General Chat

I have just sat here for over an hour telling you of everything that has gone on yesterday. and the lot has disappeared. I'm not going through all that again NOW. so might try again later.

Afternoon all,

Nice and bright with a little sun here but a bit on the chilly side ,there was quite a frost this morning every where was very white when we got up.

Oh no Frank not again !! Maybe it would be better if you split your post into two or three posts that way you wouldn't lose the whole lot ,it's so annoying when you lose the lot .
We're all wondering how you got on last night ,i hope you got on ok.

Colin's watching the F1 ,ithink i might get the christmas lights out and check that they are working ,not that I'm putting any up yet but if we do need new ones i can get them while theres still plenty about .

Toad in the Hole for us tonight with lots of veg.

Not again Frank. Do you have a back button? I find if that happens to me because I've pressed the backspace delete button to correct a mistake and lost the post, if I press the back button which is top right of the screen for me, (a white arrow pointing left on a blue circle background) the post comes back. Maybe you could try that, it might work.
How did you get on with the surgeon last night?

Just watching the qualifying for the final race of the F1, it should be a really good race as either Nico or Lewis could win the drivers championship. Nico is closest but if anything happens to him and he doesn't come in the top three and Lewis comes first then Lewis will win the championship, so quite an exciting race to look forward to tomorrow.

I've just finished wrapping up some more Christmas presents, I've gone mad on Sandra and OH this year and I'm running out of space to hide them all :-)
I'm going to make a start on writing my Christmas cards out later.

It looks like my phone line is fixed now as I finally have a dial tone on my phone and my broadband connection is staying on, lets hope it stays that way.

I paused the F1, so qualifying one has just started, see you all later.

Afternoon all,

Busy at the mo helping someone so will catch up later.

Afternoon All
Frank,I hope it all went well last night..Can't wait for you get back to us <3

Gill ,I do feel sorry for OH with that infection . Is it called a Pilonidal Sinus?I remember when I did my stint in A&E seeing several of these always caused by an in growing hair.If it is the same it is so painful.One patient I saw was an ex boyfriend !! and ihad to pack the open 'wound' with ribbon gauze. Poor thing was so embarrassed.Although he had no need to be.I hope this isn't what OH has. You would think a little hair can cause so much trouble .

I have finished writing all my cards this afternoon and now have a right old eye ache(the one that I had trouble with yesterday).But the cards are done and so that is one job finished :-D.

Hope you stay connected now Gill :-D and you have no more trouble.

Mandy I always dread checking out tree lights .A few years ago I got them all on the tree (LOADS) and they didn't work.So I had to hot foot it to the garden centre.I think it was a sunday and about 3.30 so I didn't have long.Luckily they had just a few sets of lights long enough(Phew). I will have to get Chris to get up in that loft soon :-D.
The only thing I don't like about our tree lights is that the Green ones are so bright and seem to stand out much more than the other colours.

One month today and it's Boxing day !!!!!!

Evening All,

Oh what a shame Frank and here we are all ears wondering how you got on with the surgeon last night? :-)

Gill that does sound painful for your OH. I hope he's well enough to help you and Sandra get the tree up.

Jane I expect those migraines are less worrying now you know what they are. OH finds his more of a nuisance now. He takes those Migraleve as soon as he knows he is getting one and thinks they shorten the time they last.

Any more news about Nico Mandy and how's young Max doing now?

I went and filled my car up first and then I popped out to a garden centre this afternoon under strict instructions not to stay out long as I'm supposed to take it easy. I got one of those little green glass tree ornaments with tiny baubles on. :-) I'm not feeling much like food while I'm on these antibiotics so had poached eggs this morning and have just had tomato and basil soup and an apple. At least my waistline will benefit! I was happy being left so OH went to 2 matches, both were only half an hour away and he rang me while he was out to check I was ok. I think it did him good after the week he's had.

He doesn't know what it's called Jane, the doctor didn't say, all she said was that he wouldn't be in hospital for more than a day but would have to go back to have the stitches out, he'll also have to have about two weeks off work.
Yes, in a month Christmas will almost be over. So far so good with my phone line, lets hope it stays that way.
We've been watching Christmas films this afternoon so I haven't done my Christmas cards yet, hopefully I'll do them tomorrow.

Sorry to hear you're not up to eating much Ann, have you tried some of those drinks, sorry can't remember what they're called, but they would give you all the minerals and vitamins your body needs until your appetite comes back properly.
The green glass tree ornament sounds nice, I've seen those around in different colours.

Yes it is very painful for him Ann, at least he knows when it's flaring up now so goes to the doctors straight away for antibiotics. It's like an abscess which eventually bursts but is so painful even with the antibiotics that he can't move properly or sit down. At the moment he's laying down on the floor and sleeping isn't easy for him either. Once the antibiotics kick in it's less painful and more uncomfortable.

We must check our tree lights Mandy, as last year we had problems with them and had to take everything off the tree to fix them then put everything back on again. We have so much on our tree I don't fancy having to do that again this year.
I love the photo's of Max, isn't he big now?

Strictly has just come on then it's Michael McIntyre after that. I record X-Factor so we'll watch that after Michael McIntyre.

Ann ,how do you poach your eggs? I love poached eggs .Do you have those 'things' to cook them in or do it the old fashioned way? My Dad used to do the best ones ever in a saucepan of boiling water with a bit of vinegar and stirred with a wooden spoon once the eggs dropped into the spiral of boiling water.(I think that is how I remember it) But they would be just perfect :-)The white of the egg set just right and a nice soft yolk.
I want one now :-D :-D

I asked at the pharmacy about migralieve and was told that if I didn't feel sick or have a headache then they probably wouldn't make a difference on the visual disruption .

Mandy those pics are lovely of Max....Just love the hosepipe LOL He is a handsome boy :-)

Strictly now. Where is our Frank?

Glad you liked the photo's of Max , its hard to get some as he's like a whirl wind he never keeps still long enough.

Anne i haven't forgotten you ,but i didn't want to upset you with doggie photo's ,if you would like to see them I'll send them on , i know when we lost Toby how hard it was seeing other peoples pets.

Ann, i saw Nicko the other day when i was driving through the town , he looks ok ,he didn't have his bags with him so i supose he's still with his friend ,i'm glad he has some where now the weather has turned so cold.
I meant to say ,yes the chocolate was a bargain too, six bars for 60p , there's four bars gone already !! i don't know who's been eating it all ;-) :-D

Evening all,

X factor on, so i'm off.

Had the trots all day yesterday with sickness, so I rang and cancelled my appointment. Ros came home 5.45 pm I was still in my dressing gown. The first words out of her mouth was "What's up with you" No sympathy from her. She then went on to say "I knew you wouldn't go to the hospital" So I ignored her for the rest of the evening.

Nice photo of Max Mandy. He is growing to be a lovely dog.

Girls,, I don't want to sound ungrateful, but I feel it might be a waste of money sending me cards this year, both for Christmas and Birthday. We are going away as you know, on the 20th December and might not be back until the end of January. So I won't have a lot of time to get the pleasure from them.

Gill, it sounds like you have been very busy one way or another. Don't overdo it, and lay yourself up.

Come Dancing was good tonight. But not sure if I will bother with Jungle.

Feeling a bit down tonight, so I will say goodnight.

Sorry to hear you weren't well Frank. Did you make another appointment with the surgeon? You did the right thing not going if you weren't well. It's not very nice having an upset tummy as Jane and I know and the last thing you want is to go out.
Try not to feel down, we're all here for you and I'm sure when you do see the surgeon he'll be able to help in some way.

Maybe we could send you your birthday cards a week early then you will be able to see them for a while before you go away. It would be a shame not to have any to mark your birthday.

Take care and keep your chin up :-)

Frank sorry to hear you were unable to make your appointment but you obviously couldn't go with an upset tummy, I hope you are feeling better now. I think Gill's idea about getting your cards early is a good one and maybe take them with you.

For some reason I keep thinking it's Sunday don't know why. We watched Strictly and then Michael McIntyre both very enjoyable also Goggle Box this evening.

Jane I take Migraleve as soon as I get the visual disturbances and although I don't Feel sick they do work very quickly for me and stop any headaches from starting.
I poach my eggs in an egg poacher that's made especially for that purpose I have never tried doing them like your Dad did but I think my Mum did them the same as him.

Gill I hope your OH's discomfort soon calms down with the antibiotics and he can feel comfortable again,

Mandy, I have replied to you.

Just going up to bed now so goodnight all

O dear you poor lot.

Jane when I had the visual migrain I used to take paracetamol and they worked for me but I have taken migralieve of mums and that worked too. I never had a headache with mine only the fuzzy spot and loss of vision till you could only see a dot of what was in front of you. I also had one finger go numb or one part of my body. I also used to lie on the bed and hang my head over the side on the floor.

Poor Frank its not nice when you have to go rushing to the loo. I can understand how you did'nt want to go to the surgeons.

Well I'm still sending your cards so there :-P :-P :-P :-P

Morning all,

bit dull here today but I am hoping it just might get brighter later on like it did yesterday.

Wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'. Remind you of anything??






























Yep Dionne Warwick


Wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'
Plannin' and dreamin' each night of his charms
That won't get you into his arms

So if you're lookin' to find love you can share
All you gotta do is
Hold him and kiss him and love him
And show him that you care

Show him that you care just for him
Do the things he likes to do
Wear your hair just for him, 'cause
You won't get him
Thinkin' and a-prayin'
Wishin' and hopin'

Just wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'
Plannin' and dreamin' his kiss is the start
That won't get you into his heart

So if you're thinkin' how great true love is
All you gotta do is
Hold him and kiss him and squeeze him and love him
Yeah, just do it and after you do, you will be his

(You gotta)
Show him that you care just for him
Do the things he likes to do
Wear your hair just for him, 'cause
You won't get him
Thinkin' and a-prayin'
Wishin' and hopin'

Just wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'
Plannin' and dreamin' his kiss is the start
That won't get you into his heart

So if you're thinkin' how great true love is
All you gotta do is
Hold him and kiss him and squeeze him and love him
Yeah, just do it and after you do, you will be his
You will be his, you will be his

Afternoon all my FRIENDS,

No "RUNS" this morning. Didn't eat at all yesterday, and only had a small piece of toast today.

Martine has decorated her lounge and has roped Ros into making cushion covers for her. She finished them this morning as she was up at 6.00 am (I slept until 10.00 am) She has taken them over to her. Gawd knows how long she will be. She is out with Carolyn at 5.00 pm to go to Alderton for the Christmas lights to be turned on and other things going on in the church, so I will get dinner for about 7.00 pm.

I see the Castro had 60 odd attempts on his life, but managed to die in his own bed at 90. !!

Not much of a day here, overcast and breezy. I haven't had my nose outside yet, and I don't see any reason to do so. ;-) ;-) ;-)

That was very nice Mel, I have that tune in my head now.

What are you all up to this afternoon. ? Not "BLACK WEEK" SHOPPING I HOPE !!! I had FIVE emails from Amazon this morning advertising various Black Friday items. I maintain if you don't need it, DON'T BUY IT. Ros said the number of people in Tesco's on Friday who's trolly's were stacked with T.V.s Music Centres and un -imaginable things, was unbelievable.I bet most went on Credit cards and will be paying for it over the next couple of years, and Christmas isn't here to yet. !!!

Time I got showered and dressed, then I can relax. All the veg are prepared, just the pudding to do later.

Afternoon All

Well it seems to be getting darker and darker here. Looks like the skies will open but we aren't forecast any of the wet stuff. The line is full of James's washing so i am keeping a sharp eye on that. I need to teach him and Chris how to hang things on the line !!!!!!. There are 2 expensive jumpers out there that I have had ot go and hang properly :-S

What a shame Frank that you had to cancel your appointment with the Surgeon.Hopefully you will be able to get another one soon.
I was thinking back to when my Sister had her knee done. She had a special bit of equiptment (electrical).It was because she was having trouble doing the knee exercises because of the pain. It fitted around her leg and when switched on would bend her leg/knee up and down .She said it was excellent.But she had it free as she had her op through Bupa. After a week or something she then had to pay I think weekly to carry on using it.It wasn't cheap but was worth doing. It just made me wonder if it would be worth you enquiring about one. I can ask Janice what is it called.

I have just made a Normandy Pork casserole which is in the oven now for the next 2 hours.All I need to do once it is done is to add,the creme fraiche,dijon mustard ,cornflour and chopped fresh Tarragon :-D.I think I will do rice with it instead of potatoes.

Just dashing out to get those jumpers in ..Can see rain spots on the window.Back in a tick.

Job done :-) The rest can stay out for now.

No Black Friday shopping for me. We don't need any big electrical things..I did buy a couple of thin jumpers that had a few pounds off.But I did see a few TV's and things in peoples trolleys in Tesco .
Chris has ordered the Turkey and a new Tablecloth .He said he was fed up with my old one that comes out every Xmas as it only just covers the table when it is extended.
It better go with my Xmas Serviettes and Crackers LOL. He will pick the tablecloth up when he goes to Waitrose and the Turkey on Xmas Eve. That way I won't have to worry about putting Turkey in the fridge.It can just go in the garage over night :-)

I hope Liz ,Ian and Cas are enjoying their week.I would love to be right on the coast now.Just to see the sea and breath that lovely air :-D.It would take at the very least a couple of hours from here to get to the sea.

I do believe it is getting lighter.Maybe I will be able to turn a light or 2 off.

Gill,how is your cooker doing????? Black Friday Bargain for you maybe ?

The sky here is as black as your hat. Just a fine sliver of sun in the west.

West Ham are playing Manchester United at 4.30 pm KO. So Ros will take me down to the pub at 4.15 and I will walk home if she isn't home when the match finishes.
,
I put a large shoulder of lamb in the oven three hours ago. I just looked at it and it's falling off the bone. So should be just right for tonight. I will just warm it up while the veg is cooking. I have sprinkled the Roasts with a Garlic and Coriander marinade. First time I have tried it, so hope it turns out alright. They can go on when I get home and we will have dinner about 7.00/7.30. It will mean I will miss Country File, but hopefully will see Strictly. I don't care if I miss X Factor.

Jan in Devon has ordered the Turkey, we will pay for that when we collect it. We are taking down BEEF, PORK, HAM. and I will pay for the Vegetable shop when they get it. Conrad is bringing me a bottle of Scotch from Spain, so will save a bit on that. My beer can be purchased when they get the Veg. If we stayed at home I would no doubt go out for Christmas dinner, and that would be even dearer than the shopping.

Still waiting for a call from Harvey for when they can come up for a Christmas Dinner with us. There isn't many weeks, so he had better get his finger out ;-) ;-) ;-)

Won't be back on tonight, so see you in the morning.

Hav'nt done much except feed the birds and fine some of my wreath bits and peices and wires which I had a job to find and nother gets done without those.

Saw a lovely bullfinch feeding on the dock seeds out the back this morning. He looked so bright it caught my eye straight away, so red on the breast with his black hat on.

Did lunch. Put the papers in the bag for collection tomorrow if oh gets it up there before they come. We missed it last week. Sometimes they don't come till the afternoon and sometimes before 6am!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Watched the grand prix with oh while we had our big breakfast.

Evening All,

Not you with the trots as well Frank! It sounds as if you are ok again now though so that's good although it leaves you a bit weak and sorry for yourself for a while. You couldn't see the surgeon while you were in that state. You are very good paying for Christmas lunch. I agree with Mel about your cards!! :-) :-)

That makes sense about the Migraleve in some ways Jane. The tablets are supposed to act on the vessels that are affected and cause the headache......so if you don't have a headache.....maybe there's no need for them.......or maybe, as Anne says they stop the headache from coming? I've made poached eggs all ways in the past, in a poacher, using those flexible pod things, in a pastry cutter ring, but I still think the best ones are done the old fashioned way you describe. Get a good swirl on the water with a wooden spoon and drop a single egg in the middle! The only trouble is you can only do one at a time so it's a bit long winded if you have 2 eggs each. :-)

Mandy Max is looking a really handsome boy now. I would love to feel his ears and his coat is so black and shiny! Bargain chocolate as well!! You'll be finding more reasons to go back there!! lol. I'm glad Nicko is out of the bad weather now and that you have seen he is ok.

I slept like a top last night and my cough is improving and my voice sounds better than it did, so I think I'm well on the mend. This afternoon OH drove me to The Furniture Loft at Market Harborough. (I bet Jane knows of it). I think it changed hands not too long ago and they stock different things now. We enjoyed a potter around and then around the Heavenly Feet factory shop opposite.

I watched WDYTYA with Danny Dyer on the iplayer and it was very interesting. Again it just shows how, in a few generations, information about your family stops being handed down, even when you have famous ancestry.

We are looking forward to Planet Earth again tonight. :-)

Mel do you just have a separate collection for papers ? We have a recycling box for paper that we put out with the plastics ,glass ,metal box and the grey bin for cardboard and garden waste.
I do remember years ago when I was still at home ,we would put the papers out for the Scouts to collect.I can't remember now what they collected them for.
Also milk bottle tops were collected (I think for the blind). Doubt that happens now as it is nearly all cartons and plastic bottles of milk. We stopped our doorstep delivery of milk bottles a couple of years ago.Felt quite guilty doing that ,but then we heard that glass bottles were being replaced with Cartons.I think now that the milkman's round here has ended.
Mum used to order a bottle of Gold Top on a saturday ,and the cat got the cream off the top lol. I occasionally buy a bottle of Gold top from Tesco (once in a blue moon) .Usually when I make a special recipe for a rice pudding.One I make with Rose or Orange Water. Haven't done that for ages.I must do it again soon.Delish :-D

It feels much later than 5 pm.I can see it being a fairly early bed tonight.As long as I see Strictly and X F :-D