General Chat

Sorry to hear of your sad news Mel. I've recorded Back in Time which OH and I will watch when he's off work again.

It sounds like you're busy sorting out your wardrobes and draws Ann. I did that a while back and it's surprising how much stuff you accumulate over time isn't it? I took so much to the charity shops. I do need to go through a few more wardrobes but they're only small so shouldn't take long to do, when I'm in the mood again.

So what did you decided in the end Frank, Indian or Chinese? I prefer Chinese as I'm not to keen on spicy foods. Have you had the 4 inches of snow yet, that's a lot Sandra would love it, she could make a family of SNOW PEOPLE :-D :-D

Hope you had a lovely birthday Mandy and was feeling a bit better today <3

I wonder how Jane is enjoying her weekend away, hope there's no snow around.

It's been very quiet on here today.

That was sad news Mel, especially with having known her so well.

We only had a bit of fine snow earlier and it wasn't for long. I'm still hopeful for Sandra's sake though. :-)

Well, I didn't get far with the sorting out Gill. After doing just one drawer I sat down for a COT and decided to print off a photo I want to do a painting of. That ended up being a right saga as it said the printer was off line. I hadn't changed anything, but couldn't get anywhere trying to get it online again. Then when I made it search for other printers and added the one it found (slightly different to the one that was fine and that I'd always used before) away it went with no trouble!! I'm sure it must have been an update that changed it. :-S Then I sat and ordered some different beads for our next class.

Frank it would have to be the Chinese for me. Our place pongs with OH's curry tonight and he had sardines on toast the other night and that was whiffy the next day too. I just seem to have trouble getting off to sleep now, usually it's between 1.00am and 3.30am. I'm going to have a read of that booklet and see what it says. I know it helps if I don't drink anything after 8.00pm.

Have a look at this! lol.

https://www.avivatimetraveller.co.uk/

Sorry to hear about Emma's grandma Mel and sad for you as you knew her well so long ago

I hope you had a really lovely birthday Mandy and are now feeling much better.

I wonder how Jane's day is going hopefully her finger isn't causing any bother and she and the family enjoyed the theatre performance.

I would also choose Chinese over an Indian meal, what ever you decided Frank I hope you enjoyed it and you don't get the dreaded indigestion afterwards.

Ann please would you send me the photos of your snow and the moon.

We had a fair bit of snow falling all morning but nothing laid again as the ground is still very wet, I do hope Sandra gets her snow so she can build her snowman.

Sorry to hear your sad news Mel was it sudden or had she been poorly ?
There's a little some thing in the post for you with your birthday card i thought it might be handy for when your doing your crafting, some thing for your needles and pins .

My sister and BIL gave me a birthday card with a lovely picture of a black Labrador on just like Max sitting with his head on the arm of the chair fast asleep, she also gave me a tray ,one with the bean bag bit underneath so you can rest it on your lap and that had the picture of the black Lab on too , it does look so like Max ,i'll take a photo tomorrow so you can see it ,i was really pleased with it as i can rest the lap top on that .

No more snow here it's been a bit drizzly and really cold so we have stayed in the warm ,i did a little stitching this afternoon , i made one mop cap with the elastic in ,i tried it on the girls when the came and it fits a treat so i can now stitch the other one ,i made a start on the pinnies but again i needed to fit them on the girls before doing any more ,also the skirts i needed to measure their waists before starting to cut them to length .

Max is conked out here he's always worn out after the children have been ,he gets so excited he wears his self out !!

Sorry I missed you out Anne! I'll send them after this post. :-)

The laptop cushion thing with a 'Max' on it sounds like a lovely present Mandy. I could do with one for my beading tray!! lol He sounds like us doesn't he.........a few hours with children and then conked out!! :-) I bet the girls were excited at how their costumes are coming on!

Isn't that always the case Ann, you sit down for a cuppa and all your plans change. Never mind the sorting isn't going anywhere and if you hadn't of tried to print the picture you wouldn't of known about the problem, so all's well that ends well. I'd love to see the painting when you've done it. What are you making in your next class at beading? Sandra is still wearing the lovely bracelet you made her :-)
I had a look at the website you put on here, but I don't have a photo of myself so couldn't get to the end of it.

What a lovely birthday card and present off your sister and BIL Mandy, I think having something padded on your lap is so much better than the hard trays they make. I find they hurt after a while as the legs on it aren't long enough so it ends up sitting on your legs rather than above them, the soft cushion part won't do that with the weight of the laptop so will be more comfortable for you. Looking forward to seeing the pictures. It sounds like you're getting there with the costumes, I bet the girls are thrilled.
So Max has had another fun day playing, it sounds like he loves it and is now having a well earned rest......bless him.

Just watching Paul O'Grady's for the love of dogs I recorded the other day, I think it's a repeat though. Sandra's enjoying it.

Our blasted leccy kept going out today and oh could'nt find out why. Thats why I hav'nt been on here. Everytime I got back to the thread out it went again so I gave up.

Our steak was lovely tonight. I bought two lots the other week because it was beautifully marbled.

You had some lovely cards and pressies Mandy and it sounds like you're really pleased with the lap tray. I looked at those for mum when she was alive but she did'nt think she could cope with one and liked her little table she used. Glad you liked the little torch. They fit just right in your handbag and don't take up much room.

Emm's gran had been in the private home up the road for a few years. She had dimenture so Em's mum could'nt cope with her at home but went daily to the home as did Em when she had time. Margaret was 85 so just a year younger than my mum when she died.

Watched Taboo tonight only two more episodes to go and I think its been good. A bit gory at times but I don't mind that.

Morning all

Dry and not so cold today. OH is outside making a start on taking the apple tree down, he's only taking the branches off for now, the trunk can be done another day as he wants to take the branches to the tip later before it closes at 4pm.

Dementia is an awful disease Mel, my granddad had it. I think in a way it's worse for the family as they can see exactly what's going on. It must be hard for you too.

I saw online yesterday a couple who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer within three years of each other. The husband passed away last Monday. The children, three in total, aged 21.18 and 13 took a photo of their mum and dad holding hands hours before their father passed away, their mother doesn't have long left to live......it was so heart breaking to see.
OH came home from work and was telling me about it not realising I'd seen it online and apparently the father was suppose to go to the home OH works at but never made it, the mother is to ill to be moved to the home now :-(

Going to give OH a hand with the tree, we'd cut lots of it last year so there isn't much to do. If we both do it, it won't take long to finish.

Morning all,

We have snow :-D i woke just before seven and everywhere was covered there were huge flakes coming down but now its just fine stuff .

Another day for keeping in the warm and doing my stitching i think .

So your going out in the garden Gill it must be milder where you are ,i read about that couple i saw a picture of them holding hands it's so sad .

Mel i hope OH has managed to sort out the problem with your electric it must be so annoying when it keeps going off like that .

Colin is now cleaning the fire out so he can light it we need a few logs in and then we're set up for the day.
I'm doing Sausage tray bake tonight nice and easy .

Has your OH sorted out the leccy now Mel? Do you think it might have something to do with the new TV and all the new wiring he's done lately. Hope it's all sorted soon.

You have snow Mandy, I wish we could have some for Sandra, she's getting fed up of waiting now.

It's turned very cold here, I can't feel my toes so I've come in, made a hot water bottle and I'm sitting here with my feet on it to warm them up. All the branches that produce the apples are down now and all over the lawn. OH is just cutting some bigger trunk like branches off now. It looks so much brighter out there, which I'm surprised at as the tree is in the North part of the garden so doesn't block any light, or so I thought. It's going to make such a difference in the summer now and the conifers behind the tree will also get more light which they like. The conifers are about 40 foot high now and block out the windows of the house behind us. We planted them almost 9 years ago just after we moved here and I've been waiting for them to grow big enough so we could take the apple tree out. I've never liked the apple tree, it produced so much fruit that we just gave pretty much all of it away, there was always fallen fruit and if it wasn't picked up quickly it went all mushy which Sandra and I hated having to pick up and throw away. Sandra will be pleased we don't have to do that anymore.

My toes are thawing out now so I'll go back outside and help OH cut the rest of the tree down then we can move all the rubbish off the grass and take it down the tip. Hope it doesn't get to much colder though, I don't think my toes like it LOL
You've got the right idea Mandy staying indoors in the warmth. How are you feeling today?

Well, I was to slow going back out OH has finished all the tree now apart from the big trunk which he'll do in the spring as it's getting far to cold to do any more today. All we've got to do now is get rid of all the rubbish.
Not bad for under two hours work, it looks much better now.

Going to make OH and I a cuppa, that'll warm us up :-)

Very cold wind here today so we won't be going far! Yes, Taboo was good Mel! some bits I couldn't look at, but it's very gripping!!
My S-Father died 30 years ago today from the dreaded cancer, aged 67. It's hard to believe that it was so long ago, but there you go onwards and upwards! Not sure why I mentioned it really, no good being maudlin!
Last night we had venison steak done nice and rare, and it was absolutely delicious, so we shall be having that again! Today were having roast duck, orange sauce, + veg, we'll eat about 3ish! OH has made a start on the marmalade, so we shall get on with that today.

Morning all,

Grey day here and NO SNOW like lucky Mandy. What does Max think about it Mandy?

Nothing for us to do today. No we or should I say he did'nt find what ws putting the leccy out. He has'nt done any rewiring lately only the ariel and thats nothing to do with the leccy. It could just be that they were mucking about down the eletric place down the road and we were getting little surges. I don't know anyway I was dreading it happenin g when I was cooking dinner but it did'nt happen anymore last night.

Gill I think I would rather have the conifers down than the apple tree. Those at that height will bloke any light from your neighbours. Should'nt you top them?

Sorry to hear about your Step dad Liz, it's always hard on the anniversary's isn't it. Keep your chin up, give Cas a cuddle that'll make you feel better, she's such a darling and will probably enjoy the cuddle just as much as you.
You're having lots of unusual food lately, I don't think I would be that adventurous. Mind you I do like duck a l' orange. Your home made marmalade sounds nice, what kind are you making?

So you haven't got any snow either Mel. It's gone very dull here, looks like there's something in the clouds, probably rain though :-( I bet you're pleased your leccy stayed on, let's hope it stays that way for you.
The neighbour has a large conifer hedge right along his boundary so our trees aren't that much higher. The conifers aren't thick as they were blocked of light on his side from the start, so we only have branches on our side. It's just enough to give us some privacy which we like.

I've always wanted a conifer garden so once the rest of the apple tree is out I'm going to buy more conifers in different colours and texture to plant in front of the conifers I've already got. My plan is to have them lower, then put a few more in front of them lower again, well more like a conifer shrub if you get my meaning. I've seen it done on TV and it looks beautiful. You can even get some conifers in reds and oranges as well as yellow and green, so it should look quite nice when it's finished.

The neighbours over the back are quite nosey so I'm glad I planted the conifers all those years ago. I tend to go for evergreen plants Mel, as I'm not keen on the bare branches and stems in the winter, they look so depressing. With evergreens the garden looks lovely all year round. I'm looking forward to planning and planting the garden this year, after all the hard landscaping last year. So far the family problems we had last year seem to have stopped so we've decided to stay here for the time being, unless it all flares up again, but until then I'm going to carry on with my plans for the garden and enjoy sitting out and enjoying it.

I've just run a bath so I'd better go before it gets cold.

All the rubbish is now down the side of the bungalow where OH is cutting it then he can put it in the car to take to the tip, so the grass is cleared now, although there are a few holes where the heavy branches fell. That can be sorted at a later date as it looks okay from the window.

Thanks for your kind words Gill, much appreciated. You're certainly ambitious for your garden! Ive seen those coloured conifers too and planting them as you've suggested should look really attractive, and there is no point keeping trees you don't want particularly if the apples are such a nuisance! We're making orange marmalade; enough for the whole year, so it's quite an exercise!!! Glad you've decided against moving - family upsets often blow over especially if you're firm!!!
Cas has had a good run! She put up a pheasant that flew off squawking with indignation! She ran after it for about 50 yards, then gave up and came back to me without an fuss at all! She's now asleep!
Tomorrow we may see the sun! Here's for hoping!!

Oh bless Cas, I don't blame her for having a sleep 50 yards there and back is quite a run :-)

Do you leave the peel in the marmalade Liz? I know you can make it with or without nowadays, I prefer it without and my mum likes it either way. It sounds like you've got your work cut out if you're making enough for a whole year, it'll be worth it though, you can't beat home made can you?

I don't think the family upset has blown over, she's not talking to us now, which to be honest, after what happened last year, suits us just fine for now. I'm sure she'll calm down in time but that is up to her, we're just getting on with our lives and leaving her to get on with hers.

Going to dish up lunch now, another of Sandra's lovely chicken dinners :-)

Very wise Gill! Best firmly ignored! We make some (marmalade) with peel and some without. We do the oranges in the pressure cooker which halves the cooking time and then remove the pips and pith, then use the liquidiser before putting into a big pan to boil with the sugar until it sets. A bit time consuming but do-able and very delicious!!
Cas is now playing with Teddy!!! OH is cooking lunch, I'm debating!!!

Have you ever thought of adding some treacle to a small batch to make a darker marmalade? or putting some chopped stem ginger in another small batch. this way you get different tastes and a nice change.

What are you debating ??? Good idea to use the pressure cooker with the amount you are making. It sounds really nice. I'd love to see Cas playing with her Teddy, do you ever video her, it would be nice to see if you do?

Just finished lunch and we had a lovely chocolate pudding for afters. I'm quite full now ;-)
I thought my sore throat was getting better but it's not and now OH has it too. Luckily Sandra is okay. At least I can kiss OH now, with us both having the same thing LOL ;-) ;-) ;-)

OH has just left to get rid of the last of the rubbish from the apple tree, so I'll run him a nice bath now for when he gets back, the poor man had to stand in the kitchen and eat his lunch as he was to mucky to sit anywhere. It's gone really cold outside now so I think he'll feel much better after a hot bath.

Going to get a cuppa, see if it helps my throat, then settle down for the rest of the day. The tree trunk looks quite silly stuck up on it's own in the middle of the back of the garden, so that'll need taking down sometime in the next couple of weeks when OH's not so busy. He's on split shifts all next week :-( he doesn't like that type of shift pattern, he says it makes him more tired and the week feels longer. Luckily it doesn't happen that often.