General Chat

Gwyn It is always uplifting to have a good family get together. What a lovely last resting place. A long time since I visited but it is a beautiful area. And what a great choice for your lunch too. I think there is more than one pub there. Once when I was 18/19 T and I caught the bus up the hill and had lunch there, then walked right across the hill until we came to a path down that led us down to catch the bus on the A27 to home. I still remember that that was a long walk.

Afternoon Everyone.

I slept well and felt more lively this morning but I didn't take long to run out of steam.

It sounds as if yesterday was a good day despite the sad purpose Gwyn. I've never been there but looking at the link the castle is in a great spot with lovely views. The weather was good and you got to catch up with family too.

OH had to have an urgent chat on line with someone first thing, so I didn't get to The Range or the Farm Shop. We nipped to the big Co-op after his zoom and then he popped to the surgery in time for the release of the 11.00am appointments in the afternoon. A lady, also waiting said she was 34th in the queue on the phone this morning so decided to come to the surgery to book instead. OH's appointment is later this afternoon and then he has a meeting.

My new card has come and so I'm going to order my new camera today. I nearly ordered it yesterday on my debit card, then remembered there's more protection with my credit card.

It's only managed to reach 5 degrees here Mel. I was going to wash the bedding, but it can wait I think as we might have snow here tomorrow.The birds are getting more hungry here too and I need to put more fat balls out. I think the Magpies have been stabbing them through the cage and breaking them up and I have seen them desperately hanging on to the feeder. One of the Pigeons was on the middle bed pecking away at the Violas, so I need to keep an eye on the poor plant one was decimating for a nest earlier in the year.

What a nuisance with your back AnnG. I hope it doesn't stop you writing your cards and getting your presents wrapped.

Better get a hot chocolate next and a tidy up in here.

That is a good idea Ann to have two appointment release times.

was that link there earlier Gwyn. I didn't mention Portchester as I didn't know if you wanted it mentioned but it is in the link. That keep is one of the only times I got T to go anywhere up high like that. We had my sister with us who was about 9 or 10 at the time so I guess he didn't want to admit to a fear of heights in front of her.

Have I missed something ann, I didn't know that you were going to buy a new camera. Which one are you getting? And what is wrong with your old one? I envy you I used to love buying a new camera.

That sounds a lovely day Gwyn, even though you were meeting on a sad occasion. Thanks for the link. It looks a peaceful spot and the castle has an interesting history.

Annx, every GP surgery seems to have a different system for allocating appointments but it’s very good to go in at 11 am and get an appointment that afternoon. Have fun looking for your new camera. I hope you find what you want. Btw, I love my iPad and use it all the time for everything. I’m on it now. I don’t think you can plug in a mouse. Mine is very easy to type on though it is a fairly large one. I had a first generation iPad Air but after several years it no longer supported some of the features I wanted so for my last birthday OH bought me an iPad 5. The only downside I found was that there was nowhere to plug in my headphones. I have to have these Bluetooth ear pods but I have made a request to Santa for some. The trouble is my particular Santa might have only heard the word ears so I could end up with earrings, ear muffs or anything else to do with ears.

Poor you AnnG. You have my sympathy; I hope your back pain improves very quickly. Don’t be tempted to overdo it.

It has only got to about 5 degrees here. It was sunny this morning but has been getting more and more gloomy since lunchtime and it’s supposed to rain all evening from about 5 o’clock on. It rained for a good part of yesterday as well. This morning I washed 3 loads in the machine and did 3 jumpers by hand. For the last week or two I’ve had a blanket over my thin summer duvet so I managed to change it for a thicker one.. I found doing that made my back ache. Then I happened to look in the diary and realised we have a Club meeting tonight, apparently it’s someone talking about the Burren. I’ll have to get our dinner early tonight. Luckily it’s an easy meal.

I haven’t managed to write any more cards. I intended to spend a little while yesterday on them but my hand was shaking too much.

The window cleaners have just been. They prefer an online payment and I usually do it the same day as the windows are cleaned, otherwise I forget so I shall go and do that now. Stay warm everyone.

AnnG they start at 8.00am for the morning appointments, but once they are all gone they won't then book any afternoon appointments until 11.00am. It seems to work quite well and we've noticed the phone queues are smaller at 11.00am. I hope you got on ok with your back and managed to finish what you wanted to get done with the wrapping and writing. I'll send you a message about the camera as it is a bit of a saga!

Have taken it slowly and have written another 6 cards and wrapped Granddaughter’s presents. I do it family by family. I have six more family members to wrap and three friend but among that lot are three children and they always have more small fiddly things to wrap. I usually cut the paper at the table standing and do the wrapping on a lap tray sitting. It seems to work and no more crawling on the floor as I used to do.

I used to wrap the present on the floor but now I do it on the chest freezer in the uti room as I find that easier. the gift cards are on the ironing board behind me so it works quite well for me. Iv'e not written anymore cards yet either so tomorrow I must do some.

Iv'e still not wiped the doors down as I got sidetracked by my polyclay and have made more legs of meat and puddings and white puds and black puds and a cheese and two big sausages for the Tudor food. Made another pile of wood for a fire and done some varnishing and put two more things on Ebay.

I had'nt heard that you were looking for a new camera Annx, did I miss a post?

I am now going to watch Wolf Hall as I did'nt watch it the other night.

Good morning all. Ah, not really a shock but I don't think it was meant to reach here last night. 0 degrees and we have snow. not that deep and looks wet so far but a covering on the garden and roofs. would look quite pretty if I was not going out. supposed to be picked up at 10am and I think the roads are clear. Hopefully my friend will come right down my road I normally walk to the end to save her time but I won't want to slip still it has a couple of hours to melt. I am hoping it won't still be around tomorrow as I have a chiropodist appointment so that means catching the bus and walking to the bus stop.
I really don't remember snow this early. earliest I remember was 4 December 1967 when we were moving house in Fareham we had a really heavy snow fall that day. the removal van drivers were digging out cars all the way down our new road.

Morning Anng and all,

5 degrees here and no snowbut rain and its very dark.

Going in the shower when the house has warmed up a bit but nothing planned for today so I may have another go at the cards. Have a nice time with your friend Anng.

Morning all,

We have snow ,there was quite a covering when we went to bed last night ,this morning there's still some on the hedges and cars but the road is wet.

Ann you asked about using a mouse with the ipad ,I never use it with mine but I think with some you can if it has blue tooth.

Gwyn it sounds as if you had a good meet up with your family at the weekend but tinged with sadness too .
What a price for stamps , I don't post many cards now, lots are passed round the family by hand and we've done this for years so family know where to leave cards and where to collect them from ,we all find this works well.

Mandy you are lucky with your card system. That will only work when all the family live relatively close. wouldn't work in my case.

It is still snowing here but it is very wet and, although snow is still on the roofs and looks pretty it is not laying on the roads. Sadly our organiser chickened out and cancelled our trip to the garden centre. goodness knows why the roads are fine, just wet. and the temp is above freezing. disappointing as I was looking forward to it.

Heeellllllooooooo

O I think we are back on.

Its so good to be back and I have rung Stu to see if he is coming tonight but he has a friend over so has asked me there. Its not far but if its icy I am not happy driving the car. I may ring him and see if he will pick me up and drop me home as he has a range Rover.

I tried to ring the library this morning and can't get through on either the land line or my mobile.

Safe journeys all if you're going anywhere. The suns out here but still snow where it dos'nt reach.

I had replied to Vera as I had just got in from town and not bothered to check. Then I got an email from support (thanks Nicole for that good to know there is somebody there). And we are back.

Oh were back .

Got the shopping all done ,had to scrape the windows on the car but the roads were fine , Lovely sunshine all the time we were out but by the time we got in put the things away in the freezer and cupboards it had clouded over and while we sat having a coffee the snow started ,huge flakes and then fine stuff so it began to lay now its eased up and the snows just about gone .

Vera hope it's a good report for you from the hospital and you don't have the snow showers .

So your walking on air now Anng after having your feet done ,its haircut day for us tomorrow so we'll feel chilly round the neck even though my hair doesn't cover my neck it still feels chilly after a cut .

After I got in from town I walked round the garden, the sun was /is out and the sky was a brilliant blue. Sadly I had to pull up my dozen or so bedding begonias in tubs as the two cold, frost nights had finished then off. However they have done really well I will grow them next year. Going to wrap a few more presents now and write some more cards later.

Nearly burnt my soup luinch time but got there just in time. Full up now and am going to do more hoovering and dusting.

Yes hope everything went ok with the eye appointment Vera and its still stable.

Its so good to be able to post and they actually go through.

Hello Strangers! lol.

They haven't said what the problem was, but we are owed an extra day or two aren't we!

The rooftops and cars were covered with snow here, but the roads were hardly affected. I woke at 5.00am yesterday and my back was playing up and a horrid threat of cramp behind both knees and down into my calves that just went on and on however I moved till I got up before 8.00am and found standing was a bit better. I even slapped on a heat pad, but I think they are out of date as they didn't get very warm. Although it was before the weekend I think it was crouching over to reach the adjuster on my car seat and jerk it forwards with quite a few attempts that must be the cause. I'm just thankful it iod a lot better today and that I slept like a log last night.

So your toes are twinkle toes now AnnG and feel nice and comfy. Do they varnish them too, or just if you ask? I have more trouble reaching mine now, especially to put nail polish on, so I just put the clear stuff on so it won't show any mistakes!

Mandy thanks for that about the ipad. I had a google since and I think a mouse with a USB plug in may work as well. I think OH will have to check what holes it has when he gets it! Yes, my neck feels the cold too after a haircut. I made a big mistake one by wearing a fleece and it took ages to get the bits of hair out of it. Now I put a thin, smooth scarf on next to my neck first. We haven't had any snow today.

I saw it said today that the cost of flying to Bulgaria and posting 100 Christmas Cards there is less than posting 100 Christmas Cards in the UK'

I hope you have a good journey to your hospital appointment and good news Vera.

I keep meaning to ask you Gwyn whether you have to sit on the children's little seats at the school like OH does?

My camera came today, but when I opened it it was a silver one instead of black that I ordered and says on the box. I decided to return it, but am not keen on the Amazon process. All I wanted to do was swap it when I'd returned it but I had to go through a refund process. Then, even though I'd explained it was the suppliers error, the postage label I printed suggested I have to pay the tracked postage! More messages and now they will refund the postage too. Leaves me back to square one without a camera again.

Good evening

I'm pleased to see we are up and running again. I'll send you the 2 posts I did yesterday that didn't get sent and then do a short one for today so you'll have the doubtful please of 3 posts from me in succession. Here's number 1 from yesterday morning:

No snow here but there was non-stop rain from about 5 pm yesterday to about 11 am today. It is windy and very cold. One weather app is telling me that it is 4 degrees but feels like -6 because of the wind. I think that might be a bit exaggerated but it is definitely very brrr.

It's a shame your trip out was cancelled AnnG. I agree with you about Mandy's card delivery system. It's ideal but no good for families who are scattered all round the country like mine. I stopped giving cards out to all and sundry at the clubs we belong to some years ago though most other people do. We always make a charitable donation anyway around Christmas time so our local and club friends all get a printed slip of paper wishing them a happy Christmas and telling them what charity has received our donation that year. In spite of that I still send around 60 cards to people all round the country. Overseas friends get a free e-card these days apart from 2 cousins in Australia who are both in their late 80s and don't use technology much, so I post them a card each.

Annx, I did a bit of googling and you can use a mouse with a tablet but, depending on whether it's an iPad or an Android tablet and how old it is, you might need to buy a new mouse. OH should try it without a mouse first because it is so easy to use. I use a mouse with a laptop but have never needed it with my iPad.

Mel, I think you mentioned a little while ago that BT wanted you to move to EE. We were the same and originally said no but yesterday OH decided to go for it as BT gave us the impression it will soon be compulsory anyway as they are going to concentrate on business customers. Resist it for as long as you can!! Not only is it going to cost us more per month because we will no longer get various BT discounts, even though EE is part of the BT group, but it has been a real kerfuffle for OH to get it up and running. I don't think I would have managed it. It was mainly the landline he had problems with and eventually got someone on the phone at EE who was helpful and talked him through it. Now we're just waiting for new sim cards for our mobiles. At least you don't have to change your phone number these days and we can keep our email address as well.

All I seem to have done this morning is write 10 cards as my hands aren't too shaky today. Now it's lunchtime and I've still got lots of jobs I want to get done.

I'll bore you a bit more this afternoon as I haven't yet told you of last night's club meeting.