. There are now several studies about the remnants of meds perhaps being transferred to people once water has been treated and returned to the system. Scary stuff. My old meds are bagged and taken to the chemist who regularly has to send outdated meds for appropriate destruction.
I'm off to bed, Eileen I'll join you trying to find the proverbial light, which I know is shining somewhere. In the meantime my 20 minutes a day under the SADD light, while at my computer, will suffice.
Mary

Evening everyone.

Oh and I have been busy bottling fruit the last few days. Nectarines and Peacharines, (cross between a peach and a nectarine). We missed out on the apricots as they had some sort of disease and I forgot to spray them before spring. Will not forget this year though. All the fruit ripened at once this year so next week it is plums and plum jam. Glad OH is on holidays. Usually the frost or birds get the fruit before we do. Or a drought does not help either. At least we will have some lovely fruit for the winter.

I hope every one are feeling better. I see Caz is in lots of pain again and I wish I could ease it for you just a little.

Will be back, have to go and put another batch of bottles in to preserve.

Love and hugs

Gail

Oh Gail your fruit sounds yummy, do you ship overseas????
I'm a bit of a wreck, just hit me that Colleen leaves for kingston again tomorrow, for another 9 weeks, So I will be computerless for most of the day as I'll be upstairs with the kids. Still haven't got the wireless hooked up, was supposed to be finally done last w/e and that fell through.
Unless i can get it done this w/e, I'll be missing the night shift on here for a while.
Have a good day all, can you smell the aroma of turkey broth cooking, I finally put the bones down, for some broth to freeze in small portions for use the next few weeks.
mnary

Hi all

Don't want to depress every one but I found today really hard . I went into town and just wandered for hours round the shops Every one was in couples or groups and I hate to be self pitying but I felt very alone .I think it is the after xmas /new year thing when things are a bit flat

Tomorrow is another day and I have no reason to feel bad when pals like y/caz is in pain and deanna is being so strong .

Depression isn't easy and it kicks us all at odd times but we are here for each other and long may it continue .

kathy xxxx

Have pm'd you Kathy but think I must have missed you by about ten mins.
Hope you will feel better when you have had some sleep, I know the feeling and you can be just as lonely with someone too.

Love to all, sorry I can't respond much, am very tired, I talked too much when I met Marilyn lol
Gail I have to say my mouth watered for the fruit lol
Mary, do try hard to get the computer sorted so you aren't out on a limb - you must have someone to let off steam to. So wish I was nearby so I could pop in and help you.

love and hugs to all, Betty, hope you are ok, Eileen too, and Caz, oh Caz, wish I could take away your pain.

Carole, maybe we can talk next week, the ansa phone is on all the time so if you call just start talking as if it's me, well it's his voice but I made him take off the silly N.Y. message with me cackling raucously in the background lol, and I will get to the phone asap if I am around. It only rings a few times before the a/p kicks in but if we turn it off we forget to turn it back on and it helps monitor cold calls.

Ann, will reply to your pm later, have amended my thread

Lizxxxx

Evening to everyone.

Had a busy day picking and bottling plums. Tomorrow is jam day.

So far we have 50 bottles of fruit. They will keep for a couple of years. Which is just as well as we never know when we will get some more. OH is brilliant and has peeled many peacharines. I did not peel some and just put them whole in the jars. Still yummy.

Mary, sorry but do not export. Wish I could though. I know how much you do with making thing and cooking.

My best attribute is I love cooking, my worst is that I also love to eat it.

Kathy, you are depressing no one. We are all here for each other. I had my first christmas without my dad this year and it was very difficult. Depression is very difficult to cope with at times, just remember when those times are bad, we are all here for you.

Sending love and hugs to all, and gentle hugs to Y/Caz.

Gail

Kathy, sorry you are feeling alone, I am sure you are right and it is the time of year, even for those of us who fortunately do not suffer with depression january is a depressing month. Please do come on here when you feel like that, we wont leave you feeling alone.

Gail, that fruit sound wonderful, you must have a large store cupboard!!

Mary, try and sort your wireless out, you mustn't be alone while Coleen is away, knowing we are 'in reach' would be so much better for you. I can't remember why Coleen goes to Kingston, it seems a long time.

the light show by the falls sounds wonderful. My OH was there one year when it was all frozen and the photos were lovely, would love to see it, although don't fancy the cold, it is bad enough here!! which reminds me, time I put the heating on my feet are freezing.

Liz, thanks for your PM I have replied.

decided to make some cards today, have made two so far, but didn't start until an hour ago. Listening to one of my christmas presents at the same time, I had the set of Andrew Lloyd Webber (60) for Christmas, all songs from all his shows. with original artists.

Ann
Glos

Morning, I'm about to go out for a couple of hours, thought I'd drop in briefly, had the wireless hooked up yesterday (kindly done for free by a person I met through Freecycle), so the laptop works upstairs now, unfortunately the upstairs desktop doesn't work, needs a wireless card apparently.
Had an exciting saturday evening, long story, in a nutshell Colleen was stopped by the police because she had forgotten to get a 2009 sticker for her car plates as well, when she renewed her drivers licence in November. The cop was the one who had rescued wee Sarah a year ago when we first moved and she was running down the main street among the traffic. He remembered that incident clearly, and let Colleen off without the possible $5000 fine, told her she had enough on her plate. there are some angels in the police force. But now she will be late going to Kingston, can't leave here till she gets the sticker tomorrow morning. This is the final semester for her behavioural science course in Kingston, in collaboration with the university here. 9 weeks, then she does a placement locally.
Then we went for supper to a restaurant nearby - Mary received an entire large jug of iced tea (complete with ice cubes) into her lap thanks to her 2 sisters, then Gareth pulled the fire alarm, so conveniently located right by the exit door. The fire alarm went off while everyone at the bar next door was watching the Canada/Russia junior hockey semi-final, the teams were tied and everyone had to file out into the cold night air, to await the fire trucks. Gareth was not popular.
I've got some sourdough going, so tomorrow I'll be able to make a loaf of GF sourdough bread. rice flour ferments so easily, it's a great substitue for yeast. We don't have much of an issue with yeast, but keep searching for a "good" recipe for GF bread, like the texture of sourdough bread.
have to run, try and make some sense of my hair before going out.
mary

Claire and Mary and Liz and Caroles Denanna Y/Caz and everyone else I would love to have you for afternoon tea. With homemade jam and scones and clotted cream. But, we would sit outside under the wisteria and watch the birds and there is always a slight breeze in that part of the yard.

My favourite desert is: empty a jar of fruit, juice and all into a medium casserole dish, add 2 table spoons of golden syrup or honey. Mix up a packet cake mix of butter cake (home made is better) place cake mix over fruit and cook until cake is cooked. Best served hot or warm with custard, cream or icecream.

Gail

Hi Gail, careful what you wish for, when I win the lottery lol I will organise a trip to you, so keep those fruits stored up lol

Oh how I wish I had enough money to book a flight and an hotel, would love to visit all my new friends on here and the scene you paint sounds idyllic, chooks scratching in the ground too and fresh eggs, yummy!

Take care my friend, hope the New Year brings you many joys.

Lizxx

Clairejo, the puppy sounds very good, enjoy your time with him.

Claire, you have me laughing, how will you get on later this morning, will you all want to sleep in lol? Puppy will have different ideas lol

Thanks for the 5*hotel, sounds wonderful, I think there are several of us waiting on that win to treat us all, I know I would love to help lots of people I know have a holiday and feel less worried about money.
Take care now, I am off to bed

love
Lizxxx

Gail, that cake sounds scrumptious, just my kind of food lol

Hi Claire,well my lot are down, hopefully for the night, there will be chaos in the morning when their Mummy leaves with her suitcases. I think G suspects she's going, he's been dreadful today, she had plates stacked by the sink to wash, while clearing the table, he swept the plates on the floor, 3 broken. Broken his bookcase, refused his supper, reapproached five times and finally sat and ate the entire thing, then wanted sarah's plate too, but she was having none of it, It's actually funny in spots as G makes eye contact with you, and thinks you won't notice his hand sliding round to pinch food off his sisters' plates. He so needs the structure of school, bring on Monday morning. Lunches are made, school bags are ready, I have to attend a course the next 2 days while the kids are in school, so my time on here will be severely limited.
Just going to wash up from making lunches etc, and head to bed.
Night all, Claire give P a hug if he'll let you - for me !!
mary

Hi Claire, well I suppose it is interesting, but basically it's essential if I want to keep my job. it's electronic medication dispensing, handling/ordering, monitoring. The whole gamut, they are switching the whole facility, one floor at a time. (I work in a 235 bed home for the aged) I've had a bit of pre-training, find it is certainly MUCH safer, much less chance of error etc, but it is a very long time to stand, at the med cart, which is now even heavier to push with a computer attached to the top. Also much easier for those who are taller than I am.
Now I am really off to bed, 1 am and I'll be up at 630, if not before.
Have a good rest-of-the-day,
Hugs,
Mary

You got room for another one there Mary?

He is not too bad really(said through gritted teeth).

I do feel for you who are looking after autistic children.I just know I could not deal with that.All power to your elbows I say.

What a grim,grey,ghastly day it is today.I would go back to bed if there was not the wheeled one to feed and water.Not to mention his bird feeders to maintain and the baby hedgehog I am wintering to clean out and feed.

The Sevilles will be here soon so it is going to be marmalade time.Washing,hoovering,bathroom floor and stairs to sand.Today we have the wheelchair engineer coming sowe just might have the electric wheelchair back in service.It shed it's battery in the doorway of the church hall a week before Christmas so he has not been a jovial old gentleman for quite a while now.

Happy New Year to everybody.Good luck and always look on the bright side,that's the hard one isn't it?

Hello Everyone....not been on here in a while, but keep looking in and reading your posts!

l pm'd Bernie the other day, but not heard anything back from her, l do hope she is ok??

Claire - l hope you finally got some sleep:o)
Mary - good luck with your course, sounds like you do a very interesting job?
Gail - you're cake sounds gorgeous, l tend not to make homemade things anymore, but must admit l got the rice out earlier to make a r/pudding:o)

Hope everyone has a good day. We have a spluttering of snow here, sadly it will probably all be gone in a few hrs:o(

Take care:o)

jude xx

Sharron was wondering where you got to. Bad news again with the wheelchair. I think I would be at the stage I would through it at the repairers.

Claire have you a baby playpen, great for puppies.

Gail

Good afternoon everyone, wishing you a (belated, sorry) very happy, healthy new year, one that brings us all peace of mind, and for those in pain, as pain free as is possible.

My p.c is still playing up, it drives me nuts sometimes.

Talking of being driven nuts, does anyone know how to add on your tree? I decided to turn over a new leaf , so do something about my neglected tree.Keep clicking on 'add' (my daughter Sarah's baby Anna is still not added, to my shame).

Mary, you certainly did have an exciting evening.

Will really try to post more often.Hope these thyroid meds. kick in soon, can't say I've noticed any difference yet. Have to phone the specialist tomorrow. My old schoolfriend in England is my 'dairy', thank goodness, because I would probably forget, even though there are 'post-it's' all over the place.See the specialist on the 20th.

I am keeping you all in my thoughts, wishing everyone well, can't say pray,as I just can't. Maybe sending positive thoughts are just as effective?

Love to all. Eileen xx

Evening everyone,

Just have to tell you that my grandson Douglas is in hospital.He has been feeling off colour for some time, but has never been a one for making a fuss.His mum, my daughter Eleanor, went to work this morning at 7.30, didn't arrive until three and a half hours later, and this should only be about 40-60 minute drive, depending on traffic.She went straight to the hospital where husband and son were waiting to be seen to, so she didn't get home until around 22.00.Then they had to go back to take Douglas some things. It is a suspected appendicitis.We'll know more tomorrow after an ultra sound and more blood tests.Hope he will be better for his 18th birthday on the 19th of this month.

The snow is still very deep here, awful.Only the main roads are salted / gritted.

Have a good night's sleep everyone.

Love Eileen xx