General Chat

Mo, I sometimes look for Christmas presents in the sales, but I usually forget I've got them by the time Christmas come back round.

Rita, that photo of you in the studio is a really sweet one as well.

Afternoon everyone,
Christmas shopping already Mo! How are you going to remember by December what you've bought?
The Isle of Wight is good.I nornally go there as a coach tour.
I only watched the first half of the footie match. I was tired so I went back to bed!

Pat
My sister and I are booking a coach tour with Shearings for 9th July at The Ocean Hotel in Sandown. well she is going to book on monday. I went with shearings a few years ago to Brittany stopping at Normady to see where the fighting took place, My sister has never been on a coach tour and as we can get it from nearby me we thought it would save all the humping of cases.
Thank you Pauline if it was the one in my long dress I was a bridesmaid at my Mothers sister ( Aunty Grace) wedding that was my ourfit, that was green.
Mo I have 11 Grandchildren and 11 Great Grandchildren or is it `12 ?
I give them money now as they are at the age they want to save up and buy something special. most of the Grandchildren are adults four are under the age of 17 years.
I never brought present for christmas till october, but one year I saw a lovely white sweater I thought my husband would love that my husband die a few days afterwards massive heart attack I wear that sweater now, that was in 1989.
I will have to take al ook at Kate Middletons tree.
how do I go about looking at it ? Dermot

Rita

Thank you Pauline for the lovely photos of Rita.

Rita what delightful photos. Really nice.

Rita dont bother with the Channel View Hotel in Sandown, Isle of Wight, it is right on the front, opposite the pier.

Rude staff and the bedrooms leave a lot to be desired. I went there a few years back with my daughter, we were freezing. You have to be at dinner exactly on time, or they give your dinner to someone else. We complained but they wasnt interested.

Pat, I never remember what I have bought the grandchildren, so when they open them, I am as surprised as them.
But I always put them in the cupboards on top of my wardrobe, so that I know where they are.
The cards are put in a drawer, and the xmas wrap is put in the wardrobe in the spare bedroom.

Pat could you recommend a hotel for Rita and her sister, on the Isle of Wight.

Oooh Pauline,it sounds like it's freezing up with you. It's not exactly been cold here today, but it's been raining on and of all day.
How is Brent now. I hope he is recovering o.k.

Well, there no Chinese left, so it's just as well there was no takers for it.

Shelly you know you love having the grandchildren. It's coz you are such a kind caring mum and nan.
I won't say it's that sign that we nans, wear on our foreheads that says MUG. Mines wearing a bit thin now, as it's had so much use over the years.

I said the Channel View wasnt much good, but didnt suggest any others. silly me.

We have been going to Sandown on and off for 35 years as a couple, and I went there as a kid too.

The Trouville

The Sandringham

The Ocean Hotel

The Melville Hall Hotel

are all very good.

All except the Melville on the seafront. The Melville is nearer is railway station, depends on how far you want to walk to the beach.

We went their last year, and a lot of the shops on the High Street have closed. Where Woolies was, is now a Sainsbury local. There are both an Indian and Chinese Restuarant in the High Street, the small shoe shop is still there, and the ladies clothes shop is still standing. Most of the other shops are changed.

If you like a quieter time, then Shanklin is a better option, but the walk to the beach is a bit of a trek.

The Battery Gardens in Sandown are a pleasant place to sit, the pier is a pleasant walk, and many seats. There is a cliff walk along to Shanklin, also the beach is very clean.

The Waxworks have closed in Brading. Carisbrooke Castle and Osborne House are always worth a visit. Cowes has a new Waitrose, so there is a decent supermarket on the Island.

Cor Maddie, thats a lot of choices for Rita to look at. There has got to be somewhere in that lot that should suit them both.
Are you feeling any better.

Hello Mo, thanks for asking.

Yep, I went out for a quick walk this morning just to get a bit of air. I've been taking paracetamol again, and cough linctus. Just gonna keep warm this weekend and see if I can shift it. Still coughing, but Doc said my chest is clear, so that is a relief.

I do hope Rita can something booked. I am presuming Rita has not been there before. Probably totally wrong. There used to be coach tours around the Island. But I think Freedom Passes can be used on the Island, so it will be easy to get around. The Vectis Buses are run to the timetable.

Oh yeh, the Roman Villa at Brading is good for an afternoon, very educational and they have a very nice cafe attached.

See you all later.

"It is now too late to bake black bun for this New Year but you could think about it for next".

I'm sure Stephen will explain what this is all about. Talk tidy though.

Isle of Wight

Happy, happy. happy days.....as the song says.

Great days sailing, swimming from the beaches, nights out on the town with the lads, barbeques.

Love the place....gotta go back again.

Maddie,

Now I'm getting on a bit are there any 'Grab a Grannie' Dicos ? ROFL

Not that you're old enough to know....but you may have heard of them.

The last time I went to the Isle of Wight I went to the Carlton at Sandown. The broccoli wasa bit hard. i went as part of Majestics. I thought the holiday was good but several people didn't. You're always going to get that wherever you go.

I could introduce you to my pal Sheila.

She is a great-granny at the age of 57. I shudder at the thought.

She, her son, her grand-daughter were all 'quick learners'
lol.

You're right the Isle of Wight is lovely. I went there as a school girl.

Back in the 1800's.
pmsl

I feel ancient now and I'm not a Granny!
I've stayed in Ryde but I preferred Sandown.

Patricia,

Ancient.!

My Body used to be a Temple.

Now it's a Listed Building.

That's Ancient

Maddie we are trying for the Ocean Hotel in Sandown I have not been there for years and years late 40-s so I have forgotten what it was like. I recall some small cottages looked like chocolate box.
we are going to go with Shearing Coaches. if we can. so we get tours around the island. I had frends that moved to Bembridge ? there in the 60 so I dont know if they are still there. .Thank you for all that information Maddie thats a great help.
My late husbands cousin lived in the Isle of wight but I have no idea where.
No Marilyn then if she is staying in a hotel they should have internet
connection otherwise she will have to find the nearest Town.

Rita

iv been to the Isle of wight more than once
the last time was4/5 years ago but we was on a holiday camp think it may of been havens youngesr son brock his rist there as well LOL
and i was inprest with the hospital as we was very quick to get seen to pluss thay gave him a fance coloured carst

pluss i remember when my daughter the older one with 2 boys
she came down to us on how second week and we meet her at the fery boat polt the poor cow look like a vagrent with a ruck sack on her back pushing the buggy with one hand and holding on to the other child with the other hand and holdels on the handels of the buggy
then there was us all whating next to the minne bus laughting at her

Hello Rita,

The Ocean Hotel is right on the front. There is a big lounge that overlooks the promenade, that you can sit during the day and watch the world go by. The two roads from the High Street to the prom. are quite steep, but I believe the Ocean has an entrance in the High Street. The shops there are quite limited now. Some have closed all together. The Sainsburys is a Local, and is open for long hours, should you need to pop out for essentials, water, sweets, fruit etc. There is a HSBC and a Post Office nearby. Most other banks are in Shanklin.

It is worth a trip to Osborne House if you have not been there for a time. Wonderful to spend an afternoon. Victoria and Albert made it their Summer home, the paintings and artefacts are breathtaking. The Indian Room is stunning.

If there is anything else I can tell you, just ask.

The Ocean seems to have entertainment most nights.


Maddie

Stephen,
You make me laugh.
I was in bed lsitening to an interesting programme on radio four about the SDP. I don't fancy the last part of I Claudius!

Rita and Maddie,

Links to the Isle of Wight from my family.

My Great Uncle, Charlie Barr, was one of the finest sailors in the world, he was revered by all who raced and is still a legend in the sailing fraternity.

When he died suddenly on 24th January 1911.....yep 100 years ago....
it was the Members of the Royal Yacht Squadron, based in Cowes, who were his Pall Bearers at his funeral in Southampton

Charlie set a sailing record that stood for 75 years for a Transatlantic Crossing. Set in 1905 unbeaten until 1980.

Pauline has a drawing she will forward that you may find interesting.