General Chat

Morning all

Nice and sunny here today, let's hope this is the start of the INDIAN SUMMER you mentioned Frank, then I can get out and do a bit of gardening before the Estate Agent turns up on Tuesday.

So you're going to have JJ staying with you Frank, I bet you can't wait? You certainly are an animal lover aren't you? I loved the pic of the roses you gave to Ros for her birthday. The pictures were nice too, have you had the frame changed to a gold one yet? So you had really bad rain too where the drains couldn't cope, it's horrible isn't it? Hope it didn't get to close to your bungalow, like it did to me.

I bet Cass will love going with you to your son's Liz, she'll have a great time with all those animals and it'll be nice for you to catch up with your son too.

Your plans for your new place sound great Ruby, how long will it take to do? Will you be settled in time for Christmas?

Have you made anymore trips to the tip Mandy, I bet you'll be glad when it's finished and looking nice? We've finally finished all our sorting and decorating, it took us about 6 months to do, because it was a very big job but I'm glad it's all finished now.

Nice to hear from Jane. Glad the weather brightened up for you in the end, bring it back with you, we've all had rain here LOL

Gosh that's a lot of clocks Ann, it sounds like you've got quite a big job ahead of you, but like you said you can go at your own pace and do a bit at a time until it's all finished. Do you think you'll have it all done in 3 weeks when the probate is sorted out? That's quite quick for probate, it took months for my nan's to go through, so my mum and her sister's couldn't sell the property until it was all finalised.

How is your wrist now Mel? Hope it's on the mend. OH went back to work yesterday and is at his mates now because he didn't go on Monday like he normally does. He's back in work tomorrow.

I wasn't well yesterday and spent most of the day sleeping on the sofa, I'm feeling a little better today so that's good. Although I didn't get to sleep until 4.30 this morning and was awake again at 8.30 so I'm starting to feel a little sleepy now. I'm trying not to sleep during the day if I can help it so I can sleep better tonight and get my body clock back to normal.

I was hoping to do some more apples today if I don't feel to tired. OH brought the extra freezer into the kitchen but it took up to much space so he's had to put it in our garage, which means I don't have much room left in my original freezer to do many more of my apples. We don't have any electric in the garage so I can't use the other freezer in there. None of them will go to waste though as OH is going to give some to his work mate for her horses when he see her again. She's even said that Sandra can go to the stables and see the horses if she wants, so that's pleased Sandra. She loves horses, so is looking forward to going as soon as it can be arranged.

I have an eating apple tree in my garden too, it's much smaller that the cooking apple one and I tried one of the apples straight off the tree yesterday, after washing it of course lol. It was so juicy and crisp, so I might pick a few more and pop them in my fruit bowl. There's not many on there, just enough for us to have over the next week or two.

Going to get a cuppa now then do a few more of my apples to freeze.
See you all later <3

Gill glad you feel a little better today now you have a nice rest for the rest of the day to get yourself back on track. I bought Garden News in the shop yesterday as it has a couple of recipes for Apple chutney and an apple cake which looks nice.

Good morning all,

I'm up early because I am taking my daughter for her Ortho appt.

I made chowchow last week Mel. It tastes similar to mum's marrow chutney because the sauce is similar, but has different veg. I try to make it every year - it has green toms. bell peppers and a few hot ones, cabbage and onions. We all love it, just as I loved mum's marrow chutney. I make apple cake too.

I know you'll enjoy the little cavalier Frank. I may have mentioned it before, but we brought a cavalier back with us from England years ago and we loved him to bits.

When I get roses like that, I let them dry in the vase and then use them in an arrangement with other dried stuff. It doesn't always work - sometimes they turnbrown instead of keeping their colour.

It won't take too long for my garage conversion Gill. It's an attached 2-car garage, so they will have to remove the huge door and frame that one wall.

Just noticed the time - must go.

Afternoon all,

Well it started off with bright sunshine, now the clouds have drifted across. The wind is getting up as well. They do say we will get rain this evening.

Ros has tried to spray the picture frame gold this morning, but it hasn't taken. I will measure up the picture and see if I can get a frame on line.

I have had a very BAD upset tummy this morning, Thank goodness the bathroom is a wet room. ;-) ;-) All sorted now, but I have the shakes and feel as weak as a kitten.

Was going to empty the last potato bag, but no way do I feel like doing it. So it will be the armchair for me.

Ann NINE CLOCKS Thank your lucky stars that they don't chime. I never ring Carolyn or John near the hour as they have loads of chiming clocks, and they seem to go on for ever. (he collects them). Glad your OH found his CORGI toys and the papers you need. I thought you would be in for a job, by the way you spoke about their hoarding ;-) ;-) ;-) I bet the charity shop will be pleased with all the "NEW STOCK"

I had a new security light turn up this morning. The old one was knackered, so I only had to remove two screws and fit the new one. So we are all covered now for the dark nights !!! :-( :-( :-(

Do hope you are well, I'm off to read.

Just realised it's only 13 weeks and 2 days to Christmas.........Yikes.

I'd better start getting sorted. Luckily all Michelle's present are bought wrapped up and given to her, along with her birthday presents, so now it's just Sandra and OH to think about buying for, everyone else I've already done ;-) <3

It's raining here, luckily OH had just finished cutting the grass, just as it started.

It's a conversion, sorry I thought it was a new build Ruby. So it won't take to long to do then? That's good. Hope all goes well for your daughters appointment.

Sorry to hear you're not well Frank. Hope you feel better soon. Maybe you should rest up and do your jobs another day when you are feeling better.

What a shame, spraying the frame gold didn't work for Ros. Did she sand it first to give it a key for the spray paint? It should of worked if she did. If not then maybe the paint will wipe off, then she can sand it and try again, then maybe paint a bit of varnish over the paint to hold it in place and also stop any chips.

Hope you don't mind me asking Mel, but would it be possible to have a copy of the recipes for the apple chutney and apple cake please? I thought I had a recipe for an apple cake but I can't seem to find it <3 and I was hoping to make the apple cake tomorrow. I've never made apple chutney and wouldn't mind giving it a go. I'm looking for different recipes other than apple pies and crumbles to use up all the apples I have and the chutney sounds nice.

I've stewed another bag of apples today, they are just cooling then I can pop them into my freezer. OH has started to store some of the apples in the garage but we still have 13 bags to go. Think that might be to much for the horses, I'd have to ask OH's workmate. She might say it's fine.

I'm so tired but trying my best not to sleep, otherwise I won't sleep very well tonight and be tired again tomorrow :-(

Oh Gill, so many apples from one tree. !!! Haven't you thought of giving OH a few baGS TO TAKE TO THE home. I'm SURE THEY COULD MAKE APPLE PIES and stewed apples for the old folk. (Blood# caps again) Sorry.

It's just started damping here, fortunately Ros has washed and dried all the cloths. Just the bath mats in the T D.

She has just asked me if I am 77 this year, I said YES. She replied that she thought I was OLDER. Saucy so and so.

The frame was sanded down but will not hold the spray paint. I have looked on Line and can get one made to size. It's just deciding on what design she wants for the frame.

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I had bought a new retractable cloths line. Can anyone remember when that was ?? It has stopped retracting the line, so it looks like I will be in dispute with the suppliers. ;-) ;-) ;-)

I have rested the whole day, and had forty winks. Had nothing to eat or drink all day either.

Ros is cooking tonight, I have told her I don't want much.

Should be going to watch Chelsea V Arsenal tonight, but I will ring Tony and make my apologies. I can't be bothered to get changed and get ready.

I suppose there will be a load of rubbish on the tele early, so I will sit and read my book. or I might pop in and see what you are all up to :-D :-D :-D Behaving I hope. lol

Trouble is home tomorrow, also JJ will be arriving about 7/8 pm.

Thanks for frowarding Jane's pic of the snow on the mountains Frank.

Dorset Apple Cake.

Tart dessert apples work best for this simple classic cake. Serve warm or cold with or without clotted cream.

Ingredients.

225g (8oz) plain flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
110g (4oz) butter
110g (4oz) golden gran sugar plus a little extra for finishing
225g 8oz) peeled and cored apples cut into small pieces (prepared weight)
75g (3oz) sultanas or raisins
2 medium eggs, beaten

Method
You will need a greased loose bottomed 20cm cake tine or silicone mould.
(20cm is 8 inches)

Prepare oven to 180c (gas mark 4), 160c in a fan oven.

Sieve the flour and baking powder into a bowl and rub in the butter. Stir in the sugar, dried fruit and apple. Mix in the beaten eggs.

Turn the crumbly mixture into the prepared tin and smoot the top with the back of a metal spoon: wetting the spoon makes it easier.

Sprinkle more sugar evenly over the top. Bake in a prepared oven for approximately 40 - 45 mins or until a screwer inserted comes out clean.

Leave in the tin for a few moments, then remove and cool on a wire rack. If you use a silicone mould, sit mould on rack and cool completely before turning out.

Tah dah.....................................

:-D

Evening All,

It's been a lovely sunny day here. I hope the sickly ones are feeling better now and have rested up a bit today.

Gill, does your apple tree usually do this well? You will be able to have apple sauce with everything at this rate. I don't think we will be done in 3 weeks as we can't spend all our time there. We are thinking of getting a skip for the furniture and stuff in the shed. You can't see in the windows or walk in there for stuff, it's jam packed with bits of wood. I think we'll have to get a new wheelbarrow sooner than we thought to wheel stuff round the front from the shed.

I'm pretty sure I've made Dorset Apple cake before Mel. I remember the demerara sugar sprinkled on the top making it nice and crunchy. You've reminded me I must get the washer on tonight and change the bed tomorrow. Best make the most of the fine weather that's due.

What a shame about the picture frame Frank. The trouble is you don't know if something will take till you try it. I bought a frame online recently and was really pleased with it, well made etc. Sorry I can't remember now when you got your line.

My filling at the dentists went ok this morning despite him telling me it was awkward to get to! I made him and his assistant chuckle as I was going when I said I could put my 'happy' face on now!! lol.:-D

Afterwards I took my car to meet OH at his parent's house. Well the clock total is going up! It's 16 so far after today and a lot of them were still ticking and showing the right time. I think I've found and wrapped enough trifle dishes for a street party and enough saucepans to run a soup kitchen!! We found 15 saucepans and about 3 frying pans upstairs and they are all spare ones, not the everyday ones and umpteen new knives in their boxes. We both loaded our cars with things for the charity shop and refilled the wheelie bins again. A neighbour is checking and popping those out for us on the 'bin' day. The gardener turned up today and mowed the lawn and weeded. He said he'd trim the shrubs back and tidy up next time so that is good as there is enough to do inside without the garden as well. There's hardly a day goes by without getting some post from one charity or another for them and it will only increase as we get nearer christmas won't it. We keep bunging them back in their own reply envelopes!! We have found so many letters thanking them for their donations it's hardly surprising they've been inundated. No wonder they were always complaining about junk mail.

OH has another meeting tonight, so he might not spend much time there tomorrow and might just clear their videos and other bits to the tip on his way home.......there are 100s of them so there will be a good load. Then he needs to catch up doing some notes of his meetings. I'll be here tomorrow anyway having my flu jab and getting things ready for the start of beading class on Friday. :-)

Yes thanks for forwarding the pic Frank............I bet it's cold up there! I forgot to say what a lovely red Ros's roses were too. Also that I loved the leg exercises email! lol.

Evening all

Thanks Mel, for the apple cake recipe, do you have the one for the chutney too.? Thanks.

It sounds like you've been so busy Ann, don't over do it. Have you thought of a house clearance, it would save you so much time and then you can just get rid of the stuff that no one wants, or even ask your MIL's neighbours if they could use some pans or trifle dishes or even some of the 16 clocks.....that's a lot of clocks isn't it?

Are any of the clocks antiques? You could always contact an antique dealer to come and take a look, you never know what he might find and offer you. It would at least cover the cost of all the petrol/diesel. That must be costing you a small fortune already.

I wish I lived closer I would of helped you with it all <3

You asked if our apple tree has done this well before Ann. No it hasn't, we do get quite a lot but nowhere near as many as we've had this year. Prior to picking them, OH must of thrown away about 30 bags of apples that had just fallen off the tree. He thinks it's done so well this year because he pruned it back hard a couple of years ago.

We've stored some in the garage now but still have 13 bags left. I wish I could of put the extra freezer in our kitchen then I could of frozen more of them, but our kitchen is so small there just wasn't enough room. I was even thinking of running an extension lead into the garage so we can use the freezer in there, but OH said it wouldn't be safe.

I mentioned giving the home some of our apples to cook for the residents Frank, but apparently the cook has to buy the stuff in and isn't allowed to use home grown.....silly really as they had some home grown spring onions the residents had grown and couldn't use them, we ended up with some of them along with other members of staff instead.

I'm getting really tired now so will be off to bed shortly. Looking forward to hearing all about Jane's holiday. Thanks Frank for passing on the pic off her.

See you all tomorrow
Night Night <3

Anyone watching Midwinter of the Spirit??

Started to watch it Mel, then I fancied a cheese and tomato sarnie, I missed a fair bit so came on the computer.

SIXTEEN now then Ann, What on earth did they need all those for. We have one in the kitchen, lounge, and bedroom. and find that's enough.

Well you lot, I am off to bed, so goodnight to you all. Still got a dicky tummy ;-) ;-) ;-)

A cheese and tomato sandwich is not a good idea when you have a dicky tum Frank. Tomatoes have a lot of acid in them and the cheese a lot of salt.

saying night nigt now myself as I am whacked tonight after all the hoovering and housework I have done today. Oh has been putting the eletrics in the shed and there are now some pipes coming out towards the pond so he is getting there slowly.

Morning all and evening Kim,

Nice morning so far with that yellow thing that hangs in the sky but there are those fluffye things too and not a great deal of the blue background.

Must get the towels on the line as I am hoping to get them dry today.

My wrist is a lot better now so I think I must have just strained it a bit.

Did you sleep ok Frank after your cheese and tomato sarny?

Gill the recipe in the book is for cooking in a slow cooker so I will see if I have one that cooks on the hob or even better in the microwave which is where I used to cook most jams and chutneys.

Morning

I have put this question on general chat thread hoping someone will be able to help me

I am confused,

Just purchased a Bowtie pedigree chart and I am starting to fill in my ancestors names etc . directions say that the middle part is for my close family with space at the bottom for MY children, Do I put my husbands name in beside mine , if I do that won't that mess up my fathers ancestors, Directions given are fathers to the left and mother's ancestry to the right, Help!!!!!

has anyone on this thread had the same problem

Morning all, morning Mel

Sunny here but quite cold too.

Thanks for the offer of trying to find a chutney recipe Mel.
Glad to hear your wrist is now feeling better, be careful you don't over do things and hurt it again.

Hope you are feeling a bit better today Frank?

OH has just washed all the windows and is now weeding the front garden, he's not in work till 2pm and hopefully if the weather is ok I'll sort out the back garden over the weekend.

I've still got a bit of room left in my freezer so will be stewing a few more apples today. I think I've got enough room for another bag full, then I can use some of the other apples raw to make the apple cake. So a baking day ahead of me today, yum yum.

What is everyone else doing?

Going to wash the bedding now, then do the apples and the cake.
See you all later.

Sorry can't help you Fiona I've never done one, I hope someone else has and can help you through it......Good luck <3

Thanks Gill

IMorning all, Evening Kim,

Thanks for the advise Mel, but too late.!! I had terrible heart burn when I went to bed, and didn't really get to sleep till after 3.00 am. I had to be up for the Blood test at the doctors for 9.00. So didn't sleep that well in case I over slept.

I have an "EMPTY ARM" now she took three files of blood, they are testing everything :-0 :-0 :-0 Should have the results next Tuesday.

We had rain in the night, so no lawn cutting here, unless it dry's out during the day. Water and Electric DON'T MIX :-D :-D :-D It's quite bright here this morning.

Like you Mel, Ros is busy doing housework . Conrad and Jan are calling in on their way to the NEC, to get set up for the exhibition which starts tomorrow.

Ros tells me we won't be getting JJ until tomorrow when Jo will drop him off. :-( :-( :-( I was looking forward to having him this evening.

It's Lewis's 17th birthday tomorrow. He has his new trainers and Ros has put money in his card towards driving lessons. together with the Highway Code and a pair of "L" Plates.

Sorry Fiona, I have never had a form like that. So like you wouldn't know where to start.

Must see if I can empty that Potato bag this morning. Then I can get the bags put away for another year.

What are you all up to today ?? No doubt Liz and Ian will be out WALKIES with Cassie.

Ann will you be doing more house clearance ???