General Chat

We are off to Milton Keynes tomorrow first thing.Hopefully no tummy upset like last week to stop us going.

Oh I remember those renaults.I had to drive one when I worked for a vet.I never did manage to get the hang of the flipping gear stick.I always managed to get into 3rd gear instead of first and first instead of third .It was a nightmare .
Not long after Chris and I got together he bought a 2CV.Same gear stick and hand brake !!!!
But I did manage to get the hang of it.I actually got to love the 2CV and was quite sad to see it go when we had to get a larger car when we had the children.

Will say night night now.Just watching Silent Witness in between trying to get Thomas in....He is nowhere to be seen at the moment :-S

So you're getting another car then Jane, I hope this one is better for you. It's sounds like it's got a good size boot, I like hatchback cars so you can put the back seats down and make more space to transport things if the need arises.

I noticed David Bowie passed away on our anniversary. His ex-wife Angie is one of the celebrities on Big Brother that Sandra is watching. They told her today about David's death which will be aired tomorrow. She's decided to stay on the show, but I think once it sinks in she may change her mind.

The cost for care homes is terrible isn't it, such a lot of money and some of the homes aren't very good from what's been said on the news occasionally. You are lucky though with the one for your FIL Ann, it sounds really nice, so I should think worth every penny. Sounds like you had fun at his house.....not. What a palaver trying to sort out the water situation. It's best to sort it though, as the weather is going to be quite cold this week. Can you put the boiler on now, like you wanted, to stop any pipes freezing?

I've just nearly jumped out of my skin, we have really bad hailstones which have just hit the window behind me, it's only been happening for a few seconds and the ground is really white already. Glad we're not out in it. Bet Sky goes off again. It's really windy too and pouring with rain, what terrible weather.

We were thinking of staying put LIz, but then I noticed an email off the agent today asking if we can do a viewing sometime this week. That'll teach us to turn our phones off, mind you we didn't miss them, it was brilliant having a day with no outside contact at all and not hearing about all the bad stuff that happens in the world on the news.

Sandra had a nice time spending a couple of days with her gran. She came in late afternoon on Sunday with gifts for OH and I for our anniversary, bless her. I think her gran paid for some of the things though, which was nice of her. She bought me a box of chocolates and her dad three large mars bars, he loves them, and the most lovely planted up pot, with miniature plants in it, which is now on our kitchen windowsill. She said there wasn't much in the village on a Sunday for her dad, but he likes plants just as much as me so loved it and of course his mars bars. She got us a lovely card with a wonderful verse on.

Mum bought me a magazine with some dress patterns in today, I can't wait to get started on them after I've finished the curtains. They'll be no stopping me now :-D :-D There's also lots of other patterns in it including a sewing machine cover, which will come in handy as the one that came with my machine is a bit flimsy and not a very nice colour, so I'll be making a new one soon. I've taken all the old tape off the curtains for my mum's friend and will be sewing the new tape on tomorrow, ready for mum to give them back to her on Thursday when she sees her again.

Thanks Mel, for trying to contact him for me. I'll let you know if he emails.

Off to bed now, I've been busy today, so I'm really tired
See you all tomorrow
Night Night

In the 80's I was going home in my Viva. The weather it was dark, the rain it was hissing down star rods. The traffic it was crawling, nose to tail, stop start.
I turned around a roundabout to go from Sandyford Road to Jesmond Road.
Half way around the roundabout the traffic stopped. I stopped. BANG
Someone had driven into the back of me. So I puts the hazard warning lights on, gets out of the Viva, The car that had driven into me was a 2CV. The driver was a woman. I says what did you do that for?? She replied I didn't see you. If she'd been any closer she would have been in the back seat. Wasn't you Jane was it?

Morning All

Now Now David .I have never run into the back of anyone. Well I lie.Just once but it was just a teeny dent in a bumper :-)

Of to Milton Keynes in 30 minutes so I better get a move on.

Morning all,

Very wet and windy here this mroning so the jet stream must have moved around again but we have a little sun too.

Not doing much today so will just see how the day goes. I want to give the bathroom a good clean and the bedroom if I get time inbetween everything else.

The bed needs stripping too.

Morning Everyone, Hi to Kim.

Hi Mel
Very wet here too, miserable and gray.

Got Sofia this afternoon after school , usual playtime & dinner then take her home about 8pm , she says it's her favorite night of the week, gets to spend some time with us & has a break from Matteo too, & Victoria has a break from the usual Sibling arguments,

Still waiting for my new wedding ring, I keep checking on the web site to see how far along they are from dispatch. but it's says it's still in progress,

Better do so ironing today, but I think it's coffee time first.

Have you all been blown away?

Morning All,

It started sunny here but it's been quite rainy since. We'll be the same tanned colour as Frank when he gets back at this rate, only ours will be rust! OH has gone to a council meeting the other side of the city and I've been to do a few errands in the village. The fav carvery isn't on today so I won't be meeting OH there after all. We might pop to the newish place instead as we still haven't used a £5 voucher they gave us.

Gill, we eventually managed to see the house boiler was set on on auto yesterday which means it is on for about an hour first thing and last thing at night and saw that the newest looking thermostat is set just above freezing. We think (and hope!!) that that means it should come on at those times if the temperature gets near freezing which should be ok. If we get the promised frost later this week, we are going across to check if the radiators have been on and are still warm. We've never needed to leave heat on at night in any place we've lived at, but their house doesn't have cavity walls and doesn't keep the heat so well. I think we may have to lengthen the spells the boiler is on if temperatures here get really low. I bet Sandra was thrilled to be bringing you gifts yesterday. I could just eat a chocolate now! lol. That's good there are still viewings coming.......fingers crossed this might be the one that buys. :-) It's a good idea doing the curtain headings next as it is straightforward and will get you more used to your machine. I used to love buying remnants years ago to make simple tops. You could make one for about a pound then. At one time I worked with a friend who made most of her own clothes. She would go out at lunchtime to buy material and be wearing it at work as a skirt the next day!!

Jane I did that shuffling along in traffic in the city once at the time I was splitting from my first OH and was dealing with my brother's illness, I just shunted into the car in front, but luckily no damage to his car, just a small dent to my bumper. The chap leapt out and said just the same as David.......'what did you do that for?' Well, I just rounded on him and said, 'what a stupid question, do you think I go around doing things like this on purpose every day'. I said, 'If you had things going on in your life like I have at the moment you wouldn't be asking silly questions like that.' He looked a bit shocked at that and even more so when a Policeman we hadn't noticed crossed the dual carriageway from the other side and asked me if I was alright and if I needed any help. He asked was I sure when I said 'no, we'd sorted it out;'. Obviously he thought the man was being unpleasant about it and was ready to give him a warning or something!

How lucky was that that the pc was on the spot Ann. I only ever once bumped very gentley into the car in front in my dads new Rover. There was no damage to either car as they had rubbers on the bumper I think and I only really just nudged it. Should have seen mums face though. "did you hit that?" she said and I just said yes!!!!!!! only just.

Well having said I ws going to give the bathroom a good clean this morning as of now I hav'nt even touched it. First I rang Morrisons to see if they would put a little hoover by for me and they told me the offer finished on Sunday and they could only keep it put by till then. I said i would be along to get it. So off I went to Bideford to buy this Russel Hobbs hoover at a knock down price of £47. I only want one I can shove over the carpets in the kitchen each day and its such a nuisance getting Henry out with all his long pipes and how heavy he is and I don't think he really gives the carpets a good sweep.

I got home just at lunch time having popped into Stuarts on the way back as the front indicator bulb had gone again and one of the back lights was'nt working on the drivers side. He drives the car into his garage and attempts the front indicator first. as he touches the bulb its starts to work ok!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! says it must have been a loose conection........ tries the back lights......all working ok. I just could'nt believe it as it made me out to be a fibber. So I asked him how much I owed him and he said thats all right so I gave him as hug and a kiss on the cheek and wished him a happy new year. Came home and did lunch. After that oh undid the box and got the hoover out. We plugged it in and I had a go and we find it blows loads of air out the front of it and it makes quite a noise but at least it works. I did the kitchen and diner and out into the hall and then plugged it in out there and did the hall. Oh asked me if it was ripping the carpets up as there was quite a lot of grey fluff in the cylinder. I told him thats what I used to get in the Dyson. Really though I think it could be his new fleece clothes from Cotton Traders as the bathroom gets this grey fluff all over it and the tumble drier when I put them in there. At this rate they will be bald soon!!!! It is nothing like the fleece jumper and trousers we had from them last year as its much fluffier and dos'nt pill together if you know what I mean.

Anyway I am just having a COT after my lunch and am now ging to attempt the bathroom.

Nice easy diner tonight as he has a frozen curry dinner and I have a frozen roast dinner so both happy with those which gives me more time.

Talking about accidents (forgive me if I've told this one before) One evening I was on my way to pick up Ellen at the end of her shift at on the hospital. I pulled into a filling station on the way bought a tank full of petrol. The road I drove back on was deserted. I stopped at the roundabout at the end of the road giving way to another.
Another vehicle driving at speed in a built up area, with no lights on drove into the back of me, pushed me on to the roundabout. I got out of my car, a bit shocked and I confess I was rather angry. A youth got of the other car's passenger side and ran away. A man in his 30's got out of the other. He said push it off the road. He smelled heavily of booze. I was arguing with him about blame. By then Ellen's coming toward the scene of above "accident" well she doesn't take any sheet off any one. She points and says you've been drinking. I'm phoning the police. The tipsy driver says to me give me a minute I'm bursting, just going to The Duke for a run off. He turned corner and legged it!!! Well the police came and I told him what had happened. He was on his radio to locate the owner of the vehicle. The car had just been reported stolen!! It had no insurance, no tax, not MOT
The Police towed mine and the stolen one away. I had an uninsured right off :-S :-S

I missed a bit....in the glove compartment was pint beer glass

What was the boy ding in the car?? makes you wonder.

Oh David.That was a right to do.Did the police catch them ?

Fiona I am sure your new Wedding ring will arrive soon.It is so good to be able to track things isn't it.At least you know when something will be delivered and not have to wait in day after day .It must be nice for Sofia to get a bit of special time with you without her little brother in tow LOL.I guess he is at the age now when he wants all the attention ,plus needing an eye kept on him .

Mel it sounds like your new little hoover has a good suction on it.I know when we had our new one I couldn't believe how much fluff from the carpets it pulled up.It just showed really how bad the old one was.

Well we went to Milton Keynes .Waste of time really.Very few Suites to look at .I just ended up buying James some trousers in the sale in M&S,2 tops for me (which will be going back :-S) and some nail varnish. The sun was so bright .I don't know how Chris managed to drive.I had to shield my eyes almost the whole way there.

We got home quite early .Just after 1pm.The answer phone was flashing when we got in.It was the Surgery to say I had an abmormal blood result :-S so I have had to make another apointment for the 26th.I think it is the test that shows inflammation somewhere.No doubt to do with my painful hips and joints.
Then I decided to go back to Caswells a furniture shop here that I went to a week or so ago.I have seen a suite that I think will do.I had a good sit and it did feel nice and comfy.So Chris will have to go back with me to see for himself and if it is right it is then deciding on what colour/pattern to have.It is a Parker Knoll make and is in the sale.So I am hoping that we both agree on it and then we can go ahead.The only thing is it doesn't do a recliner.But as long as one of the settees is long enough for me to stretch out on then that will be fine.


I did laugh Ann at us being Rust Coloured to match Franks tan :-D :-D..I bet I look very pale in comparison to Hannah when I see her on Friday.She looks a very healthy colour in her pics.She will be somewhere up in the skies now on her way back.Arriving tomorrow morning about 6.30.

Gill I think you are going to be busy busy with all your sewing now :-D.Just think what you can do now that you have the machine !!

Anyone watch Silent Witness last night? Second part tonight. I thought is was really good ,but the subject I felt wasn't quite right (now) with all that is happening with I S etc.I just felt a bit uncomfortable .(if that makes any sense).

Southern Fried Chicken ,Roasted Leeks(from the garden) Carrots and Mushrooms.All cooked together and some Potato wedges for us tonight.

I hope our Frank is having a lovely relaxing holiday.When does he come home?

Jane I laughed too at us having gone rusty. It's just as well we arn't made of metzl witht he amount of water about lately and me getting so wet doing the chickens.

When I went round to corn them today one of them was out of the pen again so I had look and there were 4 lots of holes in the netting. Then I had to tie them all up in the cold wind.

The new suite sounds nice Jane shame its not a recliner though.

Well I still hav'nt finished the bathroom. I got as far as the shower and the loo and had to do the chiickens so the rest will have to be done tomorrow. Only the hand basin and a quick rub around the bath which we don't use and clean the windows.

Evening all,

Well the day started off lovely and sunny ,it did rain for a while but by lunch time it had stopped ,i nipped to town to the bank and then on to boots to get the few tablets that they didn't have the other day when i got into boots i realised the pharmacy closes for lunch so i'll have to pick the tablets up another day .

Lewis's little shoes came yesterday they look so tiny and have little lights in the heel that flash as he walks along.

Hubby had his appointment yesterday for them to look at his knee ,after pulling his leg this way and that the lady now thinks the pain might be coming from his hip that he had replaced in 1998 so it's now 17 years old which is about the life of a replacement , the next step is for him for have an xray of the hip to see if it's now wearing or has become loose and if it is she will then get in touch with the surgeon and he will say what can be done ,if it isn't the hip she wondered if it might be his back !! he is very stiff in his back and he doesn't really stand upright any more as he has arthritis in his spine !! so she said we need the xray first and then we'll go from there .

Oh a new car Jane that will be nice ,you haven't really taken to the one you have now have you ?

I laughed at the rust remark too :-D
Ann i hope you've managed to get to the bottom of how the heating works in FIL's house , would it help to have a plumber come in just to make sure the heating is coming on ok as with this cold snap you don't want any trouble with burst pipes, it would put your mind at rest and i wouldn't think a check would cost much , much less than paying out with burst pipes !!

Oh Mel your poor fingers must have been frozen trying to tie up the holes in the netting , things take longer to do with cold hands .
It is surprising how much a new hoover picks up , it's then that you realise how bad the old one was .
It has made a difference with no Toby hair to pick up it use to be rolling about like tumble weed .
Out of all the grandchildren Katie is the one that always mentions Toby , she said the other day as she was going " oh nanny i do miss Toby " i had to look away as my eyes welled up . :-(

I think Frank said he was home on the 16th ,i bet he has been sun bathing and has a good tan .

Our Frank always gets a nice golden tan, lucky devil. I just go a bit brown then I look dirty. Oh only has to look at a sunny day and he goes a lovely golden brown.

Mandy it looks like OH has a fair few investigations ahead to see where the actual trouble is coming from.It may well be his hip it the replacement was 17 yrs ago.Hopefully it won't take forever to find out.

Lewis will be tickled pink with his flashing shoes !!!!.He will be running soon to make them flash faster LOL
Bless Katie for remembering lovely Toby.I would have been welling up too Mandy :-(

Ann ,that was lucky to find the settings for the heating.If it is just set on the 'snowflake' or frost setting then all the pipes should be fine.It will just keep the pipes warm enough to stop them freezing.I remember when Hannah's house in Mk Harborough was empty for so long and we had a freezing winter I had all the radiators on that setting and the boiler coming on morning and evening just for an hour or so.It definitely gives peace of mind :-)
Thinking back to the oil fired bolier we had in our house in the 60's.It was bigger than an automatic washing machine and in the kitchen.Our 2 cats used to sleep in shoe boxes on the top of it every night.They were as warm as toast on there :-D

Next day I reported to the Police Station regarding the incident. I was told to produce my certificate of insurance and drivers licence within 5 days.
If I had been uninsured or if my licence was out of order the Police would have me.
The cars were written off and I'd an uninsured loss and involvement in an "accident" even though not my fault meant I had to advise my insurers.
They get you one way or another. I got an incident number.

I want to be 'Twinkle Toes' like Lewis as well Mandy!! lol. I bet he will be trying to pull them off to get a better look at the lights! Yes, plan B is to get a plumber in if the boiler doesn't seem to be coming on and the reset button doesn't work. We should have tried it on the 'continuous' setting and turned the thermostat up to check it came on while we were there really. We were in such a tizzy though with the water not being on, then the scary rattles and gurgles once we got it back on, we thought the estate agent had switched it off because of a problem with it, we weren't thinking straight!!!

That wasn't what you wanted to hear about your blood test Jane. Still, if something isn't quite right, it's good to get things looked into. I dread taking OH to look at things I want to buy in case he doesn't like them.

Mel that was a nice gift for your mechanic! ;-) It's funny how often things work ok once you get to the garage isn't it.

Hi everyone

I'm finally online, I've been doing the curtains all day, it took me ages to get them ready for the machine, taking off the old tape, ironing the curtains flat, then pinning the new tape on, then tacking it. I decided to tack it rather than take the pins out as I sew because I haven't used a sewing machine for over 20 years and didn't feel confident. I thought it would be one less thing to do. So by the time I did all that it was gone 5pm before I got to the sewing machine. When I finally got to the sewing bit each curtain took just over five minutes to sew and remove the tacking. It was great. Imagine if I had to hand sew the tape on, I'd still be doing it in a week LOL :-D :-D I've had two sewing jobs for other people this week which has so far covered almost half the cost of the sewing machine, if I can get a couple more jobs the machine will have paid for itself ;-)

Can I just ask, what is the story about the rust that everyone is laughing about? I've read and re-read the posts but couldn't find it. I'm a bit tired so maybe I've just missed it :-S :-S :-S

It tugged at my heartstrings Mandy, when you said what Katie had said about Toby. She's such a loving girl by the sounds of it. Little Lewis must be having great fun with his new shoes. I remember Sandra having a pair of trainers that had lights in them years ago and she loved them. I hope things can be sorted for your OH, at least things are being investigated which is good. Will they do another hip replacement if they find it's that?

That's good that the boiler is set to come on Ann, at least you'll have peace of mind that it will help when the weather turns really cold. OH said it snowed by his works today around 3.30, I was so busy I didn't notice if it snowed here. We're not far away from his works but sometimes the weather can be the opposite here to there.

Is anyone watching stargazing live this week, it's got Tim Peake on it? I'm recording it tonight but will be watching the rest of them through the week. I'm watching Saved at the moment and then I'm going to watch The secret life of the family. Sandra said she'd watch the repeat of Big Brother tomorrow lunch time. She'll be able to watch it for the rest of the week, but tonight I'm recording to much for her to be able to watch it, so it was nice of her to say she'll wait until tomorrow.

Well, I'd better get back to my programme, before I lose track of what's going on.

Just noticed your PM Mel, thanks for contacting him for me <3