General Chat

My wife still screams every time she sees one Amanda.
Some one must played a cruel trick on her once upon a time.

Evening all
Have a safe Journey Frank & Ros.

Kim,
I'm 55 and I live in Scotland and have for the last 20 years,I was born in the North East of England , Sunderland, but had to move up here because my OH was made redundant from the ship yards and had to find another job. luckily he managed to get a managers job with a gas company outside of Glasgow , Being a marine engineer in the merchant navy for 10 years came in very handy.

I have 2 daughters, one who is 30 and the other 24. the eldest is married and I have a little granddaughter who is 20months. I often mention her on here, as I see her about 2or 3 times a week so I spend a lot of time with her.

I don't have any ancestors who went to Australia, mine emigrated to Canada and America, not sure I could cope with all those creepy crawlies either, and the idea of meeting a snake or lizard gives me the shivers. I have visited Melbourne once when I was at sea with my OH we docked in Port on Christmas day. and I went a shore with the 2nd Engineer and his wife to do some shopping, OH had to work, it was very strange being in a very hot country on Christmas Day and walking round the shops , the streets were full of shoppers and people dressed up as clowns and entertainers. that would have been Christmas 1979 I think.

Glad all went well at the dentist Jane.

OH making dinner tonight as I am pretty tired, didn't sleep all that well as I had to change beds about midnight as OH came home tired after being away all week and had a whiskey to relax and then went to bed and fell into a deep sleep and started to snore,
Drives me up the wall and I start to get irritated so I just go into the back bed, it was cold and I took ages to drop off to sleep and kept waking up , once I am awake I need to go to the loo.

need to set the table.
Quotation no 13
I no doubt deserve my enemies, but I don't believe I deserve my friends

Fiona,It's nice to hear you say you have to set the table.I say that every night ,but I wonder how many families actually do that these days.I put the table mats down ,knives and forks ,salt and pepper in the middle.I don't have the napkins in the rings though that we had when I was little.I still have my old napkin ring with the shield of Greenock on.Dad's was Glasgow.Mum's was Bideford and I can't remember what my Sisters was.
Off to dish up dinner now.Lamb Steaks,roast pots,asparagus and baby carrots.I must not chew the lamb on my temporary crown. I have to let it set in lol

Glad your tooth treatment is nearly over Jane. Even new fillings feel odd to start with don't they.

Well I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks it has gone chilly. OH was boiling after his lumberjacking with the 2 trees especially as he had to go back to the handsaw after the electric one broke. Tonight he kept flinging the big windows open, so I put socks and a jumper on.....its usually me that's too hot!! lol We now have 2 trunks about 3 feet high and have decided to get someone to chainsaw the rest off at the bases so we can cover them over with the slate chips that are around them. Neighbour over the road says he misses them already and that they made it look like holiday down here!! lol He asked OH what we were going to replace them with and OH said he would have to speak to the HEAD GARDENER!!!

The other obelisk was due to be delivered SOMETIME today. I rang at 3pm to ask what the latest time delivery would be and was told 5.00pm. Doesn't it make you mad when you stay in all day and then they don't deliver!! Goodness knows when we'll get it now.

David when I last moved house I packed as much as I could as soon as I could. Packed all but the bare essentials in crockery and utensils for a start, same with ornaments. Sort all your paperwork and shred what you don't need, give books you don't want to charity shops and pack others you won't need for a while, same with clothes. A good time to declutter and sell what you don't want. Then there will be less to take and find a new home for at the new place. Good luck!!! :D :D

Thank you Annx
Your'e reading my mid.I had intended giving a lot away that doesn't get used.
I wouldn't sell it Providence has been kind to me.I will give the surplus to charity shops.Iv'e bought a fair ammount from them down the years.

Where will I get large strong cardboard boxes?

David , our supermarket's (Tesc*'s and Morris*ns ) always have cardboard boxes near the till , you can just help yourself to them .

Grab any cardboard boxes at the supermarket quick before they get flattened David.In out Tes** they are trying to get people to use them instead of lots of plastic bags.The other thing is you can buy big plastic boxes with lids (quite cheaply ) at places like Wilkins**s,Focu*,etc.
What a shame you lost those Palms Ann.There are so many people here who have lost theirs .Lots of gardens with very sad looking bare trunks.It is pitiful to see them all.
I am ready for my bed now.Chris thought he was picking Hannah up at the station at 9.30.She has just text to say she won't arrive until 10.30 !!
I need to brush my teeth .My mouth tastes all chemical .It must be all the stuff the dentist used ,and my jaw aches from keeping it open for nearly an hour lol

See you all again tomorrow.Night Night x

Thank you for pointing me in the right direction for those boxes Amanda and Jane.
Ive never seen any lying around but I will enquire tomorrow.

Some garden centres have smaller boxes near the tills too, otherwise try the neighbours as we have quite a few boxes in our garage!!

Strong black plastic bags are good for putting stuff like curtains or bed linen/pillows in.

Don't forget to write on or sellotape notes on your boxes/bags. (black felt pen stands out) Eg THIS WAY UP, CROCKERY, KITCHEN. Whoever moves you can put all the boxes in the right rooms for you then and save you lugging stuff about. Also you will know which to open for what you want at the other end.

Hi All
Just had a sad phone call from my cousin's daughter to say her dad past away this afternoon in hospital ,he has been very ill for a long time and was on Oxygen all the time while he was living at home these last 2or 3 years
My cousin is the only one I keep in contact with in Sunderland, her dad was my dad's eldest brother. I will ring my cousin tomorrow ,
I have also ordered some flowers to be delivered tomorrow.
He was 67.

Jane, when the whole family are here for dinner we always eat round the table. and we do the same through the week, If I am on my own I have a tray in front of the TV.

Well I am ready for bed now really tired especially after that sad phone call.

Wishing you all goodnight.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Quotation no 13
Especially for DAVID & FRANK
A man's hair and teeth are just about his best friends, but even the best of all friends fall out

Hello, I don't suppose anyone is up yet, unless there are farmers in the group or early risers. It is 2.30 in the afternoon here - another sunny day, but the wind chill is biting.

Talking about spiders I had a huge Huntsman on my typewriter back in the 70's when I worked for the Maritime Services Board of NSW - situated across from the Opera House. I was merrily typing away when I saw this huge hairy thing waving its legs at me and I went a;lhksd'kj'kjasd;lgj'l;kasjg;lfl'sdfjdsl; and crashed the keys in the middle of a huge document. I screamed so loud they heard me on the ground floor from the 5th floor. My boss ran out and flicked it onto the floor and did a tapdance on its head. Dead gone duck it was and I found out later that one of the stupid draftsmen had planted it in my desk drawer. It bit him and he later went home sick, haha.

My dad was in the RAAF and flew the Pacific and New Guinea and Bornea during the war. He had the marvellous opportunity of learning survival skills with the aboriginals of the Arunta Tribe from Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. He was also made a blood brother and from that time on had heaps of indigenous mates. I can remember being out in the backyard with him when I was little and he dug up a few witchetty grubs (excuse spelling) and ate them. I was nearly sick, they are thick white things that turn black when exposed to sunlight. Part of the native diet - they can keep it I think!!!!

I can remember picking up a piece of thin, black rubber that my cats were playing with when I lived in Victoria. Damn thing started to wriggle and I realised it was a baby yellow-belly black snake. More screaming and crying too this time. We get lots of red belly-black snakes around this area, quite a few funnel web spiders (sure you have heard of them) and I've trodden on a brown snake (so venomous) when I was walking down to the beach on day (1960s). It just went on its way. I was so lucky. So when are you all coming over to visit - I can introduce you to some friends, lol.

Jane, sorry about your tooth. Hope you recover quickly. I have a rotten molar that should have come out years ago - must be time for me to take that step. Fiona, also condolences on the loss in your family.

Must put some more washing on. This might tickle those of you who have wicked senses of humour - I have Hickeys Dickies and Coytes in my family line. Wonder names!!!!!!!

:D My Victorian hubby is from Tallarook - have you ever heard that saying, "Things are crook in Tallarook". Well they really are!!!!!!

Cheerio for now chums, Kimmy

Morning Kim and all
I'm not sure I like the sound of some of your friends Kim.I think I will pass on your offer of introducing them lol.I wouldn't mind a lovely visit to Australia though.
I have an Aunt and cousins who live in Croyden Victoria.Your Dad certainly had an interesting time in the war.That was some experience for him.

I have been like Lady Muck this morning.Sat in bed with tea and toast and looking on the laptop at holiday cottages for September.Either Northumberland or Dorset again.
The sun that was out earlier has disappeared now.They say we are due for rain today.
Off for a shower now .

Fiona I am sorry about your sad news.He wasn't terribly old was he.

Morning All and welcome back Kim,

I do hope you stay with us as your memories are great.

Sunny here today but still that blimmin cold wind. OH has brought down the window up in the old workshop for the new project and I have been out in the garden with him to see where abouts we are going to position it.

I was so tired last night I did'nt get back to the thread. OH said go up the local village and see if the fish and chip van is there so you don't have to cook. Well up I went and it was'nt there so I came back and said "what about a chinese?" thats his favorite so I ordered what we wanted on the phome and then drove to Holsworthy to get it. Parked the car, looked for my purse.............
no purse!! I had left it at home!! I went in the shop and said I had left my purse at home. Came out and rang OH who said he would meet me half way. Went back to the shop and the lady came out and said how much was your order? I said £29.25 and she said come in a minuet. The old chinese man said he would trust me to pay another day!!!!!!!! Now I thought that was very reasonable as I don't go in there that much. Anyway I then had to ring OH again and just cought him as he was getting in the car.
Left my name address and phone number with the shop on my ticket and came home with the meal. It tasted even better that normal after all the trouble and not being paid for at the time of collection.

Kim if there is anything you wish help with over here in England with you family tree just ask and I will have a look for you. I live in Devon. Have one son who I don't speak to and about 5 or 6 grandchildren who I have never seen. Well I did see one once when I lived in Suffolk. He was'nt married to the girl or should I say woman as she was only a few years younger than me. The child was so like my Martin when I saw her with her mum in Sudbury that it had to be my Martin's.

Tunnel nearly clean now and I planted my PUMPKIN yesterday!!

Ann I meant to say about your palm trees!! If you cut them down to about a foot, eighteen inches, from the ground they may come back!!! I too lost my young one the year before last and it came back. Then I forgot to cover it last year and all the new growth died but I still just left it and it is showing signs of life again!!

Good morning to you all,

You have been busy chatting and I have only been gone less than a day.

Jane, I thought you would be use to having your mouth open for an hour, not just at the dentists LOL LOL

Glad you are with us Kim, I have family and friends in Sydney area. Have been in touch with them via friends/genes reunited. Should have meet up with a cousin in Sydney when I was there, but he wasn't at home when I telephoned him..

I don't know anyone who has been lucky to keep their palm trees. I lost two. Conrad has lost three, and you see them all hanging down the trunks, when you drive pass them.

Unsettled weather here. I was drinking tea on the decking at 8.30. then by 9.30 wind got up, clouds everywhere, and a shower. patchy cloud everywhere now.

Girls are going out "WINDOW SHOPPING" eh eh.!!! We will listen to the sports on 5 live till 3pm then watch the CUP FINAL. Might have a couple of beers watching it. IS THAT ALLRIGHT WITH YOU LOT.

Talking of lino. All our rooms were covered in it in childhood. Even up the stairs. Our bedroom had little mats at the side of the bed. And I would put my "Sleeping suit" on in front of the airing cupboard door where it was quite warm. Then dive under the feathered mattress waiting for my two elder brothers to get into bed. I slept in the middle, so soon warmed up.
The decorating on the walls, was cream gloss paint. Then dad would use a sponge to stipple pattens into it. When wall paper became available after the war it was on rolls that you had to trim yourselves. We never had a straight edge. !!!!

Morning all
Thanks for your kind wishes
No Jane ,My cousin in law wasn't very old , but he did smoke a lot so I think he had problems with his lungs. don't really know all the details.
I am not sure if I will make the funeral whenever it will be, OH is away again this week and if it is at the end of the week, I will be needed for babysitting while daughter no 1 goes to work.
It's not like I live just around the corner, and with OH away I have no transport to get to Sunderland, I think I will arrange to go down to Sunderland in a few weeks time to see the family.
I posted a card this morning and hopefully the flowers will arrive today.

Dry but a real cold wind today, OH gone to the tip with garden rubbish and my old tumble dryer , glad to see the back of that was a bit of an eye sore in the garden,

Lunch time

Quotation no 14
The world is round so friendship may encircle it.

Hello again,

I will try to keep my friends contained, especially the eight legged ones. Thank you Mel for your offer. My First Fleeter, Harry Parsons is from Stoke Damerel and came out as a marine on the Sirius. I haven't found records of his birth, but supposed to be 29/8/1768 to a James and Mary Parsons. I did find a christening for him twice in the September of 1772. He is supposed to have left a wife Martha at the docks when he left for the colony. He is buried under the Sydney Town Hall.

My other ggg.grandfather was an accountant of Cheese Lane, Bristol and he was sent out for forging sixpences in 1797. He left a wife and 11 children behind. He then married my ggg.grandmother who was an Irish rebel sent out in 1802 and had another 5 children. They established the dairy at Parramatta and looked after the government herds. They also had a pub, but it burned down the day she was getting the licence renewed. Poor thing, she was a tough old girl.

Jane, I do know Croydon Victoria very well, often went to the markets there and only lived 10 minutes away. Very close to the Dandenong Ranges. Your relatives live in a lovely spot!!

Frank I grew up in Maroubra one of the eastern suburbs of Sydney (means "windy" in Aboriginal). We too had awful lino - a grey with red, green and black coloured squares. I was always falling on it as mum kept it buffed to a shine. Glad when it was ripped up and they put down carpet.

Mel, families they can hurt you so much!! Had a few issues over the years with my brothers and the parents didn't get to see the grandchildren much at all. They had a few good years with my children before they passed on and that helped to make up for what they had missed.

My dad was Reckless Reggie. My loathing of cockroaches came from dad's experience in Darwin during the war. He came out of a pub one night and gave a stretch with a big yawn and a large one flew down his throat. They took him to hospital where it had to be pulled out with large tweezers and he could feel it clawing all the way up. Poor thing said the taste didn't go away for years and if ever we had one in the house, he would head for the bathroom.

If I'm talking too much, just let me know. Went to visit my next door neighbour tonight. He is very ill and the doctors can't work out what's wrong. He is an ex policeman with a wonderful sense of humour and loads of tales. We had a few laughs and a cup of tea. So glad I went to see him. Keith made a lovely apple and rhubarb crumble and we took some in with some whipped cream. He did enjoy it. Health is everything!!!!

Best wishes, Kim

Afternoon everyone,

Sunny here with a few spots of rain now and again ,the wind seems to be picking up and its quite chilly.

Fiona, sorry to hear you've had sad news , as Jane has said 67 is no age really .
We're not doing much today , hubby wanted to get on in the garden ,but with the showers i've now found him a few inside jobs !!

Kim ,the thought of standing on a snake would make me run a mile !! and as for your poor dad, fancy swallowing a Cockroach !! i once had a Spider climb up my leg , well i nearly passed out !!
My other little dog used to go mad if a Spider went across the floor , so i knew when there was one about , but this dog ( Toby ) well he just sits and watches them .

Hickies ,Dickies and Coytes lol.No plain Smith and Jones in your family then Kim.
Frank ,you go ahead and have a few beers while you watch the footie.You have my permission.

Well James's girlfriend now has the D&V bug!.He has recovered but still a bit fragile.I hope he doesn't get it again .He needs to be fit for his first exam on tues.

Hannah is exhausted!I knew she would be after all that work she did for the interview,then the interview.Just had a few tears from her as she is still worried about the house business too.The people who were wanting to buy it still do and have put up a bigger offer,from £115,000 to £122,500!So now Hannah must get back in touch with this awful company and put it to them.I think she will have to beg and plead that they reconsider.I just hope they have a heart and see reason.But I won't hold my breath

Mel ,that was good of them to let you pay for the takeaway another time.I suppose they know you well enough now .I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I have just been to my neighbours to see what plants will need watering while they are away for the week.There are loads lol.it will take a fair while.But I take Chester with me and he just loves to mooch around their huge garden searching out new smells.He gets so excited when he knows we are going and almost pull my arm off to get there.Oh I have the fish to feed too.
The sun is still managing to shine amongst the clouds.Still no rain!

Afternoon All,

Sorry to hear your sad news Fiona. I'm sure your card and flowers will be very much appreciated.

Sunny but quite windy here. How nice to hear some more about your life Kim. I think with those snakes and creepy crawlies I would be checking under the bed and in it every night!! lol A friend of mine's ancestor was killed by an Aborigine, but I don't know how far back in her tree it was. We've seen those Witchetty grubs on tv......gross!! :O :O

Mel, one of the palms has a black stain down one side so we think something is up with it and it may be best to cut the rest down. One of the gardening programmes recently mentioned a disease that that is spreading among them from the south. We were amazed how wet it was at the centre of the trunks and how heavy they were. OH made several trips to the tip with them yesterday. He said this morning, should he hire a chainsaw to cut the rest down and I shook my head. Yes he said, you could end up married to Long John Silver!!!! This morning his arms were covered in scrapes and scratches from them.

How nice for that Chinese man to trust you Mel.......restores your faith in human nature a bit when that happens.

I have been sorting some paperwork.........I still seem to be the one who does most of this, even now OH has retired. When I ask him if he would like to do some he always says, no, I'm quite happy for you to do it. I bet he is!!!!! lol

I got some Night scented stock seed with a magazine the other day, so I think I'll go and plant them in a pot and put some slug pellets around the Hostas........this rain we've had will be bringing the slugs and snails out.

Frank, OH is all set for the CUP FINAL too!! I shall keep well away!! lol