General Chat

Gosh, it’s been cold today - a real shock to the system, but it’s been lovely to see some sun at last and beautiful pale blue skies.

You’ve been busy today Mel. Your mincemeat slice sounds good. I like the sound of that lemon ice cream/sorbet as well.

I’m glad your coughs and colds are getting better AnnG. That must have been frustrating to lose a post this morning.

We had a good drive to Southend and back today. There was plenty of traffic but no hold ups. We got to our friend’s house about 11 am and left just after 2 pm.so plenty of time to get home in the light. I was glad we went as he hasn’t been very well and lives alone so was glad of the company. We exchanged Xmas presents and came home with some nice smellies each, a box of chocs and a box of tea time goodies; jam, lemon curd, shortbread, a rich fruit cake and tea bags.

I haven’t done much since we got back, apart from spending half an hour on the phone with my daughter. I’m ringing her every day at the moment.

iPad is telling me it’s -1 and feels like -7. It makes me think of when I was young and I’d have my coat put over the bed as an extra blanket and in the morning there would be ice on the inside of the window. I’m glad those days are gone.

Glad you had a good day Vera and the journey was ok.
Getting a bit bothered about our journey on Saturday, looking at the weather. Hope the forecast is worse than the reality.
I see all the decorations are coming down I do still try and stay with tradition and keep them up until twelfth night.

Good morning all
There’s a very heavy frost this morning and it’s sooo cold but the sun is shining and the sky is a pale blue. Safe journey back tomorrow AnnG. The main roads will probably be fine but if it is bad would your daughter and sil be able to wait an extra day or two before bringing you home?

I had very little sleep last night so feel very heavy headed and can’t seem to get myself moving today. Like AnnG we normally leave our decorations till 12th night but I might make a start taking them down. Enjoy the day whatever you’re doing and stay warm.

Morning all,
Lovely sunny morning but very frosty and cold ,I nipped out to bring the bin in that was emptied first thing ,we were going to sons and do a bit of shopping but son messaged and said I'd keep in if I were you as the roads are very slippery, we might wait until later and just nip to the co op down the road as we need milk and a TV book .

Anng I hope the weathers OK for you travelling home tomorrow and that your daughter can get back OK too ,it looks like the North is going to get the worst of it .

Good morning all. The sun is shining but it is very cold, only a light breeze and the birds, mainly goldfinches, blue tits and blackbirds are around the feeders. Daughter said the path front of house looks icy but there was no frost on the grass or rooftops.

They have hair appointments this morning. I was going for a wander round Workington while they were there but have decided to stay home and pack. I had a bad night so am tired. Too much rich food eaten late didn’t help.

Yes, if it was too bad we would delay a day, same for them coming back. It is the first hour this end which is the problem across the A66 which runs near the northern mountains.

Morning girls,

Woke early and went to the loo and there was such a hard frost I thought I'll turn the heating on and go back to bed for half an hour. Woke at 9.43am so must have fallen asleep again but at least it was warm when I got up.

Sorry to hear a couple of you had bad nights. You all stay safe inside today if its really bad round you.

The pc says 1 degrees and partly sunny but the suns been out since I first got up for the loo at 8.36am.

Going to keep my lovely cards up till the 12th night and not got much more up anyway just put some lights away and garlands.

You all keep yourselves nice and warm today and don't risk going out in this icy weather till its thawed a bit if you have to.

BIL is hereand I'm not dressed I was just going in the shower.

BIL just gone he did a lot of clearing out in the garage and took some pics just before he left of the birds on the feeder and hedge and will send them to me. We had four robins under the feeder and the Woodpecker on it and long tailed tits blue tits and sparrows but he never takes a pic of the sparrows.

Evening All,

We slept quite well and lay in this morning watching tv with a COT while the heating warmed up! :-D There was a good frost but the condensation that forms on the bedroom windows wasn't frozen like it would in years gone by in our childhoods. There was a thick frost everywhere on cars and rooftops and on the pavements. The sun came out and thawed it except for the shady areas. We had home made meals from the freezer today with rice. Still a few things to eat up but not much and I found a nice lemon, cream and meringue sort of roll in the freezer I'd forgotten all about so we can have that on Sunday.

Like Mandy I decided to pop to the Co-op later after some of the frost had gone, but the roads were clear and not many cars about. The roads are very shiny with wear around here as they only patch the holes now, so could be lethal with ice on them. I just cruised gently around the bends! I got milk and bread, plus a few requests for OH, but the papers I wanted were all sold.

Mel that was a close shave with BIL arriving and nearly giving him an eyeful! ;-) You need one of those cables across your drive that trip an alarm bell warning. He's very good starting to do some more jobs for you so soon after the new year though and on such a cold day. You do have some lovely birds on your feeders. I meant to say that I used to make a similar slice with bought puff pastry, but added some cooked apple to the mincemeat. It was nice with cream too.

I expect you are almost all packed now AnnG. OH was looking at the forecast for tomorrow round here for footie tomorrow and after some fog in the morning it doesn't look too bad, but the weather will be worse here on Sunday now. If you are going back tomorrow, I hope you have a good sleep tonight and a safe journey home. It is a long journey.

Vera I'm sure your daughter must appreciate your daily calls just now and knowing you are there to listen. Sorry you had a bad night's sleep, but we have also both felt so lethargic the past few says and not motivated to do anything much, so I hope getting back to more normal eating and moving more will give us back a bit of energy.

Mandy I hardly ever wait till the twelth night and once I even took everything down on Boxing Day! I think I wanted to start to redecorate or something like that before I went back to work! Jake got you both some thoughtful and useful presents didn't he. Does he have a girlfriend or does he not say! :-)

I actually heard his car come down the drive and the top part of me was dressed soo I bunged on my toweling robe. Is'nt it annoying when your paper is sold out! The frost went today from lots of places the sun dos'nt reach and I needed to go up the hsop so ran my car for a while to defrost it but it took ages. I even had to squeegy the inside of the windscreen. I got there safely and back again sso that was good. Nice you found a good dessert in the freezer you had forgotten about makes it all the more special.

I was cross I had slept so long this morning after putting the heating on at 8am something as it makes the day so short.

I hope you have a good and safe drive home tomorow Anng. Will they spend the night with you or a few days before going home? Wish them a Happy New Year from me please?

Nothing much to interest me on the telly tonight so I am watching the Harry Potter bakers. They have made some amazing cakes in the 6 hours given them.

Morning all,

Still frosty out there but not such a nice morning sun wise. Its grey skies right over. Pc is telling me 1 degree and snow on the way so I better get up the shop for my paper once I have defrosted the car again.

Hope you all slept well and safe journey home for Anng and family. You mind the roads ar'nt too icy.

Afternoon All,

I didn't wake till gone 9.00am, but it didn't seem as cold and there was less frost, at least by then. PC says 1 degree but feels warmer. Freezing rain and snow expected tonight. OH's match is off though, so he is going to another at Nuneaton. He'll see a friend there who is one of the officials I think and so will be able to take OH into the boardroom at half time where he will get a free hot drink and a bun!

We are trying to start getting back on track now so had porridge this morning and I had blueberries with mine.

Mel we subscribe to 2 other papers we have which saves about 30% of the cost, but I don't do it with DM as I don't have it every day, so just go and fetch it from the shop. It is annoying when they sell out and sometimes it is quite early in the day when you don't expect it.

I hope AnnG is well on the way back by now.

Afternoon all,

Did a post and lost the lot ,we were going to sons today but with the icy weather we're staying in , I have a parcel coming so need to be here really if its left on ths step it might get taken.
I ordered some of those big laundry bags to put the Christmas tree in ,the box is getting very tatty and it's so heavy to get up the stairs ,I usually slide it down but taking it up is not so easy so if I can get the branches in a couple of bags it will be easier to carry bags up.

I expect Anng is well on her way home by now they usually leave early .

Mel I meant to say there's a new lot of Father Brown starting next Friday lunch time I know you like that programme although I didn't think the last lot were as good as the first ones .

Ann we had porridge this morning too ,mainly to use some milk up as it was getting close to the date but it is nice and warming for the tummy this time of year .
It will be good if OH can get a nice warming cuppa up I the boardroom with his friend ,it must be cold for the feet standing out on the cold grass .
I'm hoping we will be on the edge of the snow and that we don't get much ,I must admit I really don't like the snow or frost never have done even when I was little I never liked sliding along on ths ice ,even more nervous now since I fell and broke my wrists much rather be indoors looking out lol

Snap ladies, I had porridge too. I slept a bit better last night so I’m a bit more with it today.

It was so white this morning that I thought it had snowed but it was just a really heavy frost. We got to the heady heights of 3 degrees earlier but the temperature is on the way down again already. I think we’re going to miss most of the snow but the forecast is for sleet through most of the night so I think the paths will be icy again tomorrow.

I hope AnnG got back safely.

I’ve had a morning of doing all sorts of odd jobs including taking down all the cards, candles and odd decorations I had put up. We’ll deal with the trees and lights tomorrow. My next job is to sort out dinner tonight. I bought 2 thick pork chops yesterday as OH likes them but I’m not very keen on them so I’ve taken a small piece of chicken from the freezer for me. I’ll freeze one of the chops for OH to have another time.

Hello all. we were home here at 1.30 including doing a Tesco shop on the way as we have to cater for tomorrow now they havr decided to stay an extra day to make sure the roads are ok.

No trouble on the way down. 4 degrees when we left there, no ice anywhere. Light snow making the mountains looking as if they had been dusted with icing sugar. would have loved to be out with my camera. But no ice all the way down, some light rain and a nice sunrise. :lots pf traffic but no holdups and only one set of 50mph for roadworks. Left there at 0740. Now for all the unpacking. I had 9 cards to open here.

Pleased you're home safely and that you have company for another night.

Its just started to snow here very tiny flakes but a north westerly wind that is absolutely bitter so it may get more through the night. Its 3 degrees here now. The frost went quite quickly on the car this morning but we've had grey skies all day so I did'nt think it was going to thaw. Its still in places on the ground though.

I have taken some of the decs down but did'nt put much up so its not going to take long. Its looking drea\ry already and I shan'nt have my red lights on after tonight. The ones up on the ceiling in the kitchen diner stay up since oh put them up years ago.

All you girls having porridge for breakfast made me laugh. Great minds think alike. I don't have it hav'nt since childhood. My son used to like it and have it before school yeara ago.

Hope your parcel arrived safely Mandy. Its always good to be there when they deliver. Our delivery drivers take a pic of the parcel at the front door if I am in the garden and they miss me and the pic comes up on the pc when they says the parcel is delivered.

Its hailstone now.

That's good you had a good journey AnnG and managed to call and get food on the way back so you have enough to cater for tomorrow. The snow dusted mountains would have been good to photograph as you say.

Mel I think the Amazon drivers all do that and even take a pic of you holding the parcel if you are home. It's a surprise isn't it when you first get an email with a pic of your parcel. That Yodel driver that left my parcel halfway up our drive didn't bother though! Porridge is filling and warming and is supposed to be good for the heart as it lowers cholesterol. It's why I have it, not for the taste so much. I don't add anything to sweeten it only a bit of fruit sometimes. As a child I would add treacle!.

I bet you were glad to have a better night Vera and be feeling better today. It sounds like you have it a bit colder and frostier than here. The overnight forecast is making me wonder what we will all wake up to in the morning. I watch Canon Farm with Rob and Dave in Yorkshire and they are closing the farm to visitors tomorrow which seems a good idea.

I've taken the cards down now and done a small wash as there's a top I want to wear for my doc's appointment on Tuesday. I always wear fast remove clothes for doctors' appointments, as they are such a short length and I know I'll need to partly undress for this routine one. I think I hear OH so I'd better put the kettle on.

That's good your home safely Anng sounds as if you had a decent journey with no hold ups .

Mel my parcel came and it was the nice chap who knocks and waits ,we had a woman the other day and the parcel was just left on the step and she never knocked as Max would have barked ,it had layer there a couple of hours as I looked on the camera .
I had one delivery man who handed me the parcel ,I shut the door came in and started to open it when he knocked again and said can you lay it on the step as I never took a photo of it .