General Chat

Morning all

Dull and raining here today, but still quite warm for this time of year. Sandra is eagerly waiting the SNOW towards the end of the week. I hope we get enough for her to build her SNOWMAN she's been waiting so long for the snow I'd hate it if she didn't have enough, she'd be so disappointed . She has it all planned, her dad is helping her apparently LOL and I'm filming it on her new camcorder, so that's us two organised LOL. I'm just wondering what we're going to use for it's eyes, last time I had some small black stones but they have long gone now......Shall have to put my thinking cap on, or have a look around the bungalow for something. We can't have a blind snowman now can we?

I saw someone making pom pom's on the Internet Mel, by wrapping the wool around her fingers, she then took the wool off and tied some wool around it, then cut the loops either end. It actually worked. She had to wrap the wool around her fingers quite a lot though, but it looked so simple and quick and you'd of never of guessed she'd done it that way.
So you ended up with blue legs sitting in water with your jeans on, I always boil washed my jeans to shrink them. Did they shrink enough for you once your mum put them through the washing machine and more's to the point did the dye come off your legs easily you wouldn't of wanted to go around looking like a smurf LOL. Isn't it funny what we all got up to in our youth, at least we can laugh about it now.

Sandra's chicken dinner was lovely yesterday and she coped well with the oven Mandy. Just a couple of mistakes but nothing serious, which I soon sorted out for her. Fancy pulling the wet jeans off, that must of hurt with the sand inside, surely it would of been easier and less painful to roll them down, so they ended up inside out when they came off over the feet. I bet he never swam in his jeans again after that. Like you said......Ouch

So you had a seat made into the Cherry tree trunk then Frank, I thought you'd had one made to wrap around the tree. I've seen seats like that and they do look good, but what a good idea to use the trunk. I assume there won't be any sap escaping. Our conifers are terrible for sap and it's so sticky it's hard to wash off your hands and impossible to get out of clothes. I'd love to see a picture of it if you take one.
How is your knee today, better I hope?

I hope all goes well for Paul's scan today Anne. Has he had it long? Hope the scan can reveal what it is and it's sorted soon for him.
I did laugh when you mentioned the man walking around with a life size parrot on his shoulders ;-) :-D How funny must that of looked.

Not more digging Ann, you must be so fed up of it now. Let's hope they won't have much more to do outside your bungalow and will move on to somewhere else soon.

Going to get a COT now, see you all later

Morning all,

Sounds like we have the same weather here as you lot up there, raining and dull.

Gill yes you can make pom poms on your hand or on a fork. You can make the ones on your hand into tassels too by tying a piece of wool or cotton, whatever you are using, round one end of the loop and then another piece a little further down from that and cutting through the loop of the end. Done loads of those in my time. Did them for cards with embrodery cotton and when I made a tubeuler holder for something it had a tassel on the top. I can't remember what it was for now or where it is. I used to have all my little treasures in my old dressing table draw of which it had three large ones, but since we had the new bedroom suite and the dressing table only has very small drawers all the stuff was put away and I can't remember where............

Morning All,

It's dark and tipping it down with rain here now. :-S OH has gone to his meeting very early as it's so hard for him to park where he is going the other side of the city and he also wanted to miss the worst of the traffic.

It would be great if there is enough SNOW for Sandra to make her snowman this week Gill! I might join her in making one if we get some here. :-) Does your mum have some stones Sandra could use for her snowman's eyes? Bits of coal would be good too. I had 2 conifer hedges at my last house and the sap is so sticky as you say. The clippings are great on a bonfire though as they burn fiercely!!

Yes, best wishes to Paul with his scan Anne. These things are always a bit worrying especially waiting for the results.

Did you have a good night Frank? It's a pity you don't have a woodworker nearby. I know my first OH would have been interested in a bit of your Cherry tree!! I bet the garden looks quite different with the tree gone now. The birds will miss their perches won't they! :-D

Well I'd better get on and do some HW now. Mind you within half an hour of me cleaning all the kitchen tops last night, OH managed to leave a load of breadcrumbs on one worktop without noticing he'd done it. It's why I find HW so soul destroying as it's so disheartening when things you make the effort to do don't stay looking good for even half an hour. :-S He did clean them up when I told him, but why don't they notice and do it themselves? :-| Well, that's my 'carp' for the day and time for another COT and to make a start. :-)

Morning all, Evening Kim,

Filthy morning here. Dos wanted to get out in the garden again today, but the rain has put paid to that.

Yes the forecast is for SNOW I think Thursday. Hope you get enough for Sandra's SNOWMAN.

All this talk about shrinking JEANS. I never owned a pair until about 10 years ago. I bet I haven't worn them a dozen times. I fund them very uncomfortable and prefer ordinary trousers, It might be an age thing !!!! When in the RAF all the berets were like Shopping bags. We use to have a bowl of boiling water and a bowl of cold water, dip the beret in the hot then cold and carried on until it was the size you wanted (So it just laid on the top of the right ear)

Paddy is offering some of the trunk to a wood turner. Once it's seasoned it will be a nice wood for turning. The rest he is giving to the pub to burn on the open fire's.

The light in the kitchen (block of four) one end. One of the bulbs decided to explode when I turned the light on. The screw in part is still in the holder. I can't get it out. The bulb hit me on the head and bounced around the kitchen floor without smashing. How lucky was that. I have spare bulbs, but will have to wait until someone can get the old bit out. It's times like this that you feel so useless.

The knee gave me a lot of GIP in the night, and I am trying to MARCH with my knee high up, to try to exercise it more. I must look a right TWEERP .

It's our 40th anniversary next June 3rd. I am starting to look at holidays/cruises. But what a price they are. !! I think it will be a weekend in SOUTHEND. lol lol ;-) ;-)

Gill I must have missed your post regarding your reason to want to move. I will have to go back and read the posts.

I think it's a week tomorrow that I go for my cataracts to be removed. Everyone says how wonderful you can see after it. Here's hoping <3 <3 <3.

This weather looks to be set in for the day.

Conrad managed to recover most of his cloths and some bedding (sheets) he has been to the Laundryette and washed everything. Jan is going over at the end of the month to help him move back into his old apartment (if it's dry enough)

I know exactly what you mean about HW being so soul destroying Ann!!! OH is exactly the same particularly with crumbs!! I think they just don't notice them as I'm forever clearing them off the worktops! OH's corner where he sits is the same, I wearily clear up paper, pens, bits of god knows what, give it a good clean, only for it all to be as bad again inside a day! grrrrrr!! I think he does try, but is just a bit useless!!!
This week we both have our yearly check ups at the surgery. OH tomorrow, and me on Thursday, cholesterol test included which means we have to be there before 9.00!
Wednesday, I've got the Dentist for a check up, so it's a health week for us !
Dull old day here but not too cold. Talking of clothes, I've got a load waiting to be sorted out to go to the charity shop, so best get on!

The jeans years ago could be quite stiff Frank and not that comfy but were hardwearing if you were around horses a lot! All the ones I wear now are stretchy and with a stretch waist as well, so are comfy. That was interesting how you used to shrink your berets in the RAF. If FIL was still around I could have asked him about his!! lol.

Yes, I think Cherry wood looks very attractive when turned. My first OH made all sorts in wood with it being his trade. I had a quite a few auctioneers gavels he made for me that were very fancy and made in oak. I had them hanging on the kitchen wall!! He turned candlesticks and we made all sorts for when we got married as we hadn't much dosh then! He made all our bedroom furniture, a Long John coffee table in teak......remember those? A dropleaf table that fixed to the wall in the kitchen, wooden foldup kitchen steps, a camel saddle stool that I upholstered in red velvet. I used to do all the painting, staining and varnishing. I made a mosaic table lamp from a Cherry brandy bottle and a made a hearthrug from a readicut kit and made a basketwork edged tea tray and basketwork plant pot holders. I wonder if any of today's youngsters make such an effort to make their money go further.

Well, as OH was out this morning I slapped a face pack on that had been lurking in the cupboard ages and my face turned into a pale blue mask. It is a waste of time doing one while he's here as he always sniggers and I can't keep my face straight. lol

I was just about to have my shower and wash it off when he got home. I decided to wait behind the hall door. It's quite dark in there with just light coming through one door and I knew the first thing he'd do would be to come and find me. Well, he didn't half jump when he saw me waving my arms like a ghost and was laughing away for ages afterwards!! :-) :-D Now he keeps saying 'Take that 'orrible mask off............oh, you have' the cheeky bounder!!

Liz, I'm thankful he is as tidy as can be everywhere, but he will put things tidily on a layer of dust he doesn't see, same with his car which has no mess, just dust and cobwebs hanging!! He dripped oil from his sardines on the worktops, despite having his plate on a tray, gets it on his fingers and spreads it on the kitchen cupboard handles. Despite using a tray when he eats watching the tv, he still gets crumbs down the settee cushions and all over the floor where he sits. Toothpaste on the bathroom cabinet mirrored doors. I feel like I need to have a cloth in hand all day!! I expect because men grow up not having to clean up after themselves they don't know what mess they make as it all disappears as if by magic!!

I have to take a nightdress back now to exchange. I decided that it would be a good idea in view of my recent trip to hospital, to pop a few essential things in a bag to keep handy on a shelf just in case, but hopefully not needed in future.

It's going to be very tricky travelling towards the retail park, motorway and city now as they are doing junction roadworks on the main road which is taking 2 lanes out of use. They've been working on it for months already but not had to close 2 lanes till now. As the other road from in the village goes to the same junction we are scuppered at peak times.

Isn't that always the case Mel, when you put things away for safe keeping, it's that safe you can't find them again, until of course, you don't need them anymore, then you find them and think you'll remember where they are and then forget again ;-) What happened to the old dressing table, maybe you could put that in a spare bedroom and when you do find the things that were in the draws you can put them back in there.
Making tassels sounds good and you can put them on quite a lot of things can't you? It's amazing what you can do, even if you don't have the right equipment.

Pleased to hear Conrad recovered most of his clothes, at least that's something.

It's our 30th Anniversary tomorrow Frank, we're not going away though.
Sandra has helped me make OH a card today as I hurt my ankle this morning and can't walk to the shops to get one, OH is out for the day, so that was lucky he wasn't here to see us. We've just finished it and it's full of smilie stickers that Sandra found, she also found two stickers of bears as a king and Queen so they've gone on the inside along with a couple of hearts. I had a look online for ideas for a verse and found one that I've tweaked a bit, so the card is written out ready for tomorrow now. Sandra is just putting all her stickers away before her dad gets in. It's been nice to have some time with Sandra making the card, it's been a while since it was just the two of us with OH being off work ill <3

It must be a man thing leaving crumbs on kitchen worktops Ann, my OH does the same, along with other things, he just doesn't seem to notice the mess he's made or the fact that I've just cleaned up.
It must of been wonderful having someone who could make all those lovely things out of wood, that would of saved you a bob or two. No I don't expect the youth of today would do anything similar to make their money stretch further. I love making things for the bungalow, although I'm not clever enough to make large furniture. I envy those who can though. I helped my mum make a hearthrug from a kit like you did Ann, when I was a child.
How funny Ann with the facemask, I'd of loved to have seen your OH's face.

So it's the human versions of MOT's this week then Liz, let's hope you both pass with flying colours ;-) :-D

Going to get another COT now, I'm so thirsty today, for some reason :-S

My oh always tells me off for leaving crumbs on the work surface. When he does wash up he always wipes all the surfaces down. What I find annoying is he always knows where to get things from but never puts them away again after he has used them. AND he can never throw away anything thats empty but just gets a new one out. The times I reach to put something away only to find it has nothing in it!!

Afternoon All

Wet miserable day today.I think it has just about stopped raining now though so Thomas might be able to venture out soon.

Anne,it could just have been a virus that have caused the glands to enlarge.I hope it is just something as simple as that and nothing else.You said the dentist wasn't overly concerened so that is a good thing.Best to get it checked though.Anything like that is always a worry.
So a new Kid on the block LOL. It is open house for all the local cats at yours by the sound of it LOL. I bet George told him it was a good place to visit :-D :-D.

Frank, that is good that Conrad has been able to salvage quite a lot of his things from the flooded appartment.Does he have those industrial dryers in?

So the Roast Chicken was a great success Gill. Sandra would have been very pleased .It is nice that she enjoys cooking.
Happy Anniversary for tomorrow.Will you be doing a special meal? The card that Sandra has made sounds fun :-D,and a lovely special one. We have our 36th in May.

Frank,if you fancy a cruise why not wait until they have their sales.It won't be at the time of your Anniversary ,but you can get some really good deals.
Janice and larry are going on a Carribean Cruise in 7 weeks time. It is a 16 day one and I think it has cost about £1,500 for the two of them .They will have to fly out to one of the countries(can't think which one now).There is a name for the kind of cruise again I cant think what it is.But it is when the Cruise Ships come back here after the winter and they only stop off at a few places on the way ,so most of the time is spent at sea.Just what Janice fancies.She said they just want some lovley weather, relaxation and fed and watered LOL.They may do a couple of on shore trips ,but not many.They are both exhausted and just feel the need to get away from everyones beck and call ,no phone calls etc.Not just from her lot and the grandchildren ,but also from the daily phone calls from Larry's Mum up in Leeds...I just say go for it and enjoy !!!!! :-D

I won't see James today on his Birthday as he is not going to get home until well after we have gone to bed.So he will have presents tomorrow (he is off work),and I can do the meal he has requested in the evening. I remember this day 31 years ago when I had him and it snowed.
Looks like snow could be on the cards Gill !!!!!!!..Wouldn't it be great if Sandra could get this Snowman finally made :-D.

I took my car in to the body workshop this morning.The girl on the desk said that 3 people had called in sick today ! So she hoped that I would be understanding if my car takes a little longer to be done..I am fine with that.These things happen .
As long as I can have Chris's car on Wednesday morning to go and get my hair cut :-D :-D...That is the most important thing for me right now.It is driving me bonkers as it is too long and taking on a life of its own.Bits flicking out all over the place no matter how well I dry it.

I have made something I have not done before.Potato Dauphinoise,with shredded Ham Hock ..I think I have done it in too big a dish though . I have Sausages to go with it and Peas and Baby Carrots.

Another miserable day out, it's raining quite hard at the moment.

Paul has popped in on his way back from the hospital and he has the all clear with scan, he does still have a slight swelling but it could have been caused by a virus. The hospital is just a couple of miles away in Ascot which is handy otherwise the nearest after that is in Reading.

You made me smile about the face mask Ann, you are lucky your OH has a good sense of humour.

Richard is very untidy about the house with crumbs and various things being left about. Peter was just the opposite, I do like a home to looked lived in but there is a limit.When I lived at home my mother was so house proud if you put a magazine down to go to the loo it would have been put away a couple of minutes later

Gill I'm sure the card you and Sandra made for your OH will mean more to him than a shop bought one. I hope your ankle soon feel easier for you to get about.

Have a Happy 30th Anniversary tomorrow and many more to come <3 <3

Happy birthday to James Jane

I meant to say
Chris NEVER leaves crumbs or any mess.(He is too tidy sometimes).. James is the biggest culprit for crumbs.Half of them end up on the floor too :-S :-S

LOL Ann, love your face pack tale :-D :-D.. Cheeky Gordon ;-).

What does annoy more than anything is no-one ever replaces a toilet roll upstairs .Lots of empty cardboard rolls but not a new roll in sight :-S :-S.Or if there is it is just perched on the side of the bath and not on the holder. :-S :-S

Evening all,

Been dreary here all day ,it started raining about lunch time but last time i put my head out the door it had stopped .

You devil Ann giving Gordon a scare like that LOL :-D i thought you were going to say some one came to the door just as you got it on your face .

Don't mention crumbs , we have the seeded bread and the crumbs and seeds you get from that bread go every where ,they never seem to have a big enough bag round them and it always seems to have a split in the end .
I'm the one who cleans the work tops of crumbs Colin will just walk past unless i ask i have to do it .
Yes toilet rolls are another bug bear too , a new toilet roll will get put on the holder but the old cardboard tube ends up on the window sill !!
Happy Birthday to James .

Anne thats good news the scan was clear you must both be relieved .

Gill that card will be treasured i'm sure , the home made ones are made with love , i hope you both enjoy the day .
You could use bottle tops for the snow mans eyes , i do hope Sandra gets her snow this year .

Frank that's good that Conrad has managed to save some of his things, i suppose there's still lots that he will have to replace though .
Fancy that bulb not breaking after dropping on the floor that would have been a mess to have to clear up , glass can shoot every where .

Frank I hadd that happen to us where a spotlight went and when I tried to take it out it came out without the screw bit. Oh would'nt let me try to take it out but he did it with a pair of pointed plyers making sure the lights were not on.

Happy birthday to James.xx

Anne I am so please the scan went well and there's nothing to worry about. You will both have you're minds at rest now after the result of the scan.

Yes so good Conrad managed to save a few things from the flat. It can work out very expensive to replace everything.

Ann I thought the same as Mandy with you and the face pack. I thought you were going to say the window cleaner came!!

I found another toilet roll half full which had dropped down behind the towel rail so we had two on the go for a while. This morning when I went in the bathroom I reached for not one but two empty rolls!!!. Just as well I keep the spares on the shelf behind the loo within easy reach in a basket with a lid. So I had to throw two empties away. The waste paper basket is only a little way away but it never gets put in there unless I do it.

Incase I forget in the morning (my head is like a sive) Happy Anniversary for tomorrow Gill and Glyn. xxx

You've just reminded me we need a new spotlight bulb for the kitchen. I keep forgetting so thanks Frank!! I can't believe your bulb didn't break into smithereens either. I'm glad Conrad managed to at least salvage some clothes and sheets. What are the temperatures there at the moment..............hot enough to help dry his place out?

Mandy/Mel, I did wonder if someone would come to the door as I know OH's turntable is arriving this week, but I checked and it said Tuesday thank goodness. :-) If I'd pulled the hood up on my dressing gown to answer the door I'd have looked like 'The Scream' painting. :-0

Jane my hair gets cut and coloured Thursday evening and is just the same as you describe yours is with bits sticking out or up! I put some mousse on it yesterday to stick it down. The cruise sounds just the thing for Larry and Janice and a chance to chill. You are lucky Chris wipes the worktops........OH will wash up the things that don't go in the dishwasher but only wipes the draining board after. He's good at throwing empty things away including loo roll tubes..........but he forgets to tell me we've run out when he uses the last of something, or, even better when it's running low!! So muggins here goes to the cupboard to get something she fancies and it's not there! Happy Birthday to James........hope he's had a good one. :-)

That's good that Sandra made the card Gill. I bet she was pleased with herself and enjoyed it. Like Mel, if I'm not on here early tomorrow Happy Anniversary and I hope you have a nice day. <3

That's good news about the scan Anne. :-) Your minds will be at ease now.

I'm off to bed soon, we are both really tired today, so OH is recording Halcyon.

Evening all,

I must bwethe PERFECT HUSBAND. I always wipe down the units with "DETOL SPRAY" Change the toilet roll, wash up and do most of the cooking. I'm not implying that Ros doesn't do anything, because she works like a TROGAN HORSE, and often tells me to go and sit down and does the washing up and drying, and cleans down. !!!!

I don't think Conrad has any assistance with the drying out of the apartment, I will ask Jan next time we speak. He hasn't got the WEB where he is living, so has to go to the office to seek to Jan on SKYPE.

Happy Birthday to James, and Happy Anniversary Gill.

Ros has cut down all the Brussel Plants. I have given FOUR stalks to the neighbour and two to Sids Val. I have plucked all the brussels off the rest. I have put them in a paper bag in the salad drawer. We had some tonight, and they were very nice. I think a good frost would have made them better.

My Blo@@y knee has been an absolute Bu@@er today. Pain all around the knee cap, and my right leg has I think I am ready for the KNACKERS YARD. ;-) ;-) ;-)

Well everyone, I am ready for a glass of RED and then of to my BED, with my radio.

Sleep tight, see you in the morning.

Nice surprise tonight.James arrived much earlier than expected .So he has has his pressies and blew the one candle I had ready on a tiny birthday cake .It wasn't actually a proper candle as ,I couldn't find any .So it was a Tealight candle LOL just sat on top of the cake.It was the best I could come up with :-D

I have just missed the beginning of Silent Witness,so will probably have to see it on Catch up tomorrow morning...It looks good.

Mandy I think it was you who asked how Thomas's leg was. It is fine .He can still run fast when he spots a mouse ,and my neighbour said she has seen him run like the wind in her garden after rabbits..I do think he has a slight weakness though .It just seems to be more noticeable from the back when he is walking.It is more like a sexy walk :-D A little sashay of the behind ;-)

Morning all,

A very Happy Anniversary to our Gill and hubby on this special day. <3 <3 <3

Dry here this morning but we still have a grey sky. When I arose I thought the sun was coming out to play but it did'nt amount to anything sadly.

Think I am going to Lidl today to stock up on certain things.

I am pleased James came home earlier than you thought Jane and was able to blow out his BIG candle on his cake. A BIG candle for a BIG chap. :-D :-D :-D

Morning my lovelies, Evening Kim,

SNAP Mel, Dry but overcast.

Glad James got home early Jane. Dos keeps a pack of cake candles in the draw, just in case she or someone else needs them.

I have been told I must go for a walk today, even if it's round the block. Dos swears that the knee is ceasing but because of the lack of exercise, she might be right, as most times she is. ;-) ;-) ;-)

Sat and watched the programme on the "Painted Lady Butterfly" last night. What an incredible insect they are, and the distance they travel in their lifetime.

Glad our Thomas has got his fitness back, now you might see a reduction of rabbits in the garden lol.

Don't you go spending too much money Mel. I opened the fridge this morning and it's so full, that things are falling out. I will have to put a padlock on Madams purse.

I had a nice sausage sandwich this morning. Then showered and shaved.

On This Morning Holly said "This is the month for making babies" When I said to ROS, shall we try. I won't repeat the answer. !!!! :-D :-D :-D I think the second word was "OFF" lol

Chicken casserole tonight. I will chop the carrot and onions later. Open the tomatoes and prepare the mushrooms. Dos always buys the breast quarters of chicken. Theres a bit more meat on them, compared to the thighs.

Off to ge dressed, and out into the fresh air for half an hour. See you later.

Afternoon all

Very windy here today but the sun has just come out so that's good.
I saw the first bee of the year today, I was in the greenhouse and it tried to get to the flowers I had in there and bumped into the glass. I was surprised to see at Bee this early. Hope it'll be okay when the snow gets here. I've also noticed the birds are early looking for a nesting place in our hedge, they don't normally do that for another few weeks, must be all the mild weather we've been having lately, confusing them.

Thanks everyone for our Anniversary wishes, OH loved the card I made him and the one Sandra made we both love too. We're not going out as my ankle is still a bit sore from yesterday so I don't want to chance walking on it to much, we're just going to have a quiet day here instead and I'll cook us something nice for dinner later.

OH is back in work tomorrow, he'd already booked today off as a holiday before he knew he had to go for his operation, his sick note only ran out yesterday, so work didn't take long to get him back in there did they? He's still having his dressing's done but they said he'd be okay to nip out for those. The nurse is pleased with his progress and said it should only be about another week until it's healed properly. Let's hope it doesn't stop healing again like it did a few weeks ago.

I've been busy in the greenhouse with OH this morning watering the flowers I did with Sandra last year, we decided to put them in the greenhouse as they don't like cold weather. Then I tidied up some other plants and took out all the moss and weeds from the pots they were in, so that's another job out of the way now.

Sandra has some sewing stuff that she got for Christmas so I've decided to make a copy of the pocket sewing kit pattern I got for Christmas so we can make her one as well. She's already chosen her material and yes, you've guessed it, it's PINK lol. I have a wardrobe full of material so she had fun choosing which one she liked the most. Although she did see what she thought was pink and white material and said she liked that, not realising that it was a dress I took apart to alter for myself, the pink material she has picked is very similar but plain so I might see if I can find a few bits to dress it up for her. The only problem is I don't really have much of that in the bungalow, so I might have to nip to the shop and buy something when I can out and about properly again.

I'm just going to grab a cuppa and some lunch. I'll catch up with all the posts later.
Hope everyone is okay.