General Chat

Morning all –

Yes Annie was an inspiration, which is one reason why I don’t have too much sympathy for people who use aches and pains as an excuse not to look for some sort of suitable work. Yes, there are fewer opportunities than there were, but it’s not impossible.

A new day, a new frame of mind.

Talking of which, how are you doing with your new lenses YG? Now that you have them, any other plans for today?

CT – is the weather any better or do you need to do more inside jobs?
Maz – hope you aren’t late to work. If your ‘Relief’ is late, at least you’ll be half expecting it.

We couldn’t get our compass and pedometer at the Mall so had to go into one of the surrounding Towns, to an Army Surplus store. It’s crammed with goods, many covered in dust. Goodness knows how he makes a profit! Mind you, he’s a very good salesman with the gift of the gab!
Once we’d set up the Pedometer, I wandered off to the post box at the end of the road. It’s a quarter of a mile there and back which was a surprise. Just goes to show how bad we are at judging distances. The walk only used up 59 cal. Think I shan’t bother with that feature as it’s too depressing.

There’s a pile of papers which need sorting. Suppose that ought to be my/our task for today. At least I’d pulled out the Bills and got them sorted in time.

Morning everyone.

Hope you have a good shift, Maz. Roadworks are a nightmare! They have recently completed a two year project here widening of the main routes in from the motorway and it is very close to where I work, which included installing a huge new bridge. There were a lot of grumbles at the time because they were taking away the roundabout and putting in sets of traffic lights, but it is working really well. None of the queues of traffic now when leaving work. A huge improvement, even though there was a lot of aggro while the work was taking place. :-) :-)

My new lenses are great, DET. The opticians wouldn't replace them without another eye test and my eyes had changed. Although the hospital told me not to get new glasses until I had twelve months of stability, these are much better. The scratch in the lens was really aggravating me as it was right across the middle of the lens, so am really pleased with these.

Sorry I couldn't get back to you last night, Det. I did read your post, you weren't rambling and I wasn't ignoring you, granddaughter ended up staying. As YG said, Annie must have been an inspiration to many, my condolences to you and her family.

Granddaughter came to physio with me this morning, I'm hoping she learned something and give me a massage in between my appointments. Just taken her back home and picked up the serving platters and bowls I lent my daughter for the party on Sunday. Just washing them. Actually she did warn me that she hadn't yet washed them, and I said it didn't matter.

It has rained hard all morning and only just stopped, but I think I'll get on with inside jobs anyway.

I'll change my avatar back later, this one is to test out YG's new specs

;-)

That is sooooo blurred, CT!! :-D :-D :-D

You are very, very norty!! :-D :-D

I'm back! Unfortunately people may not believe you now YG, and may think you just needed to polish your specs.

I've been busy. In view of the up and coming GR hobbies section I've been racking my brains trying to think if I have one, or if I've ever had one. That's the part I used to struggle with when doing my C.V. I tend to think of a hobby as something you do in your spare time, or leisure time. I enjoy some aspects of gardening, but see that a necessity rather than a hobby. Collecting things - that can be a hobby. Does hoarding count? The only ones I can think of are doing my family tree and visiting Nutlodge

Thank goodness for that, CT!! I thought my eyes had gone altogether :-D :-D :-D

I don't think I have any hobbies either. Like you, I do the gardening, but it is a case of needs must :-D :-D

There isn't a lot of time for hobbies at the moment, other than playing games on the lappy, to keep my brain cells working. :-D :-D

Reading. I suppose that's the one for me, it's what I used to put on my C.V. anyway, but now I do have more time for reading for pleasure.

When I was about to start secondary school we were encouraged to have pen-pals, I can't remember if it was an agency who linked people up. I had two in France, one in Germany (I was interested in learning other languages, even at the age of 10) and one in Louisiana. My family used to love me getting letters from the American girl -

"you said you are doing history and geography. Aren't they the same?"
"We have 20 ducks and chickens. We have so many I can't count them"
and the most credible - "my friend has a pen-pal who lives in England. She is called ******* *********. Do you know her?"

:-D :-D :-D

I used to have a pen-pal in France, arranged by the school that I attended. We all went on a school trip to visit our pen-pals and we had to spend a day at school with them. The only problem was that mine was at a different school to everyone else, so I felt very nervous.

The family were very good to me and took me away for the weekend into the countryside to a family party. They lived in St Germain and I remember going into Paris to buy some presents to take home.

I read as well, CT. It is one luxury that I allow myself at the moment, particulary on a Sunday morning as it gives me an extra hour in bed :-D :-D

I never got to go on an exchange YG, I can imagine you being so nervous!

Because I was in the top set in French, I had to do Russian as well. I was quite envious when my friends were going over to France, some of them staying with families who lived in chateaux. The best our Russian teacher came up with was a visit to Salford docks to meet some Russian sailors :-0

Needless to say all our parents said no!

Evening –

I did spot your blurry avatar earlier CT – naughty girl! I bet you got YG all of a panic!!
Did the physio help? That’s a possible occupation for your g/d if she’s still interested.

Like you both, apart from reading I don’t have a hobby. Does ‘looking for dead people count? Even going for walks/strolls in the country side or visiting NT places is more like a pastime and a solution to cabin-fever.

We all seem to have had pen-pals at school didn’t we? I think I was linked with one in the former GDR through a company. A good thing she could write in English as my German was non-existent! I did have a French pen-friend for many years who lived somewhere near Lyons. We did do a private exchange visit; the drive from the airport to her town took quite a while. I know I sent her a piece of our Wedding Cake. Goodness knows where she is now.

The other one lived in Chicago – she was potty about some US group I’d never heard off.

CT – even now some US people think that you ought to know someone else in the UK. A Server in Dennys near Cincinnati a couple of years ago wanted to know if we knew his aunt in Edinburgh. Tut - honestly what do some people think?

I’m in the dog house. While tackling the pile of paper work and filling up some sort of form, I’ve realised that I’ve mislaid my credit card on a joint account. I can’t remember when I last had it as I usually leave it at home. There’s been no suspect transactions. Although it’s probably ‘somewhere safe’ I’ve cancelled it which also means that OH’s is also cancelled. :-(

evening all I had a french pen pal cant remember her name now but i used to enjoy writing to her .
Mum was good ta french and used to help me .
I am just having a quick look in before going to read my book its really good and i am enjoying it

You'll have to tell us what it is. Then we can have a look ourselves ;-)

Hope the traffic wasn't too bad for you today

Oh dear, DET!! I hope you have a comfy old blanket to lay on and a bowl of water. I don't want to have to get in touch with the RSPCA :-D :-D

I have just read a good book by Joe Conlan, called Nameless. A crime thriller set the US, but very explicit in the details of what the serial killer did with certain body parts :-D :-D It's 38p on Amazon at the moment for a Kindle. I have changed completely now and am reading a fictional story by Annie Murray about an orphan in Birmingham in the early 1900s.

Just nipping in to fill up Det's water bowl whilst she is in the dog house. (It's a G&T really, but don't let on) Sorry I was late with it, I spent an hour watching T.V.

Physio was good, my neck feels so much better, it's an old whiplash injury made worse be a car accident last year. Granddaughter is 3, nearly 4, but a massage from a little one will be better than nothing. Whilst there she drew a picture of me on the bed, she was quite amused when I pointed out that my face was sticking out from the hole in the bed!

Off to read my book too. A book rather than my Kindle tonight. I'll have to let you know which of the 600 e-books I have enjoyed reading. I know that I enjoyed a couple of ones by Paul Coelho, and I overdosed on Poirot! Queen Camilla for me at the moment. I don't know how Sue Townsend got away with it. The monarchy have been sent to an exclusion zone on a council estate where everyone is tagged and constantly monitored by CCTV, Charles isn't happy with Camilla's smoking habit particularly when he finds one of his chickens with a dimp in its beak. An easy read, I'm finding it highly amusing.

morning all
Traffic was ok i was glad i left early though and will do so again today ,
It was a busy shift yesterday so I was tired. am on the same shift but finish a shade later tonight .A is doing his long shifts still the positive is that he is not making loads of washing this week as he is too tired to go any where .

It was G+T in the water bowl? Ah. That would explain the headache then…. And the good night’s sleep! :-D

Morning all – fingers crossed for a quieter shift for Maz today. At least you won’t be bored!

Hope you’re enjoying your new book CT. The extract on Amazon of the Sue Townsend one looks good. If it’s ever offered for free, I might download it.
Little hands can help anyone feel better – how lovely.

Today is Wednesday, and that means ??????? :-D :-D

The most exciting trip of the week for DET >>>>>>>>>>> to Sain*****s :-D :-D :-D :-D

Lovely weather here today, so am off out to cut the grass. Rain is forecast for the weekend and I won't complain as the garden needs some water.

I've got someone coming this afternoon to talk about garden maintenance, which, if not too expensive, will take some of the pressure off me :-) :-)

Oooh, I love massages. CT. Even one by a three year old would be good :-) :-)

Being a bit 'thick' here, but is Camilla's smoking is purely fictional for the book??? She is a health food fanatic according to an article I read about her recently.

Good afternoon, I didn't realise it was food shopping day. I hope your head is better Det ;-)

I hope you get a quote for someone to do your garden YG. It's the lawn I hate doing ever since OH got a new mower. I used to be able to whizz round with the hover one, but now we've got one with wheels, intended for much bigger regular shaped lawns and to make it stripey.

I had to Google Camilla. Apparently she's stopped, but was on 10 a day. I'm now wondering if there any grains of truth in other the things. There is a bombshell in the story, I'm not going to tell you and spoil it in case you ever read it.

Maz is going to be shattered this week after her shifts and the stress of roadworks :-(

Lunch break time :-D :-D

I've cut the lawns at the back, edged them and swept up. The side and front can wait as i have problems with it not growing as well, so needs some rain to perk it up before its next cut. The guy was supposed to come at 2pm but has phoned to say it will be tomorrow morning now. I hope he keeps to it and, if he starts doing the garden, that he doesn't mess me about. I know his Mum so can report back if needs be :-D :-D

At least he had the courtesy to let you know he wasn’t coming. Can’t abide that in anyone.

I know what you mean about mowers CT – OH keeps drooling over sit and ride ones, the silly sausage. I have put my foot down and insisted we have an electric one when this one finally kicks the bucket.

They seem to be dropping like flies round here. PC visited and left a note while we were out to say that her previous, the “waste of space” passed away yesterday. Although he wasn’t right for her, it’s a tragedy that a 27 year old should have died, presumably of natural causes.