General Chat

Afternoon Everyone
Cor Blimey what weather!! Lots of snow,which I didnt really expect. It is turning to rain now so I reckon it will soon disappear. Chris drove me to the Cattery with Thomas which I was pleased about. The A14 was horrible . Poor Thomas .I think he will be all tucked up in the sleeping quarters to keep warm. I felt bad leaving him in this cold weather.But I know he will be fine. Just put him out of my mind now.

I must start deciding what to pack now and get that done this afternoon.I will no doubt be changing my mind a few times LOL
I'll have a bath later and do my nails. Hair in the morning.

Sensible JJ staying in the warm. I am sure the Motorway will be fine for the journey down to Devon even if they have to take things a little slower. We saw 3 Salt /Gritters on the A14 this morning.

I'll be back later on.

Snow has stopped now and everywhere in SLUSH. JJ has lost his tennis ball. We had searched all over the place, I finally went down the garden, but no sign of it. I am sure he has more balls at home, and it will turn up sometime
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Jan and Jo are going our to lunch with Kerry and Mark and will make their way here later.

I have a friend in Jamaica, I see on FB hat they are safe, and staying away from the trouble area. I think they are back next week.

I am still waiting for Jonathan to come round and sort out CATCH UP and the connection to WiFi. I have tried, but I am useless at anything technical. !!

Gill I haven't really got my appetite back. I only had a Ham Roll all day yesterday, and as yet not eaten today. I will dish myself a small dinner later, but doubt I will eat it all. As for the beer. I have settled for THREE to FOUR cans a day. I don't have any other vices, and feel comfortable with what I am doing.

The sky looks full of rain clouds, which they promised in the forecast. So I expect it will come and clear all his slush away. Then the ground will be soaked again. Roll on some dry weather and sunshine.

Has OH finished the loft now Mel. ?? and how is your OHs back doing Gill.??

I have a self of Lewis and I on my phone which he took Friday. I have connected the phone to the Mac Book, but don't know what to do to transfer it. Once I can do this I will forward it to you all, so you can see Lewis.

The poor old birds looked soaked sitting up in the bushes. I Also they find somewhere warm and dry for the night. Likewise all wild animals etc.

I bet the homeless are feeling this cold snap. It must be a nightmare for them finding food, and somewhere dry and warm to get away from this weather. My thoughts are with them. I know some do it as a way of living, but dos, it has been forced on, through terrible circumstances . We are a lucky lot aren't we. xxx

OH's back is still sore Frank, he has another appointment with the doctor on the 26th for the results of the X-ray and blood tests, he'll know more then. Depending on the results the doctor might send him to a back specialist.

I'm sure your appetite will return soon. It sounds like you've got the situation under control with your drinking if you're comfortable with it. Will you stop drinking altogether or stick to a few cans each night? I know you said you were going to quit, but just wondered if you had changed your mind. Like you said you don't have any other vices. So long as you're happy, that's the main thing :-)

So JJ's lost his tennis ball, I'm sure it'll turn up eventually and like you said he has more at home so he probably won't miss it. Pleased to hear your friends in Jamaica are safe.

Where are you going Jane? Sorry I must of missed the post of you going away. I hope you have a nice time and Thomas enjoys his little holiday too ;-)

I think Jane and Chris are going to Hannah's graduation.

Just going to have a look and see what oh has done today.

Afternoon All,

We awoke to thick snowflakes and a covering of about an inch and a half of snow this morning. We went out for lunch and the roads were all slushy, but the snow had stopped by the time we came out from lunch. We called in the factory shop after to buy a small electric fan heater. We'd said the week before when we saw them that we'd get one 'in case' we needed one sometime and I had a £5 off voucher we could use. I also had a £1 off from the cards they give you each time you shop so OH got a long sleeved white shirt for only £7 with the £1 off.

Amazingly we'd had a drama when we got up this morning and found the boiler was leaking water over the worktop and into the wall you don't see behind the cover below it...........so we needed the heater sooner than we expected!!!! :-S OH topped the boiler water up and we managed a speedy shower before switching it off again and have left it off since! We've put trays on the worktop under it but there have been no further drips, so maybe it is just happening when the boiler is running and under pressure or hot?? Don't really know so we are leaving it off till we can get Roy to come and look at it. He has done our servicing for a few years now, so hopefully will do his best to come and look at it quickly, although he's bound to be busy this time of the year. I checked the warranty first and wouldn't you just know it, it ran out less than 5 months ago. :-S :-S I had a secret chuckle earlier as OH was sitting in the lounge watching footie. He was wearing extra layers t shirt etc and fingerless gloves to read the paper!! lol. He's worked out how to light the gas fire now (we never use it) as it's gone colder. It looks like an old fashioned style wash from a kettle of water tomorrow morning and no shower or hair wash which we both have every day. :-S I have an optician's appointment at 9.00am.

Yesterday I went to the silversmithing workshop with a friend and 5 of us made a couple of silver rings each. It was really good and they turned out better than I expected. There was a little Chihuahua there with his own little cushion in front of an electric heater. He looked like he might be a bit spoiled and after barking at us, he was quite a softie for tickles. :-)

Suitcase packed.We are sharing one for the first time EVER !!. Guess whose stuff is taking up most of the space? Not Chris . I am actually being very good.Just 3 tops 2 pairs of trousers a loose cardigan and my undies.All that needs to go in now it the toilet bag and my hairbrush. I am sure I will be throwing a few more bits in though at the last minute (just in case I need them :-D)

Yes Gill it is Hannahs Graduation for her PhD. Apparently the gowns are designed by Vivian Westwood. I thought all Grad Gowns were the same other than the coloured scarf things.They must have a name. Bit like a vicar wears if you get what I mean.

I wonder where JJ's tennis ball has got to Frank. Has he other toys to play with ?He might sniff it out himself. I hope you manage to have some food tonight. A ham sandwhich is not enough !!

Mel ,Has OH a little bed up in the loft he can have a kip in LOL He has been up there for days :-D He must have nearly finished now.
You asked when Matthew and Kelsey are back. They went on the 16th and are in Jamiaca for a fortnight..

Fitz is taking us to the station tomorrow so we dont have to leave the car in the station car park for 2 nights.The train isnt until 1.30 so no rush in the morning. One thing I wont have to do it get up at a ridiculous time to let Thomas out :-D. I bet I wake up though :-S

Going to give Janice a ring now.

Good afternoon all

Feeling a little better now and gradually getting my appetite back but feel so tired all the time, keep falling a sleep in the armchair. When I got up this morning there was a dead baby rat outside my bedroom door, I think it was probably Shadow's gift as there wasn't a mark on it poor little thing

Colin rang a couple of days ago and he has also had this bug despite having a flu jab he had spent the last 5 days in bed, something I was unable to do because of Ruby. He had to cancel two lectures he was booked to do in the Lake District.The main reason for ringing was he had to reapply for a Russian Visa and they ask different questions every time, this time they wanted details about our parents , where and when they were born and where they died and when, he is off to St Petersburg next month.

We woke up to snow this morning as well but not as much as Jane it has turned to rain now. Your neighbour has been busy Jane removing the tree, good job he did it before the snow. Hope Thomas has settled into the cattery, where are you going? I must have missed your post.

I haven't been on here for quite a while so hopefully I can get back on track now.

Evening all,

Frosty first thing but it soon thawed and by lunch time we had a little light snow but it hasn't laid as every where is so wet ,now it's pouring with rain .

Mel i haven't really got on with my knitting very well today i did start a little jacket but i wasn't happy with it so pulled it all out ,i did knit a little pair of sandals the other day but i didn't take a photo of them and Lacey has them now ,she loved all the little things i've done so far .

You'll miss little JJ Frank ,i wonder what he's done with his ball ,you'l have to keep an eye out or it, you don't want to be putting your foot on it and going for a burton ,the times i've done that with Max as he lays down behind me when i stand at the sink and his ball is beside him and i don't notice it when i turn .

Your neighbour did very well to get that tree all cleared away Jane ,i bet he's stiff as a board today .
Enjoy your trip ,it will be interesting to see what the Gown is like , Vivian Westwood.does like bright colours doesn't she .

Oh dear Ann you don't want to be with out your heating and hot water for to long in this weather ,i hope it's nothing to bad and can be fixed fairly soon ,that was a blessing getting the fan heater .
Like to see the rings you've made ,that little Chihuahua knew the best place to sit .

Anne glad to hear your feeling a little better ,there's so many people with this flu it does seem to be knocking people for six .

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Good I am pleased you're feeling a little better Anne.

It seems to me that everyone has had a little snow but not me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mandy did you have a pattern for the little sandles you knitted? You could show us that? Shame about the jacket.

The poor chickens were really wet when they went to bed tonight. I had to open the door and count them as one keeps getting out but I think she can get back in again too as oh said one was out the other day and when I counted them there were 9.

Jane that was a nice sprinkling of snow you had and just enough not to cause any trouble but made everywhere look nice for a while.

Ann do you think your boiler may have caught something from Janes? It such a nuisance when these things happen at weekends. At least the bargan heater came in handy at the right time. I can just imagine G sitting readin gthe paper in fingerless gloves. Did he have his hat on too?

Yes we want to see these rings you made please?

Looking forward to seeing Call the Midwife later on catch up.

Better get something to eat now as I had'nt realized what the time is.

Safe journey tomorrow Jane but I expect you will pop in in the morning.

I must of missed the post of Hannah and her graduation Jane, sorry. I bet you and Chris are so proud of her. I didn't know Vivian Westwood designed the gowns, how interesting. Good idea Fitz taking you to the station, leaving your car for 2 nights wouldn't of been good. Is he bringing you home too?

Pleased to hear you're finally on the mend now Anne. Sorry to hear Colin has it now though. That's a lot of questions for his Russian Visa, I didn't realised they needed all that information, good job he had you to ask. So Shadow left you a gift of a dead rat. I remember one of our cats bringing a dead mouse into our kitchen and that was bad enough, I don't know what I'd of done if it was a rat. It must of been quite a shock for you.

Oh no Ann, that's all you need with your boiler and just when you need your heating and hot water. Hope Roy can fix it quickly for you. Good job you bought the new heater, it'll come in handy now and you have your gas fire too, so you can keep warm. I had a bit of a giggle when you mentioned your OH and the way he was dressed watching the footie. Did you get a photo?
Your rings sound nice, I'd love to see a pic if you have one

You've done well with your knitting Mandy, I bet Lacey is pleased as punch with it all. I didn't know you could knit sandals.

Good morning my lovelies,

Very calm sort of day here, snd all gone and the rain has stopped.

Iffy sort of night again. It's coming up to my DAD's anniversary 30th Jan. My mind is always full of memories, and how he was in those days leading up to his passing. It's also my daughters 54 birthday. Not knowing where or how she is is on my mind as well.

I ate half of what I put on my plate last night, Ros cleared hers, and said what a beautiful meal i was.

Sat and watched DOI, but I wish the audience wouldn't keep CLAPPING through the dancing. It sends my brain in a whirl. I just have to turn the sound down.

Jan rang us from Bristol last night, to let us know they were about an hour from home. The temperature was up to 13 degrees, so much warmer than here.

Ros is still in the land of nod, so I will leave her to come round when she wants. We have nothing to do today. So no RUSH. !!!

Enjoy your day Jane, and give Hannah my love, and tell her how proud we are of her achievement. xxx

See all you others later. when you are up and about. !!!lol

Morning Frank and all,

I have been telling you it has been much warmer down here. We hav'nt had the heating on much what with the loft hatch being open most of the day. Certainly no snow like you lot have had.

He has'nt gone up there yet. He said yesterday evening that his shouders really ached. At least the step off the ladder is done now and he's made a good job of it. Its not just a case of roll out the lagging and put the boards on top. He has to fit these leg things to the joists to support the boards. The boards are chipboard and about 8 foot long and 2 and a half feet wide and heavy. He is having to cut them around the roof supports and move stuff around up there as its not a clear space with what we have stored there.

Bin man comes today and the recyling so he has been up the top with that.

Morning all

Quite warm here today but still damp so we must of had some rain in the night. It's not raining at the moment so that's good.

Enjoy your day Jane. Love to see some photo's if you are allowed to take them.

It sounds like your OH has got a big job on his hands by how you've explained things Mel. It's now wonder his shoulders are achy. Would it be easier to take everything out of the loft save him moving it all the time. If he's moving it anyway he'd only need to move it once then. When the loft is empty he'd be able to just get on with it and he'd have more room to move about........just a thought. You could then go through it all and have a bit of a sort out while your OH is busy putting the lagging and boards down. It sounds very warm down there which will help with the loft hatch open. You lucky thing not having to put the heating on, we've got ours on more than ever at the moment. I'm dreading this winters heating bill.

How are you getting on with your boiler Ann, hope it's been looked at now and is on it's way to being fixed?

I'm the same when it comes round to my grandparents anniversary's Frank. It's nice to remember them, but also quite sad that they're not around anymore. I'm thinking of you, keep your chin up and think of the happy times you had with your dad <3 Pleased to see you managed half of your meal last night, I'm sure it won't be long before you're back to eating a full plate.

I've finished boxing up my books and now I've got a big job on my hands today, I've got five lever files of paper bills to go through. I found 10 files in total, 5 of them for the family tree (Certificates, Wills etc..) so I'm going to make a start going through the bills ones today. Unfortunately we don't have a shredder anymore as OH burnt the last one we had out, so all the old bills will need cutting up by hand. If there is a lot to do we might buy another shredder, or we'll be cutting them up for ever and a day.

Going to get a cuppa first. See you all later.

Gill, I think shredders are quite cheap these days, and it's a sure way of disposing of confidential letters and documents.We had one as a Christmas Present years ago, and use it overtime we get a few papers to dispose of
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No wonder your OH has back ache Mel. Those boards are very heavy. I got a couple and laid them so the plumber can walk across to the boiler for maintenance and servicing. (once a year, thank Gawd).

Ros is having trouble with her mobile phone,so she has taken it to Tesco to see if they can sort in out. She can't send or receive anything on WHAT'S APP. Whatever that is. !!!

I have SOOOOO much Beef over from the Big Joint yesterday. So I am going to slice it all up and wrap it into meal sizes, and freeze it. It was so tender, I would hate to waste it.

I have noticed that this bloody MacBook decides what words to put in to a sentence for me. :-P :-P :-P So I have to check everything, and change words to what they are suppose to be. It's a job I can do without. Why it does it I don't know. !!!!

If the weather stays like this Jane and Chris will have a nice afternoon for Hannah's passing out. (if that's the right words) I am sure they will be as proud as punch wha ever the weather. xxx

Clear blue sky here at present. Hope you all have the same.

Nope no blue sky here just a tad out the front but at least its not raining.

Morning All

Can't stop,just having a quick and early lunch and then off at 1pm
Back here again later on Wednesday.

Anne what a lovely little present Shadow brought you :-D :-D. Outside your bedroom door too !!!!. She probably that it might cheer you up and make you feel better :-D :-D

Tatty Bye for now.

Ros is watching the SURGEONS programme on Cach up. Not my sort of thing, so I'm out of the way for a while.

No sunshine here now Mel, All clouded up and miserable.I haven't been out but Ros said it's not cold, yet I have put a jumper on as I feel cold. She got her phone sorted out so is back on Wi Fi and able to use What's App. She has sent a message to Carolyn regarding our next door but ones passing on, and the Bungalow might be coming on the Market. Why on earth J & C want another property in the village is beyond me. They seem to just need to spend MONEY.

I had some salmon fillets for lunch. Now have indigestion, so will need to have a drop of Galveston to settle my tummy.

Tonight I am doing some lovely BIG Pork Ribs in Chinese flavouring, with Jacket Potato's and coleslaw with a few Baked beans for me.

If Ros is finished with these operations, I will watch a bit of Nat. Geo. There is bound to be something on there the I will like. !!!

What a few hours we've just had. Our neighbour at the bottom of our garden has been trying to cut down the tree like branches of his hedge for quite some time now, he or she (not sure which one it is) has been sneakily chopping bits off over a number of months but today chopped a large one down (about 10 foot high) and it landed on our fence and right across the 8 foot space we have between the fence and the conifers, hitting the conifers. Luckily it didn't damage them. I said excuse me to them with the intention of asking them if they'd like us to cut it down from our side as it would be easier. There was no reply so OH went round to their house. They ignored the door, don't ask me why, I find that very strange behaviour. Anyway OH came home and asked our neighbour next door but one, who is a brilliant neighbour and will help anyone if he can, if we could borrow his large lobbers so I could cut the branches down. Well, bless him he came round and within an hour he had cut all the large branches down for us. OH felt bad as there was nothing he could do with his bad back, but the neighbour didn't mind and carried on even though it was getting dark.

The only down side to it is we now have all the rubbish at the bottom of our garden to get rid of. OH and Sandra said to throw it over the fence to their side, but I think that would probably cause problems so I'm going to cut it all up tomorrow and ask our neighbour next door if we can use her wheelie bin for a while so we can get rid of it. OH is also going to ask the neighbour over the road if we can use his bin too. The one over the road may say no as we have to pay the council for the removal of garden waste now so he might think we're being cheeky. He's a nice man so he may say yes, we'll just have to wait and see.

We don't pay for our wheelie bin to be emptied which is why we're going to ask the neighbours for help. Next door, the old lady, always says yes if they're not filling the bin themselves so I don't think it'll be a problem with her.

Needless to say my paper sorting came to a standstill so that's going to take me another few days to finish. But at least I don't have the worry of the large bits of hedge falling on our trees and breaking them anymore.

Going to sort dinner out now. I've just run OH another bath as it helps his back so he'll be wanting something to eat after that.

Evening all,

It's been a nice day and we even had some sun ,not so cold today either .

So you didn't get the papers sorted then Gill with the sorting out of the tree branches that came over your fence , i think you should put them back over the fence , they belong to them after all and they must know they have come down over your side so you are only giving them back , why should you have the work of cutting them up and getting rid of them ,it was good of your neighbour to come round and help to cut them up.

I should think OH's shoulders would be aching with the job of lifting and laying those big boards Mel it's a big job to do on your own it's a pity he hasn't got some one who could give him a hand to do it .

I find the DOI is a bit loud at times too Frank ,i carn't seem to get into it ,i suppose its because i don't know a lot of them that are skating .

We enjoyed Call the Midwife last night ,i love the exchanges between Nurse Crane and Sergeant Woolf ,i hope they keep the Sergeant in .