General Chat

Oh has just asked me what the elastic bands were soing outside the back door. I told him I dressed the post box at the crossroads. He said he had seen it and wondered what idiot had that !!! So he did'nt know.....

Nobody else has mentioned it.

The problem is Michelle, Mel, she stopped talking to us in 2016 but has kept in touch with mum. Sandra has been asking questions to mum about Michelle which OH and I didn't know about, but at the same time mum has been talking to Sandra about Michelle also without us knowing about it. Now mum is saying she hasn't said anything to Sandra and it's all Sandra asking questions. Sandra is saying that mum is putting all the blame on her and lying about talking in secret to Sandra. It's all a mess at the moment. Michelle doesn't want to talk to us and when Sandra asked mum to ask Michelle why she's not talking mum said NO she wouldn't ask Michelle as she didn't want to end up with no one talking to her. I find that very selfish. To top it all off Michelle has moved and told mum not to give us her new address. It's all come to a head now and caused a lot of trouble with mum blaming Sandra for everything. I did say both to mum and Sandra not to talk about Michelle as I knew it would cause problems down the track and it looks like I was right. Sandra doesn't want to talk to my mum now and quite frankly I don't blame her. Unbeknown to Michelle, mum has given me Michelle's new address but I can't use it or it would cause yet more arguments. All we want to do now is move and put some distance between mum and us, that way this problem will go away.

We have been thinking of moving for some time now as our neighbour is being so awkward that we have had enough. He drills into the wall that connect us which makes such a noise and he's always banging doors, he even put Christmas lights in his bay window and left them on all night flashing right into our bedroom. But with what's now happened between mum and Sandra that is the straw that broke the camels back. We've had enough of the arguments so we're going to move away, that way if things calm down we can just visit when we want to as we're not giving out our new address.

It's also come to our attention that mum has been driving down our road spying on us, we haven't got a clue why she is doing this. She has no reason to come anywhere near our street unless she is visiting us as it's no where near her place and as far as we know she doesn't know anyone else around us. Like I said it's all a mess and poor Sandra is the one suffering in all this. I know from experience that mum will carry on picking on Sandra. Poor Sandra told me last night that it feel like she is back in school as she was bullied there, so obviously she feels bullied by my mum......it broke my heart to hear that.

Good Morning to you all, Evening Kim. (Do you still look in ???)


Roa decided she would like a few chips,Fish Cake, Pineapple Fritter and mushy peas for her tea last night. So I went with her and went in and got it. NOTHING FOR ME. It was the first time out of the house for a full week.

Poor you Gill, I know how difficult things must be for you, with all this back biting and lies. My Mother was a professional TROUBLE MAKER. There were times when she would actually walk passed my two children and ignore them completely. I won't go into the life I had with her, when she moved up to Barton Seagrave, Kettering in Dec 1964. The whole family just feel apart from all her lies and deceit . You know I am here if you need to let off any STEAM. xxx

Last night we watched Channel 4 about the old Price of Wales and Mrs Simpson. What a mess she put this Country in with the "BLACK SHIRTS" and the NAZI'S. Then their was the Step Mother from hell with Dianna. and the Spencer's. Two hours of interesting viewing.

I then had my beer allocation, before turning in. I slept until 9.45 with only having to get out once in the night. I am feeling much better this morning, so I am well pleased with myself.

The conservatory is packed out with box's waiting to go back in the garage. Which we will do tomorrow.

Ros is getting herself ready to go to J & Cs for Lunch.

I will get myself a bowl of stew. I have no yearning for a Roast Dinner YET.

I think I have West Ham on the Tele at 2.00 pm and then Arsenal at 4.00 pm. So I am well catered for this afternoon. LOL LOL

I did glimpse that Anne has posted, So pleased you are feeling a little better, and out little Ruby is fine after her operation.

I made a mistake about the Computer. It had been at £70.00 for a few hours, so I thought that was what i would sell for. In fact it sold for NINETY POUNDS plus P & P. I have found a box that fits the purpose, so will wrap it up and get Ros to post when she goes to the P.O.

SEE you all later, thanks again for all your support. It's helping me a great deal xxxx

Thanks Frank, sorry to hear you had problems with your mum too.
I'm just watching the programme on Diana's stepmother. I didn't record the other one you mentioned.

Pleased to hear you're starting to feel a little better. I'm sure as each day passes it will get easier for you.

Well, I'd better get back to my programme. OH has nipped out and Sandra is watching Top of the Pops she recorded for herself. Then I think Sandra wants us to watch a DVD she has. She's not mentioned mum so far today, but then that is Sandra, she keeps a lot to herself, so I'll just keep an eye on her to make sure she's okay.

Evening All,

Anne it sounds as if you have had a rough time of it with the flu. I wonder if you have had the new strain they had in Australia last year and that made a lot of people ill? They were concerned we could get it here this winter and the strain wasn't included in this year's flu jab, but will be in next years. At least you are beginning to eat now so will be building up your strength again and will hopefully be over the worst of it. Good to hear little Ruby passed her check up. <3 When I was in Market Harborough a few days ago I thought about her as someone was standing with 2 on their leads with their little coats on!! <3

Gill I am so sorry things have fallen apart with family problems. It's a shame Sandra has got caught up in it and made upset though. As Frank says you are in good company with some of us as I had awful problems with my mum too!! She would say the most unkind things at times, always plotting and trying and succeeding to cause trouble. I stopped seeing my parents for a while but got drawn back into things when dad died as I would have felt guilty leaving my sister and school age brother to deal with everything. I could write a book really. It's very difficult for anyone who hasn't had a family like it to understand or imagine the impact it has on your life. You always (usually rightly!) feel there's something going on behind the scenes that will hurt or upset you. I was like you and did so much for my mum, thinking it would make a difference, or that she'd change. Well she did change, she got worse as she got older, trying to manipulate us with her will, making thinly veiled threats about each of us to the others, making unsought promises she had no intention of keeping. Anyway that's another book!

There's just been a right thumping and hullaballoo of yowling outside and the yowling was continuing so we went to investigate. OH picked a broom up on the way so I asked him what he thought it was.......black Panthers? lol. It was pitch dark out the side of the bungalow so we couldn't see a thing but they had gone I think. I forgot to mention before that when he came down out of the loft after stacking some of the boxes he had a mousetrap hanging off the toe of his slipper!! :-D lol. There are so many traps up there now it must be hard to avoid them all! I told him he was lucky it wasn't a big rat trap. He would have known about one of those on his toe. lol.

I am at last getting my papers straight and have a bin full of paper for recycling and the shredder is full..........also a growing 'to do' list from paperwork I must do something with. :-S :-S

It's good to hear you sounding a bit brighter Frank. Good for sticking to the plan too and I expect it was nice to go out and see somewhere different after your week at home. I hope Ros enjoyed her meal.

I'm so sorry to hear about your life with your mum Ann, it's awful isn't it? My mum even threatened to kill herself, she's said this before so I don't take it seriously anymore, but it's such a horrible thing to say to your daughter and granddaughter. Sandra thinks it's all her fault and it took me ages to convince her that's it's just mum's way and she would never actually do it. Poor Sandra told me that she cried herself to sleep last night. She's worried that mum is going to turn the whole family against her, but I've told her that won't be the case as they know what Sandra is like and would never think bad of her.

You did make me smile with your stories of your OH with the broom and the mouse trap, it sounds like you both have a good laugh together.

You're getting on well with your sorting. I've started with a really sore throat so haven't felt like doing anymore sorting today. I've said to OH that I'm going to start packing ready for the move. We haven't put the bungalow on the market yet as I thought with everything that's going on at the moment my mum might turn up while we're having a viewing, plus I'd like to do most of the packing first to save some time incase we sell quickly.

We're watching Dancing on Ice. I love that programme and have missed it being on. Don't forget everyone Vera starts tonight after Dancing on Ice for 2 hours for anyone who wants to watch it.

Morning all,

Dull and cloudy today and still a bit of a cold wind and no sign of the sun at all. It looks like it is in for the day.

Still doing my felt craft and worked on it all afternoon and into the even last night.

It sounds like you are a lot brighter now Frank and keep up the good work. Here's hoping you had another good nights sleep.

I watched Vera last night and enjoyed it. Its nice to have something decent to watch without too much violence in it. Silent witness tonight I think.

Hope Sandra is feeling better today Gill please give her my love. <3

Good morning to you all, evening Kim,

What a total disappointment, Dancing on Ice was for me. The music they played throughout was so loud and THUMPING BACKGROUND. Since my STROKE I am unable to listen to LOUD and THUMPING MUSIC. So I spent most of the time with the sound turned down. Where on EARTH do they find such a noise. ??? I enjoyed Vera as usual, and was in bed as soon as it was finished.

Without continuing with the SAGA of Mothers, for those of you, which I expect were most who had a happy relationship with your Mother, I am so pleased. For the rest of us it is just a horrible memory that will live with us for ever. We can only put it down to another experience in LIFE. !!!!

I have had a grilled bacon sarnie this morning. I only ate half of it, but it's a start. ;-) ;-
)

Roa enjoyed her afternoon with C & J and there was another couple and Jean. she is the one that likes a bottle or two of wine, which Ros said she kept asking for a refill, and John tried to ignore her part of the time. She was home just after 6.00 pm with a plated dinner for me, which I never ate.

I don't know if I will cook and eat tonight. I will see what Ros fancies, and go from there.

Ann, I can just see your OH with a mouse trap hanging from his slipper. LOL LOL. Have you had any luck yet in racking down where they are getting in ?? and are you still catching a lot. ??

Everywhere is so damp and miserable here today. I have just taken the sheets to the Tumble Dryer in the garage, and you can feel the damp in the air. Not at all nice. So another day in paradise for me, T.V. book and whatever else I fancy. !!!! Which isn't a lot.

Ros has packed up the old Lap Top, ready for addressing and getting in the post. She can do that tomorrow, when she goes out with Carolyn.

See you later girls, enjoy your day whatever you are up to.

Good morning to you all, evening Kim,

What a total disappointment, Dancing on Ice was for me. The music they played throughout was so loud and THUMPING BACKGROUND. Since my STROKE I am unable to listen to LOUD and THUMPING MUSIC. So I spent most of the time with the sound turned down. Where on EARTH do they find such a noise. ??? I enjoyed Vera as usual, and was in bed as soon as it was finished.

Without continuing with the SAGA of Mothers, for those of you, which I expect were most who had a happy relationship with your Mother, I am so pleased. For the rest of us it is just a horrible memory that will live with us for ever. We can only put it down to another experience in LIFE. !!!!

I have had a grilled bacon sarnie this morning. I only ate half of it, but it's a start. ;-) ;-
)

Roa enjoyed her afternoon with C & J and there was another couple and Jean. she is the one that likes a bottle or two of wine, which Ros said she kept asking for a refill, and John tried to ignore her part of the time. She was home just after 6.00 pm with a plated dinner for me, which I never ate.

I don't know if I will cook and eat tonight. I will see what Ros fancies, and go from there.

Ann, I can just see your OH with a mouse trap hanging from his slipper. LOL LOL. Have you had any luck yet in racking down where they are getting in ?? and are you still catching a lot. ??

Everywhere is so damp and miserable here today. I have just taken the sheets to the Tumble Dryer in the garage, and you can feel the damp in the air. Not at all nice. So another day in paradise for me, T.V. book and whatever else I fancy. !!!! Which isn't a lot.

Ros has packed up the old Lap Top, ready for addressing and getting in the post. She can do that tomorrow, when she goes out with Carolyn.

See you later girls, enjoy your day whatever you are up to.

What I want to know is where the fairies hide the bits of glitter they keep putting on the floor? I hoovered every bit up yesterday and this morning I have found 5 bits on the carpet in the kitchen and three bits in the hall and two bits in the uti room all rooms I hoovered yesterday. :-0

Frank Veras was quite good last night was'nt it? I was'nt sure who had done it till nearly the end.

I have been outside and cleaned the big girls out but not their nest boxes. There's only so much bitter wind you can take when you get older. Their nest arn't that dirty anyway as I take out any muck each day when I collect the eggs. The run is now starting to dry out but I think it is more treacherous now than when it was swimming in water. I came out with platform wellies.

Enjoy your book and tv today Frank.

Hi Mel, and good afternoon to all you others.

Nice quiet day. I decided I fancied a bit of Steak for tonight. So out came two Rib Eyed Steaks. They have thawed out. I did the onions,Mushrooms, and home made chips. When we are ready to eat, I will go and cook it all.

I have been watching BBC 2 Michael Palin in Pakistan, what a very interesting couple of hours.

Carol down the close has just called in from a walk with "TED" the little boarder collie. He is adorable but so shy. He will come towards you, then suddenly backs off and gets behind Carol.

Mel, I don't think I have ever seen a bad "VERA" and last nights was very good. I see we have a new SIX PARTER starting tonight. I will see what it looks like. I can get a feel for a serial, within the first episode. So we will go from there.

I don't seemed to have got warm today. The heating is on and the Halogen heater and still it feels cold. I have just put a jumper on. I am wondering if it's the withdrawal symptoms thats having something to do with it. I have drunk TWO pints of water today, plus coffee and tea. So I am getting plenty of liquids down me.

Looking out the back it looks so dreary and cold. I feel for these poor people who are living rough. How they can sleep out in this weather, I just do not know.

Not been in the mood for reading yet. So I am just chilling with the T.V. and magazines.

Replacement light arrived and oh has fitted it and it works ok. Good service from the seller.

Where are you all?

O you must have popped in just before I posted Frank.

It has been 3 degrees here today and they say it is going to be 2 degrees tonight. All I know is it bl**dy freezing out there.

Have you noticed how the evenings are now drawing out? Perhaps I have as I have to shut the chickens in?

I am going to do spag bol tonight as we hav'nt had that for ages and ages now. Mostly because I had been getting indigestion so we will see.

16.45 and its still light enough for me to go round the chickens and shut them in.

Afternoon All,

What a bitter day it is, frost all over the rooftops and cars this morning! We decided to go up to McArthur Glen Retail Park at J28 of the M1 early this morning. There was a big backlog of traffic coming the other way but no holdups our way. OH got himself some socks with the coloured toes so I hope he doesn't get those mixed up with mine as they look quite similar!! I got some nice black loafers from the M&S factory shop that were reduced by £9 so I was pleased with those. I treated OH to a jacket potato in the food hall, we looked at the rest of the shops, then we decided to come home a different way in case there was the same holdup on the way home. The motorway and other roads were in an awful state with holes and patches everywhere. We hadn't gone far before we were queueing and a flat bed lorry had turned off an island and shed it's load of huge concrete beams all over the road. Luckily no-one seemed to be hurt or any other vehicles involved although we shuddered to realise one of the beams would flatten a car. The metal upright supporting struts the side of the lorry where they had come off were completely snapped over! We stopped at a garden centre before we got home and had a look round and read our papers over a COT in the cafe before we came home.

Now I am having a break as I have started to reconstruct the stuff I lost on that stick (what a job!) and I think OH is looking at his tax return. Tomorrow he has the dentist for a filling, eye test and hearing test. He will need me to drive him after the eye test as he always has to have those drops in his eyes.

Yes I had to snigger when I saw the mousetrap on OH's slipper! lol. The garage is lethal too with a barricade of traps he's put across the floor. The man who came to do the pointing for us had to laugh when he saw them after I warned him to tread carefully in there. They come under the garage door Frank, although the gap is so small. I've told OH to try putting a row of bricks inside the garage behind the door to block off the tiny gap as we don't put our cars in there.

It was good they plated a dinner up for you Frank, even though you just didn't want any. Maybe the steak tonight will bring your appetite back. A glass of milk would be nourishing if you could manage it.

I watched Vera for the first time last night and thought it quite good but I wish she would speak a bit clearer as I have the sound down on the telly so OH can't hear it. I was a bit disappointed with DOI too Frank. I.m not keen on Schofield or Willoughby, but it's early days yet! I did enjoy David Attenborough and the fossils though!! Fancy using MRI scanners and being able to see the bones in the rocks!!!

Afternoon All

I spent most of the day in bed yesterday after being up a lot in the night with the trots again. :-S I blame James. But today I seem to be fine again. I think we all want these BUGS GONE now.

Oh Gill I am sorry to read about all the trouble you are having with your Mum and that poor Sandra has been so affected and upset with it all. I can't possibly imagine what it must be like not having experienced anything like this. Stay strong <3

Mouse traps on slippers !! :-D :-D I would have loved to have seen that Ann LOL Good job it didnt nip his toes.

Frank your appetite sounds like it coming back and you sound a lot more upbeat which is brilliant.

We have the Glitter Fairy here too Mel. I keep finding glitter on the stairs for some reason. I think it is probably from the bottom of our shoes/slippers.

I have done a fair bit today after doing absolutely nothing yesterday. It is James's Birthday tomorrow and he requested that Lentil /Rice dish with a Chicken crown topped with spices . So this afternoon I have done the Lentil and Rice thing .It has Cinnamon ,Nutmeg and lots of caramelised Fried Onions in so the house stinks now and so do I. I have to make a sauce that goes with it but will do that tomorrow. Must remember to take that Chicken Crown out of the freezer tonight.

Dancing on ice I thought was not like it was that last time it was on. That commentator was too cheesy and like Frank says it was so loud.I will watch it next week and decide then if I will carry on with it. Vera was good :-D While I was in bed yeasterday I wached all 6 episodes of Vanished at the Lake(I think thats what it was called) A French Crime programme. It was brilliant.

Beef Stroganoff tonight.I had to have a sit down after doing that other dish to give my back and hip a rest. But James is on the way now so I will get cracking again.

Evening all,

It's been a really cold day here ,one of those days where you just carn't get warm ,i was frozen by the time i got home from walking Max ,a nice hot cuppa went down a treat .

Gill i'm so sorry to read about the trouble your having with your mum and poor Sandra in the middle of it too , it must be so upsetting for you all ,i hope in time things can sort themselves out .

Frank sounds as if your getting there you sound a bit brighter too, you'll soon be back tucking into your lovely roasts ,enjoy your steak tonight .

That made me smile Ann the thought of the mousetrap on the slipper ,it's a good job he didn't take a sit down while up there or he might have got a pinch on the bottom :-0 :-D
How's teds jumper coming along ?
I've done two little set of clothes for the doll so far ,i thought i'd wait until i've done a few things before i give them to her .

We recorded the new Vera as we still have some of the last ones to watch ,i'm not sure about the Skating programme ,i didn't like the bit where they kept going to where the ones who are on next week were skating and i thought it was so loud too ,i suppose we have to give it a chance but it's not the same as last time.

Glad your feeling a bit better today Jane ,there's no end of people with tummy bugs ,you'll have to watch that dish with all those onions in tomorrow :-0

Bit's of glitter here to Mel , it catches your eye when you go to pick it up you carn't see it ,i keep finding bits that have come off the tinsel too.
What are you making with your felting ?

It is the bits off the tinsel here that keep turning up.

I am making fairy pouches to go on a belt. Not for me as I hav'nt a belt that fits around me anymore!!!!! Tums too big now. I am enjoying it and the second one I have nearly finished I am keeping as it took me a whole afternoon and evening to put stitches on a leaf and then another evening to attach it to another peice of felt. None of the three I have made so far are finished yet as I can't find the right things to put on the fronts and I need some beads with big holes in I can get cord through. They would make a nice present for easter with a little egg in or small eggs. That was oh's idea. They are really little treasure pouches or medicin bags for a crystal.

I'll send a pic when I have done some and finished them.

I may have a look up the High St tomorrow and buy some fancy buttons as there is nothing suitable in the button box. I need something woodlandy really. I may have a go at making some small toggle buttons or buy some.

Better get the pasta on now.

Oh dear Jane, it wouldn't have helped your hip being in and out of bed all night either! Yes Mandy's right about the onions.......I hope your system can cope!!! :-0 It sounds like you are much better today though.

Mandy you are so quick!! I bet the little outfits look lovely. I would love to see a pic when you have finished everything. Ted just needs the last sleeve doing on his jumper now so I should finish it this week. It looks out of proportion........but so does Ted's tum so it will fit I think. :-S I had to laugh at the thought of OH squatting down and getting a nasty pinch. Ha ha he could have done his 'downstairs furniture' a nasty mischief in the loft!!

I keep picking bits of glitter up too. It just peeps out of the rugs, then hides again. Mel, your pouches sound good. A bit of twig to use as a toggle button would be woodlandy if you can't find anything better.