General Chat

Afternoon Everyone

Mucky old day here also Liz.It has been so dark all day too.Tomorrrow looks like it may be similar :-S

Well the tree is still standing :-D..How is yours Mandy? I am hoping Thomas will just lose interest .He doesn't seem too happy at the moment and keeps holding one of his front paws off the ground when he is sitting .I did think he was limping a little .But we can't see anything ,the only thing is we wonder if he might have pulled that side claw(can't think what they call it).I will see how it goes for now .

Frank it was fairly late last night by the time they all went home ,and the nall the clearing up too.You were both on the go for a very long time yesterday.I always prefer to do a lunchtime meal rather than an evening one when we have guests.
Talking of meals.... Christmas Dinner here will not be until the 27th now!!
James is now going to go to Jess(I think under duress) but needs to keep the peace.
So he will go in the 23rd and come home on the 27th.Hannah will come here on the 23rd and then Gareth on the 27th so it makes sense to wait until everyone is here.
Not sure Chris is too happy LOL, but I think it is because this is the first time ever that we will not have had Xmas Dinner on Xmas day. It will be much more fun to have a full table rather than just Chris ,Hannah and I.
I expect Hannah and I will rustle up a Festive Brunch on the 25th :-D.. We will still open our presents though on the day :-D :-D

Now it is looking more festive here.The tree of course ,but I have finally got my other lights around the garland on the mantlepiece and the big window sill.Tea lights flickering nicely on the hearth (as we haven't lit the fire today).
I did have to go out to buy some more outdoor lights for my little Box Trees outside the front door as I hadn't taken out the old batteries from the ones last year and they had messed things up.So my little trees are twinkling again :-D
Thankyou everyone for all the lovely cards :-D :-D.Mandy and Williams arrived today and I think that is all my GR ones now.

We had a bit of a surprise a couple of days ago as one of the PPIs we had was re evaluated and we had another cheque :-D :-D.It was totally unexpected too

I hope your Sister's move went ok Gill (once she was awake LOL ) and that your Mum is ok now she is back home again.
Chris did all the ironing this afternoon when I went out to get the new lights.What a star :-D :-D

Gill the Locksmith came this morning and it was a spring that had gone.At first he thought the whole mechanism would have to be changed but in the end he just managed to put new spring in :-D..So that was £51 rather than a whole lot more :-D

Sorry to hear you lost yet another post Frank. How is the knee today? Hope you didn't over do things with the meal. I think Liz's idea of a cold buffet is a good one, maybe you could do that in future so it's not so much work.

Did you remember to take everything out with you Mel?

Back from mum's now, she had gone out and started crying the minute she came through the door, she said it was to much for her, to which I said why didn't she ring me then I could of got her shopping for her, she said a few people had offered to take her but she is stubborn and thought she could do it all herself. After a bit of pampering from us she was soon feeling better. Sandra and I put her shopping away and made her a nice cup of tea then we put a couple of card holders up and all her Christmas cards for her. My nephew still hadn't turned up by 3.30 and we'd been there since around 11.30 so OH's back was playing him up and we came home. Mum rang my nephew and he's coming here before going to hers later, although we don't know what time so I've just made a shepherds pie as that is easily kept if needs be, it's in the oven browning the potatoes off now. I've text my sister to see how she is getting on and now I'm waiting for a reply, I assume because she didn't reply straight away they are still busy with the move.

I put the compost in the pot and a couple of spare pots of compost in the greenhouse ready for when my nephew brings the tree around. My sister said she would shake the soil off it and put it in a bin liner for the journey so it'll need potting when we get it. We have an outside light so I'll turn that on and pot the tree up later.

Going to check on the shepherds pie now.

Liz,I was going to agree with you over dinner parties. As much as you like to have the family around you,it is a big strain, I think it would be no dearer to take them to a restaurant. When you take everything into consideration, I bet theres not a lot in it ,

It,s Julia's 58th birthday today, we rang her this morning to wish her greetings . It's also my nieces 61st I must ring her tonight,

Cold turkey with veg, and rosties with parsnips and gravy .

Just checked the pie and it'll be done in a few minutes, I thought we'd eat a bit earlier today with my nephew coming round as we're not sure what time he'll get here. If he's hungry then I can warm some up for him before he goes to my mums.

Didn't see your post there Jane, thanks for letting us know about the lock, OH said he'll take a look when he's feeling up to it, he's a bit sore with sitting down for 4 hours in a chair that wasn't very big, he said he couldn't get comfy...bless him. At least now he's on our new sofa which is bigger and a lot more comfortable.

So Thomas has left your tree alone for now.......let hope he has lost interest. We nearly ended up with a cat today called Poppy, her owner Sandra friend who lives next door to my mum is moving into rented accommodation today and isn't allowed pets, but we' decided against it as vet bills can be quite expensive now and she's an outdoor cat which normally means more visits to the vets going by what one of our cats was like. Shame really as Poppy is such a loving cat, she is going to someone is Wallasey, Sandra is a bit upset as she had grown fond of her but at least she is going to a good home, I think mum will miss her too as she often trotted into mum's bungalow for a cuddle and a bite to eat, mum called it her second home.

It does feel strange having Christmas dinner on another day but it's just as special and like you said Jane, there'll be more people there so that'll be nice. I'm sure you and Hannah will make something nice for lunch on the big day. I remember Sandra and I having two Christmas dinners one with mum on Christmas day and the other with OH on Boxing day as he was working on Christmas day a few years ago.

Better go and check the pie again, see you all later <3

Evening all,

Well it has been a bit dull today , we did see a little sun this morning but it didn't last long .

Tree still standing here ,Lewis has been here this morning while son and DIL went into the school for Carols and coffee ,he did touch one or two of the hanging decorations but was good and left them alone when i told him too.

It is hard work cooking a family meal ,as you say Frank it might have been easier to go to a restaurant .
Is it all leftovers for you tonight ?

Oh dear Gill your poor mum ,is she trying to do to much to soon ,it was good that you were there to give her a hand .

Jane do you think Thomas might have had a pine needle in his paw ? they can be quite painful when they go in .
I'm sure you'll still enjoy Christmas day with the three of you ,will Jess come back with James on the 27th ?

Had my hair cut today so that's another job done before christmas , i still have a few presents to buy and i must start wrapping some this week .

I think you're right Frank and taking people out probably wouldn't cost that much more than eating at home, and much less hassle! We've got the family on 27th for a buffet lunch, as the children are going to their Dad this year. As son will be in NZ, we decided to book a table at our local pub in the village and eat out. Luckily we got a cancellation, so we're looking forward to a cooking free day!
Suppers ready so better go and eat!

Gill it is good you were able to care for mum today and put up the card holders and cards. I am sure she will feel better now you have been to see she is alright.

Went down the shop and forgot to go to Erica's first but that did'nt matter as I have to go past on the way home. Dropped the one off at the shop and they had sold the other two so there's only one down there now. called at Erica's but they were out so I left it in her porch. They'll pay me sometime so I am not bothered.

Jane I was thinking the same as mandy about Thomas's paw after his tangle with the tree. They can give you a nasty prickle if you hit them in the right place almost as painfull as a rose thorn.

I meant to say when the hairdresser came today she eyed up the Fairy Garland and the little mouse in the shell ,she said how lovely they are .

Also when the girls came yesterday they all wanted to hold the mouse in the shell ,you would have thought it was a real mouse they were holding as they were really gentle with it .

Just popping in to say HI. hI

How sweet the girls holding the toy mouse like it was real Mandy, it does look cute though. Thanks Mel for the instructions, I'm sure Sandra will want to make one when we have some free time.

Poor Thomas Jane, maybe it is a pine needle like everyone has said, he did go for it on your tree in the video so chances are he's knocked some off then trodden on them. If he lets you try bathing his paw in some warm water, it will open the pores and it might drop out, you don't want him getting an infection. Hope he's okay soon and doesn't need to go to the vets <3

Quite a few birthdays today by the sounds of it Frank, happy birthday to them both. What a good idea to go out to eat next time rather than doing it all yourselves and like you said it shouldn't cost that much more.

That was lucky Liz getting the cancellation, that's something to look forward to now.

Has anyone heard about the postal strike that's supposed to be happening the week before Christmas? I saw it on the news but they don't have all the details yet. I still have a few cards to post so they'll be getting done in the morning.

Poor Sandra is disappointed at the moment, she didn't get to see her cousin in the end, he couldn't remember which street we lived in and was going up and down the wrong street looking for our bungalow, in the end he gave up and went to my mums, it was quite late then so he went straight home after that. I do feel sorry for him as he missed his daughter's nativity play with helping his mum move house. It took them longer than they thought it would and he lives miles away from his mum so missed the play, his daughter is only six, hope she wasn't to upset at dad not being there.

OH nipped back to mum's to pick up the tree and we've just finished planting it, not sure what it looks like yet as we only had an outside light to see by so I'll check it properly tomorrow when it's daylight. The tree was very light in weight so that's why OH offered to go and get it from mum's, it only took him a few minutes as she lives just round the corner. I spoke to mum on the phone and she is feeling a bit better now although very tired so she's going to have an early night and has assured me that she will ring me if she needs anything until she is fit enough to do more for herself.

Going to watch the soaps now, I've had to record them and Sandra is waiting.

Evening All,

I haven't done that many large family Christmas Lunches Frank but I remember they were hard work, even though I was younger. I was working full time then and at times I would be back to work on Boxing Day and it was all a bit much!! I remember it all got a bit silly with return invites here there and everywhere and to be honest, after 2 days of turkey and trifle etc. I don't want any more and am craving poached eggs or beans on toast!!! lol. We keep toying with going out for Christmas Lunch Liz and I think the local pub is a far better choice and likely to have quicker service.

Your poor mum Gill. I'm not surprised she got a bit upset after the worry she has had with hospital recently and then trying to do a bit too much. I think you did just the right things to cheer her up.

Jane maybe Thomas did hurt his paw on the tree needles and that is why he's lost interest in it for now? He was really going at it wasn't he! Your Christmas is going to be a bit different this year then, but it doesn't really matter having your lunch on a different day. I think we had ours on Boxing Day once when we didn't feel well enough to enjoy it on the day. :-)

Is that the last wreath done now then Mel? You aren't the only one going barmy lately. I thought I'd lost my handbag in a cafe this morning, but I'd placed it on the chair next to me and it had slid off the back edge of the seat and under the chair!! Then after OH had been to the chemist and come home he couldn't find his wallet!! We searched the car and his coat pockets, but he was only looking in the pockets of a coat he hadn't been wearing wasn't he!!! lol.

It's good young Lewis is listening when you say no Mandy. I hope he carries on listening!! :-)

Well my tree is looking nice now........just a few more decs for the shelves and doors to go up tomorrow.

Ann I'm glad I'm not the only one!

Morning all,

Dull and dreary and rain in the air here so a generaly grotty day.

Had a call from Erica's hubby to say what a beautiful wreath they found on their doorstep when they arrived home yesterday. He went on and on about it so they must have liked it. I was pleased how it turned out too. I did take a pic but I hav'nt much on the camera at the mo so don't want to ask oh to download it for me yet but I will send a pic when I get them done.

Morning all, evening Kim,

Gill,not only

Here we go again!,

Being on the I pad is not as easy as my laptop.

Gill, not only the post is on strike for five days, but also the railway. They hold the Country to ransom this time of the year.

Going to

Said it I'll try later

Morning all

Dull day here with a bit of rain around

Yes you're right Frank this country is held to ransom this time of year. I've posted the last of my Christmas cards this morning so hopefully everyone will received them on time, although one of them I didn't have a post code for so that might be a little late with the strike. Still having problems I see, when are you getting your computer fixed, I bet you can't wait? Maybe you could ask Ros for a new one for Christmas instead.

So Erica and her hubby were pleased with the wreath you made them Mel, looking forward to seeing the photo when you can send it.

I had a look at the conifer I got off my sister this morning and it looked a bit lob sided so I pushed it to one side and snapped the top off. I was so disappointed but it doesn't look to bad and I remember someone saying that if you pinch the top off a conifer they grow more bushy, so if that happens it won't be to bad and it was only about 6 inches anyway so no real harm done. It does look good now it's all potted up and I've put the top bit in some water to see if any roots grow. I'm not sure how to take cutting off conifers, or even if you can, so I'm going to Google it to make sure I'm doing it right, if it can be done.

You can't do it that way Gill. You have to take a piece with a heel on it. If you pull a small side shoot down so you have a little bit of a wedge on the end trim it up and pop the cutting down the side of a flower pot water it well and pop a plastic bag over the top supported on four canes. Leave it there in a shady place in the greenhouse and take a look in springtime and watch for new growth on the top and if it has it may have rooted. You should take more than one cutting if you want success but you may not get it!! I have done them in the past and it can work.

Thanks Mel, I'll do what you say and see what happens. Do you cut the tiny branches off and use those? It was the tall pointy bit right at the top so there are plenty of small branches or leaves coming off that. I normally do put cuttings in soil on my kitchen window sill, sometimes they take some times they don't. I have a few growing there at the moment so I can always add the conifer ones to them in their own pots, that way I can keep an eye on them and make sure they don't dry out. It's getting dark now, will the cutting be okay in the water over night so I can do them tomorrow?

Genes has been a bit slow today, wasn't sure if my last post was going to go through okay. Has anyone else had problems? I've noticed it's very quiet on here today and just wondered if that was why :-S :-S