General Chat

Morning to you all, and Liz if she's looking in. Evening Kim.

Safe journey Jane, and likewise be GOOD etc. Let's hope the weather is decent, so you can explore the area. Have you been that way before. ??

Good little Ruby. If she hadn't put her brakes on, you might have missed your grocery delivery !!! I caught a little of that cooking programme, and did watch the THREE FAMILIES cooking against each other. It's marvellous what you can find to watch, when you are on your own.

Do the children break up for half term today Mandy.??I remember my half terms as a child. We would be out in the woods collecting dead branches and leaves for the Guy Faulks bonfire. Which was the centre piece of our village, with potato's cooked in the hot ashes. The skins burnt black, and lovely hot fluffy centers. If we were lucky Mum would let us have BUTTER.

Has "BRIAN" arrived down your way try Mel, It's expected to bring winds up to 70 mph on the coast and 50 mph in land.

Horrible Miserable morning here. Ros had to go for a Blood Test at 9.50 this morning. Then off to the cash point to get some money for the plumber, who is coming tomorrow to service the boiler. "MORE EXPENSE" LOL LOL

My head is still stuffy, but it certainly not as bad as it was last week. I'm not blowing my trumpet as often either. !!!

I am citing myself up to go out tonight. West Ham are on the T.V. (sky) so it will have to be at the pub. I just hope I feel like the walk, as Ros is also out with the girls.

We had a Turkey stir fry last night. I did manage a small amount but i'm not eating anything like I use too. Ros wants me to mention it to the Dr. next time I see her. I put it down to not exerting myself, therefore not having an appetite, and this cold hasn't helped. Liver and onions tonight, with mash and peas.

I'm back. I had to go or a breast scan apparently I only had one last year but they have changed our surgery to Hatherleigh from Shebbear so I had to go to Okehampton as they have shut Holsworthy hospital. I used to have to go to Holsworthy which is much closer than Okehampton. Anyway the lady said I don't have to go now for three years.

Frank I am pleased your cold is now getting better and your not blowing your trumpet so much!! I laughed at that. :-D

We thought we would pop into Lidl after as its only round the roundabout from Waitrose but there was a que for the car park so we came straight home.

Suns still out but the washing machine has just stopped so I bet the moment I get the washing on the line I'll lose the sun.

I added a bit more to my family tree yesterday too Gill.

Afternoon All,

I can just imagine Ruby screeching to a halt! lol Does she go faster for home when you turn around Anne? What sad times there have been in your SIL's family with her hubby passing away so young while she was pregnant and just before he could see his new daughter who was born soon after. It must have been so difficult for her to come to terms with it and to cope.

I bet Max hardly lifts his nose from the ground amongst the leaves Mandy. I must admit I like the smell of the autumn leaves too. He must be a really big dog by now and be calming down from his teenage stage.

I went to see my friends to do beading this morning at the house where the lady has the huge Maine Coon cat. He was in a playful, naughty mood this morning and kept thundering up the stairs and back between playing with his toys. He lay on the sideboard behind me in between under the lit table lamp. He is a bit bitey like the terrible twos just now and wants to do rough fighting so you need to 'read' him!! His paws are wider than the thickest part at the top of my forefinger and the next to it put together and have tufts of white fur poking between the pads. As soon as the refreshments were on the table he was on there with the slightest effort and when put down could see across the table easily by lifting his front paws to stretch up. Next thing we heard the little chirrup noise he makes and my friend caught him making off with the jammy dodger packet and 2 remaining jammy dodgers! As we left he had gone into the kitchen and was sitting looking intently at the cupboard with his treats in!

After I met OH at the carvery near there and we had a naughty icecream treat after our lunch. Next we are either shopping or going to look at some mattresses!!

You seem to have to be travelling further for appointments now Mel, but at least that is done with now. I don't get called back for future appointments now as I am over 70, but can request a routine check in 3 years which I shall do. I must check the bowel screening paperwork too as I think I have to request those too now if I want them.

OH is ready to go so I'd better get changed!

You had a busy morning then Ann and was entained all the time by the sounds of it with the cat.

The suns gone now but I did plant a lot of tulips bulbs in the big tanks out the front of the bungalow. Oh has put another one there but it has'nt been filled with dirt yet.

I still have a few left over as I have Clematis in those tanks and I cut right through the roots of one whilst digging a hole. The giant snowdrops are well under way in there too.

I can't believe it's 8.00pm and no one has posted since Mel at 5. 28 pm

Ros is out to the Village Hall tonight to a one man show. She ask if I wanted to go, you can see my reply. !!!

Couldn't be bothered with going out again. It looks cold, and damp out, and my legs feel a bit iffy, so better if I stay at home. I don't want to be falling over going to the pub or on the way home.

I have found a cooking programme to watch instead of the blooming SOAPS. They are recorded for Madam when she gets home. I will no doubt be in bed before she comes home, or soon after when she gets home.

I trust Jane arrived safely at her destination, and that the place she is staying is comfortable.

Sad news of your relative passing away at such a young age, Anne. I trust she has a good family to turn to in these very sad times. xxx

Spoke with my Kettering friend this morning. I haven't seen him since his brothers funeral EIGHT YEARS AGO. We have made plans to meet up for lunch within the next two weeks, which will be nice.

Off for a bottle of beer, see you tomorrow.

Evening All

Wet and windy this morning but the sun came after lunch so Ruby had her walk later than usual, yes. Ann Ruby always pulls like mad on the way home especially with the wind behind her.

I had a big smile reading about the Maine Coon cat, was he after any of the beads?
He sounds a great character more like a little dog rather than a cat.

I hoovered right through this morning and tidied up my bedroom, I have to put Ruby in her cage while I did this as she just loves to attack the hoover and tries to help with the dusting.

That was good news that you don't have to go back for 3 years for a mammogram Mel especially as you have to travel further now.

Did you manage to get to the pub for you to watch the football match Frank? Is so I hope you enjoyed it.

Morning all,

Very windy here this morning cloudy then a bit of sunshine and then rain and cloud again and its coming mostly from the west.

Oh has just updated my pc and I can't make the writing bigger at the moment so can hardly read whats on this message.

Whats it like with you lot?

Usual Saturday morning, egg delivery and the shop for the paper.

Must get the steaks out the freezer.

Slept like a log last night and I don't remember laying there thinking about anything so must have gone straight off.

He's done it the clever boy now I can read the post comfortabley.

Morning Mel, morning all

Damp and not very warm here today, so I've just popped the heating on. Hope it goes off again as we had problems with it the other day.

It sounds like you had fun with the cat Ann, I did giggle when you told us about the jammy dodgers and then the look on his face looking at the cupboard with the treats in. He sounds quite a handful.

So you can see the posts easier now Mel, that's good. Pleased to hear your breast scan went well, one less thing to worry about now. It's nice when you have a decent nights sleep isn't it? I had a bad night again last night. I seem to be starting with the hot flushes again which isn't very comfortable, the problem is I feel so tired in the afternoons with not having much sleep at night. Hopefully they'll stop soon so I can have a decent nights sleep again.

I was at the shops the other day and a lady thought I was 40 years old, I was so chuffed as I'm 51 next month, it made my day ;-) ;-)

Sandra is so excited for Christmas I can't tell you, so I've decided today to put the little village up with the lights so she has something to look at before the big day. I think she'd have me put up the Christmas tree now if she could get away with it lol. :-D :-D She's still asleep so I can't wait to see her face when I tell her later.

I couldn't find any new people for OH's tree yesterday, but then I was so tired I couldn't concentrate properly. I'm gong to take another look for him today.

Gill is it near oh or is he on the census?

Good morning Mel and all, Evening our Kim,

This morning I really felt like going to sleep for an extra couple of hours, but had to get up because of the plumber coming.

He was here on the stroke of 9.00 am as promised. Boiler all serviced, and he says it's in good order for another year. He left about 15 minutes ago.

Ros has gone to meet Martine and will get the odds and ends that we want from Morrison's. She will bring fresh rolls and fillings for lunch.

Simon rang to confirm our meeting next Thursday. Either Breakfast or lunch, depending if he is working late i.e. midday to 10.00 pm.

Spoke to my Nephew John last night. His BIL (RON) has cancer of the pancreas . Which the doctors say hasn't spread, and will have in removed this week. So I hope all goes well with him.

Couldn't be bothered to take myself out last night. By the score line, I didn't miss much. West Ham lost 3- 0 to Brighton. Ros didn't enjoy the one man show. It was all Shakespearean plays, he played all the parts. and was dashing off changing his cloths to get into the parts.

I was happy watching channel 133 on SKY. Cooking programmes, until Madam arrived home at 10.00 pm. I then had another beer and put her SOAPS on and went to bed.

Mel, SNAP. I have just got a nice joint of lamb from the freezer, for tomorrows dinner. Tonight I expect it will be a TAKEAWAY of some sort.

That wind "BRIAN" is gathering speed here, I don't know what it must be like on the coast. :-| :-| :-| What's it like down your way Mel.

I saw on Antique Road Trip they were in Marmsbury,(sp) Glos. That is where Liz lives, I wonder if she watched the programme, or will catch it on CATCH UP !!!

I have decided not to go to the pub at lunchtime, I can hear the match on the radio.

Will try to catch up with you all later.

Afternoon All,

Brian seems to have reached here too and we went out earlier to bring the little table in and to move the other glass topped one up the corner of the patio where it is less windy! I have also put the catch on the greenhouse door to stop it blowing open.

Mel if the print goes small again all you need to do is hold down CTRL and + together on your keyboard to make the print bigger. Do the squirrels leave your tulips alone or do you not get any squirrels where you are? There are a couple we get here just now racing around with the biggest things in their mouths to bury and one had a bunch of dry grass, not doubt for his winter bed!

Sandra is getting in the mood Gill. I expect she will love you getting the little village out. :-) I was wrong about the restaurant carpet, it is just a different coloured flooring.......dark gray! lol. The hot flushes are a real nuisance for keeping you awake aren't they. I can remember wishing the duvet had a pullcord as it would be up then down all night. How flattering someone thought you were 40! I remember someone asking which was the elder sister out of me and my sister once and she was a bit shocked as she is nearly 9 years younger. I did make her chuckle after though when I kidded and asked if she'd noticed his white stick!!

We went to look at some mattresses yesterday, but even the orthopaedic ones seemed a bit soft for me. We want a memory foam one and quite liked one that has a layer designed to keep you cool, but that was heavy to move compared with what we have now. We want two so a bit of haggling on the price got me £200 knocked off and delivery is free which is good, but I want to go to another place tomorrow and see what they have.

Me and a friend are thinking of going to a one day workshop doing silversmithing where you make 2 silver rings each. It isn't cheap, but then neither would 2 silver rings be and we have all those savings now we don't go to beading class. :-D

OH has just dug out a big mac (not to eat!) to go to footie in as he's expecting rain. He said he's going to one and a half matches this afternoon somewhere Coventry way, he's written it down for me as he usually does. He had his flu jab at the chemist this morning, the last one he has to pay for before getting them free.

Glad Frank is on his 'tin whistle' now instead of the 'trumpet'!! lol. :-) Sad news about your nephew's BIL, but it sounds as good as it can be with it not having spread. You have reminded me our boiler man is coming to service it on Monday so I mustn't forget. It will be good to meet up with your old friend and now you have breakfast or lunch to look forward to with Simon as well.

Thanks Ann I did know that but when I tried it it did'nt work for me. Oh came out and I was doing something in the kitchen bit and he did it and it worked ok!!!!!!!! Men.....
So I am now able to read the posts comfortably without straining my eyes.

Bye the way he also refreshed my Firefox browser and I had no trouble getting on here this morning and it was much quicker. None of that grey circle going round and round forever until it changes to a blue circle and then getting the dreaded Error Page.

I was wondering if the football matches would be cancelled today as its so windy and wet. Its blowing its socks off down here with lashing rain and I mean lashing!! I had to hold on to my car door when I went out as oh tells me every time its windy but it was'nt too bad when I got to the shop so that was ok.

As to Squirrels just don't talk to me about those little blighters. They spend most of the day in our BIG oak tree and showers of acorns come down and then you see three of them rushing around the back field burying them. They had all the nuts off the red hazel tree down by our little wooded bit and all the nuts of the hazel by the bantams run and you should see the amount of shells on the floor under the tree.
Thee are loads of squirrels in our garden but I hav'nt notice them taking any of my tulip bulbs but the deer ate them up the border so thats why I now put them in the tanks outside the bungalow.

And another things the tree rats take all the lovely cones off my big fir tree which was bought at a nursary for 50p it being a bit straggerly and only a foot high. It has cones right at the top and never had any whilst I could reach them. Its now about 15 to 20 foot high. I was so pleased when oh showed me the first time it have cones and was wanting to sow some of its seed but in all the year its had cones the squirrels just leave a bare cone stalk on the tree. It sone of those christmas trees that dos'nt lose it prickles.

I keep meaning to book our flu jabs and keep forgetting by the time they have actually found both our scripts.

I have never had to pay for a flu jab as I was a carer for mum and hubby too had his free. Now we are both of the age and state of health that we get ours done for nothing.

So sad about your nephews BIL Frank but good they say it has'nt spread. My FIL from first marriage had his pancreas out because of cancer. I hope he can recover quickly.

It will be nice to have a lunch or something with Simon. Its so good Sally made him get intouch with you you lucky boy.

Ann we had our mattress made to measure our weights and that is very heavy and I can't move it at all. if we turned it top to toe we would have to sleep on the wrong sides that we like and you can't turn it over. OUrs came from Benson's for beds.

I'm trying to go back on OH's granddad's side of the tree, so they would be on the census Mel. I've managed to find all the sibling's for his granddad and their spouses and children, where there was some, as some of them didn't get married and some of the married one's didn't have children, or if they did, I can't find them. I've been trying to find his great granddad's sibling's but don't seem to be having any luck yet..

I've been trying for hours to set up the box type thing I put the village into, it's finally done now. I just couldn't remember how I did it last time. Now all I need to do it put in all the houses and the church, tree's people, benches, Santa and his reindeers, the snowmen, etc. and add the lights.

How nice to have breakfast or lunch with your son Frank. Sorry to hear about your nephew's BIL, he's lucky they can do something about it and it hadn't gone to far.

Yes, I noticed the grey flooring Ann, I'd mentioned the carpet being Red before I clicked on the link you put on here. It looks a lovely place. You did well with your haggling on the mattress and free delivery too. Are you hoping to get a better deal elsewhere before you decide which one to go for? At least you have a price you can use to get a better deal in other places, it's worth a try isn't it?

Going to get a cuppa and add a few more bits to the village before dinner, I doubt I'll have it all finished today though, so will have to finish it tomorrow.

OH changed one of the matches he was going to Mel as it had been cancelled, so that may be why. The wind is much worse here now and our letterbox has suddenly started rattling and flapping up and down. I keep thinking someone is at the door! It sounds like you are overun with squirrels!! They can be a real nuisance as you say. Tulips planted here just disappear and MIL used to have to put hers in pots and put wire netting over them. I hadn't thought about Benson Beds so will add them to the list. Whatever we buy I want to try them. The memory foam ones we have had now for about 11 years are so light I can move them with one hand, but I suspect replacements may be heavier. I noticed not all have the handles on the side to help you move them either. I see what you mean about each side being different on yours and you not being able to turn them around.

Gill, I really want to find some firmer ones as these were medium and they may have some firmer ones on display elsewhere that I can try before I decide.

I got the twig pieces out of the garage this morning, but I think only 2 will be ok for my little wall tree as the others seem a bit brittle as if they are rotten. I'll have to see if I can find a few more in the ditches along the lanes........there should be plenty if this wind keeps up!

I wonder how Jane is getting on in all this wind..........good job it wasn't like this the wedding weekend! The photos would have looked a tad windswept!

Better set the dishwasher for a clean now, then more sorting out in here.

I see there are only 3 judges on Strictly tonight.

Afternoon all,

Anne I have pm you.

Mel, thank very much, we have the rain here now. The wind has been terrible. I haven't moved from the armchair, apart from helping Ros in with the shopping. We didn't need much in the way of shopping, BUT that didn't stop her from bringing home FOUR heavy bags full. Mind you there were a load of tins of soup, 4 tins of baked beans. 2 x 4 pints of milk plus the things we needed. including a bag of onions.

That village display sounds nice Gill, how long did it take to collect all of that. I bet Sandra is getting excited, Bless her.

We have been recommended to a new India takeaway, It's in Towcester. and we don't have a Menu so will have to order and wait for it to be cooked. Hope it's worth the effort. I might try to convince Ros it's not a good idea in all this wind and rain. Then I can phone another place and get it delivered,

Good idea to try before you buy Ann especially on a mattress, you wouldn't want to get that wrong.

I got quite a lot of the houses and the church off my mum a few years ago for my birthday when I first decided to try and make a village Frank. We saw a village in the garden centre we go to and that's where I got the idea from, so I bought a bench with a couple sitting on it and some trees from there and my mum had an old village she didn't want anymore so I used the street lights and the people off there.

The Santa and reindeers I already had, plus the snowmen, they were cake decoration from the days when I made lots of Christmas cakes to give to people. I use coloured fairy lights that I wrap inside white tinsel which then goes around the outside of the box I put the village in, the tinsel then lights up. I also put some more coloured lights on the roof part of the box which lights the inside. The box was made from an old kitchen unit, I cut it to size and use the locking bit to keep it together. I found a white scarf in a second hand shop that had silver bits going through it which I use as a backdrop, pinned in place with drawing pins that I painted white with Tipex. and I also found some pale blue star lights in a charity shop which I hang at the top inside the back of the box. So all in all when it's all put together it looks really Christmassy.

I've also made the same thing on a smaller scale inside a shoe box with the backdrop being a snow scene off a Christmas bag I found in another garden centre, it has a bit of glitter on the roof of the houses so when the multi coloured LED lights shine on it, that also looks Christmassy. I made Sandra one for her bedroom with children and a snowman inside, her picture was one I found on the internet and printed off.

I liked the picture so much I printed a smaller one off and framed it. I also made a picture of houses and snow with a church and carol singers plus a small child playing with her dog. It was made out of all sorts of bits and pieces I found in magazines and all the trees were the Christmas trees advertised in the Argos book. I overlapped the trees to make them look like a forest. I'm quite pleased with that picture. It was the first thing I ever made, then progressed to sewing an advent calendar to put sweets in for Sandra, which she loves. I saw them in a shop and they were so expensive I bought some material and wadding and made it myself with numbers on all the 25 pockets the sweets go in. Sandra loves trying to find the correct number for each day, leading up to and including Christmas day.

I love lights so have a lot of things that light up, including a Christmas canvas with lights. We have a 7ft snow tree which has about 400 lights on and I've made lots of crystal decorations for that and some snowflakes that I made from plastic ones painted again in Tipex. Sandra and I love to make something each year to put out at Christmas. Last year we made lots of Christmas tree decorations for her pink tree she had in her room. She loves it and looks forward to making things every year. Although I am starting to run out of ideas and also space to put things :-D :-D

Can you tell I love Christmas just as much as Sandra does LOL :-D :-D :-D <3

Good evening all

We have been lucky with the weather it has been very windy but not storm force.

Rupert the Maine Coon cat is a real beauty Ann with that bushy tail he must take some grooming. Hope you manage to find the right mattress it's important that it suits both you and your OH. I remember when we were choosing a mattress before our wedding from Dad's shop feeling so embarrassed when he advised us to try it for comfort in the shop, we were very lucky as we got all our furniture at cost price, mostly all G-Plan.

We are also having roast lamb for the Sunday roast although not for me, I will just have all the veg.

It's nice to hear that Sandra is getting the Christmas spirit early and she will be made up when you have the village all set up for her it sounds so pretty do you have a photo we could see?. That was nice getting a compliment on your age Gill, sorry to hear you are suffering with the hot flushes, I got off lightly and only got a few at night.

Going to watch the new historical drama "Gunpowder" on BBC1 this evening one of the actors will be playing his own ancestor Robert Catesby..

I think he does have to be brushed a lot Anne, but sadly he doesn't go out as it would be a worry he would be stolen. My friend is thinking about getting another next year as he really needs a playmate to burn some energy off with. I am told it used to be impossible to get beads out with him around, but he seems to have lost interest in those. He did have a chew of my beading thread though, but I quickly got that off him with visions of vet bills in my head! I too can remember being embarrassed lying on bed shops when I was young! You were lucky to get your furniture cost price from your dad's shop.......G Plan too! I understand there is a revival of that and Ercol at the moment and it makes good prices just now. Did you keep it? :-) OH mentioned that prog the other day so I hope he has recorded it!

Your little village scenes you have made and the advent calendar sound good Gill. I like making things, it's good fun and you end up with something no-one else has which is nice. After this Christmas I should have enough old cards to make one of those Christmas tree buntings I saw last year.......unless I hid last year's somewhere safe like the stick I can't find!!

Morning all,

I have just caught up with your posts as I was working on my tree yesterday evening.

I watched Gunpowder last night. Its nice to have something historical on on a Saturday night as there has'nt been anything on on a Saturday that I really want to watch. Oh has Strictly on and the X factor but he is getting fed up with that thank goodness. We also watched Dad's Army as you can always watch those again even if you do remember them. Some are a bit silly but they are light hearted nd they don't make programs like that anymore.

We have quite a bit of sun this morning and also the wind has dropped a bit but it is still blowing. I want to clean the big girls out today but its hard when the wind blows the shavings at you and the girls always get in the way.

I remembered what I was going to put on here the other day and forgot. We used to get two big coffee tins or baked bean tins and make a couple of holes in the bottom near the edges and thread string through in a big loop you could hold and stand on the tins hoding the stringe in each hand and walk about on them like a sort of stilts. Dad made me stilts and i Was quite good on them. Hours of fun, and tins with sting through the bottom which you held tight and spoke into and the person on the other end put the can to their ear and could hear what you were saying from quite a distance away. They had these on Dad's Army last night and thats what jogged my memory.

Gill we would love to see a picture of your Christmas box scenes. Can you find someone to show you how to put pictures on your pc so we ccan see them please?

I have Ercol furniture in the kitchen, the table and chairs we use every day. Mum had chairs and a settee which later I had as a bed in my teens. She sold the two chairs and settee to one of the boys who worked for my dad. We also have the coffee table and the plate rack is in the hall with lots of bits on it.

Rupert is really lovely Ann he must be a right character with what he gets up to.